Two weeks ago I blogged about how are lives are a series of one-day events. We have to remember that we only have THIS day, and although we are always hopeful for the future, we have no guarantees.

The Lord tells us in His word that we are to redeem the time. That means to spend it wisely. We can use it up in entertainment, or we can use it for eternal purposes. We can follow someone elses program, or we can follow our heart---and trust that the One who created us has put a blueprint in our hearts of what we are to become. Parents have the awesome responsibility of reading those blueprints. We have to read each "print" that is within the hearts of our children and by studying them we can find just the right materials, strategies and methods that will build them up to be the person they were meant to be from their very foundation, and the foundation of the world!

But we must remember that each step of the process is a partnership with the Lord. It's His plan, and we must consult with Him daily. The progress might not always seem to be what we expect. Since we are fallable human beings, even our best laid plans can have a kink here or there. One false move and we can throw a wrench right through that blueprint!

Thankfully, we are the laborers, and not the Master Builder.  We don't have to see the finished product! We just have to walk by faith, and not by sight. Our building blocks are faith, prayer, trust in God's word, and blood, sweat and tears.

Leave the outcome to Him, ok?

If you do your part;  keep working and walking by faith, there is so much joy in the journey!  We all know there is also pain and sorrow in this life. Our children are a gift from Him and those gifts come in many different shapes and sizes.  Each day we are co-building up these little ones.  Thank the Lord that it is not up to us completely!

A dear sweet new homeschooling Mama has asked me to help her get going on this new adventure called homeschooling. I told her I would tell her all the things I wish I would have done differently in these past 15 years!

We have read much, tried much, cried much and been blessed much by our kids JUST BEING THEMSELVES.

If I were to change or solidify anything that we have done it would be these things:

Impart MORE of God's word,

Listen LESS to the negative voices (from ourselves and from outsiders)

Spend MORE time enjoying our own family,

Be LESS concerned about possible gaps in their "education,"

 and tell my children MORE that they are blessed gifts from God.

You have heard this so many times before; time with your children goes by way too fast. They say you can't get it back, but I say you can! If you have redeemed the time and spent it wisely, you will ALWAYS have those positive, blessed memories that you can bank on. And your children will have lives that are built on the Solid Rock, a Firm Foundation, and that is the only incorruptable blueprint out there.

Happy Homeschooling!

Nancy

p.s. Wow, the Winter issue of TOS is awesome!  Gena and Paul, you did it again! :)