Dependency

Dear All,
As I was washing dishes the other day the realization hit me that I am blessed beyond what I can imagine and it is causing me to have a lack of dependence on the God that has blessed me so richly.  All of the complexities and comforts of life have made it so that I have lost the need to be dependent on God.  Its not that I don't desire to be dependent on God, but rather that its not a daily thing that I feel that I need.  Now let me make clear for those of you that are concerned for my faith that I'm no wheres near losing my faith in God that's not the problem.  Rather the problem is that I am so blessed by God and am so comfortable in my life, that my daily reliance on God for the simplest of things is severely lacking.  I am extremely grateful for all the things God has spoiled me with, but a small part of me desires to go back to a time where the internet didn't exist, horses were the main mode of transportation, heaters were wood stoves, and telephones were a rarity.  Granted my reliance on God even then might have issues, but then at least I wouldn't have the excuse of having an easy life to blame it on.  ;-)  I realize that many of you don't have this same issue, but for those of you that do have this issue know that you're not alone.  God is still working in me to create the woman that He sees.  May He bless you all as richly as he has blessed me.  In other news I thought you all might like to see the progress on the new barn!

North Side of Gestation Barn

East End of Barn

South Side of Barn

It has heat in it now, and fans were put in today!!!  It is super exciting to see how God continues to bless and see this project to completion!!!

Love to you all,

The Adventurous Farm Wife

Tribute to a Friend

Dear All,
A friend of mine has passed away.  Though I haven't seen him in awhile, all of a sudden there is an ache in my heart where he held his place.  Mike O'Rear, he was the man that married my parents and is very near their age. He was the man that not until 20 years after he married them informed my parents that he was in fact a democrat.  Oh the laughter and political discussions we had around my parents' dining room table.  I can still here his laugh.  Mike taught me a lot about learning to respect a person in spite of political disagreement, which is easier said than done for me.  :-)  I hold my political beliefs very dear to my heart, but he helped me learn that having Christ as Lord of your life is way more important than who is President of your country.  Mind you I still value my political beliefs, but they definitely took a couple steps down in the priority ladder.  I will definitely miss my friend, but I hope that all of you along with me will say a prayer for his family and company.  They will sorely miss him in spite of the realization that he is now with his Lord and Savior.  "I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.  Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them"  ~Ecclesiastes 9:11-12~
Love to you all,
The Adventurous Farm Wife

Reflections

Dear All,
After being on the road and gone from my home for 12 days its wonderful to be home.  It was great to visit family, but its also wonderful to be home again.  Something that really struck me and humbled me was Handsome's family.  They are an absolutely wonderful family and I love them oh so dearly.  What struck me was that I felt so at home and accepted by them.  Now some of you may be saying, "Well I would hope so, you did marry into their family," but that's just it, I married into their family.  I am not their flesh and blood, but they treat me as such.  They are showing me a love that I had never experienced outside of my own family and it has humbled me.  

I love my new family!!!  They are great!  :-)

It is an ever present reminder of how my God sees me.  I was not a part of His family until I married His Son and became the Bride of Christ.  I am therefore loved beyond what I can imagine because of who I became.  It is very humbling though, because I still remember who I was and how undeserving I am of His Love.  It is fun though to see the reflections of God's Love for us in the simplest things of life.  Like the Apostle Paul said, "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12) I know that my family's love for me is only a speck of God's Love for me, but it is a wonderful reminder all the same. I hope that all of you are seeing the "poor" reflections in your lives and looking to the One who created them. Blessings to you all for the New Year!
Much Love,
The Adventurous Farm Wife

P.S. I love being married if you can't tell already! :-)

