Regenia graduated from college in 1986 with plans of an amazing career in the communications field and instantly retired when she gazed into the eyes of her new born daughter three years later. Married in 1988 to her college sweetheart John the couple celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary this past June. They have become the proud parents of Courtney, age 20, Samantha, age 18, Jonah, age 15, Micah, age 12, Sierra, age 8 and Aidan, age 5 over the past two decades; a wonderful unplanned adventure orchestrated by God.

In January of 1992, John and Regenia also became entrepeneurs as John's job search for a computer programming position led to opportunities for contract work. The family business, PC Consultants of Wadsworth was born and continues to be their main source of income. "Being an employee of your own company is a tremendous faith building experience especially in these difficult economic times. Home educating our children has allowed us the flexibility we desperately needed in order to run a family business and allow John to be a part of the kids daily lives and activities", said Regenia.

The Spoerndle family became accidental homeschoolers in 1995 after discovering the public school was unable to address the specific educational needs of their oldest daughter's mild learning disability. Having grown up with grandparents and parents as public school teachers, Regenia never dreamed childhood education would take place at home. Frustration with educational choices and a brand new homeschool support group at their church pulled the Spoerndles into the world of home education. To date the oldest two Spoerndle children have graduated from the family's homeschool, Guilford Academy, with the third nearing the finish line. "I can't believe how quickly the years have passed. Home education has been a wild and crazy journey, but one I treasure. From year long Konos unit studies on Russia to dealing with a colicky baby during reading lessons we have grown together and individually as a family so much more than if we were gone from each other every day. We have born witness to countless miracles which would have easily been overlooked if we had taken the less messy road of education outside our home," said Regenia. Regenia keeps a blog to chronicle their lives as a homeschool family at www.homeschoolblogger.com/supermomof5kids but admits it is not updated as often as it should be. "I also realize that I have 6 kids not five, but I started the blog when I really was a super mom of 5", she laughs.

Regenia describes her family as eclectic homeschoolers who are constantly re-inventing themselves. We have thrived with unit studies in the past, but currently are a tad more classical with studying languages like Latin, Italian and French, history, science, math, and of course English as separate subjects. "We developed our interest in languages after hosting a French foreign exchange student one summer. The relationship we have built with his family and the multitude of visits between our two families to each other's homes have taught us the importance of communication across cultures. We never want language to be a bearer for friendship", she said.

In her free time, which Regenia says "doesn't really exist" she loves to take photos of everything and chronicle family memories by journaling and blogging. "I adore family photos and love to make books, movies and slide shows with our digital photographs for special gifts for family and friends", she said.

The Spoerndle family is active in their local homeschool support group where Regenia recently served as President for five years. She currently serves as a steering committee member for a local homeschool co-op, teaches at the co-op and continues to direct a drama club, The Homescool Players, now beginning its fourth season. "Of all our activities over the years I think I am most proud of the drama club our family founded. It was born from a desire my daughter Samantha had to enable her to be in more theatrical productions and developed into an amazing experience for all the families involved. Whenever you receive a compliment from a 12 year old boy that you are the 'best drama teacher ever'! you know you are a success", she said.

Regenia also spends a great deal of time with free lance writing projects when not teaching, chauffeuring or photographing her kids. Over the past year she has contributed to two e-books both published by TOS and is currently assisting with writing The Curiosity Files, a unit study to be published soon by TOS. You can read her reviews for the TOS Review Crew at www.homeschoolreviews4you.blogspot.com

Being a member of the TOS Review Crew was a huge blessing for Regenia last year as her oldest daughter left for college and the second oldest left on a three month long mission trip with the Continental Singers. "I found myself needing to re-invent our homeschool which suddenly shrank. My other kids and I were wandering around with holes in our heart in desperate need of distraction. As we used products and shared our opinions on our blog we filled our days with the joy homeschooling brings and re-fueled our desire to keep moving forward." Regenia continues to serve as a First Mate this year and has really enjoyed deepening friendships from the crew and making new connections. "From emailing with vendors to sharing prayer requests, complaints and jokes with other crew members I feel like I am part of a whole new virtual support group. It's wonderful!"

***This splendid article was written entirely by Regenia herself. Didn't she do a terrific job, folks? :) I guess I failed to mention that she didn't have to do it all herself...oops!***

Be sure to check back next week when The Crazy Mom and I return with another awesome Crew Member!

Blessings,
Denise Opper