Who Is Teaching My Children???

*Reposted from April, 2010*

Unintentionally, I've taken a small sabbatical from blogging. It has felt like college days all over again...remembering that feeling of back-to-back exams during finals week, and just believing that "if I can get through this week..." I can return to some normalcy.

But guess what? I did make it through last week, and "normalcy" doesn't exist. After having my family up for Easter, then preparing for my sister's baby shower last week, I am scrambling to get caught up (will that ever happen???) with the house, paperwork, laundry, decluttering, spring cleaning, changing clothes from winter season to spring...piles and piles and PiLeS of clothes. Progress can be a bit elusive, but there is some good news... giant stacks of clothing are leaving this house and never coming back!

 ...the farm is busier than ever now that nine little Wilber's have arrived. Some one of us will soon have pictures up of their arrival, and the three little girls right in the middle of the hog pen taking charge and making friends.

Remember the snake habitat? This was the day of capture, and brave little Natalie in charge of transport. For those animal rights people out there, yes, they were set free after a delightful time of education into the life of humans. We don't do much with formal "lab" studies in our science time (OK, None), so I free myself of guilt and instead embrace the hands on approach! My children are naturally curious and don't seem to be afraid of spiders, snakes, placentas...you name it, they are willing to try it! But again, progress can be difficult to measure...and stepping outside the "norm" sometimes requires our schedule to be flexible...and flexible can sometimes make us uncomfortable...

Little Running Squash is LoViNg the outdoors and wants to keep up with the others. I'm not teaching her a foreign language, she doesn't know her alphabet, and she isn't a fan of vegetables, but she's happy, energetic, and loves her family. She can put toys away, pet a hog, and sing any song you sing, so why get bogged down in early pre-school education? :)

I'm still trying to get a weekly menu together (don't give up on me, Renee), rooms remain slightly unorganized, I'm not sure if my dining room will ever get painted, my sewing pile is taller than me, I haven't been able to do that "early to rise" part of life yet, and our daily schedule needs a major overhaul, BUT,

"All my children shall be taught by the Lord,

And great shall be the peace of my children.

In righteousness I shall be established;

I shall be far from oppression, for I shall not fear;

And from terror, for it shall not come near me."
Isaiah 54:13-14

So, dear friends, if any of you are feeling just slightly behind in your homeschooling due to being a momma of many, or perhaps you have the amazing miracle of life in your womb or in your arms, or illness has you down, maybe your domestic responsibilities threaten to overwhelm, or you are facing personal or financial loss, some may be burdened by moral failure...this is my comfort:

...That no matter how weak and incapable I am feeling, my children are ultimately being taught by the Lord. Could there ever be a better teacher??? Even at my best, I will always choose to defer to HIS educational plan, knowing that it is far superior to anything I could accomplish. Remember that He gave us these precious children, and He loves them dearly! He won't abandon us as we fulfill our responsibilities!

How about resting in this promise? **sigh of relief**

Enjoy your week~

Kathy

Instilling a Love of Learning...

 One little sentence can throw this momma off these days...

 "...instill in them a love of learning..."

 I wonder (when I'm hearing a bit of complaining about studying) if WE love to learn...

 For years I've been preaching that "Life is learning"...

So here's a test...Look at this mess! Oops...I immediately catch myself (ok, after the initial "What are you doing???") and grab the camera. The littles were gardening and "selling herbs"...nothing a bit of sweeping won't fix.

*sigh* I don't know how we're doing, and when I read of "veteran" home schoolers who have been living this life for eight years (!), I wonder why I still feel like a new home educator after seventeen years(!). Honestly, I thought I'd have it all together by now, but if I did, I suppose I'd take whatever credit that might be had. So here's to butterflies... and snakes... and baseball... and herbs.

What do you do to encourage/instill that love of learning?

When Courage Rises...

It happens often that I wonder about our effectiveness with the learning style/approach we have chosen here on the farm. Responsibilities, animal husbandry, genetics, business skills and more seem to count, yet shouldn't we be doing that other subject? What about outside classes? Lessons? Teams? (because I forget who is teaching my children ) and I still fear man...

But tonight the farm is still in the swirling winter white and I have yet again witnessed the extraordinary courage and faith of my children. When faced with the pending death  of yet another goat (they are always more dear than just inventory) a decision was made to act immediately once we watched her final breath escape. There was no one here but us, and Josh courageously performed an emergency c-section on his sweet friend in a heroic attempt to save her kid. Knowing that she was two weeks early, it was a long shot...but worth it. Who wouldn't try to save a life? Or three? Yes, three kids were found inside.