Santa's Workshop

Good Evening!
I discovered something about myself today, I discovered that I really really like JoAnn's.  For those of you who aren't familiar with this wonderful place it is a fabric and craft store similar to Hobby Lobby or Ben Franklin Craft.  I view it as a sort of Santa's Workshop.  The ladies that work there have a sparkle in their eyes that just makes you want to smile.  Then there are all the crafts that surround you as you walk in the door.  There are items for baking wonderful treats, then there's the jewelry section, painting section, scrap-booking, stamping, oh and did I mention the wall of fabric?  Just thinking about it makes me excited to go back.  The only downside is that it all costs money.  Humph....  Its still fun to look though.  : )  The creative genius in me loves to come out the moment I step in a store like that, and I don't even have to buy anything.  I also think that's why I love watching North Pole themed movies.  (Did I mention that I get distracted easily...squirrel!)  They spark within me creativity and ignite my imagination.  Don't get me wrong though, they aren't the center of my universe, Christ is.  However they do trigger something within the mind that God made, to think outside of the box and create things that are unique and special.  What triggers your imagination?  What do you suppose triggers God's imagination, after all we are created in His Image, so He has to have an imagination.  : )  Take some time to enjoy the imagination that God gave you, it's special.  I think I might go back to my Santa's Workshop...tomorrow.
Love,
The Adventurous Farm Wife

Thanksgiving Aftershock

Good Morning!
We had quite the week last week.  Handsome and I's House was bubbling with laughter, and conversation, the occasional cat napper was snoozing in the corner, books covered the coffee table, and shoes filled the area near the back door.  I enjoyed every minute that we had with friends and family!  The only downside was the realization Saturday night as I was about to fall asleep that I had several things on my to do list that didn't get done and should have been done.  Poor Handsome, he had to listen to me for the next ten minutes go on and on about the things that I forgot to do.  Its a very good thing that he loves me.  : )  Its also a very good thing that we don't have a God like me.  Its reassuring to know that when God gets "busy" He doesn't have moments afterward when He goes, "Shoot, I forgot to answer that prayer request. Oh, and the angels mentioned there was an issue with flooding in that area....oops."  Thank You Lord for being aware of our every move and for not forgetting the little things!  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and the harshness of reality setting back in hasn't thrown you too off kilter.  Oh and Happy 1st day of December!  (Wow!)

Love to you all,

The Adventurous Farm Wife

The Day

Hello All,
Well today was "the day", the grand slam, the icing on the cake, the cat's meow...and the sayings continue.  However to explain, today was the day that the first "bit" of concrete was poured for the Gestation Barn!  Woohoo!!!  *Do a little happy dance!*  Everything went smoothly.  (Heehee, pun.)  : )  They started pouring at 8:00am and were finished a little before 4:00pm.  Around 57 trucks delivered 570 yards of concrete.  Wow!  There's definitely no going back now, that is unless we want to change and build a very large roller skating rink.  Hmmm...not a bad idea really, however the smell from the hog barns next door might be a deterrent for business.  Well I guess we're stuck building a Gestation Barn then.

Through this entire process it has been amazing to see the hand of God at work.  Where once there was a swamp, now there is a very large concrete pad.  Now some might not consider that much of a feat, but that depends entirely upon your point of view.  Isn't that how God starts any project though?  When He begins work on a sinner the world doesn't see much, but in God's perspective He sees His child as they will be.  The world only sees the transition slowly over time, but He always sees the end result.  As Handsome and I begin this project you may only see a concrete pad, but we see a Barn!  Watch out for those concrete pads in your life, one day you may run into a barn.  : )

Love,

The Adventurous Farm Wife

Proverbs 31

Good Morning All!
Yesterday Handsome gave me the most wonderful thing, he gave me a day to clean the house!!!  I absolutely love and enjoy cleaning.  I never feel more accomplished than when the floors have been vacuumed and mopped, the sinks sparkling, the kitchen spotless, and the living room without clutter.  Ahhh...life is good!  : )  I haven't always been this way and I think my mother, God bless her, was really holding her breath for awhile hoping that I would grow out of that stage, I did.  I think when I was about 13 or 14 I read Proverbs 31:10-31 for the first time.  I remember just being in awe of this woman that God describes and in my heart decided that was who I wanted be.  Thank you Lord, that I had parents that encouraged this and helped me when I was anything but that woman.

Every time I read through it I become even more energized to be that wife for my husband, because more than anything I want to hear when I get to heaven, "Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all."  I want my Lord to see a woman that both fears Him and loves Him enough to give of all of her abilities every day not just the days she feels like it.  If you haven't read through this portion of scripture lately, I encourage you to do so.  It is one of the places in scripture that God really lays out what He wants to see in the beautiful women He has created.

Beautiful Women that fear the Lord!  

Warning: This is not for the faint of heart, but choosing to follow the Lord isn't either.  Choose wisely this day who you will be.

 Love ya,

The Adventurous Farm Wife