Weekends are for ~

Catching up, at least for me on this Saturday, with all of the activity & challenges happening right now. I wanted to be sure to share it with my family and friends by way of this blog. Since I haven't been writing on a regular basis for most of the past 4/5 months. I was WAY behind in finalizing the posts I had started. Sooo, being in a writing and organizing frame of mind today I decide to get caught up. Spending most of my afternoon coaching pictures from my camera, spell checking, writing and re-writing notes I was able to finish 5 posts! Which is both shameful to not already been done, but euphoric for wrapping up 5 loose ends. Guess it depends on which side of the keyboard your on. If it has been awhile since you stopped by, as in the obvious one of nothing new to read. I will tell you the updates begin with "A Butterfly Saturday" and reads right up to this one. Hope you enjoy catching up on them too.

My JOY DARE gifts ~ counting the blessings from the LORD.

93/18~ talking to daddy on his 80th Birthday today

94/19~ my husband, Lon's fresh wheat biscuits @ breakfast

95/20~ starting the JOY DARE

96/21~ phone call from my son, Jason


Feelin blogging relief,

Deborah

New year ~ new activities

I got most of what I wanted to get accomplished done yesterday, but not for the week as a whole. Even so I feel good about the progress of my new daily/ weekly schedule. Like all new habits, getting comfortable in them takes time and practice. Note to self - remember I said time and practice. It is so easy to get discouraged when plans don't go as we planned. Many who make resolutions, goals or plans will give up at the first sign of resistance. A sure sign of defeat. Each morning breaks new with the opportunity to live the day out with fresh resolve and understanding, that an ultimate plan is in place that can trump our plans. In doing so we can better understand what is often perceived in our eyes as set backs. As instead heavenly detours back towards what our focus needs to be. Or a turn off the self chosen path onto a journey waiting to be experienced that we hadn't even considered. Both of which lead to living the intended purpose for the day, living an abundant life.

Besides making lists and setting up a schedule of sorts for basic home care, pursuit of personal interest and all the areas I would like to organize. I am trying to stay extremely flexible and more laid back in my approach to it all. Which gives me a daily challenge of not pushing ahead ~ full steam. Something I've been known to do from time to time. Though my family would probably say it's an "all the time" activity. Right now I am working towards trying to take care of myself while taking care of the necessary, not all that "appears" urgent. The enemy of my life would have me to think ALL is urgent and out of my control. The urgent is a lie, the out of my control the truth. Ultimately all is out of my control and sits squarely in the hands of the one who controls everything - The LORD. Only with HIS help can I even begin to "manage" what lies before me.

Managing my time to fulfill HIS purpose, answering the call on my life as HIS child, accomplishing what I should in the care of my family, exercising my gifts and talents to bless others and bring HIM glory in the process. When my days are viewed through HIS eyes, my "to-do" list becomes a "TA-DA" victory. And when I consider the hours given to live my life and weed out the wasteful. Now that is a successful day!

"Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us." Psalm 90:17

I picked out some fabric yesterday needed to begin an online quilting class that will run monthly for the year. WOW that is a commitment I've never done before, class that is. Quilting has always been an interest of mine. I've made a few items by hand, even sewing a few "cheat-um" quilts as I call them. Those are the ones that are already a printed not pieced panel sown together. But this class will be about cutting & piecing 20 different blocks with machine stitching. A new arena for me to be sure. I will try (try) to keep my progress blogged about for a couple of reasons. One being it will help me stay accountable to keep up with the classes and secondly it might just inspire you to join in on the challenge. If you would like to check out this FREE video class just click on this link Craftsy Block of the Month or the button on the side bar. Regardless of the outcome of my squares I am hoping to learn some techniques that have been a mystery to me. Never the less I am sure the degree of warmth the quilt will offer won't be affected by my stitching capabilities.

This must be the year of CHALLENGES for me. As I have taken on another one, The Joy Dare as a year long commitment. Actually I started the practice of counting gifts back in the Summer of last year. But have now joined in with others by making a pledge to be public about it. You can join in at A Holy Experience or click on the link button on my side bar to.

I've written about it recently at Recognizing my 1,000 Gifts. Having found the challenge just today I am trying to get caught up with posting this new JOY DARE counting. I will continue to add them to my Gratitude journal by listing both counts together. Each month I will bring new focus quests to look for besides the individual blessings that will come.

