Spring happenings on the farm...

When I was young I loved spring for reasons like Softball, baseball, the end of school, and summer's approach. Now that I am old "er", I like spring for all the new life on the farm: new goat kids to add to my flower girls in the pasture, working in the yard planting new plants, and all my flowers blooming! J and I are not afraid of hard work and spring on the farm reminds me of why we love this. There is MUCH work to be done! But, seeing little faces like Mum, Camellia, and Petunia join our gang make it worthwhile. Caleb said, "sweet precious little ones. I could eat they with a spoon." New kids are so fun to snuggle, watch, listen to their sweet noises and get to know. Jeb saw about his 3rd live birth. When the "stuff" was oozing out and the bloody mess was on the ground he looked at me and said, "is that normal?" YUP! When Caleb ran up on the scene after Daddy assisted Buttercup in pushing the first babe out he said, "Where did THAT come from?" We laughed our heads off in the middle of what was a stressful birth!

The other great thing about this spring is that the cows are back (see pic)! They have been wintering for about 2 months on Papa's side of the farm, but now they are back where we can see them and visit with them often on the golf cart. My dad has always said that cows are so peaceful to be among and as I age I think I am learning about that.

We have also loved the temps being so that it is perfect for smores making. We've already had about 4 smores parties! The kids love the sugar high, the running in the wild at dark, and flashlight fun.

Caleb had a great 3rd Bday. His Bday is close to his Nana Mac's so we had a surprise party for her and celebrated them both on the same afternoon. We had a spring/Beach/Old Yeller theme...interesting combo, huh? It was fun playing pin the tail on Old Yeller. Caleb loved his Old Yeller cake and we sang him the theme song and he liked that (it was his request to NOT sing Happy Bday, but to sing "Old YELler, come back Yeller, Best doggone dog in the West!" I love the shot of
"Travis" with his "bun" standing next to his Old Yeller cake! I recently asked him what did he think that I liked to do best and his reply was, "work with me."

Our small group has been digging deep this year and wrestling with some tough thoughts/ideas/ challenges. But, we've also had some good times! Hebrews 13:1 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.

Some thoughts I've been pondering on lately : If we are afraid to be different from the world, how can we make a difference in the world? ~Rev. John I. Jenkins
In Francis Chan’s book, Crazy Love, he mentions that, “something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers.” Hummm...

In other news: J got teacher of the year! I am so proud of his honorable reputation. I try to honor him everyday, but it is nice that someone else does! God has been working in our hearts about missions and doing more outside of our local church for a long time. J decided to go to Haiti on a Mission Trip with some folks from our faith family. I am so excited for him and for the opportunity for him to love like Jesus. I know that our family (and hopefully some folks there) will never be the same again--that is an exciting thought.
Matthew 28:19-20

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”


Hebrews 13: 15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13 : 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”

6 So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”

Creeks and Chicks

The past two weeks could be summed up like this--sunny days, dirt, new chickens, and creek time!

Caleb (as you can see from the pics) was so very proud of his new chicks. He wanted an ax, ladder, bulldog, a rope,a "bun"/gun, and chickens for his Bday. The only part of that that came true was 3 new chicks (he named them Travis (despite being a hen), Ms. Coats (Travis' mom on Old Yeller), and one named Lulu (after his girlfriend's horse). The other three are Jeb's: Sandy, Angelica, and ? We also got three new grown-up chickens for him and I named them in honor of Carson: Cinderella, Ariel and Belle. She liked that.

We set out for the creek one day recently and I called Aunt Jenny on the way there and she set out from her house and after some searching we rendezvoused at the creek for a while! It was a great time and a wonderful memory for them all. When Uncle Jonas got there, we then walked a long way exploring up the creek and all the way around to our house. The kids were soaked, dirty, cut, thirsty, bruised, and hungry when they finally made it back (and so were the adults).

