Homeschool Beginnings

My name is David, and I’ve been part of the My Father’s World family for 15 years. Long before I ever worked for the company, my own family chose My Father’s World for our homeschool journey.

Our son was four when we began exploring homeschooling—an unexpected turn for us, since my wife, Jami, was a middle-school English teacher. In 2002 a friend asked her a simple but life-changing question: “Why spend all day teaching other people’s children and then send your own son to someone else?”

That summer we attended a homeschool convention in Iowa, looking forward to hearing David Hazell speak. When he fell ill, his wife, Marie—the author of the curriculum—stepped in. She poured out her heart: why she created My Father’s World, her passion for adapting Charlotte Mason’s methods for young learners, and the company’s ongoing mission to support Bible translation with the profit. As a teacher, Jami was impressed by the thoughtful design integrating many of the methodologies that were important to her as an educator. As Christians, we were inspired by the heart for missions.

We left the convention with the kindergarten curriculum—$100 back then. I still smile remembering Jami handing a crisp $100 bill to the Hazells’ 11-year-old daughter, who was proudly helping at the booth. That moment remains a cherished family memory.

Year by year the curriculum grew with us. Jami was eventually invited to work the My Father’s World booth at a few conventions. When the company expanded and began hiring, we sent in our résumés—and in 2009 we joined the team full-time. We had the opportunity to travel the entire United States for 6 years as a convention family. We often drove 25,000 miles during the six-month season. As we traveled, we did “truck school” and were able to incorporate stops at many historical parks and monuments as we studied U.S. history.

It’s been an incredible ride ever since. Our son completed all 13 years, graduated, earned two college degrees, and carries with him a deep love of God, the Bible, and history—gifts we trace straight back to My Father’s World.