25 Years with the man that has my heart !!!

I can't believe we have been married 25 years! It all started 24 years ago, at the age of 17, praying for a little excitement in my life. It was my senior year of high school... tired of school and just living a mundane life, I one day asked God to please put a little excitement into my life. Be careful what you pray for...you just might get it! Within a few weeks I committed to go on a short term mission trip to England and Scotland. A month later God begin softening my heart towards my now husband ....who was leading a singles Bible study at my parents home and doing some remodeling for them. It didn't take long for God to do a mighty work on both our hearts...despite our age difference of 9 years...we fell in love and began courting. Two months later we became engaged. A few weeks later I graduated. Three weeks later I left for Scotland...that was the longest trip but God did a mighty work in me.Two months later I returned home and five weeks later I became Mrs. Kelley Holcombe Jr. :

April we officially began courting... May 1984 I became engaged to the man of my dreams...Early June I graduated from high school...Late June I left for Scotland,not to return home until August...August I return home....September 15, on my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary, I married my dear sweet husband. It's amazing what 6 months and 1 small prayer does to change one's life. God is always faithful, He goes above and beyond all our hopes and dreams.

Twenty-five years, 9 kids, many many moves(5 states), tears of laughter (yes I cry when I laugh), tears of sorrow....we remain committed to the One who brought us together and to each other. I can't say it has always been easy...but we have always tried to laugh through some of the most stressful and even the most happiest times of our marriage.

Our most memorable anniversaries have been the ones we were so broke we split a whopper or the one where Kelley had to go out of town because of a hurricane. Some would see these times as too much to take...but we took those times and made lemonade!

Our biggest challenge has always been finding quiet alone time together...nine kids may have something to do with that! Sometimes going to the grocery store is all we can manage...we like to meet at the milk counter! Our older kids have been very gracious to watch the younger ones for us when we can manage a real date night. They have even been known to offer to watch the kids if we wanted to go out. What a blessing each of them are! The best gift we could ever give our children is for us to love each other and nurture our relationship.

Well the thought has crossed my mind to ask God once again for excitement... not that I'm bored...maybe I should just be content. However I know from a perfect experience that when God does something exciting He really goes all out! I would hate to miss an all out God experience!

To the man who has my heart.....

Kelley you have gone above all my hopes and dreams in what I wanted in a husband. You have given me love when I really didn't deserve it. You have given me courage when I was so afraid I couldn't see the way...You have helped me to trust in what my eyes could not see. You have filled my life with laughter, love, trust, children(he!he!), and above all you have helped me to follow Jesus! What a patient man you are. Words cannot express my love and gratitude that I have for you. God knows me so well and He knew what I needed when He made you. Thanks for waiting for me(to grow up). I can't wait to experience the next 25 years with you...who knows?...It may start off just as exciting as the first 25 years! As long as you always hold my hand....I will be the happiest woman!

I love you....and YES I would marry you all over again!

Karen

Guess who?

Guess who I was able to meet? I have never really had an idol but I guess you would say these two handsome men are the sons of a lady that I would truly love to meet. That's right Jammie and Bobby Deen! Let's just say they are just as sweet as they are cute. Our plans to go to Savannah to eat at their restaurant were cancelled ,so my dear sweet husband surprised me by taking me to their book signing. I really liked the fact that we know someone who knew them. Becky who works with my husband went to school with Paula and they were on the cheer squad together. I am hoping she can one day introduce me to Paula. And a little bird(Bobby) told me he had a crush on Becky when he was younger. Paula if you are reading this... you have raised two fine young men and thanks to my hubby I was able to meet them.

Please go to this site and vote for The Clow Communicator!

By Relationships

Please go to Divine Caroline and vote for The Clow Communicator. My sister and her husband...along with all 4 kids are set to leave for Honduras after the first of the year.They are missionaries with MTW and will be joining a team already there. This will be a big change for their family as they embark on this new journey to help the beautiful people of Honduras.
Thanks so much,
Karen( AKA-The favorite Aunt)

God's Protection!

This is a copy of the post I have on our Great Big Family Project blog.


God's protection!

