What is the Delight House?

“You are kind of like Noah”, he said.

In January of 2014, a contractor looked me in the eye and said those very words. They rang in my ears and were fundamental in the beginning stages of what I had no idea would be such a transforming journey of a home that has become so dear to my heart. Just as Noah built the ark for the animals as a place of refuge, this little home that is nestled in the heart of a cherry orchard is going to be an “ark”—a place that provides protection and safety. . . a place to bring healing from the past and hope for the future.

People have stopped me and asked me “what exactly is the Delight House?” And I want to say “It’s been the biggest leap of faith since I’m really…not sure.” But in all reality, it is one of those times in my life that I knew that if I didn’t do it, I would be disobedient to what God had asked me to do.

As I took step by step over the past 14 months from getting the electrical & paperwork signed over to Delight to where we are currently with putting up the siding, I have started to see exactly what the Delight House is meant to be. And my heart is truly eager with anticipation to watch God’s plans develop and come to fruition in this adorable little home.

First of all, I believe the house may be used for a Delight girl or two to live there during a transition time in her life—for a time when she has no clear direction for the next stage or what God is calling her to. Ideally, this home would be a place for her to come and rest and seek God’s will. My prayer is that I may be able to personally mentor her and invest in her life. Maybe she’d get a job at Starbucks or our cute local bakery as well as working on her own photography or graphic design business!

Secondly, I am so excited to host weekly gatherings for the ladies in our community. I have come to love and care so much for the ladies who lost their homes to the fires in July of 2014. It is my prayer this home will be used as a place of community, a place to come together and share stories around a warm meal and laugh and cry and grow together.

However, the main purpose of the house will be for Delight Intensives. Delight Intensives will typically be 3 nights/ 4 days with a specific topic or theme. We have seven focus groups in Delight that we call Delight Intensives. . . photography/cinematography, graphic design, theater/dance, writing/blogging, culinary arts, singing/songwriting, fashion/interior design. Leaders will come and lead five to eight girls at a time. It will be a time where there is focus on a specific area such as marketing and branding, getting your website done in a weekend, learning knife skills in the kitchen, how to write your story, etc. We have so many exciting thoughts and ideas and can’t wait to share them with you. I love the fact that these will be very small and intimate times so that girls will have individual and intentional attention. One of my biggest dreams is to share in worship with these girls, go for walks in the blossoming orchards, plan stylized sessions and grow closer to Jesus together!

Another dream for the house is to have it open and available for leaders in the industry…or husbands and wives who just need to get away & have some quiet time together. I see leadership as being a very lonely place to be at times where the demands are never-ending and where time away together to find a place to renew & re-connect is vital. Even though John and I have only been married for 23 years, we have a lot of life-experience and would love nothing more than to invest in other couples lives.

Up until January 1st, 2015, the house was completely debt free. In 2015, we have yet to receive a single donation. Since January we have had the following bills:

$909— House Insurance (Paid)

$375— Electrical Bill (2 months) (Paid)

$4200 — Paint/Labor (Paid)

$2900— Labor & materials (January bill) (Paid)

$8500 — (approximate bill for exterior siding & labor for February) (NOT PAID)

As I write this, I know that God has faithfully provided thus far. It has been so very apparent that this house is HIS and He has beautiful plans for the future of this home, and we couldn’t be more excited!! Humanly I have been trying to just say “I trust you, God & I know you will provide”, but after not having a single donation the entire year, I will admit that I’ve had a few sleepless nights. After all.. .building a home blindly and taking a leap of faith can be a bit nerve wracking! I am human & do have freak-out moments! :) At this point, we have been able to use our savings, but it is dwindling quickly & we honestly don’t know where the money for February is going to come from. Building this home has been a process of building, a process of growing, and a process of learning. . . a huge exciting adventure that has brought me to my knees a lot! I pray that this amazing little home is a continual place of those exact things as girls walk through the door with a hope to build their businesses, grow in their faith, and learn that there is nothing more important than their relationship with their Heavenly Father.

Will you please join me in prayer over the Delight House? Will you pray for mighty provision and pray about giving up a coffee this week and donating $5 or $10? It may not seem like much, but it adds up! There is a link where you can donate at www.delightretreat.com. Thank you for your love, support and prayers!

Pictures like this from the 2014 east coast retreat keep my heart alive and full of joy & expectation knowing this home will be filled with creative young women who need an authentic community!