I have always had a problem with wanting to have control of everything. This is not a good thing, when you are trusting in God to lead and guide you. HE wants and needs to have full control of your life and that includes every part of it! I have found that I lay my problems down at His feet and before long I pick it up yet again. I ask the Lord why are you not dealing with the problem I laid down at your feet? He always reply's, because you picked it up again. ugh ! I instantly repent and lay it down again. Why do I have such a hard time keeping my problems at His feet? Why can't I leave them alone?  I know He knows best. I know He has all the answers. I realize He will make it all right. So much better than I could ever. But, I still pick them up. I think it is because I want to fix it quickly. I hate waiting. I get so frustrated when I have to wait for anything. I want total success. But I want to see results sooner,rather than later.

This is sometimes a problem when you are homeschooling your children. I found that I had to hold onto the little accomplishments and successes. I had no idea that I would one day feel like I do about my journey. I could not see the end from the beginning, like He can and did. You see you must trust the Lord to help you each step of the way. He is the only one who knows which door we should enter and which door needs to stay closed. He also helps us to endure another day when we think we can not go on for another day. He is our rock, our source of strength, He has to become our everything.If He is our all, then we will always be ready for the next mountain we come to.
AND VICTORY become a reality not a dream.

Homeschool is a great choice for parents to make for their children. It is a choice that will change your life forever. Will everyday be a good day? No! But, it is worth it in the end. We have seen two of my three children become successful in college and we are working on the last one now. Finishing up his academic training for the next level.
I am bewildered at some of the moms I encounter. They ask me how my kids became successful and what can they do to help their children do the same? I take my time to go into detail and share my story with them, thinking they appreciate all that I am saying. HA! Not so much. I have seen so many  people walk away from talking with me to do the opposite and/or ask someone else what they should do.They ask people who just started the journey themselves. They ask people whose children did not even go to college. I do not get it. When I was looking for the answer to how to help my kids to become successful in this home school journey I went to the moms who had children who went to college and they were doing well. But, most importantly I went to God. He helped me know what to do and which way to go.
When you start this journey you are so full of excitement and energy. You question each choice you make and you are afraid you are going to mess your children up. This is a good way to stay. What I mean is , If we accept the responsibility of our children's education and keep it as important as it should be, then we will always be looking for the best route. Not the easy way .but the best way. You see you are your children's teacher, counselor, principle and of course parent. Each day we must wake up and make the choice to go above and beyond for our family. Not because they deserve it,but because we love them and want each one of them to succeed.
Moms have such a demanding life.  Home school moms are always on the job. You can not take a day off or even half a day off. I take every opportunity to teach my kids a lesson or to help them see truth. That to me is the real perk of walking down this road. My children have seen how to deal with others, good and bad, they have experienced what life is really like. What I have seen is that children who don't learn how to deal with others while they are young, have a hard time when they reach adulthood.It is our job to help mold and shape these vessels to be everything God has intended them to be.
Another thing I have found that is a perk of home school is that you start to see exactly who you are. I don't think I ever took time to see me, until I slowed down and started on this journey. When you become real with yourself  and your family,growth in each one of you can take place. It is never easy or quick,it is a journey and will take you to great heights. I saw in me that I judged others quite harshly. I also realized I did not have to say anything, You do not have to respond to others. Even when you are right, let Him fight your battles. The one thing that really changed my life was no matter if I was justified or not, no matter if I was right or not, My family and my relationships are worth more than me winning in the situation. I want God to win, not me. THIS was a life changer for me.When I started allowing Him to win and not me,I saw change in me.I became more loving and kind to others. I actually started to see the other persons point. This has helped me in becoming a better leader.I awake each day and desire to have a pure heart and right spirit.
May each one of you lean on Christ and allow Him to guide you on this wonderful path.

Well, another year has come and gone..... here I sit thinking about all of the changes that have occurred. First of all, my eldest child has graduated college with 2 majors and 2 minors. Both of the girls are now in Europe for 5 weeks. They both received scholarships to be able to go there. Group has ended and now summer has begun.
 My son is now taking drivers ed class,which I can not believe. Time goes way far too fast. I find that raising my son is far different ,than raising my daughters. He is going through puberty and I am learning how to handle it when boys go through this change. It is a struggle for kids ,who are trying to live for God. A struggle to choose the right way to go , not in the wrong direction. Sometimes they will have to choose the lonely way , not the path of many.
 I sit here and think about when they were all little. I wanted to teach them everything I could to help make their lives successful. I wanted to make sure they were prepared for whatever God had for them. I have seen how God has used my girls and I am amazed. He has opened doors for them all , that I did not even know were there. He is the only one that can lead and guide them anywhere they may go in their lifetime. The hardest thing for me was to let go, but thank God He allowed me to do this little by little. I know I will always be apart of their lives and I am thankful for that.
It was amazing to go to the Honors presentation and to hear about all the wonderful things my daughter did. The professors spoke so highly of her and it made me feel so fulfilled as a home school mom. I did break down and I cried , only once, at least in public.lol
When she received 2 awards for outstanding service, pride overwhelmed me. All those days and nights of hard work really paid off. I see them excel in their classes and life(socially) and know I did exactly what God wanted me to do. Stay the course is what HE told me to do many times, as I questioned am I doing the right thing. You see, I questioned when others told me I was doing way too much. Well, now I can say most definitely I was NOT doing too much, I was listening to God. You see when you excel over others, they want to pull you down to their level instead of them rising up to yours. When you teach your child to go above and beyond at a early age,they will continue to do all throughout their lives. This way of life really does pay off in the end. You will be the one chosen for scholarships, trips, and jobs. 
Train your child in the way they should go.Proverbs 22:6
This goes so much deeper than just spiritually, which is so important. It is every single thing in their life. You are showing them how to act, how to handle people, situations and even money. You are their teacher, their leader and their guide. You are the one to help prepare them for their future.
If we take this responsibility seriously then, when the great things start coming, and they will , you will be able to stand and thank God for letting you know how to raise successful children. You will stand back and be amazed as He lets you reap the harvest for all the seeds you have sown for all the years of your child's life.
I am at the point of change and I hate change. I will embrace whatever God has for me, in this next phase. I will be praying for each parent that reads this and wants to embrace a higher way of teaching. Remember it is lonely at the top. But those who succeed will become  movers and shakers of the world. They will be empowered to change this world for Christ. I stand with each one of you who want to stand up and say" we are more than conquerors, we will train our children to do whatever they do as they are doing it unto God."
comment below if you would like special prayer.Much love until next time, Joanne

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