January's Counting of Gifts ~ (see calender for explanations *)

76/1 ~my curly hair- couldn't always say that*

77/2 ~ creative talent*

78/3 ~ ability to find pleasure in simple things*

79/4 ~ our farm*

80/5 ~ double kitchen windows to look out of*

81/6 ~ my husband's cooking*

82/7 ~ "Thank You Jesus" by a loved one*

83/8~ "Father we ask for your direction in our lives"*

84/9~ photo of my only granddaughter*

85/10~ Christmas portrait of our kids*

86/11~ husband's eyes*

87/12~ reading the herbal kitchen*

88/13~ knitting a scarf*

89/14~ seeing Daisy & Silas comfortable with each other's presence*

90/15~ Leah's photo by my chair - all smiles*

91/16~ fresh goat's milk in the fridge*

92/17~ Jesus*

Stepping forward into the new year with JOY,

Deborah

Happy New Year ~

Thought I would share the Christmas letter we sent out this year with you, my blog friends. It's like a quick view of the happenings of 2011 here at the farm. Much transpired though little was blogged about. For various reasons I never sat down long enough to type it out as it unfolded. Hope to do a better job this year of recording what is happening on the farm and in my heart.

Greetings from Heartland Farm,


It's amazing to us that we have been here on our fledgling farm for over 2 years. My how the time has surely flown by. Seems like we started our adventure just a short time ago and yet it also feels like we have been here for quite awhile. Not sure if it is caused by an aging mind creeping up on us or the fact that we have been so very busy.

The past year has brought many changes, challenges, laughter, progress, moans and prayers to our door. The farm is a continuous school for learning, stretching, sore muscles, bending of wills and trusting dependence on the Lord. We have been both BLESSED and tested this past year and are thankful for both gifts. We continue to find and enjoy the peaceful joys of simple farm living around us. Of walking hand in hand with the LORD in the garden of our lives.

Many ask us about the activities of our farm so I thought I would give you an update of some of the happenings. Might want to pour yourself a cup of hot tea or coffee and put your feet up for a spell ~ ~

Our "critter" family has grown a lot with the addition of farm hatched Spring chicks & guineas, a multiplying bunny trio (gotcha covered for Easter), birth of 11 goat kids in 2011, (will be keeping at least a buck out of the latest Fall births), at present the herd numbers 13 - of which 5 are milkers, 25 Freedom Ranger meat birds(they are still hanging around in the freezer ), a few more lively roosters (anybody want one?) Besides the 2010 addition of 2 livestock dogs (Great Pyrenees), Nellie and Belle. Who has done a wonderful job of keeping the nasties away from their assorted barnyard family. We have added 2 new kittens - Silas & Gracie, who have brought much comic relief to our workdays.

Enlarging our garden this year, yielded a bountiful harvest for our fresh eating pleasure along with stocking our Winter pantry. Canning, pickling, dehydrating and freezing the picked, shelled, gleamed and food gifts from neighbors filled our Summer days. We ventured out a little further this year and sowed a larger Fall garden as well. The root crops have turned out really well. Inspiring us to step a little further down the path towards providing our own "home grown" goodness year round.

Inside the home I have been busy this past year learning the art of cheese making. Using the fresh milk from our goats, Lon and I have made a variety of soft cheese like Chevre, feta, mozzarella, besides yummy keifer and buttermilk. Obtaining a cheese press has allowed us to turn out a few wheels of hard Cheddar & Caerphilly too. Cheese making is a school master that keeps me on my toes and stretches my brain cells on a regular basis. Both of which I've been told will keep you young, time will only tell. Returning once again to my love of baking this year. I have been trying many new recipes for freshly baked yeast breads. Truly a treat for the pallet and a wonderful air freshener for our home. The opportunity to share some of our Home Grown goodness at local farmer's markets keeps us perpetually trying to perfect our crafts.

We were disappointed this year not to be able to gather honey from our hives. But with a decrease in blooms and Spring showers, the bees didn't produce enough for both their Winter survival and our eating pleasure. Two new hives will be joining our Apiary in early Spring to increase these busy little bees capabilities. Plans are also in the making to provide them with some additional flowering sources in the new year. So our fingers are crossed in hopes of being able to gather up our first jar of "Heartland Farm" honey in 2012.

