This weeks “dream” challenge was to “Find a God-sized dream story that inspires you and share it with us”

Well this is an easy post to write because I have some amazing dreamers in my own “backyard” if you will!

Both of my parents are in the medical field – in fact they both went to the same college and graduated as RN’s.  For a long time my dad worked in a more administrative job and wasn’t seeing/helping patients as he had wanted. So when I was a teenager he made the scary decision to go back to school to become a Physician’s Assistant (PA).

And the college was in a neighboring state – so both he and my mom had to make sacrifices. But she supported him so that he could “chase” his dream! It was pretty awesome seeing him graduate and get a job doing what he loved – helping others!

For many years while my siblings and I were growing up my mom didn’t work much – well let me rephrase that – she worked hard for our family at home but didn’t work much out of the home! 🙂 And I remember that she was always there after school when we came home.

But when we were all out of the house and on our own she got an opportunity to teach nursing classes for a local University. After she started, the University changed their “rules” a bit and required that all teachers have a Masters degree.

So when my mom was in her “29’s” 😉 (right mom?!) she went back to college and got her Masters!! When I think about people chasing their dreams I think about my parents. It didn’t matter their ages, they recognized there would be sacrifices…and they knew it wasn’t going to be easy – but they just did it!!

In 2009 they stumbled across what would become another dream….

They were traveling in MN and got “lost”. They stopped at a diner to eat and they saw this advertisement for something called Kids Against Hunger. It was an organization that was using volunteers to package food to be sent to starving children.

My dad has a huge heart for missions. He has been all over the world of various mission trips and has even taken my oldest son with him to Haiti twice. He has seen first hand the devastation that hunger causes and knew that they needed to do something.

So they took some of their own retirement money and started a satellite KAH site in Sioux Falls, SD!!

From August 2009 through August 2012 the Sioux Falls site has packaged over 2 MILLION meals! Meals that have been shipped to Haiti and meals that have been given to the local backpack program for kids in the school system.

Talk about taking a seed, planting it, praying for growth and seeing major return! And what is so awesome about all of this is that my parents have not “profited” from the success of KAH. They don’t get a salary or get to keep a portion of the donations for themselves. All donations go to paying for the different products that go into the making of the meals.

And it is making a difference in the lives of children.

Proud isn’t a big enough word really – but I am constantly inspired to do more, to give more – without the expectation of gain in return, because I have watched my parents be that example…these can be my “lessons” as I follow my own God-sized dreams.

Sometimes I get depressed and feel like things aren’t going fast enough….but in going through this process of reflection I am encouraged that sometimes the “dream” doesn’t happen on our schedule…but the wait is worth it!!

I am learning that I need to say “yes” to some smaller things now in this journey, this dream of mine….as I work towards the bigger goal of becoming a writer. Be that in print – or just here as someone who encourages in their own little part of the www.

I can’t expect to move forward if I am not taking some action.

But sometimes this dream can become another part of my life that feels overwhelming. Another thing that pulls me from my primary responsibilities as a wife and a mother.

And at times if feels like those areas in my life need the most “work” – especially if I want to be living out what I am “preaching” here!

So I am trying to say “yes” to those things that are most important – recognizing that by having a right focus….it will only lead me to become better at those very things that I want for this space.  If I can be a light in my own home – then sharing my experiences here, so as to encourage others, will not seem like “work”, or overwhelming…but instead as an extended blessing to all that God has given me to do.

There are a couple of things that I am doing to try and stay on track….

First I have joined the Hello Mornings Bible Study. If you haven’t ever heard of HM – click on the link and check it out. We are doing a study on Hope right now. So each morning I start my day with reading and discussing a different portion of Scripture focused on the Hope we have in God!

I also am trying to spend any free time I have reading good books – I just finished “Beyond Ordinary” (that I won in a giveaway)…and it is a book about taking your marriage from ordinary to extraordinary! Good stuff….and for me a better focus than say watching TV.

And finally (and the thing I still need help with) is I am praying about finding an accountability partner. Someone that I can be in contact with…who will ask me how I am doing in my roles as a wife and a mother…and someone that understands my dream for this space as well!

I would love to say that the road to my bigger dream is easy, or fast….

But what I am finding is that as long as I am willing to say “yes” to those little, but important things, along the way….the journey is becoming more important than the final destination!

And that my friends is pretty awesome!

Wow – I was blown away at all the wonderful comments, and amazing dreams shared by so many in this giveaway post. I wish that I was able to send each of you Holley’s book. Unfortunately I was only able to pick our 13 winners – and here they are. Drawn randomly and in no particular order….

Kate, Erin, Jess, Amber, Courtney, Kelley, Elizabeth May, Regan, Karissa, Stephanie, Amanda, Jessica and Lisa L!

Congrats ladies – you all should have received an e-mail from me tonight asking for your mailing address.

Thank you again to everyone who entered…I prayed over each of your God-sized dreams and would love to hear when they blossom and grow!

Linking up with Lisa Jo again this week to participate in Five Minute Friday. I love this because it is just a commitment of five minutes of unedited writing….we can all do that can’t we?? So if you haven’t started this series yet…today’s the day!

Today’s word is BELOVED – ready, set go –

I will be honest – I almost didn’t post this morning. It was a rough night with our sick little girl and I didn’t sleep much.

When I finally got up I was feeling a little crabby….well a lot crabby! 😉

But i started thinking about the word Beloved for today and what it means….

And I think that my night, laying next to my only daughter while she tossed and turned, coughed and cried, envelops what being beloved is.

My girl is dearly loved…and sometimes as parents we have to show them that love in sacrificial ways.  Even if it means we are tired and crabby in the morning! But she is worth it….they all are!

So while I am weary this morning, I know that she was taken care of.

And I know that God loves me in that same sacrificial way….at times I am sure He grows weary of my tossing and turning about….but He is right there by my side, through the dark….always reminding me that I am His.

Beloved.