Testimonials

Diana,
I recently attended the SHEM Conference in Springfield, MO. I went to several of your seminars and had a great time! I was able to get some great tips and lots of encouragement. Thank you so much for sharing so openly and with such a great sense of humor. It was just the boost I needed to be ready for another great year homeschooling!

Thanks,
Debbie Lane

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Your workshops have been an inspiration to me, especially Average Genius. When I saw this workshop I could finally see what my learning style is. And I loved the illustration with the ducks. It made it easy to understand, and now I can see how to change the way I'm learning to fit my learning styles better.

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Shannon Turner   First Place award ENOCH of New Jersey Essay Contest       June 2011

I'd seen the tapes on the shelf in the basement before, and my eight year old self’s curiosity had been aroused.

"Mommy," I asked, "can I listen to these?" 

My mom turned to see what it was I wanted to listen to – an Adventures in Odyssey tape? The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe Audio Book? Nope. Instead, I was holding out a white and purple box labeled What in the World's Going on Here? A Judeo-Christian Primer in World History 

"You want to listen to Diana Waring?" I nodded.

"You know they're not stories, right? It's someone teaching history."

"Ok."

"Sure. Go ahead, then." 

She didn’t expect it, but those tapes would change my life. Ever since that day, I’ve been listening to Diana Waring's tapes (and later CDs) for pleasure, and I've used one of her history curricula for school. Diana Waring, through those CDs and books, has greatly influenced me, leaving me with a love of history, a Christian perspective on that history, and ultimately a stronger faith in God.

Diana Waring ignited in me a fascination with history. At first, perhaps, it was her stories and engaging manner that gave me a desire to listen. Her tales about the Pharaohs in Egypt, the Roman Emperors, the Babylonian Captivity of the Israelites, and Alexander the Great enthralled me. I would listen to her recordings whenever I could – while going to bed, while dressing my dolls, while cleaning my room. As I listened, soaking in all the information and passion she had to impart, there was birthed in me a love of not just her stories, but history itself. History became my favorite subject. Even dry history textbooks held a fascination for me. Not only so, but the men and women she talked about became my role models (or my mental caution tape), and I began to consider not only their life stories, but the principles behind their stories. George Santayana once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” By instilling in me a love of history, Diana set me on the path of wisdom – knowing history, the mistakes of my predecessors are less likely to be my own.

Without God, there is no wisdom, and Diana Waring is always conscientious to teach history from a Christian perspective. When telling of the various Roman Emperors, she keeps the rise of Christianity in mind, and when she speaks of such horrible events as WWI, she reminds her listeners of the concurrent revival in China. History according to the Bible is a key element in her accounts as well. She teaches the story of Tubal-Cain, an “instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron” (Gen 4:22, NKJV), as factually as she does that of Napoleon Bonaparte, and weaves the story of Jesus’ life in with the context of other events in the Roman Empire. Hearing her interweave the Biblical account with the rest of the historical narrative – the former of which it is easy to forget is just as true as the latter – has greatly influenced my worldview, by reinforcing for me that the accounts in the Bible are factual, historical events. As I have continued my study of history, I have also continued to see history from that same Christian viewpoint. 

Ultimately, that perspective has strengthened my faith, instilling in me a greater trust in God. As she teaches about the events of history, Diana reminds her listeners that God has always been and always will be faithful, and that while events in and of themselves may seem hopeless, “God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NIV). Her message that, “…There is no darkness so deep that God’s love is not deeper still. He’s faithful. He’s good. He’s wise. He sees what’s coming. He prepares us. We can trust him. …we need to understand that he’s faithful and we can trust Him.” (What in the World’s Going on Here? Disc 3,) has encouraged me through the years. As I’ve grown, that message – that God has always proven faithful in the past, preparing us for whatever troubles lie ahead – has helped me to trust Him no matter what happens, giving me strength and hope. 

Diana Waring’s presence in my life has influenced me to become who I am now, but how will she influence me in the future? Perhaps someday I will teach history; perhaps I will even write history curricula of my own. Who knows where the traits her influence has nurtured in me will lead? But whether or not history plays a major part in my career, Diana’s teaching will always play a major part in my life, inspiring me to always carry with me a love of history and a love of God.