We are so excited to be getting The Brew into your hands!  This is the 2nd journal for the year.  The first journal was called The Grind CLICK HERE to download it if you want to have both journals.  As always these journals are FREE for you.  The resources we make here on Raising Arrows are made to aid you in your homeschool year.  You are our ministry, not a business and therefore, no money is made from Raising Arrows.  There are no affiliate links, no kick backs, and no profits made from Raising Arrows.  However, if you would like a print version The Brew the cost is $15, I print it, bind it, and ship it to you at cost (again not for profit) You can PayPal me at jennylynnstephenson@gmail.com please include your address into the PayPal notes.  

Here is the link to download The Brew CLICK HERE.  Please feel free to share this resource with other homeschool families.  We love to watch the ministry of Raising Arrows grow.  

The Sip is our next journal that will be released in mid January so stay tuned and join us on the Raising Arrows Facebook page as well.  

In His Joyful Service,
​Ben and Jenny

"There is a difference between giving something and having it taken from you.  If you still count the things that you lost with resentment, then you did not give them.  You need to let go of those things that you no longer have.  Lay them down.  If you find yourself in bed at night tallying what has been lost to you, you need to let go of that list.  Lay them down.  Give them freely.  Don't count them as stolen."
- Rachel Jankovic Fit to Burst

Finally sitting at my computer to write again.  After finishing The Grind and then birthing a baby boy I haven't had much time to write.  I have had a lot of time to read while nursing my little stud muffin which has been so good.  I seriously love having the "excuse" of nursing as a chance to plow through my stack of books I've been wanting to read, but haven't had the time or availability to dig into.  I'll write another post on the books I've read while sitting around snuggling my baby (some great ones I can't wait to share with you!)

Today though I had a few minutes to myself while the baby napped and the 4 year old was at the bee hive with Ben and the 2 year old was at the garden with a big sister so I thought I would take a moment and write out something that has been spinning in my mind lately mainly because of the above quote.  I just finished reading Fit to Burst by Rachel Jankovic and I would highly recommend it - seriously a great Biblical perspective on motherhood that is seldom written about these days.  I found it challenging and there are several ways I was convicted where my attitude has been off and needed some correcting.  But that is not the point of this post either.

I read the above quote and was reminded of my first year of homeschooling.  Ben and I were both working full time and homeschooling our 3 bigs.  It was wild and busier than I've ever been in my life (and I'm not saying that to brag - it was too busy and my priorities were out of wack).  Half way through the homeschool year I found myself unemployed and trying to figure out what life looked like with the lack of income and as "just a stay at home, homeschool mom."  I'll be honest it wasn't pretty and I was having a hard time adjusting to what the new normal was.  I didn't give up my job so that I could make my family a priority it was taken from me and I threw a pity party for a while.  I'd set my fulfillment in my job rather than in what should have been my first, second, and third priorities - the Lord, my husband, and my children.  

The Lord was gracious and let me throw my royal pity party for a while, but after a few weeks He so gently reminded me as I read the story of the prodigal son that I could sit and wallow like a pig in self pity or I could embrace this new life that He had given me and throw all my energy, passion, and joy into being "just a stay at home, homeschool mom"  

So I stopped wallowing around in the mud pit with my tiara and instead I started finding joy in this life.  It took a while but I wasn't "just a stay at home, homeschool mom" anymore.  I had been given the gift of being A STAY AT HOME, HOMESCHOOL MOM and it rocked my world!!!  My fulfillment was in the Lord, I was finding joy in small moments watching my kids master their times tables, learning to read, and getting to slow down and do life together.  Discipleship became the central focus of our home and I was able to watch my children's walks with the Lord flourish as did all of our friendships as well.  Rather than running the rat race, we had time to play games, sit around and sing as Ben played his guitar, and eat meals together around the table.  Life changed in dramatic ways and for the first time I learned how fulfilling being a mom could be.  I found Sally Clarkson, Edith Schaeffer, and Cindy Rollins (authors) and as I read my eyes were opened to even more of what the home was intended to be.  

I've never looked back.  The Lord brought me such fulfillment and joy in this role that I would never wish to go back to that job again.  The job outside the home was fake fulfillment, serving people who ultimately weren't my responsibility to serve.  My family is my responsibility and I will answer for how I steward this time I have with them in my home.  

