The Journey Begins Part 4 and Final

Howdy!

The fall came and we decided to put our house on the market.  What was the worst that could happen?  My husband was looking for a job in IT in a good sized city, the houses in our neighborhood were selling FAST, and we would be able to leave it all behind and move to the country.  A reasonable assumption........right?

Thankfully our house in Houston was still young, not too many repairs, with the exception of an eyesore of a tree that was literally falling apart.  So, hubby and some of the older kids took it down and cut it up.  Too bad we don't have a use for firewood in deep Texas.

After a flood of showings and a couple of contracts on our house that fell through, hubby got antsy and rented the biggest truck he could find, and he and some dear friends filled the truck and our trailer and we were off.  Taking (almost) all of our worldly possessions with us.  I didn't know I had so much stuff...

We still didn't stay, but came back to Houston to spend the holidays in town and with family and friends.  We did make a quick trip in November to check on things.  And were excited about the actual "fall" that we don't get down south.  The pastures were brown and the trees were leafless, but it was still beautiful.

The hay barn was full from the summer's cutting, and that is exactly where I found my kids.  All the time.  I drew the line at eating and sleeping up there.  Although, not a terrible idea!

When my husband discovered he had several vacation days left for the year, we all agreed, we wanted to spend Christmas on the farm.  And we also agreed, that despite our frequent trips to the farm, we never really had the time to start and finish a project.  Or to unpack and sort through boxes.  Our visits lasted 2 or 3 days at a time.  Not enough to get things done!  The garage was stuffed full of boxes from our October move, and the workshop was in desperate need of a good cleaning so we could store tools.  So, hubby took all of us up, stayed a couple of days and headed home to work with the intent to come back at the end of the week.  I was without him for a week.  And THIS time.......I stayed.

Of course we cut a Christmas tree from our land.  As much as I hate cedar trees, they are useful once a year.

The big Christmas gift, a 4 wheeler.  Which has come in handy for work, as well as has been a blast to ride around the property on.  And through very little prodding, we even got my 90 year old mother-in-law on the thing and showed her around!

We did take it easy for some Christmas time, but otherwise, we worked all day, every day.  In the 2 and a half weeks were were there, almost every single box was emptied, the workshop cleaned and stocked with hubby's tools, the attic was floored for storage, and we were easily able to clean, sort, and organize.  And there's still so much to do!

I also found the time to spend a couple of afternoons in the pasture, collecting aged black gold to start as a compost in my garden bed.  Oh yes, and I set up my garden spot, complete with TWO compost bins!  There's nothing like poop and rotting food...

From this post on, I will excitedly begin my actual journey on the farm!  Looking forward to sharing my upcoming garden, livestock, home renovations, and much more!

The Journey Begins Part 3

Summer arrived and our first cutting of hay.  The neighbors cut our hay field before we came in for our monthly visit.  I didn't know hay bales could be so exciting and beautiful.  Yep, I have been countrified...

The summer also brought our first visitors.  We had some friends driving back to Houston from farther north and we were somewhat on their route home.  We had a lot of fun taking it easy and visiting for a couple of days, as well as gathering lots of blackberries!  They were all over the place, but in June, there were still many not quite ripe.

I think the highlight of the trip was our nightly showing of lightening bugs.  They were amazing.  For some, that's not a big deal, but for us, raised in the city and all the big lights, loved sitting outside in the dark with the quiet glow all around us.  The simple life doesn't get any better than that.

The following month, we took my nephew with us.  And there were still plenty of blackberries left to add some fun.  And for once, it was HOT.  Thankfully not humid, but the heat index on one of the days reached 115 degrees.  Yikes!   My husband had planted several fruit trees in the spring and spent a few days on this trip, adding cages and staking them for added stability and protection.

Also, my husband officially began looking for a job in the nearest big city.  With each month that went by, with no job offers, we tried to stay positive and not be discouraged, but that's not always easy.  We were in love with the farm, and were so ready to commit to being there full time.  Looking back over the months, I can see where it has been a blessing we didn't move before now, and we always looked forward to the next trip and what work we could get done.  Not always ideal, but it helped keep our focus...

Every time we visited, there were one or two new calves.  Talk about cute...!