Without turning back, we ran desperately though the snow to bring our little ones to the NICU by the wood stove in hopes of survival. Heat, massage, slinging, and my first mouth-to-mouth resuscitation proved unsuccessful, and in the end, all that remained was another life lesson lingering among all that needed to be cleaned up.

There is much to think on, many questions to ask, and perhaps surprising to some, processing with God on His plans and purposes. And back to all that we learn here on the farm, I wouldn't give these days away to anyone else. I'm here on the farm with my children (with my children is the key, not being on the farm) and that what we are learning is vital and real, and that what we have is immeasurably precious. 

And the courage Joshua had today was the courage of a man...taught by the Lord.

Farmhouse Quiet, and Why Do You Do It?

All is quiet as I finish up the piles of dishes and pots and pans from a long day in the farmhouse kitchen. There was a mid-morning request to make bagels, then two more requesting donut holes, and by 10 pm we were finishing up the last of not only those experiments, but sourdough cranberry bread, crescent rolls, more spiced nuts, and supper that turned into a three hour ordeal. If you're thinking I went all-out and made a gourmet meal, let me just admit that it was already made for me...all I needed to do was boil it! I was getting a little testy as the evening wore on as my five foot counter balanced a surprising number of kitchen implements, and I announced to all present that we would not be doing this again.

Now tonight, in the quiet hours before the voices begin again, I can fondly enjoy the craziness. I suppose it's a bit like childbirth...that distinct feeling of certain death and then such overwhelming joy that of course, I would do it all again.

For the JOY.

For the Learning

For the Companionship

For the Success

For the Fellowship

For the Laughter

This is why we do what we do...

...and mediate arguments, fix attitudes, kiss ouwies, wipe noses and a host of other issues that perhaps will be a different post...

"Thou will keep him in perfect peace, him whose mind is stayed on Thee, because  he trusts in Thee"                        Isaiah 26:3

Goodnight, friends. Make plans to enjoy your kiddos tomorrow.

A CHRISTmas Giveaway!

Looking for that perfect CHRISTmas gift for your dear daughter? You've got 24 hours to enter Jenna's giveaway . This is a beautiful book filled with encouragement for the young woman desiring to obey God according to Titus 2:4 right now. Somewhere along the way we have been programmed to think that fulfilling our calling as a Titus 2 woman begins after we are married. I disagree. It begins right now, in the home, while our daughters are young. By God's grace they will embrace their calling and be prepared for their future. You won't be disappointed!

A Quiet And Peaceable Life

A very practical thing to be thankful for here on the farm...firewood. It is absolutely FREEZING tonight, and I'm so thankful for all the hard work that went into splitting and stacking our "heat" last summer. While I don't have any kiddos that love this particular summer chore, we are all very glad now.

"...that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."    1Timothy 2:2

There is a certain desperate chaos lurking around every farmhouse corner but my heart is for the beauty of that quiet and peaceable life. I am amazed at how quickly the month of December filled up with all manner of nothingness, but I'm feeling the distinct pull of being purposeful and deliberate with our life.

One of my friends has asked me about schooling the littles, and I just don't push them with heavy preschool/kindergarten curriculum. I can tell them that policemen are our friends...that God has ordained them for our protection...and that pretty much sums up social studies, right? I'm being a bit facetious, but it really doesn't require sitting on a rug in a circle, or at a desk. It's just talking along the way...it's looking for meaningful opportunities such as copying a scripture verse. I dot the letters, my five year old traces over them. She wants to practice her letters. Both she and her four year old sister ask for schoolwork, so we spend time

"with our school"  but there's no pressure to push through a curriculum. We're working on learning our letter sounds, and after having the experience of teaching five children to read (all at different ages) I know she'll learn at the pace that God designed for her. No stress for her, no stress for me.

 Which brings me back to living that quiet and peaceable life. Every mother wonders how we went from this twirling duo, (who knew they'd be doing this same thing down the center of the barn twelve years later???)...

...to this. Life is exciting, busy and our world is getting much larger. So when I feel the rising pressure, I have to reground myself in what is really important...that knowing Jesus as Lord is the most necessary accomplishment in life, that living a quiet and peaceable life centered on Christ is essential, and that the education of our children must not only reflect this, but all too soon, the "growing season" is coming to completion. So we master academics but lose their soul...will our years have been well spent?

