Will you tell us what it was like growing up in your family (when you started homeschooling, how many siblings, etc.)?
I am the second of six children, five of whom are boys. Our house was rambunctious growing up, but I never sensed that my parents wanted anything different. My mom showed a lot of patience and perseverance. We started “homeschooling” when my older brother Cal was ready to start school, but I don’t think there was ever a time that my parents weren’t teaching in some manner.

I loved the things that boys are known for: fishing, camping, wrestling with brothers, playing guns, computer games, airplanes, and especially doing things with my dad. Cal and I joined a Boy Scout troop with another friend when we were old enough. That was a large part of my life through high school and I eventually earned my Eagle Scout. In all of our activities my parents drew out spiritual applications and encouraged us to grow closer to the Lord through difficulties. Seeing God move directly on several occasions greatly deepened my faith.

What are some of the highlights of your homeschooling experience?
Being able to set my own schedule for the day. Most of my study was on my own, and the sooner I finished, the sooner I could do stuff I really wanted to do. Beyond that, I loved the ability to learn from many different environments, not just the traditional classroom. I spent time working on a farm and attended several music courses in another state. I can play the piano for my church to this day because of those courses! Adventurous camping trips with the Boy Scouts and piano competitions were also highlights.

I’ve always been impressed by your ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds, and your heart for sharing the Gospel with them. What suggestions do you have for those who would like to grow in these areas?
I remember being scared to hand out Gospel tracts to people, let alone talk to them about Jesus, and the burning in my heart knowing that in a sense, I was “ashamed” of the Lord – or at least that my fear of people was greater than my love for Him.

I had several profound experiences and mentors that God used to shape this area of my life. The first was a mission trip to Mexico at the age of 15. It was on this trip that sometimes I didn’t even pass out a tract because I was scared to do so. But I watched my pastor, several men from the church, and my brother Cal boldly talking to people and giving them tracts, and slowly I gained the courage to do so as well. Two years later when I returned to Mexico, I was even more convicted of the need to tell people about Jesus. Often now, my motivation in striking up a conversation with someone is almost entirely to direct the conversation to spiritual things and be a witness of the Lord.

In between my trips to Mexico, one of my friends had the vision to start a door to door witnessing effort in my hometown. He teamed up with our church pastor and a couple of the men from the church to bring the vision to reality. During the year and a half or so that we went out once a week, I learned more about talking to people than I had in the 16 years to that point. Seeing older men and their reactions/responses and knowledge of the Bible had a huge impact on me. I knew that I needed to be like them to be an effective witness for the Lord. As each Tuesday would roll around, it was also a huge motivation to confess anything I had not gotten right with the Lord or other people. I could sense an enormous difference spiritually if I was not right with the Lord before going out witnessing. That was another important lesson imprinted on my heart from those times.

Here are a few practical suggestions for those who want to more effectively share their faith with others:

1) Start somewhere. Try to find someone who has experience, and then just do it.

2) Prepare key verses ahead of time and memorize them.

3) The Scriptures are your most powerful weapon; don’t be afraid to use them! Intellectual reasoning has its place, but using Scripture is always your best “weapon.”

4) If you don’t know the answer to someone’s question or argument, make it a point to find the answer. You may or may not be able to go back to the person, but someone else may bring it up and you better have done your homework after the first time!

Now that you’re married and have children, what are your thoughts and plans for their education?
My wife and I are going to homeschool our kids. We want to be the people most involved in our children’s development, upbringing, and education, and homeschooling fills that desire better than any other option at this point.

Your family has recently launched some home business ventures. Will you tell us about them?
We have several branches of our fledgling home business. When our first child was born, I built him a changing table that doubles as a dresser. It is one of our most used pieces of furniture – even now with three children! Because of how much we like ours, I’ve built several others since then and am offering the same design for sale. I can also do custom work if someone wants a different design. I also build and sell doll furniture, and my wife, Tiffany, makes tutus in a variety of colors and sizes.

Another branch of our business is all-natural, handmade goat’s milk soap. Goat milk soap is naturally moisturizing and free of chemicals. We started using it to alleviate our son’s eczema. After seeing it completely clear up his skin irritations, we were convinced it was a good product and became distributors. We don’t have this on our website, so the best option for more info on pricing, fragrances, etc. is to e-mail us at chiffanys@gmail.com.

