Anniversary week...26 years and counting!

This past week my husband and I went away to spend some alone time at our little piece of heaven. Three summers ago we began building our home away from home. This week was actually the very first time we have spent any time alone there....and it was so peaceful! I do enjoy spending time with our children at the lake. But this week was a refreshment to my soul!

This past year has been non-stop on the go events. In fact I can't even remember the last time I went away with my hubby. Something that is very necessary...especially living in a home with 9 kids.  Much like other needs...We often put our marriage on the back burner when in fact it should be front and center. Just like anything else....You will get back what you invest....that includes any relationship you may have.

Finding time to get away can be a difficult task. Time, money,help with the kiddos...a major obstacle in itself. Thanks mom!

We had a great time away. I believe I would have been content to just sit on the porch and enjoy the beautiful weather...along with the peace and quiet. We spent our anniversary seeing an early movie and dinner at a new Chinese restaurant we discovered last time we were at the lake. Day two we drove to a town 2 hours away to do a little family history research. My husbands family has Lucy Holcombe Pickens...Queen of the confederacy...in their lineage. We found the cemetery where she was buried and spoke with the town historians. As my hubby spent time looking at the family archives...I had some time to shop and enjoy just wondering around this small country town... Edgefield S.C....  http://www.edgefieldsc.net/  Friday we relaxed on the porch until our evening night out at the Abbeville Opera House. Abbeville Opera House We have wanted to see a play there ever since we discovered this sweet little town. I think we were the youngest kids there! But we really enjoyed it!

All in all we had a great time and we received our second wind so that we could come home to our sweet little family...whom we missed very much! Who needs a very expensive vacation when you can have peace and quiet on a screen porch down by a little lake in Iva,S.C.?  And the alone time with the man I have had the privilege of growing old with for 26 years....Priceless!

An answer to prayer...and almost hugging the insurance adjuster!

Our house is at the age where everything...I mean EVERYTHING... seems to be in need of replacement or repair. With a large family some of those things just have to get put on the back burner...bottom of the honey to do list! Because of so many people in our home... some things just have to be replaced more often...unlike the home's of a smaller family!


Georgia is known to have some pretty good wind and rain storms with an occasional tornado and hail to go along with it. It was after one of those storms that we lost a lot few of our shingles.Not thinking this could be an insurance claim... we just assumed it was the age of the roof and it needed to be replaced.That was until I started noticing many homes in our area reroofing their homes...some were only a few years old!

Reluctantly I called a few roofers for estimates. They did tell me our roof was in bad shape...like I didn't already know that! But they gave me some good advice and I made the anxious call to my Wonderful Insurance agent. A week later an adjuster showed up at our home and did the initial inspection...inside and out. All they wanted to do was pay for all inside damages...water spots...and one slope of the house roof and one slope of the garage roof. As instructed I requested a second inspection and a meeting with my Wonderful roofer. Another week and another inspection....Thank you God...approval for the whole roof to be replaced. I was so excited I almost hugged the insurance adjuster!

Today our new roof is gracing our home! I can't tell you the load that has been lifted from my shoulders...a load I should not have carried in the first place. You see..I have a trust problem. I do this all the time! I lay my burdens at God's feet...but then I pick them up again! What's up with that? Why can't I realize He has my best interest close to His Heart? As I asked Him for the funds to replace the roof months ago....He heard me!
Sometimes I feel so helpless when things are beyond my control. You know? That's where God wants me...out of the control seat! His will...His timing. Had He not allowed for the funds to reroof...I would still praise Him and I would continue to make my request known...I would wait! His will ...His timing!

We all love to see answers to our prayers. Sometimes God answers them in ways we never thought of. Sometimes the answers come instantly...sometimes days,months or even years later! And when He answers in a way that we don't like...trust is the only answer. Trust that He knows us best...He knows our future!

Philippians 4:6 (New International Version)

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Keep the faith...NEVER give up hope!

