He is our firm foundation

When Joe and I were courting, I distinctly remembering reading this precious children's book to some dear little ones I love....



It spoke about the character of the two builders and ironically the wise builder's name was "Joe." When I turned the last page, there were tears in my eyes. The two little brown eyed children looked up at me puzzled as to why that book could possibly bring me to tears. I knew in my heart God was speaking to me about Joseph Daniel's character, about who he is as a man, and the gift of a husband he would be to me.

Building our house has been symbolic of so much of what God has done and is doing in our family. How he is building the foundation for one of the vehicles on which the "works He prepared in advanced for us to do" will be accomplished.

I have learned so much about the building process and it has been fascinating for the kids and I have the opportunity to watch it first hand. To prep everything for the foundation to be formed took a few weeks. First, the men set forms, then they dug the beams (prevent shifting), placed steel (prevent settling), and run the plumbing (so we can potty).

Before we poured, Joe and the kids searched the scriptures and inscribed them on stones that were placed in our foundation.




We daily surrender it all to Him. Its by His grace we are here and we desire to labor only by His might, for His purposes.



May this house be a house for Your glory.

Settling down

Joe started helping his dad building houses on the weekends and during the summer when he was 14. He first toiled as a construction supervisor at 18. Since that time, he has built hundreds of houses, apartment complexes, churches, restaurants, and some other commercial projects too.

But never has he built his own house.

When Joe looks at any raw piece of land or building, he sees all of its potential in his mind. He is a visionary to the core.

When we decided on a building location, Joe could see the entire thing down to every detail. I, on the other hand, am treading water to keep up with him.

As I was reading my Bible, I came across this exhortation from God through Jeremiah 29, "Build houses and settle down."

Trained in Dallas, tested in Normangee, and commissioned to Austin. We know that this is exactly where we are supposed to be and the knowing has been so sweet.

Yet when we walked near our building site a couple of weeks ago and saw this...



it honestly took my breath away.

The hundreds of houses Joe built flashed before my eyes. Every prayer and ounce of sweat for each home warmed my heart. Every prayer we didn't have enough faith to believe.

All of the air was sucked out of my lungs and left me gasping backwards and choking back tears.

Our prayer for our soon to be pile of rocks and tile roof... to be a home for the family God has given us, a refuge for others and safe haven for ministry each day.

All over a septic system.