Ramblings and Ponderings from the Farm

Hello Dear Readers, it is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice in it,  is the scripture on my mind these last few weeks as we have had so much rain. It is easy to fall into complaining of all the rain, as well as when we fall into complaining when it is hot, but scripture says, 'this' used in the present tense, that we need to take just one day at a time and know God has made it to be what his will is and we are to will ourselves to rejoice in it. As always, God has given us free wills and we can choose not to rejoice, but why should we. This has been my choice, to will myself to rejoice, tis so much more pleasant and makes the day so much more as well.

With all the rain, work, projects, or play outside is limited, so I am thankful I have many such avenues to look at inside. I have sewing projects, making baby bibs, working on some dolls, and making some hot pads. I am making great progress on my 1000 piece puzzle, doing some much cleaning all through the house. Also working on a few fairy gardens. Looking at ideas with shrubs and other plants to put out and about the yard that will give color in the fall and winter, such as Red Twig Dogwood. I have plans to make a few living arches and fences out of water willow. In this coming week I hope to go down a 'out of the way' road where there are many, many daffodils in the woods and along the roadside, to dig up and bring back to the farm to put out and about. One can't have too many daffodils, I think.

Spring is showing herself to be in full arrival very soon. Daffodils are in bloom, crocus' too, willow trees and maples have budded out, as the cherry trees. I see daylilies, iris', and other bulb leaves coming up. From my kitchen window I see the Elsie eating more on the pasture, even though she has hay in her ring, as the grass is greening up nicely. Next month I will be drying her up as she is due to calve in July, and I realize most ones may not dry up their cows until 2 months before calving, but I like to give Elsie a nice, long rest before she goes to 'work' again. I am still milking her, yet I am looking for a rest period too, as the garden will be a main focus and having the time off is nice.

Husband has been down at his machine shop most of the week and today, he has some orders for pulleys to make. He loves being down there, he is in his full element with all his machinery and making what ever from a piece of metal.

All the children are well; we are still very thankful for the nursing care help we have during the week.
Which reminds me I was to share a post on the hospital stay a month ago, but after thinking of it, I would just say, the medical profession and ones it is producing is not as it was. Hearts are cold, mentality is all 'quality of life' which the elderly, handicap and ones who have ongoing serious medical conditions, regardless of age, are not worth the expense, trouble, etc. for the medical world to try and save. They look as such as system suckers who give nothing back, the cost is too great.  I am very disgusted by the whole of it, which causes me to turn my trust more and more on God. Oh, yes, we will continue to use hospitals, doctors, etc. but the trust is not there anymore.

Upcoming week is to be pretty for a few days, which means I will be outside, yipeee.

Though it was overcast and warm today, past 70 degrees, I made a fire in the Pioneer Maid woodstove, as it was a bit chilly in the house, how I love the smell of wood burning in the kitchen. It got rather warm inside, letting just the coals smolder, I opened the windows and doors letting a nice cross breeze blow inside. I had some laundry to dry, so I brought out the small drying rack and have it in use, items are almost dried. Drying clothes on the racks is another blessed enjoyment for me.

I churned butter, letting it cool so it will harden a bit before I wash it up and mold it. The house is quite, but for some worship music I have going, Paul Wilbur, I like his music.

The day has been a blessed one. Though there are things going on in our lives that are most undesireable, they are out of our control, they are in God's hands, but I can chose and do chose to rejoice in this day.

May you chose to rejoice over what ever trial you have in your life at present.  Do not look but to one day at a time. To God be all the glory.


In Joy

Life

Hello Dear Readers, LIFE, what can one say, it can keep one on its toes, it can be as a roller coaster ride, it can be as a high, daring dive, it can have one on a mountain one day and way down in the valley the next and what ever lies in between the mountains and valleys it can seem an eternity of dread, BUT, GOD, is always present, IF we chose to know his presence no matter what is befalling us.  And I use the term 'be falling' in the sense that our lives may be doing just that at the time, falling utterly apart.

A few days after Christmas, one of our special needs children had an emergency requiring going to the ER and then to the hospital in Nashville for a month long stay. We are back home now, she is much improved, yet looking at a surgery sometime this year. But her daily care has increased, and we are not complaining, just stating how things change. But in that month away from home, I being at the hospital, and husband here, life, at both places for us, was as I described in the first paragraph. I had much time to read, pray and deeply commune with God on many things, for not only did we have this daughter in the hospital, but home life on the farm was in utter turmoil.

It is times as such, that we need to deeply look unto God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit for there is no other, simple as that, there is no other. Trust, trust, and trust more, that THEY are in unity, working for our good always, no matter what our physical eyes, ears, heart, emotions experience. It truly is a war of the flesh against the spirit, if we honestly walk daily with the 3 in ONE.

Being home now  a few weeks, there is no catching up on things, just work each day to get the rhythm back of our routine.

Spring is soon, daffodil spears are pushing their way up, even most days the sun is not shining, it is gray and cloudy, but the sun is shining somewhere, and if we chose to walk in the spirit on these somewhat gloomy days, the SON is shining in our souls, and as David often said in the Psalms, 'why so down cast Oh my soul, hope thou in God.'   Amen.

There were days I was very down cast, my heart never seemed to be so heavy, I can't remember feeling a burden so overwhelming, and I seemed not to be able to release all to Christ to allow him to carry my burden, as he says he will. Many days was a great struggle, but I made myself, read, pray, sharing, honestly, all that was in my heart and soul, for He knows before we even speak of it, but wants us to share anyway. As I did, it became a bit more less each week, as God led me to scripture to read and as he spoke to me of things. Some was not what my flesh wanted to hear, but he is always so gentle, kind but to the point. I am truly grateful and I desire to be obedient to Him.  Issues have not changed, they may seem worse to my natural mind, but I am trusting God, I am wanting to obey what he tells me and things of these issues may not change in theirselves, but things in me are.

I am glad, so very glad, to be home. The hospital stay is another blog post coming soon. God is real, he is a very present help in time of trouble, yet in spirit, his ways are not our ways, nor his thoughts ours, they are much higher and he works all things out for our good, to them that LOVE HIM and are called according to his purpose.

IN JOY