September 2, 2010

It is 5:05 a.m. .  The house is silent except for the sweet low sound of my husband's breathing  while he sleeps and the ceiling fan turning above me.  Today is my birthday!  I have completed 47 years on this earth.  47 . . . hmmmmmm.  That sounds like a lot doesn't it?  Well, if you are over 47 I reckon it doesn't  but considering my mind still thinks I am 22 then it is a lot.  Isn't it amazing how you can still feel so young in your mind even though your body is screaming - I AM OLD!!  ;-)  Well, I am not old.  My knees, feet and joints feel 47.  My gray hair looks 47.  My skin - well my crinkles look 47. (Crinkle sounds so much nicer than wrinkle, don't you think?)  And my eyes struggle to focus after 47 years of work.  But my joy is new every morning.  My peace is restored every day.  My hope is never faltering.  It is a BLESSED DAY!

Every year on my children's birthday I tell them their birth story.  We look at pictures or videos and we talk about all that happened leading up to their birth.  It is a precious time to me to go back in my mind and relive those glorious feelings of welcoming a new life into this world.  I do not have that with my own mother - I have not seen her in many, many years.  My earthly father died many years ago. Even though I do not have earthly parents to share it all with thankfully the Lord reminds me that He too was there in attendance at my birth.  He saw me take my first breath and knows everything about those moments. He has walked with me every day - every moment and been my strength.  How grateful I am for His unfailing and unconditional love to me. 

As always happens around my birthday I begin to evaluate where I am in my walk with the Lord, my relationships with my husband and children and my usefulness to Christ's Kingdom.  I think about the tasks that the Lord has given me and try to assess how I am doing and what I need to improve first.  There is never a lack of things in my life that need improving so it is really a time of prayer for me to discover where the Lord wants me to begin.  Our life since my last birthday has been somewhat dramatic.  We have had two daughters marry and move to their own homes.  We welcomed the birth of a new grandson.  That same precious grandson was taken into heaven shortly after.  Amongst all of that we had so many other wonderful moments and blessings - my eldest brother's only child gave birth to his first grandchild.  That was quite a tremendous moment.  There were some very difficult times as well.  Our son and his wife went through quite a trial and struggle.  We are so grateful that the Lord never faltered in caring for them both as well as for our granddaughters. 

This past year was one of great readjustment and challenge for our entire family.  I say challenge because the Lord allowed us to face many trials and we have come out on the other side victorious.  Not in our own strength but in the fact that through it all there was never a question where our faith lay.  Christ was Lord before, during and after each and every difficult moment.  He was there for every tear and heartache and He was there for every shout of joy.  We praise Him in every detail.  Even when His decision was to bring our little Elisha back home to Heaven, we knew that it was His unfailing love that made that choice.  He is a merciful and loving God and Father and I thank Him with every breath.  He has blessed me beyond measure as His Word promised He would.

Amidst all of these events we continue on in our daily lives.  Our Shepherds Hill Farm is doing well and progressing.  Yesterday I was able to finally get out in the garden for the first time in weeks and actually make some headway.  We have continued to harvest peas, okra, tomatoes, cantaloupe, lots of herbs and flowers, but it is time to get in the fall plantings.  I had hoped to begin that around the first of August but more important things were happening.  So finally with Olivia and Sarah's help we got some things done.  I pulled all the pole beans out - they were long spent and nothing was left but the dead vines and branches and all the T-posts and strings and wire.  That took a couple of hours, but we finally had the area clean and ready to till under.  Next was the older tomatoes - God has truly blessed our tomato crop this year and so the plants were very large, but as always the summer humidity had caused virus to begin taking over the plants and even though they were still producing I didn't want to allow it time to take hold in the soil. So out they came along with all their trellising and poles. 

One thing I did hate having to do was to cut down a huge patch of zinnias that I planted at the end of the garden.  It is a pollinators paradise.  Bumble Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, honey bees, wasps all come to those zinnias like people go to Panama City.  It is their vacation spot and quite a place to watch.  But this particular area was needed for new veggies to go in so out it came.  I have one more patch but it will be cleared out today.  Thankfully there are plenty of butterfly bushes, crape myrtles and zinnias all around the house and flower garden to accommodate those lovely flying creatures.

We had a little conference in the garden yesterday afternoon - Paul, Sarah, OIivia and I about where we are going to do each planting this fall.  Usually I just decide and then get to work, but I am so thankful that they are all more eager than ever to help in the planning of things.  We have decided that all of the different greens will go in their own raised bed and the broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts will go in the rows.  Carrots, lettuce and onions will all go in the raised beds as well. I am very excited because the Leeks I began in May - a gift from my friend Laura McKenzie - have done beautifully and are well established now.  We love leeks in our potato soup especially and with the cool days coming I am eager for harvesting time. 

Our Dexter cow, Ima, has really been busy giving us plenty of manure for our garden this year.  I know that most folks would not view plenty of cow patties as a blessing but if you are a gardener then you understand completely!  It is black gold!!  Once the patties are composted they enrich the soil greatly and things grow better than ever. 

One item of change for us has been the beginning of a task I have planned for more than 10 years.  When we started making our lifestyle changes I decided that as each of our appliances died (except the refrigerator) I wanted to not replace it with a new electrical appliance but if possible to do without it or use something more basic.  Well, a couple of months ago our washer finally kicked the bucket.  The drier went more than 7 years ago but this old washer just hung on and hung on.  Paul told me to get another one but I said I wanted to try to stick with my plan and do the washing by hand.  Thankfully the Lord, in His wisdom, didn't allow it to die until after Haley's wedding so it was just the four of us at home now. I talked with Sarah and Olivia and they were eager to give it a try.  We began with a washstand area out on our deck.  A friend, Mrs. Ellen, had given me a wringer a couple of years ago and I had never used it until now.  Paul bought me two large wash tubs. I already had a nice glass scrub board and he mounted the wringer on a sturdy frame from the side of the deck.  So we began.  The only difficulty we had, though not really a problem, was carrying hot water from the kitchen sink out to the washtub.  Our washing area was just outside the kitchen so it was less than 12 feet to carry the water, but still it was a little inconvenient.  We pressed on and for over a month it worked perfectly.  The girls each did their own laundry and I did mine and Paul's.  It took less than 30 minutes to get all the clothes washed, rinsed, wrung out and on the line.  I was amazed! 

