God is always at work and provides all we need, even when we don’t see it. You see, unbeknownst to us, the four of us were separately asking the Lord to bring like-minded, God-fearing, homeschool moms into our lives.

Back in 2016, Min and her family had just recently returned from living overseas. Though she was already a Charlotte Mason homeschooling mama, she found herself alone and longed to form a Charlotte Mason study group with moms, who had a desire in their hearts to spread the Gospel vision for children in their homes.

In 2017, Simone and Mariana, who were already friends and had decided on a Charlotte Mason education for their children a couple years prior, didn’t know anyone else in their area who followed her philosophy.  They prayed for a Charlotte Mason (CM) community that they could learn from and grow with together. They came across a CM mom on Instagram who they began to follow, without knowing who she was or the impact she would later have on their homeschooling journey. Turns out that mom was Min who “happened” to be planning a conference not too far from them.

Simone and Mariana’s paths converged with Min’s through this conference which was hosted by Min’s local church “Gospel Vision for Children”- a parenting conference introducing the philosophy of Charlotte Mason with Emily Kiser and Liz Cottrill of the “A Delectable Education” podcast, and Art Middlekauff of “Charlotte Mason Poetry“.   

At that conference, a small tribe of six local Charlotte Mason homeschooling mama-friends was birthed. Every one of us was thirsty to study Miss Mason’s volumes together, and to live out this “motherhood + home-education” calling side by side. Since then we have been meeting every month without fail. (We say “local” but most of us travel as far as 1 to 2 hours for our meetings!)

That very same year, Erika met Simone and Mariana at a nature club for their children.  At the time, Erika was struggling as a new homeschooling mom and was crying out to the Lord for a more life-changing approach to instructing her daughter. As their friendship grew, it was evident that God made another unmistakable match, bringing them together for a purpose we couldn’t even understand at that time. Little by little, Mariana and Simone shared Charlotte Mason with Erika, who became an avid and eager student of Miss Mason’s philosophy. They introduced Erika to Min at yet another conference where Min was speaking.  Once again, there was a natural connection between sisters and Erika quickly became part of their CM book club gatherings.

Little did we know that around the same time, God was orchestrating another beautiful friendship on the other side of the globe. LaShawne was residing in Japan with a growing desire to spread the feast of ideas found in the Charlotte Mason philosophy that touches all aspects of life. Having lived in so many different places as a military family, LaShawne had always enjoyed the beauty of all types of diversity that magnifies the unity we all share in Jesus Christ.  Her heart’s prayer all along in each new location was also for a group of like-minded, homeschooling women amongst whom iron could sharpen iron as we journey within this method. Divinely connected to the rest of us in numerous ways, LaShawne became the missing link within our sisterhood.

The Lord faithfully answered all our prayers. Now, by the grace of God, here we are, contemplating the odds of four mamas of various cultures and backgrounds being united by a singular purpose. We’re different in many ways BUT there is one thing (or should we say Person?) that eternally unites us.

None of our differences – even combined – can overcome who unites us: OUR LORD JESUS; not even when changes arise and the Lord calls us to other commitments, like He has done with our precious sister, Simone.

Each one has her Hope and Home in Christ. Each one wants to pour out her life, giving Him joy and lifting up His Name in all the earth, by His power and grace. There is no greater bond than this. Can we get an amen, sister?