Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving

My new home is little... for months on end that has been the only word that I have found to describe it, and as unintentional as it was I had become like the stiff necked Jews when the Lord led them from Egypt into the promised land. Ungrateful..

Oh, I never out and out griped about my little house but I always found myself saying things like "The girls and I are use to having miles of counter top...bumping elbows while we cook is something new for us." Or how about this one.. "I had three living rooms at our old house" as the visitor steps around a lego city that was constructed in my only (gasp) living room. Ah yes, pride glorious pride....

Sigh... I don't know sometimes why the Lord puts up with me. Lately, however, I have felt something change inside. I feel that peace... I love that peace.

The menfolk are in Idaho. Andrew drew a ram tag before we left so they are there seeing if they can't fill it, that and bringing me back IDAHO potatoes, since these things hauled in from Maine are proving unfit to eat. :)

While they hunt the girls and I always have a list of domestic duties we want to get accomplished. Usually canning, sewing, decorating and such. The list always includes window washing as well. Going into winter we need to allow as much light into the home as possible. This year the task (one of my least favorite) was finished inside and out in less than two hours...unheard of, normally it would have taken all day and an entire bottle of Tylenol!! The girls and I spent the rest of the day playing on the deer trails in our wooded pastures and picking nuts.. As I tucked myself in bed later that night I was praising God for the wonderful day we had spent and it was only then that I realized... I was praising him for my little house.
My little house sits back in the woods of our property, I can see no other house around or see the cars that may travel down our dirt road. Today I went out and milked my cow in my p.j.'s and no one knew. I buried my face in the side of my cow and breathed deep of sweet grass and leather as I rejoiced at being completely alone. Life is good. My little house has hardwood floors (what I have always wanted), a wood burning stove to keep it toasty warm, a library for our books, three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

I am blessed indeed.

Oh, don't mistake me for perfect. I still have a honey do list that includes new cabinets and wainscoting and ~oh don't get me started~ BUT, I am finally at home in my llittle home and I am grateful in my heart that God, as always, is good.

By Faith

Where reason cannot wade there faith may swim.

—Thomas Watson


I have often wondered why life can be such a challenge.. Why the life the Lord leads us through can seem so eccentric, muddled, and scattered. I never ever get something right the first time. I always do things the hard way. It can be so frustrating yet, I know that it is not I but HE who orchestrates the affairs of man so if I am to be honest, I am not frustrated with the situation but with my Saviour.

How ungrateful can I be? That the one who gave his all for and to me should frustrate me so. I am spoiled. The past week I feel as if we are walking in mud.. Missouri mud, the kind that sticks to your shoes and the more you walk the more it sticks until your legs are heavy and hard to lift. I have so quickly forgotten the blessing of last week when our house in Idaho closed while others have sat with homes they cannot afford on the market for months upon months and I am free. Free to fuss because our power upgrade for the shop cost us six hundred dollars. Free to fuss because I have my heart set on an additional tract of land that I would like to purchase but the owner has completely vanished. Free to fuss because I am running six different directions on any given day. Life is scattered but I am free. If I but live by faith instead of by fuss I would find that things go better than I could ever imagine.
Many nights ago Shane was able to get in touch with the son of Mick, who owns the land next to ours. When Shane told the son that we were looking to purchase it he laughed and said he didn't think his dad was interested in selling but gave us Micky's number and said we could try. I'll be honest my guts were tied in knots but I said " It doesn't matter, it isn't up to him...It isn't even up to Mick...it's up to God." For days on end we called that number but he would not answer. One night out of the blue we received a call from Mick. He stated that he had missed a call from us. When Shane explained what we were calling for, Mick immediately said he would sell. The next week we closed. At the closing Mick said that he never had any intention on selling that land but at the moment he and Shane spoke he knew that he was to sell it to us. His words that followed make my heart sing. "I don't know why I all the sudden got the urge to change my mind but I guess it was just time for me to let it go."
I know why, because of a loving Saviour who cares for me more than I will ever understand.

By Him all things were made....

Lunar Moth

Regal Walnut Moth

Early Pictures

Sold!

When we left Idaho for Missouri, we did so without selling our old farm house there.  It was an act of faith..... a lot of faith.  We put the house on the market the night before we left and received an excellent offer fourteen days later.

I have never been able to bargain with the Lord, I cannot come before Him and say "If you will just get me out of this spot I promise I will do......"  I know and He knows that I would fail at any promise I would make so I find it best to be honest and say "Father, I don't deserve it but I need............. and the only way it can happen is if you do it." 

He has never failed me, and I'd just like to praise him for that.

