I suppose there is always a risk in posting another human being's written work in it's entirety. It is true, though, that any human words are nothing if they are not in one accord with the Word of God.
Emerson's beliefs may have played into his thoughts on gift giving, but if they did his ultimate point was that the best gift is the gift of yourself. Looking to the Holy Word for direction I find this to be true.
Matthew 22:36-40, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
1 Peter 2:24, Who his own self bare our
sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should
live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Corinthians 12:31, But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
(and the next verse is the beginning of chapter 13... the Love chapter.)
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 & 13, Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the
gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and
though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not
charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all
my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and
have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
...
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
.....and there are so many more verses!!! Try Roman's 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Corinthians 9:15, Isaiah 9:6... the list goes on... and on and on!!!!!!
I think Emerson's point was, in essence, Matthew 22:36-40. His purpose is not so much to get us to judge the gift or the giver, but as a good essay should do, it is to get us to examine our own selves, and to inspire us to love our neighbor as we would love ourselves.
Another one of my favorite authors is Robert Fulghum. ...and this short story from his book, All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten, always pops into my mind when I think of doing things for others:
Elias Schwartz repairs shoes. He's short and round and bald and single and middle-aged and Jewish. "An old-fashioned cobbler," says he, nothing more, nothing less. I happen to be convinced that he is really the 145th reincarnation of the Haiho Lama.
See, the Haiho Lama died in 1937, and the monks of Sa-skya monastery have been searching for forty years for his reincarnation without success. The New York Times carried the story last summer. The article noted that the Lama would be recognized by the fact that he went around saying and doing wise things in small, mysterious ways, and that he would be doing the will of God without understanding why.
Through some unimaginable error in the cosmic switching yards, the Haiho Lama has been reincarnated as Elias Schwartz. I have no doubts about it.
My first clue came when I took my old Bass loafers in for total renewal. The works. Elias Schwartz examined them with intense care. With regret in his voice he pronounced them not worthy of repair. I accepted the unwelcome judgment. Then he took my shoes, disappeared into the back of the shop, and I waited and wondered. He returned with my shoes in a stapled brown bag. For carrying, I thought.
When I opened the bag at home that evening, I found two gifts and a note. In each shoe, a chocolate chip cookie wrapped in waxed paper. And these words in the note: "Anything not worth doing is worth not doing well. Think about it. Elias Schwartz. "
The Haiho Lama strikes again.
And the monks will have to go on looking. Because I'll never tell - we need all the Lamas here we can get.
Yes, yes, he used the words 'monks' and 'reincarnation' in association with God, but Mr. Fulghum happened to be a parish minister for 22 years and most likely doesn't believe in those things. His point? The best gifts are the gifts that we are not obliged to give, the ones that are a part of our own selves ...that would seem as a loss to the selfish man. A gift that makes the receiver's life better.
Matthew 7:21, Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Acts 20:35, I have shewed you all
things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to
remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to
give than to receive.
John 3:16, For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
The Quilt
So I've had this really awesome camera that I haven't been able to use for ....well, really too long, because I didn't have any way to get the pictures of the CF memory card. FINALLY I made it to the store yesterday and purchased a card reader. I have to share some of the pictures.
In January our dear friends Billy and Eliya got married. Well, one of the ladies at church came up with a great idea to make them a quilt while they were away on their honeymoon (they were gone for a month so we had plenty of time). All of the ladies from my fellowship got together and started sewing beautiful squares out of whatever scraps they could find at home. We even got together one Sunday afternoon, set up two sewing machines and let the fabric fly! It was soooo much fun!
Mrs. Graham took all of the squares home and sewed them together into the finished product, and finally after Billy and Eliya had returned home from their honeymoon the Graham family brought the quilt to church and presented it to the newlyweds. Everyone did a great job at keeping our project a secret for they were quite pleasantly surprised!!!
Here's a picture of a good portion of the congregation. There are a few families/people missing, but there were enough of us there to represent our fellowship for a picture.
In January our dear friends Billy and Eliya got married. Well, one of the ladies at church came up with a great idea to make them a quilt while they were away on their honeymoon (they were gone for a month so we had plenty of time). All of the ladies from my fellowship got together and started sewing beautiful squares out of whatever scraps they could find at home. We even got together one Sunday afternoon, set up two sewing machines and let the fabric fly! It was soooo much fun!
Mrs. Graham, at the sewing machine,
came up with the great idea of making a quilt.
Karen, Melissa and MaryAnn Cutting strips and blocks and pieces....
Kendra and Rachel
Patrick, Sandy, Emily, Karen and Michelle going through fabric and designing their blocks.
There was a lot of waiting and scheduling going on so that everyone
could get a turn with the rotary cutter or the sewing machine.
One of the biggest surprises was how many of the men and boys from our church fellowship decided to participate and create their own quilt blocks!!! =D ....or at least, they'd design the square and let us ladies sew it together. My dad said Billy always reminded him of Curious George since he can often be found climbing on things and doing something adventurous... the "always very curious" sort. :) Soooooo.... he decided to have me sew this quilt square (It was more applique than sewing really):
(I had to through this funny picture of Jack in!
