God is good!!!!

   Lots of blessings to report.  It looks like the sale of our house is moving forward.  We had the home inspection yesterday and they didn't find anything major.  We're just praying that the buyer doesn't try to nickel and dime us with repairs or money for repairs.  He is supposed to give us his requests by tomorrow.

   And.... we put in an offer on a house in Joppa and it was accepted!  We are very excited as the house is only a few minuted from our church and the school TJ will be attending.  The house will be a major blessing as it has 4 bedrooms plus an office, which could be used as a bedroom.  There will be plenty of room to practice hospitality and guest rooms for people to stay in.  It also has a very nice, fenced-in, back yard.  We are humbled and blessed by God's goodness to us.  We offered significantly below the asking price and asked for some of the closing costs.  We are cautiously excited, aware that it's not a "done deal" until settlement.  So, please keep praying that things will progress smoothly :)

Happy 7th Anniversary to My Wonderful Husband!

Warning: This post will be long and somewhat mushy;)

Donny and I met about 15 years ago at our church.  He had just graduated from high school and I had just finished 9th grade.  (Yup, he's older  :)  Anyway, he was the funny, friendly and fun -loving guy that everyone got along with.  He was like a big brother to many of us girls.  He was also a favorite with a lot of the dads.  (Apparently, he was a favorite with my dad too, which I didn't find out until much later.)  Anyway, he was a great guy and I believe it was God's grace that I didn't develop feelings for him sooner.  I truly saw him as a friend and not a potential romance, which not only protected my heart but gave us a good foundation of friendship.  (It probably helped that he was in NO WAY interested in me either ;)

Fast forward to my second year of college.  Donny was asked to lead a singles care group and I was asked to be his assistant.  We were both excited and humbled by the opportunity to serve in that way.  (Side note:  I think Jimmy was playing cupid.  Just ask Chris and Em.)

Anyway, I remember when we started serving together, being very afraid that I would develop feelings for him.  I cried out to God that He would protect me from that because I was afraid it would get in the way of our ministry.  Well, thankfully, God did answer that prayer.  At least for that first year.

The next year (the summer after my 3rd year of college) we worked together at Beachmont Christian Camp.  (Yet another matchmaking place ;)  During that summer we saw each other every day at camp and we were still serving in a care group together.  That's when trouble began. My eyes were opened to him in a new way and boy did the feelings come.  To my surprise, apparently they did for him too.  Our friendship was changing into something more.  However, he wasn't sure if the timing was right.  He talked to my dad and he prayed, but he felt like he had "jumped the gun".  So, we tried to put our emotions on hold.

That next year, my 4th of college, was very challenging.  Due to certain situations, it became apparent to me that Donny and I weren't meant to be.  It seemed as if God had totally closed the door.  I was crushed.  My emotions ranged from sadness to anger to , eventually, acceptance.  Sadly, it affected our friendship too.

Fast forward to fall of 2000.  Donny asked my dad if I could go to a wedding with him for a co-worker.  My dad and I both wondered why he would ask me.  I mean, we weren't as close friends as we had been a year or two before.  I was busy and couldn't go to the wedding.  That didn't stop my dad from asking Donny about his motives.  (My dad is so perceptive.  Or persistent.  Or both.)  Anyway, Donny admitted that he was wondering if God may still bring us together.  I was not so sure.  I thought I had been given my answer the year before.  Well, my dad encouraged me to pray and be open.  As soon as I started praying about it, all those old emotions came back like a flood.  On September 10, 2000, we entered into a courtship and we were married on August 11, 2001.  (On our wedding day, my dad informed me that he had known for years, even before I liked Donny, that he was God's choice for me.)

S0, here we are.  7 years later.  Expecting baby number 4.  Donny is again leading a care group and every day feels like a camp here with 3 little ones.  (It's funny how things come back around again.)  I can honestly say that I am married to my best friend.  He is caring, loving, funny and a wonderful provider.  He is an amazing father to our children.  (Just ask them.  They absolutely adore him.)  I am so thankful to God for the 7 happy and blessed years of marriage we have had and I look forward to many more.

I LOVE YOU HONEY!

The Sale is Back On... we think?

Well, the roller coaster just keeps going.  After talking to our realtor (that is helping us buy a house) and our lender, we have decided to move forward with this offer.  We are trusting that God is on control and He will take care of us.  We were advised by both real estate specialists to put a few contingencies of our own in the contract.  So, we have and we are signing it tonight.  As of now, the settlement date is set for September 30th, but the buyer says he can move it up if necessary.

The next prayer request is that everything would work out for us on the buying end.  We are VERY interested in a bank owned property nearby.  It has EVERYTHING we want and just needs a little TLC.  We are awaiting word from our realtor as to the status of the house and how long the whole process could take.