When I began homeschooling I started out following the same pattern the school was using, including using the same books. We became more relaxed during our second year of homeschooling and each year after that we were able to find innovative ways to make learning fun rather than resembling an office full of clones. I wanted to get out of the militant style of education and into something that resembled real life. Our lives are very spontaneous so I needed to develop a way of learning that didn’t hinder us from living so adventurously and then I found this term ‘unschooling’.
I don’t consider ourselves full fledged unschoolers, but we certainly aren’t traditional homeschoolers either. As a matter of fact we are so out-of-the-box in our learning of academics and in our faith that I found it difficult to describe our lives by any specific term.
Labels annoy me.
I can’t seem to fit into any label so I found that describing our way of life is best described as Organic.
This doesn’t mean we’re off the grid, avoid technology, or omit drinking Pepsi Max. God forbid!
We don’t even have a garden. I wish we did though. I’m just not real good at making plants grow.
The Farmer’s Market is as close as we get to having healthy food here and we go every week.
{photo credit by Lady Jess @ Pix-O-Sphere}
But our academics and our faith both ventured into this Organic style of living.
We still live in a small home, but someday hope to be on the road like some of you.
Every time I find a fellow organic style family I get oodles of excitement bursting in my soul.
I don’t think I’d be able to go totally organic in all areas of my life. I have a friend who went totally off the grid for several years ‘complete’ with dirt floors, no running water, or electricity.
Not gonna happen with this chick!
Our hope is to one day be on the road in an RV. My In-Loves have an RV (see below) that is well equipped with technology, yet they enjoy roasting marshmallows over a camp fire. Not quite the same kind of camping I did as a kid, but it’s more free than living in a big city tied down to a house payment.
{photo credit Sisterlisa @ Pix-O-Sphere}
We want to live as free as possible while we can and explore this great nation with our children with what little time we have left while they’re under our roof. I’m thankful Jess still wants to be a part of this journey with us. She’s 18 now and can certainly choose something different for her life. I’m so thankful she still wants to hang out with her family.
Organic living, spontaneous, free thinkers, out-of-the-box, adventurous, walking by faith kind of people aren’t so easy to come by, but I found many who call themselves a variety of these things. They’re just as much a part of this home educating community as anyone of us and so much more exciting for me is to discover how many explore the community of faith outside of organized religion. We’re still of the faith, yet finding this different, organic, spontaneous way to live and breathe the Spirit among community doesn’t mean we’re outsiders. Just as homeschoolers found a way to home educate and become a community of educators and students outside the system, we have found how to do the same with our faith.
After all, even nature worships it’s Creator out in the wild, so can we!
Psalm 148
1 Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD!
For he commanded and they were created.
6 And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!
9 Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
*squeal* I just found a soul sister!
Hi, Noel! Glad to ‘meet’ you.
I remember reading an article about a family that took a year off and visited every state in an RV, homeschooling on the road. I came home and told my husband about it. Such an intriguing idea. We take massive road trips, but it’s always for 3 weeks or so. The idea of having several months or even a year is quite compelling.
We live in such a beautiful country, Anne. I look forward to the day my family can travel.
OH, how I can relate! We have the camper (not an RV but a big travel trailer) and I want to just sell the house and go on the road. BUT, DH owns a business … and well it is just not so simple for him which I respect.
Anyway, we are very much organic by your definition as well. I had called it eclectic but I like organic much better! I don’t do Pepsi Max, but I sure love a Mountain Dew every once in a while!
Oh, and I ABHOR labels. Could not agree more! I ALWAYS, ALWAYS love your posts. Thank you!
Leslie, I was talking to my husband again today and saying how it would be great to have some small homes we could rent out and use that income to get on the road. Our town has 2 colleges, one is a state university, so students are always wanting to rent. Lauren over at SparklingAdventures.com rents out their home so they can travel. They live organically too.
Sharing the dream! We’ve been tempted to pick up and do it now- but financially need to wait a bit longer!
Kelli, We have had this desire growing our our hearts for over 2 years now and we are SO ready to go!! Maybe we could all brainstorm ways to make our dreams a reality.
Oh I love your definition! We’re on our way to Organic. We were going to live on the road, but DH’s business is taking us back to the brick & sticks life. This whole journey began by leaving organized religion…now I find all parts of my life being changed to Organic!
Taunya,
We left organized religion too and live our lives of faith out in such a different way then before. I know some don’t understand how it’s possible, but it sure is a more free way to be a community and love others without the bondage of division. We still visit some churches from time to time, but we find so much more diversity outside the religious institutions. Thank you for the encouraging words.
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