Heart to Heart with Rosie Boom

‘In the chapters of this book you will find words of encouragement from a true champion and cheerleader of homeschooling. Rosie offers, from years of experience, the type of insight and hope that every homeschooling mama needs, and her words pour over one’s heart like a precious balm.’ —Janice

 

'Heart warming and inspiring' —Mother

 

‘Having had the honour to sit at Rosie’s feet for many a HEART conference, I am thrilled to see that this book has now brought together so many of her teaching, tips, insights and encouragements. These have been manna to many a hungry soul over the years. This book brings exactly the same feeling of sitting listening to Rosie. The pages ring with her cheerful voice, beautiful smile and contagious laughter! Whether you are new to homeschooling, or have been on the marathon for a while, you will find refreshment, encouragement and plenty of practical advice between these pages. Listening to Rosie (and others) at HEART conferences over the years has been the best thing I could find for my professional development as a home educator. Now there’s no need to wait until the next big event! Grab a cuppa, find a quiet corner (!) and delve into this wonderful book. You need never feel like you are alone on this wonderful, but sometimes hard, journey of educating your children. I highly recommend this eagerly awaited book, filled with wisdom from Rosie – a wonderful wife, mother and legendary home educator here in NZ.’ —Sheena Harris

 

‘Just what I need as I begin to think about homeschooling!’ —Monica

 

‘It’s a wonderful thing to glean knowledge from someone further ahead in the journey than you. Reading this book is like you’re having a conversation over a cup of tea with Rosie. She shares her experience of homeschooling her children and offers us her wealth of wisdom, inspiration, practical tips and encouragement while always pointing us to Jesus, the one who gave it all. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us, Rosie, to continue on or to start our own homeschooling journey. Your book is so encouraging and inspiring! What a way to end the school year and feel encouraged and brave to do it all again next year.’ —Rachel

 

‘What a delight it is to read Heart to Heart with Rosie Boom and feel like we’re having a conversation together in which she’s encouraging, guiding and affirming me all at once! Her stories are a delightful mix of real and hope-filled words that point us to the One who holds us and our children in His care. Rosie has compiled such a heart-warming and practical collection here that I know will be read and re-read by mamas who are ready to soak up the wisdom between the pages.’ —Homeschooling mother

 

‘I was so excited when I heard Rosie was writing this book! I have loved listening to her speak over the years and this book is like being able to listen to her any time you want! It is so refreshing to have someone share on loving life, their husband, their children and homeschooling. I needed to read this. Rosie inspires me and gives so many practical tips and encouragement. I recommend this book to anyone new to homeschooling or thinking about it, or even my fellow homeschoolers still on the journey who need some fresh inspiration. I love it, love it, love it!’ —Dot

 

‘In this busy world we desperately need reminders to slow down and soak in the ordinary, beautiful moments with our families, and that’s exactly what this book offers. From tips to create your own gezellige home that exudes warmth and joy, to finding patience when you’re at a loss, to selah moments and permission to be a cracked vessel that allows God’s light to shine through... there is something here for everyone. Whether you’re just starting out or have been at it a while, Rosie’s reassurance will bring you joy and inspiration for your journey even if it’s feeling hard. So, grab yourself a cuppa, curl up in a comfy spot and dive in!' —Kristy

'Daring to be different by teaching our children at home is no easy task. It takes courage, endurance and patience, all of which don’t necessarily come naturally to us. If you are struggling from swimming against the current, then here is a treat for you! If ever there was an encourager to come alongside you and champion you in your homeschooling journey, it’s Rosie Boom. Her inspiration and enthusiasm are contagious. Steeped in God’s Word, Rosie has a way of gently sharing the powerful truths that have the ability to change hearts and lives – not just of the mums, but also of the children whom they are teaching. The tips she shares in Heart to Heart with Rosie Boom restore the joy of digging deep into Scripture for life’s answers. I will be forever grateful for the encouragement and wisdom I have gleaned from Rosie, which have made the world of difference to teaching my own children at home. Whether you are a new-to-homeschooling mama with doubts about whether you can do this, or a seasoned ‘pro’ at homeschooling, this resource will be a treasure trove for all, full of gems that are sure to bring delight and wonder to your journey. You will be enabled to stand on the shoulders of giants, as you learn from those who have gone before, and be inspired to teach your children with creativity, wisdom and fun, just as Rosie has done.
Enjoy a wonderful journey! —Chris Bovill

 

After 23 years of homeschooling, the day finally dawned when I
marked the last test and dismissed my last ‘class’ (of which Jacob was the sole student). Close to a quarter of a century. I shed a few tears that day, sad to say goodbye to such a huge, blessed part of my life. But there are new things beckoning me, and my heart is overflowing with creativity and books I want to write. And now I have the time. The idea for this book germinated some years ago at a mothers’ and daughters’ camp where I was speaking. I shared the lunch table with two women who were excited to have some one-on-one time with me to talk about homeschooling. One of them asked me to explain to her friend the meaning of gezellig, saying that she’d heard me share about it at a H.E.A.R.T. (Home Educators Annual RetreaT) workshop a few years earlier. Then she gripped my hand and said, ‘Rosie, you should write your homeschooling talks into a book so we can all “listen” to you again and again and so we can share your message with others.’ That’s all it took. After lunch I sat in my cabin, opened a new word document, and wrote Heart to Heart with Rosie Boom. The title has a double meaning. I want to share with you, my readers, some messages I have given over 23 years of speaking at the H.E.A.R.T. conferences. And in doing so, I want to share my heart with yours.
In the last two years there has been an unprecedented surge in
the popularity of homeschooling worldwide. This has been in a large
part due to the pandemic, frequent lockdowns and mask mandates.
Parents have felt an urgent need to provide something better for their children, and some have embarked on this journey with very little time to prepare and no prior exposure to the concept. If that is you, I really hope this book will help you as you settle into a new way of life. It thrills my heart to see a second generation of homeschooling mamas beginning their own journey. Some of my own children will be starting in just a few years. My nieces, my friends’ children, my own children – I’m writing this for you! I pray that the things I share will help you find joy in the journey.
Some of you have already been years on the road and need some
encouragement to finish the last few years well. I’m writing this book
for you also.
I love the word ‘pilgrim’. When I was a young girl, my heart was
captivated by an old hymn that we used to sing at school assembly
– ‘To Be a Pilgrim’ by John Bunyan. My homeschooling journey has
been like a pilgrimage – a sacred journey. Psalm 84:5 says, ‘Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.’ Mamas, when we decide to homeschool our children, we are setting our hearts on a pilgrimage. And we become sisters on the road. That’s a lovely thought. Beatrix Potter once wrote, ‘There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never know quite where it will take you.’1 Well said, Beatrix! I know exactly what you mean. I felt a thrill of joy as I wrote the first words of this book, and I’m excited to see where the story will take me. I hope I can persuade you, my fellow pilgrims, to come on the journey with me, and enjoy sweet companionship and encouragement along the way. 
This book is by no means a complete guide, and I’m very aware of all
the things I could have said, and should have said, but, nevertheless, I offer it to you as nourishment for your journey, from my heart to yours.
Rosie