By, Carlie Kercheval                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Over the years, I have had many people ask me, “I just don’t know how you do it. How do you stay at home all day with your children?” If I was paid a dollar for every time I have been asked this question, our family of five would be dining at a fancy black tie restaurant for a night or two. For real. In all seriousness, it always alarms me and makes me wonder – How could I not?

Have you ever heard the expression: Home is where the heart is? Well that is something that I believe is very true on so many different levels.

Where is your home?

Let me show you mine.

First and foremost, my heart is with Jesus – He is my Savior, my counselor, my peace, my joy, my hope, my healing, and my love in this world. Secondly my heart is with my husband – my other half – and yes, we are “one flesh.” At a VERY close third are our precious children whom I have been appointed along side my husband to be good stewards of and to raise them for God’s glory.

Where is my home?

Wherever God leads my family. Currently we are “foreigners” in a beautiful country not our own, Deutschland (aka Germany). More important than the physical location of “home” is the heart within this place we all call “home.” I want to encourage those mothers whom have already responded to the hearts cry to be “home” with your families, that you are DOING THE RIGHT THING. I know at times it gets difficult having a job that does not have vacation time, sick leave, or even a day off; but the rewards we yield in our “profession” of full time stay-at-home homeschooling mothers outweigh any “wages” the world could pay us. No matter what situation(s) you are currently facing within your family dynamic, keep praying and speaking the Word of Life over your family – and watch the atmosphere of your home be transformed (for the better)!

I know that it is not possible for everyone to be at home with their children due to different choices in life, but I do know that every mother longs to be with her child(ren). I would encourage those mother’s reading this that are not able to be with their children at home right now but desire to do so – NEVER GIVE UP. God is faithful. Keep praying and speaking words of LIFE over your situation AND HE WILL SEE YOU THROUGH!

“God, by whom you have been marked out in his purpose, is unchanging and will make it complete.”~1 Thessalonians 5:24

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” ~Philippians 1:6

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” ~Isaiah 55:11

Home is where the heart is, and my home is with my family, immersed in Jesus; and for this, I am forever grateful!

Please note: This article was originally published August 30, 2011, on my blog: So You Call Yourself A Homeschooler? You can find the direct link here: http://www.soyoucallyourselfahomeschooler.com/2011/08/home-is-where-heart-is-blessing-to-be.html

Carlie is a blessed, stay-at-home, homeschoolin’ mama to her 3 precious gifts she calls “children”. She is a proud Army wife and has been married to the love of her life, Michael, for over 11 years. In her free time she enjoys anything to do with Jesus, family time, reading, writing, singing, teaching, and being outdoors.

You can find out more about her homeschooling adventures and Christian faith at either of her two blogs:

http://soyoucallyourselfahomeschooler.com/  AND http://callyourselfachristian.blogspot.com/.