A Different Kind of Start: Why We Launched LCCL
If someone had told me a few years ago that I’d be even a small part of starting a nonprofit homeschool cooperative, I would’ve smiled politely and moved on. But this year, God turned a quiet nudge into a holy calling—and Lighthouse Christian Cooperative Learning (LCCL) was born.
This wasn’t about filling a gap in the homeschool community.
It was about answering a need that too many families didn’t know how to put into words.
There are so many moms and dads who deeply long for a different kind of education for their children—one rooted in faith, built on character, and surrounded by peace. But for many, traditional homeschooling just isn’t possible. Not every parent has the flexibility to stay home or the capacity to do it all alone.
So we created LCCL: a drop-off, faith-based cooperative that walks alongside working families to provide a Christ-centered, community-driven education alternative.
It’s not your typical co-op.
It doesn’t fit the mold—and we’re not trying to.
We’re here for the families who feel caught in the middle.
For the parents who whisper, “I want more for my kids… but I don’t know how.”
For the mamas working long shifts. For the dads piecing together side jobs.
For the kids who thrive with routine, joy, and Jesus.
And I haven’t done it alone.
Lacy, Rebekah, and Debbie have been my co-laborers in this field I never expected to be in. What began as an idea tossed around in prayer has become a mission field we didn’t see coming. We’re not just teaching children—we’re ministering to families.
And at home, this mission has shaped our rhythm too.
Our homeschool days aren’t perfect or Pinterest-worthy.
There’s a rhythm — but not a rigid plan.
Some mornings start with scripture and peace. Others start with spilled cereal and grace. But even in the mess, God shows up.
We teach from textbooks and nature walks, read-alouds and life lessons, grace and grit. Through it all, we keep coming back to the same things:
Connection over completion. Faith over formulas. People over perfect.
Even in starting something big like LCCL, we’re learning to stay anchored in the small, faithful steps. To move at the pace of grace.
LCCL isn’t just a cooperative.
It’s a community, a calling, and a glimpse of the Kingdom right here in our corner of North Georgia.
We’ve only just begun, but already the stories unfolding remind us:
When God calls you to something different, He provides everything you need to walk it out—community, courage, and a whole lot of grace.
When No One Sees What You’re Building
Scripture:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” — Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Devotional:
There’s a sacred kind of exhaustion that comes from doing the work no one sees.
Wiping tears. Cooking meals. Speaking prayers only God hears.
Grieving the child you lost—or the one you long to hold.
Mentoring a young heart that isn’t biologically yours but has become yours just the same.
So much of our faithfulness happens in places that don’t get posted, shared, or celebrated.
And it’s easy to wonder: Does this even matter?
But the truth is: the invisible work is often the most eternal.
Because the Kingdom of God is built in hidden places—in small yeses, unglamorous moments, and love that outlasts applause.
If what you’re building today feels unnoticed… Heaven sees.
And Heaven still says: Well done.
Prayer:
Lord, help me believe that what’s unseen is still sacred.
When my hands are full, or when they feel painfully empty—remind me that You are near.
You see every tear, every act of love, every seed I plant.
Help me trust that in Your time, and in Your way, You will bring the growth. Amen.
Rooted in the Ordinary
Key Verse:
Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…”
Devotional Message:
There’s a sacred rhythm to motherhood that no one claps for. It’s found in sock-matching and lunch-packing, in 2 a.m. rocking and late-night laundry. It’s hidden in the carpool lines, grocery aisles, and whispered prayers while you stir spaghetti and stop a tantrum mid-boil.
It feels unseen—because it often is.
But not by God.
Scripture reminds us that nothing is too small for Him to notice. He sees your faithfulness in the mundane. He meets you in the repetition, in the moments that feel like you're pouring from an empty cup. When you're wiping tears—your child’s or your own—He’s there. When your prayers feel more like sighs, He hears those too.
This space—The Grove—is a gathering of moms in every season, choosing to believe that the unseen parts of our lives are still holy ground. You’re not just getting through the day. You are growing deep roots in faith, even when it doesn't feel like it.
God isn’t waiting for the big, bold moments. He’s already in the car ride, the bedtime routine, the mess, the ache, and the joy. And He’s proud of the quiet strength you carry.
Reflection Questions:
Where in your daily routine do you feel most unseen or unnoticed?
How might God be present in that exact moment?
What would it look like to invite Him into one “mundane” part of your day this week?
Prayer:
God, meet me in the middle of my ordinary. Remind me that You see every dish, every diaper, every deep breath I take to try again. Help me recognize Your presence in the small things, and let Your love anchor me as I grow roots in this season. Amen.
Welcome to Rooted and Raised
Hi friend —
If you’ve somehow stumbled here in the middle of dishes, discipline, or a desperate need for coffee, welcome. You’re in good company.
Rooted and Raised has been quietly growing in my heart for a long time. I created this space as a soft landing for women like you and me—women who are trying to live faithfully in the real, often chaotic, often beautiful, middle of motherhood, marriage, homeschooling, and a whole lot of ordinary.
You’ll find a little bit of everything here:
• Stories from the farm
• What’s working (or not working) in our homeschool rhythm
• Quiet thoughts on faith
• Probably a burned dinner or two
• And hopefully—grace for it all
I believe deeply that God meets us in the mundane. He walks with us in laundry piles and early mornings and garden rows and math lessons and toddler meltdowns. He’s not waiting for our quiet time to look perfect. He’s already in the carpool line.
So if you’re a mom, a teacher, a homemaker, or just someone trying to follow Jesus in a loud world—I hope this space feels like a breath of fresh air.
We're building a life here. Rooted in faith. Raised with intention.
Welcome home.
Thanks for being here.
Subscribe to get new posts right in your inbox—and stay tuned for the first devotional + a peek into our homeschool rhythm.
With grace,
Kaitlin