The longer we've been on the farm, the more we learn about our land and about our neighbors.  Let's say, we've been blessed beyond measure.  Back in the spring, a gentlemen involved in raising the cows on our land, stopped in to chat.  We have learned so much from him and always look forward to his dropping by!  He identified all of the trees around our house, little did we know we had a mature apple tree, cherry trees, and a couple of pecan trees!  We figured out we had a peach tree in the yard, but not so many others!  Late summer brought some of the best tasting apples I've ever had.  Could be the land.........the variety........or the fact that it came from my own place.  It's always better when you do it yourself.

Part 4 coming soon!

The Journey Begins Part 2

So, in April, my husband had the great idea for the children and myself to stay for a couple of weeks and work on the house and garden.  With two large, packed to the max trailers, we carted half the contents of our house to the farmhouse.  Hubby stayed for a few days to help us get started.  We planted fruit trees and did some more painting and cleaning out of the house.  The previous owner had left a lot of "stuff" behind.  Big furniture items and just plain trash.  It was a lot of work cleaning up after that guy.  And when I tell you the house needed some updating, I wasn't kidding...

Little did we know, on this particular trip, we had a stowaway.  We had driven a good 300 miles, tarps covering our loads, and rain pelting us off and on along the way, only to discover our cat tucked in among the boxes.  Seriously, have you ever traveled with a cat?  Not something I was looking forward to.  She was so scared, and thankful to get inside the cab of the truck where it was warm and dry!  A more grateful cat I never did see.  On the trip back to Houston, she was not so thankful...

I would love to proudly tell you that when my husband left, with the plans to come back to the farm in two weeks, I stayed the whole of it and got tons and tons done.  But within 48 hours after he had gone, I was in the van, kids, dogs, and trailer in tow heading home to Houston.  BIG chicken.  Bok, bok, bok....  Aside from missing my husband, I was lonely.  Even with a houseful of children, I knew no one up there, was unfamiliar with the territory, and realized that all of my friends and family were 500 miles away.  Depressed and feeling isolated, I caved.  Didn't see that coming...

We did get quite a lot done before I crumbled.

As for the garden, it was far more difficult than I had imagined.  The current raised bed was held in place by railroad ties.  A great idea if you're not concerned about toxic chemicals leaching into your vegetables.  But guess what?  They are impossible to move!  I consider myself a fairly sturdy person.  But no match for a railroad tie.  And one that was rotting at that!  Rolling them away from the beds worked.  But I couldn't roll them far enough away and they were still in the vicinity of my garden.  And I didn't want them around at all!

I did the best I could at moving the ties out of the way, and then filled in their gaps with cinder blocks.  The bed was still soft enough to work the tiller.  The row garden, on the other hand, was hard, had become compacted, and full of weeds.  No way was my little tiller going to break that up.  It appeared that the previous garden area hadn't been worked in a few years.  And as much as I believe in a no-till method, initially a tiller would be useful to make the soil workable.

The cows joined us in April and May.  Lots of mamas, and as the spring and summer months passed, we were introduced to many of the babies.  They were one of the highlights of this journey. Especially since we had sold off all of our livestock and my children were still missing them!

The cows don't seem to give much of a care about us, barely give us the time of day, but stand for pictures.  They do love Molly.  Tiny, self-confident, smallest member of the household, Molly.  She would venture into the pasture and the cows would follow her about.  Noses to the ground, going wherever she led.

When we went back to the farm, after my solitary failure, the Lord blessed us once again.  I had been feeling so isolated and alone, and so far away from what I knew as normal.  A stranger in a strange land.  But in May, my neighbor called me up and said she was going into town and was going to pick me up to show me around.  She not only showed me around, but introduced me to several key members of our little town.  With each visit, I felt more and more comfortable and confident and thankful for what the Lord had done.  I then began to not want to go back to Houston ever.  And would tear up at the thought of leaving my farm.

Rainbows seem to be frequent on the farm.  God is good.

Part 3 next time...

The Journey Begins, Part 1

When we first began seriously looking for a farm, we had decided on exactly what we wanted.  We made a list, prayed about it, and asked for wisdom and discernment.  And because we are such a large family, our realtor was trying to help us find land with a large home, but for all of us, it was more about the space outside than inside.