Today I got overly frustrated (nicely put) when one middle child had an attitude about area and perimeter. I missed my moment of the gentle art of learning. Instead I traded that for apologies and hugs a bit later, and the truth is, next year at this time we will have mastered it and moved way beyond. It just wasn't worth it.

 A rather long-winded answer to the question, but this little face gives me hope to repair my mistakes quickly and try to stay focused on the present joys of loving all my kiddos, delighting in our lifestyle of learning, and striving to live that quiet and peaceable life.

Hang In There...Help Is On the Way!

I'm not sure what the actual cause is, perhaps there are multiple reasons (which I believe to be the case), but somewhere over time, I have drifted from the momma to a bystander. Not including the shoulder injury/bursitis that has been plaguing me since early summer, or the recent bout with cellulitis that  sent me to the urgent care, it seems that I am forever "behind the eight ball", so to speak. Sleep can be elusive or too short, mornings are almost impossible to face, which means that chores (which seem to be taking forever in the barn) last forever and breakfast merges into lunch. I did uncover a little bit of information recently: it was revealed that the TWINS are practicing square/ballroom dancing down the length of the barn while faithful Lucy is hooked up to the milker!

With some creative input from the Holy Spirit, I have been purging once again in order to create more bedroom space for the littles. While far from done, I'm trying to plug along and reclaim some order. The math alone is staggering...everything times ten: barn boots, winter boots, dress boots, dress shoes, tennis shoes, sandals, flip-flops, something brown, something black, high-tops, low-tops...see what I mean? And that just covers the shoes.

If this sounds like I'm bordering on hopeless, it's close. But just in time one of my beloved mentors (read Titus2 women) is speaking to my heart. My mealtimes have gone from times of discipleship and training, good manners and engaging conversations~even story time~ to mere survival of chaos. Ugh! Thankfully, Auntie Leila offers straight-to-the-heart, no-nonsense help.

If you're struggling right now, join me while we get some practical help to get back on track!
Here's to a peaceful breakfast!

Kathy

Little Farmers Can Paint!

Charlotte Mason has been my inspiration all my homeschooling years. That being said, I haven't mastered the atmosphere or content like I would have expected by this time in our education, though each summer I determine it will be different. The ideas and accumulation of supplies come easy, but the execution of the plan is where I fall off the wagon. Art is one of those areas...

I've wanted to do watercolor painting and nature journals FOREVER, and today...

WE DID IT!

.

Using helpful tips from Pam, I was able to "see" what I needed to buy and "see" what I needed to do. Our watercolors represent the work of artists ranging from momma all the way to the three year old (soon to be four). Kind of impressionist, isn't it? (bottom right *wink*) I purposed to make it short and sweet and not labor over our work. Overall, I consider it a success, with only one older child moderately resentful (I think it is an expression of personal disappointment) and two in tears! I believe each attempt will be more satisfying. Soft classical music or hymns playing in the background will also be enjoyable in the future.

So many times I get bogged down waiting for the perfect time, or day, or situation, or how about..".as soon as the house is picked up, then I can do that". It just so happens, that my farmhouse is never quite completely "picked up", and those farm chores are just never quite done. So whether it is painting, nature journals, or some other activity, just try to start, knowing that you can "tweak" it along the way.

Is the Media Catching On???

Did you know, a recent study discovered that children WANT their parents to pay attention to them? Serious attention, as in, interaction, engaging in meaningful conversation, focusing on the child with undivided attention? The issue at hand was the use of cell phones and texting.

Picture this:

Mom (or dad) is talking to the child (or children). The cell phone rings, or the text message beeps, and the parent instantly leaves the child(ren) to attend to the phone/text message. The child(ren) withdraw emotionally, disengage, or act out in some form of unruliness/foolishness/silliness.

Thankfully, we have finally heard this from the media, so it must be true:

Children want to be in relationship with mom and dad...being fully present in a conversation is important...how a parent treats a child demonstrates value and worth to that child...interrupting a conversation to answer your cell phone or read/respond to a text is just plain RUDE!

Children get it...

