I haven't written very frequently lately, mainly because I haven't felt like I've had time to sit down and put my thoughts into words, but also because I haven't known what to write about.
First Grandpa is doing exceptionally well 6+ weeks after his fall from the manure tank truck. He is back to mowing the yard and hoeing in the garden and taking long walks to get his fitness and strength levels back. But he is still not really allowed to help out with all his old tasks, so that has kept us busy with a little more work load. Which has also contributed to why I haven't written much.
Since Grandpa's fall, life has seemed pretty tough. Last week was especially hard. We have been working through some cow health issues on top of the continuing tough financial situation. Last Monday was a pretty discouraging day. It felt like we were at the end of the rope. I feel like I never stopped praying that day (it should be that way all the time) and yet I had no words to pray just feelings, hopes, desires, and dreams.
That evening and the next day I was reading from 2 Kings. There are a lot of cool stories about Elisha at the beginning of 2 Kings! The part that specifically caught my attention this time was 2 Kings 6: 8-23.
Elisha's servant is concerned about the problem that appears to be pretty big right in front of him. But Elisha is seeing the much bigger God that he trusts in and the forces that God has at his command.
Verse 16- “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet [Elisha] answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
I've heard it said that we shouldn't tell our God how big our problems are, but instead we should tell our problems how big our God is. Instead of living life with big problems and a little God, we need to change our viewpoint to little problems, BIG God!
Different verses kept coming to my head about how great God is and how insignificant the problems that we are facing really are.
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31
“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 2Cor. 12:9
I know who I believe in. I know that the problems that we face here don't even come close to the hope that we have for the future with God. I know that I am weak and that God is faithful and that his grace really is enough!
June 11, 2012
May 26, 2012
I love strawberries!
Yum!! I love fresh fruit! This morning I cut up these tiny, but tasty strawberries to put over the super easy shortcake that I made.
Mix:
1.5 t salt
4 t baking powder
3 c all-purpose flour
2 T sugar
Gradually add:
3/4 c milk
Pat the dough into greased 9"x9" baking dish. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Cool and serve with fresh fruit (like strawberries) and milk, yogurt, or ice cream!
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| It doesn't look very good, but I'm sure it will taste great! |
May 24, 2012
A Senator's visit
On Monday, we were privileged to be visited by Senator Casey, one of our PA senators. He was here to promote the Farm Bill and tour our facilities. We had a very good time, and Duchess enjoyed being spoiled by all the people who were here.
An interesting tidbit: 20 years ago, Senator Casey's father, who was then the Governor of PA visited the farm to tour the farm and see the field terraces along with the Governor of MD.
It was a great time and we felt very privileged to have the Senator with us!
An interesting tidbit: 20 years ago, Senator Casey's father, who was then the Governor of PA visited the farm to tour the farm and see the field terraces along with the Governor of MD.
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| Scrapbook page from Josiah's photo album |
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| Josiah was on TV! |
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| The entourage |
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| Josiah and the Senator just chillin in the robot room |
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| Some one else wanted some attention |
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| She slept well all afternoon! |
May 11, 2012
My lime song
This morning as we were putting more bedding in the cows' stalls, I was inspired by my task to make up a song. Of course I used the tune of another song that I am familiar with, but I changed the words to reflect the task that I was doing.
This is my lime (like the white powdery stuff, not the green fruit) song, sung to the tune of "I've Got A River of Life Flowing Out Of Me" (which is a great song, my version is not as good)
I've got a cloud of lime coming over me
Makes my nose to run
And my eyes can't see
Open up the doors
Set the lime clouds free
I've got a cloud of lime coming over me
Spring up oh breeze
And come to me
Spring up oh breeze
So I can see
Spring up oh breeze
And come to me
I'm sneezing abundantly
The end.
I love being spontaneously creative!
This is my lime (like the white powdery stuff, not the green fruit) song, sung to the tune of "I've Got A River of Life Flowing Out Of Me" (which is a great song, my version is not as good)
I've got a cloud of lime coming over me
Makes my nose to run
And my eyes can't see
Open up the doors
Set the lime clouds free
I've got a cloud of lime coming over me
Spring up oh breeze
And come to me
Spring up oh breeze
So I can see
Spring up oh breeze
And come to me
I'm sneezing abundantly
The end.
I love being spontaneously creative!
May 3, 2012
Extra busy
I feel like I haven't posted in a long time. Things have been pretty busy around the farm with all the post-harvest, pre-planting activities. I think all the manure hauling is complete and corn is ready to be put into the ground as soon as the fields dry out from the storm last night.
And we've been doing everything since one week ago today, without the help of Grandpa Garber. Since then he has been at the hospital, and now at home recovering from a fractured bone in his back. It was a miracle really that no other bone was broken and there wasn't more damage! He fell off the top of the manure tank truck (it would actually be more correct to say that he was thrown off). The lid was not opening, so he climbed up to see if he could fix that problem. He fixed whatever was wrong, but then the lid came flying open and knocked him off the truck to fall around 11 feet to the ground.
Thankfully, Josiah and his uncle saw the whole thing happen and were able to attend to Grandpa immediately. He was able to walk a little but had some pain in his back. So they decided to call the ambulance to take him to the hospital to have him checked out, because you don't want to mess around too much with back injuries. After tests and x-rays and other stuff, they found that he had a fractured Lumbar 1 (which is midway up your back). And another miracle, possibly from scoliosis, he has a large spinal canal (I don't really know what that is, just what I heard) that let the bone fragments pass through without causing any nerve damage that could have led to paralysis. We are so thankful that he wasn't paralyzed!