We prayed for land that was healthy, that would house a variety of livestock, plenty of room for planting fruit trees, a garden, and grazing space.  Most importantly, a water source.  Well, the Lord gave us more than we asked for......we have four water sources.  There is a nice creek with a spring head on the land, which we weren't even aware of until after we bought the place!  Truly a blessing.

We also knew we wouldn't be able to move there permanently for some time.  So what to do with all of the pasture land and hay field?  A few weeks after we purchased, a neighbor contacted us to see if he could lease our property to graze his cattle and cut hay.  Ummmmm.....yes!  So the worry of maintenance while we weren't residents was taken care of!  Plus the neighbors were there throughout the week checking on the cows, which generated some action and made it appear our land was occupied.  Again, another blessing!

The home itself was in good shape, as far as structurally, but it did need some updating and repair.  The previous owners were smokers, which was an issue with me as I have a high sensitivity to cigarette smoke.  Plus, as a non-smoker, I didn't really want my house to smell like I was one!  We spent several days at the farm house pulling up carpet.  It's bare concrete now, which we plan to stain and seal.  A home in the country with several children, animals, and lots of dirt doesn't seem to pair well with carpet!  Also, we painted kilz in every. single. room.  Ceiling, walls, everything that could be painted, was painted.  This kilz is supposed to seal out odors.  But we had apply the kilz and wait three weeks before painting a regular coat of paint.

So back to Houston we went and then again to the farm three weeks later to paint every ceiling and wall in the house.

I'm sick of painting.

We still had a bit of a smokey smell at times, but I finally realized it was in the wood.  Murphy's Oil Soap did the trick.  It's natural, non-toxic, and smells like oranges.  Nice and clean.  I cleaned all of the cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms.  It made a huge difference.  And I think the last very small hint of smoke we smell is in the concrete, which sealing the floor should help!

Probably the most difficult repair we encountered was the discovery of a pipe that had burst thanks to the previous owner not turning the water off even though we were assured the water was indeed off by three different individuals.  Sigh.  Thankfully, it was in the mud room and ran through the garage to the outside.  We do have to replace some of the sheet rock.  And when my husband repaired the pipe, he put in an additional valve so we can add a deep utility sink later.  Gotta make lemonade out of lemons......right?

Part 2 coming soon...

Dear Homestead Journey, Where Have You Been?

I'm still here.  Over the last several weeks, our family has been through changes.

Without going into great detail, my dear in-laws have moved in with us.  Their addition to our household has brought joy and blessings to our family.  My children are such attentive servants, and they are being given the opportunity to learn a valuable character building lesson.  Their grandparents are leaving a mark on their little hearts that will stay with my children for their lifetime.

Almost three weeks ago, my sweet mother was diagnosed with lung cancer.  The news was shocking to us all.  I don't think I've ever cried so hard, nor have I questioned "why" so much.  My mother is one of the most healthy people I know.  She eats great, exercises, never smoked a day a day in her life and has never done anything harmful to her body.  I never imagined I would be going through this with her ever, especially at such a young age.  I trust the Lord and His healing.  I know my mom has been washed in an unexplainable peace that only God can give.  I praise the Lord that she is a Christian and, even though the diagnosis may look grim, she knows God has the power to heal and save and to give her long life.  I pray she will be with us here on the earth, for many years to come.

I believe she will be healed.  And I believe it is the Lord who has granted her peace and grace.  I know that through all of this, God will receive ALL the glory.

After battling a stomach bug that has lasted over two weeks, and dealing with the emotional roller coaster of my family members, I think I am finally ready to tackle life again.

If you think of us, pray for us.  My parents, my in-laws, and my family.

I promise this will be the beginning to posting here again.  I am grateful for all of my readers and those who are willing to stand in the gap for our family.

Blessings,

Tabitha

Let Go and Let God

I follow many blogs.  Most are about homeschooling, homemaking, large families, or natural living.  It's easy to get caught up in what advice is the perfect formula for raising children, organizing your homeschool room, meal planning, or preparedness living.  So many ideas, so much advice, all wonderful and spot on, but at the same time, overwhelming.

