Daydreaming about something in order to do it properly is right, but daydreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong. In this passage, after having said these wonderful things to His disciples, we might have expected our Lord to tell them to go away and meditate over them all. But Jesus never allowed idle daydreaming. When our purpose is to seek God and to discover His will for us, daydreaming is right and acceptable. But when our inclination is to spend time daydreaming over what we have already been told to do, it is unacceptable and God’s blessing is never on it. God will take the initiative against this kind of daydreaming by prodding us to action. His instructions to us will be along the lines of this: “Don’t sit or stand there, just go!”
If we are quietly waiting before God after He has said to us, “Come aside by yourselves . . .” then that is meditation before Him to seek His will (Mark 6:31). Beware, however, of giving in to mere daydreaming once God has spoken. Allow Him to be the source of all your dreams, joys, and delights, and be careful to go and obey what He has said. If you are in love with someone, you don’t sit and daydream about that person all the time— you go and do something for him. That is what Jesus Christ expects us to do. Daydreaming after God has spoken is an indication that we do not trust Him.

We've heard Him say that for our family, and the kids He's given us, a different way is the way he wants us to go.  All other reasons aside, the word that keeps resting in our spirit as we pray is TIME.  We REALLY sense above ever other educational philosophy or reason we can write on our pro/con list...the Lord is calling our family to use our TIME in a way that homeschooling will give us the freedom to do.  Will I miss parts of having my kids in school?  Yes.  And honestly...this is a year by year thing for us.  We'll see how God stirs our hearts next year, but we've heard Him really clearly for this coming school year and can't turn back now. 

In this process of really seeking God's heart for our family...I've been brought back so may times to our decision to move to Illinois.  Before we left, we thought we were saying YES to a degree for John.  Never in a million years would we have predicted that God would open doors for us in Illinois so that Cole, who we didn't even know was deaf, could be cared for in such an incredible way by a team who he still talks about daily.  His hearing loss was discovered, he received his CI's and over 400 hours of individual therapy all from a team we never would have met had we not said "YES" to a God who called us out of our "normal" into HIS way for us at the time.

We sense this is another one of those times.  He's calling and since we've both heard it so strongly, we've decided to again say "YES" to a God who has never taken us anywhere we haven't been blessed beyond measure.  His blessing waits on the other side of obedience...right in the middle of a heart willing to walk the narrow road in pursuit of a call heard in the quiet of the night, so gently yet strongly it can't be ignored.

So that's our story of radical obedience in this season.  Taking another step off the beaten path to dive a bit deeper into the way less travelled.  I wonder if He's calling you too...it may not be homeschooling for you, but because He loves you, I know He's calling you to something...just listen.  There's no greater joy then following the still, small voice of the One who wrote your story into season after season of radical love.  

As our story unfolds, there is no greater place of peace we find, then knowing we would go anywhere, and give up anything, for His story to be made famous among those He made.  The more open our hands, the more content our heart.  I'm absolutely filled to overflowing, knowing He's called...and now excited to see it all take root!

DO tell!  Those of you who homeschool, I'd love to hear what you love and even what the hardest parts are.  What curriculum do you use, what groups are you a part of...what does life look like for you since you've chosen this path?  As I've spoken with other families who homeschool, the one thing I've noticed is that it's different for everyone!  I guess that the beauty of it, isn't it?!  Thanks for any thoughts and PRAYERS you may have for our family.  We are excited to spend the next few months gathering ideas and getting ready for a great 1st grade year with our boy.  May God get all the glory!