Saturday, February 04, 2012

Barefoot Princess

It'll be 12 years in May that we've walked this rustic pigtrail we call a driveway. Yesterday, she obliged and walked with me to check the daffodils. She didn't have a golden auburn 'turkeybob' bouncing on top of her head and she wasn't wearing a tu-tu, or pilgrim apron, or cowboy boots with shorts. She wasn't singing at the top of her lungs or dancing with arms flailing in sweet abandon. But, she was barefoot. And the muddy puddles beckoned.  


She obliged them, too.

Lord, somehow use my weaknesses for your glory.....

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

A Writing Exercise

This is a 15-sentence, one-paragraph portrait, a popular writing exercise developed by the late Wendy Bishop. Think of a person you know, and this exercise will focus on them. First, for the title, pick either a color or emotion that represents this person to you. You won’t mention the person by name in this story. Begin your first sentence, with one of these phrases:


You stand there …
No one is here …
In this (memory, dream, photograph [choose any one]), you are . . .
I think sometimes..
Then, follow these rules for the next 14 sentences.
2: Write a sentence with a color in it.
3: Write a sentence with a part of the body in it.
4. Write a sentence with a simile.
5. Write a single sentence [no joining of two or more sentences by a semi-colon or by coordinating conjunctions] of exactly 25 words.
6. Write a sentence of exactly eight words.
7. Write a sentence with a piece of clothing in it.
8. Write a sentence with a wish in it.
9. Write a sentence with an animal in it.
10. Write a sentence in which three or more words of the same part of speech [nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs] alliterate.
11. Write a sentence with two and only two commas properly/normally used.
12. Write a sentence with a smell in it.
13. Write a sentence that could carry an exclamation point (!), a sentence that you might normally put an exclamation point in, but do not use the exclamation point.
14. Write a sentence that connects in some way to the first line.
15. Write a sentence to end this portrait that uses the exact word you chose for the title.
_________________________


You stand there in an empty darkness that you don't even realize. The deep cavern of hollowness makes me think of your soul as the color black. Your heart is deceived from real Truth. Like that of a hungry lion rushing to a snare filled with choice meat, you're so easily enticed by foolishness and folly. Though Wisdom patiently awaits, perhaps even nudges a time or two, your hardened heart is disconnected with no response to the life Light can bring. If you only knew that Light is life. The veil would be lifted and you would truly SEE! How I wish you knew this life-changing Light. The Light of the world is the true Lamb of God, his name is Jesus. Jesus is mighty and magnificent, yet merciful. His grace, freely given, is humbling. His friendship is refreshing like the smell of linens hung out to dry or clean mountain air. How He longs to know YOU. But sadly the darkness is too comfortable, the Light too good to be True. Yes, black is the color I think of when I think of you. 

A Day in the Life

Sunday, January 02, 2011

Something's Always Broke

We're still considered visitors at the church we've been attending for several months so it's common for members to ask about who we are and what we do, where we live and how many children we have. Today was no different. A precious lady we sit behind, occasionally, lovingly went through the drill and discovered we live on a farm. Without skipping a beat, she said "Oh really, my father lives on a farm. Something's always broke."

And you know what? She's right. I needed to hear that today. In a twisted sort of way, it encouraged me. In our list of "things to do in town after church", another visit to Northern Tool was priority.  The Farmer and the hydraulics on the tractor are battling it out and the Farmer is determined to win. He's sorta like that. I've gotta hand it to him, he's hanging tough even though his wife continues to ask:

"Now, what's wrong with the tractor, again?"
"Why are we going to Northern Tool, again?"
"Can we get on with it; when can I start planting?"

I would've taken the thing to the tractor sale a long time ago.

But, it's the broken things (farm equipment, hearts, marriages, friendships, bodies, churches, etc.) that tend to teach us valuable life lessons we wouldn't learn otherwise because after all, who actually asks for suffering? Our human nature will never sign up for it. But, thankfully, God's deep love for us trumps our comfort and suffering prevails. We're left with a hollow space that needs something....or someone. Instead of filling the hollow spaces of your heart with the roots of bitterness, or impatience, or hatred, or revenge, or smite let me offer a suggestion. Jesus Christ offers love, patience, kindness, goodness, joy, peace, resolution, healing, and Truth. He's the only path through brokenness. Do you need Him?