About a month ago though we had a period of heavy rain for several days.  Of course, this made it difficult to get outside to wash clothes so plan B went into effect.  Paul bought us a double laundry sink - you know the really deep large sinks.  He worked in our laundry room where the washer had formerly lived.  It took a day or two but he finally had the sink in with hot and cold running water and even a sprayer.  So now we can wash the cloths right there in our laundry room.  After rinsing them, we put them in a bucket and take them to the wringer and then to the line or hang them on hangers and/or drying racks. 

I am very happy to report that it is not the back breaking work that I expected it to be.  Honestly, the only difficulty has been that my fingers are fairly pruney when I am done, but I have found that washing by hand has taken care of the stain on my hands from all the gardening.  Yeah!  As the weather gets colder and it becomes a little less convenient to be outside for wringing, Paul is going to move the wringer into our garage.  This is within steps of the laundry room sink and completely enclosed.  It also has a drain in the floor so the water will go right down the drain.  The more I think about it the more it seems the Lord had this all planned out from the beginning.  At least once a week my sweet husband reminds me that we can go get a washer whenever I am ready for one.  What a man!

Now - an update on all the kiddos!  Haley and Sam are doing beautifully!  They are really enjoying being married and having their own home.  Haley had quite a bit of storage to go through lately.  She has been accumulating things for her home for many years and this summer she has been going through it all.  I think even she was amazed at how much stuff she had.  Once she was able to really see what was there, she was able to pick the things that she truly wanted and could use and then she  gave her sisters the go ahead to get what they needed.  This coming Saturday, Sam's mother, Vickie is having a huge yard sale at her home in Lineville and Haley will have plenty for her table.  I think the only real difficulty they are having is with the expense of gas for their vehicles since their home is about 30 minutes away from their jobs and all the family.  It really takes a chunk of their budget but we pray that before long they will be able to move back closer.  God knows their need and He has a plan.

Amanda and Jeremy have of course, been through the most trying event that parents can go through.  I am thankful to say that I believe they are slowly recovering.  It will be a long time before they will be healed but both of them are strong and determined.  Evan is the joy that both of them need and I am so thankful that they have him.  Evan's 3rd birthday was almost two weeks ago and it really lightened everyone greatly.  He is such a cutie and so smart.  We all just watched him with such appreciation and thankfulness.  Please continue to keep them in your prayers. 

Erin and Andy are doing great as well.  Erin turned 21 this past month.  Where did the time go????  She is now a wife and is taking good care of her home and being a blessing to her husband.  I say that because I know that Andy feels that way.  I must say that they have really impressed me this summer with their first garden.  It is just a joy every time I go over there to see them and see all the raised beds and all the produce they are getting.  These two have worked like Trojans and it has really paid off.  They were also able to harvest honey this year and believe it or not it has already sold out.  We were wanting some for the store but the first week we had it, folks were lined up ready to buy.  God willing they will have a lot more next year and their honey business will increase.  Andy has really become very interested in it and I think he is learning the process very quickly.  As they are getting things ready for the store they have spent some time up in the blacksmith shop.  I love to smell that coal burning (weird, I know) and hear the hammer clanging on the anvil.  It just makes me feel good when I step out the door and know that someone is up there making something. 

Sarah and Olivia are my little troopers holding down the fort.  Sarah continues with her sewing business and she has expanded to do more items for sale.  Actually I think she has found that making  fudge for sale has been her most profitable endeavor.  Sarah makes excellent fudge - peanut butter, white chocolate praline, rocky road and pecan.  MMMMMMMMMMM - so good.  Of course, I have really got to leave the room when it is being made because one nibble for me sends my sugar through the roof.  So I just have to admire it from afar. Sarah is a very deep thinker and she is the one who really challenges me to keep up.  She has such a firm grasp on the path the Lord has for her and she is never still.  Always working, always doing, always willing to do whatever the Lord calls her to do.  There is a tremendous reward coming.

Olivia still works at the Vet Clinic.  Sadly the economy has taken a bite out of their business but God has taken care of it.  Lately Olivia has become our bread maker extraordinaire.   She has really mastered the yeast breads and I am amazed at how she can take a new recipe and turn out such wonderful loaves now with no problem.  I have always believed that some people have a gift with bread and she is certainly one of them.  This month she turned 19 years old.  It has been a bit emotional for me because she is our youngest child.  I think most mothers feel this way when their youngest becomes an adult.  I must say though I cannot imagine being more pleased with how she has matured into such a fine, responsible young woman.  God has truly given us a treasure.

Let's see - I haven't told you our big endeavor yet.  We are finally going to open our little once a month Saturday store.  After all these years of talking about it, it is finally time.  We have a nice size storage room on the back of Paul's workshop.  It is 10 X 24 and that is where we are going to have the store.  Paul has been working hard on putting in a door from our flower garden and everyone has been over to help paint the inside.  We will be putting up shelves this weekend and placing our items inside.  It will only be things that we make here on our farm and we will only open it one Saturday a month.  If the Lord blesses our efforts and we see the need is more, then we will begin the process to open it more often.  Please pray with us that it will be a success - it has always been our desire to have a way for the girls to earn income out of our home so that they do not need to work outside jobs.  This, we hope, will enable them to do that.  If you live in our area and want to join us - our first opening will be Saturday, September 18th.  We will open at 8:00 in the morning and will have fresh hot coffee and cinnamon rolls for everyone.  Email me if you need directions.

