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 Brandy Rollins
Tell us about yourself.
I have been married to my husband, Rich almost 10 years. Our son Micah is 8 years old. I have been a teacher in the preschool setting for about 5 years. I currently work for a ministry to at-risk youth in Springfield called Inside Out Youth. I am also in school working toward a degree in Psychology.
What are your future life goals?
My goal is to continue homeschooling Micah to the best of my ability. I plan also to continue to work with at-risk youth as well as continue my own schooling. I would like to work with youth in the foster care system and through counseling in the future. We also hope to adopt out of the foster care system in the next couple years.
Tell us about your experience homeschooling?
This is our second year homeschooling Micah. Making the decision to homeschool was a difficult one for me. I had many fears. I didn’t know what to expect. I was worried what people might think and felt discouraged by most of the people I knew. I didn’t know if it would have a negative effect on Micah socially or academically. I felt it was difficult enough for me to keep up with my own schooling, work and my home. I had a million excuses! Finally, I decided to listen to that tug on my heart and trust that God was leading me. Everything has worked out very well! We are getting to know many other homeschool families and developing great friendships. My son is thriving academically. Any fear I had has disappeared. Now I feel that homeschooling him is the best thing for him. I feel it will actually prepare him better for his adult life.
Why ABLE?
One of the many things I love about homeschooling is that it has helped us to learn to put God at the center of our family life. We start and end our day in prayer. We are able to see and appreciate how our faith plays a part in so many things that we learn. I can show Micah the reason to learn what he is being taught. I can teach him to serve God and to be a leader for Him. This is one of the reasons I am very excited about this group. It is the goal of ABLE to glorify God and place Him at the center. We are ministry focused and will actively serve others together. I am excited to be a leader of ABLE and to see where God leads our group!
 Heather Phipps
Tell us about yourself.
My husband and I have two boys whom we have been homeschooling for over 10 years. Neither of my children have ever been enrolled in a school. My oldest son is William; he is 13 and my nine year old is Zachary. We are also caring for my nephew who is four, and I teach him as well. I enjoy writing curriculum and lessons for my homeschool and much of what is for sale on the HIAC web site. In my free time I am a freelance photographer and web designer.
What are your future life goals?
My first priority is to ABLE, but in addition I’d like to continue creating curriculum that teaches youth: apologetics, little known history, strength in character, and leadership skills. I enjoy working with middle school students, so perhaps a ministry for this age group is in my future.
Tell us about your experience homeschooling.
I remember how lost I felt when I first began homeschooling. I had no idea where to begin, and I had to figure a lot of things out for myself. Sometimes it was difficult, but I am stubborn and refused to fail. Instead, I became an advocate - promoting the benefits of homeschooling, and eventually I created HIAC. I wanted to reach out to other homeschoolers who needed their questions answered, and to new homeschoolers who didn’t know how to begin.
To me the most difficult part of homeschooling is dealing with three children who all have their own distinct personalities, and their own behavior issues! It was with the support and encouragement of other homeschool moms that I found ways of dealing with those challenges. These same moms gave me the confidence to deal with family and others who disliked the fact that I homeschool. Still, the rewards for my children and myself far outweigh the challenges. Teaching my children at home allows me to mold their character, engage their minds, and provide a litany of opportunities they never would have had in a school. It is so exciting to watch my children gain new skills and to know that God used ME to teach them those skills.
Why ABLE?
To me, the most important things you teach your children are not found in the textbooks. Character, leadership, service, and orator skills, are the foundations for a successful life. These are the skills our children will need to stand for their faith in an increasingly hostile world. ABLE focuses on these points, preparing our children to be the next generation of leaders. |