Our website is chiffanys.com. It’s still new, so we don’t have everything up yet, but we will be updating it in the coming days.

In what ways do you think homeschooling contributed most to your life now as an adult?
My relationship with the Lord is at the top of the list. I wouldn’t have the depth of relationship with Him if it weren’t for my years of homeschooling.

Secondly is my love for learning. This wasn’t always the case, but as I matured I grew in my desire to learn, and homeschooling gave me the tools to do it.

Finally, the character that my parents sought to instill in me has proved invaluable in my workplace. Seeing the fruits of being honest, responsible, and hardworking has opened opportunities I would not have had otherwise. I am glad for my home school background and feel that it gave me an edge in my faith in God, purpose in life, learning, and work ethic.

My mom and a friend will be running the Pajama School booth full of lots of great resources. And I’ll be hanging out with all the staff, teachers, and children at Adventures In Character – one of my favorite places to be! Here’s our theme this year:

We have an amazing group of young people that come together each year to put together the program. You can see pictures and bios of the staff and advisory committee members on the AIC website. Here are a few other snapshots from our preparations:

Alexander, Wesley, Annabelle, and Mr. Davidson discuss some of the details of scene eight.

Captain Finney prepares his crew for the imminent attack of the pirates.

The dread pirate captain, Adolphina, and her scraggly pirate crew, are ready to take on the crew of the ship, Speranza. We are also thrilled this year to have composer Jared Kraft writing original music for our drama soundtrack!

Our first teacher training was a tremendous success!

The Lord has raised up a host of godly young people to serve in every aspect of AIC. We are truly grateful! If you’re in the area, there is still time to register for the convention. The keynote speaker for the adults this year is Voddie Baucham, so it should be a wonderful weekend of challenging and inspiring messages!

Reflections from A Maiden’s Heart

It’s true my heart is fixed on Christ,
but as on earth I dwell
I cannot help but look around
for one who’d suit me well.

A man of God who loves His Word
and seeks Him every day
is what I watch for most of all
in men that pass my way.

A purpose and a calling
that’s worth a lifetime spent
would beckon me to leave what’s mine
and go wherever he’s sent.

Though I confess my heart may leap
at charming words and attention,
true honor is reserved for those
whose goal is my protection.

While I may never notice
all the little things they do,
the heart of a true gentleman
is always shining through.

Every man bears differently
the image of God in his life,
but true and pure his way must be
if he wants a godly wife.

It was my second year as a teacher in Adventures in Character. I was excited – I had looked forward to this weekend for months! Finally, the children arrived for the Friday welcome session. My fellow teacher and I were busy putting names to faces in the semi-hectic get-to-know-you session. We started playing the game where each child names their favorite animal. The next child has to name their favorite animal and the favorite animal of the person before them, and so on.

The kids were going down the line, naming their favorite animals. My fellow teacher and I, naively pleased with our early success, listened with interest as the favorites were named: “Dog,” “horse,” “bear,” – all the usuals. It was going great. It continued normally until there was an unexpected twist: “Cat,” “elephant,” “southern douroucouli.” The game suddenly stopped. The next child just looked at me, waiting for my input. “What?” I asked the young boy, Matthew, who had blurted out the unfamiliar animal. “Southern douroucouli,” he cheerfully repeated. “It’s a monkey.” It was then that I knew this would be a memorable year.

We got through the game – but with difficulty. Most of the kids couldn’t remember how to pronounce Matthew’s favorite animal, and Matthew wouldn’t take “monkey” as an acceptable alternative. Matthew was not at all a difficult student, but definitely a busy one. Energetic and excited. Very excited. About five times that afternoon, Matthew asked about food. He wasn’t convinced that he’d make it to dinner, but I assured him he would.

Whatever activity we did, Matthew participated with gusto. It was certainly a fast-paced afternoon. Soon it was time for the last drama session before dinner break. We were sitting in the front row, and Matthew was sitting next to me. Now, all students love the drama, but it was an especially aerobic activity for Matthew. He was fully involved in the story, yelling out warnings to the characters who didn’t seem to notice the bad guys or their plots. His enthusiasm was cute (and contagious).

All too soon, the drama ended, with the usual suspense. It was time for dinner, and I thought Matthew would be ecstatic. This was the moment he’d waited for all afternoon: food. But, to my surprise, Matthew let out a groan of disappointment. The drama was too captivating. He was having too much fun. He didn’t want to leave – not even for food.

