Saturday, October 14, 2006
The Road Less Traveled....
Our oldest child took this picture last weekend and my husband asked "Why is Gracie taking a picture of a road?" Gracie is our child who always sees the beauty in things and is very creative...she is our artsy child....I'm so glad she got this picture because I knew I was going to post on our blog about why we have chosen the road less traveled for our family....I almost named our blog this,but thought lifesong was more appropriate for our life summary and the road less travelled just describes the decisions we make. The Road Less Traveled kinda sums up my life in a way....although when I was growing up,I wanted to be and do what everyone else was doing...I wanted to fit in and be liked...doesn't everybody in their growing up years? But,as God has matured me,(this is a life long process)I have seen that He has different plans for me....not ones of pleasing man,but pleasing Him....the God who made me wants things from me I never knew I would do or be. As a child,though,I knew God loved me and had a plan for my life. I didn't know His plans,but as a child,I believe He was preparing me for His providential plan that would slowly come to be. I think,over the years He has given Mike and I grace and courage,otherwise we never would be where we are today. Sometimes,we still wonder...What are we doing ?????So,what is this Road less traveled? And why would we choose this road? Well,we feel God has chosen it for us. We have made deliberate decisions on how we are raising our children,which we see now has been in God's providence.These decisions are somewhat different from a lot of others...although I am realizing,there are more like us out there than we thought. That is very encouraging! No one likes to be the only one,but we feel, even if we were the only ones, we would still choose these things....first of all,we homeschool and have for 5 years. We absolutely LOVE it! Every year before we thought about homeschooling and we lacked courage to actually do it,especially when we are in a town where the public schools are*so good* AND THEY ARE. But,we still had the desire to homeschool. When our oldest was 4th grade and the second oldest was in 1st grade,we decided we can do this. It really felt so good....like a burden had been lifted....our girls would be home to learn how to be a wife and mother,to learn how to love God,and to learn everything academically through a christian perspective and godly worldview. How wonderful!!! We were thrilled! Then we found out we were expecting another baby! More great news! We had prayed for more children....I knew our family was not complete and had never felt that this was it,as some people say....I could never say that....I still can't. :) Then about 17 months later,we found out we were expecting again! This time it was a boy! So,we homeschool(road less traveled),we wanted more than the normal 2 children(road less traveled) and .....we began,also,that year driving 65 miles to a church in another city from ours. Whoa....I think some people do think that is crazy. Especially since we pass about 20 churches on the way....what's wrong with the churches in your town,some ask. Well,it is not so much what is wrong with the churches,but what is RIGHT about this one. We realize there is no perfect church this side of heaven,but there are some who are committed to sound doctrine and holding to the truths of scripture with no compromise....we need this in our lives. We appreciate how this church deals with sin in the lives of believers and have seen it done so graciously,with repentance as the goal. We appreciate the music which is biblical in content and reverently done. We see the elders of the church leading with true humility. We realized we needed more of God's Word filtering our minds and hearts so that we can live godly in this world.....so we drive an hour to be a part of this church. We have been challenged spiritually, to say the least.
Now,we are in the process of adopting from China, which is a dream come true for me,but also the scariest thing we have ever done! We know God,in His providence has led us down this road less traveled,but it is not the easy road,that is for sure. We thank God for his plans and we look forward with a grateful heart to whatever else God has for us.
We,also want to add,that this road is only through God's grace and He should receive all glory for it. We just are trying to walk down this road with faith,which at times is not much faith....but He sustains us! When we are not able,He is able.
"Do not follow where the path may lead....Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Robert Frost
I am a stay at home mother to 4. I am very blessed to have a godly husband who loves the Lord and his family. I welcome the days of much needed grace,the times of sweet victories,and the tears of trials,knowing it is all for God's glory. I want my lifesong to sing to Him,the author and finisher of my faith. Soli Deo Gloria--To the Glory of God alone.
10 Comments:
Found you at Sarah's blog (inthemidstofit). So glad I did. I don't have time to look around right now, but I can tell just from this post that we and our children are kindred spirits. Your Gracie sounds just like my Libbyline.
We are in the wishing stages of wanting to adopt from China. We pray for our Mia every day and pray that God will see fit to make her ours in the next couple of years as we start the process.
I will definitely be back when I've got more time to read and explore your blogs. Looking forward to getting to know you better!
I too found you through In the Midst of It and am so glad I did!
It is encouraging to read of other's decisions to live differently... so often I am surrounded with moms who are so afraid their children won't fit in, when that is exactly what God calls us to do.
You have a beautiful family and I look forward to reading more about your journey.
Kelly
Thanks Kim! I think you gave me one of my quotes. :) I love them and am always collecting and inspired from them whether quotes or of course the favorite scriptures. Am reading Joan Lunden's quote book now. Really good inspiration book. God Bless!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Love the story of your adoption journey!
Thanks for those thoughts Kim as they were an encouragement for a fellow journer on this road!
Like you, entering the road of adopting a child from China has probably been one of my greatest tests of faith and obedience thus far. After much prayer we felt God saying "this is the way, walk ye in it". God has given us peace and the exciting anticipation of continuing on that road until we meet our child.
I'm so thankful that the "road builder" will promise to guide us each step of the way. There are many promises in His Word of blessing those who are kind to the Fatherless..so I've claimed some of these to help increase my faith that he will be faithful and pour out his blessings not to mention the great blessings this child will bring to our family.
Proverbs 3:5,6..trust and obey
HI, thanks for stopping by my blog....I am so glad that I stopped by yours :) Your family is just beautiful and I love your post about "the road less traveled..." You evidently rely upon God for decisions within your family and you use His Word in walking on the road that God has planned for you...very encouraging! I love that you homeschool and love it....I am in the beginning years of schooling our oldest, Gabby, she is in kindergarten. We have enjoyed this year so far.
I love what you wrote about the blessing of schooling your children at home and how you are able to raise your daughters to be Godly woman, for a future of being wives and mothers...my heart also for my girls.
I enjoyed your blog on your adoption journey...God is so good, what a blessing Lydia will experience being part of your family, one that loves God and lives by His Word...
God bless you all, glad we have "met" :)
In HIM,
Liz
Thanks for stopping by. Great post! Sounds like you have a great family. I love that you also homeschool and we like a lot of the same books.
It blesses me to know that the road less traveled takes different forms for different families! We are all heading the same direction, though! So nice to meet you!
Kim,
I just found this post and I am so glad! I wanted to get a message to you in regard to homeschooling and wasn't sure how and had questions about when you started. My girls are 4th & 6th (Sam is only 4)and we too felt like we lacked the courage to take the plunge. We have prayerfully and diligently sought God on this and realize that we *must* move forward in this plan. I am excited to have found so many mom's through blogging that share our convictions and passion for the gospel as well as the desire to teach and train their children. I think they will finish out this school year and I will begin this fall. I am prayerful as I seek out curriculum, books, and godly wisdom from other families. I cannot blog this information yet because we just aren't prepared to answer questions from family and friends. I want to have His discernment when I speak about this decision. I have solicited Leslie's advice for book recommendations in this beginning process. Do you have any favorites for the beginning stages?
Thanks for reading my incredibly long-winded post. You have been a blessing!
Kim
Sorry, I forgot to put my e-mail address:
kcvoiles@comcast.net
Thanks!
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