{"id":2947,"date":"2014-02-15T17:17:35","date_gmt":"2014-02-15T17:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/illumination-learning.com\/main\/?page_id=2947"},"modified":"2023-08-01T16:47:21","modified_gmt":"2023-08-01T21:47:21","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/illumination-learning.com\/main\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"

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about this website:<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_fullwidth_slider][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n

The Background Story<\/h1>\n

In 2006, my husband and I were approved to be foster parents in Kentucky. We had struggled with infertility for many years and\u00a0after a trip to Saint Basil Academy in New York, we were inspired to take foster children into our home in the hopes of eventually adopting them.<\/p>\n

Being foster parents…was stressful and intense at times – not because of the number of children we had, but because of the situations we were dealing with from day to day. I quickly found myself writing, almost nightly, as I reflected on our day, especially in relation to how I reacted to situations.<\/p>\n

I found I needed to remind myself of all the positives happening in our daily life. I didn’t want to just ignore all that we were struggling with though either. I learned that I needed to write in order to reflect, focus, and work through those struggles.<\/p>\n

After three years of being part of the foster care system, we closed our home to the potential of more children and chose to focus on healing our new family. During those years, I found that writing had become an integral part of how I processed my thoughts. I could reflect on our days as I re-read the words I had tapped away on my keyboard after the rest of my family had fallen into a deep slumber.<\/p>\n

Illumination Learning was created in 2009 and is the result of those foster care years and the story of our family’s continued journey. I highly doubt this website would be what it is today (or even exist at all) if it were not for those formative years of being part of the foster care world. My children were often showing me a side of myself I didn’t always like. I often found myself deep in thought – and as I re-read what I had written at night, I found that over and over again, our family was always in a state of peace when we had made an effort to place God first in our lives. It was these moments – these glimpses of light – that I chose to start sharing so I could focus on the positive in our life while we were working through the struggles. It was in these moments of writing in the wee hours of the morning that Illumination Learning found it’s place in my life…and from there has grown to what you see today.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider color=”#dbdbdb” disabled_on=”on|on|off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”3.2″ hide_on_mobile=”on”] [\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”3.23.4″ height=”20px” hide_on_mobile=”on”] [\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n

The Illumination Learning logo and name were inspired by a pilgrimage to Agia Sophia in the fall of 2007 with my husband.  I was staring at the ceiling and marveling at how these crosses were still illuminating the ceiling despite the effort to paint over them.<\/span><\/h3>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/illumination-learning.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/illumination7.png” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”3.23″ animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_duration=”500ms” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”left” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on”] [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/illumination-learning.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/constantinople5-e1478114439909.jpg” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”3.23″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/illumination-learning.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/DSC_0108.jpg” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”3.23″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider color=”#dbdbdb” disabled_on=”on|on|off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”3.2″ hide_on_mobile=”on”] [\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”3.22.3″ custom_padding=”0px|||” transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n

About Me:<\/h1>\n

I grew up Orthodox and many of the stories I share here are shaped and influenced by my parents\u2019 example for us. \u00a0When I was 14, my dad, Fr. Bill Christ, was ordained to the holy priesthood\u00a0at Hellenic College\/Holy Cross in Boston, Massachusetts. \u00a0I am the oldest of six kids and have always loved taking care of kids since I can remember. \u00a0I have taught in daycares, elementary public schools (1st grade and a special education classroom with severely autistic children), church school, and have homeschooled my kids since my oldest was in third grade \u2013 20 years ago. \u00a0I have been a church school director and a St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Coordinator. \u00a0My husband and I were foster parents for three years. \u00a0We adopted our oldest three foster sons and our youngest two foster sons were adopted by extended family. Currently, we have seven children and one grandchild. Sometimes, you’ll see us with additional children, who have come to stay with us as we provide respite care for foster parents.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After reading the following excerpt from Sophie Koulomzin\u2019s book, Our Church Our Children<\/em> \u2013 I simply cannot phrase it any more perfectly about how I feel towards\u00a0the works I offer here on Illumination Learning:<\/p>\n

