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We were a homeschooling family. I had three siblings: my twin sister,
and two younger brothers. Homeschooling blessed us with the time
needed to develop our talents and giftings. My twin sister and I had
started violin lessons at age four. By the time I was eleven, I knew I
wanted to be a professional violinist and began practicing two to three
hours every day. Felicia Moye accepted me into her studio at the
University of Oklahoma at the age of thirteen and from that time
forward, eight hours of practice a day was a requirement. I spent my
high school summers at music camps and playing in orchestras around
the country. And I loved every minute of it.
My early training had been focused on classical violin. Shortly after
high school I found myself drawn towards other genres of music,
mainly bluegrass and country. This, of course, inspired me to move to
Nashville where I had many opportunities to participate in pickin’
parties and jam sessions with numerous Grand Ol’ Opry musicians,
learning many of their playing techniques, while supporting myself
teaching others in my own studio.
In 2004 I accepted a job offer teaching violin at a fine arts program
in Tupelo. It was during that time that I met my husband, Chris.
Shortly before we were married, Chris accepted a job in Jackson, and
we’ve been here ever since.
I played full time with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra my first
year in Jackson. I met my good friends Bill Ellison and Jeff Perkins that
year, and shortly after, the BTJ trio was born.
Since my move to Mississippi, I have had the opportunity to play
with some incredible artists such as Casting Crowns, Martina McBride,
Michael Bolton, B.B. King, Jimmy Fortune, and Charlie Pride, to name
a few. I have done work with PBS and other televised events. I play for
weddings on weekends and teach violin several days a week. God has
blessed me in so many different ways through my violin.
In July of 2013 I experienced one of the greatest blessings of my life,
the birth of my son. The birth of my daughter followed two years later.
They are my world, my mission field, and my greatest responsibility.
The decision to educate my children at home was an easy one. Proverbs
22:6 instructs us to “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when
he is old, he will not depart from it.” A truth I have been able to lean on
is that God is faithful to provide every need I have to fulfill any purpose
he has for my life. God does not leave his children to “figure things out”
on their own. If we are walking in obedience to him, we will find his
plan for our lives is far greater, and his provisions more abundant than
anything we could devise.
When my mother started homeschooling us in 1988, we were one of
only two families in my hometown that homeschooled their children.
At that time few people were even aware that homeschooling could be
an option. Many people, when hearing about it the first time, were
shocked and thought it should be illegal. Needless to say, there wasn’t a lot
of support for homeschooling families in the ‘80s. That generation of
homeschooling families were, without a doubt, the pioneers of their day.
However, today there are so many support groups for homeschooling
families I can’t keep track of them. In the Jackson metro area there are
many co-ops that offer curriculum support and recommendations,
along with classes, extracurricular activities, sports teams, language,
music, etc. The list goes on and on. And more than likely, there’s one
in your backyard!
Within a ten-mile radius of my house, there are branches of CHEC,
Reach, Impact, Jackson Classical, Classical Conversations, and The
Friday Program. We have university model schools like St. Augustine,
where kids will go a couple of days a week for classes and then spend the
rest of the week at home doing their school work. There is, certainly, a
homeschool model that will work well for your family dynamic should
you feel the need to bring your family home.
My friend Barbie Bassett shared her experience with me.
“Homeschooling seemed like such a daunting task in
the beginning because I didn’t know where to start.
I connected with Jackson Classical, and it took what
felt like the weight of the world off my shoulders.
I wasn’t doing it all alone, but I had a group of people
who knew more about homeschooling than I did at
the time.”
There are many reasons families choose to educate their children at
home. Ms. Bassett shared, “We chose to homeschool so that we could
spend more time with our kids while not being confined to school hours.
Instead of learning through traditional textbooks, we would go see what
we were learning about in person. It brings knowledge to life. We’ve
also grown closer over the years as a family. That in itself is priceless.”
There are many things to consider when making the decision to
educate at home and the list seems to grow longer and longer, especially
in today’s culture.
The call to bring your children home may start as a gentle tug on
your heartstrings, a small voice that stirs you to action. You may have
already spent time on the internet researching how to educate your
child at home, or you may have talked to homeschool parents. You may
be feeling overwhelmed, not knowing where to start. That’s perfectly
normal.
God has blessed me in so many ways through educating my children
at home. We can serve others more readily since we aren’t constrained
to traditional school hours. Our church, Colonial Heights, has many
homeschooling families that gather regularly to share experiences and
encourage one another. I love my church family and homeschooling
group, and I never feel alone.
I still play live music when time allows. I still teach lessons and play
weddings. But it all takes a back seat, for the time being, to answer the
greater call to raise my children in the way the Lord has instructed me.
If you feel led to bring your children home, please know that there
is a great community out here ready to support and encourage you in
this journey.
Hometown MADISON • 23