He was sporting some pretty nasty fake teeth. Hehe!)
So many memories, inside jokes and seams of love are stitched into that quilt!
Billy & Eliya with the quilt made for them by their church family...
The Beef River Bible Fellowship.
(We'd just begun our new assembly shortly before we started the quilt so I had to wait for a while before stitching this square because the men of the church were still undecided on a name.)
Monday, December 9, 2013
'Tis The Season
The other day, in one of my spare moments, I picked up my little collection of Emerson's essays. I decided to read the first one in the book... which coincidentally happened to be about gifts. I thought this was an appropriate topic to study up on since everyone is focused on gifts this time of year. It is a brief but excellent read. Not exactly conclusive, but it lights upon aspects of gift giving and receiving that often go untouched. I thought I'd share it with you.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Essay V - Gifts
Gifts of one who loved me, —
'T was high time they came;
When he ceased to love me,
Time they stopped for shame.
It is said that the world is in a state of bankruptcy, that the world owes
the world more than the world can pay, and ought to go into chancery, and be sold. I do
not think this general insolvency, which involves in some sort all the population, to be
the reason of the difficulty experienced at Christmas and New Year, and other times, in
bestowing gifts; since it is always so pleasant to be generous, though very vexatious to
pay debts. But the impediment lies in the choosing. If, at any time, it comes into my
head, that a present is due from me to somebody, I am puzzled what to give, until the
opportunity is gone. Flowers and fruits are always fit presents; flowers, because they are
a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world. These gay
natures contrast with the somewhat stern countenance of ordinary nature: they are like
music heard out of a work-house. Nature does not cocker us: we are children, not pets: she
is not fond: everything is dealt to us without fear or favor, after severe universal laws.
Yet these delicate flowers look like the frolic and interference of love and beauty. Men
use to tell us that we love flattery, even though we are not deceived by it, because it
shows that we are of importance enough to be courted. Something like that pleasure, the
flowers give us: what am I to whom these sweet hints are addressed? Fruits are acceptable
gifts, because they are the flower of commodities, and admit of fantastic values being
attached to them. If a man should send to me to come a hundred miles to visit him, and
should set before me a basket of fine summerfruit, I should think there was some
proportion between the labor and the reward.
For common gifts, necessity makes pertinences and beauty every day, and
one is glad when an imperative leaves him no option, since if the man at the door have no
shoes, you have not to consider whether you could procure him a paint-box. And as it is
always pleasing to see a man eat bread, or drink water, in the house or out of doors, so
it is always a great satisfaction to supply these first wants. Necessity does everything
well. In our condition of universal dependence, it seems heroic to let the petitioner be
the judge of his necessity, and to give all that is asked, though at great inconvenience.
If it be a fantastic desire, it is better to leave to others the office of punishing him.
I can think of many parts I should prefer playing to that of the Furies. Next to things of
necessity, the rule for a gift, which one of my friends prescribed, is, that we might
convey to some person that which properly belonged to his character, and was easily
associated with him in thought. But our tokens of compliment and love are for the most
part barbarous. Rings and other jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only
gift is a portion of thyself. Thou must bleed for me. Therefore the poet brings his poem;
the shepherd, his lamb; the farmer, corn; the miner, a gem; the sailor, coral and shells;
the painter, his picture; the girl, a handkerchief of her own sewing. This is right and
pleasing, for it restores society in so far to its primary basis, when a man's biography
is conveyed in his gift, and every man's wealth is an index of his merit. But it is a
cold, lifeless business when you go to the shops to buy me something, which does not
represent your life and talent, but a goldsmith's. This is fit for kings, and rich men who
represent kings, and a false state of property, to make presents of gold and silver
stuffs, as a kind of symbolical sin-offering, or payment of black-mail.
The law of benefits is a difficult channel, which requires careful
sailing, or rude boats. It is not the office of a man to receive gifts. How dare you give
them? We wish to be self-sustained. We do not quite forgive a giver. The hand that feeds
us is in some danger of being bitten. We can receive anything from love, for that is a way
of receiving it from ourselves; but not from any one who assumes to bestow. We sometimes
hate the meat which we eat, because there seems something of degrading dependence in
living by it.
"Brother, if Jove to thee a present make,
Take heed that from his hands thou nothing take."
We ask the whole. Nothing less will content us. We arraign society, if it
do not give us besides earth, and fire, and water, opportunity, love, reverence, and
objects of veneration.
