Or rather, the death of my old titles. Which of course, always reminds me that the ONLY title that is truly mine is "God's Child." I'm His Darling Girl and nothing will ever change that.

 

Still, grief over weird things is real. And crying while we process God's changes are ok.

 

I feel crazy a little bit, some days. Like when I cried the moment I heard our newest babe last summer was a girl. I blubbered out, "But I've always been Boy Mom! For 23 years! How will I do this?" So I cried at yet another change in our lives. Now, it took about 0.02 seconds after meeting our little 5 pound Sissy for me to embrace my new title as "And Also Girl Mom." But grief over weird things is real. That's all I know.

 

How about the title "Empty Nester?" ROLLONTHEFLOORLAUGHING!!!! Matt and I were looking forward to those years so much (which by our plans were supposed to begin the fall of 2023). And now we see how God had much different, better plans to finally let us enjoy those empty nest years...in heaven? Maybe on earth if we live to be 140? We have no idea. :) :) :)

 

The title of "Mother-in-Law?" Well that's going to be official in exactly three weeks! That's a title I CAN'T WAIT to own. Today I was blessed to enjoy a bridal shower with our almost Daughter-in-Law and I can't believe this is my life. 

 

The beautiful girl on the right will be the first official Coppinger girl in our family. This is incredible. She is incredible.

So back to the grief that accompanies title changes. I actually still have a hard time talking about this next one without crying. Even though this is totally right and exactly what God wants for us right now. It's the title of:

 

"Homeschool Mom"

 

That has been my title. For so many, many years. I've loved it and I've been so thankful to be that mom. So when God told me very clearly last fall to put Brayden in public school so that his extra needs could be met, and so that I could better juggle all of our littler ones at home (and court dates, and case worker appointments, and doctor appointments, and...) I grieved so hard. 

 

God is there in the grief, always. Just because we listen and obey doesn't mean we'll walk away without grief.

 

Our public school experience so far for our kids has been fantastic, and the teachers and other professionals we work with have been amazing. Because all of our six littles are considered "at risk" we get to work with public school resources for all of them, from newborn on up. What a gift. A very necessary gift.

 

ANYWAY. This email is getting long. So thank you for letting me share. And cry a little bit. Because God's ways are amazing, even if when they are hard.

 

I shared here that we are only sort of homeschooling Malachi for now. We will listen to God's direction for the future of our school years with all of our kids. But the more I think about this, the more I really want to emphasize this truth: ALL PARENTS ARE HOMESCHOOL PARENTS. We must be teaching our kids at home - all of the things that matter most to us.

 

Because of this, I am still "Homeschool Mom." Maybe not as much in the traditional sense, and also, who cares? God is at work in the public school too, how about that? The more I do this hard life with all of these changes, the more I realize: We all have much more in common than we thought. 

 

No matter where our kids go to school, no matter our strong feelings about any topic, no matter, no matter, no matter. God loves all of us and is at work for our good. This. Is. Truth. And that is all that matters. Listen to Him. Walk with Him. Obey Him.

 

Please read more of my thoughts about school and life with our kids here. And then please take advantage of this offer. It's around for about two more days. I may not be as much of a "Homeschool Mom" anymore, but I always will be homeschooling my kids and teaching them about life and all that matters. This kind of thing helps big time. (And these free things I'm giving away is pretty fun too. In fact, some people told me that while they are looking forward to everything included in the bundle, they are even more excited about these Food For Kids and Teens freebies I'm giving out!)

 

 

Have you added any lately? Had to give some of them up? 

 

See God in all the changes. HE IS THERE. And He loves us through the title changes so beautifully, gently, and faithfully. He is a good, good God.

 

Thank you, as always, for being a part of this community. I consider all of you my friends. How did I get so blessed to have you all as friends?

 

Laura @ HeavenlyHomemakers.com