Praying for Olivia...Day 54

I know I haven't updated in a while. So here is an update from Olivia's mom below. After the transplant Olivia has had many ups and downs...additional surgeries(a stent)...tons of prayers...and  a faith that continues to hold on the the hem of the Father. Please continue to hold this sweet family in your prayers.



Hi guys


I know it has been a few days since I have updated. I have just been tired. I think that the light of maybe going home has made my body want to go home. Anyway, every day I send a few more things home in hopes that we will all be home soon.

Unfortunately Olivia's body has to cooperate with us too. Her bilirubin went up yesterday and she did not have a great day in feeling well but, I can tell she is stronger because she was fighting it all day. She played Scrabble with the Respiratory Therapist, Tennis with the Phyisical Therapist, Scattergories with the Volunteer, made bead lanyards for the nurses and overall just entertained all day. She was her old self in a way where she was fighting the sickness so she could do what she wanted not what her body wanted her to do. She was wiped out at bedtime and so was I. She had a fairly restful night.

Her stent is leaking a bit, her numbers are changing a bit but they are still talking going home. Dean is a little unsure about us going home but me, I am so ready that I will be nmore than happy to rush back here if I can just have a night or two in my own bed. I'm just saying :)

Good news on the prayer front for some. It seems baby Claire (she has the heart problem and surgery and is an infant) has come through things beautifully and her heart is actually doing well now. They still need her to eat and that is a problem...but her heart is good! Hooray! Like I tell other people, we are finally past the life and death stuff,...so it's still the dangerous stuff but you can deal with that. Life and death, not so much.

Other babies in need of prayer is little Chloe along with Sawyer and I think I remember the name correctly Gheri.....but God knows.

Have a most blessed day. We are starting the count down here. We are on day 54 since this admission which is actully shorter than her first transplant, woohoo...we were 3 months on that one...and we are headed for some recovery. We may not be moving "up" as the Doctors say, but we for sure are not moving back. Yeah. Go God. Go "Friends of Olivia" that have been forever faithful. You will never know the blessing you have been to us, the witness you have been to us and others and the encouragement that our family needed you were quick to provide.
Love you all Blessings

In His Grip, Forever

Barb

Our Journey to 26 years...my journey to prince charming!

What you see above is 26 years of  Love, Laughter and Faith.

As a young girl I always dreamed of the day I would meet my prince charming. I remember hearing my mom encourage her daughters to pray for their future spouses...we were only 6, 10 and 13. But how important those prayers of her young daughters would be. Little did I know just five years later I would meet my prince charming. My journey to meet him was filled with five years of  wondering who he might be. Always asking God...Is this the one?  Sometimes not asking or listening...taking the chance of missing out on my blessing.

At the age of 17 my family left the church I had known, a youth group that included my only friends and a relationship with someone who I thought was that prince charming. Not realising it...but God was moving me towards my prince charming...the one He chose for me! As painful as the journey was... I had to learn to trust God in what I thought was a terrible choice my parents had made. We began attending Calvary Chapel Atlanta... forty- five minutes away from home. OK God...How can I have friends if they are so far away? I loved my youth group at my other church! As we adjusted to our new church...it took me a while...but my heart began to change.

I remember when I first saw my prince charming. We had stayed after church for a time of fellowship and volleyball. As I watched this game...feeling like a foreigner in a place with strange people...there was this one guy who caught my eye. I remember thinking...he's so friendly and loves making others laugh. Very different from little ole me...shy and very reserved. Besides he's way older than me! Where are the young people my age? I want my friends back! I want my old youth group! I hate change!

My family continued to attend this new fellowship with great teaching and strange people. For those who have ever attended a Calvary Chapel you will know what I'm talking about. I went from wearing dresses and heels to jeans and flip flops. A casual atmosphere filled with people who loved God's word.  Many of those we fellowshipped with had weekly bible studies in their homes....no mid week service. My sister asked me to go with her to this one on Thursday nights near our home...and that bible study continues even today. I reluctantly went...I'm still getting use to this new church. Very non traditional from what I had been a part of. So... dragging my feet I went. Guess who was leading this bible study? You guessed it...that volley ball playing funny guy...my prince charming! I'm still not seeing God's hand in all this...I so see it now!