Thursday afternoon around 6:30 I received a phone call from the Sheriffs Department. The officer proceeded to ask if I had a daughter named Sarah and her back pack had been found at a near by park. The contents had been strewn all over: Her bible,journal,day planner,pens and pencils. My first question was if her cell phone was in it? Thankfully NO was her answer...or so I thought.

I have always stressed to my kids...especially the girls... stay in groups when going anywhere if possible. So to think something bad had happened was out of the question.I hung up the phone with dispatch and headed up to the park to retrieve Sarah's pack. I am calling her cell all the while. After many repeated attempts of reaching her I was beginning to listen to Satan's negative thoughts being sent my way. Why can't I simply keep my eyes on Jesus? When I do, I am so much more at peace.

Arriving at the park I saw a car similar to hers...more negative thoughts! Praise God it wasn't! As I pulled up next to the officer my mind was already exhausted, my husband had been out of town all week,I don't sleep well when he's gone.

I approached the officer with apprehension and really not sure what I should do. I am still trying to reach Sarah only getting a voicemail instead. It had been 4:30 since I last saw her. Thursday's she goes to a Bible study for college and career kids...that was where she was suppose to be! After about what seemed like several hours...only 15 minutes...I began calling my son who was in Florida...After leaving him a voice mail of urgency, he returned to my frantic voice. He attends the same study and would know someone's number! He hung up and a few moments later called me back... she WAS at Bible study and would call me.

While waiting and trying to physically speak to my daughter...for peace of mind...the officer is patiently asking questions. Thinking about it now he was concerned too. He wasn't leaving until I spoke with her. How crazy is it for a policeman to find a back pack dumped out and track down the owner. They had to call several other families before they found us! Was he afraid something had happened to her?

After 25 minutes and me calling my son back for a number to her friend, I finally heard her sweet voice. Music to my ears! She didn't have a signal...thanks VERIZON! The pack had been left there on Wednesday...she had been there with a few friends. This absent minded daughter of mine caused her mom to just about have a nervous breakdown.

Our world is not what it use to be. Praise God the outcome turned out so much better than it could have been. So many families live the nightmare I did, but theirs never ends.Just this week a local woman was snatched while walking on a rural road. Just because you live away from the big city, don't think for one moment you are immune from crime.

Have you seen the movie "Taken"? Our girls are so naive. I have got to educate my daughters! I have really been thinking lately, why has God given me seven daughters? My boys are just as important and I love them dearly...they are just easier to raise in some ways. At times raising girls can be so much more intense. I'm very thankful the boys are around for extra eyes to watch them. We live in a fallen world full of evil. At times I have joked about moving to a deserted island somewhere...maybe I should consider it!

New post!

After many months I finally have a new post on my Great big family blog.
There is a link in my right hand side bar...check it out!

Busy Busy Summer!!!!!

I think I need a vacation from our vacation home...I'm not joking! We spent Father's Day weekend at the Lake House as our first official weekend in the "finished house".Is it really ever finished? We have been working inside and out to make this house a place to retreat. Ever since Father's Day Kelley has... screened in the porch...hung window blinds... put in two water filters... layed down walkway tiles...hung towel racks... climbed a tree to put the hangers in for the swings... climbed onto the roof to trim the trees...installed a repeater in hopes we could get a cell phone signal.The repeater doesn't do much in strengthening the signal! We have had Emily's 21st Bday and Evelyn's 70th Bday parties there. All in all this has been a very busy summer with no time to really relax...and the summer isn't over! I am not complaining...it has been a great summer so far! The best part has been working along side my hubby doing all the projects on the house. Our next plan is to build a water slide that runs into the lake.I see it in my head...now to just make it work on land. I guess we will always have projects to do to make this a more fun place to be.

Fathers Day 2009

We managed to have all 10 kids...I'm including Eric in the count... up to the lake this Fathers Day weekend. We spent 3 official days in our finished house...56 days from start to finish is totally awesome! We had a nice weekend moving in a few things and just enjoying our kids on that huge porch! I can't wait to do some landscaping and get the screen up on the porch. Little by little we hope to make improvements to this little retreat bungalow of ours.