He is a good man, who can receive a gift well. We are either glad or sorry
at a gift, and both emotions are unbecoming. Some violence, I think, is done, some
degradation borne, when I rejoice or grieve at a gift. I am sorry when my independence is
invaded, or when a gift comes from such as do not know my spirit, and so the act is not
supported; and if the gift pleases me overmuch, then I should be ashamed that the donor
should read my heart, and see that I love his commodity, and not him. The gift, to be
true, must be the flowing of the giver unto me, correspondent to my flowing unto him. When
the waters are at level, then my goods pass to him, and his to me. All his are mine, all
mine his. I say to him, How can you give me this pot of oil, or this flagon of wine, when
all your oil and wine is mine, which belief of mine this gift seems to deny? Hence the
fitness of beautiful, not useful things for gifts. This giving is flat usurpation, and
therefore when the beneficiary is ungrateful, as all beneficiaries hate all Timons, not at
all considering the value of the gift, but looking back to the greater store it was taken
from, I rather sympathize with the beneficiary, than with the anger of my lord Timon. For,
the expectation of gratitude is mean, and is continually punished by the total
insensibility of the obliged person. It is a great happiness to get off without injury and
heart-burning, from one who has had the ill luck to be served by you. It is a very onerous
business, this of being served, and the debtor naturally wishes to give you a slap. A
golden text for these gentlemen is that which I so admire in the Buddhist, who never
thanks, and who says, "Do not flatter your benefactors."
The reason of these discords I conceive to be, that there is no
commensurability between a man and any gift. You cannot give anything to a magnanimous
person. After you have served him, he at once puts you in debt by his magnanimity. The
service a man renders his friend is trivial and selfish, compared with the service he
knows his friend stood in readiness to yield him, alike before he had begun to serve his
friend, and now also. Compared with that good-will I bear my friend, the benefit it is in
my power to render him seems small. Besides, our action on each other, good as well as
evil, is so incidental and at random, that we can seldom hear the acknowledgments of any
person who would thank us for a benefit, without some shame and humiliation. We can rarely
strike a direct stroke, but must be content with an oblique one; we seldom have the
satisfaction of yielding a direct benefit, which is directly received. But rectitude
scatters favors on every side without knowing it, and receives with wonder the thanks of
all people.
I fear to breathe any treason against the majesty of love, which is the
genius and god of gifts, and to whom we must not affect to prescribe. Let him give
kingdoms or flower-leaves indifferently. There are persons, from whom we always expect
fairy tokens; let us not cease to expect them. This is prerogative, and not to be limited
by our municipal rules. For the rest, I like to see that we cannot be bought and sold. The
best of hospitality and of generosity is also not in the will, but in fate. I find that I
am not much to you; you do not need me; you do not feel me; then am I thrust out of doors,
though you proffer me house and lands. No services are of any value, but only likeness.
When I have attempted to join myself to others by services, it proved an intellectual
trick, — no more. They eat your service like apples, and leave you out. But love them,
and they feel you, and delight in you all the time.
Friday, December 6, 2013
From Milk Production To Milk Price
When I went to work for the farmer down the road the other day he informed me that his bulk tank had overflown that morning. He was pretty excited I think, even though an overflowing bulk tank presents it's own problems.
I mentioned our neighbor's good fortune at the dinner table and my dad told us that we almost had our tank overflow back in 2009. We were 100 lbs. short of spilled milk. ....and one or two cows could create 100 lbs. of milk in one day! That's the kind of spilled milk a farmer doesn't exactly cry over. A pretty good problem to have, indeed!
That started the conversation on milk production. In 2009 we had the most cows milking (something like 130) and the most milk being shipped off our farm... and that year was a record lows for milk prices and record highs for feed prices. A lot of farmers went out of business that year, and if they didn't go out of business they went in the red. Murphy's law, it would seem for us.
Lately, it seems, things have been balancing out. Feed prices are coming back down, much to the disappointment of the crop farmers and fellows who've invested lots of time and money in the grain industry and the joy of those who have to buy the stuff. Milk prices are still too low. Maybe they'll always be too low? Those of us who dairy farm sometimes wonder who decides we should sell our milk for next to nothing.
...that being said, an unusual turn of events puts hope in our hearts once again. The CME is showing promising futures lately. The December milk price has been rising daily and January and February are going up as well. The months of January and February are normally accompanied by the lowest milk prices of the year and the futures for these months are going up as well.
My Dad told me that he thought the reason that the prices were going up is because there is a lot of milk being exported (to countries like China and so on).
I must tell you about the CME.... the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. This is like the lottery... except for farmers. As a gambler will eagerly watch for the winning lottery numbers you can find most farmers keeping a close eye on market prices of the dairy industry. Whether by way of radio or by paper or by internet (when I was milking cows at the neighbors at 5am I caught the local farm talk show... and the last thing they covered before the station switched to the morning music was the latest market prices).
If you ever want to take a peak at the "farmer lottery" you can check out the CME Class III Milk Futures.
I suppose it's only natural that I blog about farming and milk more than usual. Milk on the brain, maybe? Haha! Milking three times a day will do that to a person. ;) Just so ya know, we farmers are always thankful for our loyal supporters! Those of you who regularly make trips to the dairy department in your grocery stores, who take interest in our work, who encourage and enable us to keep working the long hours. If it weren't for you we wouldn't be doing what we do.
