Yesterday, a friend and I had a little ” food delivery adventure.”  We had a really good time of non-stop talking, laughter and tears, on the way there and back.  The day was bright and sunny and we even got to stop in at one of our favorite little “honey holes” that was on the way.  I picked up a little wooden rabbit.  I will show her to you as soon as I get her all cozied up on the mantle.  I think that I will name her Brenda.  (That is the friend from yesterday’s adventure.  She is also my husband’s cousin.)

I didn’t know that Brenda was going to go with me.  At the last minute…she asked if I wanted a rider.  Of course I did.  We climbed up into ol’ Henrietta (Our Expedition.  Yes…her name is Henrietta Ford.)  and away we went.  It was one of those times when you are thinking “God this is from You.  You knew that we needed this.”  It was a couple of hours of God’s unexpected blessings.

You see…Brenda has been though some things in her life.  So have I.  We all have.  Sometimes…the greatest therapy is with a friend that looks you in the eye and nods their head.  Even in that…we weren’t  just connecting though understanding…we were connecting by heart…because we both believe that Jesus loves us…and that He will take us through.

Do you know that Jesus loves you, sweet Dirt Roaders?  He does.  We all have hard times in life, but He provides us with strength and unexpected blessings.  Someday…when I am stronger…I will tell you things that He has done for us in the past few months.  Right now…just trust me, when I tell you…that He has unexpected blessings for you.

Love from our dirt road…to yours,

Happy Valentine’s Day 2014…from the Farmhouse.

I hope that you are surrounded by the ones that you love…or at least get to chat with them.

I hope that we all love a little extra today.

This morning in my quiet time…I was focusing on asking God for help in serving others.  I want my life to be about those around me, because that is what truly brings joy.  I want to focus on others while they are speaking to let them know that I care.  This is a challenge for someone with my attention span, but by the grace of the Almighty…it can be done.

Life is a constant growth process isn’t it?  That makes me happy to know that I don’t have to always get it right.  Since we are covered in grace…we just keep trying.  That is the key.  I think that it’s a lovely Valentine’s Day thought.  How about this, sweet Dirt Roaders:  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son….”  John 3:16 is the ultimate gift of love.

Growing and growing,

My wish for you, this Christmas, is simple.

I hope that the joy of the Christ child burrows so deep in your heart, that you are never the same.

I want that for our family also.

I want us to carry the warmth of that joy,  to everyone that we come in contact with.

All year.  Every year.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, sweet Dirt Roaders!

p.s. I’m going to be spending time with my family, and you will be spending time with yours.  Let’s meet up again at the first of the new year.  See you then!

This morning, as everyone was rushing around, our little son and I were digging in the pantry.  You see, his class isn’t doing a gift exchange this year.  They are donating food to a shelter in our town that helps people that don’t have anything to eat.

It was a very humbling thing to me, to take food that we have and place it in the bag, knowing that someone, somewhere, would get a meal…made with our groceries.

I could tell that it was touching our son’s heart too.  I love that.  I love it that his sweet teacher decided upon this…in a world that always wants more.  She is teaching these children a huge lesson, about taking care of others.

He looked so cute with his little grocery bag full of canned food and a brownie mix.  I think that it puffed out his little chest a bit.  I think that he felt like he was doing his part to help take care of someone.  To me, it looked like he was carrying a part of the ministry that Jesus came to teach us about.

In my quiet time, after everyone was out the door, I came across this verse:  Matthew 10:42 “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”  It really is so much better to give, isn’t it?

I hope that you have a wonderful day, sweet Dirt Roaders.  May we all recognize the blessing of giving.  After all…there are those that do not have that privilege…because they have nothing to give.

Lord, please help us all,

Hey Dirt Roaders!  How is life along your stretch of the way today?  It’s sleeting here.  I’m getting ready to put on some Chicken Rice Soup for supper and we are going to have a cozy night.  I just thought that I would give you a few things to look at that might help you with a little room to breath this holiday season.  A few minutes to pause and regroup.

I try really hard to not get into a frenzy at Christmas.  It has never worked…until this year.  Due to the events in our family…I haven’t even started Christmas shopping.  I feel no stress in that, oddly enough.  My step-mom and I have been saying this lately:  It is…what it is.

I always look forward to January.  I love the meaning of Christmas…and I love the lights.  I love to give and receive gifts…but once the last bit of wrapping is thrown away…I feel like I can breathe again.  Crazy?  Maybe.

