School days are near.

"These commandments that I give to you today are to be upon your hearts...

...Impress them on your children.
...Talk about them when you sit at home... ...and when you walk along the road...

...when you lie down and when you get up...

Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads...

Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

We have many ideas and goals when it comes to teaching our children in our home. I have talked about it many times but I will say it again...

The main goal in our hearts and in our home is always to put Jesus first-in everything we do. We are human and we are flawed but ultimately we know the plans that God has for us and for our children are far greater than to settle for things of this world. That is not to imply that children in a public school have less of a calling. In fact, I believe the opposite to be true--

I believe if you are a Christian parent whose children are going into a school setting everyday, you have a greater responsibility to be diligent in teaching them the Word, encouraging them to be spiritually prepared and praying over their day from start to finish.
I believe that your children will have awesome opportunities to be a light and witness in school and you should always encourage them to be just that.

Here at home, we are setting out to raise up warriors for Christ.

I want to be the mom who is studying, praying and seeking God in all I do so that my children will have the best example that I can give them as they learn.

I want Daniel to be a father who works hard and still makes it a priority to teach the children in almost every situation that occurs. Every situation is teachable, I believe, and we are praying that our eyes would be opened to those moments in the coming 'school year.'

Remember that we aren't exactly starting a structured plan for another year or two.

We are still very much 'unschooling' while the children are still little. However, Nora & I will begin schooling some while Braden sleeps in the afternoon. We are setting up the school room now and preparing to begin a routine that she will eventually feel comfortable with.

My bloggy friend, Tiffany, sent us the curriculum that she used with her daughter last year and I have begun getting many of the supplies in order. This plan is called "Hands on Homeschooling" and what I love about it is that Nora will get Bible every day. She will also be involved in music, cooking, manners, and even physical movement.

Nora is very advanced in many of the areas that this curriculum covers but at least it will give us a place to start and help ease us into schooling before Braden starts sometime next year.

Thus far, she knows all of her letters, the sounds they make, how to write them and has read up to 6 words on her own.

She needs a little work on her numbers but can count pretty far.

She knows all shapes, colors, etc.

She is interested when I teach her new Bible verses and I'm excited to focus on that during this journey with her.

So as you can see, fall is bringing new changes into our home. New and exciting changes that I have waited for my entire life. To have children of my own and be able to teach them in my home has been my desire and dream for as long as I can remember. Daniel is a great father and such a supportive husband and I am thankful for the blessing that he is in this new chapter. It will be a wonderful year and I cannot wait to share each step of the way.

We don't officially start for a few more weeks. In the meantime, I appreciate your prayers and encouragement during this time. We are in preparation both physically and spiritually and I know that God's hand is upon the whole process.

School days, school days.

Such sweet school days.