Life is often compared to a journey starting with our births, ending with our deaths, with many stops along the way. I would like to focus on the part of the journey our family is traveling at this time. Eleven years ago my husband Mike and I started on the journey of home schooling. We had three children and one on the way and had no idea of what we were getting ourselves into.
Being a teacher by trade, I knew it would be challenging. Just how challenging we would soon discover. Twelve years ago we did not know we would be sidelined by our child's chronic illness, learning difficulties, special needs and my husband's job loss. However God knew and we have learned that He has a plan and He keeps his promises.
We have four beautiful children: Rachel, Cody, Hannah and Lucas. May of 2003 we decided I would quit my job as a teacher and start home schooling. We choose a public charter school mainly due to curriculum costs and the fact that we were just getting our feet wet. In September of 2003 Cody started developing strange rashes, experiencing joint pain, running extremely high temperatures and a variety of other symptoms. It soon became clear we were fighting a battle often for his life. We still have no definitive diagnosis eight years later. All of the children have since been diagnosed with arthritis.
As Lucas started school we began noticing some differences in his learning
style compared to the others. We found he has a sensory/auditory processing disorder which can make life challenging to say the least.
This journey we are on has been long, difficult and often painful, but it has also been filled with grace, hope and peace. We have been blessed to have many who have stood with us and prayed for us. We have learned to embrace the journey and see the blessings along the way.
Proverbs 16 : 9 A man's heart plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps.
