Nice 'n Easy and wrinkle cream.

As I look at myself in the mirror at the ripe old age of 32, I notice some gray hairs on that head of mine.  I also see wrinkles creeping in that weren't there before.  And disturbingly enough the wrinkles appear....deeper!  My skin isn't quit as supple looking as it was in my youth.  The circles under my eyes are darker and the woes of life are worn on my face.

As some of you read this you are laughing at the fact that I referred to the age of 32 as "ripe" and are looking for your reading glasses so you can see the rest of this blog post.  Others are mortified at the thought of finding that gray hair and extra wrinkle and racing out to the store to buy their Nice 'n Easy and expensive wrinkle cream.  Some of you are standing exactly where I am.

Either way, I can say with confidence that it is more than likely all of us have faced pressure to stay young. Whether it be from TV, magazines, our family and friends or low self esteem.  What in the heck is that all about?  We are fed this idea that in order to be worthwhile, we need to be youthful.  I completely disagree.

This lady goes to the pool several times a week in an attempt to stay healthy.  She has 6 grandchildren that are convinced she walks on water.

This woman runs the local food bank in her town and mentors young women in her church.

This couple still feels the same zest for their marriage they did 50 years ago.

This woman endured painful abuse for most of her life.  She is finally free of it.

He still works hard every day to put dinner on the table.

And this lady.  Well, she's the one that would tell you that you were stupid to worry about a gray hair and wrinkle cream.


Aging is a beautiful thing.  Wear those years with pride and don't allow lies to convince you that the life you are wearing is anything but a joy.

People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7

Cow testicles and the outlandishly smelly dog.

Today was just one of those days.  You know what I mean.  The day started off with the gate accidentally getting left open and us looking out and seeing the cows in the yard.  Then we moved on to accidentally banding a calf whose testicles hadn't dropped yet.  Then while that whole debacle was happening one of the steers decided to hop the fence and run all over the universe with the exception of our property.  Well, then there's the cat.  She's been missing since yesterday and Bean's sad.  Then as I was feeling as if I was going to rip my hair out and get rid of every animal we own, the dog walks in the house smelling like...well, it can't even be described.  Needless to say, he needed a bath.  The entire day was spent outside, stressing over animal issues and trying to parent at the same time.  My house ended up a disaster and dinner never ended up getting made.  And then there was that play date that had to be cancelled.

Days like these in my life aren't common, but they aren't as uncommon as some of you may think.  Anyone who has 10 million animals like we do know exactly what I am talking about.  There are days where these critters make me the happiest woman on the planet and others where I feel like throwing in the towel.

It's days like these that really get me thinking about why we try and pretend to be farmers.  The learning curve seems to be hitting us from all sides lately.  From meat chicken disasters, a baby chick rescue mission, goat diarrhea and a new calf just in the past week alone, my head is spinning.  And may I point out that the biggest disasters always strike when my husband is at work??  

But then again, I guess the day wasn't a total loss.  We finished up the evening with two nude children spraying eachother with the garden hose while cracking up hysterically and my husband walking around outside spraying poison oak in nothing but a backpack sprayer, underwear and flip flops.


I guess all I can say is...it's a labor of love?   Maybe you should ask me tomorrow.

"Be strong. therefore, and let not your hands be weak and slack, for your work shall be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7



Eating right is patriotic darnit!

Diabetes, heart disease and cancer in the United States are rising at a rapid rate.  You've heard it a thousand times right?  There is not one person who hasn't been touched by one of these diseases and it's becoming much too common. 

Our food supply is being flooded with genetically modified seeds that are meant to withstand high doses of chemicals, namely ROUND-UP!  Not something I want in my body or the bodies of our children.  The United States is quickly falling behind other countries as we dive bomb in the health department.

So if we keep hearing it, why aren't we changing it?  People are waking up and it's really exciting.  Some don't know where to start, some choose to ignore it as some hippy conspiracy, some think they are eating healthy but fall prey to marketing schemes and others are well on their way towards healthier eating.

We need our children to be vital, productive members of the workforce, not on dialysis at the age of 30.  Where will America be if we don't keep this health wave rolling?  It's time to get back to our roots and fight against this.  Vote with your dollars.  Support organic, support local and start making an effort to grow as much of your own food as you can. 

We are Americans!  We are at our best when we are up against a wall with a battle to fight!  Will you join me?   Let's do something with all the extra patriotic blood racing through our veins this 4th of July.  There are plenty of people out there that have already started.  If you know one, team up with them.  If you are one, spread the word and help others around you.  It's time we support the Americans around us who are trying to provide healthy food for a healthy America! 

My testimony. My story. I don't know what to call it.



Growing up I knew there was a God.  I didn't know Him and I wasn't even really sure He existed.  As I got older I realized that God was one of many options out there.  Like any human, I needed an explanation for why I was here.

You see, I believe that we all have eternity in our hearts and we search for an answer to it.  At a young age, I remember asking God laying in bed one night if he was really there.  I asked Him to give me a sign so that I would know if He truly existed.  I didn't get my "sign".  I also never felt His presence in my life.

When I got to High School I learned about evolution in my Science class.  Sure, it fit.  I didn't have anything to back up a belief in God and evolution made sense to me.  Evolution was my explanation for the longing I felt in my heart to know where I belonged, where I fit in to the story.  It would be my explanation until I turned 27.

At 22 years of age I would graduate college, get married and start a career.  I married one of those so-called Christians.  He didn't talk about his faith much and didn't seem to care that I wasn't a believer.  I remember him talking to me about it a couple times, but I was so against it that I would shut the conversation down.  My husband wasn't living like a Christian and would later admit that he used me as his excuse to stray from God.

And then there was Bean.  Having a kid changed everything and when I found out I was pregnant with Ida at 26, it changed even more.  I was still working at that time.  I cussed like a sailor, worked with bad guys all day and had no compass to live my life by other than what I felt was right and what Dr. Phil and Oprah said.  All things considered, I was doing pretty darn good if I do say so myself.  I had a firm set of values that I was raised on, a persevering heart and a great group of family and friends.  But, I didn't know what I was missing out on.

To make a long story short, a training at work led me to making the decision that I should quit my job to stay at home and go to church.  Looking back it's clear to me that a certain Someone was grabbing ahold of me in a big way.  And He knew that my kids were the way to my heart, since everything He was telling me was the opposite of what I thought I had planned for my life.

We went to church.  We got hooked.  I got saved.  My husband renewed his relationship with Jesus.  Our lives became renewed, restored and forever changed because of this.  I'm doing everything in my power not to screw it up.  I don't ever want to go back.  It really is like Jesus gave me the key to unlocking an entirely NEW life.

I really thought I was doing fine before I met Jesus.  And ya know what, by the world's standards, I probably was.  But let me say this.  Jesus has transformed my life.  I'm still me, sure.  But now I have the Holy Spirit helping me a long, each step of the way.  Not to mention the FACT that I have eternal life with Him...just sayin'! 

Each one of us has a story.  One that is unique to us.  One that God desperately wants to take control of.  In my experience, it's best if you just let Him.