Why Planning Ahead May Be the Most Important Gift You Ever Give Your Family
At the Branson Teach Them Diligently Homeschool Conference in May, we had dozens of meaningful conversations with families. But one woman’s story still haunts us—and we want to share it with you, because it perfectly captures why we do this work.
She came to our booth and said:
“I already have all my legal documents in place. I don’t need your help. But I just wanted to say thank you. I’m so glad you’re here, and I hope people are listening to what you’re saying—especially families with young kids.”
And then she told us this.
A Family on Their Way to New Life…
She knew a large homeschooling family—six kids already, and they were on their way to the hospital to welcome their seventh.
Mom was in labor. Dad was driving the family van, with all six children in the back.
Out of nowhere, a deer ran into the road.
The van struck the deer. It came up over the hood and through the windshield… and critically injured the father.
Emergency services rushed them to the hospital. In the hours that followed, the unthinkable happened:
Dad was dying in one hospital room… while Mom was giving birth in another.
He didn’t survive.
The Unseen Aftermath
Losing her husband was heartbreaking—but the financial and legal chaos that followed made it even harder.
There was no life insurance. Suddenly, this grieving mother was responsible for seven children with no income and no financial cushion.
But the challenges didn’t stop there. Without an estate plan, she was also left navigating probate court, frozen bank accounts, and legal uncertainty about how to manage what her husband had left behind.
What’s often overlooked in tragedies like this is what happens after the funeral—the paperwork, the court delays, the confusion.
And worse still: what if she had died too? What if that deer had hit differently?
With no guardians legally named, a judge—who doesn’t know the family—would have been deciding who would raise those seven children in the midst of their trauma.
That’s not a burden any parent wants to leave behind.
Hope Is Found in Preparation
Stories like this are hard to hear—but they’re even harder to live through.
They remind us that life can change in an instant. That none of us are immune to tragedy. And that the decisions we make—or delay—can have a lasting impact on the people we love most.
Preparation doesn’t erase pain.
But it can soften the aftermath.
It can create space for grieving, not scrambling.
For peace, not panic.
Hope is found not in pretending “it won’t happen to me,” but in having the courage to say, “If it did, would my family be okay?”
We’ve met so many families—especially in the homeschool community—who are pouring their hearts into raising their children with faith, love, and purpose. But all too often, they’re missing two critical pieces of protection: life insurance and a clear estate plan.
They’re doing everything they can to build a beautiful life—but without preparation, all of it is fragile.
What Will Your Story Be?
If you haven’t made a plan yet—or if your documents are outdated—please don’t wait.
Let this story be a wake-up call. Not one that leads to fear, but to faithful action.
Because the best time to prepare is before life forces your hand.
Not out of anxiety… but out of love. Out of stewardship. Out of a desire to make the hard moments easier for the people you love most.
If you’re not sure where to begin, our free Masterclass will walk you through the essential first steps—what to do now to protect your children legally, financially, and practically in case the unthinkable happens:
Protecting Your Family: Why a Will Isn’t Enough. Click here for instant access.
There’s no pressure. Just clarity.
Take it in. Let it stir something deeper.
And when you’re ready, take the next step forward.
Your peace of mind is worth it.
And your family is too.
