After about three years of silence, I finally found the time and the courage to reconnect and share what’s been happening in our lives. Well, life got wonderfully full! Homeschooling our only son, managing the home, and running daily errands took up most of my time. Every day felt full, and truthfully, so did my heart, and sometimes my hands!
This season has been challenging, as my husband has been working abroad, faithfully providing for us while supporting our homeschooling journey from afar. We’ve been homeschooling for five years now, and we’re stepping into our sixth year with deeper faith, clearer purpose, and a heart full of gratitude. Looking back, it’s amazing to see how much we’ve all grown, not just academically, but in character, resilience, and our walk with God. Each year has brought its own set of lessons, stretching me in ways I never expected. Navigating the day-to-day on my own hasn’t always been easy, but my husband’s encouragement, whether through a voice call, video call, or a message, has meant the world to me. Even from miles away, he remains a steady source of wisdom, strength, and love in the rhythm of our family life.
Some friends have asked me over the years: Why did you choose to homeschool? It’s not a simple question, and to be honest, there were times I asked myself the same thing. I remember one particular moment when my husband, sensing my exhaustion, asked me, “Kaya pa ba, be?” (Can you still do it, be?) I had one of those days, the kind of homeschool day that ends with me dramatically saying, “I’m done homeschooling!” But of course, what I meant was that I was done for the day, or maybe for the week. My husband and I both knew that the next morning, I’d be right back at it again. So I looked at him, smiled, and said, “Kaya pa, be.”
Our Homeschool “Why”
When it comes to educating our son, we always think long-term. What do we want to accomplish by the end of our homeschooling (and parenting) journey? What kind of person do we hope he becomes?
The answer lies in being intentional. And the thing that helps us stay grounded, especially during hard days, is returning to our Why. Why did we start homeschooling in the first place? What are our goals, our purpose, and our priorities?
To keep ourselves aligned, I wrote down our family’s Vision and Mission Statements, grounded in our current life setting and rooted in our values.
Our Vision:
“For our son to grow into a healthy person – physically, intellectually, morally, and spiritually. We want him to love God with all his heart and mind, to be fully equipped for every good thing God calls him to do and to use his gifts and talents to serve and bless others, all for the glory of God.”
To support this, we also made a Family Promise, a covenant, a shared commitment that guides how we live and teach. One of the verses we hold close to is Matthew 6:33, and we continually remind ourselves to prioritize “character over curriculum”. More than academic success, we desire for our son to develop the kind of character that can weather life with wisdom, grace, and faith.
Our Mission:
“To ground our son in biblical truth and reason, not to shield him from the world, but to guide him in understanding it. To equip him with the tools to learn well and discern God’s will for his life.”
Our Family Core Values
Lastly, to help us stay consistent with our homeschool vision and mission, we came up with a simple but powerful acronym to define our Family Core Values: GLOW IN THE DARK. Each letter reminds us of the traits and principles we want to live out and instill in our son:
G – Grace
L – Love
O – Obedience
W – Wisdom
I – Integrity
N – Nurture
T – Time Together
H – Honor
E – Excellence
D – Discipline
A – Accountability
R – Resilience
K – Kindness
These values guide how we relate to each other as a family, how we navigate challenges, and how we approach homeschooling every day. It’s not just about academics, it’s about building a life and legacy that shines even in dark moments.
We know this journey isn’t easy. There are days filled with doubts, tears, and tiredness. But, there’s also deep joy and purpose. And every time we come back to our Why, we’re reminded: Kaya pa!
To those who ask if homeschooling is worth it, it is. Not because it’s easy, but because it matters. And to those on the same path, especially those doing it while loved ones are far away, keep going. Keep showing up. One faithful day at a time.
(By the way, the AI-made family photo of us is just too cute. I hope you don’t mind me sharing it!)
What’s Next?
This blog began as a place where I shared my crochet journey, and that part of my life is still very much alive. In the coming weeks, I’ll begin posting again about my crochet projects (yes, the hooks and yarn are back!) and even some of the homeschool projects we’ve been working on together as a family.
So whether you’re here for the crafts, the homeschool reflections, or a little bit of both, welcome back. I’m so glad you’re here.