God’s blessings

Just a few days ago I was chatting with my husband about how much God has blessed us this past year.

One year ago, this month, we bought this property.

For the entire month of October and a good part of November, my husband camped out in the shop, working his normal shift and then spending countless hours on our house every evening and weekend.

Although, our son-in-law had two or three other jobs, he worked nights on our house, driving the hour and a half out of his way just to help us get done before our date to be out of the rental.

I’d drive down to my husband’s work on Friday afternoons to drop our son off so he could help through the weekend.

Then on Sunday mornings I’d get up extra early to meet them for church.

I didn’t move in until just before Thanksgiving.

Handsome spent part of Christmas and New Year’s finishing the bathrooms.

He came down sick in January.

February he started working on the chicken coop.

March and April on the garden fence and the run for the chickens.

May we started planting and were given our lamb.

The summer saw us adding our goat to the mix and working on several things including my husband’s shop and restarting the furniture business.

Somewhere in there we were given our rabbits!

We’ve been excited to be able to share eggs and tomatoes with others.

Our other crops didn’t grow too well, but hopefully next year we will have enough to share more.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:11‭-‬13 KJV

We are so thankful for God’s blessings.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for placing our family here and all You did to make it possible. Thank You for the blessing of help through our many projects, especially our two sons. Lord, this property belongs to You and we want to honor You with it. Please help us to be wise stewards and to be generous with all things. Lord, please teach me how to organize and setup things that we are using our time wisely. Lord, thank You for how much You have done to prepare us for what You are doing next. Lord, I love You. Thank You for loving me first. Amen.

farm

As a child my life was within the confines of the backyard,

Our street

Church

School

Occasional visits to family

Restaurants

The places we visited on vacation.

There were outings to the mall

The corner lot used as a once-a-year pumpkin patch

The cotton farm

But never did I really understand what farm life was like.

When my parents began looking for a “farm”

I was overjoyed

So was my little sister

We spent time talking together

and with all our friends

about the new life we would have

A garden to grow vegetables

Our own animals

A great big farm house

Space to run and play

Our own stream

It was a good thing I didn’t know what was ahead of me.

Not everyone would have the same experiences we had

Some of this was due to the fact that neither of my parents were raised on a real, live, working farm

Nor were either of them afraid to try their hand at whatever needed to be done

Some of the lessons were because our folks couldn’t afford a place that was up and running

Some of it was simply because of who we were.

I soon learned that a pig can bite a sizable hole in a rubber boot if allowed to do so.

Lambs are born at the worst time of the night, in the worst weather, and the worst possible section of the field.

Goats were not made for fence unless it is electric and “on” at all times.

Cows have no problem making your foot, leg or arm their standing place.

Chickens are happy to eat your tomato bugs, tomato plants, tomato leaves, and tomatoes.

There is nothing like a hard day’s work.

Staying up all night to save a small life brings incredible satisfaction.

The amazing amount of things you can make or fix with bailing twine.

The view from the side of the valley, at sunrise, when the mist rolls over the mountains, is breathe taking.

The pleasure of a warm fire, home cooked food, and family.

Although life moved on and the farm is only a memory

I am thankful that the Lord allowed that time in my life

Taught me the things He did in those situations

Gave me a real appreciation for those who are farmers

And a never tiring list of stories to tell to anyone who feels like listening.