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Chris V
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Location: Washington
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| Posted: June 09 2010 at 9:35pm | IP Logged
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My husband and I have fallen madly in love with a little 5 acre slice of heaven. And for the past 6 weeks we've been plotting and scheming our way to figure out how to make it ours. After weeks of prayerful devotion, consideration, and planning, we've decided to buy this piece of land and build a house.
We couldn't be more excited by the idea that we are actually going to do this! But I am feeling completely overwhelmed by what this coming year will bring; my husband and I have decided to build this house ourselves. The time and effort to take on such a project has my head in a spin and it is a constant inner battle to give all my worry to Jesus and not harbour it in my heart.
The terms of our loan provides us 11 months from the time we dig foundation until we move in and set the sofa in the living room.
I am trying to view this upcoming year as a time of great personal growth, grace, and fellowship with close family and friends with whom we will share our sweat, hammer and nails. But I worry about my children - how will this affect their lives? How can I continually ensure that their lives are rich with all that I value for them? I worry about being the best Mom that I can be - though I know the stress I already feel and we've barely begun? I worry about our tight little budget and making sure that every dollar is spent so very wisely. And I worry about keeping my children's learning alive - though I know the opportunity for learning through this project is great.
...I pray that this will be a time of tremendous grace (for me, personally, I pray for kindness, gentleness, and patience with my children because they don't understand permits, inspections, and deadlines), a time of family togetherness, a time we look back on with fondness when I'm rocking to sleep my own grandchildren in the same porch swing that my husband built at this very time now. I pray for my children's well being and happiness.
Can I humbly ask that you pray for my worry?
Perhaps We Pray to the Lord would have been more fitting, rather than Tea and Conversation ... because your prayers would be so appreciated.
In Christ,
__________________
Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
Mama to My Five Girls ('04~'07~'09~'11~'11) 
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guitarnan
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| Posted: June 09 2010 at 9:53pm | IP Logged
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I will pray for you! I grew up in the build-it-yourself family (I learned to glue paneling at 11, nail down a cedar shake roof at 13, etc.). These skills are invaluable, literally. And your children will surprise you - they will want to help (picking up nails is so, so helpful when you're expecting visitors!). They will get the inspection thing, too. (Our cabin plumbing inspection tale is a cherished family story...we still laugh 35 years later...)
Practical suggestions: Bribe your friends to help. Set up a grill and offer food for manpower. (My parents got tons of free help by offering free cabin weekends to family/friends who pounded nails for a weekend.) Trade work for a future project. (This is how we built our deck here...swapping work with a friend.) Let your girls learn to pound nails and allow them to do some of the nailing on the real house. Let them doodle on the wallboard (if you're covering it, not painting it) or on the tar paper. Make most of formal school evening activities like read-alouds and educational games. It will be a year of grace. And the house will hold a special place in their hearts forever.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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SeaStar
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| Posted: June 10 2010 at 6:15am | IP Logged
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I will pray- how exciting!
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Paula in MN
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| Posted: June 10 2010 at 6:44am | IP Logged
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This will be one of the best family experiences you will have. Praying for all of you!
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Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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Carole N.
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Joined: Oct 28 2006
Location: Wales
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| Posted: June 10 2010 at 7:16am | IP Logged
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What a wonderful adventure! I will pray for you and your family during this time.
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Carole ... in Wales
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: June 10 2010 at 7:29am | IP Logged
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Wow, Chris! This is so cool! Your children will learn so much just working alongside you and your husband (and each other). You certainly have my prayers. Keep us posted as things move along!
Peace,
Nancy
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Erin
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Chris
 I will pray, how very exciting! and yet I know the feeling of being overwhelmed. We are currently building our second house ourselves, this time the children are so much help, but I notice your girls are little yet, but then ours where the first time we built. It is a challenge. But you will learn so much and grow together, you and your husband will have such a sense of achievement to know that you did it. Please feel free to ask anything and I will do my best to help.
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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DominaCaeli
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| Posted: June 10 2010 at 10:18am | IP Logged
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Sounds thrilling, Chris!! I'll be keeping you and your family in prayer.
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Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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Mackfam
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| Posted: June 10 2010 at 10:21am | IP Logged
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Chris,
This does sound like an absolutely wonderful adventure! No doubt, you'll be stretched in many ways, but God's grace meets the day!
Have an absolutely wonderful adventure of a year!!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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robinhigh
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| Posted: June 10 2010 at 11:40am | IP Logged
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What a wonderful experience for your whole family!! How exciting! I pray that this will be a joyful time for you and yours.
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Chris V
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Joined: Dec 03 2009
Location: Washington
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| Posted: June 10 2010 at 12:32pm | IP Logged
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Thank you all, so very much! I feel encouraged (yet still nauseous and I'm likely to vomit  ) with all the happenings, and your wonderful words mean so much to my anxious heart.
...we sign on the dotted line in the morning (gulp).
__________________
Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
Mama to My Five Girls ('04~'07~'09~'11~'11)
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mama2many
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| Posted: June 11 2010 at 6:08am | IP Logged
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Big day!!! Strap in, this roller coaster will be quite the ride! 
God Bless!!
__________________
Krystin
wife to Kevin
mama to
M (12/00)
J (12/01)
K (6/06)
J (7/08)
A (7/10)
C (11/12)
My Clones in Action
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Our journey this year