A Curriculum Question

Dear Readers,


Have any of you heard of H.A. Guerber? In my quest for history text and reading lists, I came upon this when I found Nothing New Press and a wonderful-looking organized reading list. For my middle group it looks intriguing...written in the 19th century, it tells the story of our country with courage, patriotism and nobility. What I want to know is, does the presentation seem factual and honest (the good and the bad) as it relates the history of our nation? Does it deal fairly with areas of conflict, say, surrounding presidents or wars?


Thanks to anyone who may have some input here!


Have a blessed and safe Labor Day weekend~
Kathy

Perspective Is On the Way!

More encouragement for the home educating momma who might be feeling overwhelmed and unprepared for the  upcoming year...


APPLIED KNOWLEDGE

"He is not the best student who reads the most books, but he who meditates the most upon them; he shall not learn most of divinity who hears the greatest number of sermons, but he who meditates the most devoutly upon what he does hear; nor shall he be so profound a scholar who takes down ponderous volumes one after the other, as he who, reading little by little, precept upon precept, and line upon line, digests what he learns, and assimilates each sentiment to his heart by meditation."

-- Charles Spurgeon

The Clock Is Ticking!!!

"...that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers (keepers of the home), obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."       Titus 2:4-5

I am not ready for August. Soon I hope to post pictures of summer on the farm, but the immediate crisis is, summer is fast...ending!! Oi! As a home~educating momma, I feel the pressure rising, especially as I evaluate what I have (or have not) accomplished this summer. If we were being honest with eachother, I'd confess that I am not nearly as organized as I long to be, and I suffer from a deplorable inability to make a decision. After all, it has to be right the first time...no mistakes...there's no going back, there's no making up for lost time...

This may resonate with some of you (thank you) as you plan for the fall. While I know that there will be "mistakes" or "regrets" or changing of plans, curriculum, etc., and it's not always bad,  I don't always believe that.  Perhaps I've lost a little time in some areas, but God is good. This verse in Titus is such a blessing to me as I am reminded again as to what is important. At the end of the day, have I been an example to my children? Are the girls desiring to be a wife and mother because of what they see in me? Are the boys placing high value on the biblical definition of what characterizes a Godly young woman?

"She knew how good it would be to stay at home again, to help with the housework and to do the chores and work in the garden..."

Little Town on the Prairie~Laura Ingalls Wilder

OK, dear mothers, persevere! Stay focused on what is good and right and true so that we are not guilty of blaspheming the Word of God.

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

Galatians 6:9

Those Stinkin' Vegetables! and That Elusive History Curriculum...

Last week we spent the day canning carrots and kale with the intention of using it in soup this winter. It was hard to imagine cold weather and snow, but we KNOW it's coming, so we were a little excited about our experiment. 
Today Josh opened the cabinet, and ...wow...what a stench! Not one of those buggers stayed sealed! So this morning we fed the 21 jars to the hogs (minus the jar that got swiped off the counter and spilled all over the floor). All that by 9:00 a.m....
Other pressing matters on the farm are not really farm in nature. Now is the time to be wrapping up plans and ordering materials for our schooling/educating for the fall. Is there ANYONE else out there looking for that perfect history booklist and companion schedule/study guide? Under $500????  Have you found it???? I'd like it to be a Charlotte Mason philosophy, literature based, organized by time period (American history right now) with a daily schedule that is organized and easy to follow. Please make it rich in all the beautiful books out there, honest with the issues facing the culture of the day, and something that will inspire my children as they see the hand of God throughout HIStory.


Some that I've looked at/tried:
~Truthquest
~Notgrass
~Sonlight
~Queen Homeschooling
~Ambleside Online
~Winterpromise
~Mystery of History

I'd love to hear from you, friends! Am I missing something out there?

Waste Not...Want Not!

What would you do if...while you were unloading your meat chickens at the butcher, you noticed that one in particular was not doing so well? In the 92 degree heat, Josh and I did our best to revive the poor thing, to no avail. Our schedule for the evening was full, but it was hard to imagine wasting a perfectly good, pasture-raised chicken. So...we brought it home for yet another "Charlotte Mason" teaching moment!


Those children who were interested gathered around while Josh and I made our best attempt at skinning the big guy and removing the "viscera".That is a fun word, isn't it? Much more noble than "guts". We did pretty well, I have to say, then ran the bird inside to place in cold water. Right now, he's in the freezer and will soon be roasting in the crock pot.

