I was one of the original ‘Pioneers’ of the home school movement back in 1983. My daring parents were former hippies with a background in music, radio and television, who became creative Christians with an almost instant travelling evangelistic ministry after their lives were completely transformed when they read the New Testament in the Bible aloud to each other practicing their “radio voice”. They decided to try everything it said to do, and in so doing they came to believe what it said, and immediately saw their lives radically improve in every way. They also spent a few years as missionaries in Mexico. They were model pioneers of intentionalism and living with purpose, and are currently writers, ministers, artists and entrepreneurs. They live in a custom loft apartment in an historic building they re-designed and renovated above their art gallery in an idyllic small town in America; they still love to travel.

They had such a dramatic salvation testimony of God’s amazing grace and goodness in their lives that churches often asked them to come and share their story of transformation and family redemption; including marriage, parenting and family life seminars and workshops. Incidentally, it was at one of these relationship seminars that my husband first saw me… and it was love at first sight!

In addition to sharing their story of total life transformation and family redemption, as we were a very creative and musical family, they were also invited to share our original music at many churches and various Christian events around America, Canada and the Caribbean. It was when the invitations became so many and wide spread that it made full-time travel with their five school-aged children a necessity that my parents decided home education was the best option for our family.

Thus I had the joy and privilege of learning at home, or on the road from grade five through high school graduation. I learned much from our travels, seeing new sites, meeting new people and enjoying lots of interesting new experiences, as well as reading many, many, many books (I particularly liked the Classics) and spending time outdoors with nature. I absolutely loved it!

So much so that now, almost thirty years later, I’ve given my own children the same opportunity and freedom to learn at home that I enjoyed as a child as part of our lifestyle of Intentional Living. We affectionately call this a Living Education, and we love it!

This little family of mine has also become somewhat creative and musical in our own way. My husband is always singing; he plays guitar and has occasionally led worship at our church. Our daughter is part of the Music Ministry team at our church and loves to sing, we call her our little songbird; she is also learning to play the guitar with some help from her dad. Our son was was initially interested in the piano and took some lessons when he was younger, now he is very involved in the youth band as well as the Music Ministry and A/V teams; he plays the acoustic and bass guitars. Both of my children enjoy drawing and painting.

My children love to travel, and have been to various places in Ontario, Canada as well as several different States in America. They are still young and the list is long of the places they’d like to go and the things they’d like to do. So we continue to read lots and lots of worthy books and try many, many different things while we spend time together with friends, family, and each other visiting as many interesting new places as we can, trying delicious new foods or fun activities, enjoying various culturally enriching events, making art or music as well as spending plenty of time outdoors with nature. And so we continue to pioneer a Living Education in 2012.

I believe that in some ways every parent is a bit of a pioneer. I would love to learn about your own journey on this learning, parenting and educating adventure. Maybe you use textbooks, living books or online tools; Classical, Traditional, Relaxed or Unschooling? How have you forged your own path raising and educating your children?

I hope you feel very welcome here. This is a safe place to poke around and investigate the ideas of Intentional Living and a Living Education. I hope to add more content in time to help guide visitors to the books and websites I’ve found most helpful over the years. There are a few in the menu already- happy surfing!

© Una-Melina // Worthy Books & Things, 2012.