I recently found an old journal of mine.  It is dated from April 01 thru the end of '03. In it I had created an outline of "my ideal home place."  I was dreaming big back then.  We were living in a 3 bdrm/1.5 bth townhouse in Va.  I knew that we were moving and that it was going to be a major life change for us w/no place or job at the new place and began preparing for it.  First, I borrowed books on moving out of state.  Then I started looking at books on the Amish life again ~ I really do enjoy the simplicity of their lifestyle and some of their awesome recipes ~ and started noticing that I wanted to finally realize my dream of owning my own home.  I also began reading any book I could find on country living, farm life and then I found books on "homesteading."  Now, mind you I had not considered being one, just wanted a country farmhouse to call my own and wanted to know how to take care of one.

Back to this journal entry, on the reverse side of this entry are the words "I am a homesteader".  I found this journal entry last night, just after creating this blog and then I found this added entry this afternoon while I was prayerful looking thru the journal.  Oh, this was the best thing to happen to me in a long while.  I was immediately sent back in time to the day I wrote this entry as well as to memories of other entries (in another journal) that I wrote regarding my heart's desire along w/God's answer.  It was refreshing and humbling to realize that God hadn't forgotten me and He knew how much this meant to me, though I had forgotten.  I know that the timing on finding these is His doing and I will walk by faith to see His plan for me come to life.  I also know that I need to make some adjustments in my thinking.

You see, when these entries were made, I was made aware that we were to relocate to OK and I was excited about the wonderful changes.  My dh and I had also decided that I would quit working and homeschool our 3 children (My oldest was not living w/us at the time either ~ another story w/a happy ending).  So, alot of these plans were made w/one foot in hope another in reality ~ the one where there is no $ and you are going to move somewhere where you know no one ~ but you dream big anyway.  This journal also holds my first homeschool notes along w/entries from my teaching days at our church school.  It was a pleasant walk down memory lane.  Dream big, I did, but somewhere along the way, I stopped.  There have been no big dreams in almost 3 yrs and I am in need of something to look forward to in 2006, so the Lord's timing is incredible, as usual.

I have located a pic that looks similar to the farmhouse of my dreams along w/some front porch furniture and the barn.  I will be adding them to my sidebar too, so as to continually remind myself of my dreams and God's promise.  I will add scripture references and more pics as I collect them of anything and everything I would like for my home.  It will be a home of simple elegance, where the door is always open, so remember to stop by when you are in our neck of the woods.  That is when we get there. LOL

Here is my ideal house plan and pic.   Enjoy.  Feel free to make suggests, recommendations and even if you find or know of one for sale ~ don't forget me, I'll be counting on you to pray for and w/me and looking out for my homestead even if I have to move to get to it.  Thanks for taking the time to read this and for your prayers.  May God richly bless you and yours as you stand in the gap for me.

Our future farmhouse

~ quiet ~ w/i 30 - 45 min of civilization ~ 4/5 bdrms

~ 2.5/3 bths ~ large eat-in kitchen ~ familyroom

~ large front porch ~ fenced back yard

~ garden w/flowers & vegetables ~ pond or lake

~ lots of trees - couple of fruit ones too ~ office/study

~ sewing area ~ a barn ~ windows in every room

~ basement/attic ~ large yard/lots of land

~ mountain view from back

(*this is the original plan thats now under modification  )