So, would I quit my day job to butcher chickens? Meh...not so much. But the best part is painting the toe nails bright red and pulling on the tendons after the foot is cut off. Go ahead...try it:)

Momma Thoughts and Wishes

What could be more encouraging to a three year old, than the freedom and opportunity to BAKE? There was a day when my goal was to avoid as much as possible, those things or activities that created extra work for me. When the twins were not quite two, my sister asked me if I would EVER let them splash in a mud puddle. If you think that is silly, let me confess (again) that I actually had to make myself allow them to play in the mud. And you know the rest of the story...they had fun, I brought them in and cleaned them up, and eventually God was able to change my heart toward the PURPOSE of parenting.

But it hasn't been quick or easy. More confessions include not letting Jenna play with her Vision Forum doll because I didn't want her hair messed up! Remember, neat and tidy, perfect home, perfect children...

Early training also included not allowing the twins to cross the threshhold into the kitchen. They were so well trained, but YIKES! Can you imagine how much relationship and fellowship I missed because I was so focused on the mechanics of parenting, and not the ministry of parenting?

There is so much regret, but on a positive note, nothing is impossible with God! Though far from perfect, and still wishing I could get on top of an organized life, there is progress. I now look for opportunity to involve my children in as many activities as possible. It is not efficient or expedient, but it is training, it is fellowship, it is equipping them for the future!

We are a family that samples the work of our hands! I know self- control is a virtue and needs to be taught, but there are plenty of opportunuties for that!

In the name of training, I had my four year olds washing floors. Now the concept is great, and I still give opportunity for the three and five year old to wash windows and floors (they love it), but discipling them and coming along beside them is so much the better way...not just instructing and inspecting! How easily we forget that they are relatively new to this big place called earth. Really, they don't even notice that their boots don't match...

...and what about the giant leap of dexterity and success when a button can be buttoned??? They are so young and tender, and I wish I was better prepared emotionally to LOVE my children, not just love my children...to enjoy them being little ones, not trying to make them into minature adults...

But here is living proof, though my mistakes are many, there is laughter and love today, even if Jenna never was allowed to play with her doll...

Humbly exposing my mistakes~

Kathy

Your Wonderful Opinions!

What a response!!! Thank you to everyone who took the time and made the effort to comment on my last post. I was encouraged, challenged, hugged and convicted as I read and re-read the thoughts. Overall, there was a clear message of agreement: no matter what, learning and living a life devoted to Jesus, THE Christ, is essential. This point was my greatest encouragement and my deepest conviction rolled into one. Of course, we know this and have heard it spoken many times, and although that is my heart's desire, I find that in the wake of trying to accomplish the tasks of the day sometimes it is my Lord who is put on "pause"; it is living that life devoted to Him that "slips" into obscurity when He isn't regularly and consistently made the center of our home. I become a Martha...so busy doing that I don't take time to sit at the Saviour's feet, or I forget the priviledge of walking along the Way with the children, or just plainly neglecting those things which are needed for spiritual growth.



~So a life devoted to loving and serving Jesus really clears the muddy waters! Once our purpose and vision is properly established, what our children pursue should "fall in line" with giftings, interests, family vision...

~Practical skills not only build character, but should by nature result in blessing their family, future husband, and others...

~Managing the home is an essential, not just learning individual skills...

~And from the brave men who responded: they affirmed all of this by appreciating the skill set, but not rating that as most important

"...the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things-that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed."

Titus 2:3-5

On more than one occasion, I've posted a farmhouse confession, and here's another one: I have overlooked this text as a "lifestyle of learning" curriculum because I have always read it through the eyes of an older woman teaching a younger MARRIED woman. Good grief! Could there be a more fabulous outline for what I ought to be teaching my daughters to be as a wife, and my sons what to look for in a wife? I didn't even know this verse existed in the Bible until I was married, and at that point I was looking for an older woman to teach me...somehow I crossed over that line and I now AM that older woman.

And another description: "...she has been...well reported for good works:if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work." 1Timothy 4:10

It was fairly unanimous...if we instill a deep love for the Lord, our daughters will love their husbands and children, and with that same fervor fulfill the tasks of the home.

Your comments have blessed me so much! I will be re-reading them often...I hope this has encouraged others as we together fulfil our high calling!

On the Farm...Snakes!...and A Little Bit of Politics For the Christian

Goodness! I've been AWOL for some time now! It's been one of those weeks that are exhausting, consumed with recovery of yet another virus (this wipes me out!), and just plain not-much-to-say.