Really, all in all, pausing to give honor to the Christ child is such a simple, yet profound thing.  God with us.  What a wonderful gift of love.  I feel it especially strong this year.  God has made Himself so very real, that other things have faded into the background.  I am in wonder of this peace.

I hope that you all are enjoying your homes and your families.  I hope that you are decorating Christmas cookies and wrapping presents.  I hope that you are bell ringing and preparing for Christmas plays and programs and all of that good stuff.  Most of all though, I hope that you are warmed in your heart over the humble and extraordinary gift that God gave us.  I hope that you find moments to breathe and to let His peace fill your soul.

Staying close to home,

Deep breath.  I come to you today Dirt Roaders, broken-hearted, yet full of hope.

My sweet step-mom, our daughter and my precious daddy.

My sweet daddy passed from this life over the Thanksgiving break.

I do want you to know this though:  God is real.  God loves us.  God is merciful.  God sees us.  God is in control and we can trust God.

I also want you to know this:  My daddy was living a wonderful “nose to the grind for God” kind of life.  I know that he just slipped away and right into the arms of Jesus.  That is exactly what he did…just slipped away in his sleep.  How merciful is that?  My dad got the best route out of this ol’ world.

The last thing that I want to say is this:  Live…Ready to fly. My daddy was fifty six.  That is young.  Think about it.  Living ready to fly…is the only option.  I don’t say that to sound morbid…because living a life…ready to fly…is a joyful life.  Try it…you will love it.

Jesus Christ loves you, Dirt Roaders.  He wants you to love Him back.  I promise you…that when you do…He will make all of the difference in your life.

I’m going to take another week off…because I have to try to pull myself up by the bootstraps and make a little Christmas happen in our house for our kids.  Please pray for me, Dirt Roaders.  I desire your prayers so much.

A daddy’s girl, applying what she learned,

I just wanted to pop in for a minute to tell you Happy Thanksgiving!  We are on break at the Farmhouse and I will not be blogging this week.  I think that it’s very important to take a break from the things that keep us busy, to be thankful for the very real things in life.  This week I will be snuggling my babies and being thankful beside the love of my life…while we give thanks to the God that we serve.  I will be back in full swing next week though.  We shall see what kind of Christmas madness we can get into.  Until then!

May your Thanksgiving be filled to the brim with the love of Christ and the blessings of the Father…who gives amazing gifts to His Children!

From the Farmhouse,

There’s a roof up above me, 

I’ve got a good place to sleep,

There’s food on my table,

And shoes on my feet,

You gave me Your love Lord,

And a fine family,

Thank You Lord, for Your blessings on me.

Last night, I got together with our ladies group for our Bible study.  We were visiting about Thanksgiving and my MIL reminded me that the song above was actually the main one that we sang around the table at Granny Ruby’s before we ate.

Granny Ruby was an amazing woman.  She worked so hard up until it was totally impossible.  When she was just a young wife, she had three children and my FIL on the way…and her husband died.  They lived in a little house,  way out in the country and she raised those kids to be fine and amazing adults.  She had another little girl, later on, when she remarried.  She instilled those same values in that child, as well.

Granny Ruby had known hard times.  They came knocking at her door several times through her life.  That being said, I don’t ever remember hearing her complain.  Her God and her family and friends…meant everything.  She and I hit it off from the very beginning and I will always cherish the memory of sitting at her little table writing her chocolate chip cookie recipe down. (The best in the world.  I will share them with you someday.)  I also have her sewing machine.  I love it that my MIL thought to ask if I wanted it.  I also have her sewing box.  Just looking inside…tells a little story.  What a treasure.

I also have her grandson, her great-granddaughters and her great-grandson. That’s the way that works isn’t it?  My husband has her nature.  Quick to be kind, quick to think the best of others and the ability to keep quiet when he doesn’t have a kind word to say.  He has her work ethic and her love of family too.  He also loves the God that she loved.  Granny Ruby left me so much more than a cookie recipe and a sewing machine.  She left a part of herself…in others.  I am so thankful.  So very thankful.

Granny Ruby passed away a few years back on Christmas Eve.  It was very fitting that she went to be with Jesus just in time for His birthday celebration.  I can imagine just how very happy that she was to be there.  Who knows? Maybe she suggests once in a while that folks up there join hands and sing “Thank You Lord, for Your Blessings on Me.”  She sure did love that tradition while she was here….just before time to dig into that huge meal that she had lovingly prepared for her family.

Just helping us to be thankful for the real treasures,