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Have I missed God? - 8/25/2008 2:39:02 PM
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tijuanna28
Posts: 6
Joined: 5/30/2008
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Hello All!
After fasting and praying all month in June, my husband nad I decided to pull or children out of public school and homeschool them. I bought the curriculum, joined our local homeschool support groups and co-op and signed up for AWANA's. We are currently in our 4th week of school (we started August 4th), and now the doubts are settling in. Homeschooling is actually going fantastic, however, our family finances are not. My hubby is in technology sales and things have slowed down. We are beginning to get behind on our bills, and I have tried to find a part time job. However, with our schedule and the fact that I have been a stay at home mom for 11years, the "pickings are slim" in the way of job offers. I am really struggling with our decision to homeschool. If my kids had stayed in school, I could have worked part time for our school district. However, that is not an option now. Could I have missed God? I am so fearful that we will continue on in this financial downturn. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/25/2008 2:53:06 PM
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Shells54
Posts: 432
Joined: 2/25/2007
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I personally cant tell you if you missed God but I can share something with you that might help. I have been making a bigger effort in having a closer walk with God. This is our 1st year homeschooling and after two weeks I hit as my mentor would call a brick wall. She said that since I am trying to raise my children in a God centered environment and bring them up according to what I felt lead by the Holy Spirit of course our fiances are going to take a huge hit, as are the attitudes of the children people we meet on the street. Everything is now open to an attack.
As I said I cant tell you if you missed God but know that with this decision at least that I have found now makes us more vulnerable to attacks from the enemy and he can and will use whatever he has to make us feel as though we are doing something wrong. That is the way he works. He cant really touch us but he can plant ideas and its up to us to reject them or make them our own.
Hopefully that all makes sense. Sometimes I ramble alot but what I was trying to say was this. I have had the same feelings thoughts and frustration about homeschooling that you are having. I have also thought is this really what God was saying. But know that the only thing we can do is pray and believe that we are in God's will.
_____________________________
Michelle
Formely Soukz8696
Living for HIS glory not my own
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/25/2008 2:55:36 PM
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Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6387
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
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Fear is not from God, is it? And making the right choice does not mean things will then be easy and sunny from then on, does it?
Do not doubt yourselves or your God.
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/25/2008 3:08:49 PM
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bzirk
Posts: 2949
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Where the deer and antelope play
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Jenny-Fair
Fear is not from God, is it? And making the right choice does not mean things will then be easy and sunny from then on, does it?
Do not doubt yourselves or your God.
Well said.
Here's a verse to go with it.
quote:
Romans 15
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I also appreciate souzk8696's testimony. It makes total sense.
My testimony is that I've questioned many times if I was doing the right thing, and sometimes hard circumstances have been what prompted it. When I've gone to the Lord in prayer and sought His written word, I have found the resolve and peace I need to keep going. What seeking the Lord does for me is help me refocus my priorities to where they need to be.
A few months ago things got really tight financially, and I started feeling sorry for myself and my family. Then I sat down and calculated how much income we had lost by me homeschooling these kids for the last 6 years. It was well over 1/2 million dollars. I thought, "my goodness these kids are getting a very expensive education." When I kind of complained about the loss to my husband he said, "Isn't their education worth that much?" and the answer was yes! What would all that full-time work be for than to make things better for my kids. I can think of nothing better for me to give them than a great education, and of course that includes a lot of emphasis on the Lord.
_____________________________
may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Great quote: I just ain't God and don't know it all. -- SonInMe1
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/25/2008 3:11:05 PM
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favoredmomof4
Posts: 24
Joined: 7/28/2008
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Hi, tijuanna,
I don't think you have missed God. Quite the contrary actually. Sounds to me like you and hubby made the decision prayerfully, not on a whim. Sometimes things don't make sense. But, God knows the big picture.
My hubby is in construction business and this is the slowest year we've seen. We've gone into debt quite frankly - some bad decisions financially, but, mostly just survival. We stuggled with the decision of putting our children in public school so that I could work full time, but did not feel a peace about that. I am scheduled to start homeschooling them on Tuesday (next week). Today, hubby found out that a big job he was supposed to have in 2 weeks was given to someone else. They never even told him that there was a chance he didn't have it.  I recently got a part-time online tutoring job (through Educate-Online), but it may not start for 2-3 months because there is a background check, fingerprinting, etc. I will work afternoons and Saturdays.
I guess we cannot forget that we have an enemy who wants us to think we "missed it" - because he knows we become more of a threat when we are in God's will (i.e. training our children in His ways full time). God is our provider and will come through for us. I have been fearful this year too - and I know that it's faith that pleases Him. We have to keep our faith! I will be praying for you!!
Thank God that your homeschool is going well - that's awesome!! 