Sometimes I find myself wishing I had all the answers.  Then I'd organize them into yet another black binder...

If I follow this person's advice, I'll have a great relationship with my husband.  If I follow this other person's advice, I'll have a best friend of my daughters.  If I follow another person's advice, I'll incorporate the perfect curriculum.  If I follow yet another person's advice, I'll be able to survive the apocalypse.  Maybe not so much on the latter, but you get the idea. 

It's very easy for us to find people we admire, take all of their advice, store it in our brain, and then get overwhelmed, hoping we get it right, do it right, say it right, so that the formula will come out right in the end.  We can't handle all of the information, much less put it to use!  Does X + Y really = Z?!  I need the right answers!

This morning was a processing day for me, apparently.  Feeling overwhelmed and like a failure, I made my way out to the garden, the only place to be alone and quiet, and cried out to the Lord.  I want to be a good wife, mother, friend to my children, and at the same time take care of all that you've blessed me with!  I can't do it all!  I can't guarantee that all of my efforts will be worth it!  I have no other option but to give it to you, Lord, all of it, every bit of it!  I cannot do it on my own, without Your guidance and wisdom, I am sunk.

Then came peace.  Give it to the Lord.  Do all I can, with what little knowledge, talent, and wisdom I have, and let God do the rest. 

I can't create the perfect family or perfect life, mostly because I am an imperfect mother, raising imperfect children, and married to an imperfect man.  It will never work.  However, I can do my best to raise my children up in "the nurture and admonition of the Lord."  (Eph 6:4), to be a godly wife, and to keep up with the home and land the Lord has entrusted me with.

And leave the rest to God.

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect."  2 Samuel 22:31 & 33

Day 30 of Joy

I know I promised to post my last post on Joy, yesterday, but aside from a teething baby, a large boutique order, and life in general, there was little time to type.  Sooooo, today is a new day.


How did your 30 days of joy go?  What did you find difficult?  Did you have to remind yourself to be joyful, stop and pray about your source of joy, or were there times it came to you easily amidst the turmoil of the day?


I have times of difficulty.  When I find myself with a teething infant, a trying three year old, an obnoxious boy, a wild child, an emotional pre-teen.........it can be a bit rough to find joy in those days and moments.  When I want to hide, vent to hubby, or plop down on the couch exclaiming "I just need a moment to myself!"  It's not easy to hide my frustration sometimes, and seeking joy in the "less-than-lovely" days can be trying.


Those are the days I need a hug, a word of encouragement, or just to go to the bathroom by myself....


"The LORD thy 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."  Zephaniah 3:17


I love that verse.  When I have overwhelming and tiresome days, The Lord is mighty, I can rest in His strength and His love.  He joys over me with singing!  What?  The Lord finds joy in ME?  He rejoices over ME?  What an humbling thought.  That the Lord can find joy in my insignificant life.  Me, a sinner, a frustrated mother, an imperfect wife, a selfish daughter, and an unworthy friend.  Praise the Lord for His mercy, and unfailing love.  Without it I would never have true joy!  Joy in a weepy girl who just wants a mom's hug.  Joy in a teething infant who just wants to cuddle.  Joy in a busy toddler who just wants mommy to read to them.  Joy in an active boy who just wants mom's adoration.  Joy in a talkative teen who just wants mom's approval.  Joy in a husband's work who just wants companionship.  Joy in busy days because the Lord has provided so much for this family.  Joy in waiting because patience produces perfect timing.  Joy in the little things because they can soon become big things.  Joy in salvation because the Lord is far more gracious than I deserve.


Isaiah 61:10  "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."


Where does our joy come from?  From the Lord.  Not from things, children, husbands, jobs, church, abilities, but from the Lord!  Place your trust in Him.  Lean on Him.  Rest in Him.  There you will find joy.