“Give me your heart, my son,” Solomon counseled his son (Proverbs 23:26). While this is written from a father to a child, and is first and foremost about parenting, it is also a testimony of what it means to teach. Teaching is not all about sitting, raising your hand, and being quiet while only the teacher talks (although all of that is needed at some point). For Matthew, sitting quietly and listening could be quite difficult. But as soon as something had his interest, he was a sharp student.

When teaching, the important thing isn’t that all the kids are as quiet as mice and sitting perfectly still. Learning takes place when their hearts are reached. Get down on their level. Let them ask questions and have dialogue with you. Tell a story, play a game – anything to make a specific principle stand out in their memory. They may not remember Point #4, but they’ll remember a richly described story or a  particularly hilarious game. That is teaching success: a heart reached.

Like I said, Matthew had trouble with quietness and stillness. But he was a sponge. He drank in everything that was given to him once it was given to him in a way where his interest was captivated. Many kids are a lot like Matthew. They may not know what a southern douroucouli is, but they know a caring teacher when they see one.

A crowd of teachers eagerly took their places as the session got underway. I waited expectantly as one of the organizers of the event introduced me to the group. They had asked me to present a workshop on marketing and running a successful music studio. I was excited to share some of the things I’ve learned over the years. But I wasn’t prepared for the specific remarks of my colleague and how they would give me a whole new appreciation for the decision my parents made many years ago to home educate their children. His words still echo in my mind, “Natalie comes from a somewhat untraditional background…” (I’d heard that before!) “…and I think that’s what contributes largely to her fresh and creative approach.” (Wow, I’d never really thought of that!)

Pondering that statement over the last several months has led me to realize what a tremendous gift my parents gave me when they pulled me out of school to start our homeschool journey. Not that I always felt that way, mind you! Our first year of transition, in particular, was wrought with lots of frustration and tears. But as we learned to replace society’s educational model with a more biblical understanding of true education, a whole new world began to open up before us. Instead of being constrained to a classroom for hours at a time, life became our learning ground. I was free to explore areas of interest and pursue skills I wanted to develop.

In a recent interview with Kevin Swanson (another homeschool grad!) on Generations Radio, he shared a vivid analogy: those who are raised in our modern schooling system tend to approach education and life as a paint-by-number piece of art, whereas those who are raised outside the system are likened to a sculptor. In a paint-by-number, as you know, someone has already determined the final design and you – the artist – are just coloring in the spaces. There’s some room for artistic expression, but only insomuch as it falls within the parameters of the original designer’s intent. A sculptor, on the other hand, employs a host of tools and materials to create a unique work of art – limited only by his imagination and ability. Obviously these are generalizations, but I love the thought that a homeschool education can be the catalyst for ideas, discoveries, and approaches that might otherwise lie dormant in a tightly-structured, conformity-based classroom environment.

My favorite definition for creativity comes from CharacterFirst: “approaching a need, a task, or an idea from a new perspective.” In a homeschool environment, the opportunities to develop creativity are endless! Consider these needs: lunchtime meals, clean clothes, money for school curriculum. Or what about some daily tasks: practicing an instrument, doing a math lesson, cleaning the bathroom. And we could never exhaust a list of ideas: hosting a Bible study, organizing a field trip, creating a short film. One of the biggest advantages we have toward developing creativity in these areas is time. The average graduating high school senior will have spent almost 30,000 hours at school, plus even more on homework! When you consider that the recognized number of hours it takes to become an expert in a given field is approximately 10,000 you begin to realize the incredible potential that exists for homeschoolers…if we use our time wisely.

Ephesians 5:16 says that we should be, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” The idea behind the word “redeeming” is that we spend our time on that which is profitable. In other words, we are trading in our time to get back something more valuable. You could contrast this with the opposite – squandering time, which is frivolously spending time on things that have no lasting value. With that in mind, I’d like to outline three ways that you can redeem the time by developing creativity in your life:

1. Spend time with the Creator. Proverbs 2:6 is one of my favorite verses, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Whatever your questions, whatever your needs, whatever your problems, the answer is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. The more time you spend with the Lord, reading and studying His Word, the more you will be able to draw on His wisdom and creativity as situations arise in your life. We are promised “good success” if we meditate on the law of the Lord day and night and do all that is written in it (Joshua 1:8). Likewise, the man who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night is said to prosper in all he does (Psalm 1:2-3). Talk about a return on your investment! Filling your heart and mind with the wisdom and knowledge and understanding of the Lord is the source from which the fountain of creativity springs forth!

