Ready, Set, Go!

Today wrapped up my preparations for Christmas and with 4 days to spare. Yahoo! I can't recall at present ever being ready this early before. Might have in past years, as I always sought to be done early in the month of December. My success this year is probably due to the scaling back and simplifying of our idea of what Christmas should be about. For the past several weeks I have felt freedom from the preconceived notions of past expectations and what is being pushed by the media. To hear other people talk about their shopping excursions, baking, decorating, etc. only fueled my resolve to kept it simple this year. A challenge for myself on several occasions, as I would think of a particular decor item not being displayed or activity engaged in. Then the old "I need to get that put up" feeling would creep into my thinking quicker than a heartbeat. I am glad to say that I resisted each temptation and told myself "enough is enough". Reminding myself that what goes up, has to come down later. I did not want to create more work for myself than the enjoyment of the idea would bring.

A room by room clean-a-thon freshened the house today. From end to end and side to side, every room received what it needed. Working for 15 minutes and then resting for 15 minutes helped me to accomplish the tasks at hand and allow me to stretch my energies so that playing through out the day could also be accomplished. After all this is suppose to be one of my off days. Something cold to drink and catching up on my emails was a large portion of play time for me. Reading a favorite blog was a special treat as well. The fact that I have had the house to myself for 48 hours since Friday morning was a plus in getting everything finalized. No one was under foot, not even Tigger, our cat. Lon and Jason both have been on duty, due to each of them working an extra shift on each other's scheduled day.

Christmas shopping was completed and all packages were wrapped last evening. The tree now sports a fluffy skirt of colorful packages. Grocery shopping for the house and our Christmas dinner was also completed yesterday as well. It helped to have leftovers in the fridge to eat for my dinners these two days, instead of having to cook. Another blessing towards getting done what I needed to. So here I sit with all in readiness to start the count down to Christmas next week. Tomorrow we will have our Christmas musical at church and all that will be left is to enjoy Mom & Dad's visit. They arrive tomorrow afternoon to spend the week with us and other than some cooking for our Christmas dinner, I have no other plans than to relax and chat.

In the midst of cleaning this afternoon there arose such a cladder that I had to spring to my feet to see what was the matter. No, it was not a jolly figure dancing on my roof. It was not even someone come to spread good cheer. But destruction instead! Instantly, I recognized the distress call from one or more of our girls. Quick movement down the front steps revealed the visitor was not at all welcomed and was intent on some Christmas dinner for itself.

A small Marsh Hawk had one of our chicken in a tissy and pinned behind the azalea bushes out front. As I called to her if flew to a nearby tree, intent on trying to recapture it's meal. That is until I made a ruckus myself, convincing it to move on to find other hunting grounds. Capturing the frighten hen was of little trouble, as she collapsed behind a bush and allowed me to pick her up. Missing and ruffled feathers off her back and wings spoke of a struggle to get free. Whether they were removed by the hawk or the tangle of limbs under the bushes, it remains to be seen. She did receive an injury to her right eye, that was bleeding. But for now it is hard to tell whether she has any internal injuries that I can't see. Placing all the girls back into their play yard for safe keeping for the rest of the day, hopefully will persuade the chicken thief to look else where for a free meal. Upon inspection tonight as I closed up their coop, she was sitting quietly with the injured eye closed, which for now is a good sign. Earlier she was only laying on the ground not moving, but now she was up on the roost for bedtime. Tomorrow morning her activity will let us know if she will recover or not.

All the warm, wet weather of the past week has been unseasonably for this time of year. A trend that does not lend itself to keeping the Christmas ideal of frosty window panes, carolling in the snow, heavy coats, scarves and mittens, Christmas sweaters, mugs of hot chocolate and stockings hung by the fire. All may change tomorrow if the weather forecasters are correct in calling for a big dip in our temperatures, with highs in the 40's and lows in the 20's. The change will require a flip not only of the outside thermostat, but the inside one as well. For we have been having temperatures in the 70's for several days now. A chance to cuddle up in front of the fireplace may be in our future after all.

I'm ready, all set and waiting to go.

Deborah

Christmas Sweets !

Future Homemaker ~ Leah

I've heard the saying that "A picture says a thousand words". So this post will need very few to be added. But you know me, I will have to add some from my point of view anyway. At this time of the year in many homes around us there are cookies being baked, shared and eaten in large quantities. Nothing beats warm cookies eaten right out of the oven with a tall glass of COLD milk to wash them down. On many occasions during my lifetime I have baked my share. All alone, with my boys, and along side my mother to name just a few. I felt today was the perfect time to introduce a new little baker to the joys of freshly baked, warm from the oven cookies. Being this close to Christmas it was only fitting that we should bake some that looked like all the decorated trees we see everywhere we go. After nap time today we pulled out the baking sheet, her step up stool and the package of cookies with trees on them. For a 2 1/2 year old, the waiting is the hardest part. While I wasn't looking one of the uncooked cookies showed a suspicious looking chunk missing from it's side. Upon closer inspection of a sheepish grin, on a cherub face, I discovered a tiny set of teeth marks on it. Yes, my apprentice baker in training, had decided to do her own taste test. All the explaining about waiting to eat the baked cookies fell on deaf ears, as she explain in return that it was "good". How could you disagree, when on more than one occasion I suspect we have all done our own taste tests on raw cookie dough, cake or brownie batter.