Changes

I've had a hard time trying to decide what to do with my blog.  So much has changed in the past few months that I just wanted to delete my old blog and start over.  My children objected, saying the stories were still about  them and we haven't changed.  I decided instead to transfer my writings over here. For a fresh start that still hangs on to the memories....



The corner we have turned is one that I hope will leave a heritage for my childrens children. And I am excited to see how the Lord will write this story.

They're Here!!!

In three days we delivered 17 baby goats and only lost one!  I'm a happy gal. We had a lot of singles this year... they were breeding just about the time my mother passed and I didn't have their mineral licks out there like I should have. Oh well, there are still plenty to sell and I will be milking in four weeks!!  Two more mommas will have their babies by the weekend and then we will be done until the first of March when five more moms plus Jerling will finish off our kidding/calving season.  I'll post pictures as soon as I get more Aleeve and coffee in me LOL.

Well now that was a joke.  I just took about 30 pictures and they are all a complete blur except for these few... will have to try it again when the little jumping beans are wore out .

These last four have already been sold as bottle babies ~  some people believe that makes them a better goat... me personally, I don't think God gave us the instincts that he gave those old momma goats and you get a healthier baby if you leave them with her. Not to mention you get more sleep. :)

Don't they just melt your heart?

Waiting Is an Art

Waiting is an art that our impatient age has forgotten. It wants to break open the ripe fruit when it has hardly finished planting the shoot. But all too often the greedy eyes are only deceived; the fruit that seemed so precious is still green on the inside, and disrespectful hands ungratefully toss aside what has so disappointed them.
Whoever does not know the austere blessedness of waiting—that is, of hopefully doing without—will never experience the full blessing of fulfillment.
Those who do not know how it feels to struggle anxiously with the deepest questions of life, of their life, and to patiently look forward with anticipation until the truth is revealed, cannot even dream of the splendor of the moment in which clarity is illuminated for them.

And for those who do not want to win the friendship and love of another person—who do not expectantly open up their soul to the soul of the other person, until friendship and love come, until they make their entrance—for such people the deepest blessing of the one life of two intertwined souls will remain forever hidden.

For the greatest, most profound, tenderest things in the world, we must wait. It happens not here in a storm but according to the divine laws of sprouting, growing, and becoming.

~CBD

Cody's buck

Deer season is over and Cody now joins the ranks with his brothers as having bagged a big game animal this year.... It is a pretty nice buck but we only Euro mounted him as Cody already has one bigger on the wall.  Great job son, now let's go make some jerky!  The only hunting left now is trapping and an elk tag to fill the first of December.

Jerling..

Is pregnant!!!  In all the chaos that has surrounded my life this past year one tiny miracle almost went unnoticed by me...

Jerling, the mini cow I bought a year and a half ago is going to have a baby next spring!  The Vet said either the end of March or the first part of April.  We were preparing to move them from their summer pasture and bring them home.  I wanted her toes trimmed so I made an appointment with the vet and while we were there I had him do a preg check.  I was so shocked when he immediately said  "Oh, yeah, she's definitely pregnant.."  And shrugged it off like it was nothing......I had to forgive him for his casual announcement because not everyone knows the struggle it has been to get her to settle.  :)

But settle she has and just the other side of this winter I will have more milk and cream than I will know what to do with.  Yeah!!!!  I hope it's a girl....

Psalm 126

When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion,

We were like them that dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter,

and our tongue with singing:

then said they among the heathen,

THE LORD HATH DONE GREAT THINGS FOR THEM.

The Lord hath done great things for us;

whereof we are glad.

Turn again our captivity, O Lord,

as the streams in the south.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

He that goeth forth and weepeth,

bearing precious seed, 

shall doutless come again with rejoicing,

bringing his sheaves with him.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good sucess.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. 

Joshua 1:8,9

Why I Write...

I began this blog in February of  2009.  Until that time I wrote in a journal...  Page after smeared page from a left handed writer now sit in my bottom drawer waiting for a time when my children want to be reminded of their mothers love for them.
I like my blog a lot better, no smears, I can reword any section I want with a click of the mouse and best of all SPELL CHECK!!!! :)

I started sharing my blog with others a few months later.  Something I often wish I hadn't done.


You see, I don't write "for all of the world to read" but for Shane and my children. If the Lord wills that I should live to be old, there will come a time when my mind has betrayed me and my footsteps are ragged and slow.  I want them to have a written remembrance of my love.  Or should my last day be today and I never have a chance for that final  "I love you" ....I want them to find it here.

I want my children and husband to forever understand that I do not have a heart beat of my own but simply the echo of their heart, beating in my chest .  Why I do the things I do and believe what I believe... that is here also.