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Happy New Year

A new year is before me. I'm choosing to continue down the road less traveled. Conventional wisdom begs participation in the never-ending merri-go-'round leading nowhere. Not me.

* I'll persevere serving a mocked God.
* My marriage is a commitment.
* I'll continue to put family first.
* I'm guarding my home & my heart.


Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The Write Foundation


PhotobucketSince writing is one of my favorite subjects to teach, I was happy to be included in the TOS review list for The Write Foundation .
Here are my thoughts...


The curriculum consists of three levels; sentence, paragraph, and essay lessons. I chose to review the essay level as that's where both of my older children are in their writing progress. The author, Rebecca Celsor, is very thorough in the instruction phase of essay writing and includes vital grammar lessons along the way. Each day the student practices various concepts of writing/grammar/usage which build a strong foundation to essay writing. I'm impressed with the degree of detail included in this curriculum.

The only drawback, in my opinion, is the amount of time it takes to figure out how to teach this curriculum. If the author could condense teacher instructions to a simple format, I think more homeschooling moms would appreciate the time and attention she has put into her material.

For more information about the three levels offer by The Write Foundation go HERE.
For other Crew Reviews of this curriculum and others click HERE.

*I received a packet of complimentary lessons from The Write Foundation in exchange for my honest review of their product.

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Rain

It's raining this November election day. It's the first day, this Fall, that whispers "Winter is just around the corner." We've gone most of the day without a fire, but it's getting chilly now and my trusty farmhand is working to get it started; not an easy task with wet kindling. Thankfully, he sees it as a challenge and all the ladies in the house, their cold feet included, praise him for his diligence.

In case you didn't know, farms don't survive too well without rain. The Spring held great promise for the farm when we planted about four acres of produce hoping to sell most of it at the local farmer's market. We worked the soil with new implements and even bought a nifty planter that hooks up to the toolbar on the tractor. Several hundred tomato plants were started in a greenhouse by some sweet friends of ours and they'd given us at least, uh..I don't know, 500 or so? We planted three or four types of greens, broccoli, lettuce, onions, two types of potatoes, zucchini & crookneck squash, butter beans, purple hull peas, sweet corn and.....well, pretty much anything you can think of, we planted it.

Then, we waited for the rain. It never came.

Our hopes dwindled so we focused on our livestock and various other projects while watching the entire pasture scorch from intense heat with no rain. The thought of planting a pumpkin patch crossed our minds several (hundred) times but, with no rain in sight, we decided against it. That decision proved to be wise because it would've been a complete loss. And now, past the prime planting time for winter grass (green food for livestock during the winter), it's raining. Guess we'll be buying hay for the winter and prepare to repeat the whole process over again, come January. Maybe. It certainly takes a large measure of Faith and a strong dose of fortitude to be land owners. My respect for the pioneers of the Westward Movement runs deep.

That said, I'm obviously thankful for rain when it finally comes. It's been raining for three days now. The driveway is washing out, yet again, but the animal poop is soaking into the soil and that's good for the farm. The leaves are turning and sporadically falling to the ground and rain helps them decompose into rich soil. Rain washes away the pollen and fills the pond with fresh aerated water. But, I'd have to say I'm probably even more thankful for the lack thereof. Why? ...Because it continues to remind me that I'm not in control. Yeah, we painstakingly make our plans. We plow, till, and toil. We hope, we pray, and some of us. . .beg. Man makes his plans...

rain Pictures, Images and Photos


But when comes to rain? 
It keeps me trusting in the Rainmaker.

Monday, November 01, 2010

A Month of Thankfulness

Over the years, I've participated in various blog challenges during the month of November. At first it was intimidating. Do I really have that much to say? I mean, thirty things for which to be thankful? C'mon, life isn't that good.

Well, if you've been with me for a while, you know I surprised myself and came up with over 100, way back when. I look back over that list from time to time. Most of it remains the same.....well, except that I'm not 40 anymore. I could probably add 100 more things by now. How? ....Because there is thankfulness in small things. It's easy to pass up the blessing of getting out of bed if you do it every day; or waking up with your spouse, until one day it doesn't happen anymore. These are a few of the very things that I've become keenly aware of as I watch dear friends travel extremely difficult roads.



So, here's the challenge. Whether you write it for the world to see, or hold it close to your heart - what are you thankful for? I'll be sharing mine here. Stay tuned...