Before long this volleyball playing...bible study teaching guy was gracing our doorstep with his presence. I bet you thought it was to see me? No...to start another bible study for college age kids and to build an addition onto our house. Yes...God is so good! He works all things out for our good!

During all this...I'm still in High School.  My senior year I'm trying to finish up school and God is at work trying to bring together two people. I remember thinking as I  prayed one day...God please bring some excitement into my life! I have know idea what your plans are for my life...but you know the desires of my heart! Be careful what you pray for!

The next few months were a blur. I had school to finish...a June mission trip to Scotland came into the picture January 1984...and February 1984 God began to speak to my heart. I knew God was doing something. I remember mentioning it to my mom...not knowing prince charming was having his heart tugged at the same time. I had given up on dating and decided to wait on the Lord to bring him to me. Over the past few months we...I ...had gotten to know this volleyball playing...bible study teaching and now builder. He was now at our house many days during the week building our addition. God your so sneaky! One Sunday morning during worship I noticed prince charming  leave. Thinking something was wrong...my heart hurt for him. Later I would find out he was so overjoyed in the Lord that he had to leave to spend some quiet time with the Lord. That is where God would speak so very loudly to him. That same afternoon I had a meeting at church and wouldn't be home until late. I came home to find ...Mr. Prince Charming at my house. What I thought was him spending time talking to my dad about nothing much...was a life changing event about to happen.

Without anyone realising it God had been speaking to our hearts all at the same time. The conversation with my dad was about me! I think it caught us all by surprise...but all in God's plan. You see... in the world's eyes he was too old for me...nine years older. In the world's eye's I was way too young to be getting married...only eighteen. But God never goes by the world's standards!

One evening while sitting in our living room my prince charming came to call. I lived in a house with two parents and five kids. Never would or could you have a room to yourself! That evening everyone left the room...I had no clue what was about to happen! As I set there reading the news paper my nerves began to shiver...those butterflies began to flutter...my God began to put together a friendship that has grown  for almost 26 years now. There we set all alone in the living room in my parents home. I know he was nervous. This is a man who loves a crowd...but put him one on one and he becomes the quiet shy one. Me... I love one on one...a crowd scares me to death! Opposites attract...we couldn't be more opposite if we tried. But we have grown closer and now at times finish each others sentences. It took him a while but he mustered up the courage to ask me out. I knew...I knew God was in this. All I could say was... You'll have to ask my dad first. And he grinned...Earlier that week...that Sunday the permission had already been given!

The next few months were a whirl wind of events. I worked really hard to finish school and prepare to leave the country for a two month mission trip.  May...right before I graduated... we made our engagement official! Talking about praying for some excitement ! I graduated and we planned  for a September wedding...and I left the country. Leaving all the planning to my family. I returned early August...to my prince charming and a wedding to finish planning. On a beautiful day in September...on my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary...I married that volleyball player,bible study teacher,builder,friend and blessing from the Lord...my prince charming!

 I have now experienced this with my daughter too. Sometimes we get our eye's off of God's plan for our lives. We run and fight against all that we know we should be doing. We make choices that aren't in agreement with God's will for our lives. Our choices do and will effect those that we love. Had I not listened to what God was saying to me...I would have missed out on a huge blessing in my life...my prince charming and our nine children.

I love you Kelley Holcombe! This journey we are on continues to amaze me. I have been praying for you since the age of thirteen. We love because our God continues to be the heart of our friendship and marriage. Thank you for obeying the Lord even when the world said you should not. Growing old with you is what makes my heart smile as I think of the heritage that we will leave. I am so proud to be your wife and mother to our nine children.  As our journey continues...my heart will only grow fonder of the man who makes me happy and continues to encourage me to trust the one who brought us together. As you lead our family...I pray God gives you wisdom and strength to leave a Godly heritage to our children and grandchildren...great grandchildren....Wow! we are going to have a long lasting lineage!

