A Beautiful Day

Fried green tomatoes for lunch, a banana smoothie on the side (full of healthy vitamins) and cup of coffee! What a combination! 

It's a beautiful, sunny, late summer day in the great North. Driving down the road through the country is amazing this time of year. Everybody's corn looks like a million bucks with all of the rain we've gotten. The cows are starting to freshen here on the farm. It seems like we have three new calves every three days. We've had a few cases of milk fever and mastitis. Right when you think everything has resumed to normal it get's crazy again. Life is good! The garden is starting to produce lots of wonderful veggies (and even some flowers.... my favorite part!). Canning is coming up soon. I'm looking forward to it and dreading it all at the same time. 

I have been spending some extra time playing music these days. I have my violin back from the shop... looking shiny and new! You can barely tell that it had a huge hole in it! It's fun to get back into play the violin. It's a big challenge since everything you do while playing matters. I'm also busy practicing piano for church. I play the hymns ever-other Sunday. I share the job with another girl from church. It's definitely a good motivation to keep practicing and improving my skills, but I'm also really thankful for it giving an excuse to build a better friendship between Rachel (the other pianist from church) and I. 

Anyway there is much to be done! TTYL!!!

Status

Facebook can be really boring at times, but lately there have been quite a number of interesting, inspiring or simply comical status updates. Enjoy!

Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was DEAD.... Now, what's YOUR excuse? Can God use you or not? ~~~ God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the CALLED!!!

"What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?"
--- Michael Hyatt

 "In the Bible, Ruth patiently waited for her mate Boaz. While waiting on your Boaz, don't settle for ANY of his relatives; Brokeaz, Poaz, Lyinaz, Cheatinaz, Dumbaz, Downlowaz, Cheapaz, Lockedupaz, Goodfornothinaz, Lazyaz or Marriedaz! And especially his third cousin Beatinyoaz. Please...wait on your Boaz & make sure he respects Yoaz!"

"In a world of seemingly inescapable obscurity we strive desperately to understand our place within the structure of human society." -Max

"Criminals thrive on the indulgence of society's understanding." - Casey

A Couple of Cute Things

July 14th: Mom looks out the window and sees Patrick and Janelle creating smoke and asks them, "What are you guys doing?!?!" Patrick says, "We're trying to light this seed on fire. Mom: "...well what kind of seed is it?" Patrick: "I don't know, but it's the seed that looks kind of like gun powder."

July 12th: Patrick and Janelle have officially adopted a baby bird with a broken wing. They have named it "Fledg". ;)

July 7th: Dad: "I wonder why the Earth is round....?"
Patrick: *without even blinking* "...so that you don't fall off."

July 6th: While weeding the garden this morning, I heard Patrick matter-of-factly tell Janelle, "did you know that if you open up a sunflower at night it glows in the dark? ...yeah, one time I used one for a lantern."

Communication is the Key.

Over the short time that I've been alive it's taking me a while to learn a few basic things. One of which is that when communication is maintained things will run much more smoothly. Of course I don't mean negative communication, but rather the kind that entails honesty, and openness. If you look around to a lot of the deeply rooted problems in families, between friends and just with people in general, it usually stems from a lack of proper communication. It is most likely because people don't understand the freedom of being open and being honest. Granted when you're in the presence of people who will only tear you down or hurt you it makes communication a risk. ...but then again, how do you get anywhere, how do you change things without communicating the problems at hand? 

God says in John 8:31-32, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 

John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

In all reality, the ways of this world are destruction and the only peace and joy can come from the Lord. God is everything that is good. He has communicated everything that we will ever NEED to know in His Holy Word. If we learn and let the Lord work in us we will be able to properly communicate with those around us. If the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance) are the things that we embrace, it will transform our lives. In the way we treat one another, in the way we listen to others and in the way we speak to people.

Communication is the key. 

Be honest.  Be open.  Never fail to try. 
Don't be afraid to really talk. 

God is the Author of Honesty. You cannot lose.

....once I get the time?

