As we continue on in our series on homeschooling through life’s challenges, I am excited to introduce you to my friend, Rebecca Butcher.  Her story of motherhood, loss, homeschooling, and adoption is full of God’s grace and faithfulness.  Whether or not adoption is part of your family’s story, this conversation with Rebecca will encourage you as you walk through the many beautiful and challenging moments of life as a homeschool mom. About Rebecca Although she’d say that her husband’s suggestion to homeschool was a shock to her, Rebecca knew deep down that one day she would teach at home when she began practicing on her little sister nearly 40 years ago.  She has been married for 20 years this summer and is the mother to 5 children…three born of her womb and two born of her heart.  After the deepest grief of losing her second child and firstborn daughter to hypoplastic left heart syndrome, Rebecca’s perspective shifted and God began the gentle awakening of leading her away from a career in the world and more towards nurturing hearts at home.  With backgrounds in both vocal performance and English literature, Rebecca seeks to cultivate the same adorations in her home where someone is always playing an instrument or they can be found piled together under a cozy blanket on the sofa reading aloud. Rebecca enjoys long walks on the beach that usually require her to turn around at the end of the island, late nights at the ballpark, her treadmill and the daily therapy that it brings, and endless cups of Earl Gray on her front porch talking to Jesus.  About Julie Julie H. Ross believes that every child needs a feast of living ideas to grow intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. As a former school teacher, curriculum coordinator, and assistant director of a homeschool academy, Julie has worked with hundreds of students and parents over the past 20 years. She has also been homeschooling her own five children for over a decade. Julie developed the Charlotte Mason curriculum, A Gentle Feast, to provide parents with the tools and resources needed to provide a rich and abundant educational feast full of books, beauty, and Biblical truth. Julie lives in South Carolina. When she’s not busy homeschooling, reading children’s books, hiking, or writing curriculum, you can find her taking a nap. Resources The Connected Child by Karyn Purvis Raising a Modern-Day Knight by Robert Lewis Adopted for Life by Russell Moore The Connected Parent by Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualls The Healing Path by Dan Allender Holding On To Hope by Nancy Guthrie Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie Mother Culture by Karen Andreola Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola Connect Rebecca Butcher | Blog | Instagram | YouTube Julie Ross | Instagram A Gentle Feast | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Website Homeschooling.mom | Instagram | Website Thank you to our sponsors! A Gentle Feast: a Charlotte Mason curriculum for the entire family Want to know more about the Charlotte Mason method?  Visit www.agentlefeast.com and click on LEARN MORE to receive a FREE four-day introduction course. Have you joined us at one of the Great Homeschool Conventions?  We hope to see you there! For more encouragement on your homeschooling journey, visit the Homeschooling.mom site, and tune in to our sister podcast The Homeschool Solutions Show. View full show notes and transcript on the blog.