We have been celebrating educational freedom the first Tuesday after Labor Day for many a year. The Freedom we have in America  – to be a Parent. To be the authority in our Child’s life. To have them educated by any means that meets their needs. The Freedom to Proclaim what we Believe about the Bible. The Freedom to Gather. The Freedom we have as Home Schoolers.

The First Year, we went to Loon Lake. It is a van ride that I will never forget. 40 minutes of questions.  By Reedsport I was wondering if others would be at the Lake that we could get a ride home with. By the turn to the lake, I was hoping no one would be there so I could hear more.  These bold wise homeschooling pioneers asked the question that no one else had asked. What’s our mission? What did God Say? How much have you prayed as a family about it? How will they learn? What will you do with your days? Scriptural truth of how the family is supposed to be structured. Scriptural truth to how responsible I am throughout the day for the home. When we both worked, it was all 50/50 or rather 0/0. The firsrt 4 and a half years of childhood – I had managed to build the worlds messiest home, the world’s most chaotic children, the world’s largest dirty clothes pile, and the most disruptive life you could have imagined. They questioned and guided me  – into how the majority of that was hanging on my disobedience to the Word. Sure – I think they were trying to encourage me in what I was about to set forth and do – but the Word was revealing how lost I was as a wife and a mom.

I came home from that First No School Day and prayed. Journaled Pages. Looked up tons of scriptures. Wrote it all down. And then stepped forth.  The Freedom of walking in the direction the Lord has set  is what I celebrate most of all on this First Tuesday after Labor Day. The Freedom and Peace and Joy in my heart – that KNOWS – has never Forgotten that ride and the days following. Knows that the Lord has a Plan for my boys. Knows he will provide what they need to learn. Knows that I am the tour guide, not the Director. I made a promise to the Lord – to walk where and how He leads. When our moves and age changes have flipped over our schedules – He is still there.  Showing me a little maroon van. Piled high with inflatables. Not only starting the journey of No School Day – but the journey of following after Him. Not a curriculum, even though we might use them. Not after a person – even though we might take advice. But After Him.

As you start this year – are you wrapped up in the Scope and Sequence so tightly that you fear you will never see May on track? Are you allowing time to walk where He leads? Why are you homeschooling? Is is because your friends are? Have you quieted yourself to seek direction from Him? Are you so walking on Faith that you have no plans? Have sought no knowledge and will see yet another fledgling year of chaos in your home? Will their Character grow? Will their fruit of the Spirit be fertilized?

Ever since 2004 – The First Tuesday after Labor Day has been more of a freedom day for me than July 4th. Oh – I love the joy of our Freedom on July 4th – but this NO School Day  – is where I take an active part of how much I appreciate and step forward with what July 4th gave me. And What Christ Gave me, when He died, was buried, and Rose again on the 3rd Day – According to the Scriptures. And so I walk. Dead to self. Risen in Him. Walking according to the scriptures.

Here is a little walk down my memory lane for ya – Septembers through the years.

Last year, 2009, was Orchard Park – Hundreds of kiddos and moms came out. I think they will be here again this year.  This is One Third of the panoramic photo that was taken. I love these moms. 🙂 Enough to post an overexposed shot of not too many hiney’s. I know you are girls in brown, but I wont name any names. Koolaid. Stamp Girl. Nope. Won’t Name Names. 🙂

Ahhh. 2008.  Trip up to Elk Lake. So stinkin’ cold ya wouldn’t believe it!  Reading up on a little american cultural politics.  . . . Ahh the lengths the moms will go to keep up with what’s happinin’ around us. 🙂

2008 the Boys paddling the raft.  

2007 The year we were still the tallest. 🙂 Almost all of these kiddos are taller than us now. 🙂 This is actually our yearly gathering in Late Sept/Early October, but I liked the shot. 🙂 Oh I could just squeeze everyone here. (Smith Rock behind us)

2007 First Day of No School Day Swim Party. Oh ya. That’s a whole pile of hail there, that we played in, on the way to the outdoor swim party. 🙂

They still swam, a few of them did. The moms mostly stayed inside though . . .

My Digital Photos from 2006 and 5 did not like being stored over the heater – so I do not have photos of the Tumalo Trip or the Elk Lake Trip those years.

Here is 2004 – October. 🙂 Back on the Coast. This was the Loon Lake Year. No digital Photos that year.

First Day of Co-Op in 2004.  One of the questions they asked, way back then, was what we would do if God decided we wouldn’t have full curriculum, or if we weren’t going to be a part of a co-op.  Would we still homeschool – if it wasn’t easy? If we weren’t following a crowd, but the Lord.  I had no idea, that 7 years later, We would be without curriculum, and without a co-op and without a crowd. Our friends and circumstances have changed over the years, but His Faithfulness and His Direction never wavered. Thank you to those who have gone before. Thank you to my internet buddies who encourage us to move forward. Your comments, your posts, emails, facebook comments – keep me going through the day. 🙂 Thanks.

2004 First Day – I’m thinking that this wasn’t the first time that the little school supply pack swung up and then down.  . . . This is probably 7ish in the morning. And they both have dirty shirts. Sigh. 🙂

Our school back in 2004 – We started alot with School at Home.  Jon loved his notebook and finding those clues. 🙂