I want to write. Blog. You know.. that kind of thing. Life seems to be busy though. No time to squish in more than a sentence or two. *sigh*
I want to write about a race, waiting.. and numerous other things. Bah. It shall happen eventually.
It's a curious thing, blogging. You never know who is going to read your stuff... or if anyone ever does. Maybe that's a good thing. ;)
Anyway, time to get back to work. Later.....

God Bless America!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!! 

I sure hope you're out there somewhere in America right now celebrating this great country's 235th year of existence and independence! I am very proud to be an American. 

...and maybe it's not so much that I'm proud but that I'm privileged. Although this earth is not my home, I am blessed to live in a country where I am still able to praise and worship my Lord, Jesus Christ. Really, when this day rolls around every year our freedom in America is really because of our freedom in Christ. It's just like it says on our penny's: "In God We Trust".

I know the U.S.A. has it's fair share of troubles. Economy ups and downs (mostly downs these days), inflation, 3 trillion dollars in debt..... Oh and of course having Obama as our president. The list is much longer, but you get my drift. 

Nevertheless, I am quite amazed by some of my fellow citizens. I have been watching my friends on facebook and listening to the radio.... observing... and I am surprised at how unpatriotic a lot of people are. Where is the spirit?!?!? People get more excited about Santa Claus.... and play more Christmas music. Common! ...there are plenty of good patriotic songs. Why aren't the radio stations playing them more? 

So here are some of my favorites:

My all time favorite!

"I thank god for my life

And for the stars and stripes

May freedom forever fly

Let it ring...

Salute the ones who died

The ones that give their lives so we

Don't have to sacrifice

All the things we love..."

And of course.... you have to have the funny commercials right? This one is a crack up! (Note: so as not to alarm you, there is a swearword at the very end)

 

I have had a wonderful day! Was able to hang out with my lovely cousins (we had ice cream with red, white and blue sprinkles!!) and I went tubing down a river with my sister, brother-in-law and a bunch of friends! Although I didn't make it to the fireworks show with my family tonight I our new (and wealthy-er-) neighbors 1/2 a mile away had quite a nice little show that I was overjoyed to see! ...and now we're having more ice cream.... (mine is going to melt if I don't go eat it!). We, as in we have our missionary guests with us still. Mrs. Johnson grew up in Germany. She met Mr. Johnson when he was stationed over there in the military. She says she is very glad to be an American citizen now. ...God Bless America! 

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States."

  HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Summer

As I stated in my last post, it is officially summer!!! After a very enjoyable 10 day visit my relatives left this morning. Towards the end of the visit the weather was finally more agreeable. It was sunny while we were at camp. We go camping every year at an Assemblies of God Church camp. We know the people who own it and they always give our clan a good deal. We stay in cabins and use their huge kitchen/cafeteria, and they are located right on Lake Nebagamon so we get to canoe, kayak, boat, swim, fish..... whatever! It is just for the weekend but this year we were able to stay longer than we have been able to in the past and we even had a few extra friends along which always makes it fun.

....now that the relatives have left there is tons of work that is to be caught up on. Today my parents and I have been weeding out the flower beds. It's pretty toasty working out there but there is a nice wind blowing that keeps working conditions bearable.

Remember my TLC garden that I posted about? ....well, one of our dogs (I have yet to discover which one it is) decided to dig everything up along the walls. I am quite dismayed and am not sure whether I want to go to all the work of putting it back together this year. It's mostly frustrating because all the ferns I had planted and were actually growing very nicely, are gone. *sigh*

Nice weather naturally means cooking inside is torture.... which means you get to grill more often. Tonight it is hamburgers. Tomorrow it's supposed to be 104 (with the heat index) and we will be grilling chicken. I have sun tea brewing out on the deck.... another bonus to the summer heat! 

The song, Knee Deep by The Zac Brown Band has been playing through my head.

Anyway, tomorrow we are expecting some missionaries who will be staying with us for a few days to work on the farm (they are setting up a farm operation similar to ours for a Teen Challenge program in the country that they are ministering to). This weekend is also the celebration of the 4th of July! My country's independence day. I'm hoping for some good fireworks displays and fellowship with friends and family! 

And with that I wish you a very happy Independence Day weekend! 

Until Next Time,

Mary Ellen