We are celebrating our 3rd. Christmas here at Heartland this year. It is going to be a very special one for several reasons. Besides our primary one to remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus. We have joy in knowing that Lon will be retiring on Christmas Day this year. What a gift under the tree for us! After 36 years of service in the Fire Dept. he has arrived at that place in time where he can turn in his fire truck for a tractor. He is anticipating all the opportunities this change will offer him. I for one have been giddy for quite awhile knowing I will finally have him home 24/7. We are thankful for all the Lord has provided through his tenure with the Fire Dept, this new opportunity to spend more time together and HIS promised faithfulness to be with us in this new chapter of our lives. To say we are excited is inadequate, the hope and joy we feel is an open door to life experiences we have never known and can't wait to explore.

Wishing you a loving touch from the Lord this Christmas,
The Farmer & the Milkmaid


There lies in front of each of us a new year with blank pages where with to write our life's story. Many make resolutions at this time of year but they are not all that most people hope them to be. I have learned that resolutions never stay long, goals can have a rigid time frame, but living as the days unfold gives one the most blessings. I find that I get more done with a little structure to move me in the right direction and the freedom to change or let go of completely if need be.

Here's to blank pages waiting to be filled,

Deborah

Having a Merry Christmas and a Happy Retirement ~

First I want to say how blessed we are to be celebrating this Christmas with family here at the farm. I truly hope you have taken time to reflect on why we should be celebrating this special time of year. The depth of the reason I fear is often overlooked by the multitude. Sadly even at times by those who have a grace given reason to be celebrating in the first place. Our celebration this year has included both an old and newly implemented tradition. Many years ago when our boys were small we would gather round an advent wreath of simple design. Lighting candles each Sunday and reading our devotional passages. As they grew up and left home, I retired the old wreath and instead a create a new one to take it's place. I wanted a constant daily reminder before us of the one we were celebrating. It was fun looking for ornaments and floral pieces to represent the different names and characteristics of Jesus ~ Morning Star, Rose of Sharon, The Vine, Shepherd, Savior, etc.

Being inspired by some of my recent readings and wishing to capture the simplicity of what it really means to be excited about today. I pulled out the old metal advent candle stand and added the appropriate candles to the heart of the wreath. For the past 5 weeks Lon and I have been lighting a candle and reading the daily devotional passages together from a free Advent book made available by A Holy Experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Ann's book ~"1,000 Gifts" since the middle of Summer when I picked it up at the suggestion of a friend (thanks Jo.) I still haven't finished it as I am trying to savor each page and let the words dwell deeply in my soul as I meditate of the treasure of God's words and ways. See this past post for my reflection on it.

In conjunction with the advent wreath I gathered the craft supplies to make the ornaments for the Jesse Tree featured on Ann's website as well. This activity has given Lon and I a special time for devotions together each day as we have read scripture, the daily devotional passages, had prayer together and placed that's day ornament on our Jesse Tree. Since beginning this activity at the start of Advent I have seen many surprised faces when either of us mention it to friends and family, who have never heard of a Jesse tree. The premise of which is to follow the lineage of Christ through Scripture from the Beginning to His stabled birth. Showing how all of scripture and prophecy foretold of His coming in such humble means. A wonderful way to keep the real focus of this Holy-day before you all month long. I highly recommend it for those wishing to turn their hearts and minds away from the glitter and glitz of commerical-ized Christmas.

So as to look long and deep into the best gift you could receive each year. . . more awareness of Jesus' loving gift of HIS presence. I know some would say why didn't you tell us about this sooner so we could do the same. Well, I really don't have any excuse at all, other than I have been away from my writing for sometime. But now you have been told of this creative option to your Christmas traditions and have a WHOLE year to get ready for next Christmas. You can follow the directions here to get started.

The other special gift we enjoyed this year was my husband's retirement of 36 years in the fire department. He entered into the department the September before we married the following April. It is the only life we have known our whole entire marriage. When one serves in this capacity, the whole family serves along side. Many a holiday, birthday or special occasions had to be set aside due to daddy being at work. Anything that could go wrong, often did while he was on duty. Forget having a regular work week with the weekends free. Shift work required that he be gone for 24* every third day, all 52 weeks of the year. His official retirement date is today, my what a gift! We have been anticipating this change in our lives since moving to the farm 2 1/2 yrs ago. I've been steadily counting down the days on a marker board for a January retirement, but found out the beginning of the month that his date could be moved up. It was so exciting to have come down in the count to single digit shifts left to work but nothing could top erasing the last of them down to a single one all in one swipe.

Enjoying the gifts of Christmas and
Wishing you a Merry Christmas from me to you,

Deborah