Well, I must close for now - Our internet is acting bizarre this morning so I hope I can get this online.  Please keep us in your prayers as we do you.  There is much unrest and uncertainty in the world and especially in our nation.  We see the signs lining up every day and know that the Lord is coming soon.  What will happen before He comes we do not know but we see the need to prepare in so many ways.  Please realize that it is only those who are prepared spiritually who will endure.  We prepare with a full pantry, garden and livestock.  We prepare with a plan for no electricity and no system to depend on, but more important than any of this is the preparation that we do in our spirit.  Knowing the Word of God.  Staying on our knees in prayer.  Building up our Spirit each day with worship and praise.  All of these things are more important than anything else you can do. 

Trust God and He will never fail you.

Much Love -

Angie

July 13, 2010

I am inside and that is a nice thing.  It is now the middle of July of 2010 and I am finally sitting down to type a new "Just Thinking".  Half the year is gone.  I am trying to cool off at the moment and drink another glass of water as I have just come in from picking a large pan of purple hull peas.  God has really blessed those peas this year.  I think it is probably becoming the largest harvest we have ever had on them.  When we were planting I decided to do 6 full rows since usually we have only enough at a time for a meal or to freeze just a bag or two, but this year I wanted plenty in our freezer and so it is. 

It was not my intention to begin this post with this subject but it was close at hand.  Our garden has truly produced beautifully but I must say that it is mostly because the Lord has given us plenty of rain all along.  Right now I am praying for more since we have been without for about 2 weeks and things are looking dry but at this very moment there are some heavy clouds forming overhead and my hope is that He will give them a tap with His mighty hand and they will drop their life-giving water on the dry soil. 

My last "Just Thinking" was in March as we were preparing for Haley and Sam's wedding.  What a busy time that was.  Honestly since last September when Andy and Erin began preparations for their wedding we have really been hard at it.  Let's see - we had their home to help get ready.  From flooring to working on their roof, to painting every room it was quite a task.  Add to that all the preparations for their wedding ceremony and you can imagine.  Then Christmas came and our family celebrations.  Next we began preparations for Haley and Sam's wedding which included remodeling their new home.  Sam and his father did most of the work but we all pitched in with painting and odds and end kind of things.  Their wedding was a bit bigger and was held at a public park so everything had to be set up and taken down in the same day.  I think we all shed tears that night - not just that the wedding was beautiful and the newlyweds were happily on their way but that we were all so exhausted.  But as Paul likes to say it was a "good kind of tired". 

Not too long after the wedding we welcomed our newest grandchild into the world.  Amanda and Jeremy blessed us all with a beautiful new grandson Elisha Nolan.  He is two months old now and growing into quite a big guy.  He is all smiles and coo's now and adored by everyone including his very precious big brother Evan.  They are all doing wonderfully and we could not be more happy for them. This week we are happily awaiting the arrival of our niece Thea's first child. Victoria is due to arrive on the 17th but you never know when these little angels will show up so we are trying to be patient. As you can see the last 8 months has been one of wonderful new beginnings and through it all God has shown Himself mighty.

Our little farm here at Shepherds Hill has been busy.  One big event was the acquisition of a new dairy cow.  Ima is her name because when she was born the owner had to literally give her mouth to mouth resuscitation because she was not breathing. He worked with her for awhile and finally as she gained strength he knew that she was a pure miracle.  Hence the name "Ima" for I'm a Miracle!  Now she is our miracle.  She is a beautiful solid black Dexter.  We got her in the spring and milked her through June but decided to dry her off since she was due to calve in late September but alas we now realize that she is indeed not pregnant so we will have to take her back to the farm and get her bred again.  This was very disappointing but the Lord has a plan in it all and so we rest in that.

The rest of the livestock seem to be doing well, albeit slowing down in the heat.  I do have to get a couple of new rabbit does though.  Our bucks have done fine but the does are done.  Sarah has taken over feeding since Olivia has taken over care of Ima and I must say that they are both doing fine jobs.  The barn has never been cleaner and things are running smooth.  Over the last few years we have been working hard to make the feeding/watering/care of the livestock easier so that I will be able to do it alone one day - well, at least until Paul retires and with that in mind it has become not the daunting task it once was.  We still need to stream line the watering system but this is something we will work on this fall and winter. 

As I said before our garden has been doing very well this year and so canning, dehydrating and freezing have been on our list of activities each day.  This year we have tomatoes, green beans, purple hull peas, 3 types of cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, acorn squash, okra, sugar pie pumpkins, cranberry beans, pinto beans, silver queen corn, Tom Thumb popcorn, several kinds of peppers and beets.  Some things are in the final stages of production and we will be pulling those up soon and planting the next crops for fall.  The squash bugs have pretty much decimated our yellow squash and zucchini but I will replant those.  They produced very well and we were pleased with how much we got.  My pantry shelves are filling nicely as are the freezers. 

Recently we have participating in a community trade day type event called Second Saturday on the Square in Ashland, AL.  We have been twice now and have had good success selling homemade items.  The folks who set up and those who attend have been very welcoming and we are pleased with the response.  Hopefully we will be able to continue on into the fall with it.  I need to check with the city and see what the scheduling is.  If you are in the area, we would love to have you come by and visit our little booth.  We set up on the south side of the courthouse.

Well, time for me to get supper finished up before Paul comes home.  Tonight is Cranberry Beans, Rice and cornbread.  We love having this for supper and try to have it at least once a week.  Not only is it good tasting, but it is good for your health and very economical.  Now that I think about it we need to have this more often.

I pray that those who read this will be encouraged in the Name of Jesus Christ and will feel His love for them.  If there was ever a time in history when we needed more and more to take the steps to follow Christ it is now.  This world is sliding quickly down into an abyss that is nothing but pure destruction and only the obedient followers of Jesus Christ will be delivered from that end.  No other religion or prophet or belief will bring you into right standing with Jesus Christ.  I heard a young man say that even though he was a Christian he had to respect other people's beliefs and that God would honor their commitment to their own religions. FALSE!!! There is NO OTHER NAME that God will honor.

