Musings on Vacations and the Value of Home Education

September 1, 2001
Michael Evans

I know you’re out there.  I’m sure of it.  Here’s your story in brief.  You wanted to take your family away on a vacation this summer but you didn’t.

Perhaps you wanted to trek to the pristine mountains of Colorado, to stand on a mountain peak with your family and quote Psalm 8:1 with your palms stretched to the heavens:

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!”

Or perhaps you had hoped to take in the breathtaking scenery of the Black Hills in South Dakota, pointing out God’s handiwork in the stunning beauty and order of creation.  Field trip with a purpose.

Or perhaps your plans were more ambitious, like to trace the entire Lewis and Clark Expedition from St. Louis to the Columbia River (in an authentic reproduction of the original boats) pointing out the remarkable providences of God in their journeys. But, it just didn’t happen.

Money was too tight.  The car broke down.  For one good reason or another it just didn’t happen this summer.  Here is my first word of encouragement to you fathers who are feeling guilty about no “glorious vacation” this summer.  Don’t.

Vacations are not all they are cracked up to be.  They are a bit overrated.  Like you I too had visions of splendor for our family vacation.  Rest, relaxation, hours of breathing in the intoxicating mountain air of Frisco, Colorado at nearly 10,000 feet.

I had plans to read some great books to refresh my soul and keep my “first love” for Christ burning bright.

How does that verse read, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but…” 

Our vacation started off great… until we hopped in the van, late on a Sunday evening. Karla developed laryngitis which progressed to bronchitis over the ensuing five days…fever, discomfort, etc.

Determined to make the best of the situation we arrived at the bargain condo in Frisco with the other family we were vacationing with, only to find the place was in pretty rough shape.

The second night there the kitchen sink plugged up.  It was not functioning again until 15 hours later.  Ten people and no kitchen sink!

One night, as we were cooking a five pound pork loin on the gas grill, the gas ran out when it was half way cooked.

Another day Elisabeth threw up in the van.

But there is one incident that encapsulates the essence of our vacation.  One day I drove an hour out of the way to take the boys to a special lake which was said to be a great trout fishing lake for kids. 

We pulled into an area that I thought was supposed to be the lake.   I then spotted a man with his two young children walking along the road and I asked where the lake was.

He then spoke those words that everyone but me (and my boys) finds funny.  He pointed to a bone dry chunk of land 20 yards in front of me and said “They just drained it recently.” No kidding.  All these things really happened. To us!  (and more) All in a ten day span!

There were some great times as well, like a day hike up the Mayflower Gulch trail to 11,600 feet and the beautiful alpine meadows. 

But, all in all, we seemed to have had more than our share of bumps in the road.  We all have lasting memories and the kids didn’t seem to be troubled by any of these things.

My encouragement to you fellow husbands and fathers is that if you’re one of those I mentioned at the beginning who had every intention of taking the family on a dream vacation but didn’t get it done, don’t feel bad! 

Your vacation could have been much worse than ours!  So if you have children who are still living in the disappointment of a vacation that never happened just read this together as a family.

Home Education

On a brighter note: As I sit here writing these words late on this Labor Day evening (only three days past the column deadline) I am chuckling to myself.

Why?  Because my two sons could not wait until tomorrow to begin the 2001 school year at our home.  They begged us to begin TODAY!

I laugh because I can’t relate to their love of learning back when I was their age, a guardian of government education.   

Trust me. The following words never came out of my mouth, especially on a National Holiday, “Mom, it’s a beautiful day outside but I want to work on history, vocabulary and spelling.”

The enthusiasm will not remain at this fever pitch but alas it is one strong reminder of the blessing and benefits of home education.  My kids love to learn!

Free from the confines of (mostly) unnatural teaching methods of government education children can thrive at exploring the world around them.

They can explore a world that is real…with adults providing necessary instruction,  correction, discipline, and an atmosphere where Christ can be freely lifted up as the source and fountain of all wisdom.

The daily events of life in the home, church, and society provide an absolutely boundless source of teaching and training young hearts and minds.  Don’t miss these moments!

What a privilege we have of building into our children a comprehensive, God-centered, Christ-saturated world view.

Everywhere we turn.  Every direction we walk.  Every stone we pick up.  Every butterfly we catch and examine.  In all these things God is speaking. Don’t miss the moments!

Men, as we begin a new year of home education perhaps you feel like me… just a little less uncertain about it all than last year. 

One thing I do know is that my wife needs all the support and encouragement I can give her.

She needs for me to stand tall in leading our family to the throne of grace daily.  She needs for me to be consistently supportive and understanding of the unique demands and pressures on homeschool moms.

Finally, maybe she just needs a little vacation.  Then again, maybe not.

And lest you think that things got any better just because vacation ended….

Two weeks ago I looked out on my front porch during a downpour.  Water was pouring down through my ceiling.  This would have been a blessing if my porch swing had spontaneously erupted into flames.  Alas, it had not.

So, four days later we tore off five layers of shingles right down to the original 107 year old roof boards.  Gradually we are getting it put back together.

Luke and Benj were able to learn a thing or two about carpentry and I was able to stay in our own, home sweet home.

No dream family vacation?  It might have been one of the finest things that didn’t happen to you this summer.  So rejoice and be greatly encouraged!

Until next month may we fathers be found faithful in all that God has called us to be and do.  And may the Lord Himself strengthen each of us to do His will.

May the words of the Psalmist be our words: “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth…He will not allow your foot to slip…The Lord is your keeper…He will keep your soul…The Lord will guard your going out and coming in from this time forth and forever” (from Psalm  121)