Graduation... Homeschool Style!

If you've spent any time with the Wilsons recently, you know that we have become very passionate about homeschooling our children. When we initially decided it was going to be the best route for our family to take, it was because the pros simply out-weighed the cons. As our vision for our family has grown over the past few years, our vision for homeschool has grown as well. We now see it as simply the best ways to disciple our children. Luke 6:40 tells us that, "A student is not above his teacher but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher." Education is discipleship. Now, I know some wonderful, public school teachers out there. I like to think I was one! Well, I was a teacher. I like to think I was wonderful... But it is not ultimately the individual teacher who is training a child. They are training children based on what our government dictates they should be trained in, and quite frankly, we don't want the government discipling our children! That's the short version of why the Wilsons plan to homeschool.

We are very blessed to attend a church that is supportive in this area and this weekend we attended our first Homeschool Graduation Party. Two young men from our church had a formal, cap and gown ceremony for homeschoolers in the area early in the day, which we did not attend, but then we met later to sing and eat!!

If you notice, its all kids leading worship here! (and they're good!) It is such a blessing to see how much they love God. And this is an every Sunday thing at our church with the exception that on Sunday there are some adults on the worship team as well. We love that about our church. They involve kids on every level. The graduates are the two guys playing the guitars.

Patrick and I really enjoyed the glimpse in our "future." It was such an encouragment to hear these moms and dad talk about what a blessing it was to walk along side their children for so many years. And for them to be the ones to "send them out." At the end of the ceremony, the parents played a video of their kids. One had a song on it which I'd never heard, but of course downloaded from iTunes as soon as we got home. I think it is a wonderful blessing for a son. Here's a link to a YouTube video by the artist. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhRV3rXtpGc. And if you think about it, pray for us!! This is what we'll be working with for the next several years!!