Not Like Everyone Else!

(This is a copy of a blog I wrote on myspace. It's funny how decisions made recently in my family have been challenged. I don't really care what people think that I don't know well. However, friends and family sometimes say things that hurt me, and I don't believe they always realize they are hurtful. I'm sharing this because I want other homeschoolers and Christians to understand that they are not alone. Sometimes those closest to us just aren't going to understand.)


It's amazing that, even as adults, when someone does something that is different from others, people can't wait to jump at the chance to tell you how wrong you are. I thought High School was over. Yet, in the last few days I have felt totally attacked about decisions that my husband and I have made. Yes, I homeschool my daughter. It is a year by year decision, but so far I enjoy it and I think my daughter is getting a great education. Do I know how long I am going to homeschool? No. Do I know what I am going to do if my daughter misses out on a scholarship? Well, with homeschooling, my daughter could begin college early. Who knows? That is years away. And I don't think the quality of public school education is something to brag about. Every week I am hearing about bullying, racism, drugs; while money is being shoved at schools for higher education but the students do worse and worse. Either way, this is a decision made by me and my husband for our daughter. It is not the business of everybody else. Basically, if you can't be supportive, please keep quiet. This wasn't a decision taken lightly. It was prayed about, researched, and prayed about some more. Just because it doesn't fit the norm of what other people do in society doesn't mean it is a bad decision. Many families homeschool very successfully. Their children grow up successful, well-adjusted, happy, and strong in their beliefs. I know some of them.And if I don't answer the phone during the day, I will check messages. Don't take it personally. I would love to spend the day yacking away on the phone about kids and the weather and stuff. However, I have noticed that I tend to let my duties as a homemaker, homeschool mom, and student slip too easily when I am distracted by the phone. I can't tell others that I believe in the quality of a homeschool education if I am not focused on getting it done right.A lot of decisions seem to be up for inspection lately. Yes, my husband and I are in college ministry classes. Big Deal! We are learning more about God. We both felt God wanted us to do this. If you disagree, oh well. The goal of our lives has become to please our God and not man.We are doing some things differently, and I guess it is making others uncomfortable. Yes, we shut off our satellite. Hours in front of a TV every day is not how we want to live our lives. We have struggled and struggled with bills. If we have to cut things, then so be it. I don't have a problem finding something else to do with my time for awhile. In three months we will have saved over $200 in satellite costs. When every penny is being pinched, that money has a lot of better places to go...like food, college expenses, bills, or my husband's blown tire on his truck.God has not called my husband and I to be like everyone else. In a way, we never have been like the norm. We've faced a lot of struggles in our lives and even in our marriage. We know we don't have many answers. However, we are positive that we want to live our lives for CHRIST!! That means we are radical. That is alright with us. We don't preach at others about their faults, because we know we have lots too. We aren't pushy because we know that pushy Christian turned us away from Jesus. We would like others we love to share our faith, and are not afraid or ashamed to talk about what we believe. However, we don't feel that condemning others is going to draw them to the Saviour we love.We are still learning. We have a long way to go, but God has taken us a long way too. We don't have all the answers, and we make mistakes. However, we aren't children either. We don't need to be questioned like rebellious teenagers just because we are doing things a little differently. Not everything we decide is other people's business. I care very deeply about my friends and family and pray blessings over all of you daily. Understand, that just because our lives have had some changes doesn't mean that we have less feelings. We will overcome negative feelings and forgive, but we do still have feelings.