Cancellation of debts

At the beginning of 2008, Billy and I began the year with about $90,000-$100,000 of debt. We have had debt our entire marriage. This year we began to declare that we would be debt free in 2008, except for our school loans of course.

Early in the year I began to see the number 5 everywhere. I would glance at the clock and it would be 5:55. I got bills in that were $55.55. All.The.Time. Then I read in one of Bill Johnson's books that God revealed to him this was the cancellation of debts. We began to buckle down and pay off everything we could. But we still had the big ones. School, 2 vehicles, a land payment, some small medical bills and credit cards. Then, as most of you know, in April the church paid all $29,000 of our school loans off. This was a turning point in our mentality. What was previously impossible, now seemed more realistic. Next we paid off out credit cards and all other small bills. Then our suburban finally sold. Then as the last few months of the year came and went, so did our debt. The truck, which again seemed like an impossible situation, was sold. The land payment is gone. Medical bills gone. All we owe is a small amount on our van now. We went from being a slave to debt to pretty much debt free.

It really is true that we hold the power of life and death in our tongue. As we continued to declare, "Debt free in 2008" we sat back and was wowed by God's goodness.

Now my faith is increased. I have even bigger things to declare in 2009. What are you declaring for 2009?

"Twas the Night Before Christmas -

It is late, I am waiting for one more little girl to go to sleep so I can put the finishing touches on the Christmas presents. But, while I wait I have thought about how blessed I really am. I have a wonderful husband, 5 beautiful and healthy little girls, my needs are all met, I am beginning a promising career as a writer, I love my church body, I have some of the best friends a girl could want, and Jesus is crazy about me. God is forever exceeding my expectations. Every time I think, "There is no way," or "I don't see how it can work out," God comes through again. You would think I would quit thinking those absurd thoughts. But, as I take inventory of my life I am left with the wonderful assurance that God loves me and He is good. These two statements are what I want to base my life from. If I never believed anything but these two things, life would be good. I know it is early for new year's resolutions, but I already have a few. So here are some things I want for 2009:

*To live everyday from "God is good and He loves me."
*To write something everyday.
*To love more deeply than I ever have.
*To concentrate on the important things and let the fluff fall away.
*To take care of what has been given to me in the most excellent way.
*To let go of all bitterness, pain, wounds, disappointments and unmet expectations.

I am sure there is more. But this is more than enough to keep me busy through at least April.

Well, I am off to finish up. Blaise is finally asleep. I pray that God blows every one of your expectations away with His goodness.

Blaise's Angel -

Last night we were winding down for the night. The three older girls were all asleep. I was feeding Maddie a bottle when Blaise walked into the living room. She has something in her hand, but I couldn't tell what it was. Blaise is getting to the age that she doesn't do crazy dangerous things anymore. She is three now and she is smart, so I don't worry so much anymore. But, last night, she gave me quite a shocker. She came around the couch and told me "Mom, look what I did." I got up and looked and she had stuck a metal key into an outlet in the living room. Now, mind you, it had outlet covers on it. She just stuck it in under it and stuck it right into the outlet. In the outlet that just happens to be the only outlet in the house that doesn't work. I then proceeded to freak out and scare her until she cried, which wasn't my plan, I was just so overwhelmed with what could have happened. I put Maddie to bed and just held Blaise for a long time. She calmed down and informed me that I was "in big trouble" for scaring her. I apologized again, but thought to myself it was worth it if she would never do that again.


Thank you Jesus for always protecting my children. Your blood is enough!

Billy George Hafner IV

So, if I were to have had a boy, do you think this is what he would have looked like?

** For those of you who are not sure, this is Maddie with blue pj's and paci **

The battle of the century!

Good evening everyone. Welcome to the fight we have all been waiting for. I am Bob, along with my fellow announcer, Jim.

In this corner weighing in at 450 pounds, consisting of 12 loads of white, darks, jeans, colors, greys/tans and towels is the the dreaded laundry. In this corner, weighing, none of your beeswax, is Francesca.

