ave you ever had one of those moments when you look at your life and think, “I never would have pictured this”? We all begin our journey with plans for how our lives will unfold and what they will look like, only to discover that God often leads us in directions we never anticipated.

As I stepped into my own story, I can honestly say I would not have expected John and me to have four boys, to choose to homeschool, or to start a program for our sons and their friends that would later become a homeschool ministry with campuses in multiple locations.

During our many years of homeschooling, our home was bursting with the energy that comes from raising four boys. If you’ve ever had books scattered across the table, lessons taking place all over the house, and a daily rhythm that is constantly being adjusted to meet the needs of your family. You know exactly what I mean. Since I had a background in education, I never imagined that my classroom would eventually become my own home.

John and I really wanted to do this well…maybe you can relate to that feeling? We read books, researched different educational approaches, and spent many hours discussing and weighing which curriculum would best serve our family. If I’m honest, the weight of that responsibility felt very heavy at times, almost paralyzing, but we were determined to make wise decisions for their future.

As I walked by the way with my children and simply tried to parent and teach them, my perspective began to shift. God kept reminding me of what truly mattered. The longer I walked this path, the more I realized that homeschooling, like parenting, was not about methods or finding a perfect educational plan.

It wasn’t a dramatic moment. It was more like a dimmer switch being slowly turned up, making the light brighter. That happened through the ordinary moments of family life, through conversations around the table, questions that arose during lessons, moments of correction, times I had to ask for forgiveness, and the prayers I could barely utter at the end of very long days. Motherhood has a way of revealing both our strengths and our weaknesses, and God uses these experiences to shape us just as much as He shapes our children.

And, before I go any further, I want to pause for a moment to acknowledge someone who has meant a great deal to this community of homeschooling mothers. For years, this column was written by Durenda Wilson. Her thoughtful words encouraged countless women (including me) who were walking the path of raising and educating their children at home. She had such a gift for helping mothers recognize the significance of their calling and for reminding them of what really matters. Stepping into a column shaped by her for so long is something I approach with deep respect and, if I’m being honest, a healthy dose of fear.

I am also reminded of Debbie Strayer, one of the Founders of Homeschooling Today. Our friendship began many years ago, when I was still discovering what it meant to educate children at home with courage and confidence grounded in Biblical principles. She mentored me faithfully as we began our ministry with Artios Academies.

Debbie had a remarkable ability to see the bigger picture of what God was doing through homeschooling. Her vision was never simply about academics. She understood that something deeper was at play, and over the years, she often asked questions that pushed me to think more deeply about why we were doing what we were doing as parents and educators. Those conversations not only shaped my own homeschooling journey but also greatly influenced our ministry in Artios Academies.

At that time, I don’t think I fully realized how important this relationship, and others, were in my life and journey. Homeschooling was never meant to be a solitary endeavor. Communities of families that encourage one another and seek to raise their children in ways that honor the Lord are powerful influences. Being part of this publication now, after so many years of shared passion for family discipleship, feels both meaningful and personal because I align with its focus and mission.

Now, from where I sit as a mom of four grown sons, grandmother to ten, and having worked with thousands of homeschool families over the years, one of the greatest challenges I see parents face today is the sheer number of voices offering guidance. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably felt this too. There are so many of them when it comes to parenting and education. While many of these can be helpful, they can also leave parents feeling uncertain as they try to sort through what truly matters and what is grounded in the Truth of God’s Word.

Scripture reminds us, and I had to learn this myself, that God’s Word equips us for the work He calls us to do. During those early years of homeschooling, God gently showed me that what our family needed most was not another method, but a sure foundation—God’s Truth. Why? The answer is simple. Parenting requires something deeper than strategies that change with cultural trends. It requires anchoring our homes in Truth that does not change. That realization is what changed the focus of my parenting and my homeschooling.

The home is the place where our children first encounter the rhythms of faith, the practice of forgiveness, and the example of lives shaped by God’s Word. Through those simple, ordinary moments of family life—conversations, routines, conflicts, and celebrations—children begin to understand God’s truth and their identity in Christ.

With grown children and grandchildren of my own, I can see something I could not always see during those busy years. God was writing a story. There were certainly difficult moments, but He was writing a meaningful story, one where no detail was left to chance.

Although I step into this column as a wife of over 42 years, a mother of over 40 years, and a long-time homeschooler who has worked with thousands of other homeschool families, I am keenly aware that I am still learning. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this conversation with you. My own journey as a mother, homeschooler, and now grandmother has given me many years to reflect on the work that happens inside the home. While every family’s story is unique, I believe that certain truths remain steady across every stage of parenting and that we are all a part of God’s larger story, His “metanarrative.”

ori Lane is the founder of Legacy Parenting and the creator of Artios Academies—two complementary approaches designed to help families raise and educate children who are rooted in truth and prepared for a life of purpose. She’s been married to her husband John for over 42 years and is a mom to four boys and “Mimi” to ten grandchildren.

Lori’s unexpected journey into homeschooling became a deeply formative season, shaping both Artios as a model for biblical education and Legacy Parenting as a framework for heart-focused discipleship. She encourages parents and educators to see their role through a Biblical lens—not just managing behavior, but cultivating identity, confidence, and calling in their children through practical Biblical Truth in all areas of life.