{2001} Your “hostess” here at Within The Ark Ministries is a working mom, meaning she stays at home and raises the family. She and her husband are in their early 40s, have five children ranging from thirteen to twenty-three and two small grandchildren. They home school their gang and have three graduates thus far. They have been home schooling for fourteen years-going into the 15th year.

Your hostess and her husband are the product of divorce and remarriage. Quote, “Although we do not believe in divorce, our former spouses did. They Lord has seen us through some very troubling marital storms, and has brought us to answered pray with each other.”

The host was carried through thirteen years of domestic violence and extreme isolation. But, she and her four children survived with cherished memories amongst the storm, through God‘s marvelous grace. After thirteen years her ex left to pursue a gay lifestyle and has had nothing to do with the children since. {It has been ten years} As a result of this domestic violence, your hostess has been left with 100% hearing loss in one ear and 40% in the other. Her husband also suffered greatly in his previous marriage, and was left with a two-year-old daughter to raise on his own.

During her single parenting years, your hostess was led to respite care for handicapped children, which then led to crisis respite for teens. This was a rewarding and often exhausting experience.

Now, as a blended family, your hostess and her husband work very well as a team. “ Much of our difficulties come from outward sources rather than from inward martial issues. Although we always have room for growth and renewal, maritally speaking, we have found that there is very little worth causing marital strife over. A lesson learned about our union within the previous unions. Our struggles mainly come from unacceptance from in-laws and related issue such as that.”

This internet ministry was coordinated as an information depot for home schooling, and as an outreach for others that may be struggling with similar family and blended family issues. It has been amazing how much it has grown and in the recent months, volunteers have been taken on board to handle various responsibilities. We hope to be offering audio cassettes in the near future on a variety of topics.

Your Co-Hostess,
Anna