I’m not much of a hostess. I love to have people over in the summer because BBQ’s and pool parties are much easier than a formal Christmas dinner.  If I thought I could away with it, I’d plan Christmas in the summer time.

I have to say that I am quite excited though. In fact, it’s been consuming my thoughts ever since I toured the hall that we have now rented for this event. That’s right, we’ve rented a hall for the 50+ people who will be in attendance because our home is not near big enough to accommodate that many.  I love Christmas!

I’m a “planner” by nature, so I’ve already completed the list of items that we need from table clothes and decorations, to plates and Christmas music.   I don’t want this to sneak up on me and be a stressful time! 

Now that everything is down on paper,  all I have to do is follow my plan and do a couple of things a week and we will have a wonderful, stress free memorable Christmas!

Imagine what would happen if I tackled everything in life like this.  If I wrote down my goal with a date of accomplishment.  Then if I wrote down the steps to get to that goal and actually followed the steps that would get me to that goal and not let FEAR get in my way.  I’d be unstoppable!!

Life isn’t as easy as planning a Christmas dinner.  Things happen!  The important thing is that if we have that plan, it’s easier for us to pick up where we left off.

What makes you happy?

For me…it’s the simple things like looking out our back window and seeing the Magnolia tree in full bloom.  It was a Mother’s Day gift a few years ago that keeps on giving. 

What makes me happy? 

• Listening to tunes on my iPod. 
• Relaxing with a good book and a cup of green tea. 
• The sound of my boys laughing. 
• My husband’s car pulling in the driveway safely each and every night after a long day without him. 
• Coffee with friends.
• Learning something new with my kids.
• Date night.
• Finding a bargain.
• Going on a hike with my family.
• When my boys are excited about “what’s for dinner”.
• Viewing my husband’s awesome photos…like the one above!

It’s the simple things!  What about you….what makes YOU happy?

We talked it over with our children and as a family we decided that we wanted to be that “safe home” where kids would be able to stay until they found their “forever home”.  What a journey this has been!

If I could, I’d include pictures of these kids.  You would fall in love right away!  How could you not?  They are God’s beautiful children.  Unfortunately, for their safety, I can’t even mention their names. 

I wish I could say that I enjoyed the whole experience of fostering children, but I didn’t.  I’m human.  I’m selfish at times.  I liked our family just the way we were.  “Why upset the apple cart?”

We are a therapeutic foster home.  The kids we have had in our home have been high need kids.  The last 6 years have been very stressful.  It’s been a sacrifice.  It’s been an up and down rollercoaster of emotions.   

I will say, with everything in me, it has been worth it!

On Mother’s Day, I was reminded of that again when the little girls who had lived with us the last two years called from their “forever home”, where they moved just 6 months ago, to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day.    That story has an incredible happy ending! 

Not all the children who have lived in our home have had the happy “fairy tale” end to their story.  One little 9-year-old girl had to be removed from our home because she became violent and stabbed our dog in the eye.  Not nice! 

 ALL of the children saw the love of Jesus in action through our family and also our incredible church family who embraced these kids with open arms.  We pray for ALL of them everyday.

It wasn’t all a fairy tale for our kids either.

“Sorry kids, we can’t go there today because we have to be back at 2:00pm to take “Sally Sue” to therapy.” 

We had to move all three of our sons into a bedroom together in the basement for a year so they could get some sleep because one of our darling foster daughters had insomnia and liked to laugh, kick the walls, and slam doors….ALL …NIGHT…..LONG!!!! 

They’ve had their special items stolen or broken. 

They’ve had friends not want to come over anymore because “There are strange kids at your house”. 

Through it all though, our kids have been incredible.  They haven’t been loving 24/7….they aren’t super human!  They HAVE been amazing big brothers and friends to these kids and have shown them understanding that goes way beyond their years.

I think my boys have learned that we are pretty good (not perfect) parents. 

When you are kids, and you witness other kids coming into your home in the condition that these kids enter your home…it can’t help but change you and make you aware of how blessed you are.

Stepping out of our comfort zone isn’t always easy but it causes us to grow.  In the last 6 years, we grown as a family.  We’ve done ministry as a family, right in our own home.  I can’t even imagine what our home would be like right now if we’d had the “us four and no more” attitude that society seems to promote.

We are taking a break from fostering now.   “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1.  

What’s next?  I don’t know.  I’m feeling pretty comfortable right now though…must be almost time to step out of that comfort zone again!

Share with me a time when you stepped out of your comfort zone and how it has made you grow.

With the support of my husband of almost 20 years, I’ve been a work at home mom for over 18 years now.  The last 11 years, I’ve also been a homeschool mom to my 3 incredible sons.  So you could say, I don’t get out much.  That’s okay.  I like it that way. 

 It’s not that I’m anti-social.  I actually love people!  I’m a hairstylist, by trade and operate a salon in my home, so in fact, I’m always socializing. 

My mornings are filled with homeschool and chores.  Most afternoons and a couple evenings with work in the salon.  It’s a busy life but I really wouldn’t have it any other way.  It’s a lifestyle we’ve chosen for our own personal reasons.  It’s a lifestyle that keeps me home.

At the hub of our home is Christ.  He’s what makes it all work!  It doesn’t work perfectly all the time but it does work!