Acts 4:10-12

" Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.   This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Trust in Jesus Christ and Him alone if you desire eternal life with Father God in heaven.  Please seek Him now while He may be found.

Go with God!

Angie

Helloooooooo, Hellooooooo, Hellooooooooo!  Is anyone out there????????????????????

I have been getting a lot of emails lately wondering if we are still alive down here.  I can say with a loud cheer – YESSSSSS!  We are alive and well and so blessed and so busy.  Life is changing around here to some degree but it is all part of God’s beautiful and perfect plan for our lives and we welcome each and every decision He makes on our behalf.  Isn’t it glorious to know that the Being that created the entire universe is also ready and happy to guide you personally each and every day?  It is quite a load off my shoulders I can tell you!

I am beginning this little “Just Thinking” on Tuesday, March 16 at 5:33 p.m.  I highly doubt that I will finish it today but I knew that if I didn’t get started I would never get it done. 

Okay – back from break #1 in my writing.  Paul and Olivia both arrived home from work.  Sarah had pot roast with potatoes and carrots ready for supper so we all sat down and enjoyed visiting around the table as we ate.  I love that part of our family life.  Of course, now that Erin is married and Haley will be shortly, that is one of those things I mentioned above in the “life is changing” comment.  One of the wonderful things I like about our meal times is that every member of our family is good at conversation.  It is truly amazing how our times together over good food really help to bond us all together.  Learning about each person’s day – who they met, conversations they had, situations that arose – helps us to appreciate one another in a way that few other things do.  Usually these discussions lead into more serious discussions on the scriptures or the news of the day which usually leads to more discussion of scripture.  J  I think I might say this part of our family life is one of my favorites. 

So now supper is done.  Dishes are done.  The girls have gone to their rooms to prepare for showers or reading or whatever they are doing for the evening.  Paul is reading emails and I am writing to you.  It is very quiet – except for the sound of the washing machine.  I forgot one load of clothes and I want to get them hung up before bedtime.  As you may know, our family has not had a clothes dryer for about 11 years now.  When the last one gave up the ghost I just didn’t want to buy another one.  It seemed so wasteful to me to pay for electricity or gas to heat air to dry my clothes and that same drying wore our clothes out so much more quickly.  From that point on I have used a good old fashioned clothes line during good weather and hung the clothes to dry in the house in not so good weather.  It has worked very well, I think and I have no intention of changing it.  As a matter of fact, right now I am wearing a fairly nice dress which is at least 10 years old and the only sign of wear on it is the little bit of fraying on the bottom hem where it rubs the ground when I walk.  The fabric is just as thick and strong as it was when it was made.  I couldn’t say that if I had been popping it into a drying each week for the last 10 years. 

Today was a very pleasant day here.  My dear friend Wanda came for a visit.  She actually came to get some strawberry plants and we had so much fun visiting that she only decided to go home about 2:00 when we realized that she had both keys to her house and her poor husband was locked out!  Thankfully he was with a friend and could visit with him a little while longer until she got back home.  I have known Wanda for many, many years and she is such a precious person.  She is one of the most grounded Christians I know and I am always encouraged and excited when I am able to spend a little time with her.  Wanda, if you are reading this – I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our next big event is Haley Marie’s wedding in April.  She and Sam have been courting for 2 years and they are finally ready.  This past week Sam and his Dad have been hard at it getting the house ready for them and it is taking shape.  Haley is excited and she is more than ready to feather their nest.  She has already been blessed with two wedding showers and the girls are giving her one this coming Saturday.  There is another shower scheduled by Sam’s mom and Sam’s friends are giving him a shower.  Truth be told we are not going to call that a shower because, “Men don’t have showers!!” so we are calling it a Dunkin’.  I love it.  I think the theme for it is tools and gardening items.

Another event while no where near as big is that we are getting a cow!!  Actually we have already bought the cow but the gentleman is going to deliver it this week.  Paul had to do some renovations in the barn on one of the stalls.  He had to enlarge the stall itself and the outer door to the stall and make a feed trough and headgate to contain her while she is being milked.  She is a pure bred Dexter and just a pretty as a picture.  We were intending to get her calf which is an 8 month old heifer but we just don’t want to overload our pasture area.  The cow is bred back though and should calve in September.  It will be a little bit of a wait but that will be fine.  Her calf now is still getting some milk so we will get some before we have to dry her off in June. 

Break #2 – Okay, it is now Thursday, March 18.  Hopefully today our cow will be coming.  Paul is working at home today so that he can help us get her unloaded.  Praise the Lord!!!  It is so nice that he can work at home periodically.  I think for many men it would be hard for them to really get any work done but Paul is very diligent.  He takes a coffee break and a lunch break and he will not stop until his normal quitting time.  Sometimes he will even keep on if he has taken a few extra minutes to walk outside.  I am always amazed at how conscientious he is about things like that and it shows, especially to our family the truth of the scripture that says to do ALL as unto the Lord.

Just a few minutes ago we finally had the sun break out.  YEAH!!  We have had cloudiness and drizzly rain a lot lately and all of us are more than ready for some sun.  I try to remind myself not to begrudge the rain because the drought is still too fresh in my mind.  And I have no doubt that come July and August we will be longing for a cloudy day.  The summer sun in Alabama can be brutal. 

