About us

About me:

I’m a single mom of four pretty wonderful kids. There are days they make me crazy, yes, but the rest of the time, I remember just how lucky I am to have them in my life.

My fiance:

Jesse is a sweetheart, one of those trustworthy, reliable guys so rare in this day and age. He’s amazingly patient and tolerant of my nonsense, and so steadfast in his love for me that I’m slowly allowing myself to believe that this is real, that he has no intention of going anywhere. We’re maybe getting married this October… still not quite certain. I’ve been making decisions on my own for a long time now. Adapting to living with someone else has been a struggle for me.

The kids:

Mike, age 14, 8th grade – This is his four year homeschooling. Hard to believe it’s been that long already. He was in the public grade school prior to coming home. He’s a First Class Boy Scout, soon to be a member of Order of the Arrow. He likes cats, legos, cameras, art, video games… and dumb jokes that annoy mom.

Tyler, age 12, 6th grade – This is his first year home. Despite my doctor and even one of his teachers suggesting way back in first grade that homeschooling might be a good thing for him, I just couldn’t find a way to make it work at the time. Later, when God finally showed me the way, Tyler was already hoping – and at the top of the waiting list – to be in the dual immersion Spanish/English charter school. He’s known for a long time that when 6th grade came, he’d be coming home. I’m regretting not doing it a lot sooner.

Chris, age 10, 4th grade – Kindergarten was misery for this child. Square peg, round hole oversimplifies the situation. I pulled him out in February, halfway through kindergarten, and he suddenly flourish – and oh my, the troubles didn’t totally cease, but they were maybe 5% of what we were going through with the school. It was wonderful.

Chey, age 8, 2nd grade – My only girl. She’s never been in public school, though she did attend a full day Head Start daycare program for about three years. I’m glad I never subjected her to public school. She has a strong self-esteem, a kind character, communicates well with anyone her own age up to elderly, and wouldn’t be the same child if she’d had to deal with the petty cruelties of daily public school.

Our homeschool:

We’re eclectic, if you want a concise description. At least, I am, and it seems to work well for the kids. I have to say that eclectic is sort of a lifestyle around here, rather then just a homeschool style. With pretty much everything in life, I (literally or mentally) take what is, research it, gather it, examine it, then sort it out and keep what works.

Our location:

We’re right in the heart of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, in a town called Hood River. I was born and raised here – I’m actually 5th generation living in this valley. I’m reluctant to leave, though we’re considering it. Housing costs are extremely high here. If we do move, we hope it would just be elsewhere in the Gorge. Living in a rental right now, we’re daydreaming of a home of our own.