The decision to homeschool my two youngest children was not an easy one to make. Homeschooling was something I had read about and considered for years with our three oldest children, but always felt afraid to try.  Perhaps I was afraid that I didn't have the right qualifications, or would "burn out" too quickly.  Most importantly, I did not think I would be a very good teacher. 
         Finally, after the third child graduated from high school, I felt strong enough to break away from the system and bring my 14 year old son and 10 year old daughter home.  My son was miserable at school and had begged to homeschool.  My daughter, who was very good at doing all the right things at school, but was getting tired of the game, asked if she could come home, too.  So with their support, we began homeschooling. 
        We have experienced good days and not so good days along the way.  Overall, I would have to say that our family feels calmer without the public school influence.  We have time to talk.  We are free to pick and choose subjects that are interesting to explore.  My daughter has always loved reading and can now indulge for hours, and still have time for the social life with friends she enjoys.  My son, who professed to hate reading, has discovered that there actually are a few books that are interesting.  This discovery alone was real progress!
        Yet, at times I could not help worrying.   Homeschooling felt so right for us, but I had concerns about their future.  Were we really doing what was best for the children?
        Even though I had prayed many times regarding this subject, and always came away feeling that things would be okay, I again found myself approaching my Heavenly Father with the same fears.  This time I got the same kind of answer, but I found it in the scriptures. 
        One morning we were reading aloud from the Book of Mormon.  The scripture was 1 Nephi, chapter 18, verses 2-4.  In this passage, Nephi is explaining how he came to build the ship:

        "Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men. 
        "And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things. 
        "And it came to pass that after I had finished the ship, according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did humble themselves again before the Lord."

         This scripture came alive for me then.  I understood, as I likened the scripture unto myself (1 Nephi 19:23), that what I was trying to do with homeschooling was something like what Nephi was doing with his ship.  He was following a different pattern from the rest of the world, and with the Lord's help and guidance, the ship turned out wonderfully.
        What a comfort this was to me!  I still don't know exactly how things will turn out, but I do know that Heavenly Father hears my prayers, and he has assured me, once again, that it will be okay.  So, I will continue to build, and pray "oft", and have faith that, in the end, my children will be "exceedingly fine."