Oh my goodness…I’ve missed you so!

But we won’t have to part company like that again any time soon   Being gone means I just have oodles of fun to catch up up on….but I have a more pressing matter at hand before I can do that…..to tell you all just how wonderful The Old Schoolhouse Magazine really is!!!  If you are a homeschooler and haven’t ever checked out this amazing publication, you’ve just got to run right over to their website (of course not until you finish reading my blog ) and drink in all the fabulousness that they have to offer!

To start with, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is FREE!!!!  Yes, you heard me….FREE!!  And don’t we all know how much homeschool moms FREE!!   For the first few years of our homeschool journey, I received their print copy (and I’m thinking that my husband, if he put any thought into it at all, would be glad that I don’t have it delivered in that format any longer…I only have so much room for old magazines, and let me tell you…I wasn’t about to throw even one issue away!!  You just never know when you’re going to need to read about “Chemistry, Chess and Critical Thinking”! ) and I looked so forward to it’s arrival in my mailbox.  And just when I thought I couldn’t possibly be any more unhappy with my print copy being discontinued, I discovered the joy of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine iPad app !  And for you Kindle Fire and Android lovers, they’ve got you covered too!  I no longer had to highlight, dog-ear pages or take notes on a piece of paper so I wouldn’t forget to go look up that fabulous new geography program I saw on page 32…’cause guess what??? All I had  to do was put my pretty little finger on my iPad screen in the appropriate place and it would just take me straight to it!!   Once that happened, I was a true convert!!

So when November’s issue popped up on my iPad a couple of weeks ago, it was just like a warm blanket and a soft pillow….there’s something very comforting to me about reading articles about other homeschoolers who just don’t always get it right…or someone sharing with us how to help our kiddos who are naturally awesome at numbers love math when they don’t.  The contributors at TOS are always so gifted at weaving in topics throughout the issues that complement each other…and God is really great about sending to me exactly what I am needing at the time!

This month He was speaking through their stories loud and clear….sloooowwww down Hmmm…I’m not sure I heard Him correctly though…I just don’t seem to have the time to do that these days!! LOL!

Whether it is allowing us to peer into the lives of our sweet Amish Brothers and Sisters in Christ through a day in the life of one young Amish mom or sharing how the study of music enhances a classical education……all of these topics have a thread in common that speaks to me……”He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10.  I don’t know about you…but I am rarely still.  Between homeschooling, helping my husband run our business, being a mom, wife, daughter, friend….I am rarely still.  I DREAM of being still someday.  But God is whispering to me….”Don’t wait for someday”.  I pray that I will listen to him sooner rather than later.  I want to be still….I really do.  And I am much more “still” than many I know.  We are not over-schedulers here at our home….I resist weekend activities that occur outside of our home.  I relish the days of the week when we have no field trips to attend.  But even then….I’m not still in my home.  So I’m thinking that it doesn’t matter that I’m home if I’m not still.

Anyone else feel that way? I know I’m not alone….

Alone…that is another topic that spoke to me from this issue….and truth be told, from every issue.  We are not homeschooling or raising our children alone….there is a whole community out there of those who have gone before us and those who are going with us.  I absolutely adore the regular feature of “Show and Tell”!  Being able to see how other families structure their homeschool days and lives is such a blessing to me!  And now that TOS has gone digital, you can actually watch a video of the sweet families sharing their stories with us!

Another really awesome thing about TOS magazine is that there is ALWAYS something for everyone in each issue…whether you need tips on teaching a struggling learner or need to learn how to play more with your little one….it’s all there plus more……

I hope I’ve inspired you to check out The Old Schoolhouse Magazine…I think you’ll find it to be the best thing you never knew you needed!!  Enjoy!

P. S. Don’t forget the apps!!!

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.