Meet The "Radicals"
Have you ever met someone for the first time and felt that somehow you had always been, you just didn’t know it?
Meet the Brookshires.
Kindred. Truly.
From the first day I stepped out of our van and into their warm presence, I knew I was home…I knew that us meeting was providential, and I knew that in some other realm, this family was my family.
Robin, Rob, Emily Rose, and Breezy are a beautiful family living out God’s Word with their whole lives. They are authentic. They are steadfast serious in their convictions. They are super fun and even goofy (we had a running joke that they liked our family so much they could just eat us – hence the cannibal comment in this post) and when they laugh it comes straight from their soul.
Can you tell they made quite an impression on me?
Robin and Rob are raising their daughters in a radically counter-cultural way. Emily Rose and Breezy, unbelievably smart and talented young ladies, are home educated and are in training to be homemakers.
Homemakers.
They are not going off to college to get a career or to become “well-rounded” individuals. No, they are being trained in their own God-given bents while staying under the protection of their father. They are not only flourishing in their gifts, they are creating their own businesses. Breezy is an insanely amazing artist who has a national project lined up (in addition to her etsy shop), and Emily Rose is a budding graphic designer (like my blog design? Yea, that’s all her) with a national project lined up as well (in addition to her etsy shop). These young women are also planning on staying home under their father’s protection until they marry.
You might call them sheltered. I call them loved.
Yes, they are radical. I love them for it. I enjoyed them with every bit of my being. They inspired my husband and I to have a vision for our family, and they challenged us in grace to pursue what God has for the family and the blessings therein.
I miss them already, but I know that once a spirit clasps hands with another, there is no need to worry about a little thing called distance.
Thank you for the gift of experiencing your family; you are forever tucked away in a little pocket of my soul…
Lady of Wisdom Interview with Robin
Why I Am So Thankful We Homeschool, By Robin
Homeschooling Is Our Lifestyle, By Emily Rose
Over My Shoulder: Memories Of My Home Education, By Breezy Tulip
Recommended Resource: Return of the Daughters
Well, I would agree with you in that they are loved. I can only hope to love my daughter- and my sons- in the same way. They seem like a precious family!
Sarah Mae, what a sweet post! It is beautiful to see how the Lord places people in our paths, just like He placed you in ours. I miss you bunches, too!
With Love,
Emily Rose
Ah, Sarah dear, you were a real blessing to have over. (And you make us sound way more cool than we really are!) I learned some things from you too, and you'll always be in our hearts. I truly-whole-heartedly agree with this beautiful line, "…once a spirit clasps hands with another, there is no need to worry about a little thing called distance."
Love always,
-Breezy
[...] read more about our visit, you can read Sarah’s Post ►, Momma’s Post (coming soon), and Breezy’s Post (coming [...]
They seem like a beautiful family and I am so glad you got to spend time with them!
I've seen that dvd "return of the daughters" and have their book. It makes sense doesn't it?
What a beautiful family! I've read all their blogs before (probably via you!) and am so impressed! Thank you for the great post!
We all had such a wonderful time. Thank you for the flowers, they make us smile and know that it wasn't a dream!
I agree with Breezy, you make us sound way more cool than we are. Only by God's grace have we done anything of worth.
Thank you again for being the sweet, authentic woman that you are! God is truly working through you and your family to bless others!
It sounds like you all had a marvelous time! Isn't it amazing that we can "meet" someone online, and become fast friends, without ever having met? I must say that your review of the Brookshires excited me to try better at things I have slacked on.
Have a very bright, very cheerful day!
Miss Eyebright
makes me . . . sad? . . . that i didn't have the same experience. love their radical-ness!
Sarah Mae, what a beautiful family, thank you for sharing. It's not so much radical, as it is biblical…a Father loving and protecting his girls. I think it's beautiful. I never had a daughter, but it's a blessing for me to watch this in my best friend, Kim's, life with their daughter.
Have a beautiful day!
It is a bit radical and non-mainstream but they sound like a wonderful family with a lot of love. I am sure their future husbands will be blessed by all their childhood "training".
sandy toe
How cool that you had to opportunity to meet them and see their sweet & sincere hearts in person-it does come across very loud and clear in the blogs already but I would love to meet them one day, too-this side of heaven, too!
I would be curious to know what these young ladies do (or plan to do?) for health insurance when they are no longer allowed on their parents' plan. Or if one of them decided she wanted to study something that she could not do at home (such as nursing! :-) ). Would she be allowed to attend college? Would such a profession not be appropriate? Sorry for all the questions, just curious!!
Nurse Bee,
Thank you for your questions, I am more than happy to answer them for you! (I am the Emily Rose mentioned in the post.)
As a daughter living under the protection and guidance of my father, I choose to stay at home. My mother is a wonderful Titus 2 Woman, and has taught us Biblical womanhood daily by both her words and actions (one of those aspects being "keepers at home").
I, personally, have no desire to go to college. But, if I chose to be educated by a college in a specific field, it would be with the intention to further bless my family, not to pursue a career.
Going through a university isn't the only route to higher education – the world is full of information with which we can educate ourselves. Being a lifelong-learner, I have no intention to stop learning just because I graduate from home education. :)
If I were, for instance, interested in a field that required a college education, I would CLEP out of as many classes as possible and acquire my degree online, if possible (CollegePlus! is a great place for such degrees!).
As far as going to college and going into debt, we do not want to bring debt into our marriages, rather, we want to bring wealth.
For health insurance needs, we would purchase it. :)
I hope this information answers your questions!
Joyfully in Christ,
Emily Rose
P.S. For further reading, I highly recommend that you read this article by the Botkin ladies on a similar topic: "But What If?"
First off, I am SO excitied that your families got to meet. I agree, that it is obvious there is something special about that family which can instantly been "seen" by simply taking interest in their blogs. And look at what an impact they {and you} are having! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us!
Second, for some reason I see two header banners on your blog. Is this just me?
And lastly, I love the term Ella bean too. <3
Wonderfully encouraging and beautiful. I love seeing the love shared and the fun had. A life lived in such grace is so inspiring.
[...] following comment was left at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee ► (in response to this post): “I would be curious to know what these young ladies do (or plan to do?) for health [...]
What an encouraging post! This is how I wish to raise my 13yo daughter. I have been following Breezy and Emily Rose off and on for the past year. They are lovely examples of young, godly women and I commend their folks on raising them in a biblical manner. God bless!
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Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.
I feel just the same way.
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