That reminds me of another incident that happened about 3 weeks ago.  Paul had a doctor’s appointment for a check-up and on recommendation by the doctor he went to a dermatologist to have some spots checked.  Sure enough, two of them were basal cell skin cancer.  One spot was on his back and one on his upper arm. He also had two moles removed and they were pre-cancerous.  The nurse said that these spots are usually caused by sun damage and I commented that none of those areas ever were exposed to the sun.  She told us that sun damage can happen even through clothing.  I was shocked.  She said that if we are going to be out in the summer sun for any length of time, we should use sun screen under our clothing.  It was a very eye opening experience.  Praise the Lord, that basal cell is not the kind of skin cancer that goes internally and Paul was given a clean bill of health following the removal of those spots and moles, but we will be going back in six months to have everything checked again.  I am so thankful that we have a God who is into preventative care!!!  He put it on Paul’s heart to have that check-up, even though he was feeling perfectly fine.  God is a diligent God.

Olivia popped back home this morning from the Vet clinic to collect some eggs for her boss.  We are overrun with eggs this time of year.  We will be putting a sign out by the road this weekend to advertise eggs for sale.  I think we are getting about 30 a day now.  I have the incubator heating up so that I can start a batch of eggs.  Paul and I got all the New Hampshire Red hens and roosters into one of the chicken pens so that all the eggs collected there will be pure bred.  I will incubate a batch of them first and then we will rotate those chickens out and put the Buff Orphingtons in and do a batch of them.  Next we will do the silver Wyandottes.  So hopefully we will have some pure bred chicks to sell as well as to have new layers for our pens this fall. It takes 20 weeks from hatching to egg production so that means that by August/September these babies should be producing.  It is very important to always be keeping new life coming on the farm.  Every thing gets older and as it gets older the production fades.  Whether talking about the garden or the livestock.  Paul and I are working diligently to get things worked out so that he and I will be able to handle things easily as we get older and the girls are all in their own homes and having their own farms and families. 

Sarah just told me that her business is really picking up!  She goes through lulls in sewing orders and then suddenly the orders pour in.  This time of year especially.  She is really thankful for each and every order too.  One of her gifts to the girls as they have been getting married is to make them several new dresses and aprons and petticoats to start off married life.  That is so sweet!!  So she has started on some things for Haley.  I know that she is my daughter and I am biased but I have always been blessed to see the generosity she has.  A few years ago, she came to me and told me that she wanted to make dresses for a young family that had 7 children.  So she took her own fabric and began working on dresses for each of the little girls in the family. Every time I think of it I tear up.  One thing we have learned, you may not be appreciated or thanked in this life by the people who help – you may even be mistreated – but the Lord knows and He is our reward.  Sarah has laid up much treasure in heaven and as a mother I could not be more blessed!

Erin and Andy are doing FANTASTIC!!  Andy is still looking for another job and we pray daily that the Lord will bless him with the perfect one.  They have been hard at work getting their raised beds built and preparing a small area for their goats.  Last night Erin told me that they were renovating an old out building for a new chicken coop.  The main problem they have is there is a neighbor with several dogs who are at their house all the time.  I do not understand why folks allow their animals to run wild and they seem to bear no sense of responsibility for the damage they do.  Every day they have to pick up their garbage from all over the yard, their planting beds are being run through and of course, they can’t let their own dogs out in the yard because the neighbor dogs come after them.  It is really one of those things that you learn patience and calm through, you know what I mean?  Slowly they will get fencing to protect things.  Erin has started putting some of the posts from the trees Andy has cut, around the garden area.  She is going to put in a waddle fence about 4 feet high.  It looks very nice and when they are done it is going to be beautiful. 

Did I mention that our Amanda is nearing her due date on our new little grandson?!!!  We are all so excited about that.  She is due the middle of May.  It is so fun to watch her little belly become bigger every time we see her.  They have chosen a wonderful name but I won’t share it here.  I want her to be able to share it first and then I can.  We will be having a baby shower after Haley’s wedding is done.  This week she and Jeremy are busy getting the room ready to accommodate two little boys instead of one.  Evan is still fairly young to understand that a baby brother is coming, but I know he will love him. I remember how much older the children looked when a new baby came along.  It is like all of a sudden they are grown up. 

I reckon I need to close and get busy with things.  For those of you who have written to check on us, thank you for your love.  For those who haven’t written but may have said a little prayer for us – thank you as well.  As I said at the beginning of this, our lives are going through some changes but we rejoice in them all.  By the way, right now my health is doing well.  We continue to keep a check on my iron levels but this morning when I looked in the mirror, my lips are red!  That is a very good sign.  My ear has finally healed up for the most part.  I think the ear drum is still perforated but that takes a month or so to heal.  God has been good!! 

Keep us in your prayers as the Lord leads you.  The days are getting darker and the enemy is getting bolder.  Our roots need to be firmly planted in the Word and we need to be feeding our Spirit man every day.  I have seen many falling by the way side lately – much compromise with the world.  I have also seen those who are going after false traditions and using them as their doctrine instead of walking with the truth.  I am not sure why that seems the better way for some but it will end with no fruit.  We MUST stay with the truth and not waste time on man’s traditions.

We have also seem many whose hearts are turning toward home.  Many young families who desire to live a life of sacrifice, obedience and diligence based solely on the Word of God.  It is encouraging to see.  Please, brothers and sisters, pray for those who are seeing the Light of truth.  Pray for the Lord to bring back to the Cross those who are selling out for convenience, prestige and notoriety.  The end is coming quickly and many will fall away – many ARE falling away, but the remnants are being gathered in.  Young and old alike desire to be in the place of peace that only comes through obedience.  We were reading the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 during Bible study the other night and we read how after everyone was fed that the men went out and gathered the remnants and there were 12 baskets.  TWELVE BASKETS!!!  There are many who have not and will not bow their knee to the world and to the devil.  There are Daniels out there who will not fear what man can do to them and they will serve God and God alone.  If you are one of the compromising many – repent!  For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.  God will not hear excuses.  It doesn’t matter if you lost your job or if your best friend betrayed you or your family turned against you or if your church is bad.  There is nothing that will justify you except Christ – not just saying that “I am a sinner” prayer, but DOING the will of God.  Let me add here – giving all your money to feed the poor – going to disaster zones and risking your life to help – adopting 25 special needs children – all of those things are wonderful, but they mean nothing if you compromise the Word of God and make it dance through hoops to do what you want.  There are many celebrities, actors and actresses, singers and musicians, politicians and business men and women who have given and done far more than you or I ever could and they will spend eternity in the pit of hell in pure and total torment. 

