When I die...

this is one of our favorite spots on the property

We love our home. We love our land. Our kids love it here. They are able to run, play in the creek, ride bikes through the "maze" Daddy cut with the tractor in the pasture, swing way too crazy high on the ginormous tire swing, grow flowers in their own flower gardens, catch lightning bugs. We are so comfortable here. We have annual hoedowns on the land and in our barn (the hay is now out). Hubby keeps threatening to use the barn as it is intended, but the girls and I protest. We MUST save it for get togethers!!

But, when I die I don't want people to say "wow, she had 13 acres!". Really? ! That would absolutely stink. This is what we've always wanted for our family. Finding it took years, but once we drove up the overgrown driveway, purchasing it was smooth sailing. We do believe God had his hand in the entire process. We submitted our crazy, very low (embarrassing) offer, and the owner accepted. Many details worked out in only God fashion.

And so we pray. We pray for clear direction. We see ourselves growing old here. We have plenty of room for our special needs kiddos to stay home forever or to build them a small house in the pasture for semi-independent living. It is a fabulous place to raise our children.

This is where the guilt creeps in. Really, how can we have 13 acres and others have nothing? I mean nothing as in a tiny closet for a house with no running water and a dirt floor. No food. No mommy and daddy. We do feel like God lead us to this place for a very specific reason and are asking for His guidance. Were we lead here to eventually sell and use the profit for orphan ministry? Are we suppose to stay here and physically use the land to further His kingdom? Remember, I said it is a perfect place to raise a family (read...LARGE family). Could this be a place where not only Charlie lives when he's older, but a place that could benefit many people with special needs? Is this the place where we are suppose to build a teen barn for hanging out and Bible studies? I loved that vision- we've already named it the "Back Porch".

What we do know is that we can't keep it, hoard it, and do nothing. And so we continue to pray for God to reveal to us His mighty plans for Westbend (that's what I've always called our land- hubby thinks I'm nuts!).

In Him,

E