About Us

Heart of the Matter is more than just a homeschooling site. It is a site dedicated to weaving the hearts of children and parents together, a relationship designed by God. We hope to accomplish this by presenting you with motivational posts, encouraging articles from “real” parents, and resources so that the parents can take 100% control of their child’s education. We provide a blog that is updated daily, a quarterly digital magazine, online conferences, how-to tutorials, reviews, giveaways, and more for the busy parent.

Heart of the Matter was formed in November 2007 by Amy Bayliss and Amy Stults, the co-founders forever known as “The Amies” and the writers are made up of some of the home schooling community’s most popular authors and bloggers. Each brings their own passion and style to Heart of the Matter. HOTM has published thousands of articles by close to a hundred different and equally talented writers; we’ve hosted six online conferences; published a few dozen digital magazines; hosted hundreds of contests and special events; and ministered to millions of homeschoolers around the globe.

After serving the home school community for over four years through the ministry of HOTM, God has directed Amy Stults in a new direction, you can still visit her at her personal blog Milk and Cookies, and for the 4th Annual Not Back to School Blog Hop.

As of early February 2012, Heart of the Matter is now under the direction of The Lane Family.

The Lane family has a deep passion and commitment to family, discipleship, and Biblical living. These passions resonate with the mission of Heart of the Matter and they look forward to a seamless transition of leadership and a continuation and deepening of that mission as they expand their ministry to include Heart of the Matter.

John and Lori have been married for 28 years and live on a ranch in the central Rockies of Colorado about an hour southwest of Denver. They have been home educating their four boys since the fall of 1993 and three of their four boys have been home education graduates. They have worked with hundreds of families and their children through church, scouting, theater productions, and home education programs relating to academics and the arts.

John has a lifelong passion for the discipleship of young men and fathers in their role as leaders of their homes and community. Through 18 years of involvement with the Boy Scouts of America, outdoor education and his role in home education both within the home and in outside programs, he has had the privilege to work with dozens of young men. Most importantly, his leadership within his home and with his four sons is evident in the lives of his sons.

Lori is involved heavily with art and education and has taught and directed choirs and theater productions in SC, GA and now, CO. In 1999 she founded Artios Academies, an arts education program designed specifically for homeschoolers which has expanded to include an accredited academic program which Lori designed based on her experience as an educator and home school mom. She has been a speaker at various home education conferences and events and is the author of the book, Beginning With the End in Mind.

John Michael (26) is the eldest of the Lane boys and he and his wife Windy live in Atlanta, GA where they work and teach at Artios Academies of Gwinnett and Johns Creek. John Michael is passionate about his role in teaching Biblical Worldview classes as well as mentoring other young men and women throughout their formative years. He teaches classes in theater, economics and worldview as well as serving as the Director of Development for Artios Academies. His wife Windy teaches dance and works as a choreographer for the various theater production put on by the Atlanta area Artios Academies. John Michael will take an active role in the future development of HOTM.

Jeremy (25) and his wife Jessica, along with the Lane’s first grandchild, Emma, live in Santa Clarita, CA where Jeremy works with FinalWeb and SCVDATA in programming, tech support, web design and IT consulting. He and Jessica are active in Grace Community Church where John MacArthur is pastor and lead a Bible study group with college age young people. Jeremy continues to pursue a ministry through independent film in the Los Angeles area. Jeremy also works with computer programming needs of Artios Academies.

Jordan (19) desires to go into ranch and equine management and after spending a “gap” year in California being involved at Grace Community Church and working, he will begin college in Kansas working towards a degree in ranch management. Jordan graduated in May of 2011 and spent his summer working as a wrangler at a ranch in Kremmling, CO. He along with his two older brothers are Eagle Scouts.

Jared (1r) is the last one at home and seems to enjoy his new found independence. He is currently in eighth grade where his favorites subjects are not math and English but are History and music. He spends his free time outside on his horse Tokie or working with his other animals on the ranch. He continues to work toward his rank of Eagle in BSA.

The Lane family believes in the mission and ministry of Heart of the Matter and have followed its progress for years. Lori was one of the speakers on the first HOTM online conference several years ago and was impressed by the organization and content of HOTM. HOTM and the Lane family share the same mission of assisting parents in raising children who are grounded in a Biblical worldview and can be future servant leaders of God’s kingdom. They, along with their staff, will be working to insure that shared vision through a seamless transition of leadership and a continued commitment to the mission of HOTM, its writers and readers. HOTM will be owned by True North, LLC and will be run by John, Lori, and John Michael Lane along with a talented editorial and marketing staff.

 

 

Heart of the Matter Staff

Mary Cowan – Digital Magazine – Graphic Designer

Yvette Thomas – Administrative Assistant

Laura Delgado - Digital Magazine Copy Editor and Writer

Laura has been married to her husband, Henry, for 14 years. She gave birth to four children in exactly 40 months, but cheated since the last two were twins. She now happily homeschools her 8,6, and two 4 year-olds. She earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from Rice University, but finds that she uses her undergraduate Great Books education far more in her homeschooling pursuits. In addition to writing for various homeschooling publications, she creates educational materials for edHelper. For homeschooling helps and curriculum reviews, please visit her blogs at Living as Martha and Salve Regina Homeschool.

 

Pamela Swearingen – Director of Reviews

Pamela has been homeschooling her kids since 2005. She has visited 41 states and 16 countries and now calls the beautiful Pacific Northwest home. You can find her writing about homeschooling, books and downsizing her life at I Read. Do You?

 

Christine Hiester- Adult Christian Book Reviews

Christine is a Christian, homeschooling mom to three boys and a girl, ranging in age from 9 to 2 years old. She is a musician by trade, eclectic in homeschool style, and continues to grow and learn along with her children in this journey of life and discipleship at home. Visit her blog at Fruit in Season.