What's your Big Dream?

I watched part of a TV show the other night...Donny Osmond was hosting, and it has to do with people pleading with the audience to vote for them to grant their biggest dream. The premise is not bad, as I believe that everyone should have a dream, but the show was really rather hokey.
Anyway, it got me thinking about my Big Dream again.

Before moving to NC in the summer of '04, Louie and I read The Dream Giver, by Bruce Wilkinson. It's about a little Nobody named Ordinary who lives in the Land of Familiar....and he has a Big Dream. It tells him that he , a Nobody, was made to be a Somebody and destined to achieve Great Things. This book changed our lives.

We get rather content in our lives, and often get so involved in the routine that we don't even remember that we have a Big Dream. For us, the Dream involved leaving our Land of Familiar- our forever home of Florida, and moving to our Land of Promise - North Carolina. It was frightening, fun, heartbreaking, lonely, exciting and fulfulling. That was almost 3 years ago!

In that 3 years, we've bought a home, Louie has re-established his business, I've homeschooled Josh for 2nd, 3rd and now 4th grades and we've gotten involved in a new church. But somehow in doing so....I think our Big Dream is still unfinished. Or maybe our Land of Promise has become a Land of Familiar!

When we decided to move to NC, the decision was based on how we felt when we visited the mountains. Refreshed, renewed, replenished. Our hope was that we could have a home here that would allow us room for guests who needed a break. From ministry, work, or just life. And that they could come to our home and find a haven and refuge from the everyday. Thankfully, our home has room for visitors, and we've had them...and it's been great! However, most of the time it's been friends and relatives on vacation - so that means lots of running around, seeing the sights and doing all the mountain things. Not a bad time - but not always refreshing and renewing!
The best times of renewing have been those evenings of just sitting on the deck, watching the sunset and then seeing the fireflies come out as it gets dark. We keep some lidded jars on the deck table, so the kids (and kids at heart) can run around and catch a few of those glowing bugs. Meanwhile, on the deck, the conversation flows, and relaxation takes place. Heaven!

So, in all of that, I guess I'm just thinking about our Big Dream again. Our friends, Mike and Peggy McGrew, are in a transition period. Part of our Big Dream was that they, too would come to the mountains to live. For a long time, it began to look like they wouldn't be moving to the mountains, at least not any time in the near future. So, we figured maybe they weren't to be a part of our Big Dream. It made us sad.

While we've been here without them, we've been able to establish a sweet friendship with Peggy's sister Dana and her husband John, who live just north of us. But, between us and John and Dana....no telling who wanted Mike and Peggy here more! I guess we all prayed so hard for them to come, that the Lord decided to answer our prayer. What a whirlwind their lives have become! After a year of much change, they will be moving here soon! Just need to sell their condo and up they will come, bringing their daughter Jen and grandson Austin, too...and Grandmommy Joan. (It could only be better if my mom and sister Katy would move up!)

I know that already, Mike and Peggy and Jen have been through so much in this change in their lives, and there will be many more changes. But God has his hand on them, and he will walk them through the ups and downs of it all. I know that they are anxious to be here, and to get started on their new Big Dream!

In knowing that they are coming, it has made me reexamine my Big Dream...and I want it to be even Bigger than my original! I don't know what the Lord has planned, but I know that I want to be involved in whatever it is. I would love to see all of us - Louie, Josh and me, Mike and Peggy and Jen, John and Dana - all involved in community - living out our lives as ministry. In what way this will happen, I don't know. But I do know that we all love each other, and we love the Lord, and we are seeking Him. And if we seek Him, He will make our Big Dream known to us....we can't miss it, because He is the Dream Giver.

New Pictures of Spring

Well, after posting yesterday, I realized some pics would be nice. So, check out the new Spring 2007 album. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the beautiful Bradford Pear (we don't have one! Every year we say we're going to get one!) , nor the blazing bright yellow forsythia (who knows how to spell it) bush. Enjoy our yard!

Yesterday was the last meeting for our current Beth Moore Bible study, Jesus the One and Only. Such a sweet group of ladies! Even though I am the baby of the bunch, I am the facilitator. These ladies are really great about sharing real life with each other, and praying together and for each request presented. I am blessed to know and love them. We will start again in May, and just meet for a Beth Moore video each week. We adore her, and are so thankful for the anointing that God has place on her in ministering to women, and in teaching the Word.

I do miss my Peggy....I know you check in! Even though my ladies group is great, there is nothing like having your best friend in person to talk to! So, be encouraged, know that we are praying for God to move quickly in your life to sell that condo and get you up here! Louie and Josh pray too! Mike, Peggy, Jen and Austin are family to us....and Florida is just too far away!

Spring has Sprung

Beautiful Spring has taken up residence here again in the mountains. It is always a joy to see everything begin to bloom. So much like our lives, even when everything looks dead, there is growth and new life just waiting to burst forth. All we have to do is wait on the perfect timing of our loving Father.

Louie is home, and we are so happy to have him back. He has tilled up the ground for our garden, and we are just waiting on some plants to be on sale at the garden centers. Can't wait for those fresh veggies and herbs! I'll also be replanting my container gardens on the deck...which we are going to paint, I've been told.

If you haven't experienced Spring in the NC mountains, it is sure worth a trip! Everyone raves about the fall leaves, but the Springtime is so beautiful! First thing we see are the bright yellow daffodils, then some type of little purple flower blooms outside my kitchen window. Then our favorite thing - big white Bradford Pear trees - stunning against the still brown mountains. The light purple blooms on the Japanese Plum trees will soon turn to dark purple leaves. And the Redbud Trees are in bloom with their darker purple flowers. The willow trees are weeping with fresh light green leaves, and the bees are buzzing! One day soon, the mountains will suddenly turn green. It's as if all the trees get together and decide - tomorrow's the day! And overnight it seems that their leaves pop out!

Hope your Spring is in full bloom- both in nature and in your spirit!

Spring time...and missing my husband

Well, it's beginning to look like we might get some Springtime here before long. The daffodils are starting to bloom, and the willow tree is budding. On top of that, the sun is slowly making it's way back to the north, so we are catching some sunset colors. Soon we'll be able to see the full sunset! Funny, I lived in Florida, the land of incredible sunsets, for 46 years, and had to race to the beach to catch one. Now, living here in beautiful NC, I can sit on my deck (or even in my living room!) and see a beautiful sunset each evening for a good portion of the year. Bless the Lord!

So, speaking of NC, and being here, Louie, my loving man, is not. He is still in FL, but looks like he'll be headed home this weekend! Yeah! It's been just Josh and me (and the cat and dog) for a couple of weeks. We really miss him in the evening. He's usually at work during the day, so that's not so different, but the evenings and weekends are not the same without him! We all went to see Wild Hogs this weekend.....but separately...Josh & me, and Louie went with Joel, Robin and some friends. We laughed on the phone afterwards, but it would have been much more fun together!

Speaking of spring... Louie has to get back so he can till up the ground for our garden. Time to get those veggies and herbs growing again. If only weeds didn't grow too!