2. Take time to think. Victor Hugo once said, “A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labor and there is an invisible labor.” Isn’t that great?! Whether due to busy schedules or hours wasted on mindless entertainment, there is precious little time given to just thinking. One of my favorite things to do is to make my way onto our deck late at night, gaze up at the stars, and just…think. Sometimes memorized Scriptures come to mind; sometimes I present questions to God; sometimes I ponder a difficult situation with a student and how I should address it; sometimes I reflect on attitudes or behaviors in my life of which I need to repent; sometimes I contemplate upcoming events or special occasions and what I can do to make them more meaningful and memorable; and so on. Another essential for me is my “idea book.” It’s just a plain spiral-bound notebook, but I use it to jot down thoughts and brainstorm about everything from goals for the year, to lesson plans for students, to book marketing strategies, to articles, and more. Society today undervalues just sitting and thinking because it is perceived as being unproductive. Quite the contrary! It is an essential underlying element that produces an even greater level of productivity.

3. Make creative plans and put them into action. There’s a certain amount of risk in being creative because you have to be willing to try something that you haven’t done before. I like to think of scenarios in terms of a “means justifies the end” philosophy. “Will the benefit derived from the planning, preparation, implementation, and evaluation of this project be worth it even if the endeavor itself is deemed unsuccessful?” Not only does this serve to bolster enthusiasm and diligence for the project, but it also offsets the discouragement that accompanies a failed venture. So put on your creative “thinking caps” and just give it a try: treat your family to a fancy lunchtime tea and scones, make your own set of flashcards and work with a sibling on math facts, invite a mature Christian to share their testimony and host a group of friends for fellowship and encouragement in their walk with the Lord. As you develop creativity, you will discover all sorts of ways to be a blessing to the people around you. Not to mention that you’ll always keep them guessing as to what you’ll come up with next!

Creativity is an amazing gift from the Lord, and homeschooling affords us the time and environment to develop it in our own lives. I’ve had to throw away my fair share of “paint-by-number” coloring sheets as the Lord has led me to re-think the customary way of doing things in society. It’s a little scary, but what an adventure! So, grab your block of marble (i.e. whatever needs, tasks, or ideas are facing you today) and start sculpting away. Let’s become everyday artists who fill people’s lives with creativity and cause them to marvel at the ingenuity of our Creator!

This year was another year of major accomplishments for me. For starters, I overcame my habit of falling asleep on the couch and managed to sleep in my bed almost every night, fixed dozens of experimental recipes without killing off any of my family members, didn’t destroy more than one kitchen appliance during said cooking experiments, drove four hours straight without getting drowsy on one of our family trips, gave up my faithful black planner and finally went digital…and the list goes on. Impressive, huh? Come on, I’m an author; I have to take every opportunity to improve my skills of self-adulation and making the ordinary sound incredibly extraordinary.

Speaking of books (we were, right?), I’ve been reading a biography of the renowned scientist Marie Curie and could identify with her subtly humorous sentiment, “There is the need of new impressions; the need of change, of movement and life, which seizes me sometimes with such force that I want to fling myself into the greatest follies, if only to keep my life from being eternally the same. Fortunately I have so much work to do that these attacks seize me pretty rarely.” Maybe she was taking advice from my dear departed Grandpa who always expressed support for my endeavors, adding, “being busy is good…keeps you out of trouble”! In reality, though, I have learned more than ever this year that it is the grace of God alone that keeps me “out of trouble” and dependent upon Him for strength, wisdom, and joy.

To borrow again from Madame Curie, “It is difficult for me to tell you about my life in detail; it is so monotonous and, in fact, so uninteresting. Nevertheless I have no feeling of uniformity and I regret only one thing, which is that the days are so short and that they pass so quickly…and if one didn’t like the work it would be very discouraging.” It is truly a blessing that in spite of an often busy schedule, I really love the work I do. Whether it’s teaching my piano students, working on projects for our music teachers associations, directing the Adventures in Character children’s program, maintaining websites for several organizations, serving as a Precinct Committeewoman, brainstorming new marketing ideas for the products we’re selling through Sibro Publishing, creating resources and writing posts for Music Matters Blog, or even keeping up with the family ironing, each task can be met with enthusiasm and creativity.

