There are a few factors we are considering during this endeavor. First off, we want our children to be able to get through college debt free. They must save 45% of all money they make, that will help toward any college expenses. We will pursue any aide available and they know they will have to work part-time while attending college.
We are considering other options that could cut the cost of a
degree too. Our oldest did College Plus, there are other online options, and then there is technical college. The tech college could either be help in getting the general requirements done or as an option for getting a skill that would cost less and take less time.
All of these options would allow the girls to live at home, eliminating the room and board fees of attending a four year college.
Secondly, we want to guard our daughter’s hearts. They each have the desire to be a wife and a mother, so we do not want to feed a career heart that will cause a battle within. We are open to God’s calling on their lives, but at this point there is no direction beyond the high calling of being a mother.
Ultimately, we desire clear leading from God by His creating a
passion for our daughters to pursue. They must learn to listen to their Heavenly Father and trust Him to guide their steps. There is a bit of a time line. Decisions will have to be made by December of this year.
Each of our daughters is going to require our seeking the Lord
and allowing Him to speak on their behalf. Our girls are all very different from one another, a cookie cutter after High School option is not going to work for them. We are excited to be
trusting the Lord and look forward to seeing where He leads our beautiful maidens.
What about our son? We have slightly different expectations for
him. It is very important to my husband for our son to get a four year degree. Knowing he will someday be the provider for his family, we feel he will be best served by having a degree. Beyond that our desire for him is the same. We pray he will be lead by the Lord and have a passion for whatever he pursues. He has a
few more years before he is faced with some of these decisions, but we are already praying for him. Life is a constant spiritual battle; we don’t want to lose any ground.