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/25/2008 3:12:13 PM
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cynthia
Posts: 7980
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: Beautiful Puget Sound Region
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quote:
ORIGINAL: bzirk
A few months ago things got really tight financially, and I started feeling sorry for myself and my family. Then I sat down and calculated how much income we had lost by me homeschooling these kids for the last 6 years. It was well over 1/2 million dollars. I thought, "my goodness these kids are getting a very expensive education." When I kind of complained about the loss to my husband he said, "Isn't their education worth that much?" and the answer was yes! What would all that full-time work be for than to make things better for my kids. I can think of nothing better for me to give them than a great education, and of course that includes a lot of emphasis on the Lord.
I agree with this, but there is a point where if we are not meeting our basic obligations something has to give. Perhaps the op's husband should look into other work. I don't know. The Lord does. We have been in many extremely difficult financial circumstances, but the Lord has always provided. Ask Him how you are to pay the bills. There's nothing wrong with that. He is, afterall, the One with the answers and the provision comes from Him.
_____________________________
My husband and I have a motto:
We are the leader. We are one.
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/25/2008 3:13:29 PM
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tijuanna28
Posts: 6
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WOW! You ladies are all saying the things I desperately need to hear. I appreciate your testimonies as well. I know the Holy Spirit is guiding the choices my husband and I make, I do not know why I sometimes expect things to be "easier". The enemy has designs on the next generation, so I should expect him to come against my family. Thank you for reminding me to trust the Lord, despite the circumstances.
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/25/2008 3:22:31 PM
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bzirk
Posts: 2949
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Where the deer and antelope play
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: cynthia
quote:
ORIGINAL: bzirk
A few months ago things got really tight financially, and I started feeling sorry for myself and my family. Then I sat down and calculated how much income we had lost by me homeschooling these kids for the last 6 years. It was well over 1/2 million dollars. I thought, "my goodness these kids are getting a very expensive education." When I kind of complained about the loss to my husband he said, "Isn't their education worth that much?" and the answer was yes! What would all that full-time work be for than to make things better for my kids. I can think of nothing better for me to give them than a great education, and of course that includes a lot of emphasis on the Lord.
I agree with this, but there is a point where if we are not meeting our basic obligations something has to give. Perhaps the op's husband should look into other work. I don't know. The Lord does. We have been in many extremely difficult financial circumstances, but the Lord has always provided. Ask Him how you are to pay the bills. There's nothing wrong with that. He is, afterall, the One with the answers and the provision comes from Him.
No question that bills need to be paid. What I've done is to seek the Lord about that instead of taking matters into my own hands, and He has provided work and work that allowed me to keep homeschooling. I have also been willing to do whatever He wants --even if it means not homeschooling.
_____________________________
may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Great quote: I just ain't God and don't know it all. -- SonInMe1
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/25/2008 4:17:17 PM
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cynthia
Posts: 7980
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: Beautiful Puget Sound Region
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quote:
ORIGINAL: bzirk
No question that bills need to be paid. What I've done is to seek the Lord about that instead of taking matters into my own hands, and He has provided work and work that allowed me to keep homeschooling. I have also been willing to do whatever He wants --even if it means not homeschooling.
Me too. We have to be open to things that are completely unexpected and to move on it when the Lord says "go." I am strongly convicted to homeschool. If anything comes up that would make it impossible for us to continue homeschooling, I would know it was not of the Lord, because He was told us to homeschool. We continue to seek Him daily for our needs, even though my husband now has a good paying, steady job with benefits and all.
_____________________________
My husband and I have a motto:
We are the leader. We are one.
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/25/2008 5:01:52 PM
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PatricksPeaches
Posts: 306
Joined: 5/13/2008
From: Michigan
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tijuanna,
I have started a job last week in order to help our families finances. I work second shift so that I can still home school in the mornings. It is just a cashiering position at $7.40 an hour but it will help. I don't know your background before children but I was a stay at home mom for three years before starting this job.
Working and home schooling can be done. There is no one who says you can't do school after you get home from work if you had to take a morning shift. Sometimes there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day but it can be done.
A thought, could you maybe do some babysitting for a friend or neighbor? That would generate some income and you could still do school as usual. I did that too for awhile before they moved away. Or, take in some laundry from some seniors that can not do it. My mother is retired but she does this for extra cash, as well as house cleaning for them. Maybe you just have to be a little creative.
God bless and keep praying. God will not let you down!!
_____________________________
*Robin*
I am not claiming to have all the answers but I'm holding on to the one who does!
-quoted from a song by 33Miles called Come With Me
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/25/2008 5:59:44 PM
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cindybode
Posts: 1550
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Northwest PA
Status: offline
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I agree with all of the above.
I also work full time and homeschool. If the Lord is leading you to find a job, homeschooling would not prevent that. It's not all or nothing. It's certainly not easy, but it's doable.