Until next time,
Mary the Milkmaid
I mentioned our neighbor's good fortune at the dinner table and my dad told us that we almost had our tank overflow back in 2009. We were 100 lbs. short of spilled milk. ....and one or two cows could create 100 lbs. of milk in one day! That's the kind of spilled milk a farmer doesn't exactly cry over. A pretty good problem to have, indeed!
That started the conversation on milk production. In 2009 we had the most cows milking (something like 130) and the most milk being shipped off our farm... and that year was a record lows for milk prices and record highs for feed prices. A lot of farmers went out of business that year, and if they didn't go out of business they went in the red. Murphy's law, it would seem for us.
Here's a really old picture of Courtney & I milking cows back in '09!
Lately, it seems, things have been balancing out. Feed prices are coming back down, much to the disappointment of the crop farmers and fellows who've invested lots of time and money in the grain industry and the joy of those who have to buy the stuff. Milk prices are still too low. Maybe they'll always be too low? Those of us who dairy farm sometimes wonder who decides we should sell our milk for next to nothing.
...that being said, an unusual turn of events puts hope in our hearts once again. The CME is showing promising futures lately. The December milk price has been rising daily and January and February are going up as well. The months of January and February are normally accompanied by the lowest milk prices of the year and the futures for these months are going up as well.
My Dad told me that he thought the reason that the prices were going up is because there is a lot of milk being exported (to countries like China and so on).
I must tell you about the CME.... the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. This is like the lottery... except for farmers. As a gambler will eagerly watch for the winning lottery numbers you can find most farmers keeping a close eye on market prices of the dairy industry. Whether by way of radio or by paper or by internet (when I was milking cows at the neighbors at 5am I caught the local farm talk show... and the last thing they covered before the station switched to the morning music was the latest market prices).
If you ever want to take a peak at the "farmer lottery" you can check out the CME Class III Milk Futures.
I suppose it's only natural that I blog about farming and milk more than usual. Milk on the brain, maybe? Haha! Milking three times a day will do that to a person. ;) Just so ya know, we farmers are always thankful for our loyal supporters! Those of you who regularly make trips to the dairy department in your grocery stores, who take interest in our work, who encourage and enable us to keep working the long hours. If it weren't for you we wouldn't be doing what we do.
Until next time,
Mary the Milkmaid
The Cutest Old Lady. Ever.
http://www.faithit.com/100-year-old-lady-talks-about-love-long-life/
Click on the link above and watch the video!!! It is super cute!!! Old people are just awesome as it is, but this little old lady is just hilarious! Seriously... just watching this video will prolong your years because it'll make you laugh, and as you know, a merry heart does good like medicine. ;)
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Happy Thanksgiving!
We decided not to feast today. It just worked out better to postpone the event till Saturday. I'm going to make pie crusts tonight in preparation for the baking tomorrow. We'll be going five hundred miles an hour for the next two days.
I guess I've been going five hundred miles an hour for the past week. I know I posted about my job opportunities this past month, but just this Monday I was able to set a new work record that I'd never dreamed of setting. I milked 4 times in one day!!! ...and I did it two days in a row!!
I took pictures during each milking on the first day:
Milking No. 1: Here I am at 5am, milking at Tyler's farm, ...with coffee of course! We didn't have milk in the house when I left so I had to squirt some fresh milk right from the teat into my coffee!
Milking No. 2: After an hour's break for breakfast I went out to milk in the parlor. It's a lot colder in the parlor (compared to a stanchion barn) so I had to wear a warm winter hat. Also, a new calf had just been born! So cute!
Milking No. 3: I had an 1 & 1/2 hours for lunch and then it was back to Tyler's to milk his Holstein cows.
Milking No. 4: I took a two hour nap that afternoon, before dinner and then it was back to the parlor for the fourth milking! Craziness! ....but I survived, and it was a good experience. :)
Anyways, I was able to milk for Tyler today so he could enjoy Thanksgiving with his family. He was pretty excited.... because it's a rare day for a farmer to get an holiday off work. Employees want to take off to spend time with their family and so holidays usually mean more work for farmers. I was glad to be of service, because I've been in that situation before too.
I was lucky today because my brother Isaac came and hung out in the barn while I milked!!! I was glad to have him for company AND he brought doughnuts and Starbucks coffee!!! =D It was great!
I was laughing so hard that I could barely take this picture. So funny!!
By the way... meet my favorite cat. It's name was Monkey, but I call it Cat Stop (short for Next Cat Stop - 20 Miles), because it will follow me around in the barn waiting to get pet! =D Such a rad cat!!
Anyways.... I need to go make pie crusts! I have so much to be thankful for and I hope everyone out there is enjoying this wonderful day.
Happy Thanksgiving, folks!
I guess I've been going five hundred miles an hour for the past week. I know I posted about my job opportunities this past month, but just this Monday I was able to set a new work record that I'd never dreamed of setting. I milked 4 times in one day!!! ...and I did it two days in a row!!
