Home Schooling

Field trip to Bonneyville Mill

My oldest is school age this year so in August our adventure with homeschooling began.  The week before we started I decided to include my second daughter in on it too.  That way when next year comes around we can do the same core curriculum.  It has been going great.  Everyone has their schedules that we follow and it flows.  Not only does it flow, but it is fun and they are really learning.  It is crazy how much I enjoy teaching again.  And not only teaching, but writing lesson plans and choosing curriculum.  It energizes me. 

Experimenting with water

Indianapolis Children's Museum

Typical Day

We are doing My Father's World as the core curriculum.  Haddee is also doing a separate math and spelling program that Eva will start next year.  I love the richness of God's word and the truths my kids are learning.  I love the hands on approach it takes and the mix of structure yet freedom I feel in sticking with the planned lessons.  I love that their dad can be involved with the teaching when he is home.

Valentine's Paintings

Valentine's snack

Celebrating 100 days of school with 100 snacks

Spelling test

Our resurrection garden

Some days I am not sure if the choice to home school was for me or for them.  I so much enjoy being together and learning together.  I don't know how many years we will take this road, but I am going to enjoy each and every one of them to the fullest! 

Chara's First Birthday

My baby turned one in February.  It is bittersweet.  The older she gets the more I want another baby, but my husband says no.  And he's probably the wiser one.  My heart swells with love and pride when I think of my kiddos.  


Chara is filled with love, laughter, and life.  She both gives and is filled with joy.  She sucks her thumb and twiddles her hair.  She is fearless and stubborn tenacious.  She loves to wrestle her brother, dance with her sisters, be thrown in the air by Daddy, and cuddle her mommy.

And yes, her brother ate most of her birthday doughnut.

There just wasn't a date that worked for the Shetler family to celebrate - so we did a first - a Saturday morning breakfast at the Essenhaus.  It may become a new birthday tradition!

She has poise and attitude and she is only 1.  Her name means "joy raining down" and I feel that rain every time I am with her.

Happy birthday baby girl.