Our Home...Blessing to be used and shared

We have been doing many things around our home since last winter, new roof, windows, paint, deck...A couple of other things as well. It all started over 20 years ago when we purchased our home..We needed a new roof...It didn't happen, no money for a new roof, but that did not change the fact that we really needed a new roof...So we did the only thing we knew to do - - we prayed and continued to pray that God would keep our roof from leaking, keep the tresses from dry rot. We are a blessed family. No leaks, no cracks, no water damage at all.

Fast forward to October 2004. My husband decided to attempt a re-fi...we would cash out our equity, which we knew would be plenty since the value of our home has tripled and the housing prices in our area are high. So, while I was dealing with other issues, he did the paper work and managed to get a great deal on our re-fi. We cashed out enough for a new roof, new windows, paint and a few other odds and ends of things. Boy what a difference!!! Realizing we would not be able to stretch the money far enough to get a sliding door and deck put on our home we made some adjustments, still knowing and feeling very blessed.

In April we received an inheritance check, which we had been expecting but did not expect it until much later in the year. So...we decided to go for it and have the sliding door and deck put on the house- - with a bonus!!! Realizing that money doesn't just float around and that we might not be able to get back to this project financially, we decided to go for it and have the deck enlarged.

We have always known we are a blessed family, today we are feeling far more than blessed. God has given us a home that we have shared with many people throughout the years, from simple evenings of a game or cards to a young man who lived with us for almost 9 months during a difficult time for his family. We have offered refuge to more than one person, from a young mom who was hiding from the man who repeatedly beat her, to those seeking answers as to why we are so "different" (faith is interpreted in so many various ways!!!).

We have offered our very meager home to any and all with a variety of needs, we will continue to offer our home, our love, our understanding, our listening ears, caring hearts and our faith, the only difference is now as people come to our home they will enter a tan colored home with a solid roof, windows that are not cracked, doors that are weather sealed, and a beautiful back yard.

We thank our Father for blessing us as he has, loaning this home to us to use for His benefit...and prayfully we have and will continue bless Him as well.