I love that life is never the same....well, I love it when things are going along smoothly, and I am learning to love it when things aren't so smooth. The Redford family found itself once again wondering what God was up to this summer when He began to challenge us to think and seek His heart about where our kids should be for this school year. When we began homeschooling, I told myself "you don't have to do this forever" just so I knew I had a way out if things didn't work out. BUT, I also knew that it was a HUGE commitment and that if I start I should probably be in it for the long haul.
Guess what? God doesn't work like this. He is a God of surprises, flexibility, and spontaneity at least in the sense of our lives. For those of you who know me well, you know that I am a type A, extremely structered, neat freak personality. These qualities do come in handy from time to time, but they do limit me in the surprise, flexible, spontaneous categories - UGH!!!
God is not about a perfected outline for each of our lives. He has no desire for us to try and figure out what He might have for us. He desires us to be openhanded, prepared, and available for whatever He calls us to do. What one day looks like will not be what tomorrow holds. What "created, controlled structures" we have close off the work of His spirit to move us as He leads.
As we prayed about the different things God continued to lay on our hearts regarding our children, He made it VERY clear that they were to begin school at our local Elementary school.
One thing Kevin and I could not get out of our minds was this phrase from Ecclesiastes "for everything there is a season." We kept asking God, "Is our season of homeschooling over for now?"
A second thing we kept coming back to was the way God has wired our kids to be kingdom advancers. Our kids both pray for their friends & share openly & boldly about Jesus. They want everyone around them to know Him. Unfortunately, they weren't connecting with many students around here while we were homeschooling, and God kept showing us that He wanted them to have an impact.
A third piece (there are many more) to this puzzle, was the principal at the school. He is an amazing Christian, pastoring a church for 19 years before taking his current job. He was SO excited to hear about Isabelle's work in Haiti & around the world and shared with us his connections to Haiti. He was so encouraging to us as a family, not even knowing that we were prayerfully considering enrolling the students. He was very helpful to me as a homeschool parent looking for ways to get my kids involved in community activities. (He also let me borrow a book called The Castaway Kid - I highly recommend you reading this!)
Isabelle on her first day in front of Mrs. Edwards class.
John Michael in front of his classroom, Mrs. Lickteig
So, I had to let go of many emotions, feelings, etc. that I had about homeschooling to answer the call that God had over my children's lives. Kevin and I see that God is beginning to weave a big picture that directly involves their lives at school. We are only beginning to see glimpses, and we cannot wait to see how He develops His story, for His glory!
The kids were so pumped it actually shocked us when we shared with them about starting school. We had asked for prayers for the kids to receive the news well - God was already WAY ahead of our requests for prayers. The kids were pumped. Isabelle shared with us that she had been recently thinking lots about her old elementary school - how she missed it, her friends, and how she felt God had wanted her to have more conversations about Him with people there. She went on to share with us that she didn't feel she had any of those opportunities now - so when we told her she would be starting school, she knew it was the right thing because God was giving her opportunities to be a light for Him!!! (And to think I was worried about telling them)
Each day we must be ready for Him to use us, to change our circumstances, to put us with people and in places that He has ordained for us to be. Sometimes, it isn't what we hoped, dreamed, or even partially considered an option - but it is what He wants for us. We must embrace it with JOY! When we obediently follow, blessing pour forth!
Where is God asking you to let go of control and obey Him today?
We actually pulled off a BIG surprise for Isabelle. While in KC, I had planned a surprise b-day party for Isabelle & some of her best friends. Isabelle returned home from a trip to the American Girl Doll Store to shouts of "surprise". She didn't know what to say. She kept looking around at all her friends...it took a few minutes to register with her what was happening. She dropped her things and hugged everyone immediately. She was SO excited and surprised!! 
We had a craft project for all the girls...they painted their own frames to hold a picture of themselves with Isabelle that we took upon their arrival. The frames turned out great! The girls had so much fun playing together and being creative!
Cara, Neva, Natalie, Isabelle, Myah, and Olivia
Isabelle had many surprises in store for her today! We asked our friends & family to "stuff the box" for her birthday by sending her a card via snail mail. She LOVES getting mail. She has been so surprised everyday for the last week to find at least one card in the mail for her. Today she hit the jackpot! 12 cards just for her birthday....she was so excited and blessed. The fireplace was already full, but she hadn't even opened the 12 from today!
Her b-day dinner request is Tomato Basil Shrimp Pasta...for those of you who know I picky she is, this is a highly unusal choice, but she LOVES this dish. We also made cupcakes & she decided she wanted them in a shape of a flower! TOO cute! She arranged and iced them herself. 
Here Isabelle & John Michael are working on a drawing of the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding countries. One fun fact they loved was that the Med. Sea looks like a flying duck! Check out your world map to see it!
I wish you could see clearer the look on JM's face. He kept saying "mom, let me do it. I need to be an expert at flying kites!" He was hilarious....
My sister & her daughter, Olivia, came to visit for one night...Isabelle gave her this princess dress. She loved it, but really loved this wand which was spinning lights. She would not look at me for a picture.
His exuberance for life might actually knock out his 2 loose teeth! He has been wiggling his teeth for months, just hoping one might be loose....FINALLY - the bottom 2 are wiggly! They should be out soon....keep posted for updates, it will be a great day! 
John Michael is playing on a 1st & 2nd grade soccer team this fall. He has done really well and has had so much fun!