And just to make this clear - milking a goat and teaching soap making, homeschooling your children, wearing a headcovering and cape dress, and growing all your own food will also not keep you from eternity in hell. Being able to teach thousands and write great material and having a charming personality will not keep your from torment. There are thousands upon thousands of people who do all these things every day who have no more part of God than Charles Manson or John Lennon or Adolph Hitler. I read a signature on someone’s email one time that was something about eating chocolate and sliding into heaven – guess what.  If that is a joke to you then you probably will not “slide into heaven” but you will skip right into hell!  Strong words? Yes.  But this is not a joke. The worst part of it is that people who have that kind of attitude are usually very vocal about it and they will take many right down with them. 

Walking day in and day out with Christ, loving Him, seeking His Will, studying His Word, obeying His Word and serving as He served – and overcoming the works of the evil one and our own flesh – that is the way we escape Hell.  Many say that you don’t have to do anything to be saved – Well, this I know - I have to live as Christ! Each and every day I have to submit my will to His Will.  I have to repent when I falter and I must strive for His plan.  He bought me with a price – His Life and His Blood and now I am His and must do what He wants me too. If you want to be His then you must do likewise.  Not like me, but like HIM!!

Stick with the truth and only the truth. A little manure in your cup of water contaminates the whole thing. 

Many Blessings and Many Prayers,

Angie

January 11, 2010

Ah, global warming!  I am so glad to know that we have global warming as I sit here today, in central Alabama, snow still on the ground from 4 days ago.  The temperature outside has not reached 20 degrees and I have on three pairs of socks to keep my feet comfortable.  What would we do if not for global warming???  We would all be popsicles.  I am thankful that the Lord provided plenty of firewood for us this year. 

Except for a lingering cough, sore throat and laryngitis, I think I have finally started to recover from this respiratory/cold/yuck that I have had for the last 2 weeks.  The Monday after Christmas I started getting that achy feeling and then the next morning it had hit me full force.  My regular doctor’s appointment was already scheduled for Wednesday so I went.  About 2 hours later I was headed home with 5 prescriptions, one being Tamiflu just in case.  I was able to pick and choose which ones I felt I needed and even they did not touch this stuff.  So bring out the elderberry syrup, salt water gargling, nasal lavage and lots of hot beverages and now I am finally feeling a bit better.  Sarah and Olivia both had it as well but they were able to perk up a little quicker than I have been.  Praise the Lord.  There are few things as bad to me as when my children are sick but when they are sick while I am sick is the worst, because I can’t help them much.

One minute, our little grandson Evan wants to read a book – Granny is needed –

Okay – back to the desk.  Evan is now happily playing puzzles with Aunt Sarah.  2010 promises to be a different year for us.  Erin of course was married in December.  She and Andy are doing well – happy as larks.  It does my heart good to see them so content with one another.  Sarah is hard at work on several projects and I can see excitement in her eyes again.  For awhile I think she was very unsettled about what the Lord had for her next but with the end of the year she made some decisions and now she is working hard to achieve the goals she has set.  One thing that I love about Sarah is that when she knows which way the Lord has for her, she is the most determined person ever.  She was almost ready to close her sewing business and then she felt peace about continuing so she is back to taking orders and planning new things. 

With Erin getting married, she realized that their money was going to be tight.  Surprise, newlyweds who have a strict budget! ;-)  So she and Olivia worked out a swap on Erin’s truck.  The truck is now Olivia’s and both parties are happy.  Erin had that burden removed and Olivia suddenly jumped up a notch in the adult responsibility category.  It was rough during December as the vet clinic was very slow but things are picking up again and that is a blessing.

Haley and Sam are busy planning their wedding.  One item that we ask your prayers on is more work for Sam and his dad.  They own a cleaning business and due to one of the companies losing their contract to overseas, they have lost the contract to clean their facility.  It was a big cut and now they need another company on their list.  All prayers are appreciated.  How thankful we are that the Lord is our provision and not the economy of this nation.  While our government continues to pursue an ungodly agenda and in essence moves us further from the blessings of the Lord, we can be at peace and have confidence that our Father has the cattle on a thousand hills and His economy is never bankrupt.  Each and every need we have is met through Him and we need not fear nor worry.  Our God reigns. 

Hang on – washer just stopped. 

One more load to go!  One of the gifts my sweet husband gave me for Christmas was a Triangle Loom or Tri-Loom.  It is a large triangle that you weave shawls on.  The one he made me is 7 feet across.  I was not able to really enjoy it until this weekend when I was able to stand and not get so dizzy.  I am more that 2/3rds through with the first shawl and it is so much fun.  It will make another great addition to our store when we get it open.

I have been enjoying all the seed catalogs that are coming in.  Over the last couple of years I have bought many different items – just wanting to try some new things here and there – but this year I really feel the need to stick to the basics.  Although we have saved quite a nice assortment of seeds from melons and such but I am going for the staples that always work.  By the way, I read an interesting item on another weapon against the squash bug.  Planting a few onions amidst the squash and melon plants has been said to deter the bugs.  As a matter of fact, the one lady I read this from said she started doing this 15 years ago and has had no squash bug damage since.  Before that she said they were prolific.  So I am going to do that and see how it works.  I have always been a firm believer in companion planting – one plant works to help another when planted in the right combination. 

This week our high temps are supposed to finally be getting back into the 40’s and the weather is dry for now.  We are expecting rain at the end of the week, so if I can get bundled up pretty good, I am going to get out there are do a little tilling to prepare a couple of spots for planting.  I also want to get some English peas started.  A well-known mountain herbalist, the late Mr. Tommy Bass, said that his momma always started her English peas in December and covered them with straw and leaves.  He said they grew like crazy and if they had nothing else, they always had peas to eat.  He grew up just about 2 hours north of us so I think it would work here.  I have some Sugar Peas to try.