And, lest I allow the predictability and enjoyment of my schedule to become the source of my security, God has seen fit to bring numerous challenges my way. By far, the most difficult experiences this year have been the various speaking engagements that I’ve had. I used to be one of those rare people who actually liked public speaking. But after a couple of emotionally traumatic experiences last year, I joined the ranks of the majority of individuals who are scared to death of speaking to a large group of people. Which is probably why God gave me fourteen such “opportunities” this year! In every instance, He has peeled off more layers of pride and self-reliance and drawn me closer to Himself. I have learned over and over again that I will never be enough in God’s eyes – never righteous enough; never wise enough; never eloquent enough; never humble enough; never attractive enough; etc. But Jesus Christ is all-sufficient. One of the things that struck me during my reading of the Gospels this year was the phrase that God declares several times, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Ultimately, then, it is the presence of His Son, Jesus, within us that brings God pleasure, not our vain attempts to accomplish great things for Him.

May each of us be mindful throughout the New Year that our hope rests not in our accomplishments (thankfully, since I can’t imagine going two years in a row without multiple appliance breakages… ), but in the greatest accomplishment of all – that Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby, dwelt in the midst of sinful humanity, and then “suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

My parents met during college and married a few years after my mother graduated with her teaching degree. She taught in private and public schools before and shortly after they were married, but she has spent almost all of her married life as a stay-at-home mom. Her humble willingness to sacrifice so much has been a tremendous blessing for our family. My father provides well, leads us, and prioritizes his family well above the many activities that a lot of men highly value in our culture.

My parents, especially my mother even before marriage, were influenced by some of the pioneers in the homeschooling movement. They came to understand the God-ordained blessing of children and the necessity of training and discipling us for service to Christ, His Kingdom, and the people God brings into our lives. As their vision has grown and matured, they have been more and more deliberate each year to positively equip their children, by God’s grace.

Just the other day someone questioned me on homeschooling and suggested potential reasons why my family decided to homeschool. He asked if I ever challenged the decision my parents made or whether I was just stuck with the idea – and if I would consider alternatives, such as public schooling, for my own children. Suffice it to say that my parents were convicted of their God-given responsibility to train their children in real-life, day-to-day, home-based personal discipleship. I am so grateful for this, and I stand firmly upon this conviction as my very own. At the same time, we always appreciate opportunities to learn more over time concerning the biblical purpose, content, and method of education.

What are some of the things you appreciate the most about being homeschooled?
Where do I start? Homeschoolers are out of the mold. We can and must expect much of ourselves as we build upon the authority of Christ and His Word in all areas of life. Our parents, siblings, and other families around us can nurture and reinforce discipline and early maturity day-by-day. If we are consistent with our principles, we are not peer-focused, and we don’t pressure ourselves to conform to the mediocrity and apathy of the world.

Homeschoolers have so much potential for excellence – to shine, even in the midst of cultural darkness, as brilliant lights for Christ. Our vision has been and must continue to be multi-generational faithfulness and discipleship. Through homeschooling, we have avoided a lot of negative worldly influences, even as we have become equipped to serve and make disciples in the world.

Homeschoolers have great opportunities to learn at their own pace, explore new things, and pursue fields of study to prepare for their life’s work. My parents always placed great emphasis on equipping us with the basic tools of learning so that we could teach ourselves throughout life. We have learned to learn, and we love to learn.

I have experienced the wonderful opportunity to develop lasting, deep, precious relationships with my siblings. Without homeschooling, I don’t believe this would have happened. We love each other and would rather spend time together as a family than go our separate ways. We are not highly peer-focused and peer-dependent, but we can enjoy rich, meaningful friendships with others outside our family.

As I have discovered great resources – books, lectures, websites, etc. – I have continued to learn throughout life. “Homeschooling” might be a misnomer – the system is really a lifestyle that doesn’t begin and end with the ringing of a bell like a “school.” Rather, it is about having a close relationship with Christ our Savior, understanding His Word, applying it to everything as His disciples, and doing this in the context of personal relationships and caring for others as disciple-makers.