I would encourage you, however, to go to THIS page and see if it's worth it. By the time you figure in work related expenses, you may find that the net amount you'll contribute to the family finances isn't enough to justify your time. I know someone who did this and found it was actually costing her $200 a month to work!
_____________________________
If you lock in any creature, from rats to chickens to pigs to people, 10 to 30 or more in a box and force feed them you'll create little monsters. Confinement Education School Operations (CESOs) just don't compare to naturally pastured free-ranged kids.
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/25/2008 10:00:13 PM
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misaham
Posts: 730
Joined: 10/27/2007
From: Just west of Cleveland, OH
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I have been struggling with the "not working" thing as well. I know that I could go back to work full time, but at what cost to my family? But it is so hard to have bills coming in and struggling with getting them paid. And we have 2 sets of bills right now with the move. But I agree with working a second shift or maybe some evenings and weekends. It is not ideal for family time (working weekends), but might take some of the stress off. We just started homeschooling in January, and it is a tough commitment. I appreciate the words of wisdom from everyone here as well. It is very encouraging to me.
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/25/2008 10:18:46 PM
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RJR_fan
Posts: 708
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: RTP, in sunny NC USA
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quote:
I have been struggling with the "not working" thing as well. I know that I could go back to work full time, but at what cost to my family?
One of the reasons I married my wife is because I admired her self-discipline, vigor, and sense of purpose. Her established vocation gave me more breathing room to avoid growing up. Yet, when she has stepped back, and allowed me the honor of being the provider, the joy and exuberance of life is incredible. Yes, we've had some rough times -- I tend to get bored and lazy way too early, unless I seek God continuously for wisdom. And my vocation (technical writer) is vulnerable to fluctuations in the economy.
The times when my wife has decided to step in and lend a hand by working full-time have not, to be honest, been the happiest times of our life and marriage. Rubbing a man's nose in the fact that he can be replaced is not the key to his self-respect. (I could never bear or nurse a baby. When my wife demonstrates how well she can provide financially for the family as well, then what's left for me to do?)
Ladies, I hope you don't mind a man's perspective on this issue.
Yet, throughout our various adventures, home schooling has been the non-negotiable. Our youngest two are 12 and 10, and need their mother around them especially now, to explain how to be godly women.
We are at a pretty wonderful time in our lives -- married love can really sizzle after menopause. God has provided me with a contract position that includes benefits. I've finished my course work for a doctorate in communication research, and am at the moment playing hooky from my own studies -- qualification exams coming up Oct. 2 and 3, prayers appreciated!
SO -- work + school. I am also more fruitfully engaged in the education of my girls, now. We make time in the evening to study Turkish[1] and read.[2] Well, at the age of 57, my college loans are larger than most folks' IRAs -- but God has, I believed, called me to go in this direction, and I am asking Him to multiply my influence (and income) over the next 30 years so as to amortize this project!
Our oldest two are 23 and (almost) 25. DS and DD are still best friends. In fact, ds is in California this week visiting with little sister and her husband. They are walking with God, and tackling life with zest. We are blessed.
[1] I'm fascinated by languages, and believe Islam is due for a big fall in the near future. As a famly project, we've "adopted" a Turkish couple, grad students. We help them with their English, they help me learn Turkish, and I bribe the girls to study it with me.
[2] We just finished the Narnia series, and are reading David Copperfield now. The girls love it.
_____________________________
The future has never been shaped by majorities but rather by dedicated minorities. And free men do not wait for the future; they create it. RJR
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/26/2008 10:18:46 AM
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misaham
Posts: 730
Joined: 10/27/2007
From: Just west of Cleveland, OH
Status: offline
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Once again, RJR_Fan, you bring me to tears with your post! Thank you. This definitely give me "food for thought" and some serious stuff to pray about.
It is odd how as the wife, I see working as a way to "help" my hubby and family. After all, I am his "helper", right? I have never seen it as an insult to his role as the man and provider. This will probably bring about some interesting discussions between us.
Thanks.
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/26/2008 10:31:44 AM
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tijuanna28
Posts: 6
Joined: 5/30/2008
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RJR_Fan
Thanks for your reply! I know that my hubby does feel like I do not trust in his ability to provide when I am constantly trying to "help" our situation by offering to work. I know that He prays daily and seeks the Lord for guidance and if he needed me to help, he would ask. I think the overriding theme I have gathered from all of the posts is to simply trust God, no matter the cost. Thanks everyone!
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RE: Have I missed God? - 8/28/2008 12:44:20 AM
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sen10tious
Posts: 354
Joined: 4/11/2005
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Twenty years ago, when my oldest children were 3 and 5, and when I knew we would be homeschooling officially someday but were still just having fun learning, my husband was out of work for nearly a year. Our pastor's wife was (nicely) pressuring me to go get a job. There were many uncertainties during that time, but the one thing I did know was that God did not want me earning a paycheck then. I just had to trust it.