I took pictures during each milking on the first day:
Anyways, I was able to milk for Tyler today so he could enjoy Thanksgiving with his family. He was pretty excited.... because it's a rare day for a farmer to get an holiday off work. Employees want to take off to spend time with their family and so holidays usually mean more work for farmers. I was glad to be of service, because I've been in that situation before too.
I was lucky today because my brother Isaac came and hung out in the barn while I milked!!! I was glad to have him for company AND he brought doughnuts and Starbucks coffee!!! =D It was great!
Happy Thanksgiving, folks!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Hunting Season
7 degrees Fahrenheit, and if feels like -7, according to the weather channel. There have been a few fresh snows... optimal tracking conditions. The coldest morning this Fall so far, from what I can see... and nestled out there in this chilly weather there a hundreds of hunters freezing their tails off. Welcome to the opening day of the hunt.
I drove my brother Channing to the local farm store last night to get his hunting license and you should have seen the place buzzing. The parking lot was packed with people out there getting their last minute hunting supplies.
Just because it's not on the calendar doesn't mean this isn't a holiday. :)
I just don't understand what the motivation is behind the whole deal. What is it about a rack? ...how many hunters go out and spend their money each year even if they didn't get anything the past year, or the year before, or the year before that?
I suppose it's the hope of getting that 30 point buck. :) You know he's out there. It's all about being in the right place at the right time, if it means freezing to death in a tree stand.
Next year maybe....
Next year.
I drove my brother Channing to the local farm store last night to get his hunting license and you should have seen the place buzzing. The parking lot was packed with people out there getting their last minute hunting supplies.
Just because it's not on the calendar doesn't mean this isn't a holiday. :)
I just don't understand what the motivation is behind the whole deal. What is it about a rack? ...how many hunters go out and spend their money each year even if they didn't get anything the past year, or the year before, or the year before that?
I suppose it's the hope of getting that 30 point buck. :) You know he's out there. It's all about being in the right place at the right time, if it means freezing to death in a tree stand.
Next year maybe....
Next year.
Friday, November 22, 2013
A Blog of Thanksgiving
Last year, whilst I was still "camped out" on Facebook, I decided to try to post a Bible verse about thanksgiving every day. I really enjoyed looking up the scriptures and passages! What an edifying study! A fellow, named Curt, commented on facebook and said, "So I
looked up the words formed from 'thank' and 'rejoice'. Turns out they
are mentioned 399 times in 378 verses. One for every day of the year,
and them some. Some insight for our daily walk eh?" ...insight, indeed! If you ever get the chance to study all of the variations of the word 'thank' in the Bible, do so!
(On a side note: I'm not gonna lie... I wish people would spend more time on Thanksgiving instead of skipping right to Christmas. I like both holidays but it would do folks good to dwell on their blessings. Truth is, how cool would it be if Christmas were in January or February?! Just think, we have all of these great holidays at the end of the year (Hunting Season, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, New Years Day), and then the new year hits and there's nothing. And the weather sucks. Talk about a good way to make everyone depressed. I vote that they move Christmas to the beginning of the year!!! It's a win-win situation! LOL
Also, I have nothing against great sales or going shopping... but this is a thought provoking perspective... )
For the sake of time I'm not going to go through my posts and edit anything, so you will find out-of-date comments about the presidential election and such. Anyways, I hope you are as edified by God's blessed wisdom and words on thanksgiving as I have been.
My Facebook posts on Thanksgiving from November 2012:
Since Thanksgiving is coming up at the end of this month I am going to try and post a Bible verse about thankfulness everyday!
Psalm 100:4-5, Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
----
2 Corinthians 4:14
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man parish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
----
...and so it is Election Day! I'm guessing that a whole lot of American's will be sitting on the edges of their chairs, twiddling their thumbs as the results come in tonight. Whatever way the coin lands it is a comfort to remember who is really The Power:
Revelation 7:12
"And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen."
----
I doubt many people have suffered like Paul the Apostle did, but life sure does take us all on a journey:
Acts 28:11-15
And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli: Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
----
1 Corinthians 15:55-58
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
----
Absolute Truth:
Psalm 136:1
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
---
I am really thankful to have a bountiful supply of meat right outside the door. Homegrown Jersey meat is amazing!
"Eat beef... the West wasn't won on salad."
1 Timothy 4:3-5
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
----
What a blessing to be complete in HIM.
Colossians 1:12-14
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
----
Lately I've been discussing the love of God with my brother Isaac.
Ephesians 5:1-4
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
----
I know that some people mistake the meaning of this passage to say that God will answer our prayers. What it does says is just as wonderful (if not better?).... because peace and understanding for the many issues that we deal with in life is what we need to carry on and serve the Lord.
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
----
On the flip side of the verses I have shared about thankfulness:
There are so many people in this world who refuse to acknowledge God. They know the truth but they do not glorify Him, they are not thankful and their hearts are so very dark.
Romans 1:20-25
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
----
Psalm 75:1
Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.
----
What a privilege to be a part of the Body of Christ...
Romans 1:8
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
----
Whatsoever ye do, do unto the Lord? ....this includes hunting deer, methinks. ;)
Colossians 3:12-17
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
----
Always a good reminder....
