The school years approach

As my oldest daughter approaches preschool age (she is three years old now), my attention has been turned to different types of education. It has been our desire since we were married to home-school our children. My husband was home-schooled from 6th grade on, and I was home-schooled from K-12th grade. Though there are some things that I would have prefered to have been different, we both had very positive experiences. There are many reasons for us choosing to home-school. First would be our desire for our children to have an education with a Biblical worldview where God and the Bible is the center or the foundation of learning. Second would be to provide a personalized education for each child at their level of learning, not someone else's. Thirdly, would be to teach our children to love learning, that they would be informed citizens and adults, capable of making wise choices based on facts, not feelings. Of course there are many other benefits of home-schooling: control of what our children are learning, flexibility with schedules, hands-on learning, growing as a family, just to name a few more.
Now as the time to begin approaches (though truthfully education begins at birth), I have been doing much research on different methods of home-schooling. I want my children to have critical thinking skills, to be able to communicate clearly and effectively, and to learn to love history and literature (even learn history through literature). Since my education classes in college (I majored in elementary education at Northland Baptist Bible College before getting married), I have been interested in the classical approach to education. Since then I have also been introduced to Charlotte Mason's style, and a friend recommended that I look into Montessori's methods. I have borrowed several books from the library, and will record what I learn so that maybe others can benefit as well as myself (I have found it to be quite helpful to be able to organize my thoughts on "paper").

Molding a Masterpiece by Ron Hamilton

Master Potter, why do You labor all day,
Giving such effort to rough, worthless pieces of clay?
Why such feeling in Your hands? Why such care in every touch?
Why all the struggle? Your creation is nothing but dust.

I'm molding a masterpiece, a work of great beauty.
I'm molding a masterpiece; My labor's not done.
A trophy, a treasure or worth beyond measure
I'm molding a masterpiece, a masterpiece of love.

Loving Jesus, why are the children all here,
Gathered around You and eagerly clinging so near?
Urgent matters clamor loudly, and the children interfere
Why do You hold them, and so tenderly dry every tear?

I'm molding a masterpiece, a work of great beauty.
I'm molding a masterpiece; My labor's not done.
A trophy, a treasure or worth beyond measure
I'm molding a masterpiece, a masterpiece of love.

Heavenly Father, sometimes I question Your way:
Why do You ask me to mold simple pieces of clay?
Give me eyes to see the future, though it's hidden from my view;
Give me compassion as I'm molding a treasure for You.

I'm molding a masterpiece, a work of great beauty.
I'm molding a masterpiece; My labor's not done.
A trophy, a treasure or worth beyond measure
I'm molding a masterpiece, a masterpiece of love.