47 Of Them...

We are finally back into somewhat of a normal routine this week after having a sick girl all last week. Although she felt rotten, it was a nice break of "typical school". She did lots of sleeping & when she wasn't resting we did a great deal of reading, chatting, snuggling & caring for these...

We have talked of having chickens ever since we moved to the farm but really haven't ever followed through on the idea. A few weeks back the girls & I were into our local farm supply store & of course they (MaKayla & Mal) instantly fell in love. They tossed the idea out to their dad & to be honest, I didn't really think it would go much further than that.

Some long time family friends where we previously lived raise chickens, both laying & broilers, so Kyle called them & asked lots & lots of questions. As well, the individuals that MaKayla & Mal watch puppies for have a small brood, so we made a trip to their place, scoped out their coop, gleaned some good information & before long, plans were being drawn up for a coop & the darlings were purchased... 47 of them.

After three trips to the lumber yard & more money than we had planned, Kyle set to work. He took an extra day off of "normal work" to put our "chicken home" together & board by board, us girls were amazed at his creativity & precision. I simply stood back & marveled...

Undiscovered technique...

Extraordinary skill...

Just as the snow began to fall late Saturday afternoon, the roof was finished...

Now it's building nesting boxes, making ladders, hanging roosting bars, constructing an enclosed run & adding cosmetic details to the outside.

We now have 24 broilers, 34 layers & 3 ducks in our basement, keeping fed, watered & warm until spring finally decides to arrive. :)

In other happenings, Mallary has been soda free for nearly two months now & this week has decided that refined sugar all together must go. Her discipline is inspiring... Uncle Mark has pitched pop through Mal's motivation & last night I asked her to hold  me accountable in regard to my sugar intake. Unfortunately, Mallary has a very sensitive gut (assuming it's a genetic bi-product of Kyle's UC) & she is finding that certain things simply make her hurt & feel nasty. I've told her multiple times today how proud I am of her diligence, perseverance & will power to deny those things that her body doesn't appreciate. At present, we have eliminated all bread & milk & the majority of gluten from our eating. Hard? Yes. But freeing especially when it causes unnecessary inflammation... We're all better/healthier because of it. :)

Bri has been away since the end of December & the reality of not having her close (with the exception of hundreds of daily texts & weekly/bi-weekly Skype sessions) has been a tough transition for MaKayla. She knew her "Ocean" was coming home for Easter therefore she has been counting down the days... It was a sweet reunion last night... ♥

We're all ready for warmer weather...

To come...

And stay...

Praying that this finds each of you doing well...

The one who forever holds my ♥...

Because of Grace...

It's a late start for school this morning as one of the girls went to bed feeling rotten. Sore throat, headache, exhausted. Sleep is what she needs. In turn, my morning has been quiet. Getting up with Kyle. Fixing him food to take to nourish his body throughout the day. Cleaning up a few leftover dishes from last night.

I went to bed with heavy heart in regard to some things that were weighing on me. As I laid there in Kyle's arms unable to sleep...unable for my mind to rest, the Lord spoke ever so softly to my heart, "How do you think analyzing is going to change these situations? Do you believe that if you continue to think them through that you are going to arrive at a solution? Mendi, there are certain things you simply can't change. Give them to Me. Let Me work them out." Within moments I was asleep.

As I stood at the sink this morning doing dishes, my mind went back to how God spoke to me last night, and I reprocessed His words.
His instructions.
"Let go. Let Me."

I meditated on the things that were so weighty on my heart & I realized that God has allowed situations in my life to teach me. To grow me. To sharpen me. To see things in my life that are hurtful to others & unbeneficial in my longing to glorify Him. Attitudes that I extend toward people I love that they can't understand.

Sometimes God allows us to see ourselves clearly through the life of another individual in an attempt for us to starkly see who we ourselves are.
Humbling.

Those areas that Satan wants to keep "hidden"..."undercover"..."concealed"...
Those places he wants us to remain ignorant to.

