Build the Ark And They Will Come

I wrote not too long ago, about how my husband and I were praying for a piece of land to farm, a little swatch of earth to till and work, to water and grow a great harvest.

Last week, I received a call from my husband. He took it upon himself to humbly ask the gentleman who owns a pasture behind our house, if he would be interested in leasing us a parcel. Something small and manageable. Something just big enough to begin our dreams.

Within minutes, they had struck up a deal and we are now leasing a piece of the pasture!!

It is absolutely amazing to watch as these dreams quickly come into fruition. My husband has already begun the task of taking down the overgrown weeds and trapping the pests living back there. He's writing up plans to build a drip system, run water lines, turn in manure, expand the compost, lay rows, till the land, and build a fence. He's collected materials (mostly donated by our kind rancher/neighbor) and laid plans to build the gate from our backyard to what will be our garden! It is so exciting!

In this season of harvest, we feel such a gratefulness for all that has been given to us. We hope that by the Spring, we are contributing food to those whose cabinets lay bare and to those who find themselves wondering how their little ones will eat. We want to grow the food that will nourish the bodies of the people who need it.

We want to make a difference.

God has given us the means and the land, the motivation and the provisions. Now we go to work.

(One day, I hope to have a cow that I can milk and make butter, cheese, cream, and yogurt from. Then, the wealth can be shared even more so. All in due time.)

With Thankfulness

I adore this time of year, reading blog posts about what people are thankful for everyday. It warms my heart to see so much goodwill and appreciation, something I know I could do a lot more of every single day.

I had aspirations of coming here, to this place, and writing down each day something that I am thankful for. But then I realized, I don't want to. I don't want to take away the time to delegate to the computer, when I could be talking about dairy cows with the neighbor. I don't want to miss reaching out to the postman to ask about his new granddaughter. I don't want to take AJ out of my lap, in the middle of reading stories to sit at my desk. I don't want to halt a conversation with my husband to work in this space.

I wish I had more time for these things, and I suppose the fault lies within me. I choose to spend my time elsewhere, and thus this little place I etched out goes neglected awhile longer. Be that as it may, I do enjoy a moment here or there. And that leads me to what I am most grateful for.

I have three men in my life who consume my days.

God.

Husband.

And my son.

Those three take all my time and attention, as they should. Most of the time, the three are intermixed. Just yesterday while I was washing the dishes, AJ was excitedly helping me with his own bowls and spoons. Looking out over the window, I see my husband helping with our neighbors horses. There he is a real live cowboy, riding horses and looking so handsome in his Stetson. My heart swoons and melts just like it did seven years ago.

That hardworking cowboy....he's not one for romance or fancy gifts. He doesn't show public displays of affection, nor is he overly supportive of Valentine's Day. He knows I don't wear diamonds, and he seldom sends flowers. But he is everything and more.

He is selfless and kind, hardworking and patient. He drops everything to help someone out. He places his family above all else. He gave up a career for me. He is loyal beyond measure and stands by his word. His heart is steady and true.

I'm thankful to have such a man who is simple, genuine, and faithful.

He always says, "Life isn't complicated, people complicate it". Much like marriage and family.

I will always sing songs of thanksgiving to God for this wonderful life.

That little boy who continually challenges me and teaches me. I can't help but sit in awe at this amazing little man who refuses to have the world hold him back. He is a firecracker and I adore his inability to do anything in moderation. He has a passion for life that is unsurpassed by anyone I know, and he can have you forgetting his tantrums with the quick wisp of a smile and those cheeky dimples of his.

Most of all, I am thankful to God for whom without none of the above would even exist. His unconditional love and forgiveness has rendered me speechless time and time again.

Swoon, every time