There is another cup of cold coffee sitting on the back of my desk, and yet another page of math waiting before me to grade. The phone just rang with another job to be completed day before yesterday and here I sit with writer's block, again. While I can think of many things I could write about - none of them fit within the realm of business topic - or even home office information that would serve as an article for one of the trade magazines I write for regularly. My deadline is tomorrow. Of the list of topics that I keep at the ready (in the event of writer's block), none of them seem particularly appealing on this day, because I'm more interested in writing about something close to my heart. I have this unbidden desire to write about someone or something that will change the course of my life, or at the very least have a significant impact.

As I watch my sons play WCW on the trampoline outside my front window - it slowly dawns on me, that what I really want to do is record this moment in time. I want to share the joy that wells up inside of me when one of my children accomplishes something. I want to scream to the mountain tops that I have somehow accomplished something wonderful - through God's gentle blessing, I have created a child that is providing for me mountains of joyful moments.

It isn't the big - purple ribbon award - moments that I get the most out of. It is the unusual moments that just kind of happen, like the spelling test that was passed with all the words except one correct, and that was Really hard, Mom. It's the moment when my four-year-old first ties his shoes and gives everyone else a hug because he is so thrilled. It's the moment that my fourteen-year-old realizes that it is okay if she doesn't dress just like all the other kids, because she looks better in another style. It's the moment that my kids realize they are individuals and capable of the next step toward maturity.

A conversation that gives me insight into the mind of a five-year-old child, and understanding that he actually did comprehend the meaning of a story told in Sunday School, or during our weekly history lessons becomes one of the most joyful moments of my day. It is amazing how these moments are even more critical to my esteem than a purple ribbon award moment in my career.

It is significant that this realization happened while I was sitting in front of the computer attempting to pound out a required article, that may further my career as a business writer. The simple fact that I was in career mode when I had the realization says to me that, as important as my career is - my family is more important, on a baser level. It says that even if I'm at work, it is my family that motivates me on to greater things. It implies that there is hope of turning around what is becoming the song of loss in America - the LOSS of the FAMILY.

I believe that as parents it is our responsibility to maintain a relationship with our children, the kind of relationship that allows them freedom to choose within limitations that we provide. We should give our children honor, and honor our parents, so that our children see honorable relationships working for the good of all concerned. I choose to home school my children, because I want them to enjoy the time we spend together and to enjoy the time they spend with each other. I commend the education system for the job they are doing with students. I realize that home education would not work in every family, nor should it, this is America and we have a choice.

Is there someone or something out there that will change my life or impact my life? The answer is a resounding YES!!! There are four little some bodies out there who impact and change my life daily. I call them by name, scream at them, yell at them, encourage them, love them, and guide them, sometimes right and sometimes wrong - but always with the realization that I am building the future leaders of my country, members of the next generation. As a parent, it gives me great pleasure, and even greater honor, to see my children solve their own problems and grow slowly, daily, and much too quickly toward the independence of adulthood. I'm not alone in this realization, parents everywhere realize that all too soon their children are no longer within their control or influence.

Besides the fact that our children have an impact on our lives, it is our responsibility to make an impact on their lives. We must first give our children the strength of a foundation to build upon, then with unwavering joy, we must set them free to fly independently into the future. We must realize that we are influencing the choices of the next generation and set out in faith and love to do justice to the opportunity we have been given.

Copyright 2001 - Jan Verhoeff Printed in the USA

Jan Verhoeff

Somewhere between college and life, Jan began to focus on other people. Her intense need to feel accomplishment in her life drove her to finding a deeper contentment than just existing in the hoot 'n holler of southeastern Colorado. While the beauty of the prairie never escaped her eye for color and beauty, the intensity of her desire kept her moving ever onward.

Summers in Michigan and Tennessee brought her closer to something, but it wasn't until much later, as an adult, mother of four that she began to understand that her need for accomplishment included sharing what she had learned along the way. It also meant that her talent for painting the dream and writing her thoughts had a lot to do with her accomplishments.

She began to focus on actually writing down her thoughts and ideas in journals, revealing her prayer thoughts and life events. Bits of paper became treasures of memory, and a notebook became an outlet of hope and a step of faith. Jan put her thoughts on paper, and began to publish them, where she found opportunity, including various magazines, trade journals, and local publications. Her interests in business and new enterprise became a resounding outlet for her talent, and wisdom for those who sought it. Jan's interest in business development became her trademark, resulting in her first book publication in !992, "Building a Business: From Scratch". This 22 page booklet was published by a local printer in a vertical brochure format, selling more than a thousand copies nation wide. It has resurfaced in college classes as the basis for college term papers, graduate thesis, and research documents for small business courses over the past 13 years.

Seeking more diverse outlets for her talents, Jan most recently has written several short stories published in various books, including: "Stories for the Trail" with the Lamar Writer's Group, "Prickly Points of Life" a combination poetry/short story collection of Jan's work, and "Coffee Clatter" a bound collection of written works originally published in a newsletter published by her daughter, Brenna, as a Sophomore Year Project when she was homeschooling at Buchanan Academy.

More recently her work is available in a newsletter she publishes weekly via email, and various blogs listed on the right side of this page.

You may contact Jan at: janverhoeff@yahoo.com

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