On June 5, 2004, 36 students walked across the platform and received diplomas from their parents. One of the graduates was our son. The scene is repeated annually as Christian home school families gather to celebrate the academic achievement of their students and bless them as they move on to the next path God has chosen for their lives. As parents, we hope being home schooled has helped prepare Josh and his fellow graduates to live as Christians in a non-Christian world by providing a solid biblical foundation, emphasizing moral and character development, and encouraging them to think and pray about life's decisions.

In 2002­2003 an estimated 2 million students had been brought home to learn. Home schooling is growing at a rate of seven to 15 percent a year.

Why do people home school? The answers are varied. Religious convictions, differing world views, moral values, character development, learning difficulties, peer pressure and school violence are among the reasons given. For many it focuses on a better quality of life, wanting more family time and desiring to promote an attitude of life-long learning.

Our children started school in a Lutheran elementary school. We didn't expect to home school them, but each asked for it at different times. We prayed about it, and then said "yes" to what we believed God was asking of us.

In our home school, there is no typical day. Studying may take place on a couch, at a table, on Andrea's bed (yes, it must be made by our 8 a.m. starting time), or outside. At times it means standing near the driveway while dad drives the car with the horn blaring to illustrate the Doppler Effect for a science lesson; making a mummy while studying ancient history; or sledding and building snowmen during the first heavy snowfall and drinking hot chocolate afterward while reading together. Our flexible schedule means we can spend as much time as is needed to fully understand and complete a project rather than just the class time allotted for that day.

School can start early in the morning or continue in the evenings depending on what opportunities God brings into our lives for the day. We even moved our classroom to Washington, D.C. for a month while my husband was treated at the National Institutes of Health.

We've learned to turn all of life into a learning experience and to take advantage of educational opportunities children in regular school settings may not have-for example, when the septic system failed and the soil tester dug deep holes in our yard. We climbed in with our daughter and learned about the different layers of soil and what she could tell from each.

Our children have also learned to relate to people of all ages simply because they interact with a cross-section of society on a regular basis rather than being in a classroom surrounded mainly by people their own age.

As our children's educational needs changed, so have our methods-involving tutors and attending specialized classes. What doesn't change is our Biblical focus and emphasis on living for God.

Regulations on home schooling vary. We annually register with the state and meet their educational requirements. But we have the freedom to select the curriculum we believe will most effectively help each child learn and grow to the best of her God-given abilities.

So what does home schooling have to do with me, you ask. You can pray for us and be encouragers. Since most home-schoolers are single income families, we appreciate those who offer help in their area of expertise. A retired college math instructor taught Josh to use a graphing calculator. A neighbor who is an artist offered pottery classes. An LWML friend became a favorite visitor-she always found a new way to explore math concepts and even had Josh and Andrea excited about Algebra before they were in middle school. Another taught Andrea to work with horses. Horseback riding and stall cleaning are great gym classes!

Through job shadowing, Andrea has explored multiple medical careers. (She'll share her photos from observing hernia surgery with you if you're interested.) Friends in San Antonio, TX, welcomed Josh into their home for a month so he could job shadow the music and worship director at a large Lutheran church. Josh is now majoring in worship and youth ministries.

Our church helps, too, by assisting with textbook purchases for home school families. The books are eventually placed in the Church's Home School Lending Library. Today over one-third of the students in our congregation are home schooled.

Does it work? Yes! Academically, our children are excelling, as do most home schooled students whose standardized test scores are consistently above the national average. We've seen first-hand that many colleges actively pursue home schooled students. Josh received both community and college-based scholarships. Our children have grown into Christian young adults with godly characters who are seeking God's direction for their lives. They have a biblical focus toward life and the world around them. In addition Josh and Andrea are not only brother and sister, but friends.

It's important to remember that all parents home school their children-some just do it full time and year-round. A child's education takes place every waking moment of every day. Home schooling full-time is a choice, a commitment, and a joy when you believe it's what God has called you to do!

The Beales began their home schooling adventure while Lauren was serving as South Wisconsin District LWML President. Lauren is former features editor for the Quarterly. The Beales reside in Waukesha, WI where they continue to home school Andrea. They attend Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Pewaukee.