Once upon a time a boy fell in love with a girl…and they couldn’t have been more different!
Steve and Renita met while Renita was a Junior in High School and he was a Freshman in College. She was instantly smitten. He was head over heals. Somehow overcoming their mutual shyness they began dating. After three years, they finally got married. Life was rocky and quite difficult at times. Two people with very strong personalities trying to conform the other doesn’t make for a happy marraige. Thankfully God worked on their hearts and changed them both.
After three years of marriage they wanted to start a family. Five miscarraiges later, that didn’t look like it was going to happen. Health issues caused more problems than the doctors knew how to deal with; but God knew. The desire of their heart was born miraculously in 1998 followed by another miracle in 1999! The next two blessings took a little longer with one coming in 2001 followed by another miscarraige then our final blessing in 2005. Oh by the way…they are all girls. What a ride! Parenthood has come with its challenges which included what to do about schooling their precious kiddos. When the local school system refused to let Renita know about or even look at the curricula she got her dander up. If she couldn’t see the curricula then they wouldn’t see her kids! That is where the idea of homeschooling in their house began. It grew to encompass so much more over the years but the beginning was a little on the petty side. 
Now, after 9 years in the running, school is working at least most of the time. The 2012-2013 school year at Crossroads homeschool will have a Freshman, an Eighth Grader, a Fifth Grader, a Second Grader, and a two year old. Wait, you say. Where did the 2 yo come from? Well, she is another blessing we weren’t expecting. She is a precious soul that we get to love on for who knows how long. She lives with us Sundays through Fridays but is in our hearts 24/7. For however long we have her we are honored to be part of her life.
Homeschooling in the Terrell household is messy, loud, and sometimes downright frustrating but we are learning and growing together. Every stinkin’ day! If you’d like to read more about our crazy lives, I’d love to have you visit my personal blog.
What is your homeschool style?
My homeschool style? Hmm…let’s see…”Get your work done now!!” Is that a style? No, probably not. We use a mixture of Classical, Textbook, Unit Study, and make up your own because I can’t find exactly what I like kind of homeschoolers. Then we chuck it all out the window when we want to go on a tangent!!
What is your favorite curriculum or homeschool resource?
That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child! We love, love, love Tapestry of Grace, Growing With Grammar, Writing Tales, WonderMaps, Math U See, really just about everything we are using. But, then I will review something and we will fall in love with that. We are fickle like that! Different seasons in our homeschool life lead us to different products and back again.
What homeschool supply could you not live without?
Okay, now this is getting personal! I adore school supplies in general so I store, okay horde really, them up for a rainy day. I think I would say that a white board/dry erase board is essential along with good wall maps and a timeline for history. No, pens, pencils, sharpies, notebook paper, sticky notes…the list goes on and on.
What is your favorite book?
I have so many favorites. I love books! Just come to my house and check out all the bookshelves and boxes of books. But, the series of books I always go back to is Anne of Green Gables. She is my favorite because I relate to her so well!