He wants to keep us so caught up in the turmoil of the situation that we are blinded to the solution.
Prayer.
Surrendering to God.
Trust.

Dish-by-dish I reconciled my heart to the One I love most.
"Forgive me for my portion of wrong in this situation & reveal to me the restitution I need to make. Deliver me from the guilt, condemnation & shame that wants to drape over my spirit & make me aware when I endeavor to place these same weights on others. Liberate me from the bondage of such generational curses that Satan has been so deceptive in & saturate me with Your perfect peace."

Many times our thoughts, attitudes & responses toward people/situations are so learned & familiar that we don't even begin to realize the damage & destruction that lies within them.
Until we ourselves are staring them in the face.

It's in these times that we need to set our faces like flint on Christ & allow Him to shine His light of grace & love so intricately into our hearts that all may be revealed.
He has a lesson of growth in every situation of life...
If we have a desire to be taught...
And are discerning enough to recognize...

But sadly, more times than not, we don't want to see "our part".
It's easier on us to focus on "theirs"...

Instead of focusing on the anger...
Or the hurt...
Or the justification of our feelings...

Instead of defending ourselves...
Or making excuses...
Or wallowing in self-pity...

We need to ask the Lord to show us the err in our lives.
Because typically, the ought we see in others, we ourselves possess in one form or another.
Convicting.

I'm grateful for grace today. And as a wise, seasoned & beloved friend shared with me Saturday evening, grace is God's equipping & provision for what He desires to do in our lives.

God has clearly revealed an area of my heart that is need of change.
And because of grace, as I surrender my heart to Him & submit to His will, He is able, more than able to accomplish what concerns me today.

Letting go.
Letting Him.

#874~freedom from the yoke of guilt, condemnation & shame...all because of Christ

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 

Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1

Happy Saturday...

It's a quiet morning here...
Just Mal & I at home.

MaKayla had told Jon a few weeks back that sometime when he was getting ready to take one of his expectant mom's to have her babies delivered she would like to go & watch. She thought that day would be yesterday however it wasn't "quite time". Jon called her early this morning saying he was on his way with two mom's if she would like to come so she & Kyle (he secretly wanted in on the action...) got right around & headed to the vet clinic. I'm super excited to hear her "report". :) The more time she spends with Jon & Jane & their dogs/puppies & the more she works with them, the more she wants to know & the more involved she enjoys being. It's a tremendous blessing to Kyle & I.

Yesterday was such a gorgeous day here. Warm. Sunny. Beautiful.
Sadly, I can't say the same about today... Cloudy. Gloomy. Chilly.

We did take advantage of yesterday's summer-like feel...

And then last night we had company for supper.
We grilled.
Talked.
Shared.
It was fun.

I can't even count how many years it has been since this piece of "equipment" was out of storage & got "use". Kyle & I worked on cleaning it & then Mal & MaKayla washed all the dishes up. As we prepared it for little hands to enjoy, we reminisced about memories when the girls were "just that size". ♥

MaKayla just called & the first set of puppies are here...

Six beautiful, perfect bully puppies. :)

Now they are waiting to deliver the second set...

The experience has been bittersweet...

The excitement of new life in one situation...

And yet in another...

A family brought in a beloved pet struggling with a heart issue; needing to make the choice to put this creature they love so much to sleep. 

Tears...

Sadness...

Sorrow...

She can relate for we've walked that road a few times ourselves. As a matter of fact, Mal HATES to take any of our animals to the vet for fear of "bad news" & the reality of coming home with one less member... :(

MaKayla's heart breaks for the grief this family is feeling.

Mal is begging to play a game...

Nertz is her choice! :)

Happy Saturday everyone! :)

Believing God...

Finally a refreshing taste of spring here in our little space of the world. I'm typically not one who is affected much by the weather conditions, but the older I get, the more I grow to be more like Dad & Marci...too many cloudy, cold & gloomy days & I have very little motivation. And my attitude somewhat mirrors the outdoor elements...

