Before we had any children, we watched for a few years as our pastor's wife homeschooled her children. She invited me over and showed me her basement with all the desks and bookshelves and school projects. She had six children and made homeschooling look so easy and natural. Her enthusiasm was contagious and her children were a delight. We knew then that we would never send our children to a public institution. Home was obviously best.

I was so excited; I started attending meetings when my first children were 4, 2, and a newborn. The ladies never laughed at me for wanting to start so early, or thought my naïve questions were silly. The hostess let me look at her bookshelves and suggested books to read. She was hospitable, even inviting our family over to join in their family events. I was captivated by the family dynamics in homeschooling families. So much more than homeschooling was gleaned from these ladies.

I am ever thankful and grateful for the many homeschool moms who have helped, inspired, and encouraged me along the way. When I feel inadequate to help others, I remember the ones who have helped me and how they made me feel. To encourage you, I would like to share some of my favorite homeschool quotes that come from my own children. Last year, I was preparing to speak about "Remembering why we are homeschooling." So I asked some of my own children. Here's what they had to say in answer to the question, "Why do you believe we are homeschooling?"

16-year-old: "We are homeschooling because we are to be in the world and not of the world. And, we have time to do what we want like hobbies and crafts-that's because we can do more schoolwork in less time since we can focus."

14-year-old: "Because (1) public education isn't Godly education, (2) we don't want to split up the family, and (3) we want to stay away from worldly influences."

10-year-old: "Because they took Jesus out of the schools. And they teach the big bang and that we came from a glob of goo."

7-year-old: "Schools talk about billions of years. I'm glad we don't go to school cuz there are mean kids and bad stuff there. I like being home."

4-year-old: "What is that?" (After explaining to her that it means she can stay home and I can be her teacher, she said the following.) "I like you being my teacher cuz you are good and teach us to do stuff like school and chores. Thank you for being my teacher and teaching me to love my brothers and sisters and to obey."

Asking your children the same question might be a revealing exercise. You might just come up with your own favorite homeschool quotes from their answers.

My very next favorite quote would be the motto on our website which reads "Home Where They Belong." When the world mocks us, when our relatives chide us, when our own hearts deceive us, we need to know beyond doubt that our children are most assuredly home where they belong.

And I can't possibly leave it there. I must give you at least three of my favorite homeschool scriptures which beat any and all human quotes:

Jeremiah 10:2 "Learn not the way of the heathen."

Colossians 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

Proverbs 13:20 "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."

Offer your friendship to a new homeschooler or to one who is just interested, whether or not you think you are good enough or wise enough to help. There just might be another me hiding out there that could use another you to hold her hand.

Are you thankful for someone in your life who helped you in your homeschooling journey? Take a little time to thank her and to thank God for guarding this freedom. While you are praying, ask God to give you the courage to help someone else. They just might write about it someday!

Deborah Wuehler is the senior editor for The Old Schoolhouse^® Magazine. She resides in Roseville, California, with her husband Richard. They are the parents of eight children: three teenagers, three elementary, a preschooler, and a baby. They have been homeschooling since the birth of their firstborn who is now graduated from high school. Many of her articles can be found on www.Crosswalk.com, and many other homeschooling sites. She is a group leader in her local homeschooling support organization and she loves digging for buried treasure in the Word, reading, writing, homeschooling, and dark chocolate! Email her at senioreditor@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com.