From the SSI website:

The Seeds Are Sown
The Student Statesmanship Institute (SSI) is a dynamic Biblical worldview and leadership training program established by the Foundation for Traditional Values (FTV) to further the mission of affirming and restoring America’s Judeo-Christian heritage.
Through the years, thousands of adults benefited from FTV’s Greatest Story Never Told Seminars and materials, highlighting the central role played by Christian thought and ideas in the foundations of America. The fact that this nation has drifted far from those moorings over many decades makes it clear that restoring those moral foundations as a nation will be a long and incremental process.

The Birth of SSI
Where should this restoration start? With our own children, of course. As a direct response to requests from many parents, teachers and pastors, the Student Statesmanship Institute was launched to reach and train the next generation of American leaders.

From the Teen Impact website:
TeenPact is a comprehensive leadership experience that brings kids closer to Jesus Christ, makes them better leaders, and positions them to impact public policy in their state. During TeenPact, students meet important officials, interact with other like-minded students, and have more fun at the capitol than they could have ever imagined. Students leave inspired and challenged with an intensive desire to change America for Christ.

http://chrysalisfamilyministries.org/2008/10/02/proposal-8-attacks-judeo-christian-values/

Easy Fun School is a huge collection of unit studies and projects, links to resources, articles and a newsletter. There is so much on this site, you will want to grab a cup of tea and start digging in. You will probably find yourself encouraged to teach something you never thought you could!

An Old Fashion Education is (according to their site) a directory of free homeschool curriculum. It is also one of my personal favorite sites. I can almost always find a resource through them. Their list of subjects is comprehensive and easy to use.

Not only are individual subjects plus complete curricula resources available, but they also have 40 week lesson guides for each grade level. You can teach your children practically for free! This is one homeschool resource no family should be without.

Ambleside is a schedule/guide and booklist. It was birthed from the Charlotte Mason educational philosophies. You should have an understanding of Mason’s vision if you decide to go this route.
Ambleside has her original and the modern English version of her works available for free online. (http://amblesideonline.org/CM/toc.html)

There are still books to purchase but you can also find some of these resources for free online.

You can find a variety of resources from complete curriculum to theme/subject specific resources for literally anything you can imagine. The internet has provided the means to be in touch with gifted instructors and creative minds from all over the world. Why not take advantage of this?

Through our Homeschooling Resource section you will find resources for every budget with a focus on low to no-cost offerings. You will also find a section with our own home-made resources available for free to download.

This section will be for tips and tricks to help you make the most of every homeschooling penny. Feel free to leave a comment with your tip!

Let me set the stage:

You have a photo of the children sitting perfectly - (dressed, teeth brushed, reading &/or writing with no sign of fighting or problems) - around the kitchen table. You see the homemade jam in the background. All of mom’s friends have no problems and neither does she. They have apparently all reached a place in their spiritual growth where there is nothing left for God to work out in them.

What they don’t show you is that the photo was staged. The children were most likely told they could play on their Wii if they sat still long enough to take the photo. The phone has been ringing off the hook; mom’s hair is still in rollers; the cat just made the pile of laundry fresh out of the dryer into his litter box and dad will be home any minute because it took 9 hours to get to the point they could take the photo.

I didn’t even get started with the struggles of teaching the children!

I know that this is an exaggeration - well, sort of - and it is possible to have a productive and very successful homeschool. Really! The point of all this is that too many people only show you the good and never show you the bad.

I have had my share of good and bad days and I am sure there will be more ahead. That is life. If it isn’t a friend or neighbor in need it is the curriculum or behavior/discipline issues or maybe a headache. God never said that we would have it easy. That is why the butterfly’s chrysalis is such an important symbol of our ministry.

In our process of transformation we go through stages that lead us closer and closer to the likeness of Christ. But that chrysalis time is a messy time. It is also a necessary time if we are to transform.

Don’t give up on homeschooling just because right now it feels overwhelming. Take time out with God, let Him refresh you and guide you in homeschooling. Always remember: A bad day homeschooling for God, is always better then a good day when you are not.