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eashearer
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Joined: Aug 23 2005
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Oct 06 2011 at 11:32pm | IP Logged
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My husband and I are contemplating a move from the Bay area to the Seattle area for a job change. Because we home school, the move would be much easier, but no move is ever easy. I have an estranged sister who lives in the area, but no other family or friends. No help or support. I would love to find a home school group in the area and chat with some of the members. We also need a church recommendation too!
Thanks for any advice you can give!
God Bless!
Elizabeth Shearer 
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knowloveserve
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Location: Washington
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| Posted: Oct 07 2011 at 12:33pm | IP Logged
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Seattle: the least Christian city in the least Christian state in the entire nation (not including Utah).
Welcome! 
We live a ferry ride west of Seattle on the Kitsap Peninsula. Our church is superb; the homeschooling community is great, and we love it here.
Seattle is a different land however. A lot depends on what area you're in. There's a great FSSP church in Ballard (North American Martyrs) if you are fans of the Extraordinary Form of Mass. And Mark Shea, the apologist, lives somewhere over there (Redmond?? Can't remember) and I think his parish is decent. Otherwise the pickings are slim in the good church department.
Each year there is a small but faithful Northwest Catholic Family Homeschooler's Conference (you can google the link for contact info) in Tukwila just south of Seattle and you'd be likely to find a lot of support and community and advice there.
It does rain a lot but growing up as a Washingtonian, this is normal to me and I missed it when we lived in other areas. The coffee and seafood are good here. The liberal politics are bad. WA is a very homeschool friendly state though.
The geography of Washington can't be beat though in my humble opinion! We've got mountains, beaches, farms, fields, salt water, fresh water even a rain forest! If we had to leave the Pacific Northwest, there'd be a piece of my heart broken forever... 
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Ellie
The Bleeding Pelican
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jillian
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| Posted: Oct 07 2011 at 2:24pm | IP Logged
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I used to live in the area (across the sound in the Silverdale and Gig Harbor area). There are quite a few homeschool groups and from what I remember homeschooling is pretty friendly. We weren't schooling yet when we were there though.
I really miss living there. We are in SC now.
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Claire F
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| Posted: Oct 07 2011 at 4:34pm | IP Logged
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I live southeast of Seattle. :)
I wish I could give you some specifics about churches and homeschool groups, but I don't live in the city, so my experience is all within my area. We have a wonderful parish here and I recently joined a homeschool meetup group for field trips that I really like. So if you wind up in the Tacoma/Puyallup area, I could be of more help :).
Washington is fairly homeschool friendly. There are a few things you have to do, but not a lot of stringent record keeping or reporting. In fact, it's an example of how some laws are so silly it makes you wonder about the intelligence of the people that wrote them. After age 8, you're required to file a declaration of intent to homeschool with the district where you live and administer an "approved" standardized test once a year. But, as far as I know, you are not required to share the results of the test with anyone. The only exception is if you later decide to enroll your child in school - then the school can ask for your test records. Makes you wonder what the point of the testing really is, if no one is going to see it :). It's fine with me though - I'm not particularly interested in having someone looking over my shoulder, so the less regulation the better as far as I'm concerned.
In any case, it is lovely here, although it's true about the rain. It rains a lot. But it is very green :). I don't know if I can be of much more help, but let me know if you have any more questions.
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Claire
Mom to DS 12/04, DS 5/07, DD 8/09
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Chris V
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| Posted: Oct 08 2011 at 1:02am | IP Logged
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Helllooo Elizabeth 
Well, if you *do* decide to move to the Seattle area, I'm sure you'll find it a wonderful community.
I am further south of Seattle (with an upcoming move to Olympia in the near future), but have found many wonderful groups (both Catholic and secular) that have made homeschooling a truly wonderful venture.
I have to second Ellie's recommendation for the FSSP Church, North American Martyrs. I have many, many friends who attend the High Mass. Most of those friends I have met through our homeschool group (St. Joseph's Homeschool Group), and we have a online group (Dei Gratia) as well, where we keep in touch with one another regularly. Our group does a monthly co-op as well as a monthly Little Flowers/Blue Knights meeting. There are many, many families that belong to the group and they are spread over all the greater Puget Sound Area - activities and gatherings are typically held in central location. The secular homeschool groups that I belong to are wonderful as well and do a lot of wonderful activities, but I find the Catholic group to be my foundation by which I am re-energized and find my peace; we all have our foremost priority :: that is to live out our faith each and every day, each family strives to live according to the Magisterium.
If you'd like more information on the group, please feel free to PM anytime!
Best wishes on making your decison 
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Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
Mama to My Five Girls ('04~'07~'09~'11~'11) 
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eashearer
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| Posted: Oct 08 2011 at 1:46am | IP Logged
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Hi Guys,
Thanks a lot for your replies. My husband would be working in Seattle. And looking at the map and at housing prices, it looks like living somewhere in the Kirkland or Bellevue areas would be best so that hubby has a reasonable commute. If things progress, we are going to come out for a visit with the family this coming weekend of Oct. 15th.
If there is anyone living in the Bellevue, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Sammamish or Issaquah who would be willing to give us some advice, I'd love to hear from you! My kids are 8, 6 and almost 5.
Thanks Everyone!
Elizabeth
ae@shearerfamily.com
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Michaela
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| Posted: Oct 08 2011 at 10:50am | IP Logged
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Hello Elizabeth,
I also live south of Seattle, but wanted to share a group that has many families in the areas you're looking at.
STMHE -- St. Thomas More Home Educators
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Michaela
Momma to Nicholas 16, Nathan 13, Olivia 13, Teresa 6, & Anthony 3
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Anyone Live in the Seattle,WA area?
