Seriously?

While at the homeschool convention last month I subscribed to a new homeschool magazine called The Homeschool Handbook. I really liked the magazine and thought it would be fun to send one of my blog posts to the editor to see if I had any shot at being published. I was fully expecting to receive a "thanks but no thanks." Much to my surprise I got this email today from the editor:

Hi Korri,

Your article is truly from the heart and I think that it will be a prefect fit for the upcoming issue of The Homeschool Handbook, it is both uplifting and inspirational. This article will help those readers who are 'on the fence' about homeschooling and uplift those who are in the midst of starting a new school year.
I am sure you will enjoy much success and many special memories on your homeschooling adventure.

I look forward to publishing this and future articles.

I was super excited after reading the email and still can't believe they want to publish my article. This is what I submitted (below). If it sounds familiar, it's cause it is. It was a previous blog post but shortened and revised.



Do you ever have those moments while sitting in church where you just feel your heart strings being tugged so strongly and you know God had prepared that message just for you? Do you ever have those times when you are overcome with emotions and you can't hold back the tears anymore? And what about those times when God speaks to you so tenderly and with so much love that you feel His arms around you? And then the light bulb goes off and all of a sudden things make so much sense? I didn't show up at church on Sunday thinking any of that would happen, maybe that's wrong of me. What better place to have God show up in a big way and speak to your heart. Our preacher referenced a book called "Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn't Show Up the Way You Thought He Would?" He showed a video clip that goes along with this book. It was an emotional piece where the speaker was sharing about disappointments in life leading to a Plan B. It brought up issues like infertility, divorce, loss of a job, etc…

After watching this video, I immediately knew what my Plan B was and it sort of hit me like a ton of bricks all in a matter of seconds. This may sound trivial to some, but my plan B is that I have been called to homeschool our children. Even though I know this is exactly what God has called me to do, part of me wishes that my Plan A could have worked out. As our boys entered the school age, I was excited to send them off to school and have a great experience like I did when I was younger. But school didn't end up being what I dreamed it would be. We had challenges from day 1 but we worked through each one and then during their 1st and 3rd grade years, it became very apparent that our boys were struggling and a change needed to take place with their education. Despite our constant prayers where we would ask God to please help our boys find success at their school, and to make learning easier for our child who has learning challenges, God chose to lead us in a direction that I NEVER thought I would consider. He showed us that homeschooling was the answer to our prayers. Even though this was not MY plan, it was God's plan. Plan B was where He was leading us.

As I sat there in church something triggered so much emotion from deep inside and I sat there silently crying out to God. It was the first time I told God how I wished our boys could have found success in the school system so that I didn't have to homeschool. I told Him how I wished that learning came easy for our child who struggles and how I wished that focusing and being attentive would come easy for both our boys. And then I told Him how I felt burdened for having to be our children's primary educator when part of me at times just wants to be mommy. Why couldn’t I be like the other mom’s in the neighborhood that send their kids off to school every morning and welcome them back home 7 hours later. I found myself saying things like “this is so not fair, I wish I had more time to myself, and I wish I didn't have to deal with a child who has learning challenges", and then there was the guilt for feeling all the above!

So as I sat there in the pew, a light bulb went off and everything seemed to fit together like a puzzle. An amazing thing happened after I cried out to God. I immediately felt like a burden was lifted. I felt as if God was saying, "thank you so much daughter for sharing with me how you are feeling, I've known it for some time and I am glad you finally cried out to me, remember your burden doesn't have to be your burden, let me take it. Remember I LOVE YOU so much and I love your children who I created and I will give you the strength you need to be a homeschooling mom because this is right where I want you." The tears started flowing at this point as I realized that plan B is right where God has chosen to plant me for a season. I don't know how long this season will be, I get overwhelmed even thinking about it and that's why I just have to take it one school year at a time and then go beyond that and take it one school day at a time. Sometimes there is so much to be said with just telling it like it is, getting it out, and crying out to God.

Well, that's my plan B, what's yours? How is God working in you through your Plan B? Can you see God in it? What emotions come with it? Please share because it sure feels good to get things out!