{God-sized dreams} One small thing at a time

"God gave us the ability to take action because he wants us to freely move forward rather than him forcing our steps. ... God can handle the big. When you start out, it's okay for your part to simply be the small."

{Holley Gerth in The "Do What You Can" Plan}

I surprise myself sometimes with how satisfied I am with my ordinary life. I stay at home {well, you know what I mean ...} with two kids. My season of motherhood changed some when my daughter started kindergarten five months ago and my son started preschool at the same time, which was a year earlier than I had planned to send him. Even on the hard days when the questions are endless and I wish my 3-year-old boy noticed his dirty diapers and cared about the potty, I wouldn't trade this life.

Yes, that surprises me sometimes. This isn't what I planned for myself.

But it's here, in this surprise place of motherhood that I've gotten to know God in a way I hadn't experienced before, realized what I value most, built friendships that have sustained me, and learned big things happen in small moments.

And it's here I've met my God-sized dreams and mission: I believe God has created and called me to communicate stories from my own life and others' lives for families to know God as the author and creator of every detail through writing, promoting and serving. 

The asterisk that goes with my mission statement is I want to serve my family first. I want to be a wife and mother before I'm a writer, creator, and promoter.

Yet, still, while serving my family this week, I've still managed to hear God encourage my dreams and give me opportunities to take small steps when I wasn't changing diapers, packing lunches, making dinner, grocery shopping, going to a doctor's appointment, driving carpool, and running errands. It was in these ordinary moments that I was reminded dreams will get derailed if I don't act -- even in small ways -- now because the time will never be perfect. I can always come up with reasons to wait. But ignoring God's nudges is no way to spend my time.

On that note, I heard Mat Kearney's "Never Be Ready" on the radio this week. See, I'm telling you, God is in the details: We've got our fee on the wire, talking 'bout flying/Maybe we're diving in over our heads/Scared of what I'm feeling/Staring at the ceiling here tonight/Come on lay down these arms, all our best defenses/We're taking our chances here on the run/The fear is an anchor, time is a stranger/Love isn't borrowed, we aren't promised tomorrow/We'll never be ready if we keep waiting/For the perfect time to come/Won't be steady, we'll never be ready {From "Never Be Ready" by Mat Kearney}

Take a listen ..

The Dreams {Updated}

Last week I shared my dreams and what I was doing to work toward them. Just moments after publishing that list, I acted on a couple opportunities to tell a couple of my own stories as guest blog posts on two different websites. I haven't heard if my words were approved, but I still felt the reassurance that God has my storytelling under control, just like he does every other details of my life. 

{The Book}

In the past week, I've also texted with my best friend about the rough draft of my book and emailed my with stranger critique partner, who had fabulous ideas I plan to implement. My mom also gave the concept her stamp of approval. 

{KHT Promotions}

Even though I had already created a Facebook page for my on-the-side business, I shared it with friends last week and had several "likes" and even a couple messages of encouragement. I also began working on a project that involves marketing a vacation lake rental that isn't ours. If you're interested in knowing more about my freelance business or supporting this dream, you can "like" KHT Promotions on Facebook.

How is God moving in your dreams? What steps are you taking to follow him?

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Tuesdays are God-sized Dream days around here and I'm linking this post along with many, many other dreamers on Holley Gerth's blog. You'll find encouragement, truth and community there. Want more? Subscribe to get "Insights" in your inbox. Or follow me on Twitter.

{God-sized Dreams} The Dreams

I've written some abstract posts about dreaming as my mind and heart sorted through the ideas and thoughts. Consider this my attempt to outline those dreams. Holley Gerth's words of prompting and encouragement, for which I'm thankful in this new year, have inspired this process.


The Mission 
I believe God has created and called me to communicate stories from my own life and others' lives for families to know God as the author and creator of every detail through writing, promoting and serving. 

Do you have a mission statement? If not, here is an awesome, practical guide.

The Dreams

1. Pursue publishing a non-fiction motherhood book I've been writing.
2. Continue praying God would lead us to a birthmom for our third adoption. 
3. Build an on-the-side freelance business.

God-sized dreams aren't about size. They're about trusting God as you follow him in what he has for you to do. What do you sense God calling you to do this year?

"(God) gave us the ability to take action because he wants us to freely move forward rather than him forcing our steps. ... God can handle the big. When you start out, it's okay for your part to simply be the small." 

{Holley Gerth  in The "Do What You Can" Plan}

The Next Steps {The Book}
I've taken some steps already. My four best everyday friends have a copies of my rough draft. My friend of 22 years and my mom have their copies too. Three professional journalists -- a dear friend I made as I was leaving the newsroom and she was coming in, the columnist who mentored me just as I was choosing my college and career path, and my hardest yet favorite professor -- have my words in their hands too. And a stranger I connected with through Holley Gerth's Dream Team has it in her inbox.

Sure, I want them to edit it for grammar and sentence structure, but I also want to know what they think about the format and concept. Does it work? And where do I go from here? Do I need more? Should I research self-publishing? Once I start hearing back from them, I'll go from there and see where it takes me.

The Next Steps {Adoption}
We have our home study updated, although it's not going to be valid that much longer. Thankfully, updating it again isn't a big deal. We believe God wants us to expand our family with a third adoption. We have no idea how or when. So we're waiting.

Meanwhile, we'll continue telling people our story, which includes the hope of meeting a birth mom. This is one of those dreams is totally out of my control.

The Next Steps {For Hire}
Most of what I've done promotions wise has been volunteer at this point. Since quitting my job as a newspaper reporter, I've helped a state senate candidate I believed in, written press releases for a local political party and the private school my daughter attends that I hope expands, begun and continued managing and promoting our two vacation rental lake houses, helped friends promote some events, organized three concerts {Shaun Groves and Slugs & Bugs ... twice}, designed wedding programs for relatives and invitations for birthday parties, bridal showers and baby showers for myself and friends, and planned numerous birthday parties and events.

I'd like to channel some of that experience into an on-the-side freelance business that I've named KHT Promotions. I have self-taught graphic design, photography and scrapbooking skills I can incorporate. I love to use social media. Honestly, I'm not sure what the next steps are, but I'm guessing they'll involve promoting my promotions company. I do have a Facebook page that I'll need to be more active on.

But, until then, I leave you with this:

"... Goals aren't ultimatums; they are simply directions. We are in charge of them -- they're not in charge of us. Goals can be changed, adjusted, or dismissed any time. ... Pursing a goal gets us moving, but it's still God who determines our ultimate destination." 

{Holley Gerth in The "Do What You Can" Plan}

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Read more about God-sized dreams at Holley Gerth's blog. Want more? Subscribe to get "Insights" in your inbox. Or follow me on Twitter.