Her shirts says it all ~ SWEET!

When all were done and cooling on the counter, we toasted our glasses of milk to a job well done, and enjoyed the fruit of our labor ~ warm cookies right from the oven.

Oh, the joys of baking and eating the treats we've made!

Oh, the joys of Christmas and new experiences.

Blessings from Leah & Me,

Deborah

Christmas Glow

First let me start with some Christmas glow seen last night. The night sky held the most glorious full moon in the clear, cold, December sky here on Heartland Farm. I am sure it was just as spectacular at your home as well. Did you see it? We were out and about doing some shopping and noticed it just after dusk from an open parking lot we were in. Where it seemed to hover over us with an intensity larger than life. We commented on it's beauty then and again after getting home. As daddy had called to leave a message for me to go outside and check it out, for he knows how I love to see wonderful things in the night sky. I tried to take some pictures, but they do not give the moon the majesty due it. A creation worthy of being noticed, making me think of the glow of a Bethlehem star seen by some shepherds many years ago.

As seen this morning at pre-dawn through the trees ~ "The Cold Moon"

I also though you might like a glimpse of some Christmas glow seen here at home this morning also.

Blessings,

Deborah

Changes in the New Year

Seems I can't get off the subject of changes. So if you will indulge me for a little longer I would like to add to this subject. Daily I see changes in the lives of everyone around us and in our life here on Heartland Farm as well. I believe we would all be wise to consider them a natural fact of life. It would make life's ups and downs easier to handle if we did. Some of them bring joy, others heartache, but all bring new realities to our lives. For us the opportunity to live out a dream is a change on our horizon. One that is being considered and investigated as a possibility in the next year. Lon and I have mentioned on several occasions of our desire to live on a larger parcel of land. To have the ability to establish a place better suited to the name of Heartland Farm. The idea to "move west, young man, move west" has been on Lon's heart for many years. Thought of his retirement somewhere in the future, has been a tantalizing image dreamed about and spoken of on more than one occasion. I am sure this type of talk is a surprise to many who know us on the surface, but do not know the depth of our hearts. A shock will inevitably be had by all who hear of our plans no doubt.


For many years we have been adjusting our future image of retirement and how we hoped to live those years out. I believe God has been working in both of our lives towards a common goal that would have us in tandem with being who HE would like us to be. The goal to be debt free and at HIS disposal has been a strong one. One that the Bible states will be blessed by HIM in our obedience to it. The freedom from debt would enable us to live life to the fullest and able to be on mission for the Lord in a lot of ways. Like the one coming up next year in July for me.

Another change on the horizon for 2009 is a mission trip to Honduras with a group from Beulah Baptist Church. Something I've wanted to do for many years, but have never followed through on till now. A sure test of my commitment to following the Lord's will for me is coming. Unlike a vacation to a secluded beach somewhere, this trip will challenge me spiritually, emotionally and physically. As we hike many miles a day to reach remote villages with the good news of God's love for them. Working along side of the people to help them establish churches and better living conditions, meeting their physical needs through a medical clinic, living and eating as they do. Talk about a change from the American way of life! It will be a lot different from what I know as reality for me, but I feel the call to go. And go I will, as the Lord provides the monetary resources I will need.


The potential move to Alabama on the other hand, to a rural homestead of sorts is a daily conversation here at Heartland Farm. The changes this move would create are ever before us and we discuss them, even as we bend over them in prayer. To think on all that we would need to do, can overwhelm us at times. Letting go off 32 years of accumulative living, filling our closets and storage areas will be a lesson towards living the simple life on a homestead farm. One complete with varied livestock, barns, vegetable gardens, farm chores, a smaller home and the joys that come from living close to the earth with dependence on God for our well being. I know for many this is not something they would ever consider. As our lives take different roads based on God's will for us and our individual personalities and desires. But as I told Lon last week as we walked a piece of land we are considering to buy. For me, I believe it will be like coming home to the life I have always felt apart of me. He and I are in agreement on what we would like our future to look like. As soul mates, married for life, best friends this kind of move will work for us.

I believe these are just two of the changes the Lord will bring into our lives in the next year and the years to follow. He has brought us through so many already, that I know he will carry us through each one we will face. To be found faithful in them will be a blessing beyond words.

Seeking new directions. . . . in a new year,

Deborah