Simple Joy

Dear All,

Sorry I haven't written in awhile.  I think that I have been suffering from a bit of writer's block.  *sigh*  However my mum really wanted to see pictures of this wonderful little thing that I made and suggested I write a post about it, so here it goes.

Notice all the pockets!!!  They are wonderful!  I added the one on the right.
I am considering moving it down to the bottom of the bag, so that it has a little more stability.

I recently started attending a bible study that my church hosts called "Bible Study Fellowship."  It is an interdenominational Bible Study and about 200 women from the community currently attend it.  I am enjoying the study thus far, however I noticed my second time there that all of the ladies had wonderfully creative and cute bags to carry all of their materials in.  I felt quite out of place, because I was carrying everything I had in my hands quite clumsily.  Now I'm not going to even go into the psychological ramifications of this feeling or the fact that there quite possibly are some jealousy issues that I need to deal with, I consider myself a bag lady and I was lacking, okay?  We'll work on the jealousy at another time.  :-)  However I have solved the problem with my own creativity and am quite proud of the results.  See as I was contemplating the fact of having no bag, my mind got to working, because I could not justify going out and spending a lot of money on materials or for that matter a pre-made bag.  What a dilemma!  

Then I thought well maybe I could confiscate a pair of Handsome's jeans to make myself a bag, but then I would have to make a flawless argument to him of why I needed his pair of jeans to make a bag.  I had a feeling that I would lose that one, as Handsome has the superior debate skills.  However I could use my own pair of pants for the bag and perhaps I could persuade Handsome of this endeavor.  Eureka!!!  I had a solution and I had the perfect pair of pants.  I had this wonderful pair of brown cargo pants that were in wonderful condition, because I rarely wore them.  At some point in time I must have sat down on a minuscule droplet of bleach resulting in a bright red spot very near the crotch.  This spot made it difficult for me to wear said pants for the overwhelming feeling that everyone was looking at my rear trying to figure out what the spot was.  *sigh*  

Okay rabbit trail over....I found my perfect pants for my bag.  I'm sorry I didn't take pictures of the process that I took to create the bag, but I did take a lot of my ideas from this blog: http://www.favecrafts.com/Sewn-Bags/Funky-Jeans-Bag.  I haven't decided if I am completely done with my bag yet or not, but I am thrilled that I was able to spend very little money on a bag that completely fits what I want in a bag.  :-)  I encourage each of you to think outside of the box when it comes to your wants.  The simple joy of creating something without spending money can not be over exaggerated.  

May God bless each of your creative endeavors with laughter and simple joy.

Blessings,

The Adventurous Farm Wife

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