1 Timothy 2:1-4
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
----
I am so very thankful to know so many brothers and sisters in Christ who are encouraging and refreshing because of their love and faith in Christ Jesus! What a fellowship!
Philemon 1:4-7
"I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother."
----
In case you've ever wondered what God's will for you is, this is it:
1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
----
1 Thessalonians 2:13
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
----
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving day!!!
I was going to suggest that you comment here below and tell me what One thing you are most thankful for.... however it seems that our time would be better spent counting our Many blessings!!!
This sums up my Thanksgiving posts (for the moment at least).
This passage couldn't fit this holiday better....
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
(On a side note: I'm not gonna lie... I wish people would spend more time on Thanksgiving instead of skipping right to Christmas. I like both holidays but it would do folks good to dwell on their blessings. Truth is, how cool would it be if Christmas were in January or February?! Just think, we have all of these great holidays at the end of the year (Hunting Season, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, New Years Day), and then the new year hits and there's nothing. And the weather sucks. Talk about a good way to make everyone depressed. I vote that they move Christmas to the beginning of the year!!! It's a win-win situation! LOL
Also, I have nothing against great sales or going shopping... but this is a thought provoking perspective... )
For the sake of time I'm not going to go through my posts and edit anything, so you will find out-of-date comments about the presidential election and such. Anyways, I hope you are as edified by God's blessed wisdom and words on thanksgiving as I have been.
My Facebook posts on Thanksgiving from November 2012:
Since Thanksgiving is coming up at the end of this month I am going to try and post a Bible verse about thankfulness everyday!
Psalm 100:4-5, Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
----
2 Corinthians 4:14
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man parish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
----
...and so it is Election Day! I'm guessing that a whole lot of American's will be sitting on the edges of their chairs, twiddling their thumbs as the results come in tonight. Whatever way the coin lands it is a comfort to remember who is really The Power:
Revelation 7:12
"And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen."
----
I doubt many people have suffered like Paul the Apostle did, but life sure does take us all on a journey:
Acts 28:11-15
And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli: Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
----
1 Corinthians 15:55-58
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
----
Absolute Truth:
Psalm 136:1
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
---
I am really thankful to have a bountiful supply of meat right outside the door. Homegrown Jersey meat is amazing!
"Eat beef... the West wasn't won on salad."
1 Timothy 4:3-5
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
----
What a blessing to be complete in HIM.
Colossians 1:12-14
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
----
Lately I've been discussing the love of God with my brother Isaac.
Ephesians 5:1-4
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
----
I know that some people mistake the meaning of this passage to say that God will answer our prayers. What it does says is just as wonderful (if not better?).... because peace and understanding for the many issues that we deal with in life is what we need to carry on and serve the Lord.
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
----
On the flip side of the verses I have shared about thankfulness:
There are so many people in this world who refuse to acknowledge God. They know the truth but they do not glorify Him, they are not thankful and their hearts are so very dark.
Romans 1:20-25
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
----
Psalm 75:1
Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.
----
What a privilege to be a part of the Body of Christ...
Romans 1:8
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
----
Whatsoever ye do, do unto the Lord? ....this includes hunting deer, methinks. ;)
Colossians 3:12-17
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
----
Always a good reminder....
1 Timothy 2:1-4
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
----
I am so very thankful to know so many brothers and sisters in Christ who are encouraging and refreshing because of their love and faith in Christ Jesus! What a fellowship!
Philemon 1:4-7
"I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother."
----
In case you've ever wondered what God's will for you is, this is it:
1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
----
1 Thessalonians 2:13
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
----
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving day!!!
I was going to suggest that you comment here below and tell me what One thing you are most thankful for.... however it seems that our time would be better spent counting our Many blessings!!!
This sums up my Thanksgiving posts (for the moment at least).
This passage couldn't fit this holiday better....
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Flashmob!
This is pretty awesome! Gotta love flashmob stuff! ...and this one is extremely elegant. :)
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Work
When I was younger I remember thinking that if I wanted my life to be over all I'd have to do was work all of the time and get rid of facebook. I called this "social suicide" because without a virtual connection to all of my friends and without any real time to spend with them my social life would come to an end. I usually thought of this when I was throwing a pity party for myself, most likely because I was thinking I already worked too much and didn't get to see my friends often enough...
Life has a funny way of turning your worst nightmares into reality.
As you know I've been off facebook for a while already, and lately I've been working all of the time (or what seems like all of the time). For a few weeks this past month my brothers, Chan and Pat, and I worked for a friend gathering and boxing pine tip bundles and also cutting pine trees up and baling them. Some days we'd wake up with just enough time for breakfast, go out and do our regular chores as fast as we could, have 10 minutes to get ready. We'd eat our lunch during our commute and then work until 6pm with only a short time to rest and eat dinner before we had to go outside and do our farm work once again. All of our work put together came out to about 11 hours a day.
Here are some pictures I took at the tree farm we were working at. It was a beautiful, hilly location and unfortunately my camera phone doesn't do it justice.
