Homeschooler Of The Week

Please welcome Valerie, this week's featured homeschooler and the newest member of The Heart of the Matter Family.

1. How did you and your knight in shining armor meet?

Oh, what a fun story! I met my knight at a local restaurant through a friend. You see, my friend had a crush on this waiter and wanted me to go with her to "check him out". So I did. After all, she knew I was safe because I didn't date "blonds". Well, after several months of back and forth, my friend decided that "he" wasn't the man for her. However, by this time I had already started to develop a friendship with the guy (we went to this restaurant... all the time). Needless to say, we took our friendship outdoors, to movies, to gatherings... this went on for well over a year. Then one night we decided to throw caution to the wind and begin to date. The rest is history - once we made that decision, the Lord began to confirm things in both of us... and we got married 6 months later. So, I guess you can say I married my best friend!

2. Tell us a little about your 3 beautiful children.

This is my favorite thing to talk about. My three little blessings. Yes, I have two boys and one girl. My boys are in the 5th and 2nd grade while my daughter is getting ready to turn 2 this summer. I have an introvert, an extrovert and a social butterfly! I love the variety!!! I always tell people that the Lord knew exactly what I needed when He gave me children. I learn so much from them. You know, it's amazing how much a small child can teach you about life... don't you agree?

3. You are the moderator of an international Yahoo Group for homeschoolers, what lead you to begin this ministry?

My Yahoo group is a passion of mine. I started the group out of a need I saw in the Homeschool circle... Let me explain... Once I started to homeschool my children, I found that I wanted to do all I could to help other homeschool families get started. So, I began to help different churches set up "umbrella programs" for homeschooling in California and/or trouble shoot already existing programs to make them stronger. My main quest was to create and implement programs - then pass the torch to the leaders to carry it through. I did this for a couple of years until I noticed that there was a lack of support for the homeschool family who chose not to participate in an umbrella school program. What about them? Then, I started looking at the emotional side of the first time homeschooling mom. That is when my heart began to get stirred. So, I began to pray and wait. Then in 2005, I created Just4homeschoolfamilies.

Just4homeschoolfamilies has become my home where I kick my feet up and rest. It's where I go to ask questions and learn from other homeschooling mom's. The best part about my group are the members. They come from all over the world. Seriously, some members are from Canada and USA, while others are from such places as Australia and Europe. So many countries represented. Just4homeschoolfamilies is definitely international. It's great to see the different cultures pulling together in dedication to encourage (my groups moto). It's great to know that mom's can log on at their leisure, from anywhere in the nation, to share their struggles, passions, successes... all while being encouraged by other mom stories. It's a great place to call home. Although I am the owner/moderator of the group, I believe that I am probably blessed most by these wonderful women and what they offer each other within the group.

4. Tell us about your new website Weblink Education.

Weblink Education is my playground. I'm still adding more sites and sections to the website weekly!!! It's a great teacher resource center for all home educators. What makes this site unique is that all of my resource weblinks have been provided by other homeschooling mom's within my Just4homeschoolfamilies yahoo group and/or my weekly Weblink Wednesday blogging Meme hosted on my personal blog (http://homeschoolblogger.com/socalval). It's exciting because over 400 homeschooling families have contributed their favorite weblinks to Weblink Education. My hope in putting this website together was to give mom's a one-stop place for educational weblinks. It's unique because it gives mom comfort in knowing that each listed website has been Mom Tested and Mom Approved.

5. You are a very active prayer warrior in our homeschool community. Do you keep a prayer journal?

Prayer journals are wonderful. I have friends who keep them. I wish I kept one. I believe it would be a great resource to look back on and see how the Lord answers prayer and use it as a testament of faith. Unfortunately, I am so busy I'm afraid I would forget to write down my prayers. So, many years ago I found a way that works for me. When I see a need, or if someone asks for prayer, I don't hesitate. I pray right then and there for that person. I find that if I wait and say "I'll pray later", life happens and I never get around to it. So, I'm a firm believer in "no time like the present". Living this way keeps me in prayer all day long. I am constantly reading blogs of certain needs or hearing about someones struggles... or even open my eyes to my own situation that has me panicked. Prayer brings me through. The Bible says to pray without ceasing... so, I do just that. Pray.

6. You have just joined the Heart of the Matter family. Tell us more about what you hope to provide the readers.

The Heart of the Matter is a blessing. I was surprised that my name was mentioned to join the team because I didn't know what I could offer the group. However, once I was told that I was wanted for the article "Around The Web In 12 Links" - I was thrilled. It's right down my alley. Being that I have Weblink Education as a website, and I host Weblink Wednesday, and my Yahoo Group exchange helpful weblinks with one another, I knew I was the one for the job!!! I have a bunch of weblinks to share!!! I hope to reach many more homeschooling mom's through this on-line magazine and provide them with a free resource that will strengthen their homeschooling journey.

7. What curriculum do you use to homeschool your children and what is your favorite subject to teach?

Hmmm, when I think about what curriculum I use, my mind goes crazy. I am what you call Eclectic. I pull from everywhere for my studies. I think I have tried just about every structured curriculum out there and I've enjoyed them all... but I am finding my niche to be in free resources. I sometimes teach unit studies and/or pull occasional printables from different websites. I "shoot from the hip" with curriculum, but keep to a Scope and Sequence guide all year long.

My favorite subject to teach is Language. I was an English major in college and did some professional writing for awhile. I find it so fun to make an idea come to life... using words, grammar and tricks of the trade, I can have a ball with my kids! So far, that love for English has been passed down to my oldest son. He is a writer already!!! I just wish I had the love for Math. Oh well. At least I will get a few times around to learn that subject again. lol.

8. Tell us what a typical day is like in your California home.

I wish I could tell you that my typical day in California has something to do with a day at the beach... but I can't. My day is just like yours, I'm sure. My almost two year old keeps me on schedule that I can't seem to break. We are early risers and early to bed. On most days, we begin our day around 7am with breakfast and chores around 8am. School begins around 9am and ends around 11:30am. It is my passion to pray with each child in the morning and sit at the table as they eat their breakfast. I learn so much from them during that time. This sets the tone for the day which I have come to enjoy. School is family time. I never leave the table during their studies unless I am tending to my little girl. I even set my blogging schedule for break time. This time spent with my children is something I treasure as a stay-at-home mom.

Although the mornings are the most important for me, I believe my boys would share that afternoons are most important for them. It's their free time. In fact, I hardly see the boys since they love to run around and spend time outside or in their bedroom. It's a blessing that my boys are best friends (the best part about homeschooling) and enjoy each other. Occasionally, we will take walks or play board games together, but most of the time they want to make paper airplanes or build legos. Anyway, it gives me time to spend special time with my little girl and/or catch up on all my blogging friends.

I've got to admit that once daddy comes home from work, I give him 30 minutes and then my day is over. It's like handing the keys over to the new driver. I hand the kids over and he engulfs himself with all of them. He is an active father who loves to be apart of each of their lives. I love that about him... after all, he is my Knight In Shinning Armor!