What were you doing this time last year? This weekend I’ve been looking back moving forward.
I ran down a post I wrote last year and was so sad to read these words from my heart …
“It has been a very stressful week for a few reasons I’m not ready to share here. But during an emotional break down – worn out from crying – I stood back and watched my children. I let everything go for the moment and stood there watching as they laughed. Hysterically. We were all together and it hit me … that’s all that truly matters. Not where you live, or what car you drive, or what curriculum you use, or what time you start your homeschool, or if your kids watch television, or how big your blog isn’t … God set us in a family – and family is all that matters!”
At the time of that post I owned and managed The Homeschool Village. An idea I had for a weekly link-up turned into a facebook page, blog, and online community.
The HSV was my baby and I stayed up late trying to grow it. I worked during our homeschool days trying to promote it. “Treat your blog like a business” I was told as I wore the excitement, passion, and life right out of the thing … and myself eventually selling it in May ’12.
This time last year to my surprise, a friendship completely disintegrated without word or warning. Hours of skypes, emails, and phone calls abruptly ended as I was traded in for a more influential friendship.
A young boy who loved learning started to grow into one who would not come to the table and only work on demand. We started on a journey of arm wrestling over assignments. He no longer smiled for pictures.
This time last year we had just put our house on the market and would begin the year long wait of no move.
Last year was a hard winter & spring for me. But God does not waste a learning opportunity.
Are your eyes open to what He wants to show you? Teach you? How He wants to grow you this year?
Do you see a change in your children that doesn’t feel quite right? Don’t allow distance to take root.
I am thankful things changed last year and we’re starting off 2013 differently. Spend some time looking back moving forward this week – see if God thinks something needs to change.
My prayer this week is that I do not allow anything to become my priority while I forget everything.
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Thank the Lord that He uses our situations as learning opportunities for growth. Blessings for 2013. And I am in agreement. It's so hard to keep on top of everything and so easy to lose priority.
Thanks for your honesty…Sometimes it so easy to get wrapped up in what others are selling and not see the lessons God is teaching me. I know from experience
If I had my choice I would always choose the easy road – free of trouble and tears. But it’s in those times that God teaches me so much more than the times I am on the top of the mountain. However, I heard the pain in your voice and I know that learning from the tough times is easier said than done. I truly love following you on Twitter and I hope that you continue to find community, both online and in real life. Thanks for sharing a wonderful post.
Thank God for new beginnings. What a blessing that He showed you what needed to be fixed and you listened to Him. You’re right when you say “don’t let distance take root.” Before you know it, you’ll blink your eyes and they’ll be grown. You’re ministry to your family is number one. Blessings to you, Susan