Now, Jim, Francesca may have a poor record against this competitor, but I think she has potential. She has only won 120 out of the 46,831 times they have met, but this could be her day.

Ding!!!

As the bell rings we see Francesca coming out swinging, but she has had a problem with her stamina in the past. We will see if she has improved any. Now the laundry's biggest defense is it's sheer mass. It has the ability to make the bravest of fighters cower in the corner, thumb in mouth, in the fetal position.

Ding!!!

Now, in Round 1, Francesca managed to take out the easiest in the laundry's arsenal, the jeans and towels, but let us see if she can manage the colors. It is amazing how many little shirts can fit into one load, Bob. She is trying to get ready for the next round. Here is where we have seen her go downhill. Let's see what she has got left.

Ding!!!

She is getting winded, I am not sure she has enough gas to see it through. Oh, and she goes down. Well, that was a short fight, Jim. I thought she would make it to the 3rd round. But this TKO was brutal. She will have to spend ALL her spare time training for the rematch.

Better luck to her next time.

Life -

Things have been pretty quiet in blogville. I have missed reading about what is going on in your lives. So here are a few things going on here.

My mom is doing better and then again she isn't. The tumor is gone and her chemo is done. She only has about five radiation treatments left. But she is back in the hospital again. She couldn't keep any liquids down or any of her medicine yesterday so I took her back to the hospital and she will be there until tomorrow. I fully believe that she is healed. I am just ready for her treatments to be finished so she will begin to feel better again. It is hard seeing her so weak and tired all the time. But it won't be long until she is better than before.

The fast is going pretty good. I have had many victories and a couple of defeats. But over all it has been good for me. I am determined to stop living by what feels good or even right. I will not be ruled by anything but the love of God. I am on a mission to learn to be completely satisfied with the Lord. Not food or entertainment, not praise of man or positions. I want to know what it is to be satisfied only by God. I can take comfort during this time in Hebrews 2:17-18

"Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertain to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted."

Jesus partook in humanity so I could partake in divinity. Amazing.

Maddie is getting so big. She is sitting up and eating off of her highchair tray. She is saying dada and other sounds. She loves her sisters and is a joy to our family. People have told me that she brings peace to those who hold her. Madeline means high tower. I declare that she will be a place of refuge for those who need it.

Billy is amazing. I can't put it in this post because there is too much to tell. I am finding in this twelfth year of marriage things I have wanted from the beginning. The way of the Kingdom is peculiar indeed. He who loses his life will find it. He who gives will receive. It is a paradigm that I want to know in a deeper way.

For those of you who haven't heard, the house inspection came back a disaster. So, I will continue to wait. I am cool with it. I just want God's will in God's timing.

Sunday night training has been really good. I can see every week, people's lives being changed by the prophetic. It really is powerful. There are words that I have gotten that will be nuggets I stand on for years to come.

So, there are some updates. Not anything really new, just life.

30 years old!!!

Well, yesterday was my 30th birthday. First I had Coffee, with no coffee, with my friends. I then did laundry and cleaned house all day and got ready for Marriage Life Group. It looked to be just like any other day. I noticed the first curious thing when Billy asked me what I was going to wear to life group. I thought this was an interesting question, but I just thought maybe Kathy was planning a little something so I dressed up a little. So, Chass got to the house to keep the kids, and I gathered up my notebooks and stuff for life group and walked outside and there was a LIMO!! Can you believe how sweet Billy Is. Anyway, when I got in the limo it got even better. Pam and Elliott, and Cody and Ashley, were waiting inside for me. We went to the movies and saw Fireproof. It was really good. You have to get by the initial cheesy factor, but after that I really liked it. We went out to dinner and then came home. It was my first official night out without Maddie since she has been born. That is six and a half months. That is a long time. But what a way to do it. I had such a good time. And tonight I have more birthday fun. So this is like a birthday weekend instead of just one day. I am amazed at Billy lately. But that will be another post for another day.