Dare to Dream!

If you have ever been to my blog, you probably notice something different with this post...Green...I do have a reason for the change for this post...I am participating in The TpT Seller Challenge & this week's challenge is DARE TO DREAM...here are the directions...

I do have many dreams for TpT...many are tied directly to my Mission Statement, which my last post dealt with...I want to ...develop & maintain meaningful relationships; ...inspire; ...make a positive difference....& I do have dreams of it paying for my font/clipart addictions & for it to pay for going to TpT conferences...these are dreams {& I guess you could say big dreams since I have made under $25 so far}...as well as helping our family out of financially challenging times....BUT...it says DREAM BIG!!!...so I know what is so STRONGLY on my heart...& I know it sounds like a Miss America Pageant answer...but here are some past blog posts to show some of my journey up to this place...THIS is why today's blog post is green...my older posts are in the original red...this is from 2 years ago after the 2nd Teacher Blogger Get Together in Vegas....

Have you ever had a time that you felt God was really trying to tell you something?? Not just subtly, but, Wham!..Are You Listening?...now it wasn't an audible voice, but boy, did it hit me....and believe it or not it was RIGHT IN THE BLOGGER MEET UP!!!!

Let me explain...

Several years ago I began to have a special place in my heart for the needs for orphans throughout the world...this is a portion of our family's Christmas letter that I posted here on my blog December 28, 2011...

 a month earlier I had posted this as part of a 'Thankful Linky' that included 3 blogs you are most thankful for and this was my #2 blog...

then I had a post '11 Positives Added in 11' {11++11} and this was #6...

before this and since then I've had several situations related to orphan care and/or adoption 'fall into my lap'..I even have a board on Pinterest about orphan care but...over the last few months I have been kind of discouraged...feeling no direction in this area...nothing planned for this year's Orphan Sunday {the 1st Sunday in November} at our church...not sure if I should try to get something going.. had doubts this was an area of my life that I could make a difference ...just Monday I was literally thinking that I was just going to let it go...let the embers of this passion just cool off and go out...then I go to:

if you were there you know that there were a TON of raffle prizes I think 99% were DIRECTLY teacher related; TpT certificates (they sponsored the Meet-Up) teacher books, classroom materials, discounts to conferences, etc., but there was one that was different from the rest, Leigh Ann from:

 it was necklace she had donated to help support a teacher at her school who was adopting a girl from China...who's name was called from the raffle bag...yep:

This is a link to their blog about their adoption journey {above}

So...today I pulled out my Show Hope shirt and have been praying since I got the necklace..."I hear you Lord, I WILL NOT let my passion for the orphans burn out...WHAT do you want me to do?"
After last year's conference this was part of a blog post I did regarding Deanna Jump {click here to read the rest of this post}       Last year I had the privilege of meeting her {Deanna Jump} and this year when I spoke to her I asked if she was familiar with Casting Crown's song Dream for You.  She was, but said she would have to go back & listen to it again to see herself in the song...boy did God have an amazing dream for her!! Consider letting God dream for you as well!! Here is the video which has been echoing in my head...
So...here is MY BIG DREAM {Praying God is Dreaming for me too!}

I desire to help with Orphan Care both in Guatemala at Village of Hope & in China at Maria's Big House of Hope~& maybe someday to visit & minister in either or both of these places {I have already committed to 5% of all profits to go to Orphan Care}...so there is my BIG DREAM! May He give you what your heart desires & fulfill your whole purpose. ~Psalm 20:4