Then, we took our other cousins back there another hot day recently and all the boys stripped down and had a good time. Meggie held and enjoyed her first worm and Kyler and Jeb pretended to eat one! It is risky to post this b/c I don't know if my sister-in-law will leave her kids with me again after sending them home THIS dirty.

Love this new song...well, it was new to me?

Leave Room for Cream

My mom sent this devotional to me with a kind note about how it reminds her of me, and it was the greatest compliment I've gotten in a year or so. I love living life to the fullest and always have. I love to host Girls' Nights, small groups, family get-togethers, birthday parties, surprise parties, farm parties, and Thanksgiving. When my Aunt Jeanie introduces me she sometimes says, "and this is Abby our niece who likes to live large!" I guess that means that I like to do a lot, go a lot of places, try lots of things, adventure often, and make the most of my days here. I read the devo below and I was so thankful that my mom thinks I am leaving room for cream. The bottom line is that life is hard (for everyone), so we all need to leave some margins in our life and make some plans to add cream often for a sweeter existence. I am aiming to do more for God this year when it comes to giving some cream and sweetener. We are thinking more about giving until it really hurts us and requires us to sacrifice more than we are these days. I think we'll be the ones with a sweeter life in the end b/c we can't out give God (Matt 25/Mark 10: 17-28).
I create sweetness in my life not only by being with others, but I also love to curl up with a good book, go for a long walk, and dig in the dirt and plant flowers. When I go somewhere you better believe I do everything there is to do and try everything there is to take in (food/culture/sights). I am as J says, "afraid I might miss a little fun!" Unfortunately, I have sung him the "every party needs a pooper" song more than once and even Jeb knows it now-ha! For the most part, he tolerates my shenanigans and usually end up enjoying it. I cook supper early in the morning so I can play outside with the boys until the very last minute before dinner. I love a mini-van full of kids (some that aren't mine) singing country music very loudly. I enjoy cherishing all our 4-legged and 2-legged friends here and I don't mind when they make me nasty or slobber on me one bit. I know that having fun and going and doing can become too much and idolatrous (and if I'm honest my next "fun" thing does consume too much of my time-ha!), but I have a hubby who keeps my feet firmly on the ground I think! He won't put up with too much junk or the music too loud for too long. I think if it weren't for him I'd be a vagabond probably...well, maybe not b/c I do love home. I try to balance creating sweetness with a nice dose (but not nearly generous enough) of serving God and encouraging people every chance I get or can create. I used to wonder why I loved living this way, but then I realized that BOTH my grandmothers were socialites who enjoyed things like front-porch chatting, laughing with friends, bridge club, DAR meetings, and being involved in their church. Then, when I try to call my Dad he is usually playing tennis, going to Christian Motorcyclists meetings, at his sailboat, at choir practice, or meeting with his buddies from high school for dinner. Now I realize why I am the way I am...I come from a long line of folks who loved life. I have always loved these quotes:

"Keep the main thing the main thing."
AND
"Don't be so busy doing that you don't enjoy being." Even though some of my "doing" looks like business it is often that which add cream to my life; I am a high energy lady folks. It is just the way I was born: no caffeine required (although, I drink some every day!). I love having fun and I love people and so I love doing things and planning fun things with people. Sometimes all these fun things can look like and become selfish endeavors, but I find that investing in relationships with people involves spending quality time (that is my love language of course) together. I find that if I don't make plans and put it on the calendar intentionally then memories are never made and real friendship never happen and time just slips by.


Room for Cream
BY
Marybeth Whalen

"The thief comes only to steal, and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
John 10:10 (NIV)

"Shall I leave room for cream?" the smiling barista asks me as I place my coffee order.

I smile back at her and nod, anticipating receiving my cup full of dark liquid so I can carry it over to the doctoring station and customize it with a generous splash of cream and two sweeteners.

As I wait in line to create my comfort in a cup, I ponder the barista's question. I think about the idea of leaving room for cream—not just in my cup, but in my life. I always leave room for cream in my coffee, but I can't honestly say I always leave room for cream in my life.