Psalm 16:11  "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

Being Faithful in the Least

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:"  Matthew 25:21

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." Luke 16:10

I'm sure it is public knowledge that our family is in want of land.....we have prayed for land for years and years.  The Lord blessed us with our current home on 1/3 of an acre, which was a lot more than we previously had, but now we want more.  Lots more!  In all of our praying for land, our desire for land, our begging for land, we have yet to move from this place.  Several months ago, the Lord laid it on my heart, that He has blessed us with the space we presently own, and if we intend to build a working farm and homestead, then we need to prove to ourselves and to Him that we are capable of taking care of what we already have.  Otherwise, how can we possibly take care of even more?!  The verse from Matthew constantly came to my mind, and so, we have made a conscience effort to be faithful in our small lot.

Ken, getting ready to grind corn.

The last couple of years we have been testing, planning, reading, and plotting our future.  Whether we have a few acres or many, we desire to know how to grow efficiently, what plants we are accomplished in raising, and which ones we need to observe and test some more.  How to keep a garden in the fall as well as in the spring, and design a diverse collection of herbs.  Do we want goats, cows, sheep, chickens?  All of the above?  Researching, asking many questions, visiting a couple of working farms, and consulting with my ever-wise father-in-law are some of the ways we have been preparing.  Our goal is to not be completely ignorant by the time we begin our future in farming, and of course, we desire to be debt free.

And so, our small homestead has begun.  Prayerfully, I will be blogging about our large homestead one day...

I will be sharing our trials, successes, and failures from time to time.  Pray for our weaknesses as well as our strengths!

"The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute."   Proverbs 12:24

The boys picking crab apples.....early in the morning......in their PJs.......

Finding Joy

Did you know, that in the Bible, the word "joy" appears 165 times, and "joyful" appears 25 times?

Recently, I read a blog post encouraging mothers to be joyful in our everyday attitudes.  This is a subject that I've posted on before, pray for constantly, and struggle with daily.  A weakness in my character perhaps?  Pretty much. As the Lord has been dealing with my attitude lately, I have made myself aware of all the little things that bring me joy, rather than the little things that I allow to bring me frustration.  Being a mom of many, especially many little ones, it can be difficult at times to stay at peace and not get overwhelmed.

So, my next 30 day challenge for myself and to you is, find joy in the every day.  Find one thing each day that usually frustrates you or upsets you, and turn it into a positive thought, or expression of joy!  Some days it might come easily, other days it might take some prayer.  I am trusting that after a time, I won't have to think about being joyful, I WILL be joyful. 

I promise to post a verse a day on joy, just to hold my focus.  I know I'm going to need it!  Wanna join me?

"But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee."  Psalm 5:11

Here are a few things I have to be joyful about...

My cup runneth over.  :) 

The Day the Lord Has Made

It's funny, I started this day in one of the worst ways.  I was up most of the night with both babies, when I finally fell good and asleep, it was almost 5am.  My normal rise time is 5:30, but I was awakened by my oldest standing over me saying "Mom, it's after 7!"  I was groggy, sleepy, annoyed, immediately thrown in to my morning routine, and ready for this day to be a total disaster...

To my surprise, Braden blessed me with a big breakfast!  Bailey made me a nice cup of coffee, and Reagan poured me a big glass of milk.  Protein and caffeine.  I guess they kicked in together.  I prayed for my day, that the Lord would increase my hours and bless my day and miraculously I was on my feet and ready to go. 

By 10am, I had completed my morning chores, fed two babies, changed them, had my Bible time, fixed my hair, put on makeup, dressed, started school, and began work on canning a batch of peach jam.  By the Lord's goodness my rough start was turned into a productive day.

Oh yeah, and I also canned some peach halves.  YUM!!!

Aren't they pretty....

"Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me."  Psalm 40:11

In Due Season

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Gal 6:9

I guess this is our season.  It seems to come around every 3 to 5 years.  You know, the idiom, "it never rains, but it pours..."

Well, it's pouring.

Yet, for the first time, my husband and I are not angry, frustrated, insecure, or left feeling alone. We are joyful. Weird, I know. We have a large family, one income, and all of our needs are met.

In the last 4.5 months, we have had plumbing issues, the minivan has been in the shop twice, the truck has been in the shop three times, and the Hulk has been in the shop once and got a brand new set of tires, thanks to nice little nail.  We had to buy a new refrigerator two weeks ago (thank goodness for Kingwood Yard Sales), and suffered through AC troubles.  In it all the Lord provided all that we needed!  We were able to purchase an used refrigerator in great shape, the AC was fixed by the hand of a blessed friend, and Kiley was able to learn a lot about fixing the vehicles on his own, before calling in for help.  And we have found a very reputable mechanic....THAT'S a miracle in itself!  We are so thankful for all we have been blessed with and those we have been blessed by.