\n

You know, you can live year after year and then come up against something and suddenly feel that this is THE thing, this is the thing you have been looking for all your life, this is what you have been thinking about, this is where all the different circumstances of your life were leading you. \u00a0I guess what I mean is that I have discovered my vocation, just as a painter or a musician might. \u00a0Even if for the rest of my life I have to pound away at typewriters in 15 different offices, I know that I will always work with children and for children. \u00a0Children are my vocation, I suppose. \u00a0My head is bursting with ideas of all I want to do, and even of the books, or at least a book I want to write, a book on church worship for children. \u00a0After all, this is not THAT impossible.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_team_member name=”Jennifer Hock” position=”Founder of Illumination Learning” image_url=”http:\/\/illumination-learning.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/lesandjenny-150×150.jpg” admin_label=”Person” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]Contact me at:<\/p>\n

\"\"[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/illumination-learning.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_1678.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Niki Image” _builder_version=”3.23″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/illumination-learning.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_1685.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Gabriel Image” _builder_version=”3.23″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/illumination-learning.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/image.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”family Image” _builder_version=”3.23″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/illumination-learning.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/DSC_0142.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Symeon Image” _builder_version=”3.23″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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I created Illumination Learning\u00a0in 2009 as a hub for finding Orthodox Christian education resources. \u00a0It is\u00a0an online collection of Orthodox Christian resources for family-centered catechesis.<\/p>

If you would like to contribute to the growth of Illumination Learning by sharing a video, activity, lesson, or other resource that you have created for your classroom, family, or homeschool, please contact me<\/a> for more information.<\/p>

\"constantinople5\"<\/a><\/p>

The Illumination Learning logo and name were inspired by a pilgrimage to Agia Sophia in the fall of 2007 with my husband. \u00a0I was staring at the ceiling and marveling at how these crosses were still illuminating the ceiling despite the effort to paint over them.<\/p>

\"illumination7\"<\/a><\/p>

\"DSC_0108\"<\/a><\/p>

I grew up Orthodox and many of the stories I share here are shaped and influenced by my parents' example for us. \u00a0When I was 14, my dad, Fr. Bill Christ, was ordained to the holy priesthood\u00a0at Hellenic College\/Holy Cross in Boston, Massachusetts. \u00a0I am the oldest of six kids. \u00a0My educational background is elementary education. \u00a0I have taught in daycares, elementary public schools (including one year with severely autistic children), church school, and have homeschooled my kids since my oldest was in third grade \u2013 many, many years ago. \u00a0I have been a church school director and a St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Coordinator. \u00a0My husband and I were foster parents for three years and took in five boys under the age of 5 in just over one year\u2019s time for a grand total of six kids in our home. \u00a0We adopted our oldest three foster sons and our youngest two foster sons were adopted by extended family. \u00a0Currently we have five children \u2013 one girl and four boys ranging in ages from 20\u00a0to a year with another baby on the way summer 2015.<\/p>

After reading the following excerpt from Sophie Koulomzin's book, Our Church Our Children<\/em> - I simply cannot phrase it any more perfectly about how I feel towards\u00a0the works I offer here:<\/p>

You know, you can live year after year and then come up against something and suddenly feel that this is THE thing, this is the thing you have been looking for all your life, this is what you have been thinking about, this is where all the different circumstances of your life were leading you. \u00a0I guess what I mean is that I have discovered my vocation, just as a painter or a musician might. \u00a0Even if for the rest of my life I have to pound away at typewriters in 15 different offices, I know that I will always work with children and for children. \u00a0Children are my vocation, I suppose. \u00a0My head is bursting with ideas of all I want to do, and even of the books, or at least a book I want to write, a book on church worship for children. \u00a0After all, this is not THAT impossible.<\/p><\/blockquote>

\u00a0<\/p>

\"lesandjenny\"<\/a>In Christ,<\/p>

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