I think this blog is a great way for those we don't see very often to keep up with what we are doing, it makes it easy for me too. For that reason alone, I leave it public.  But there are others, others who sometimes make my blog hard to write.

If you disagree with something I write...the comment box is there. I don't mind that they see opposition.. it causes us to research our beliefs more thoughtfully and our beliefs become more concrete by that.  If I offend you, however,....... tough.  I won't apologize and I certainly won't change it.  I didn't write it for you, and while it is sitting here for you to read, that doesn't mean you have to.

Maybe I should put at the top... This blog is dedicated to my God and the men and women who make my life worth living......if you don't like it ~ make yer own.  Ahhh, but then my attitude would be showing wouldn't it?

At any rate, children get to doing what you do best...making your momma proud.  I can't wait to see what I write next.

We Have

a winner for the Proverbs 31 giveaway......

Georgia Girl from HT!!!

If you go to the girls blog  http://beautifuldamsel.blogspot.com/   you can pick a scarf they have already made or when you email me your address you can request a different color and they will get started on it right away.

Thanks everyone for entering, they had a wonderful time receiving all the entries and kind comments.

What Happens

When the guys go hunting and find an old watering trough.......


They go on a roller coaster ride...

And fish......

They cross the Delaware.....

And take a bath....

 Then they do some funky version of  hear no, see no, say no evil....

 But mostly they just make me smile......

DREW!!!!!

  WOOHOO!!! Andrew got his bear!! They are pulling stands today and heading home on Friday.  I made it through.... I know they have to grow up sometime but having him at 13 sitting in a tree alone, surrounded by hungry bears just about made me nuts.. But he is safe and made an awesome shot.  He called his momma from the stand.  I was the first one to know, even thought the rest of his hunting party was less than five miles away.  Maybe there is a little bit of apron string laying around here after all. :)

Great Job Drew!! Six days of sitting has finally paid off. 
We're all proud!

The Drunk...

I found it....

Why do I drink, I do not know

I guess I'm just a poor lost soul.

I had everything money could buy,

But acted like a fool when they passed the Rye.

I drink so fast to ease the pain

of life, love and all lost fame.

The first drink always burns so bad,

The morning after I feel so sad.

I swore to quit, like times before,

by noon I shake and walk the floor.

I drank so much I ruined my life,

I lost my job, my pride, my wife.

I beg you people throughout this land

leave it alone while you still can.

As for me my life is lost,

for a drink I must have at any cost....

~Frank Norris Clark

Nooo Bears

are out tonight......the boys keep putting them in my free~zer.......  This guy is huge.  Way to go David!  Now you bigger boys stay out of the stands and let Andrew get his so we can be done.  There is another bear up there that is bigger than this one.  David told everyone " Don't tell mom that or she won't let us sit up here alone any more."  Smart boy......

Devotion..

I'm not sure you can see this.... but apparently even when I break the child labor laws as a harsh task master the girls still love me.  We have canned and brought in things from the garden all day. Just before bed I had them shake the dill seed from the heads.  When I went to check their work, well all I can say is they passed with flyin' colors. :)  I'll do the rest later.

Proverbs 31 ~Giveaway!

Who can find a virtuous woman? 

for her price is far above rubies.....

She seeketh wool, and flax, 

and worketh willingly with her hands......

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: 

her candle goeth not out by night......

She layeth her hands to the spindle, 

and her hands hold the distaff......

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, 

she reacheth forth her hands to the needy......

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: 

for all her household are clothed with scarlet..........

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; 

her clothing is silk and purple............

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; 

and delivereth girdles unto the merchant..........

 

My little gals have been trying out their new homemaking skills.  Between the two of them they have prepared  us for winter by knitting a scarf  for each of us.
I think they were a little disappointed that there were only ten of us to clothe.

They use the "homespun" style of yarn and it produces a soft and warm scarf, that their brothers will be thankful to have at chore time during the winter.

Since they have ran out of bodies to care for here at home they have decided, in the spirit of Proverbs 31 to make some for the homeless shelter in IF and to make a few to sell.  To give them a jump start I am buying one and having a give away here on my blog.  All you need to do to enter is leave a comment or send me an email letting me know you want to enter.  If you win I will let you pick the color.......if you don't win you can always buy one from the girls for $10.  They will let you pick your color too... :) Drawing ends Oct 1st.


***I have to add this disclaimer.  While "she perceives that her merchandise is good"  we also need to remember that my girls are young......8 and 10. Therefore you will probably "perceive flaws", all of which adds to the unique charm of a handmade scarf.

http://beautifuldamsel.blogspot.com/