He had surgery Saturday evening to put a metal rod in his back and was home Sunday afternoon! Since then he has been resting at home. Thanks to everyone for their prayers! Keep praying for a speedy full recovery so that Grandpa can get back out the farm and do the things that he loves doing!!
And we've been doing everything since one week ago today, without the help of Grandpa Garber. Since then he has been at the hospital, and now at home recovering from a fractured bone in his back. It was a miracle really that no other bone was broken and there wasn't more damage! He fell off the top of the manure tank truck (it would actually be more correct to say that he was thrown off). The lid was not opening, so he climbed up to see if he could fix that problem. He fixed whatever was wrong, but then the lid came flying open and knocked him off the truck to fall around 11 feet to the ground.
Thankfully, Josiah and his uncle saw the whole thing happen and were able to attend to Grandpa immediately. He was able to walk a little but had some pain in his back. So they decided to call the ambulance to take him to the hospital to have him checked out, because you don't want to mess around too much with back injuries. After tests and x-rays and other stuff, they found that he had a fractured Lumbar 1 (which is midway up your back). And another miracle, possibly from scoliosis, he has a large spinal canal (I don't really know what that is, just what I heard) that let the bone fragments pass through without causing any nerve damage that could have led to paralysis. We are so thankful that he wasn't paralyzed!
He had surgery Saturday evening to put a metal rod in his back and was home Sunday afternoon! Since then he has been resting at home. Thanks to everyone for their prayers! Keep praying for a speedy full recovery so that Grandpa can get back out the farm and do the things that he loves doing!!
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| Praise the Lord for his wonderful miracles!! |
April 23, 2012
Harvest adventure
The harvest is over, but there is a lot more work to be done once the rain stops and the fields dry out enough to drive equipment on them.
I haven't lived on the farm all that long, but I felt like this harvest was turning into something very stressful before everything came together. We hadn't had rain for a long time and were worried that the rye would not grow to the maturity that we would like.
Then toward the middle of last week, the 7-day forecast seemed to hold nothing but rain! Some decisions had to be made in what felt like a hurry. I wasn't really in on those decisions, but I was praying that whatever decision was made would be made in unity and that God would bring everything about in his perfect timing. And really that's what happened!
The guys started chopping on Thursday evening, and around midnight something broke down on the harvester, so they had to quit for the night, so they got a little sleep. Then they started chopping again mid-morning Friday and ran all day and through the night until Saturday around noon when everything was in the silos.
And what a miracle! I don't think that we expected to get as much or as good quality rye as we did. It was awesome!
Plus I got to help out in the field for a little bit. I got to drive a tractor pulling the tedder (which spreads the rye out to help it dry more) for the first time ever! It was pretty fun, but a little stressful because it was the first time I had ever driven that tractor and I was pulling a 25 ft wide piece of equipment behind me. It was difficult for me to see where I had already tedded because I'm not very experienced at that, I was just hoping that I didn't miss any huge chunks. Josiah was watching me from on top of one of the silos, he said that I went over a section twice at one point, but I don't think that really hurt any thing.
So it was a great, busy, and tiring harvest (when is it not like that?). And now I am thankful for the rain because it gives us a little chance to rest up until the next busy time of hauling manure and planting corn.
I haven't lived on the farm all that long, but I felt like this harvest was turning into something very stressful before everything came together. We hadn't had rain for a long time and were worried that the rye would not grow to the maturity that we would like.
Then toward the middle of last week, the 7-day forecast seemed to hold nothing but rain! Some decisions had to be made in what felt like a hurry. I wasn't really in on those decisions, but I was praying that whatever decision was made would be made in unity and that God would bring everything about in his perfect timing. And really that's what happened!
The guys started chopping on Thursday evening, and around midnight something broke down on the harvester, so they had to quit for the night, so they got a little sleep. Then they started chopping again mid-morning Friday and ran all day and through the night until Saturday around noon when everything was in the silos.
And what a miracle! I don't think that we expected to get as much or as good quality rye as we did. It was awesome!
Plus I got to help out in the field for a little bit. I got to drive a tractor pulling the tedder (which spreads the rye out to help it dry more) for the first time ever! It was pretty fun, but a little stressful because it was the first time I had ever driven that tractor and I was pulling a 25 ft wide piece of equipment behind me. It was difficult for me to see where I had already tedded because I'm not very experienced at that, I was just hoping that I didn't miss any huge chunks. Josiah was watching me from on top of one of the silos, he said that I went over a section twice at one point, but I don't think that really hurt any thing.
This is what the tedder looks like when it is folded up:
So it was a great, busy, and tiring harvest (when is it not like that?). And now I am thankful for the rain because it gives us a little chance to rest up until the next busy time of hauling manure and planting corn.
April 18, 2012
Rye harvest
It has begun...
Unfortunately, so has my sneezing, coughing, and runny nose. I think I like corn harvest better. But I am glad that we can have this crop to feed the cows also!
Unfortunately, so has my sneezing, coughing, and runny nose. I think I like corn harvest better. But I am glad that we can have this crop to feed the cows also!
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