I pray that God gives me the privilege to hold your hand for many many more years!

The Fish Atlanta...View Laura's You Tube video!

Laura"s You Tube video Link  ...click here to go directly to You Tube for the count.
This is our friend's daughter.She would love to be able to sing in the Celebrate Freedom concert in Atlanta. The Fish Atlanta is sponsoring a YouTube video contest. The more views of Laura's video the greater her chance to sing before fans in Atlanta.

Please watch this video on You Tube from start to finish for the viewing to count.

Scroll to the bottom of my blog to disable my music....

Laughing after the Storms...Part five ~ The finale...for now!

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four




Part Five...

For the past eleven years we have lived in our little home on two acres. When we arrived we had six kids and our seventh arriving just one and a half months later. We now have nine sweet blessings and have loved watching them grow up. Our oldest is almost 25 and our youngest just 3 1/2.  We  will continue to weather many more storms...that's just part of life...part of the growing! As I watch my children mature and hopefully when they are ready....leave the nest...I will continue to Trust the one who allows me to walk through these storms and laugh!

We have had many many changes as our children have grown. Four have graduated from the same high school. One graduated from UGA with a degree in Anthropology and has the hope to become an Archaeologist one day...anyone want to hire a great young man? Two who have moved out...one married and one just trying to be more independent...they both are within reach of becoming teachers. One fresh out of high school...in college and trying to figure out where God is taking her on this life journey. Two in high school and three still at home...homeschooling. My husband has had several job promotions over the past 11 years. But all have kept us here...allowing a much needed rest from our many moves...our many storms. We have always felt our lives are in God's hands... we will go wherever and do whatever He calls us to do.  Chances are our next promotion will take us out of state...but maybe not! Only my guide knows!

All I know is... I have to place my heart in such a condition that I will follow Christ even into the storm!
I have seen several storms in my life and  they have at times weathered me tremendously...but I have stood firm on the foundation that rest beneath my feet. I will not be shaken...I will look at the face of fear and doubt...and I will Laugh! I will laugh with my very first blessing...my husband! He is the one who has walked this journey along side me. He has encouraged me when I felt I couldn't take one more step. He has brought joy to my life. We have lived...we have loved...we have laughed...together hand in hand after 26 years.... continuing the journey!

 Trust me...He whispered!


We all have a story to tell...what's yours?
I love to people watch...wondering who they are and what is their story? A few weeks ago while sitting in church...again this thought came to mind...I know I should have been listening! I was...to my maker! As I sat there watching I knew I had a story to tell..a journey of one girls life... trying follow her maker inspite of the bumps in the road. Inspite of what my earthly eyes might see. You may say...your story is nothing! Well to you it may not be...but to someone else it might give the hope they need to continue their journey.  You may say...My story will knock your socks off...well...tell it! There might be someone that needs to hear your story. Someone who's life just might change because of your journey. We live in a day where jobs are hard to find and life seems so out of control. We all need help...we all need guidance. Learning from others experiences can save you a lot of grief. Even give you the hope that one day you too will survive the storm.

Fight the good fight of faith....NEVER give up Hope!

Holding onto my Jesus,
Karen

My husband's cousin pointed out to me today...the road my in-laws lived on ...the house we have been sheltered in many times....New Hope Road !  Hope...Clinging to it daily!

Laughing after the storms...Part Four

Part One

Part Two

Part Three


Part Four...I'm alive!

