I am a fairly new reader, but so far I find your magazine to be the most informative, encouraging and interesting homeschooling magazine available.  You are really in touch with the homeschooling community and all the authors, curriculums, tools, etc. out there and I like how you keep tabs on the homeschooling "movement" politically and culturally.

-Carrie McKernie, Powder Springs, GA

I have to take this opportunity to share the amazing blessing your magazine was and the story behind us getting it.  We minister in Northern Ontario in a small logging and hunting community 30 miles down the only road leading in.  We are one and a half hours from the local shopping center.  Since coming here we have not had very much contact (or encouragement) from other homeschoolers.  This past July as I was thinking of our next school year I was also feeling a bit discouraged.  I was longing for some homeschool encouragement and fellowship.  As I walked into our little milk store (very little) I passed by the magazine rack and eyed your magazine.  Having an interest in antiques I thought the The Old Schoolhouse might be about antiques.  I certainly was pleasantly surprised and immensely blessed.  That morning my thoughts were sort of -O.K., God how are you going to provide me with the encouragement I am so desperately feeling I need right now?  I am out here in the bush with a bear that has taken to visiting my back deck!  I came home from the store with more of the feeling I know I should have had in the beginning.  God does care and only He knows the plans He has for us, and will always be there with the encouragement we need.  To the store owner's knowledge he has never seen the magazine in the store and didn't know it was in the rack then.  The only thing he could figure is that because it is known to the magazine supplier that the owner is a Christian as well, they assumed it would be alright to put the magazine in.  I pray that in sharing this you will be encouraged to know that God is using your ministry in places you know not of.  Thank you for being a blessing to our family.  The encouragement you provide to us in turn helps us to encourage others.  Thank - you and we do pray that God would truly bless your work.

-Kelly Lemont, Arnstein, Canada

Dear Jennifer,

I just had the opportunity to read your article Riding in Cars with Crybabies (Spring 2003).  What a refreshing, and long overdue article.  While I have not personally experienced exclusion from homeschool group because of the way we approach learning at home, I have experienced the raised eyebrows, or the abrupt change of conversation from individual homeschoolers after I have been asked "So, what curriculum do you use?" to which I reply, "We don't use any, we just follow our girls' interests."  I know that every family is different and God calls all of us to different things at different times in our walk with Him.  It is disheartening to find such boxism (my term) within the homeschool community.  It's as if we have taken out a bunch of boxes, labeled them one thing or the other and dropped who we are inside of that in order to "keep with our kind."  I understand the need or desire to connect with those of like minds or approaches but, we should all be able to merge across the line when it comes to supporting one another as a community of homeschoolers.  All of that to say again... Well Done!!  I look forward to reading more of your work.

-Living and learning in Michigan, JoAnn Ehlinger

Your magazine was a great encouragement to me when we were living in Greece and knew no other homeschoolers.  It helps keep me motivated.  This is our 10^th year of homeschooling and the newness can sometimes wear off: The last of our four biological children just began college, so we now have one in graduate school and three in college, and are starting over again with our sons who joined our family through adoption (K and Pre-K).  Your magazine reminds me how blessed I am to have this opportunity.  I also enjoy finding out about new products being introduced.

-Kimberly Edwards

Dear Jen,

Just read your article Running from the Chisel (Summer, 2003) on Crosswalk's homeschool section.  Thanks for the encouragement.  Our family isn't in the easiest of times over the past weeks due to some health problems of mine.  I'm starting to fell a bit useless since I'm not able to do all the good mommy/teacher stuff that I'm used to doing; you know how it is... Your article was a good reminder to me that the tough times are good growing times for my kids, too.  As I'm trying to understand what God is trying to teach me now, and being patient under his chisel, this can be a useful opportunity for my kids' character development, too.  I've been working kinda hard to keep their lives "normal," but I think I can let that go now.  I don't have to try to spare them from the difficulty - it can be good for them!  Anyway... don't know if that entirely made sense.  (I've only got two brain cells these days, and they don't always communicate with each other!)  Just wanted you to know that God used you to touch my heart.