So today...
I'm thankful for:

♥open windows...
♥fresh air...
♥warm sunshine...
♥gentle breezes...

♥spring scented candles...
♥a visit from Mom...
♥instrumental music...
♥freshly laundered sheets, dried on the clothesline...

♥a husband who comes home to me & loves me endlessly...
♥understood math lessons...
♥homemade laundry soap (by MaKayla's hands)...
♥natural light streaming through the windows...

♥health...
♥life...
♥a tender heart that has grasped the reality of believing God to do the impossible...
♥hope...

As Mallary sat at the kitchen table late this afternoon she conveyed to me that she has decided that she is going to start believing God to take control of certain areas of her life rather than to worry or fret over them. As her mom, friend & sister-in-Christ, this blessed my heart & brought me great joy. ♥

It's been a beautiful day & I am grateful for the blessings God has bestowed upon me. I'm thankful for the work He is doing in my life & in the lives of those I love. I simply can't imagine living a day without the reality of His presence...

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~ Matthew 6:25-34

Although Too Short...

I initially sat down at the table with my Bible & study materials in hand in order to study, think over & pray about the lesson I will be teaching tonight. As typical when I study, I pushed "play" on the CD player. David Nevue happened to be in & as his beautiful music started to play, my mind went to blog mode... :) Bible study materials await me... :) Excited to dig in & be refreshed by the renewing power of The Word...

Last week was absolute craziness with really no sense of schedule or normalcy so this week has been geared toward refocusing & getting back on track. Most of us in this family function best with a set routine so by Monday morning, some of us were kind of a mess.

MaKayla & Mal were gone the majority of last week taking care of these precious wonders...

Nearly 40 of them not including their momma's...

Busy week...
Full week...

Stretching week...

Puppies to bottle feed...
Puppies to put in with their momma's...
Pens to clean...
Baths to give...
Shots to administer...
Farm animals to care for...
Eggs to gather...

It was a non-stop several days & in the end they were T-I-R-E-D! Although it is a great responsibility, Kyle & I are so grateful for the opportunity our girls are given to learn, grow & be stretched under Christian headship. We see it as a tremendous blessing. A gift from God.

*****************************************************************

A week ago this past Sunday, I received a text from my bestie...
"I will be coming home soon. Aunt Jill is not doing well... I will let you know..."

Renee' & I have been friends for years upon years & since she lives many miles away, the times we have together are few & far between. I was sad & sorry for the circumstances she & her family found themselves in yet the thought of her coming "home" was like a drink of fresh water on a parched tongue. ♥

Within two days I received another text...
"Aunt Jill passed away last night. Audrey & I will be flying in today..."

When Renee' comes home, I have to mentally prepare myself that "sharing" is key...
She has other friends...
She has family...
I'm not the only one...(although I have tried to convince her from time-to-time that she needs to come back, not tell anyone & just hide away here with us...)
Sometimes I default to the fact that it would be better for her to stay away rather than to come home...
Good-byes are terrible...
For both of us... ♥

My grandma told me many years ago, "It's really a good thing that Renee' doesn't live around here... It wouldn't be beneficial to your family..." She knows me all-too-well & I know what she is saying is the absolute truth. I mean, in our younger years (before MaKayla & Mal arrived), before Renee' moved away, we worked together, would grocery shop together, go on short road trips & spend most every free moment with one another.

She sets me straight...
Encourages my heart...
Reminds me who I am...
Is always there...

I want my girls to know her...

For Valentine's Day, she sent me this... ♥

Although our time together seemed so short, I am grateful...

We laughed together...
We cried together...
We did suppers...
And lunch...

We talked about faith...
Life...
Struggles...

We shared...
We remembered...
We shopped...

We dreamed...

She's been there...

Through thick...

Through thin...

Through every place in between...

When our babies were born...

When I've lost someone I loved...

During good times...

During bad times...

For always...

Forever... ♥

Although too short, I am grateful... ♥

“If you live to be a hundred, 

I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.”