Hi, my name is Julie Largent. I’m a Midwestern girl who has been planted in the Northeast. I have been married to Gibson for 15 years. He is a pastor/church planter here in PA. We are Oklahoma Sooner fans, but for some reason can’t seem to find many others in this area who share our passion. The Lord has blessed us with 4 beautiful, funny, and unique kids. Kennedy is 12 (she’d say almost 13) and is in Challenge A this year. Ellie Kate is 10 and loves to read. Grayson, our only boy, is 7 and would rather play any sport than sit and read at this point. The baby of our family is 4, Lily Grace. This is our 4th year in CC. I have been a Foundations tutor for 2 years and I’m currently an Essentials tutor.
For weeks I’ve been thinking about what to write in our “Day in the Life” post, but I have to be honest, after the week I’ve had I don’t know anyone would want to know what it looks like in our homeschool journey. I could tell you our daily schedule, show you our curriculum choices, my awesome white board schedule it took me 3 years to finally come up with, but that is not what I think I’m supposed to share. So, here it goes…
My children are my greatest joys, and often my deepest worries. When the Lord clearly called us to pull our kids out of public school and begin this homeschool journey 4 years ago, a sweet friend and mentor (and seasoned homeschool mom of 4) said this to me, “You do know that homeschooling is more about you and your sin nature than it is about their education don’t you?” What? Um, no…that’s not what I’m signing up for at all. Well, thankfully the Lord used her to speak truth into my life that has rung true almost every day.
Having my children home with me every day has allowed the Lord to show character issues in my kids and myself that need to be touched with His grace. Then He graciously allows me to bring all my requests, worries, and struggles to Him and cast them on Him because He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). Amazingly, He opens my eyes and allows me to see, actually witness His work in our lives and hearts. THIS is, without a doubt, my favorite thing about homeschooling.
Recently He revealed to me how much I try to do each day in my own strength. Challenge A is appropriately named…it is a challenge. I did not prepare like I should have before this year. Unfortunately I had the mindset, and even verbalized it to friends, that I didn’t really have to do much to prepare for my oldest because she’s in Challenge. Just writing this makes me feel like an idiot because it could NOT be further from the truth. I’ve had to apologize to my oldest frequently. Often the Lord teaches my children in spite of me instead of because of me.
Here are some precious truths He has taught me:
- When the Lord calls you to something, He will always equip you to do it. Be faithful, available and teachable.
- His Word is water to a parched soul and strength to a weary mom and peace to an anxious heart. Be in it daily!
- We are in a battle for our children’s souls. When you step out in faith and obey the Father, be sure the enemy will do his best to try and defeat or distract you. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12
- Know why He has called you to homeschool. My desire is for my children to know Him and make Him known. I have learned this week that my relationship with my children is overwhelmingly more important than learning to draw every detailed feature of the assigned continents.
- To give myself grace. Talking with a mom at CC, she mentioned how sometimes we, as moms, just need to hear, “You’re doing a great job!” Tapping into His strength and do what I can and release the rest to Him. He can handle it.
Did you need to hear these truths from my dear friend, Julie today? I sure did! And no doubt, I will again another day. I’m so glad she wrote it down for me (& you!) to read again and again.
This is fantastic! Julie, thanks for sharing from your heart!
agreed! 🙂
So glad it blessed you:)
Oh I fail so much and so frequent sometimes I think my kids are better off at school. May God give us grace to forgive each other and carry on with the plan He has set before us. Thank you for your transparency
i’m with you here! so grateful for friends, like julie, pointing me to the truth!
When I read your comment this verse came to mind. Such a great promise!
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galations 6:9
Thanks for the reminder. I’ve been homeschooling for 16 years and seem to forget that homeschooling is more about me than them. When I remember that, the day to day duties seem to be easier. 🙂
thanks for sharing, elizabeth! isn’t it true, that like the israelites, we need to be pointed back to the truth regularly?
Wow! 16 years! That’s awesome!
Wow, did that hit home! I wish someone had told me what your friend did. A warning would have been nice. 🙂 Homeschooling has been a humbling experience, but oh so rewarding!
right?? we need those experiences mamas around us! their godly support makes a world of difference! glad julie could share that with you today. 🙂
Humbling and rewarding, those are 2 great words to describe it for sure! Yes, the Lord placed my friend, Lynn, in my path at the perfect time. She continues to speak truth into my life.
Knowing Julie’s heart for the Lord and committment to honor Him, I see the Father bless her and her family every day. Precious children are the greatest blessing in our lives and give us courage to smile at the future. Thank you to all ladies who sacrifice a few years of their lives for their children. Thank you Father for giving me a gracious and special daughter – Julie! So blessed to be her mom!
thanks so much mama hook for posting! 🙂 excited to see you in a few short weeks!
Awww, thanks mom! Love you!
LOVE THIS POST! Thank you for writing this, Julie and for sharing it with us Beth. I feel like one of the most unexpected blessings of my 4 year homeschooling journey has been is sanctification. Truly, it has made me more like Christ, and I REALLY had no idea to anticipate that. Although sanctification is painful, its pain is temporary and so, so worth it! Four years into it that is one of the things that I treasure the most about homeschooling–that God has used it as an avenue to expose my sin, show me my need for Him and to make me more like Christ. I always want to tell those new to homeschooling about the gift of sanctification that it will inevitably bring, but I never know how to bring it up. Julie, I like that your friend just DIRECTLY told you that. I think I’m going to steal this approach. 🙂 Beth, thank you for your blog and Julie, thank you for writing! 🙂 So thankful to get to “know” both of you through the CC blogging world. 🙂 What a gift! 🙂
yes, suzanne! this friend julie has mentioned is GREAT at sharing the truth in loving, gentle, meaningful ways. 🙂 i’m so glad we can all learn from her and julie today! no doubt we’ll meet one day outside of this blog bubble!
I love that of all the things she could have shared up front, this was what she chose to say:). Yes, sanctification…painful and temporary, but preparing us for the eternal!
Thank you for your transparancey and honesty……..Could you share with us soon to be Challange parents what you mean by “I did not prepare like I should befor this year”? Thanks ahead of time for the challange. 🙂 Sonja Milam
sonja, i’ve put in the request for a follow-up post with the nitty gritty of the first year challenge parent : )
I’d be glad to share more…sweet Beth had to dwindle down my over 900 word post to fit this topic:). There is too much to type here, so hopefully we can get the follow-up post soon.
Wow! Did I ever need to hear this. Thanks so much Julie and Beth for sharing and posting. I could have wrote this article. Well, at least the part about how much I try to do this homeschooling in my own strength and not making room for God, the One for whom has called me to this great task, to take the reigns. Sanctification is beautiful when we truly see who is behind it all and the fruit that comes out of it. Lord, help us to see You in our days and not what we need to get done. Open our eyes to the beauty of simply walking in faith and trusting You with the outcome. Thank You Jesus for this dear woman’s heart to serve us by sharing what You are doing in their family and in her heart.
Blessings to you and yours,
Lori
lori, thank you for sharing your heart! i need to hear this (and many other) truths again & again : ) i’m so glad you were blessed by julie sharing her heart. God is good!
I love your sentence, “open our eyes to the beauty of simply walking in faith and trusting You with the outcome.” I think I need to print that out and put it up somewhere:). Thankful it blessed you!