Cream sweetens and lightens and richens. How do I leave room in my life for the things that sweeten and lighten and richen? As I pour and stir, my thoughts drift to the last week. I've done the have-to's: laundry, carpool, dishes, exercise. But it's harder to think of those little extras that fill my cup to the brim... sweet, light, rich extras.

Sweet: Time with friends just laughing and enjoying each other. Turning on a favorite song and dancing in the kitchen. Listening to my children when they talk. Taking the extra time to hear their hearts. Putting fun things I look forward to on the calendar. Turning the pages of a novel just for the joy of experiencing a great story. Pushing pause on my life so I can rest and recharge.

Light: Time in God's Word, which the Bible says is a light for our path in life. Journaling what He's telling me and what I'm learning about life. Time to pour my worries and anxieties out to Him, then leave them at His feet. Time to press into Him so I can hear His voice above all the others in this loud, busy world. Stepping out of the rat race and worshiping Him with abandon lightens my load.

Rich: Giving of myself through my time and talent. Tithing regularly to my church. Finding people who need a meal, a donation, a word of encouragement and then making the effort to actually give it to them and not just think it's a good idea. Surrendering myself to God's will instead of holding fast to my own.

All of these are things that bring me great joy, that help me reach that place of abundance I believe Jesus wanted us to live in now. Abundance, I am finding, does not come from merely wanting it. It comes from intentionally reaching for it—a result that requires action. It requires leaving room in my life for these things—not packing my life so full of have-to's that the cup is already full.

When that happens, I can try to add the cream but it will only spill over, wasted. It starts when I leave room from the beginning or take a moment to pour out what is already too full. With a little thought and a little effort I can learn to hear Jesus ask me, "Did you leave room for cream?"

And I can smile back at Him and say, "You better believe I did!"

Dear Lord, I want to live the life of abundance You called me to—a life that is sweet and light and rich. Help me remember that I have to leave room in my life for abundance or it will always elude me. Help me to seek You first and let You show me how to leave room for cream. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?

Visit Marybeth's blog

The Mailbox by Marybeth Whalen

She Reads a division of P31 for fiction fans

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Application Steps:
If you brew coffee at home or order a cup at a coffee shop today, while you're waiting for it spend time praying for God to show you ways you can leave room for cream in your life. Resolve to think about having an abundant life every time you fix your coffee.

Reflections:
What does an abundant life look like? What would fall in my sweet, white and rich categories?

Power Verses:
Psalm 65:11, "You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance." (NIV)

Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (NIV)

© 2011 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.

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Great Wolf Getaway

We have been saying for a year now that we would take Jeb to Great Wolf Lodge when he was a successful reader. As we moved on to Level 2 books he was still asking...so I made good on my promise this week. We could go for half the price since it was the middle of Feb and the middle of the week so the time was ripe for being there. The resort was spotless and the beds were plush...and the water park was heaven on earth for my two little water bugs. I think they would swim until they just collapse.

This resort had the feel of the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone for me so I was felt quite nostalgic and the boys loved the all the bears and wolves everywhere. They had Chuck-E-Cheese like show with moving animals (minus the bad pizza and terrible crowds and stinky smells) and a bedtime story. It was a good, short family getaway for us. I think the boys could stay in a Super 8 and love it, though. They just love hotels. It is fun to have a more simple existence for a while and just be in one room with a few things and nothing to clean!

The boys loved all the slides and I think Jeb rode the speedy mat slides about as many times as my calf muscles could walk the stairs (there were no lines midweek--yeah!), but still I think they both just liked playing with us in the plain pool and its few attractions the most. Two parents with undivided attention to give will always be the best toy I suppose.




We have put our pup back outside now that it is not so cold and you can see from the pics I took of Caleb one morning that he misses her. I was wiping down the table when I spotted them turtle dovin' and I love these shots of this boy and his puppy.