So why am I telling you all this?!?  Many of you have started this homeschool journey not by choice.  Many of you had public or private school taken from you and life as you know it looks drastically different now.  You'd imagined your K student walking with a backpack that was 2 sizes too large on their back, giving you a toothy grin while walking in to his first day of class and instead he's still wearing pj's there is no classroom to go to and school is happening at the kitchen table.  

I want to challenge you mommies today to change the perspective on your homeschool year.  Rather than looking at it like the school year was taken from you and you have lost your time alone or time with the younger kids, rather start viewing this Covid time as a blessing.  You've been GIVEN the gift of a homeschool year with your children.  Maybe it's only one year or maybe for some of you, you might fall in love with this wild world of homeschooling and discipling your children and this might be the rest of your journey.  My encouragement is to get out of the mud pit, take off that pity party crown and look for the gift.  Find joy in the small moments of the day, thank the Lord often for every little gift you can see.  

Is homeschooling hard - YES, is staying home with your children all day every day hard - YES, does Satan want you to feel like you aren't accomplishing anything and are failing - YES, BUT does God ever call us to do something without a plan - NO.  The Lord knew long before Covid was thing that you were going to homeschool, He has this path and plan prepared for you and wants to use this time not only for your children to learn and finish 3rd grade, but this is for your sake too.  The Lord wants to use this homeschool season to grow your character, your joy, and to build your family into something that reflects His glory.   James 1: 2-4 says 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Yes, homeschooling can be a trial, Covid can be a trial, your kids not being in school can be a trial, but if these trials produce in us a growing faith so that we may be complete and lacking nothing, then it's worth looking at these trials as a gift from the Lord.  

We need to flip our mindset from what has been TAKEN to what has been GIVEN.  What have you been GIVEN today?

I can't believe I just wrote that it's August!  What a strange time we have been living in the past few months.  I don't know about you, but I'm trying to keep home as normal as possible right now, despite nothing in life feeling normal.  
Have you already started your homeschool year yet?  We started early because we have a baby boy due any day now and I knew I would need some time off once he finally comes.  We also released The Grind last week - this was so exciting to finally get into your hands.  If you haven't had a chance to download and read through The Grind yet I'd highly encourage you to do so.  The link to download is at the bottom of this post.  
There are a few fun things from The Grind that I thought I would share for this first week of August on here as well.  The first are some fun and silly holidays in the month of August.  I am a big fan of celebrating (I talk about this in The Grind) and we love every excuse to celebrate.  Here are a few reasons you might want to consider celebrating this month too!  

Another thing I write about in The Grind is planning out your meals for the month.  I use this more as a guide than a stick to it plan, but it sure does help to have an idea of what I can make for the month. This schedule is also a great way to make sure I'm not cooking the same 4 meals each week and I add some fun variety to our plan.  I also use the above holiday list to plan a few meals too!  (Like August 19th we will be having a baked potato bar for dinner - cause why not?!?) 

Finally, if you haven't started your homeschool year yet I gave you a ton of information on getting your homeschool year started and some good journal prompts to help you think through what you still need to plan out to be prepared for the start of your homeschool journey.  

Hope these fun resources get you excited for the month of August!  Check out these resources and so many more in The Grind.  Happy August Everyone!

Click Here to Download The Grind

Just wanted to make downloading a bit simpler for everyone.  Here is a zip file of The Grind!  Enjoy and feel free to share with others who are homeschooling too!

 Hi Everyone 
We are so excited to give you The Grind today!  We pray this will be such a help to your homeschool year.  We will be releasing one journal each quarter of this homeschool year to help keep you on track and not just surviving but thriving in this year!  Can't wait to have you all read through it!!  

As is always our case The Grind is FREE for you.  Our heart for Raising Arrows is ministry first, we have no desire to make any money from what we do which is why we post everything for FREE and you will see no affiliate links on our page.  Please share The Grind with your homeschool friends who would also be blessed by this and print it as many times as you need!

In His Joyful Service 
Ben and Jenny 
The Grind Click on the chapters below to download each file
Chapter 1
​Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
​Chapter 5
​Chapter 6
​Chapter 7
​Chapter 7 A
​Chapter 7 B
​Chapter 7 C
​Chapter 7 D
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
​Chapter 10
​Chapter 10 A
​Chapter 10 B
​Chapter 11
Chapter 11 A
​Chapter 12

To my dear homeschool mothers,
I wanted to take a moment of your time today and make sure you know what an honor it is to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, my sisters in Christ.  While the world tells us our children are an inconvenience -  YOU brought your children home to spend every waking moment together.  While the world tells us our children cost too much - YOU choose to not be a two income family and instead sacrifice money for a priceless commodity - time with your family.  While the world tells us our children should all learn at the same pace, in the same age group, and in the same way - YOU have chosen to honor the uniquenesses of each of your children allowing them to climb the ladder of learning in their time and in their own way no matter how fast or slow that is.  While the world tells us that being "just" a stay at home homeschool mom isn't enough - YOU have decided that it is far more than enough.  