In hindsight now, I am pretty sure that if I had caved in to the pressure to work outside the home for pay, I would have been miserable, my husband would have allowed me to use myself up to maintain him, we would be divorced today, and our third child… who knows if he'd ever have been born? But also, it was during that time that I began writing my first book. That manuscript sat in a cardboard storage box for eighteen years before it was revised and published, but if I'd gone to earn a paycheck, it would never have been written. Being a published author was a childhood dream since I was 8.
Tijuanna, if there is one thing I have learned through this, it is that if you make major life decisions based mainly on money (or lack thereof), you are probably making a bad decision. You and your husband sought God's will, your joint heart decision was to pull your children out of public school and homeschool them—no, I don't think you missed.
_____________________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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RE: Have I missed God? - 9/1/2008 5:10:10 PM
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Melodyes_Song
Posts: 39
Joined: 8/10/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: tijuanna28
Hello All!
After fasting and praying all month in June, my husband nad I decided to pull or children out of public school and homeschool them. I bought the curriculum, joined our local homeschool support groups and co-op and signed up for AWANA's. We are currently in our 4th week of school (we started August 4th), and now the doubts are settling in. Homeschooling is actually going fantastic, however, our family finances are not. My hubby is in technology sales and things have slowed down. We are beginning to get behind on our bills, and I have tried to find a part time job. However, with our schedule and the fact that I have been a stay at home mom for 11years, the "pickings are slim" in the way of job offers. I am really struggling with our decision to homeschool. If my kids had stayed in school, I could have worked part time for our school district. However, that is not an option now. Could I have missed God? I am so fearful that we will continue on in this financial downturn. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
i want to encourage you to continue to follow what you and your dh have prayerfully done...this is our story...in Jan 07 dh and i brought home our two sons ages 4 and 6 as foster to adopt children and due to their background and needs we felt that dh needed to be home with them full time and i needed to continue working...this was not how we had imagined it at all but this is what we felt led to do. 19 months later our boys have exceeded all but God's expectations, although they are both special needs children they are amazing, now in the 19 months we have struggled mightly financially, been critized for our decision of dh staying home by others, and wondered at many times if this was the correct course of action, dh even found a ft job and i was quitting my job, but dh got to the job the first day and after an hour said he knew this was wrong. The last 19 months have not been easy, we have sacrificed things like a 2nd car, etc...but in all of that time God has never ever left us and He has bonded us as a family and brought our boys so far. Financial pressure is difficult to be sure, but I also know that God is faithful even when things seem scary.
_____________________________
Mel
http://www.avoiceformoms.blogspot.com/
A Conservative Voice for Moms
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RE: Have I missed God? - 9/6/2008 1:03:12 AM
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Mom24Blessings
Posts: 35
Joined: 9/2/2008
Status: offline
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Hi there,
It's been a couple weeks, I just wanted to check in and see how things are going?
Thinking of ya!
Julie
_____________________________
My Four Blessings....
Benjamin, 16
Megan, 12
Alexandre, 5
Emilienne, 1
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RE: Have I missed God? - 9/7/2008 1:52:43 AM
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lightshineon
Posts: 3583
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
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I found a part-time job working flex hours. I am not stuggling finacially more than normal, but felt led to take this job. I go in at five and work until I want as long as I do not go over twenty hours a week. I am tired, but glad of my Homeschool choice. My DD does SOS ( switched on school house, co-op also. I have many responsiblities, and my once spotless house is not so now. Maybe you could find a job like this depending on husbands work hours, age of children and such. I am off on the weekends.
_____________________________
Remember, whenever you have pearls, there are always plenty of pigs nearby who would be glad to step on them.
F.T., 2007
Be sure you vote for those, whose views you want your children to emulate.
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RE: Have I missed God? - 10/10/2008 1:22:59 PM
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SuccessinTruth
Posts: 76
Joined: 9/3/2008
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dearest tijuanna28,
God bless you for putting the needs and the teaching of your children first. Keeping them away from the corruption and deceit of our society's idea of education is worth any price.
I am surprised that no one has mentioned working from home. This has been a solution for thousands of mothers who home school and those who just need to be spending more time with their children.
May God bless you abundantly for your devotion.
_____________________________
May we Glorify the Lord in all that we say and do
SuccessinTruth
www.mybenefitsplus.com/40623337
affordable dental and health care plans
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RE: Have I missed God? - 10/10/2008 4:09:00 PM
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misaham
Posts: 730
Joined: 10/27/2007
From: Just west of Cleveland, OH
Status: offline
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quote:
I am surprised that no one has mentioned working from home. This has been a solution for thousands of mothers who home school and those who just need to be spending more time with their children.
I have thought about that too, but don't know where to start! Does anyone out there work from home?
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