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I began homeschooling nearly 20 years ago. Admittedly, I was the most reluctant homeschooler ever. I was quite certain I couldn’t meet my son’s needs, wasn’t patient enough, and was sure to ruin my kids. But when God calls us to do something for His glory, He makes our path clear. It became clear that the public school system was failing my special needs 7th grader, and the only viable option was to homeschool. We began with a typical school-in-a-box curriculum, but I’ve always had a very natural history and literature with a dash of nature study style, and a box curriculum just wasn’t going to work for us. I tried a variety of things, but once I found Tapestry of Grace everything fell into place. I think I read everything Marcia Somerville ever wrote and it gave me the confidence to homeschool well. Tapestry allowed me to get the classical education that I never received, while teaching my kids together and developing their love of history and literature while keep the theme of God’s hand in human history in focus. They say that Tapestry is a buffet, and that has been the case for us. We have had years where we feasted on all that Tapestry has to offer, and we’ve had years where we’ve done history with a side of geography. Life is ever-changing and so are our homeschool needs, and I’ve learned to adjust Tapestry to suit our current needs. Two of my sons have now graduated, and I have two more at home.

Though homeschooling is my primary focus, I also work part time in Christian ministry, and I am a musician. I lead a homeschool support group and direct history-themed plays with local homeschool kids. I’ve homeschooled kids with various learning disabilities, and love to support and encourage both new and veteran homeschool moms.

Jessica Kramasz: jkramasz@gmail.com

Since her conversion at the age of sixteen, Kelly’s passion and calling has been to serve the Lord as a wife and mother. The Lord saw fit to introduce her to her husband at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, where she earned a B.A. in Religion. She has since added “pastor’s wife” to her calling. Kelly and her husband shared a desire to homeschool their children using a combination of the classical model and Charlotte Mason method with an emphasis on unit studies. Their curriculum choice served their children in the early grammar stage, but after her eldest had spent several years in the public school system due to unexpected family struggles and had asked to return to homeschooling for high school, Kelly realized she needed a stronger academic program. She was invited to join a local co op that was beginning its second year using Tapestry of Grace. How the Lord provided! The Miller family is now entering their sixth year utilizing TOG for their history, geography, and literature studies.

Through her experience with Tapestry, Kelly has discovered a passion for teaching, especially literature and writing. Her eldest is now a junior at Geneva College, and her other two children are at home. Kelly desires to support families as they seek to follow the Lord’s calling to educate their children.

Kelly Miller: kmiller421@comcast.net

God definitely has a sense of humor in making me a teacher!  I vividly remember telling a friend in high school that I did NOT want to be a teacher when I grew up, in reaction to another day of classes where I observed so many of my peers who didn’t want to learn.  I just couldn’t understand that reaction to school because I really enjoyed, and still do enjoy, learning! 

I don’t really think I understood what I was saying that day however, because I wanted to be a parent and have a lot of kids–I just didn’t want to teach students who didn’t want to learn.  I didn’t realize then that parenting and teaching are synonymous, and God uses our children oftentimes to teach us so much about ourselves.  (Perhaps most often through conflicts about what they do not want to do!) 

Now here we are years later and what do I do but teach my six kids how to learn all about God’s amazing works! It’s been over 21 years since God started my husband and I on this parenting/teaching journey, and I continue to be amazed at all that we get to learn!

• Three complete rotations through Tapestry and counting!  (We’re on our 13th year!)
• Have had children in all four learning levels at the same time
• Have done/taught every Tapestry subject with my kids as well as other subjects (like French, Latin, Chemistry, Biology, Economics/Personal Finance, and Food Science)
• Graduated three of my children who have gone on to college, with three still learning at home
• Helped to prepare my students for successful ACT and Clep testing (multiple History, Literature, Science and Math tests)
• Helped students with reading difficulties
• Have the desire to keep learning and to help others, by the grace of God!

sarah.white.tapestry@gmail.com