Time is precious. I fully realize that when you chose to visit my blog, you came looking for something–knowledge, encouragement, inspiration, or maybe just a good laugh. In any case, I value your presence and want to help you make the most of your time.
What would I want a person to know specifically about this blog that would help him or her spend time here wisely? I’d begin with “Why I Write.” In this post I attempt to pen my heart regarding the purpose of this blog. I expanded on this idea with some of the technical reasons I chose WordPress in “What My Blog Wants to Be.”
I write primarily about our family, and what occurs in our lives as we strive through Christ to educate our children at home. I use that phrasing intentionally because the fact that we home educate has, over the years, changed every single aspect of our life, and for those who find themselves here as possible new homeschoolers, or brand new, you’ll find that the same is true of your home as you embark on this journey. Also, if you are new and considering homeschooling, take a look at these posts:
Is this what God wants you to do?
Just how long does a homeschool day take?
Being aligned with your husband in this homeschool journey
Though most of my posts are day-to-day happenings and frequent revelations of the Lord’s wisdom, grace, and much mercy therein, I also occasionally dabble in a “how-to,” although I am without doubt still learning as we go. Check these out:
Working with multiple kids, multiple ages
How to date your kids
Help for a reluctant reader
As I state on my “Who is Belinda?” page, I have a number of irons in the fire. I couldn’t get nearly as much accomplished without some attention to my overall health and wellbeing. That said, I enjoy writing about how we manage to eat healthy and feed picky/ peculiar eaters.
Posts on green smoothies are here and here.
Cooking for a family with very diverse tastes
However you arrived, enjoy your visit, and most of all, be blessed and encouraged in Jesus’ name.
Hi,
I discovered your blog by way of NatSun. I will visit again. God has graced you with an awesome responsibility of homeschooling. Continue to enjoy the blessings of God.
Be blessed,
Trinity
Trinity, thanks so much for your visit, and for your kind words and encouragement. I look forward to seeing you again!
Hi, I am so happy to found your blog. I just pinned it on Pinterest under my Homeschool Mom Blogs board. Find me on Pinterest under MrsVCar. I have a friend who will especially appreciate your thoughts on natural hair. I love the long hair button and will try to pin that too. My daughter has long hair and she is trying to grow it longer. Tips on this are appreciated as I always had trouble in this area. God bless you and keep you. I will link to you on my blog as soon as I can- http://www.HomeschoolMomTips.blogspot.com.
I’m so glad you stopped by, Victoria, and I am glad that you enjoyed. I will pay you a visit, and look for you on Pinterest!
Greetings fellow homeschooler! I was googling African American homeschooling curriculum (hard to find) and stumbled upon your page from successful-homeschooling.com. I will def. be reading all that I can. I recently decided to homeschool my boys, so I am completely new. Finding blogs such as this is such a tremendous help and I thank you (and others) for documenting your journey.
Afreeca, welcome, welcome, welcome! I am always excited to see someone else make the decision to homeschool. This is such a fantastic for home education, with a wealth of experience and an overwhelming amount of information (in most areas, as you stated) to help you. Feel free to visit about the blog, get whatever little wisdom I can offer, and also to ask questions as needed. God bless you and your family!
Hello!! I found your site from the youtube videos on homeschooling on the cheap. I think you mentioned that you are from Texas and I was wondering if you could give me some info regarding Texas’ laws on homeschooling. Our family just moved here 2 months ago and I want to make sure that we are in compliance. Thank you and be blessed!!!
Welcome to Texas, Teresa, and thanks for watching the videos–I hope they were helpful!!
Texas is considered a “homeschool friendly” state, legislating very little of the homeschool environment. Homeschools here are considered unaccredited, private schools. Legally, a homeschool must be in session for 170 days of the year, and there are certain basic courses that must be taught–grammar/language arts, vocabulary (in some form), citizenship (Bible, history, and/or something else that builds character), and science. It’s been YEARS since I made a conscious effort to look up the specific requirements, but you can find more here: http://hslda.org/laws/default.asp?State=TX. Again, thanks for the visit, and I do hope that I’ve helped in some way. Blessings.
Learning more about you and your beautiful family as I read. 🙂
Thank you so much for taking the time to read, sis.
I’m getting papers ready now to homeschool my 15 yr old.I have a 5 yr old but not for sure if im ready to homeschool him. He hasn’t started school yet.Scored above average for preschool.But im here because i want to know whats the next step after I’ve got paper approved…
I’m excited about the decision I’ve made to pull her out of traditional school.
Need to know whats a good curriculum to start off with.Need something that she can go at her on pase?
Thanks for the visit, Persephone! Before you dive into curriculum, might I suggest that you take this time to back up and become a student of various approaches to homeschool? What happens so often is that we run out and buy a curriculum based upon the success rate of someone close to us whose opinion we value. Learning how our children like to learn, becoming comfortable with what those learning styles mean for us, and even incorporating hubby’s “vision” (even if it may not sound like a vision right now) takes time, and now is the time to do it. Also understand that any of these factors can and probably will change over time, so be ready to revisit the foundation of your school at any time. Take a look at what approaches might allow you both to get what you want out of the school day. One of my favorite resources to do this is Sally Clarkson’s Educating the Whole-Hearted Child. She is a big advocate of Charlotte Mason/ literature-based approaches, but she gives a good pro/con look at each of the major approaches that are possible foundations for HOW you school. Also check out Honey for a Child’s Heart and The Well Educated Mind. In becoming your first student and talking with your family about what’s happening, you will have a better idea for teaching them. Feel free to write me offline at belinda.bullard@blessedheritage.com
loved reading today. my very best friends are african and cuban black americans. both of my special friends have very different views on teaching black history. one is teaching only black history. one teaches it all, as do I. I am a white european american who adopted a spanish/rish mix boy at 8 months. my hisband and I homeschool our aspergers boy, teaching all history. to include his hispanic roots, our italian,swedish,english and german roots. then we go on to teach all others too indian, black, all cultures around the world. thanks for sharing
I think you are on the right track, Tamela–it is ALL God’s story, and key to our ability to change the world around us, one bite of knowledge at a time! Thanks for reading, and for commenting!
I’m so glad to have found another black family who loves God and homeschools their children! I’m a mom to a 4 year old and I am seriously considering homeschooling him even though pressure from my family is telling me to put him in public school my gut and I know God is telling me otherwise! Thank you for sharing your experiences and useful information!
I am glad that you stopped by, and I am even happier that you are being obedient to what the Lord is calling you to do. He will bless and honor your “yes” response to Him, and though your family might knock the method, they will not be able to knock the fruit! Happy homeschooling!
Hello hope you are well. I am a new home school mom for the 2019-2020 school year. My daughters will be going to 7,8 and 10th grade. I look forward to using your blogs for tips, ideas and encouragement.
I wanted to know if you previously had a African american/ World history course ? I only saw individual books in the shop.
Be blessed and happy that I found your website.
Abby in Louisiana
Abby, welcome to the homeschooling community and congratulations on your decision. I do not have a world history course (yet), but I do have African American history studies in the context of American history in general. Please check out our site for other products at http://blessedheritage.com .