You seem to have a real love for studying and learning. Do you have any tips for parents or students on how to cultivate such an attitude?
One powerful element of any training, I believe, is expectations. My parents gave me opportunities to learn, and they expected me to take full advantage. We are all too often impacted by the low expectations our culture places on young people. Homeschoolers have a unique and God-blessed opportunity to give their children avenues of exploration. Instead of confining them to a strict program, let them take something apart, see how it works, and then figure out how to put it back together. Let them come up with a business idea, market it, and see how tough yet rewarding and fulfilling it is to sell something for a profit.

I can’t point to a specific time in my life when this occurred, but as I matured there was a clear transition away from prioritizing video games, excessive involvement in sports, peer dependence, and other distractions. As my “stop doing” list grew (to borrow from Jim Collins in Good to Great), I set about new, worthier endeavors such as reading great books, listening to lectures from great men, studying Scripture, and so forth. I still have much to learn and I don’t always optimize my time like I should. But I believe we all have so much God-given potential if we will just start expecting great things and getting rid of the distractions.

What advantages do you see homeschooled students potentially having over their government-schooled peers in effecting long-term cultural change?
Our advantages completely depend on what we do with the tremendous abundance that we have been given. Jesus said that to whom much is given, much is required. Occasionally, people tell me they wish that when they were my age they could have had what I now have. This helps me reflect with gratitude on those things I often take for granted. At the same time, if I quit progressing today, I am much worse off for having squandered the rich treasures of blessing God has abundantly given me.

Our challenge, as one of my friends says, is to do what we can, where we are, with what we have. Some people assume that if they don’t have “ideal” foundations – not growing up in a Christian, homeschooling family, for example – they might just reach a plateau. They feel like they can’t move beyond where they are, and it will be up to the next generation to pick up the baton and progress a little further. I submit that this is not biblical thinking; we are commanded, no matter how great or small our advantages, to be wise and faithful stewards. Even if we feel like we have been given little, we are also told by Jesus that if we are faithful we will be trusted with much.

Homeschoolers must have a long-term vision that extends even well beyond our own lifetimes. We must seek to be disciples and disciple-makers of Christ. We are fools if we rest on our laurels rather than building and moving beyond where we are now and what we have now. I recently had a conversation regarding whether people can have an impact in the public schools; even as I challenged the other person to consider the inherent impossibility of systemically changing the establishment, I was challenged to consider what I am doing to positively impact others. Am I content to be separate from everyone else, or am I taking active steps to fulfill the Great Commission as I follow the Lord and teach others to obey all of Christ’s commandments?

You’ve been involved in a wide variety of opportunities and ventures since graduating from high school. What are some of the key things you’ve learned along the way that might be helpful to other young people considering their future course?
I have experimented a lot, that’s for sure. God has blessed me with wise counselors, and I have done well to heed them. I have had to mark up the times I unwisely did my own thing as “learning experiences.” That’s the first lesson learned – honor those in authority over you, and heed the counsel of older, wiser people when you make big decisions.

Over the years I have pursued traditional college and nontraditional schooling (accelerated distance learning). I have sought internships and a variety of work experiences for companies in Texas, Tennessee, and Kansas. Along the way I have seen the truth from Proverbs confirmed: in all labor there is profit. I have not been afraid to try new things and get a lot of experiences along the way.

Someone told me to fail small, fail fast, and fail forward. When you experience new things, you are bound to mess up. I have seen that it is best, relatively early on in life, to learn from my mistakes, be humble, and move forward. I have a vision for being a wise steward, and part of this entails entrepreneurial activity. To be entrepreneurial means I have to take risks, learn along the way, and always be ready to readjust my course. I have learned not to expect anyone else to “hold my hand” through life. I am called by God to stand up and take personal responsibility for using the talents, time, energy, and resources He has entrusted to me.

Can you tell us about your new website and what your vision is for it?
I am excited to do so! My friend, Mark Stubblefield, and I recently launched a site that is part of a larger, long-term vision for Christian journalism. Our initial project is http://eventbloggers.com/ where we will cover a variety of conferences and events. Next year, Lord willing, we will launch http://providencereport.com/ to provide an avenue for disciple-making, equipping, encouraging, and informing the body of Christ about what is happening around the world. We want to advance the good news of the Gospel and the providence of God in ruling over all men and nations. Our vision is to provide a distinctly Christian resource for journalistic excellence so that families have a trusted place to go for news, commentary, and interaction with others concerning the big events and issues of our time.

