June 2010 - Turning Points

June 2010 - Turning Points

In the true style of our family, Thomas and I decided to chase our dreams. 

We have always wanted land to raise animals and food and room to run or ride. We looked at our mortgage and realized we loved our little Pine Valley house, but it was not where we wanted to be in thirty years when it was finally paid off. If we were going to be able to live in the country and have the house of our dreams, we would have to do something drastic. Our little family was still young enough, that if we moved now, it wouldn't over-traumatize anyone (anymore than living with our family anyways!).


We tossed around ideas for months and Thomas said, "Why don't we get a camper? We can live in it for a while, then when we can afford land we can move the camper there while we build our dream house." I looked at him a little cross-eyed and told him I would think about it. You know me, I don't just jump into things that affect the rest of my life without a little thought at least! Such as moving across country to a strange city to live with people I hadn't known in 12 years.

We put our house on the market, knowing it was a bad time, but a great location, praying for a buyer. We cleaned and prayed, cleaned and prayed, then prayed some more. Knowing that if we could sell our house, we could afford a camper, pay off some small remaining bills and start saving right away for our dream property. 

We got nothin'. So we prayed some more, cleaned some more and dreamed while we crunched more numbers.

May 2010 - Watering Camels

My mother has a term she calls "watering camels". It refers to faithfulness.

It goes back to the story of Rebekah in the Bible when she was waiting for her groom Isaac. She knew God had something great for her, but her job was to water the camels. 

For those of you who have ever been around a camel, they are not the most pleasant creatures. They stink, they spit and they are definitely not in the phonebook under cleanliness is next to godliness. Doing what God has called us to do, until he tells us to do differently is pure faithfulness. Pleasant, not always. Character building? Always.

I think of my friend Ann Klein. She has been working with Presbyterian Mission in Haiti. Faithfully for over 20 years. Year in year out, she serves. Only with the recent earthquake, have they received support they have worked for years to get. Years of watering camels.


So often I want to do something great. I want to change the world. I believe this will happen. While I wait for God's perfect timing I will continue my calling of watering camels.