Because being "just" a stay at home, homeschooling mom is a ministry, a calling, a moment by moment chance to disciple our children, a sacrifice, a joy, an exhaustion, a challenge, uplifting, out of the box, and if done right - the hardest job you will ever do. As a stay at home mom keeping up on the cleaning, laundry, cooking, and various other household chores we have homemaking done right is a huge job.  We've decided to add a few more plates to balance and spin by embracing the role of homeschool mom.  We are with our children 24/7 and we see the worst in them at times.  We hit our knees often asking for wisdom on how to shape, mold and build these disciples for Christ.  Add to this the weight of our children's education and future and it's easy to see why we can feel overwhelmed and weak most any hour of the day!

Friends, I just want to remind you that the Lord sees you and the sacred work you are doing in your home.  Though most of what you do tends to feels invisible, His eye is on YOU - little sparrow, and He is watching with joy your faithfulness to this calling of Homeschool Mom.  This work, this sacred work is the most important work you will ever do.  You are Raising Arrows who will shoot into world changers for the Lord someday.  This is our job, our calling - this is homeschool mothering and today on mother's day I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for making your family the best priority you could ever spend your time on.  What a gift you are giving your children allowing them to be homeschooled by you.  I'm honored and so blessed to know you, call you friends, and get to walk side by side in this journey of homeschooling together.  I virtually raise my reheated in the microwave 3 times cup of lukewarm coffee to you today and say thank you for all you do in serving the kingdom of God and your family.   

Happy Mother's Day my friends,
Love you all - Jenny

​Isaiah 44:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Raising Arrows has been busy preparing resources to help you as you plan your up and coming homeschool year.  There is a ton happening on the Raising Arrows Facebook Page, including give aways, discussions, and bonus videos.  To find the Planning the Homeschool Year Journal CLICK HERE

We hope these resources will be helpful to your upcoming homeschool year and take a bit of the stress and challenge of planning away.  Excited for this to be your best homeschool year yet!

Hi Everyone - here is our last video on homeschooling with littles.   This video is from Q & A questions people in Raising Arrows sent in.  

Here are the rest of the videos from our Homeschooling with Littles Series
Homeschooling with Littles - Our Hearts
Homeschooling with Littles - Consistency
Homeschooling with Littles - Anchors
Homeschooling with Littles - Routines
​Homeschooling with Littles - Be Prepared

​These video posts, many topic conversations, and some fun giveaways all happen on our Raising Arrows Facebook Group 

We have had a great week talking about homeschooling with littles.  Today we are talking about schedules or routines.  For some schedules work and for others routines work.  The important part is simply to do something that helps you simplify your day.  

By keeping either a schedule or a routine means you are more likely to get all your homeschooling and other to do's done in your day.  I'm a routine person, which simply means I do the same things in the same order every single day.  I don't have to think about it I just do the next thing.  I've found that having a routine helps my littles too.  They know when I'm doing the finance curriculum with my bigs that this is the last thing before we start making lunch.  My 3 year old has said several times "Oh yeah we are talking about money that means lunch is next"  This routine gives our littles some security in knowing what comes next and what is expected for the day.  

Watch today's video for more information on schedules and routines.  

Don't forget to check out the rest of the videos in our Homeschooling with Littles Series at the links below:
Homeschooling with Littles - Our Thoughts
Homeschooling with Littles - Anchors
Homeschooling with Littles - Consistency
​Homeschooling with Littles - Be Prepared 

Hi everyone we are back to talk about homeschooling with littles and being prepared for our day.  Nothing can set our day up for success or failure like walking into the day prepared!  Watch the video for some ideas on a few things I do to prepare for my homeschool days.  

If you missed any other videos in our series on Homeschooling with Littles the links are below so you can get caught up!  

Homeschooling with Littles Series: 
Homeschooling with Littles - Our Thoughts
​Homeschooling with Littles - Consistency 
​Homeschooling with Littles - Anchors