AMEN....

I just want to say that God answers prayers....I am convinced. But, it might be 10 years later.

I am thankful for my husband. He TRULY has become the man that I DREAMED and PRAYED about marrying.....10 years ago. He was the boy that I could not give up on as a freshman in college...that I just HAD to stick with....I now know why. God answered my prayers.

I wanted to marry a young life leader. I wanted to be a youth group leader. Back then, I think I wanted it all for the wrong reasons. Now, I know the right reasons to want that kind of person....and I have that kind of husband.

You want to marry that kind of person because they love God. Because they want to know God, serve God selflessly, love him more. Ben is becoming this person more and more.

Every Wednesday am Ben is getting up for bible study. Every Sunday we go to church, without a fight or question. AND he is leading the youth group. WITH excitement, and passion, and knowledge, and prayer. WOW WOW WOW. We go to youth cookouts, and plan get togethers, and try to get to know the students! And, I am NOT dragging him. at all.

This is without a doubt the work of God. I am thankful and grateful. And thankful and grateful for Rick and Neil and Matt who have played an integral part in the work of God in Ben!

AMEN

too comfortable?

We have officially been living the vagabond life for over 6 months. A "house" is in the forcast...and it scares me. Am I too comfortable here at 3638 Tanglebrook Trail? Not sure...

You know, bad things can happen when you get too comfortable. You get lazy. You forget what is important, you take things for granted. I REALLY hope that is not happening...but I must admit, I'm nervous about our next adventure. Excited, yes. Prayerful, yes. Do I think it is the best decision, yes. But, it is going to be different.

So, the update...we are waiting on paperwork & a dirtbike to sell, so we can close on the Hampton House. If it all goes though....I"m thinking we will go ahead & move in...and then we will finialze all of the reonvations that need to be done. (kitchen, downstairs, living room). Andrew has been living there, obviously. I hope he realizes that his bachelor pad is about to get crashed with baby toys, "noggin", 8pm bedtimes, cz dance parties, and prayer groups. Please pray. I'm a little anxious.

I'm super excited about my own bedroom....but even more, Charlotte's own bedroom! I think she will enjoy it. Even though, I'm hoping she won't hate us after we move out....away from Papa! She LOVES loves LOVES it here.

I'm excited about windows, obviously.

I'm neverous about the "I want's." I want...a hammock....flowers for the front porch.....paint for the back shed, so I can turn it into a play house.....a dishwasher.....to decorate.....blah blah.

Jesus, please be with the Hampton house. Andrew. Ben. Liz, Charlotte. Molly. Bitzy. A home for Bandet?! Our tight space. Our friends. Our time together. Meal-time. Fun-time. Please make the details fall into place, or not. Make it a house that honors you :) AMEN.

The latest dream...

Oh my, how dreams change and form.



I dream of simple. I dream of no stress. I dream of clarity.



My dream is fung-shuy. But, I'm an artist, so I know that won't quite work.



I dream of home-cooked meals. A calendar that we look at. A clean house. Laundry that is put away. Nada clutter. You can dream, right?



I dream of windows. Laundry in its place. My own room (yes, Ben's too!). Charlotte's cute pink and green room with painted funky flowers and a "big girl" bed.



I dream of having my plants back in my custody (Swizzle, SPIKE--oh, I miss spike!, Dr. Seuss, Cloey, Rex, doodle). My plants are in foster care right now.



I dream of having my own house again...this is what that MIGHT look like....

the HAMPTON house.

Will it be our house? Pray, please. Thanks.

Speaking of dreams...
Throughout the past 6 months, we haven't put much thought into what our "next house" will be like. It was more like...hopefully we will have an "our house" again. We did know that we would rather it NOT be the townhouse.

We were on a foreclosure kick for a few weeks. We found some great fixer-uppers...and one that was WAY to big, but a great deal that we loved. But, the moral of the story is...it has to make one simple equation work. We HAVE to be able to afford it. I know, that sounds like a stupid DUH comment...

Did our "dream" look like Ben's brothers house? It does now.

PRAY that the details of our idea will fall into place. In a nutshell, we CANNOT afford much more than anything we are paying right now. We are not paying a mortgage, we are not paying utilities, or for childcare. We have a *&!$-load of debt, in case you forgot. With rediculous interest rates and high payments. Credit cards are of the devil, in my opionion if you forgot that too. CUT THEM UP, now. Be done with them.

So, for the amount we pay in bad decisions, we could roll that into a house & pay the same of less...and afford a house. This is not what Dave Ramsey would say to do, but we think that it might be our best choice.

A few reasons why: We can't live here for free for much longer. Andrew's house with a few renovations/additions would be just fine (good location/blah blah). It would help Andrew. He would be a part of a family...hopefully this will help him to have a little more structure in his life. And, with Andrew living there/paying part of the mortgage it obviously makes it more affordable.

Gotta find a mortgage person. We had a potential investor that would make some $$ on this venture, but that didn't work out. Hopefully we can get approved & move forward. Easier said than done, I'm sure. Pray.

If it goes as we "dream" we will add a living room & finish the basement. Andrew will have a bedroom/bathroom/kitchen-ette downstairs. The laundry room will be downstairs. Upstairs: two bedrooms, one full bath, kitchen, dining room, and we would add a living room. It is small but cozy and would be great.

Pray. I'll keep you posted.

God answers prayers.

Even "stupid" ones. Here goes: I NEED new flip flops. My big toe has met the pavement. I love my rainbows. They are comfortable. I value "nice" shoes after seeing how your legs and back hurt with cheap shoes. But, I cannot afford to spend $50 on new flip flops.

I have some green rainbows that had been lost for months. I prayed for flip flops. Yup, I did. I asked Ben to as well, but he must have not been convicted of the "need."

We were eating dinner the other night in the formal dinning room at Pam's (home). Charlotte was crawling under the table....and FOUND my flip flops :)

Answered prayer.

Thankful

If I haven't said it lately...I am SO VERY VERY VERY thankful that I have my mom to take care of Charlotte every day. On this venture to financial freedom, it would be MUCH more difficult if I was paying for childcare. I know it makes you guys wanna barf when I say that...but I KNOW that I am lucky and blessed. Thanks mom, and dad.

Even, in a basement, I am spoiled beyond belief. Actually, I think I am probably even more spoiled in a basement.

Charlotte walks to the steps, and points "up up up", "papa," to go up and see Mimi & Papa.

I am thankful.

And, I am thankful for all of my friends. I miss you guys though. I feel like we are all so spread out and busy. Gotta fix that.

Am I forgetting do be drastical?

Or is this becoming a habit that we will be able to continue? I'm scared of loosing track of drastical. I'm scared of making another mistake.

I spend $56 at K-mart (K-MART) yesterday, and felt like I did something wrong. Wow. I miss the good-ol-days. I contemplated $5 jeans, $6 sunglasses, $5 beach towels for ever. Wow. I guess we haven't lost track of drastical.

"Do not be anxious about your life." Live it.