Dreams

What are your dreams? I have all kinds of dreams....Dreams for my kids.....Dreams for our future....Dreams for the ministry......Dreams for our church......sometimes there is so much floating around in my head I can hardly shut it off. Are dreams wrong??? Certainly I believe that we can get materialistic even in our dreams and desires but I think it is also the way that the Lord casts a vision. I will share one of mine with you......from the moment we bought this house....12 years ago...we knew it wasn't ours....we really do view everything that we have as the Lords...but even beyond that....Eric and I have always had a "dream" that this house was supposed to be given to our church. We live directly across the street from FBC Woodstock and our church has an amazing ministry for missionaries that give their lives to serve Him in another country. When they come back to the States we have homes for them to stay in. Someone fills the pantry and cupboards with all the family favorites and the church pays all housing expenses while they are home on furlough. We love this program and because of this dream of ours....we know in our hearts that this house is supposed to be used for that purpose! Will that be when we die??? Maybe???

Now to the dream.....there is land near our house....87 acres....oh so very beautiful......my dream....give this house to the church....buy the 87 acres......invite a few families to join us.......enjoy!... serve!..... Our daughter is gifted with animals but specifically with horses.....it has been her dream to do horse therapy for physically and mentally challenged children....wow what a dream....she is only 12 but she is passionate about it.....in my dream that would be a reality for her! In my dream there would be a home for a hurting family to come and stay for a little while so we could encourage and love on them...in my dream this would all be debt free!!!!

SO now I have bored you with my crazy dream!!! What is your dream?

Saving Money!

It is NUTS......just how much you can save using coupons when items are at their lowest prices! I bought all of the items you see here.....327.00 for 87.23.....Yes you saw that correctly...that is a savings of $239......I love it!!!! It frees up so much money for us....actually it just helps us live on the very small amount that comes in for the ministry. I feel like it is a great contribution that I can make for my family! We are living on a really small amount of money but I am able to feed my family like we are making so much more all because of coupons!

My Swimming boy

Marshall is a wonderful swimmer....like if he continues.....college scholarship good. Best of all he LOVES it! We are so thrilled that he can swim for Crown Athletics....Eric helps to coach so that he can swim for free but he really desires to swim on a year round team...this is very expensive but we also know that if the Lord wants this to happen...it will!! The team just had their first meet in South Ga. Marsh did a great job and loved it. We try to help each of our kids to grow "in their bend" this is sometimes difficult when you have so many but we do not feel that they should be "cookie cutter" kids. They are so very different and have so many amazing talents...it is very time consuming to raise kids!!!

Sweet 16

AAAGGGGG!!!! Where did the time go??? My oldest baby is 16! She actually turned 16 in September but we had the flu at our house so we had her party this past weekend. She is such a delight! Seriously I couldn't ask for a sweeter more determined godly young lady! She has amazing friends who spent the afternoon eating and playing games. She is saving all her birthday money for a snazzy camera that she has her eye on. She is a wonderful photographer and I think she will use that talent in some way in her life!

20 Years!!!!

Oh my do we look so young!

I can hardly believe that 20 years ago I married the most amazing man! We had a beautiful wedding...my mom made my dress...and they gave me a wonderful day that I will never forget. As amazing as that day was...I am so very glad that I am not just going back to that day to think about my wonderful marriage. I am so much more in love with Eric today than I was then. We have laughed, cried and yes, argued together. We have 5 beautiful babies and 2 babies waiting for us with Jesus. I am so blessed to have a man who loves me, our children and most of all Jesus!

We are shipping our children out for a few days and locking ourselves in....which includes turning off the phones and the computers and enjoying a few days of down time together. Our board of directors gave us a wonderful gift for our anniversary so we will hit a few nice restaurants for dinner....with the rest of the money I think we will put tires on my car. I know..I know...that isn't very romantic.......but those of you who know me know how practical I am.....I can't enjoy a trip away knowing that my tires are bald...it just isn't right. I do promise to totally enjoy my few days together!!!

Bill Stafford

We love Bill Stafford! He has been a family friend for more than 20 years. He is a faithful man of God and he means more to me and to Eric than I can express. He was in town last week and he met with Eric and I for an hour...what a sweet encouraging time. We prayed, laughed and were richly blessed. After the last month of waiting on the Lord that meeting was like a breath of fresh air!