Lately, I’ve been re-evaluating my blog, and my business.  It’s getting close to a year since I started this blog, and this homeschool coaching business.  I’ve been able to help many people and I’ve learned alot along the way.  One thing I’ve recently realized is that I haven’t shared enough of my personal story with my readers.  So my goal for this next year is to share more of “me” with you.  You’ll get a sneak peek into our homeschool, and into my own personal thoughts about life.  I hope that’s ok.  Don’t worry, I’ll continue writing helpful articles about homeschooling as well.

I thought I’d begin by sharing my family’s homeschooling journey.  But before I can share about how we began homeschooling, let me share with you how our family began.  My husband and I met at a small University in Louisiana called Grambling State University.  We took a public speaking class together.  I remember one week we were walking from class together and I discovered that  I was friends with one of his cousins.  She and I graduated from high school together. What a coincidence!  That started a connection between the two of us.  We were just friends.  At the time, he was dating someone else.  But I’ll be honest, I was intrigued by this slender, gentle man.  Especially when he gave a speech about how to find a mate.  He said all the things a girl wants to hear from the man she wants to marry.

About a year later, Ed and I reconnected.  Though I didn’t know it, he had withdrawn from school the semester after our public speaking class.  He had been called up to go to Desert Storm.  Now he was back in school, and he wasn’t dating anyone.  Because we enjoyed talking to one another, we rekindled our friendship.  After some time, we began to consider taking our relationship to the next level.  We dated for 2 years before marrying.  Those two years were filled with great joys, much pain, and so much turmoil.

My parents didn’t want me to date him.  Or anyone–probably.

I grew up in a very strict, conservative Christian home.  My parents set extremely high standards, that we were required to meet or life wasn’t pleasant.   (But that’s another story.  I’ll share another time.)  After meeting Ed (the first young man I had ever introduced to my dad),my dad forbid me to date him.   I tried so hard to obey him, but I was already in love with Ed.  How do you stop loving someone who has captured your heart?

I remember one day announcing to Ed that I would no longer date him.  We would have to be friends. I’m still in shock that Ed didn’t run for the hills after that announcement!  As I shared this deeply hurtful news to him, I giggled the entire time–uncontrollably.  Really, my heart was broken, and I wanted to sob uncontrollably.  Anyway, for many months we attempted to just be friends.  It didn’t work.  We loved each other and we knew that we would be married.

In fact, marriage seems as natural as taking our next breath.  We both talked about it freely.  But… my parents.  After months of my parents trying to manipulate and control me, and me trying to appease them, I came to a fork in the road.  I realized that I had been backed into a corner. I had to choose Ed–my beloved, or my family whom I love dearly.  It was so unfair that I was forced to choose.  Why couldn’t I have both? (Now I do!)  It was a tremendous amount of pressure to put on a twenty year old!  My heart was so torn!

Finally, just weeks before I graduated from college, I made a final decision.  I would marry Ed–without my parent’s approval. We had sought my dad’s blessing, but he refused to give it to us.  In fact, he made it clear that the family would not attend the wedding.   In the meantime, Ed waited patiently for me.  I’m so thankful for his patience and for putting up with the drama of my family.

Just two days before we graduated from college, Ed and I were married.  The only family in attendance was Ed’s aunt.  The rest of the attendees were our friends from college.  Finally–we were married!  It was the happiest and saddest day of my life.  Next it was time to announce our marriage to my family.  So we did, and it wasn’t received well at all.  My dad told me to pack my bags and leave.  My sisters cried.  My mom cried.  I cried.  Ed and I  left.  It’s taken years for the deep wounds of that day to heal.

That’s how this little family began.  With little support. With no money. No jobs.  But we had each other and God.  We both held on tightly to our God as we walked hand-in-hand into our future.  As I reflect on our simple, yet tumultuous beginnings, I’m reminded of how God is able to take a tiny mustard seed and transform it into something far grander.  He’s taken our tiny seed of a family, and grown it into something beautiful for Him.

We celebrated out 20th Wedding anniversary this year. I’m pretty confident I made the right choice 20 years ago. Actually, I’m sure of it!