I met Robin when I was young. Oh, so young with childless arms and a confidence that was superficial.
We walked through the ups and downs of infertility together, hubby and I all wrapped up in youth ministry. Years passed, I moved away with my young family to another church on the opposite side of the map. We both had swollen bellies at the time…
But Robin is the kind of friend that is good for introverts like me. She never let go.
She is the first person I knew with a “blog” I used to use air quotes then when referring to this strange practice of writing your thoughts for the world to read. It kept us connected.
She kept us connected. (and was the very very first monthly sponsor of the dream we didn’t know we had).
After three boys, Robin dreamed of a little girl. That was ten years ago. She’s tenacious. She never stopped dreaming. She prayed her dream into reality.
This past weekend, I met her daughter, rescued from the vast hole of foster care, pending adoption that will be official in just a few weeks (which is why we aren’t showing her adorable face in this picture):
Robin has taught me a few things in this life (like how to make homemade baby wipes). She’s also taught me that we must never stop dreaming….
- God gives us our dreams
- God changes our dreams so that He will receive the most glory
- With God, our dreams go from crazy to possible
- Not everyone will believe in our dream
- And sometimes dreams happen so quickly, it takes our breath away
- But most times, dreams don’t happen overnight or even in a decade
- But with faith and patience and hard work, they do happen
Keep dreaming. Don’t give up.
What do you dream about?
P.S. My big big dream is to one day have my hubby working from home (helping with Mercy House more), out of corporate America. We don’t know what this looks like, but we dream anyway.
Oh, this is so good.
We have big dreams, my husband and I, and things have seemed less than encouraging for so long… and then, recently, at what seems like the worst time (our oldest son was recently diagnose w/brain cancer), things have started happening, baby steps for sure, but baby steps in the direction that we’ve dreamed and prayed about for years… even a few toddler steps…
We recently watched Facing the Giants again, and that part about the 2 farmers praying for rain, but only 1 farmer prepared his fields… really jumped out at me this time. While we’re dreaming, {praying for rain} we need to be preparing our fields!!
Prayers & (((hugs)))
You know, I started that blog when I thought I was having to give up my dream of a little girl. I gave that dream to God. And in His time he gave it back.
I’m so proud to call you my friend.
It is good to remember that even though we have our dreams, the answer is not always what we expect. We need to accept the answers God provides.
I needed to read this. I have been puzzling over how we decide which big dreams are achievable and which are just fantasy land. Thank you for reminding me that the answer is to take our dreams to God. And I am encouraged by ‘God changes our dreams so that he will receive the most glory.’ Have a blessed weekend.
Thanks for this encouragement today! I struggle with trusting the Lord actually giving me the dreams that I know he has placed in my heart. This reminds me to continue dreaming and pushing on!
I am living my dream. I have longed to be involved in the life of young women for years, since I remember having a hard time finding older women who had time to spend with me as a young woman/mom. It was used to create within my heart the desire to be there. My husband is a faculty member at a Christian college. We have lived on campus for years. I have been involved with the young women on campus in many ways, but have been busy raising and homeschooling my children. This past May my youngest graduated from high school. Both of my children are in college now. And although they still need me, and I am available to them, they are pretty busy which leaves me with more time. This year I was asked to be the Dean of Women here! I am now building in to the lives of a campus full of young women! I am loving it!!! It is a dream come true!!!
My other dream…and I’m not sure if it is God’s dream….but I long to write a book. I’m just not sure how to start or what it will look like.
I am blessed beyond measure!!!
Love your blog!
Grace to you, Kristen!!!
I dream of writing full-time.
God just made my dream of being in full time ministry come true this week {like actually being paid to do what I love!!}…I look forward to dreaming up new things with Him. And, what a lovely story! I love hearing of friendships that stand the test of time!
“With God our dreams go from crazy to possible.” That statement is going in my journal today. Thank you.
I dream of having a home for deaf children in Nepal. I know it sounds absolutly crazy!! But maybe one day God will make it possible
Thank you so much for posting!
I just came across your blog and LOVE IT! As I sit here in my daughters hospital room I find that we have a lot in common, including a heart for pregnant girls and young moms. Reading your posts has been like a breath of fresh air, which I really needed today. Thanks:)
Thank you so much for this post! I needed it right this minute!
i dream of writing more, seeing Jesus one day, children grown up to love God, running in a half marathon one day, and the end of human trafficking.
thank you for dreaming big. LOVE what you are doing with the Mercy House.
blessings and love,
kristin
What a great reminder.. I have stopped dreaming..feeling defeated in my thoughts.. Today I may ponder my dreams again..
Dream #1: To move across the country to Alaska…started doing it twice, both times resulted in the plans being halted due to pregnancies (high risk with both). Obviously, it wasn’t His timing. Still, we wait…
Dream #1: Just realized about a month ago…to adopt domestically. ….which is great since I don’t think I could mentally or physically go through another pregnancy. ….I’m just waiting for the right time to mention this dream to Hubs…because it is a scary thought and the money part of it is soo huge. But, I know it isn’t too big for God. I look at what He does for the Mercy House and I know He takes care of His own plans even tho they can be scary for us and can seem impossible. Will you pray for us??
My dream is to be a full-time photographer and fuller time mom rather than full time employee, part-time photographer, and full time mother. And my other dream is that my husband would find a job that he loves and thrives in in a way that allows him to be “available” when he’s home rather than a job that he doesn’t love that drains him and sucks all his energy so there’s none left when he gets home. I don’t know what that looks like either but I keep dreaming both.
I dreamed of being a Mom for many, many years. When I thought it might not be possible, God blessed me with a little boy. Once I was comfortable with my mothering skills, He decided to really put them to the test. He bestowed triplets upon me. My dream more than came true. And all in God’s good time, not mine.
This is the second time in two consecutive days that the subject of “dreams” has been brought up to me. I think I just realized that I’ve stopped dreaming, because of alot of hard circumstances our family is going through. and we don’t see any way out at this point. Maybe I need to re-evaluate my thinking. Who knows, maybe God is trying to tell me something. Thanks for this post, it kind of hit me in the head, but that might be what I needed.
What a great post! I used to be a child care provider and I was completely passionate about it. Probably too passionate….perhaps to the point of absorption. I wanted to open a Christian preschool or child care center. I prayed about it a lot and felt like it was God’s calling for me. However, in the end, it was dividing my husband and I and that was not something I was willing to sacrifice. Ever since then, I have had trouble finding anything I am that committed or passionate about. I have prayed about it and have tried different things but nothing makes me feel as alive as I did then. I dream about finding another passion or calling where I can serve while maintaining balance in my family. Thanks for reminding me to keep pursuing dreams!
Such a great reminder! I love your blog! We too pray for my husband to be home more, at least with a more steady schedule! God Bless!