Thursday, April 16, 2015

Walking In Faith and Singing a Song

When you homestead, many things are trial and error, but you do spend a lot of time walking by faith.

When you plant a garden, you walk in faith that God will send the right amount of rain and sun to make sure that the harvest is great.

When you have your chickens, you walk in faith that God will give you the knowledge to keep them healthy so they will produce eggs and that some girls will sit on their eggs so there will be new babies that will grow up to take care of your family.

Some hunt, some fish, some have pigs and cows and goats or whatever they deem necessary to take care of the needs of their family, but it's by faith that we believe these animals will be able to take care of us.

While our homestead is still in the very early stages of formation, my hubby works his own business in construction and remodeling to support our family. And believe me, the owner of his own business continually walks in faith that God will supply every need.....it can get downright scary sometimes!!

Today it is raining.....again. We have been bombarded by rain over the last several weeks and I have some plants that are sending out SOS's for some lifeboats!! But today, I have the windows open and there is a cool breeze blowing through my house. I can hear the rain falling and the thunder rumbling. In between downpours though....I hear the birds singing!! They are calling to each other and singing the most beautiful songs!

They don't doubt. They don't wonder. They find shelter in the storm and the moment they get a chance, they break out in song!! Now, when the rain is just pouring, they are silent, but as soon as the storm gives them even the smallest of opportunities, they break out in song!!

Today I am aware of storms going on around me. There are some who are walking paths they never envisioned and were totally blindsided by. We are walking through our own storm right now. And when it comes a downpour, I find myself running to the shelter of my Daddy's arms and He holds me and comforts me and encourages me because just as soon as the storm gives me an opportunity, He gently lets me go and I walk in faith and sing my song of praise to my Daddy. It's still raining and it's still cloudy. I can still hear the thunder rumble....but by faith we'll be okay and our song will give us hope.





Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Not One Post This Year??!!

Time has a crazy way of downright leaving you in the dust! Especially for me anyway. I noticed the last post I did was on December 30, 2014!! What's the deal with that??

Well, let me be honest....

I lost control of myself...I always had an excuse for why I couldn't get X done..much less Y and Z. I truly felt like I was a dog chasing my tail or running here and there putting out fires but not taking the time to clean up the mess left behind after the fires. I fell into a place that I haven't been in a very long time and I stayed there much longer than I should have.

Let me be honest again...

There is still a lot going on. Still a lot of fires that need put out. And life will always be that way...but we control how we handle everything that happens in our day...maybe not the situation itself, but our attitude toward it.

Instead of catching you up on the last 3 months, I'm just going to tell you where I'm at:

It's finally broken off into spring weather and I'm so grateful!!

The gardens are tilled and almost ready to plant.

We have two hens sitting on eggs which means in a little under three weeks, we will have babies!!

My beautiful old Lab friend and buddy, Toby--who will be 13 this October, has a very large, inoperable because of his age, tumor in his jaw and that sweet boy is on daily meds to keep him comfortable. While the tumor is a sad thing to see, Toby is in a great mood, eating well and I cherish each day I have with this faithful companion!

We are facing a battle with the precious little granddaughter that is due in August. We need and are believing for a God miracle!! She is completely in His hands and this has completely removed the scales from my eyes in that all people are precious and every moment is special because we really are just flesh and bone and have no idea what's around the corner.....STOP majoring on the minors!!

Ready to begin a new Bible study in just three weeks with some of the most wonderful ladies I know!!

So, this is what is going on now and hopefully, since God has had to correct me, drag me away from the mountain I've been running around, whipped my behind and then wrapped me up in His big ole' arms and loved on me, I'm ready to stay a little better in touch with y'all, share what's going on in my life and on the homestead.

Hopefully as you walk along with me, you will find encouragement, some knowledge, some tips and tricks to help you along the way and a desire to live a more simple and slow life and be more fulfilled and content than ever!!

"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah!! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of His healing comfort--we get a full measure of that, too." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 MSG