-Shirley Mast, Lancaster, PA

Shirley,

I hear you.  None of us arrived, and we won't until the Lord comes back.  I think we'll always be under His "chisel" until then.  And the tough times really are good for our children, contrary to what some may say.  God uses these times to build character in all of us.  Bless you as you continue to lift Him up.

-Jen Ig

Dear Mrs. Igarashi,

Thank you so much for your article reprinted in Crosswalk.com (Running From the Chisel).  Your willingness to share your life with us is both refreshing and encouraging.  I am afraid that many of us are in the circumstances you describe, yet do not even realize it.  I look forward to more articles from you!  May God bless you and your family.

-Cordially, Geoff Phillips, San Jose, CA

Dear Gena,

I am so sorry in being so long in getting back to you!  You must think me incredibly rude or dead.  Well, the latter would be closet.  When I spoke to you last, by email, I had no idea how my life would quickly spiral down and out of control.  Of coarse God was still in control, and it is by His grace that I'm still hanging around.  Shortly after I spoke with you many months ago, I was struck down with multiple complications from Crohn's disease.  Over the last month I have required multiple procedures and surgeries.  Currently I am at home battling yet another onslaught of kidney stones and trying to figure out when we could possibly schedule another procedure to have this batch removed.  However, we are still homeschooling, though some would say we're not "real" homeschoolers.  With me on daily doses of morphine, and never knowing from day to day how I'm going to feel, we decided to use A Beka Academy DVD's this year for both of the boys.  We've considered moving closer to my husband's work so he would be more available, but we live in a small town where the husband of our best friend happens to be the county prosecutor, so we feel somewhat safe here.  On top of that, his wife has homeschooled their two children for the last 13 years, with the eldest going to University of Notre Dame this year.  They have also graciously offered that if anything were to happen to me, they would take our children while Tim is at work and continue to homeschool them.  The block that we live on is also very pro-homeschool with 4 out of the 5 families with children homeschooling.  The 5^th doesn't homeschool, but then he is the local public school superintendent.  (Hmm... does that give you an indication of what our public school is like?)  So we feel very blessed to live in such a nurturing homeschool environment, and have chosen to stay.  Hopefully my next surgery will be the last for a while, and my fervent prayer is that come next school year, my health will have returned and I once again be more involved in the boys' homeschooling.  We've been very blessed with A Beka, and are so glad there was something available rather than public school when I could not longer handle things like I used to.

            Well, this letter may be a little scattered, and for that I apologize, morphine will do that to you. ...I will most definitely keep you and TOS in my prayers.  Today my sons are looking at my (kidney) stone under the microscope.  Only homeschool children could capitalize on their mother's pain and suffering.  Who says children can't learn even when Mom is sick.

-Blessings, Julie Price

Julie,

Thank you for letting me print your letter.  Love your attitude!  I wanted everyone to see a "real" homeschool mom who is dedicated to her family even during periods of sickness.  I believe many of our readers will commit to praying for you and your dear family during this time.  May the Lord bless you.

-Gena

TOS friends,

A wonderful thing happened on the way to the mailbox the other day.  I discovered a box full of coins waiting for me there.  Incredible!  I didn't even know I was a winner in one of the contests.  My family won two kits of old Roman coins from the Dirty Old Coins, Co.  I need to let you know how truly amazing this really is to us.  Over the summer, my father, a life-long coin collector, got my son interested in collecting.  Since we live over 3000 miles away from each other, it has been a blessing to see a special, loving relationship form between my son and my father.  They have had many wonderful long-distant discussions about coins since then.

            My father never said a word to me, but I learned from my mom something very sad.  My sister, because of a family crisis, is struggling financially.  My parents don't have any extra money, so to help her in her time of need, my dad has been selling off his coin collection.  This is a large collection, and worth quite a bit of money, not to mention the sentimental value he is sacrifing.  I know how much those coins meant to him.  I have said nothing to my son about this.  In fact, my son doesn't even know about the kits from Dirty Old Coins.  So I am going to give one kit to my son and one to my father for Christmas.  I know they will not be able to replace the coins my father had been collecting for nearly fifty years, but perhaps it will rekindle the excitement of searching for a "rare" find.  And through the process, my father and my son can continue their precious long-distance chats.  What a blessing you have been to my family.  Thank you.

