The alarm goes off while it is still dark.
The flow of our day.
My farmer rises while the rest of us slumber.
For 26 years.
Pretty much the same.
A few seasons here and there where we have had consistent help and
the alarm has been silenced a few times.
This morning is the same.
A new day, a new week.
It’s unseasonably cold.
Boilers need to be filled.
Wood still needs to be split.
Calves need extra care.
Things freeze.
Milking needs to be done.
Animals cared for.
There’s a ton of broken equipment and so many things that need attention.
We’ve had more discussions in the past month about selling our cows than we ever have.
We just made a huge transition to Grass Fed.
Our cows are now Organic and Grass Fed.
The work to provide them with the best feed is daunting.
Our haying year was pathetic.
beautiful night haying
The quality of hay terrible.
The number of bales even worse.
In a time when we’re already feeling challenged this is a discouraging fact.
My farmer goes with the flow.
He takes all the information in and keeps moving.
Forward.
Continually he puts one foot in front of the other.
I am amazed at his resiliency.
He’s tired.
So, so tired.
Yet, still. . . One foot in front of the other.
He never complains.
He never rails against anything.
He trusts.
He works with the rhythm of the farm.
The flow.
He doesn’t fight it.
There’s so much I have to learn about life, about farming, about God.
Strong.
Moving forward.
Even when it’s hard.
He steps into the crisis.
There’s a drive in him that is relentless.
While I am concerned about our future, I also rest in the truth our God gives to us.
Truth in the Ancient Word.
Promises given.
We are told to ask for Wisdom.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
We are searching for that Wisdom each day.
We’re pressing on.
Phillipians 3:14
I press on toward the goal to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Our oldest son, who now lives with the King of Kings talked about this verse in some of his final words on this earth.
Click here to listen.
The flow of the farm keeps us moving.
There are meals to get, laundry to wash and book work to get to.
Milkings twice a day keep us out of trouble for sure.
Our faith in God roots us in all we do.
Even when all seems hard and out of sorts, God is still working.
He is still present.
30 Days of Thankfulness
I am thankful for:
A house full of kids and laughter
A farmhouse table
the warmth when everyone is home
pots and pots of steaming hot coffee
frost on the windows
making hot chocolate for the farmettes
Squeals of laughter as the Aunties tease their nieces
A mudroom overflowing with boots, hats and mittens
Ham and Ham gravy
Our Grace song sung again
an icemaker
(really, I’ve never had one until last year, and I’m so thankful)
God’s word and the truth that never changes
hope
Wisdom beyond my understanding
family
