July 29, 2010

A Change is Gonna Come

"It's been a long, long time coming, but I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will."
~ Sam Cooke


It has been a long time - since I've posted anything, that is! A lot has happened over the past several months and I honestly haven't had the time to blog, but I *hope* to change all of that as I move into a new season in my life.

If you've read this blog at all, you know my heart for homeschooling and the joy it has brought to my daughter and me. But, the second half of this past year has been difficult. As we moved away from the "fun" kindergarten activites and into learning to read and sit down to do some work, it has become harder for Ella to focus on school. I have tried a few different methods, none of which worked! She and I have been in a constant power struggle, making school a major chore. It has been seeping over into our relationship and I've been worried about it getting worse as she gets older. I told her that I was going to have to really pray to find out whether or not God wanted me to continue teaching her at home.

As I began to wrestle with God over this matter, I also began to sense my husband's need for my help at his office. He would never have told me to quit homeschooling so that I could work for him because he knew how much it meant to me to be teaching our child. But, though neither idea appealed to me at first, I felt God leading me to send Ella to private school and go back to work.

When I finally mentioned all of this to my husband, I think he may have done a little jig. He had been planning to hire someone new at the office, but it would've just added more to his already full plate of responsibilites. I literally watched the burden roll off his shoulders when we made our final decision.

We found a wonderful school and the situation couldn't be more "God-made"! I will be able to pick her up from school and be with her every afternoon. I will also be able to take off for all of her holidays - plus I negotiated 4-day work week so that I can have a day for grocery shopping (or racking up KOHL'S cash, or reading a book, or whathaveyou).

I will have you know that this was not my plan - it was given to me by the One Who has purposed my life to carry out His plans. I was so totally on the bandwagon of homeschooling my child through high school, that I would never have thought of this on my own. But, you know, God has a way of taking us out over the choppy seas and making us walk out onto the water into unfamiliar territory so that we will reach out to Him in complete faith. I have stepped out of the boat, not knowing what He is going to do in & through me, but really kind of excited about what's going to happen next.

To be continued...

3 comments:

Lori said...

I know it's been a struggle for you, but I think you are able to see many valid points--especially if you are feeling that it may be seeping into your relationship with Ella (the struggles)...I know it was a hard decision to come to, but I am so glad you have been given peace in it all with the way that things have fallen just how they needed to be.

Hey--now that you're back to working, you'll need to rack up the Kohl's cash for a work wardrobe, right?? :) Love you!

Angela Miller said...

What an awesome story. Even when it is something we couldn't have dreamed of God works together for the good of those who love him and are called for his purposes. Isn't it great to see God working all the pieces together? I will praying for you that the transition goes smoothly for the entire family.

Penny said...

This is all what walking by faith not by sight is all about :)
It's never easy to make these decisions Jenny but we know who holds tomorrow. Thanks for sharing your story because testimony like this affirms other's faith too.