Turning the Page:

Next week the Baldwin’s turn a page in their lives. Our daughter, Erin, is coming home to live with us. She has been in a residential facility in WI for the past 13 1/2 years. We feel now the best place for her is home with us. So, we are going to no longer be empty nesters. You see, Erin has Down’s Syndrome. She is 35 years old. Here’s a picture of the two of us last August when we spent part of our vacations together.

Erin & Dave

It was a sunny day, so both of us were squinting a bit. So she comes home. God has been good to us. We have some things she’ll be able to do. We are starting a coffee roasting business. I have purchased a coffee roaster and trying out different kinds/blends of coffee. I’ve had people testing it for me (if you’d like a sample leave a comment). This idea came through another effort in the Chicago area to work with the developmentally disabled in roasting coffee. Perhaps we’ll be able to employ others as well. This is starting out though as a job for Erin so that she can contribute to the family and the world of coffee. We talked to her last night and she is excited about coming home and doing this.

So leadership, what does this have to do with leadership. Well this is a bold new venture for us. We have stepped out knowing that something had to be done to improve Erin’s quality of life. As we have put one foot in front of another, things have happened. I have a friend who is an accomplished leader. He works in Africa. When asked why he leads the way he does and how he comes up with great ideas, he says I just poke around and try this and that, and God leads me to do great things for Him. So this is our adventure in trusting Jesus. It is an act of faith, but of leadership as well.

So you’ll be hearing a lot more about the Furnace Hills Coffee enterprise in the future. Please stay tuned. We are turning the page in the Baldwin household! And if you want some free samples let me know. I’d love to get your feedback.

Well that’s this leader’s view.

Blessings,

Dave