By Courtney Ingle
This back-to-school season brings a new vibe to our home. Homeschooling our two kids had become a desire of my heart, and the Lord, in His graciousness, granted us that opportunity. Since committing to homeschooling, I’ve started to realize how God has been preparing us for this season for years.
In 2016, I was a journalist working at the state capitol. It was another year of political debating over Mississippi’s education funding. It was the first time I thought, “I’m not sure how I would feel about putting my kids in school.” But what did I know? I didn’t even find out I was pregnant with my first child until six months later, and by then I was convinced: My kid is going to daycare, then public school.
In December 2017, maternity leave ended, and I went back to work. In the next nine weeks, Taylor never attended a full week of daycare without illness. My entire paycheck went to daycare, doctor visits, prescriptions, and treatments.
God provided a way to bring Taylor home when my sister, who worked at the daycare, agreed to leave that job and come sit with Taylor while finishing college online and working toward a “big girl job.” For six more months, I continued to work until a friend contacted me about a job writing online. I got the job and got to come home. The owner of the website I’d be writing for, Alan Lange, also ran a staffing company. Alan helped my sister Emi find her first “big girl job” as a legal assistant. God provided for us all.
Fast forward 18 months, and my daughter had recovered from surgery to remove her eye due to cancer. All was finally calm — for about a month, until COVID shut the world down.
Between Taylor’s hospital visits and my grandmother living with us, we fell into nearly every high-risk category. As if that weren’t enough, God provided our son, Jacob, to complete our family. Time passed, Nana moved into assisted living, and Taylor was ready for preschool. We had tried at home during COVID, but in those years, Taylor missed valuable playtime with peers. Again, God’s provision. Park Place Christian Academy was the perfect fit.
I brought my daughter to the school and joined the PTA. Shoot, we joined the church that operated the academy! Home is where my kids are, so I essentially lived at the school most days.
But for us, the traditional school lifestyle wasn’t a fit. At the end of the day, we were all exhausted. We weren’t getting the best of each other. We were getting what was left.
For months, I had mentioned homeschooling. My husband one day said if I wanted to homeschool the kids, he was in full support.
In every stage, God has provided.
Whether you’re homeschooling your kids or pursuing the traditional route, God’s provision remains. He provided you with your kids and with the wisdom to raise them. He provided His Word to guide you as you guide them.
In this back-to-school season, I leave you with this verse – the same one I’m teaching my kids this week – to remind you of God’s provision:
“Every good and perfect thing is from above, coming down from the Father.” – James 1:17.
Courtney and her husband, Jeremy, live in Brandon and are members at Park Place Baptist Church in Pearl. They have a daughter, Taylor, and a son, Jacob. Courtney is a full-time homemaker and can be reached at courtneyingle89@gmail.com.