Hi!

My name is Wendy and I am a homeschooling grandmother to our granddaughter, Zoe, who will be seven in a few weeks. She is a treasure to us......

We are not first-time homeschoolers, since we homeschooled our daughter, Chelsey, from 1982 to her junior year in 1990, when she chose to attend public high school her senior year. She graduated 5th in her class, with honors, and went on to obtain her degree in Sign Language Interpreting in 2000, and most recently worked as an interpreter at TJC. She was a single parent, a deeply committed Christian, and a wonderful daughter and mother. She lost her life this past October to a driver under the influence (of something), and we are now raising Zoe and continuing her education at home, something we were already doing jointly with Chelsey.

It is a little different, of course, than our first experience with homeschooling so many years ago, but for the most part, very rewarding and fun. I treasure all the extra time homeschooling gave us with Chelsey, and it makes me appreciate so much the freedom we still have to choose this education for our children. God blessed us with these precious children, and to turn them over to someone else for their education 8 or more hours a day (for 13 years) is something that I could never do again. I realize it is a personal choice and not for everyone, but I encourage anyone considering it to pray and pray, but not to delay the decision---these children are only ours to influence for a brief time in their lives. Yes, I do tend to get on a soapbox, but I believe we have to be bold and unafraid about these things, yet still loving and accepting of the choices of others.

Zoe is involved in piano, soccer, dance, and Awanas, and is wanting to learn 'every instrument in the world', she says, as well as taking voice and art lessons. She is working through Alpha-Omega 200s right now, as well as various other things that interest her, and reads everything! She is learning to sew and cook and raise animals and loves to draw and paint.

Homeschooling our precious granddaughter is a small way to honor God and show appreciation for His gifts (of Chelsey for 29 short years) and Zoe, and we receive SO much in return. I know there is not even a sparrow falling to the ground which escapes God's notice, and He knows our hurt so well---we believe that what Satan means for evil, God intends for good and He has already used our loss, as well as the life and testimony of our daughter, to minister in many ways to others. In saying all that, I even remind myself Who is really in charge here, and why we are doing all this!

Hope I haven't gone on too long....... In His grip, Wendy Epps

JEREMIAH 29:11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Used with permission. Copyright 2003 TexasHomeEducators