-The Borne Family

Homeschool Nation last issue

Kym's interview with Jack O'Connell was TOP NOTCH!  I'd LOVE to see more things like that in TOS.  While I realize that many homeschoolers ignore the public systems as much as possible, they need to realize that members of the DoE affect us (or CAN) greatly.  Those in education "professional" (vs. Names known only in homeschool circles) who actually support our efforts should be commended and made known.  This not only enriches the knowledge of the homeschooling community, but it also encourages public and private school administrators to keep up their work as well.  Thanks to the NEA's stance against homeschooling it is probably NOT easy to come out and say homeschoolers are good folks... and to recognize us as fellow educators is a very daring step.  I'd love to sit down and chat with Mr. O'Connell... he sounds like a real good egg.  I bet Kym had a great time getting to know him.  I want desperately to see more articles of this flavor.

-Melonie Murray, Washington

Dear TOS,

Because I live in California I was pleased to see an interview with own new State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O'Connell.  I was however shocked to read his comments at the end of the article.  I know I'm maybe over-sensitive, having myself been turned into the police and truancy office (anonymously of coarse) in November of 2002.  It was quickly resolved with help via a telephone call to HSLDA as the officials stood on the doorstep.  I am strongly opposed to the idea that the "homeschool community" should be "active in helping to identify those who abuse the opportunity."  I also run an umbrella school in California for homeschoolers and I have never met a family in 10 years who if struggling did not seek help.  Homescholling, I feel, should be folks coming along side each other and supporting each other through what can be a difficult task at times.

-Dawna, Central Valley, CA

Lord of the Rings and a Special Surprise

Dear Editor:

As a new guest writer for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, I was unprepared for the response to my article in last issue, "The Educational Value of The Lord of the Rings."  However, I got proof that not only is the magazine read by many homeschoolers, but by some other fascinating famous people as well.  The first surprise I received was in the number of people who read the article and responded to my website (www.homescholar.org).  As a result, quite a few people have contacted me concerning my new Tolkien literature curriculum.  This result has made me ever more eager to advertise in the magazine.  But the most unusual surprise was a phone call I received from a very impressive lady.  Mrs. Dorethea Johnson, president of Protocol School of Washington called to let me know that Liv Tyler, the lovely actress whose picture was featured in her role of Arwen, was her granddaughter!  Mrs. Johnson's company, which trains instructors to teach etiquette and protocol to ambassadors, businesses, and defense officials, produces Modern Manners for Children, a resource that is used by many homeschooled students.  Mrs. Johnson received a copy of the magazine at her office and was pleasantly surprised to see the beautiful full-color picture of her famous granddaughter included in the article.  She graciously took the time to call me and conversed with me for some time.  She seemed impressed with the quality of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.  This remarkable incident was another of the power of the printed page.  One never knows who may pick up a copy next!  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to write for your publication.

-Amelia Harper 

Amelia,

Thanks for sharing this with us.  Paul and I were in Kentucky with AiG when this news came in (on a hotel shuttle bus) and I think the driver thought we were insane as we (loudly) exclaimed over this!  How fun that the magazine reached Liv Tyler's grandma!  I didn't even know she was in the database.  Small world, huh?  Anyway, it's not a magazine that makes the writer great; it's the writer who makes the magazine.  So for this, we thank you.  Wonderful piece!  And as you know, we've invited you permanently to stay on at TOS along with Senior Analyst, Dr. Heather Allen as our new Media Spotlight experts.  We're excited to have you both!

-Gena

Readers Helping Readers

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine desires to hear your take on a variety of subjects for the purpose of bringing education, encouragement and support to our magazine/website readers.  Each issue, a question will be posed, and we desire for those in the homeschool community to answer it, if they are so led.

"I know most of us homeschoolers question ourselves on the ability to homeschool now and again (at least the ones I know), but I think it's even more apparent when you think you have failed.  We have three younger children, two of which are in mid-school and in 4^th grade.  It's been a struggle to remain focused and motivated to continue homeschooling.  Some might say, "Well, just put them in school then!"  But that's not an option for us because we feel strongly that this is what the Lord has for us.  So obviously, He's teaching us through this.  And still having younger kids at home after older ones have gone on, it's a strange place to be in the homeschooling arena.  It's been a lot of transition from friends moving on with older kids and then being with mostly "younger" moms with little ones.  It's very common (I hear) that older woman are homeschooling younger children.  It's a wonderful thing, I must say... it probably keeps us young (at heart anyway)!  And there must also be a large group that has such a wide span between ages (like myself) that they have older ones grown and younger ones at home.  It would be great to hear from some in your magazine.

