“Hi, I’m Bubba! I’m the beekeeper!” is how James usually starts his introduc-tion;when;people;approach;our;Bubba’s
Beez;honey;booth.;Throughout;the;day
you might hear our daughter, Lauren,
inquire of a pet owner, “Can your dog
have;a;treat?”;With;the;owner’s;consent,
she then gently gives a delectable nibble
of her homemade gourmet dog treats
to her new furry friend. As such go our
days when we attend a local market
event in our hometown.
Eleven seems to be the age of entre-preneurialism for our children, for at
this tender age they were each led to
start their own businesses. James is
now;15;and;the;proud;owner;of;Bub-
ba’s;Beez,;an;apiary;in;Central;Texas.
Lauren,;who;is;12,;just;recently;started
Tricks;or;Treats;Dog;Treats,;a;gourmet
dog treat company.
While they have completely different
interests, they both have equally strong
passions. James has loved bees since he
was a young boy and plans to eventually own one hundred hives. Lauren is
a dog lover and can name a dog breed
from;50;yards;away.;Her;passion;is;ani-
mals;and;it;shows;in;the;care;she;takes
in;baking;the;dog;treats;and;the;tender-ness and compassion she has for them
at the shows.
Psalm 139: 16 specifically states,
“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet
being unperfect; and in thy book all my
members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there
was none of them.” God has our days
written for us long before we are even
born, when we are still being formed
(Psalm;139: 15).;Coupled;with;our;writ-
ten days, God promises us in Jeremiah
29: 11;that;He;has;plans;for;our;hope
and future. With that in mind, we believe that God calls each of us to do
something;for;His;kingdom;to;glorify
Him.
As parents it is our responsibility to
train;our;children;to;follow;the;Lord’s
lead, whatever that may be. Therefore,
my husband and I are business mentors, marketers, and investors, and
we provide moral support and help at
each show. In our homeschool, we can
combine hands-on business experience
with school, offering a perfect opportunity to introduce our children to the
business world.
Computer Skills & Writing
Lauren has an interest in graphic and
Web;design.;When;she;was;9;years;old,
she created a four-page color newsletter
in;Microsoft;Publisher:;The Doggy Times.
She;produced;four;or;five;newsletters;be-fore deciding that she really wanted to
create her own website. We chose a user-friendly, free Web-hosting company, and
after;a;brief;tutorial;from;me,;Lauren’s
website was up and running within a few
hours. One of my requirements is that I
must proofread any material before it is
published.;It’s;my;way;of;monitoring;her
grammar, spelling, and writing without it
really;seeming;like;I’m;teaching.;She;even
asks for my input!
In designing her packaging, Lauren
wanted to make her own labels and
business cards, so I showed her how to
use Adobe Illustrator. Once again, she
was off and running. While creating her
business brand, she is also writing and
learning various software skills, which
will become invaluable as she gets older
and more experienced.
Math
Every business involves math. The lessons we are teaching our children include the practical use of math in every-day;life;(e.g.,;giving;exact;change,;finding
the best price for the best ingredients or
packaging).;They;both;operate;cash-flow
businesses. If they have the cash to invest
in their businesses, then they can, but if
their;businesses;lack;cash-flow,;then;they
need to wait and save.
James selling his honey
