Alison Thornton

Hi, I’m Alison…
You might recognize my name from the Wisdom’s Way newsletter, but I’d like to tell you a little about the family which lets me be a homeschooling mom. I met Daniel shortly after I became a believer, and moved to Atlanta with my parents. One Friday evening, while on weekend pass from the Marines, Daniel walked into our youth Bible study with a smile, a testimony and a banjo, and walked out with my heart. It took awhile, but we married, and while I finished nursing school, he built a business, completing college in his spare time.  As ministry focused our life, and our young children filled our hearts, Daniel accepted the teaching position which brought us to Douglasville. Here we built our home, Daniel taught shop, and I worked weekends in Labor and Delivery.

However, the autumn day our oldest son clambered into the car clutching an uncolored picture of a witch after his morning at Christian preschool, set us on a journey which would define our lives. While it’s clear now that we were thoroughly prepped for our leap into “home-everything”, at the time we were pretty ignorant about the law, our options and the swirling controversy about teaching children at home. The first homeschool book which found its way into our hands laid out sensible reasons for delaying formal education, particularly for boys, and that’s what we did. Those wonderful days were spent exploring, creating, caring for animals, and reading aloud.  When time came to begin daily phonics, I quickly learned to slash the lengthy classroom-style lessons down to bare essentials- so we could accomplish something before the baby cried, toddler got bored or our very active son flipped out.  Teaching Will to read was a watershed experience—for  amid the crowd of naysayers, gawkers and curious friends, we demonstrated parents could really do school. Ignorance is indeed bliss.

Our family grew to seven  children spanning almost 20 years. Balancing the needs of teens, tweens, and toddlers, as well as the demands of running a home, chauffeur service and school system, epitomized full throttle living—requiring complete focus on the task, and reliance on God.  In an attempt to make the academics doable for our large ,crazy family we did what we could with what we had, choosing to trust God with the difference. The years we reveled in the heaven-kissed sunshine of sibling unity, good humor and family learning were made even sweeter by the few dreary,weary years where we hollowed ruts in I-20 traipsing to the doctor’s office, or slogged through  disciplinary, and financial crises which  assaulted our resolve, stretched our endurance, and tested our faith.

But sunshine or dreary, it is plain that God doesn’t call many gifted, talented, or super-achievers, but simply the willing… and then HE shows up!  With His help, the children collected tools for living, learning and ministry, developing a keen sense of family, strong work ethic, love for God, and whacky sense of humor.  Meanwhile being in the Word (and the fire!) daily with children continues to school my heart, and renew my mind. Raising children across a generation humbles my pride, steels my resolve, hones my values, and stretches me in ways I never imagined. Partnering in this impossible task strengthens our marriage- unifying our purpose, and enriching our days.

With four graduates, two of which are in college, a new son-in-law, Lizzie and Lydia in high school and Nathaniel entering middle school, there is still more happening than I can say grace over. But  I recently got a  glimpse of life beyond home schooling as God  opened doors requiring my unique blend of nursing, teaching, and ministry - a  testimony to a God who directs each of our steps for his own purposes, and wastes nothing.

Still trusting Him for the difference,
Alison

Celebrating 32 years with Daniel, and mom to Will 29, Danielle 26, Paul 18, Lizzie 16,  Lydia 15, Nathaniel 11, and Lauren  & Ryan Guigliano

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