Hello One Church Family! 

What a whirlwind the past few weeks have unleashed! Lives have been put on pause, schedules undone and children taken out of their normal school routine. Long days at home can seem daunting, especially with limited outings and social distancing. To those who have joined the #suddenlyhomeschoolers category, breathe deep and rest assured, you are more than equipped for such a time as this! 

Why? Because you love your children and your family like no other. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and so on, no matter your gifts or talents, I guarantee you love your kids with fire and tenacity! During a time like this, what children need most, believe it or not, is YOU! They need your presence, your hugs, and your unwavering smiles of reassurance. 

"The world may be upside down, but your home doesn't have to be."

The world may be upside down, but your home doesn't have to be. There may be waves of panic and apprehension rolling in from outside, but your home needn't fret. Our children need a place of refuge and peace. If there is one gift I love, it is the gift of time, generous and rich in quality. Time together as a family can heal the chaos and redeem relationships often strained by the busyness of life. Don't be afraid to slow down and unwrap the gift. 

Homeschooling is not about doing; it is about being. The heart of home education is relationship with your children. Enjoy them. Get to know them again. Don't feel pressure. Most of all, don't try to recreate the classroom. 

Write up a quick new daily schedule, but don't let it own you. Find a simple rhythm to stick to during this hiatus from normal routine. It will be a blessing to you and your children! Spend time connecting with your kids and pouring into them. Plant seeds of discipleship as you gather for breakfast, lunch and dinner (and all the snack requests in between). Deuteronomy 6:7 instructs parents to talk about God's word "when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  Homeschooling allows for continual impartation of truth and acknowledgement of who God is in the daily rhythms of life. 

Live your life, your faith, your passions in front of and with them and let it sink deep into their hungry souls. Paint with watercolors while you share what God's speaking to you, encourage them and tell them who they are in Christ. Now is a great time to research history rabbit trails and remind your family throughout the trials of the ages, God has been faithful! 

Here are some of our favorite family habits, tips and resources:

Bible - Read it aloud at the breakfast table. Make it fun! Memorize scriptures and narrate favorite bible stories. Get it in their minds and hearts! Favorite resources: The Bible Project App, BibleIs App (dramatized versions of scripture), Streetlights (scripture written to hip hop beats), Tim Keller's New City Catechisms (free app, book also available on Amazon) 

Books - Read aloud with your kids! Read classic literature, short poems, or silly stories. The library has plenty of audiobooks available for download. You can also purchase audio stories from Audible. Lots of authors are currently hosting read alouds online of their favorite books (Oliver Jeffers goes live on Instagram!). Check out Sarah Mackenzie's readaloudrevival.com which offers tons of ideas of how to make reading fun and also has great book lists. 

Beauty - Art and nature have been cornerstones to our homeschooling routine. Find ways to incorporate them every day. Take long walks and bike rides outside. Stop and smell the flowers, collect them and make a bouquet. Paint, draw, craft at your dining table. There are plenty of painting, drawing, etc, tutorials available on Youtube and of course, Pinterest. Favorite resource: artforkidshub.com

Set the Table - If you set it, I promise you, they will come! Fill your table with delicious food and begin a feast. It doesn't have to be big; it can just be intentional. Chocolate chip cookies pair well with Shel Silverstein's poems. A hearty stack of pancakes makes for the perfect breakfast and bible. Kids will listen to anything you say while eating.

"As parents, we can guard and facilitate the atmosphere of our home to be a place of rest and creativity amidst the ongoing crisis."

Fast forward to the day it all goes back to normal and you drop your kids off at school. You wave goodbye and life will smooth out once more. What is the most important thing you will have wanted them to learn from you? How do you want them to return? Happy? Calm? Filled to the brim with the love and affection you've shown them at home, they will conquer their remaining time refreshed and strengthened. 

Homeschool philosopher Charlotte Mason emphasizes education is "an atmosphere, a discipline of habit, a life." As parents, we can guard and facilitate the atmosphere of our home to be a place of rest and creativity amidst the ongoing crisis. Let God rule and reign and His presence be the glue to your "suddenly homeschool" day. 

To quote one of my favorite authors on motherhood and parenting, "Home is the kingdom in which we have the daily choice and power to make our tiny domain one of light or darkness," Sally Clarkson, The Life Giving Home. 

God bless you, and keep you, and your beautiful homes! 

Sincerely, 
Rachyl Johnson