Sunday night I spent a bit of time writing a blog "give-away", and then it had the audacity to eat my post! That was enought to irritate me, so I gave it the silent treatment for another day, just to let Mr. Blogger know...what? So in a day or so, I'll try again.

Like so many of you, we are LOVING the sunshine and the hope of warmth! We played outside today, and I actually transplanted some raspberry canes. But just so you don't think "Wow, how does she get so much done?", (okay, perhaps no one is asking that) I confess it amounted to...five? It just takes forever to get a job done, and that doesn't include the mommy-guilt when I have to say "No! I'm sorry I cannot push the bike right now!"

In my favor, we have been living Charlotte Mason over here at the farm, with the recent addition of a snake habitat. Josh and Caleb (with the help of two screaming toddlers) captured two garter snakes who were minding their own business sunning themselves in the warmth yesterday, and much time and research went into setting up housekeeping for our friends. They are quite happy in their little ecosystem, have only escaped twice :( and only get put outside during the night...just in case they actually CAN lift the lid!

To redeem myself, I'm contributing to the intellectual/political interests of my readers tonight. We have a wonderful friend, a godly young man in pursuit of a legal career, who linked to an article written by his boss (an attorney) regarding the recent healthcare bill and an option for Christians. Elliot wonders if his political musings are of interest to anyone, and I am one of those people who appreciates the ability of other intelligent people able to succinctly summarize and retell the facts and issues. So, thank you Elliot, and pass along the article if you also find it useful.

Enjoy the sunshine and flowers with your children this week~
Kathy

Charlotte Mason On the Farm...

I love Charlotte Mason. She has been my inspiration for a lifestyle of learning since the beginning of our journey. This week was no exception! When I am not PMS'ing, I can enjoy the flexibility of our life here on the farm. Activities are educational. Projects provide great lessons.

Take this seed starter shelf made by Josh and Caleb. I tend to be a procrastinator due primarily to paralysis of indecision, but when Josh got excited reading the gardening book that included the plans~

...all it took was a trip to the local Home Depot (the guys equivalent of a fabric store?) and the two of them spent the day measuring, cutting, assembling and having great brotherly male-bonding time together. What classroom could best that?

And then there is kidding season, which, if you read Josh or Jenna's blog, you can get up-to-the-moment videos and pictures on all the farm births. Goat births are the big farm news right now and I'm doing my best to be the cool farm mom who not only takes care of the house, the education and the children, but also helps in the barn. I don't know if it's working, but I hope overall, that there are more good memories than bad!

I Was Checking My Mental List...

...and I didn't accomplish anything today! Of course, that screams "Really? Are you sure?" Okay, perhaps it's better said that the Holy Spirit asked me those questions in the still, small voice that characterizes our God, and when re-evaluated I decided that many things were accomplished.

~Bible time was spent together this morning

~Words of encouragement were spoken

~Reminders of the truth in scripture were repeated

~Love was demonstrated

~Acts of service were done

~Admonishment was given

~Laughter was shared

~Playtime in the snow was fun with eachother

~Relationships were invested in

~Songs of praise were sung and enjoyed

• 
  

I realized again, that I am so blessed and privileged to be together with my children all day long... to be a part of the great journey of their life...to witness in the growth and development of their character. To be a mother. To be their mother.

So what if my "projects" didn't advance today. Maybe there will be time tomorrow.

What did you do today that made your role worthwhile? Be deliberate as you reflect on that good thing that did get done and thank the Lord. It has far more value than any project will ever have.

There IS Life on the Farm...

~Better pictures are soon to be posted;)~

Guilt aside, there's nothing like waking quietly to the start of a new day with Little Running Squash sleeping sweetly and peacefully beside me. There was ONE moment of no thoughts for the day, no concerns for the schedule, no...

MOOOOMMMMMMMAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

Lucy has HOOVES coming out!!!

What a jump start to my day! By the time I reached the barn, it was all done. Jenna was there just in time to reposition the head from getting stuck in a straw bale, and viola! a calf was born.

I've exchanged "textbooks" today for real-life learning on the farm as the better part of my day has been spent in the barn trying to convince a very strong little bull calf that it really does want to eat. We've been wrestling with it, and had the joy of watching it wrestle with itself and learn to stand. Amazing.

Off now to get Josh. He's been away since Sunday night, AND I DON'T LIKE IT!! Let's just say, we miss him A LOT.