Any additional comments you’d like to share?
Thank you, Natalie, for this interview and for giving me this opportunity to share. We have such a great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and I want to glorify Him alone for everything good He has done in and through my family and me. I encourage my fellow homeschoolers to stand firm, be bold, and move forward as faithful disciples and stewards. Homeschooling parents are my heroes because they teach and lead Christ’s followers who will multiply the resources and disciples of God’s Kingdom for the remainder of history. Never forget, even in times you are tempted to be discouraged in the midst of darkness and confusion, that God shines His bright, brilliant light through you as you seek and serve Him wholeheartedly.

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” ~Paul; I Corinthians 15:58

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” ~Solomon; Psalm 127:1

“You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” ~Moses; Deuteronomy 8:18

“What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God…We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow.” ~Martin Luther

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ~Theodore Roosevelt; The Man in the Arena

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” ~Jesus; Matthew 5:16

“The work of a Beethoven, and the work of a charwoman, become spiritual on precisely the same condition, that of being offered to God, of being done humbly ‘as to the Lord.’” ~C.S. Lewis; Weight of Glory

“We know that men were created for the express purpose of being employed in labor of various kinds, and that no sacrifice is more pleasing to God than when every man applies diligently to his own calling.” ~John Calvin; Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol. 32

“Wherever the fear of God rules in the heart, it will appear both in works of charity and piety, and neither will excuse us from the other.” ~Matthew Henry; Commentary on Acts 10:1

“The whole life of a Christian should be nothing but praises and thanks to God; we should neither eat nor sleep, but eat to God and sleep to God and work to God and talk to God, do all to His glory and praise.” ~Richard Sibbes

“There is no work better than another to please God; to pour water, to wash dishes, to be a cobbler, or an apostle, all are one; to wash dishes and to preach are all one, as touching the deed, to please God.” ~William Tyndale, A Parable of the Wicked Mammon

“Are then Christianity and culture in a conflict that is to be settled only by the destruction of one or the other of the contending forces?  A third solution fortunately, is possible–namely, consecration.  Instead of destroying the arts and sciences or being indifferent to them, let us cultivate them with all the enthusiasm of the veriest humanist, but at the same time consecrate them to the service of our God.  Instead of stifling the pleasures afforded by the acquisition of knowledge or by the appreciation of what is beautiful, let us accept these pleasures as the gifts of a heavenly Father.  Instead of obliterating the distinction between the Kingdom and the world, or on the other hand withdrawing from the world into a sort of modernized intellectual monasticism, let us go forth joyfully, enthusiastically to make the world subject to God.” ~J. Gresham Machen; Christianity and Culture

“Man by the Fall fell at the same time from his state of innocence and from his dominion over nature. Both of these losses, however, can even in this life be in some part repaired; the former by religion and faith, the latter by the arts and sciences.” ~Francis Bacon; Novum Organum Scientiarum

Lea Ann Garfias, of the Whatever State I Am blog, has been running a series of posts called, “Ask the Grad.” In each post of the series she features a homeschool grad, including an article written by them about their homeschooling experience. I’ve really enjoyed reading the posts by and about other homeschool grads and appreciate Lea Ann graciously featuring me this week. You can read my latest article, Homeschooling for Life on her blog. Here’s a brief excerpt:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” Those enduring words penned by Charles Dickens in the middle of the 19th century encapsulate perfectly how I feel about my homeschool experience. My best memories are replete with mischievous escapades with my five younger siblings, middle-of-the-year family vacations, freedom to pursue areas of interest, volunteering in the community, outings with other homeschool families, attending the annual convention, and family discussions around the dinner table. My worst memories bring to mind frustrations over difficult math assignments, squabbling with my sisters over who had to take the first piano lesson, my Dad’s imposed physical fitness regimen, and feeling weird in circles of public-schooled peers. But you know what? This is the stuff of life… >>read more

Kevin was a very gracious and comfortable host, making the interview a lot of fun! In addition, he’s written a kind endorsement for my book, Pajama School:

Pajama School is a warm-hearted, exuberant, and thoughtful story of nurtured life in a homeschooling family, and a little more life after homeschooling!

~Kevin Swanson

You can click here to access the interview and either download the audio or watch the video. We discuss the contrast between home education and public education, post-high school options, the counter-cultural socialization of homeschoolers, characteristics of my mother, and the philosophy of wearing pajamas to school.