Evacuations mean NO hotel rooms anywhere!  After calling around we managed to stop in Lake City Florida. We found two rooms at a hotel right off the exit. The one we chose was in the process of remodeling and all the upper floors were without door knobs. And people were staying in them! It was late... we were tired when we unloaded the kids. The two boys in one room with their dad and me in the other with the 4 girls. Baths and ready for bed ...I pulled down the sheets for the kiddos to jump in for a good nights sleep. NOT! There was a huge dry yellow stain right before my eyes. Mind you we haven't been in the room for more than an hour. I call the front desk to request clean sheets...and I waited. And I waited. Moving day and traveling with six kids under the age of 10...no patience! So I walked next door to get some help from my husband. And let's just say all you know what broke loose! My husband  walked down to the front desk to get some fresh sheets. I offered to change them myself ! We ended up being accused of letting our kids wet the bed and then blame the hotel for not changing the linens. After being humiliated in front of other customers we decided to leave...not before calling other hotels a few exits down. Trust me...God whispers. Long story short the hotel did not want to refund our money and we ended up in a battle with the credit card company. The hotel said our child wet the bed and we had a dog with us...A DOG! LOL! Our kids wished! I guess they saw me carry the baby and mistook her for a dog. I can laugh now....I wasn't then. All this in less than two hours...at a time when all I wanted to do was have a place to lay my head.

 The next day... the hurricane missed the area and residents were allowed to return home...us to Motel 6 on Cocoa Beach! New town ...new home...a new chapter. For weeks we looked for houses. Finally finding one on a golf coarse not far from our new church. Sound exciting? Well....we were taking over a lease from the previous renter. Renting for a while is what we decided was best until we got to know the area. The home owners...they were in the middle of a nasty divorce and the house was on the market. It was a beautiful home in a new community. Not many homes were being built and not many selling...we thought we would be ok for a year. We found out after moving in ...the owner still had some things stored there. So what storage space we had ...we shared. Months after moving in... an investigator came looking for the previous renters. I don't like renting! After our year was up we decided it was best to find a different home. We looked at many options and decided to continue renting. Not really feeling we would be here too long. Another year of renting  and  new friendships made. We did a lot of traveling back and forth between Georgia and Florida for many many visits home. Still our hearts longing for home...longing for Georgia.  We saw a lot while living near the space center. Many shuttle launches...exploding rockets...and our daughter getting to meet John Glen. Florida fires and smoke so thick you couldn't see but just a few feet in front of you. And a new gift for our family of 8. Before we knew it my husband took a new job back in Atlanta.This time...no moving expenses. Now I see Lord why we couldn't seem to find a house to buy. We were free to move...no worry with selling our house. The only thing...I'm pregnant and I'm not much help.

Three years in Florida and it's time to say good bye. This chapter closed and a new one to open. We said goodbye to the friends we had made. We were going home! But as before... home would be different. My husband's dad had suddenly passed away while we were in Florida. Friend's kids have grown. All would be different...all would take time to adjust!

My husband's mom came down to help us move. This time our trip consisted of... driving a moving van towing one car and pulling our camper behind the other. Back to Georgia...back to living with my mother in-law while we searched for a home. Once again our life back into storage...but not our friend's basement. We wanted to keep our friends!The end of March to mid July we searched...and searched....and searched. Do you know how hard it is to find a house big enough for 7 kids and two adults? One we could afford with plenty of outdoor space. I wish we had made that list again!

Having grown up in Gwinnett county...we looked there. It was no longer a small community like we had known. Traffic was real busy and people everywhere. So we began to look further out...out to where our kids could run and play...and just be kids.! My husband had a commute that took him into the heart of Atlanta. That commute would limit us as to how far we could be. We ended up finding our current home...one hour commute to his office door. Perfect! The house was empty waiting for our large family to destroy it  lovingly move in. Ready for move in was music to the ears of a very pregnant mom of 6 kids and a son with a broken leg. Yes...a month after we got here our son fell from a homemade zip line and broke his leg in two places. Not a way to start your summer. So he and I sweated it out for the next few months. Waiting...waiting and waiting! I couldn't have been more thrilled to get a move on with getting in our house. Just 1 1/2 months before baby #7 arrived we took possession of our little home on 2 acres. Poor Mr. David next door...he must have thought we were on a field trip when we drove up in our huge van! I guess we did look like a school group!
To be continued...the growing continues! And the laughing!