Joyce Burges can identify with that feeling of striking out all alone into unknown territory: "When we started home schooling 12 years ago, I didn't know even one other family in our town who was home schooling."

The Burges' eldest son, Eric, then 14, was in a magnet public high school for gifted students. But he was failing—in more than grades. "We were losing our son," said Joyce. "His confidence was lacking, his spirit was literally dead—it was horrible."

The school recommended keeping Eric back a year or sending him to another school across town. "I am sorry, miss, but neither of those choices is something I will do. I will home school my son," Joyce responded firmly.

Looking back, she realizes, "I had no idea what I was saying. I hadn't read a thing about it. All I knew was that five years before we had known one home schooling family. They had planted the seed of this idea. They had since moved away, but that "seed" opened up a whole new world for our family."

Joyce took Eric "under her wing" for a year, making extensive use of the local library. The next year, the Burgeses brought their three youngest children home. Since then, "It's been a whirlwind," Joyce said with a smile. "I think home schooling has done more for me than for my children."

Shortly after they began home schooling, the Burgeses joined their statewide home school organization, Christian Home Educators Fellowship of Louisiana (CHEF). They served as board members for over eight years, Eric as CHEF president the last three years. The Burgeses credit CHEF with being "pivotal" in their starting NBHERA, and Eric continues to serve on the CHEF board as immediate past president.

When asked what she values most from her years of home schooling, Joyce thoughtfully replied, "Mainly the closeness we have as a family. I want each of my children to experience this wonderful blessing. My husband calls it a 'lifeline.'"