But in this season, we have chosen joy.  And contentment.  And we refuse to allow satan to STEAL our joy.  We have been praying faithfully together, the children have chosen, on their own, to memorize 15 verses a week, and we have been steady in the Word.  I am thankful for this time in my life, and grateful for the opportunity to share from our circumstances.  No, we're not destitute, and we know other families that have had it more rough than we have, but we also know, this may not be the end for us.  We must remain faithful to trust in the Lord and in His goodness and mercy.
 
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy...  Psalm 5:11

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.


Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations He hath made in the earth.

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

My Brethren, Count It All Joy.

The Lord has never promised me that my life will be perfect, without trials, tribulations, sickness, or problems. He never said, I would have a long, happy, successful life without any worries. So, why do I feel I deserve a life without strife, a life of wealth, health, and abundance? Why do I feel the Lord owes me something, when in fact, He owes me nothing?! Why do I, a worthless, miserable sinner, feel that I deserve so much more? Why do I take it personally when bad things happen?!

Ecclesiastes 9:11 “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”

I don't have the right to worry, to complain, to be fearful, to be content in life, to want more, or to take for granted the many blessing the Lord has blessed me with! I deserve NOTHING!

Thank goodness He took mercy on a dirty, filthy sinner like me. Thank goodness He has given me the promise of my Home in heaven where my worries will be no more. Praise the Lord, I am a child of God! God has graciously offered me eternal life, I have been made an heir to His kingdom, I am His! Oh how I don’t deserve it, but He has dealt mercifully with me and allowed me to be an adopted daughter, sharing in his riches in glory, and an eternal home! Who am I to complain when troubles come? I have been given a promise and an eternal hope! “ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:15-18

God has given me so much here in my earthly home, who am I to complain when disaster or devastation comes? The things of this earth are so very temporary. Family and friends come and go, relationships fail, churches cycle, moths and rust destroy, but God is constant and His promises are forever. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” 1 Peter 1:3-5
“lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Hebrews 12:1-2

With every trial and tribulation I am drawn more expectantly to my homeward journey. I focus more on my eternal home than at my temporary surroundings. The temporary things of life are of no importance, but what matters is that which is eternal. “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;” Matthew 6:20-21
“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

The Lord is faithful. He has met our every need, and provided for our every plight. He has always made a way when life has seemed hopeless. I am so thankful for His gifts and His promises. Praise the Lord for hope!
“we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, HOPE” Romans 5:3-4

A New Life!

I got to hold a sweet, newborn baby today! Just a few hours fresh. :) Little Luke, an added blessing to a loving family whom the Lord has chosen to bear many godly sons. I am so thankful for this family, willing to raise up strong men (and one little lady), for the Lord's glory! I pray the Lord's blessings for this precious family.

Psalm 127:3 "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."

A Day Without Sarcasm?

I recently tried to go a whole day without saying or thinking anything sarcastic. My conclusion: I have a problem with too much sarcasm. Most times the sarcastic or facetious comments made are meant in jest, but frequently my children or my husband tend to become the target of my quick tongue. With every foolish act or question, ill behavior or wrongful decision, I tend to revert to sarcasm. Such habits initially present themselves as innocent and playful, but they always seems to find their way into becoming bad ones. Such as our strengths and our weaknesses are often the same. I enjoy being able to come up with something quick witted and I love to make people laugh and feel comfortable, but I first must learn to tame my tongue. My prayer and desire is to be a kinder, more uplifting, merciful, encouraging, and gracious wife, mother, and friend. To quote the Proverbs 31 woman.... "She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness." Prov. 31:26 I hope I can learn to bridle my tongue and save my sarcasm for special occasions :D, totally giving up my wit would be like leaving a part of myself behind. May I one day become that kind of woman that opens her mouth with wisdom. Thanks for allowing me to share my heart.

"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. " Phil. 4:8

Blessings,
Tab