Also this week I am going to be starting lettuce, cabbage and broccoli seeds.  I had intended to do that the last week of December, but you know.  I want to have them big enough to get in the ground by the middle of February at the latest.  I feel the need to not allow time to slip away from me this year.

Well, this hasn’t been long but at least I am getting back into the routine.  I want to spend some time on the Proverbs study.  It takes me a full day to get a new section down on the computer but I have been studying it all along, so hopefully my fingers will fly and I can get done more quickly.  Such meat there in Proverbs for us to chew on.

I pray for you to have a blessed and happy and peaceful 2010.  There have been bumps in the road for all of us – some scary things happening all over the world.  I am sure you have seen, as have we, that indeed there are many “elect” who are beginning to fall away from the deep things of God.  I read the other day that over 65% of mainstream church members now believe consuming alcohol is okay.  Not to mention all those who are mutilating their bodies with tattoos and piercing just as the world does.  People are throwing Christ’s name about as if it were a slang word and the gospel is being preached like it was a salad bar.   And football has become more of an altar of worship and the most devout spend more and more time and money on its practice.  I have always found it amazing that people will say we are legalistic for wearing plain clothing but they see nothing wrong with wearing team colors, jerseys and paraphernalia including flags and bumper stickers on their cars.  I have seen complete strangers in stores pat one another on the back and strike up conversations just because they have the same team shirt on.  Incredible! 

So what does that mean for us – DIG DEEPER.  Nothing is more vital than finding the truth and making sure your foundation is firm!  I read something the other day about how the devil will place innocent looking distractions in your life to erode your time and effort toward the things of God but these distractions are really parasites which will eat away until there is nothing left of God.  It won’t happen suddenly – remember Satan comes as an Angel of Light – then one day you will see that your heart is hard and cold and unmoved by the truth of God’s Word.  We can change no one but ourselves – and that is where my focus is going to be this year.  I am going to clear out all the parasites that try to steal away my strength from God.  With the help of the precious Holy Spirit, who leads and directs us, we can overcome all of these things.  There isn’t much time left.

In His Service!

Angie

December 6, 2009

The sun has risen on a very cold morning.  We are still a bit worn out this morning and our living room is still in wedding reception mode.  At 4:00 yesterday afternoon our daughter Erin became the wife of Andy.  It has been a long process of planning and preparing but the happy couple is now on their way to their honeymoon destination. How can a family be so blessed of God? 

Andy and Erin met in October of 2006 at SIFAT where Andy worked and we volunteered.

In November of 2008, Andy came to Paul and asked if he could begin courting Erin.  Paul, knowing that Andy’s heart was wholly given to the Lord and that he was committed to serving God in every way, gave his permission.  The following January, Paul began courting classes with Andy and Erin on Wednesday nights.  For a couple of hours each week he went over the scriptures pertaining to husbands and wives, marriage and commitment to God.  This lasted for about 4 weeks.

From that point Andy and Erin spent time together, either here with our family or at Andy’s parent’s home.  They were never allowed to go off together alone – always they were accompanied by a little brother or a sister.  We feel this is appropriate and important to help them not be tempted in matters that are difficult to handle.  Both of them were very easy to work with and caused us no real concern at any point.  Andy and Erin both felt that this was a priority for them as well.

In June of this year Andy proposed to Erin under the Kiwi arbor in the garden.  They came inside and Erin, with tears in her eyes held out her hand to show us the ring Andy had placed on her finger.  It was so precious and we knew that they would be happy and blessed in this new life together.  In late September a wedding date was set for December 5^th.  Erin wanted an outside wedding under the gazebo in our garden so we immediately began the process of creating a lovely area.  It may seem unusual to our northern friends to even think of an outside December wedding, but here in central Alabama we have some very warm sunny days in December. 

As the week of the wedding drew near we of course, began to watch the weather forecast.  2009 has been one of the rainiest years in recent memory and we were finally getting into some drier days, but slowly it began to be forecast the slight chance of rain.  Then the word “snow” was in the forecast.  By Wednesday we knew that our chance of snow or rain and cold was all too real. They were predicting an inch of snow for our area and very cold temperatures.  In the south when it snows – everything shuts down!

 God immediately provided a church about three miles from our home.  Haley contacted the folks there and arranged for us to go see it.  Incredible!  When we walked in the doors we just knew it was the right place.  A lovely little white country church set on a hill amidst green fields.  Inside was simple but very elegant and just perfect for the wedding.  A precious lady, Mrs. Doris Saxon, was there to meet us and we immediately fell in love with her; such a gracious lady and so kind – God had ordained every step.

Thursday was the major day for preparation of our home for the reception.  We emptied the living room of all the furniture and scrubbed the house down from top to bottom.  The guest list was a little over 80 people but we had received RSVP’s from 65 so we knew our space was going to be tight. Every inch had to be accounted for.  Friday morning, Paul and Haley took off work – Erin and Olivia had already scheduled to be off and we were all home together to get things done.  Paul, Sarah, Erin and I woke up at 4:00 a.m. to head to an all-night Wal-Mart to get what we needed for the meal and the last of the needed items.  The store is about 35 minutes away and so we wanted to get there early and get home as quickly as possible.  While we were gone, Olivia had gone to pick up the carpet cleaner and once we got back I started on the carpets while everyone else started working on their tasks.  Andy’s mother was making the wedding cake and would arrive around 2:00 to get it set up and in place.  What a monumental task she had.  It was a 5 tier cake! 

