New Directions

It is amazing to me how true the Scripture is "The heart of man plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps".  I have made so many plans for my life that much to my delight did not turn out as I had planned.  I planned to marry my college sweetheart, God directed me to Michael instead.  I planned to be married by the time I was 25, God didn't bring Michael into my life until I was 28.  I planned to be done having babies at two children, God surprised us with two more.  I planned to NEVER come back to Birmingham, God changed my heart and brought me "home".  I planned to live the American Dream, God is showing me His dream.  I planned to homeschool my kids from Kindergarten on, God didn't call me to homeschool until now.  This is just a small list that proves Proverbs 16:9.  I would love to say that I am done with planning my life and my kids lives, but it is in me, in us, to "plan" for the future.  The world tells us that it is smart to do just that.  Plan for children, plan for buying a house, plan for retirement, plan for a career...plan, plan, plan.  But, I am beginning to get it.  I need to stop planning.  The fact of the matter is if I had married my college sweetheart, I probably would be divorced by now.  If I had had children as young as I wanted to I would not have been a very good mom.  If I had stopped at two children I would have missed so much joy that my 3rd and 4th children have brought into my life.  If I were living the American Dream, I would be a slave to my things rather than free to serve.  And if I had begun to homeschool my children 5 years ago, well, who knows.  I am not really sure why God waited so long to give me a peace about homeschooling but He did and I am trusting that He has a very good reason.

I must say that I am SO excited and SO scared about homeschooling all of my children.  I want so much for all of us to just love everyday of it, but I know that is an unrealistic expectation.  I know that there will be days when we don't enjoy it at all.  But, I have had confirmation after confirmation that this is the new direction that God is taking our family.  I have no idea how long it will last, but we are taking it one year at a time.  My plan is to begin blogging more about this journey, and other journeys that God has us on.  Not really so much so that other people can read our story, but more so that I can have a record of the journey.  And if it winds up helping someone, then that is an unplanned blessing.