So how are you doing? School’s still in session for many of us, at least those who school year-round. We do that because it keeps our learning more relaxed; we don’t feel like we need to march lock-step in any way with the public school calendar. And if we didn’t finish a book or course during the rest of the year, we have summer to casually complete it. Homeschooling is not supposed to be tension-filled; it’s simply a way of life. We are always learning together with our children, exploring, researching, playing. Do “school” as a family for fun, and get out of the sheep-like “school bell” mentality. Life is fun; so is learning. Kids are very unique and were not created to be herded. Enjoy them as a family! See? You’re homeschooling.

Well, this first section from us will be short. We’ve brought in Kate Kessler, Jen Ig, and Amelia Harper to share some room with us in this column, so we’ll not gab at you too much this issue. So here’s the brief version of whatever chatter we were going to launch into: first, TOS Magazine Contributing Writer Jennifer Steward is here this issue teaching us about awfully fun subject—trains. She’s very good at what she does, unit studies. We really like her style of teaching kids and have personally learned a lot from her. You’ll have to check out the gazillion studies she offers (www.unitstudies.com). She’s also here conducting an interview with Alex and Brett Harris, two up-and-coming “homeschool stars.” Check out what they’re up to— it’s pretty neat. Jennifer’s daughter Whitney used to work for TOS in our customer service department about a year ago. We loved having her at the magazine and were sad when we moved to Tennessee and lost her as an employee. We remember one day last year when she showed up for work, absolutely glowing. She pulled Gena aside and told her she was being courted by a wonderful young man, Elliot Pope. She floated around on a cloud; it was so funny (and special) to watch. It was lovely; here were two homeschooled kids who had found each other and, sharing the same values, fell in love. TOS Staff Photographer (and gopher girl) Coie Igarashi flew out to California in May and took pictures of the wedding for the Popes. While our family was invited, we couldn’t make it; we were swamped with TOS and the trip was too far a distance to make. Anyway, we had to mention Whitney here. TOS wishes Elliot and her a happy, Godhonoring marriage; may they bring Him glory all of their days. And congratulations, Jim and Jennifer Steward. We’ve had several meals with your family and can attest to the amazing job you have done raising your children in the fear of the Lord. God has blessed you tremendously because you have been obedient to Him and His Word—in more ways than one. We are so pleased to see His obvious hand in your lives. We love your family.

This is our entrepreneurial issue! Cindy Rushton, Steve Beck, and others are here to talk business. Homeschoolers are a natural, it seems, when it comes to being “marketing minded.” We’ve known so many great homeschool families who start up businesses—and many are doing very well! Stay-at-home moms are often geniuses who come up with some pretty wild ideas that are blessing families everywhere. It’s a subject near and dear to our own heart since TOS was once a dream that we, Paul and Gena, had as we talked in bed one night. In fact, this Summer issue that you have in your hands right now commemorates our fifth year as a print magazine. The Lord is amazing; we truly believe He has done all of this. May we glorify Him alone with TOS. God will not share His glory, and we like it that way.

Speaking of the magazine, there are two things we’d like to bring up. First, we’re not going to be on the big newsstands anymore (such as Borders or Barnes & Noble). This was a financial decision we made after talking to several counselors. A couple of months ago, we had two large distributors contending for our contract. We ended up deciding to go with neither. TOS will be a better steward of what God has entrusted to us if we act as our own distributor. Much less waste of both dollars and magazines themselves will be the result of this new plan. You’ll still see us in some Christian bookstores and various homeschool outlets around the country, but you won’t be able to skip down to your local Hastings or Books-AMillion anymore to pick up a copy. Solution: SUBSCRIBE. Give us a call at 1-888-718-HOME and order a two-year subscription. Right now, we are even allowing the renewals to get all 19 homeschooling gifts. So call us and we’ll tell you if you made it into the first 5,000 who can claim the l9 learning gifts packages—hurry, they’ll sell out fast. And secondly, this: if you enjoy TOS, will you tell a friend about it? We are hoping to increase subscriptions this year and get the word out that children belong at home. If you like this magazine, please help us by telling your friends to subscribe—hey, they’ll get 19 free gifts if they get a two-year sub. And if you decide yourself to renew early, for a short time we are allowing the renewing subscribers to ALSO get all 19 gifts again. Remember last time you got all the goodies? Most of the companies are different now. Call us up and add on two more years and we’ll make sure you get all 19 learning items, completely free.

If you are an international reader, we have good news! Our first 19 gifts promo designed especially for you is up and running! Before, we had to turn you away, because only US customers could participate. Not anymore! You have your own 19 free gifts. Check out our site at www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com to see all your gifts.

We are also very excited to announce that Answers in Genesis has partnered with us in a cross-promotion. Check out the TOS website or see the ad on page 71 to learn more. You’ll want to save money by subscribing to both magazines while you can. AiG’s new magazine, Answers, is perfect for the homeschooling family. It will help equip the whole family to understand and be able to defend a biblical worldview. Parents can use it (with all of their kids) as an excellent supplement to their science and worldview curricula, and each issue even has a pull-out section for younger children. Start building the foundation now with the truth of God’s Word. The world offers empty hope. AiG is a trusted resource; we really love their ministry. Check out the cool pictures of their beautiful museum; we were just out there in the last few weeks and the place is almost done. Give it a year, and homeschoolers will be arriving by the busloads. We’ve toured it three times so far and are amazed at what God is doing there at AiG. Be sure to consider the Creation Museum as you plan out your 2007 spring/summer field trips.

That’s about it for us. Thank you for being here with us this issue as we celebrate FIVE years of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine in print. And drop us a line; tell us who you are and how you are doing in your homeschool. We try to answer every single email, personally, because we’re truly interested. We appreciate you!

Love,
—The Suarez Clan
Publisher@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com