Family Life - January and February

Hello all! Here's to another family life post! It has been a full 2 months around here with birthdays, farm, school, snow, ice, traveling, and all the other things that fill up the life of a family 10. So here goes, a synopsis of January and February in pictures. Warning - there is a lot of them. =)

January

Emma and I thrilled to get a wedding invitation from a mutual friend.

A Saturday morning breakfast meet up with some friends.

Working on the weekly menu and grocery list.

Grocery shopping and errands with some of my favorite peeps!

Meeting the new baby of a friend.

I picked back up my violin more seriously and joined the church orchestra!

Traveling with Dad and Emma to North Carolina for a visit and for the wedding of our friend.

"Mount Pilot" from Andy Griffith. 

I loved the North Carolina mountains!

Spending time with Olivia and Hope.

                                                                        February

Headed to church.

Helping Joel with some math questions.

Bible study time.

On Valentine's Day, Joel had bought 3 roses, he dressed up and on 1 knee, asked me to be his Valentine. He was so sweet, and yes, I cried. 

We experienced our big winter storm for the year. A true Kentucky storm with freezing rain that turns to ice and then snow. Ewww. God was so faithful and we watched Him work in such tangible ways.

Wet farm attire drying by the fire.

Joel all bundled up.

Olivia, Hope and I ready to go.

Hope chopping ice on the creek to let the cattle drink.

We had a calf born and to save his ears from frostbite, we cut off the top of a winter hat to cover his head.

Wednesday was one of the hardest days on the farm. It was cold and so many things went wrong. A hydraulic hose busted on Dad's tractor and it was several hours before he had a new one. This put him hay feeding after dark and the rest of us weren't done with chores either. At around 10pm we were out looking for a missing calf and while searching, we found Mammy (above) who looked like she had slipped on the snow/ice and couldn't get up. With the tractor scoop, we got her to the barn and cozy for the night. After good hay, some mineral supplements, a warm barn, and some feed, she is up and we are anticipating her calf any day now. If all those things, that we saw as such difficulties, hadn't happened, we wouldn't have been out so late and wouldn't have found Mammy and things could have turned out a lot worse. God knew and it was such a wonderful opportunity to see Him work. 

Caden feeding.

And...less than a week later, it was in the 60s! Here I am overseeing the labor and birth of our nurse cow.

Just born!

There is such a relief when the calf is up and breathing. 

Hope and Dad making her 16th birthday cake. 

Dad wanted to ice it. 

Olivia's 18th!

Blessings!

Fall in Love with Jesus Day (aka. Valentines' Day)

February 14^th can arrive with mixed feelings. Can anyone else relate? I look back over the previous year and see the friends who started dating, got married, or even had babies, and a little sigh can escape me, and sometimes a few tears (alright, maybe a lot, but who's counting, right? =).

This year I wanted to encourage my heart (and yours too, Lord willing) in Jesus and His truth, as my true Valentine; the Lover of my soul. May this day be a milestone in the year where we reestablish our purpose, our identity, our joy, our hope, our hearts in the One who desires to fully and completely satisfy us (Col. 2:10).

This year…

On the days when I don’t feel beautiful or worthy, “Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.” (Isa. 62:3) and “The Lord God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.” (Zeph. 3:17)

When I feel alone or “passed over,” may we remember we have been chosen (Jn. 15:16), we belong to God (Isa. 43:1), our hearts are protected by God (Isa. 27:3), and that Jesus has promised to guide and satisfy us in the “droughts” (Isa. 58:11).

Would I trust that Jesus, the Maker, and Designer of my heart be the ONLY One who satisfies me. Only Jesus, Jesus only.

My desire and I’m sure yours as well is to fall more in love with Jesus this year. I don’t want my worth wound up in a relationship. I want to be fully established in Christ.

As my Provider – I am satisfied

As my Father – I am secure

As my Shepherd – I am cared for

As my Encourager – I am edified

As my Deliverer – I am free

As my Rest – I am comforted

As my Shelter – I am covered.

Each of you is so dearly loved. May you feel extra loved by Jesus today, and be encouraged to continue forward, walking a life of faith and falling more and more in love with Jesus.

This year I desired to encourage my fellow single girlfriends and this is what I sent to them today, with a few edits to make it    "cyber ready". =) I hope it uplifts your heart as well. 

If you are also in the season of singleness, I would be honored to hear from you and hear ways I can be lifting you up in prayer as you stand strong in the affirmation of the Lord.