Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all PAACH homeschooling families. I hope your family is doing well as we celebrate our Savior’s birth. 2025 has brought a lot of changes for my family. We have lost a loved one, change in jobs, and changes in relationships. With all these changes, I know that one thing is constant and that is God’s love for us. These changes that he puts before us help us to grow and trust in him more. They help us to be thankful for opportunities and trails that we are led through. As PAACH has placed the family focus on worshiping together, we are able to include how thankful we are in all he gives. The Christmas season is the perfect time to start or ramp up your worship with the one and true living God. I want to outline a few ways that my family uses.

Family Devotional

First, we start the season with a devotional. This can line up with the Advent calendar and be a countdown to our Savior’s birth. Our favorite is the use of the Jesse Tree. Daily we pull out the ornament for the day that represents the story and bible passage. Our children take turns placing their ornament on the tree. In our devotion, we read the devotion and take turns reading the bible to create involvement. We discuss the story and answer some basic questions that helps relate the Bible stories to God.

Singing As a Family

Second, we sing songs of praise. Our devotional does include lists of songs. I will have to admit that we have been hot and cold doing this over the years. Last year, we would look the songs up on You Tube and sang along with the words. On average we sang about two to three songs a night.

Family Prayer

Finally, we would end in prayer. We would pray from the devotional and add the things that were in our heart. We started a prayer wall last year that again has lost sight in the business of life but are going to revive and plan to continue over the year. My oldest convicted me during our last visit with him. He had a prayer wall for all his college friends and family that he would pray over. I see that he continued it while at school while as a leader at home I let life snuff it out.

With the New Year, we tend to wipe our slates clean as a society. As Christians, we know the only thing that truly wipes us clean is the blood of Christ. Take this season and help it reignite his flame in your heart and in your family worship, and to carry that on past the new year.

The PAACH board desires for you lean on God and His Word, and to know that you have a community of homeschool believers that are here to help and support you throughout your journey. We also desire to help you disciple your children by providing encouragement, wisdom, and resources that will enable you to be Godly parents who lead your children towards Christ. We pray that your family learns together, grows together with others in community, and glorifies Christ in everything you do. You are chosen to be a part of his family and to worship him.

Carlos Gonzalez
PAACH Vice President