I took this picture while riding on top of pine bales in a skidsteer basket. It was sort of like riding a horse except for our boss had the bucket way up high a lot of the time so I could see the scenery really well! It was incredibly fun!
Here's Channing and Paddy resting on the only break we took the whole time we were working. This was on our first day doing pine bales by ourselves so we hadn't quite gotten the routine down and were a tad bit exhausted. ;)
One evening as we were getting ready to leave the tree farm the sunset was beautiful so we ran up to the top of the hill and I snapped a few shots of the magnificent view.
Here are stacks of our pine bales that we'd made. Each stack has 25 bales in it. On average we made 125 bales in 6 hours.
The hills to the North East of the pine trees on a cold and rain day. Those days were the worst to work on because we'd be soaking wet by the time we'd head for home. The landscape was lovely, even still.
Almost a month ago our hired hand, Zach, finally quit after milking for us for two years because his family moved. He'd been milking at least two milkings a week, and in the Summer he'd milk three or even more if I was going on vacation or something. Since he left I've been doing all of the milking. I'm thinking that I'll get a few milkings off here and there in the near future once my Dad is done working his seasonal job (once the snow flies), but Channing can't relieve me since he's just as busy as I am (if not moreso) with raising calves, feeding cows and doing all of the other jobs the farm requires.... and hunting. ;)
Now that Zach is gone I feel like I've turned a new chapter in responsibility. I am having to be more of a grown up about work. Not getting upset because I don't have a night off... or any time off for that matter. Not fretting about working on a holiday or my birthday. It's really good for me, I think.
As always, I continue to have people milk with me whenever I find willing volunteers. This past weekend it happened to be my girl cousins: Annabel, Noel and Violet, and my sister Nellie helped too!
I told the girls before we started milking, "Do not scream or yell, and stay calm around the cows. If you don't they will poop a really lot!"
There are two things I have learned about milking with young girls:
1. If you say "don't scream or yell" you might as well be speaking a foreign language.
2. To them, being calm means talking a really lot in loud, excited voices.
The youngest, Violet, was the most excited! While I was setting up the barn she kept saying, "When are we going to milk the cows, for Pete's sake?!" It was so funny! Then when I did get the cows in there she hopped right in the pit and I taught her how to spray & wipe the cows clean and put milkers on (a lot of adults don't like wiping the cows off since the cows get a little kicky, so I was quite impressed)!!! She'd get some poop on her arm or something, pause to think about what to do for a second, and then exclaim, "I just LOVE getting dirty! I don't know why Annabel doesn't like getting dirty! I LOVE milking cows!!" After a while Annabel and Noel decided it might not be too scary to get in the pit and help out too. Noel said very seriously, "You guys are SO lucky to have a farm." :) It was a blast having them milk with me, but I dare say their dad wasn't too impressed when they came in from chores covered from head to toe in cow manure. Oh my!!!
The best part was when I taught the girls how to squeeze milk from the teats and drink it fresh! SOOOOO FUNNY!!! They spent quite a bit of time working on perfecting this skill. ;)
Right as the job doing pine trees was coming to an end another job offer came up.
The farmer down the road stopped by one morning to ask if either Channing or I would be interested in doing some milking on his farm. The problem was that he needed someone to do the night milkings (8:30-10:30), which is right when Channing and I are busy on our farm doing milking and feeding. I told the farmer that I would love to milk his 12:30-2:30 milking (he milks three times a day) if he ever needs someone to do that shift. It seemed unlikely that he'd need a milker at that time so I forgot about it. Less than a week later Tyler, the farmer, contacted us saying that his PM milker had a heart attack and that if we still wanted to work the 12:30 shift he would appreciate the help since he was doing all of the milkings now. I was pretty excited! ...well, not that the guy had a heart attack, but that the job opened up!
So lately I've been milking three times a day!
It's a fun milking in a different style barn, and meeting new cows. I love cows. :) and I'm really thankful for the opportunity. The best part is that Tyler's farm is less than a mile away from my farm, so it only takes a minute to get there. :)
If you were to follow the road that you can see from his cow yard, it would take you to my house. Actually if it wasn't for the hill you'd be able to see our farm from his! :)
Here's a not-so-quality shot of Tyler's barn and cows. Definitely a different set-up from a swing parlor:
All in all, I guess "social suicide" isn't as bad as I thought it would be. ;)
Life has a funny way of turning your worst nightmares into reality.
As you know I've been off facebook for a while already, and lately I've been working all of the time (or what seems like all of the time). For a few weeks this past month my brothers, Chan and Pat, and I worked for a friend gathering and boxing pine tip bundles and also cutting pine trees up and baling them. Some days we'd wake up with just enough time for breakfast, go out and do our regular chores as fast as we could, have 10 minutes to get ready. We'd eat our lunch during our commute and then work until 6pm with only a short time to rest and eat dinner before we had to go outside and do our farm work once again. All of our work put together came out to about 11 hours a day.