-Love In Christ, Marta, TOS reader

If you don't question your ability to homeschool your children, you aren't doing something right!  There isn't a day that goes by that I do not question whether or not I have got the right curriculum or if I am doing the right thing.  I do not know your age, but I am pushing 31 with two children ages 12 and 8.  I often think to myself, just what am I going to do with myself when I am done homeschooling the oldest.  My husband reminds me (laughingly and lovingly) that I still have a younger one, too.  Then I say, "well, what do I do when she is done?"  It has become such a big part of my life to homeschool that I just do not know what I am going to do.  I am seriously considering adoption.  All I can say is "keep up the good work, mom!"  Be a mentor to those younger ladies whom you are around.  Show them the kind, loving, Christian love that brought *me* to Christ.  That in and of itself, to me, is just fulfilling as homeschooling.

-Antonia Wilson, FL

After having graduated three from homeschool high school (and two of those from college), and still homeschooling six (ages 7 - 17), I count it a tremendous blessing to be able to have a "second chance."  When so many women my age are experiencing "empty nest" I have the honored privilege to still be able to impact young lives for the Lord!  I have also found that I am now the "older woman" as I continue to associate with other homeschoolers through support groups and enrichment classes.  Through these contacts and others, I find that the Lord is opening doors for me to be an encouragement to younger homeschooling moms.  He has given me an extended ministry, so to speak, while still heeding His call to homeschool my own.  By God's grace He has given me "finished products" of totally homeschooled children and enabled me to be able to testify that "homeschooling works!"

-Maribeth Spangenberg, Quakertown, Pa.

This is from an older dad who is homeschooling younger children.  We also have an age gap between children.  It does keep us feeling younger.  But it also puts us in homeschooling activities where most of the parents are younger than we are.  With my gray hair and beard, many people thought our youngest child was a grandson!  It helps to find humor in such situations.  One of the arguments for homeschooling is that it allows our children to be with all age groups instead of segregated with others only their own age.  It also allows us to associate with parents of different ages yet with a common goal of educating our children in harmony with the Lord's will.  We can learn from each other.  As an older parent, I can impart some occasional advice to younger ones, and in turn be encouraged by their energy.

-Wayne S. Walker, Affton, MO

When I think back to the days our two boys were in public school, I think about the lack of discipline we saw in the classroom for the "problem child."  I think about how our boys came home from school, talking loudly and acting "wired."SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  I think about how the kids who didn't want to learn anything were the ones who got all the attention.  I think about how bullies picked on my son and got away with it.  I think about how my son's 4^th grade teacher belittled him in class when we wouldn't sign the permission slip to let him have unsupervised access to the Internet.  I think about the time wasted in the class on the non-performers.

            Do I question myself or my wife's ability to teach? ...I think about the inappropriate subjects that my sons would be exposed to in public school at their current ages.  I think about the inappropriate ways I see kids dressed in public school.  I think about the everyday graphic foul language I hear out of the kids in public school.  I think about the lack of respect I see the public school kids show their teachers.  I think about the many dumb public school teachers.  I've seen over the years and the liberal political attitudes they'd like to instill in my sons.  I think about the national achievement tests which our sons score in the top 10 percent in every subject area.  Most of all I think about having our sons at home with me and my wife everyday and enjoying their company.  I also think about the incredible results from their homeschooling.  Do I question our ability to home school our sons? Never.

-Jim and Debbie Wright, Wasilla, AK

Thank you to everyone who participated in the above problem submitted to TOS by a reader.  Hopefully it will bless many who are struggling with the same issue.  The question for next issue is on out company website, www.The HomeschoolMagazine.com under the tab, YOUR VOICE.  Please contribute your counsel for possible publication next issue!  Until next time, then!

-P & G