friends

Yesterday morning we were invited over to spend some time with our dear friends, the Haram family.  They have been such an encouragement and blessing to us since we moved here, and I think it's been mutual, because they have six children and are homeschooling, and so my background and David's have been encouraging testimonies to them. 

During our visit I had an opportunity to not only spend time with Shael, but also her sister-in-law and another family friend who have three children each and are homeschooling their own children as well.  Homeschooling here in the UK is not as popular. . . or as common. . . or as understood. . . or as accepted. . . as it has become in the USA.  It is still in the "pioneering" stage in many ways, and the families who have chosen to teach their own children at home are constantly swimming upstream against the social norm (even in the church).  In so many ways the very small homeschooling community here is in the same place that the USA homeschooling community was when David's family began homeschooling decades ago.  These homeschooling moms were asking me all sorts of questions about my homeschooling experience, and I think it is encouraging to them to hear that homeschooling in the USA was once where they are today. . . and look at how the Lord has blessed since then!

These ladies have been such a blessing to me because they are constantly donating baby clothes and maternity clothes that they don't need anymore. . . plus whatever else is hanging around their house that we might be blessed with.  So kind of them!  This week we were given a lovely comfortable rocking chair.  This has given me a very comfortable place besides my bed to sit!  :-)

I've been working really hard on a Sunday school lesson for tomorrow morning. . . and a Bible lesson for children's club on Monday afternoon. . . and lots of grading and working up assignment sheets for my brother Ezra's literature curriculum. . . so it's made for a busy end of a busy week!