Kelly Swayne

Our son, Garrett, recently caught "Horse Fever". I get it ever now and then and sometimes it is hard to shake! When we lived in Texas and our boys were fairly young, we had a few horses off and on. We have not had any in a long time. This all came about when he started working at a horse boarding stable as of a few weeks ago. It has been the perfect fit for him and fell in his lap. He has talked about working somewhere like this all summer. I am proud to say he recognizes the hand of God in his life and gave Christ the credit for his new fortune. For the last two weeks he has talked about a horse as if we had already given in to his pleading. Early yesterday morning I ask my husband, who was leaving the state for business, what I was to tell him when he ask again today. ”In about seventeen months he is going to need a truck not a horse, tell him to pray about it”, was his answer. I relayed the message to our son. After his school work was completed he went to work. He calle...

It is time for school! I love a fresh sharpen pencil , clean paper and new school books. Our boys have been homeschooled most of their lives. I say most, our oldest attended four classes at our public high school for his sophomore year and last year he took a couple of college classes at our local community college. He is also on the varsity golf team at our public high schools, this is his fourth year counting this season. Our youngest wanted to attend school , so he went to middle school , in our neighborhood for seventh and eighth grade. I gave them several choices for high school this year; a local charter school with strict guidelines and challenging curriculum, a private school that they are familiar with or back to homeschooling, I did give our oldest one the option to finish his senior year at the public school where he plays golf. Surprisingly, they chose home. We will start school in a week. I have one senior and one freshman. I had to purchase a math text book for me! It i...

The boys made it home safely. They had a great time. Funny part is, they were home the very next day! They were running out of matches and would not be able to eat without a fire. I have a feeling it was harder than they thought.

Zep 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Our 17 year old, Tanner and a friend of his, have been talking about and planning on going backpacking in the Rockies for the last two weeks. He has given me material to read to make me more comfortable with the idea. I have read every word of the printouts. He was warming me up to the idea. My husband, his father, knows Tanner is fully capable and does not live in fear like most moms do when it comes to our children. I too, know that Tanner is very capable to survive on his own in the wilderness. However, I don’t like it! I won’t be there to protect him from stupid mistakes, like leaving out food for the bears to smell or making sure his fire is out so he does not burn down the forest and end up in handcuffs! Or dehydrate, drink unsanitary water, get eat up by mosquitoes, encounter wild vicious animals, get lost, stru...

David and I went on a company vacation several years ago. There were lots of people from many different states. The first event was a mix and mingle at the hotel. David and I connected with two other couples from CA. The second day we had lunch together. We started out with some tropical drinks, appetizers, laughter and lots of conversation getting to know one another. When our meal came, David said a prayer over our food and our upcoming adventures. It was a simple, normal prayer, so I thought. As soon as he said “amen”. One of the men commented with “Wow, I have never heard anyone talk to God like that”. He seem to be amazed at the ease and friendship of the prayer. It was an awesome experience for all of us. Questions were flying and the Holy Spirit was working overtime. We spent the next 6 days with them. That was in March. In September one of the couples flew out to spend a few days with us in our home. It was over a weekend so we all attended our home church. By the end of the ...

Our home is a magnet for teen boys. There will be from three to twelve at a time on most days, ages fourteen to seventeen. They are very comfortable with David and me. I am glad they feel free to talk among themselves and to me about anything and I mean anything! They make me laugh, a lot! Some of the things they say and our own boys say, well… I really don’t need or want to hear. I have washed ones mouth out with vinegar and threatened another with soap. They know Mrs. Swayne does not like a foul mouth and when one slips all the others chime in with ooooos or it goes silent and they all look at me. They are not even safe in the basement from my ears! They are a work in progress for sure, as am I. These young men do not attend church regularly and some not at all. A couple have gone with us on occasion. Two weeks ago, while in church, God gave me the desire to see these young men filling up a row at church. He told me in my spirit; hang a poster board in your kitchen and bribe them...

When my husband and I were on vacation in 1999, he wanted to go deep sea fishing. He did not want to go on one of those boats where everyone is lined up along the sides of the boat fishing. No, he wanted his own boat. I preferred laying on the beach reading a book but he kinda wanted me to go so I would not miss anything and I kinda did not want to go. However, being the nice wife I am, I agreed. We had to get up really early and be at the docks by daylight. David is a lot of fun especially on vacation, he makes sure everyone with him is having a good time. He goes into activity director mode. I love this about him! He had it all planned out, he made sure I was up, dressed and ready on time. He even had my coffee poured and two Dramamine beside my cup. Let me just stop to say, I have been sea sick in the gulf, and it will ruin your day and maybe everyone else’s, however, we were not in the gulf and I had been out before in the same waters without any sickness. He was providing what h...