We had the carpets done, the living room, dining room and kitchen ready and the cake in place by 6:00.  Our menu for the wedding supper was Chicken Divan and Erin had been working on those during the day.  She had 8 huge pans done and in the refrigerator as well.  After we had supper, we all went to the church to decorate.  Andy’s parents had a party to attend but ended up foregoing that and came to the church as well and pitched in.  It was a lot of fun doing it all together - Definitely a good team.  We finished there around 9:00 and headed home.  Everyone was in bed by 10:00 for a well deserved night’s sleep. 

Saturday morning arrived for me about 6:00.  As I awoke I looked outside to see the expected snow. My eyes were blurry from sleep so I wiped them and looked again.  Not one flake! Not even any rain that I could detect.  The sun was rising over the trees and the sky looked clear.  Ah well – God had another plan.  One of the things Erin wanted to do on her wedding day was make breakfast for all of us.  I waited a little while before heading to the girls’ end of the house to allow them to sleep as long as possible.  So about 7:30 I ventured back to let the dogs outside.  As I went into Erin and Haley’s room, my tears began to flow.  There they were snuggled in their beds and on the floor were two mattresses with Sarah and Olivia snuggled under their quilts.  Sometime after Paul and I had gone to bed, the girls brought their mattresses in and they all slept in the same room.  On the dresser was a platter with an empty can of Cheese-Wiz, crackers, pretzels, carrots and ranch dip, and various and sundry other goodies.  They had their own little going away party together.  But at that moment, all I could see was four little girls who couldn’t bear to be apart that night.  As I have said many times before, WE ARE SO BLESSED!

After a little bit, Paul came in as well and the girls began waking up and started telling us about the night before.  Giggles and laughter and memories flowed.  As I looked at Erin, I realized that I probably would not see her waking up in the morning ever again.  She would be waking with Andy from that day on and that window was now closing for me.  How many times she was sleeping in my arms and I would watch her gentle breathing and see her tiny face and hands. How precious for them to finally wake up in one another’s arms. He will now have the great joy of seeing that beautiful face first thing in the morning.

Everyone quickly dressed and started on their tasks for the day.  Erin was in her element cooking breakfast and the girls were all busy making the final preparations.  Dresses had to be steamed and pressed, clothes packed, beds made and rooms readied.  One task that never changes on the farm – wedding or not – animals had to be watered and fed.  Amanda and Jeremy arrived a little after noon to help.  Haley and Paul were hanging lights outside the house and Haley was creating a wonderland in the flower garden since it was where everyone would come in.  Paul had wrought iron shepherds crooks lining the path with lanterns ready to be lit.  It was enchanting.

The ceremony was set to begin at 4:00 and Erin was adamant that we would start on time no matter what.  We arrived at the church at 3:00 and my brother John (Duke to us) was there already with his wife Terry and their daughter Thea. Duke officiated the ceremony and I cannot tell you the meaning of that to me and our family. Not right now – I will have to stop writing for the tears. A friend of the groom’s family, Mr. Ted Embry, also assisted in the ceremony and we were so pleased to meet him and have him be a part of it.  Finally inside we began getting Erin dressed for the ceremony and folks started arriving.  Since the location had been changed at the last minute there was a little confusion about who stood where and when the ushers came and went but they all did beautifully. 

I am going to put a page on just for the wedding and share about the ceremony separate from this sometime this week.  So I won’t spend time right now giving the details of that.  ( http://home.mindspring.com/~erin_renee/id5.html )

Suffice it to say that there were a lot of tears, one mishap and plenty of love!  It was as beautiful as we had hoped.

When the ceremony was over, Vickie (Haley’s future mother in law) and her mom, Martha came on to the house to get things opened up and ready for the folks.  Of course, the families had to remain behind to do pictures.  When we arrived at the house, all the lights and lanterns were lit and it was so beautiful.  The house was filled to overflowing and you could feel the joy pouring out the doors.  Our first task was to do the cake cutting and the toasting.  Andy’s mother had a beverage fountain so we had it filled with apple juice and it was gorgeous.  After these two events, Paul blessed the food and everyone lined up for their supper.  The chicken divan was delicious along with Sarah’s cheddar biscuits and Jeremy’s wonderful spinach and romaine salad. 

The evening was so easy and sweet – folks were chattering away and Erin began opening gifts and cards.  By 7:00 it was time for the two newly weds to begin preparing to leave.  I helped Erin get changed in her going-away dress and we sat in her room for a few minutes talking.  She still looked like my little girl.  I asked her how she was feeling and she said her tummy was hurting.  I remember well that tummy ache – had it myself.  All the culmination of planning and preparing, dreaming, praying and now it was done.  I told her that the moment she got in the car and they headed down the road it would ease.

All the family, friends and guests went outside – it was freezing – and everyone got their handful of birdseed.  Soon Erin and Andy appeared at the door and came through the flower garden under all the twinkling white lights and then through the arbor.  Birdseed flew into the air and it was suddenly all too real.  As Erin ran through the crowd she stopped to give me a hug and we cried one more time as I told her how proud and happy I was that she was my daughter.  It was another moment in time when I was thankful that I do not wear make-up because if I did her white apron would have been smeared with black mascara.  Then she turned and hugged her Daddy.  I know he was blessing her as a Father does and reminding her that she was still our little girl.  Then as it should be Andy reached for her and they ran on to their car, which had been dutifully covered by the young men.  Toilet paper tied to everything, shoes hanging from the back bumper, hair conditioner all over the car and “Just Marrid” intentionally misspelled on the back window.  It was GREAT! 

We waved, laughed and cried as they pulled out of the driveway into the cold, dark night. They were heading to their house to spend their wedding night and then this morning they would leave for their honeymoon in north Alabama.  They have rented a log cabin way out in the woods for this coming week.  It is a beautiful setting complete with a big fireplace to enjoy. 

**I just spoke with her – they are on their way.  God go with them and keep them safe and bless them in every way possible.  Thank you all for your prayers and for the many gifts that you have sent to help them begin their new home.  God has blessed us so much!

Much Love –

Angie, Mother of the Bride