Here are some pictures I took at the tree farm we were working at. It was a beautiful, hilly location and unfortunately my camera phone doesn't do it justice.
Baling pine branches with Channing and Patrick.
Hills... layers and layers of hills to the North East.
A wheat field was growing next to the stand of trees to the North.
Looking down at the trees from the wheat field, with more beautiful hills in the background.
The sun setting behind the wispy, white pines.
Trees to the East.
Sap dripping from a pine tree.
One evening as we were getting ready to leave the tree farm the sunset was beautiful so we ran up to the top of the hill and I snapped a few shots of the magnificent view.
Here are stacks of our pine bales that we'd made. Each stack has 25 bales in it. On average we made 125 bales in 6 hours.
The hills to the North East of the pine trees on a cold and rain day. Those days were the worst to work on because we'd be soaking wet by the time we'd head for home. The landscape was lovely, even still.
Almost a month ago our hired hand, Zach, finally quit after milking for us for two years because his family moved. He'd been milking at least two milkings a week, and in the Summer he'd milk three or even more if I was going on vacation or something. Since he left I've been doing all of the milking. I'm thinking that I'll get a few milkings off here and there in the near future once my Dad is done working his seasonal job (once the snow flies), but Channing can't relieve me since he's just as busy as I am (if not moreso) with raising calves, feeding cows and doing all of the other jobs the farm requires.... and hunting. ;)
Zach learned to milk really fast and was very reliable. He was also extremely punctual (which was always fascinating to those of us who are rather lackadaisical about timeliness). In fact, he was so punctual that the few times that he happened to be two or three minutes late for work I'd start to get worried!
Now that Zach is gone I feel like I've turned a new chapter in responsibility. I am having to be more of a grown up about work. Not getting upset because I don't have a night off... or any time off for that matter. Not fretting about working on a holiday or my birthday. It's really good for me, I think.
As always, I continue to have people milk with me whenever I find willing volunteers. This past weekend it happened to be my girl cousins: Annabel, Noel and Violet, and my sister Nellie helped too!
I told the girls before we started milking, "Do not scream or yell, and stay calm around the cows. If you don't they will poop a really lot!"
There are two things I have learned about milking with young girls:
1. If you say "don't scream or yell" you might as well be speaking a foreign language.
2. To them, being calm means talking a really lot in loud, excited voices.
The youngest, Violet, was the most excited! While I was setting up the barn she kept saying, "When are we going to milk the cows, for Pete's sake?!" It was so funny! Then when I did get the cows in there she hopped right in the pit and I taught her how to spray & wipe the cows clean and put milkers on (a lot of adults don't like wiping the cows off since the cows get a little kicky, so I was quite impressed)!!! She'd get some poop on her arm or something, pause to think about what to do for a second, and then exclaim, "I just LOVE getting dirty! I don't know why Annabel doesn't like getting dirty! I LOVE milking cows!!" After a while Annabel and Noel decided it might not be too scary to get in the pit and help out too. Noel said very seriously, "You guys are SO lucky to have a farm." :) It was a blast having them milk with me, but I dare say their dad wasn't too impressed when they came in from chores covered from head to toe in cow manure. Oh my!!!
Annabel, Tanner and Noel (being dramatic for the picture!)
Violet gettin' things done!
Here's my motley crew!
The best part was when I taught the girls how to squeeze milk from the teats and drink it fresh! SOOOOO FUNNY!!! They spent quite a bit of time working on perfecting this skill. ;)
Right as the job doing pine trees was coming to an end another job offer came up.
The farmer down the road stopped by one morning to ask if either Channing or I would be interested in doing some milking on his farm. The problem was that he needed someone to do the night milkings (8:30-10:30), which is right when Channing and I are busy on our farm doing milking and feeding. I told the farmer that I would love to milk his 12:30-2:30 milking (he milks three times a day) if he ever needs someone to do that shift. It seemed unlikely that he'd need a milker at that time so I forgot about it. Less than a week later Tyler, the farmer, contacted us saying that his PM milker had a heart attack and that if we still wanted to work the 12:30 shift he would appreciate the help since he was doing all of the milkings now. I was pretty excited! ...well, not that the guy had a heart attack, but that the job opened up!
So lately I've been milking three times a day!
It's a fun milking in a different style barn, and meeting new cows. I love cows. :) and I'm really thankful for the opportunity. The best part is that Tyler's farm is less than a mile away from my farm, so it only takes a minute to get there. :)
If you were to follow the road that you can see from his cow yard, it would take you to my house. Actually if it wasn't for the hill you'd be able to see our farm from his! :)
Here's a not-so-quality shot of Tyler's barn and cows. Definitely a different set-up from a swing parlor:
Last Friday I asked Tyler, "Aren't you excited that it's Friday?!" He laughed and replied, "Yeah, I see people posting on Facebook, "TGIF" and other stuff about the weekend... but it's all the same to me." The weekend means little to us farmers... We'd have to agree with Si,
All in all, I guess "social suicide" isn't as bad as I thought it would be. ;)
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