That Woman

In the early years of my marriage I found myself drawn to martyrdom, and yes, I find myself still drawn. The way that the persecuted church just shines is just amazing and they are a bright and burning light in this dark and cruel world. I decided to read Foxe's Book of Martyrs and it had a profound and lasting mark on my life. It is full of stories of saints who paid with their lives to tell of the love of Christ. How can one measure one story against another? You can't really, but there is one story that has burned its way into my heart.

Its of a mother who had a young son and she had to watch him suffer and die. I am just going to warn you, if you are faint of heart, or don't like to deal with death, DON'T READ THIS POST! The contents following are hard to read (and type), but I am led to share this woman's story.

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"Here again Romanus, taking good occasion, made a long oration of the eternity of Christ, of His human nature, of the death and satisfaction of Christ for all mankind. Which done, he said, 'Give me a child, O prefect, but seven years of age, which age is free of malice and other vices wherewith riper age is commonly infected, and thou shalt hear what he will say.' His request was granted.

A little boy was called out of the multitude, and set before him. 'Tell me, my babe,' quoth the martyr, 'whether thou think it reason that we should worship one Christ, and in Christ one Father, or else that we worship many gods?'

Unto whom the babe answered, 'That certainly (whatsoever it be) which men affirm to be God, must needs be one; and that which pertains to that one, is unique: and inasmuch as Christ is unique, of necessity Christ must be the true God; for that there be many gods, we children cannot believe.'

The prefect hereat clean amazed, said, 'Thou young villain and traitor, where, and of whom learnedst thou this lesson?'

'Of my mother,' quoth the child, 'with whose milk I sucked in this lesson, that I must believe in Christ.' The mother was called, and she gladly appeared. The prefect commanded the child to be hoisted up and scourged. The pitiful beholders of this pitiless act, could not temper themselves from tears; the joyful and glad mother alone stood by with dry cheeks. Yea, she rebuked her sweet babe for craving a draught of cold water: she charged him to thirst after the cup that the infants of Bethlehem once drank of, forgetting their mothers' milk and paps; she willed him to remember little Isaac, who, beholding the sword wherewith, and the altar whereon, he should be sacrificed, willingly proffered his tender neck to the dint of his father's sword. Whilst this council was in giving, the butcherly tormentor plucked the skin from the crown of his head, hair and all. The mother cried, 'Suffer, my child! anon thou shalt pass to Him that will adorn thy naked head with a crown of eternal glory.' The mother counselleth, the child is counselled; the mother encourageth, the babe is encouraged, and receiveth the stripes with smiling countenance. ( If your crying now, please know that I can hardly see to type.)

The prefect perceiving the child invincible, and himself vanquished, committeth the blessed babe to the stinking prison, commanding the torments of Romanus to be renewed and increased, as chief author of this evil.

This was Romanus brought forth again to new stripes, the punishments to be renewed and received again upon his old sores. No longer could the tyrant forbear, but needs he must draw nearer to the sentence of death. 'Is it painful to thee,' saith he, 'to tarry so long alive? A flaming fire, doubt thou not, shall be prepared for thee and by and by, wherein thou and that boy, thy fellow in rebellion, shall be consumed into ashes.' Romanus and the babe were led to execution. When they were come to the place, the tormentors required the child of the mother, for she had taken it up in her arms; and she, only kissing it, delivered the babe. 'Farewell,' she said, 'my sweet child; and when thou hast entered the kingdom of Christ, there in thy blest estate remember thy mother.' And as the hangman applied the sword to the babe's neck, she sang on in this manner:

All laud and praise with heart and voice,

O Lord, we yield to thee:

To whom the death of this thy saint,

We know most dear to be.

The innocent's head being cut off, the mother wrapped it up in her garment, and laid it on her breast."

                                                                -Foxe's Book of Martyrs (end of chapter one)

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This story has more do with the child in ways and let me just say for sayings sake, I'm not sadistic nor do I desire any of my children to die like this dear boy.

I so deeply desire for my children to grow up to love and to know the Lord. I don't want to raise little pharisees that know all the rules, but inwardly are as dead as a corpse. There are so many things that I could want for them, but to know God is really my main concern. It is so convicting to read of this mother who no doubt loves her child, BUT she loves his soul more. By her words and her actions she proves where her heart truly lies, and it's with Jesus.

There are so many distractions, so many things begging for our attention, but at the end of the day what truly matters?

Over the past 6 months or so, the Lord has been greatly changing and impressing upon me the importance of a life lived for God. Nothing else matters. N-o-t-h-i-n-g. I have experienced a closeness with Jesus that I dare not to give up. He is more real than the air I breathe and I want to serve Him with every ounce of my being. It is so frustrating to fail and realize how far I truly fall short. And the fact that God chose to make me a mother is just amazing (and terrifying) to me. I am one of the most selfish people I know and I can rival my kids any day. Thankfully the Lord never gives up on His children.

I have been given a very precious treasure in Christ and it needs to be guarded and cherished. It also needs to be lived out and shared with those that God has placed in my life. I often wonder how this woman raised such a spiritually mature son and the young age of seven? How were their days together, what were their conversations like, how did she live in front of her son? I could cry right now just thinking about the hugeness of this task; this task of parenthood. This mother no doubt, did nothing but live, eat, breathe, sleep, and speak of Christ to her son. That sweet boy saw Jesus every day. He saw him dwell in his mother with such severity that he could not deny the power and reality of such a Savior. Oh, that this would be the case with me! I am not this woman, but I want to be her.

It hurts to think of being anything less than being totally devoted to Jesus.

I can't imagine witnessing such atrocities against any one of my children. I am almost to sobs just thinking about it. Then the heavier questions arise in my thoughts, "Is Jesus worth it? Does He mean enough to me to encourage my child(ren) or myself to suffer for His name? Is my treasure/heart with Jesus or do I care about comfort for myself and my family more?

May my walk grow stronger daily with Christ, may the frivolities of this life fall away every second, may I cling to Jesus with such severity that my children have no reason to deny our blessed Savior. May I live, teach, eat, breath, and show my children why were are alive...to serve our God....no matter what.

If you've never read Foxe's Book of Martyrs (AFL), you really should. Sure you'll cry, cringe, and be sick, but so be it. We live in such fluff, such comfort and ease that we have no sense of reality. People die every day for the name of Jesus. And no, they're not just shot and then die, they are tortured and suffer greatly.

There is so much more that I could say, but I'm sure once you've read this story, you'll understand what I mean when I say, "I want to be THAT woman."

Amen. So be it.

What I Learned at the Wise Traditions Conference - Portland 2013

So I've been busier than a bee and have had nary a chance to write down all I learned at the Wise Traditions conference I went to a few weeks ago. Heck, I've hardly had time to even THINK about what I learned about. Yes, it's been that crazy.

I'm trying to convince myself that life isn't going to slow down and that I need to get used to this pace. I'm naturally a pretty laid back gal, a go with the flow kind of lady, and a take everything as it comes kind of girl. This is how I function, but it's not the best way to approach life and it lends itself to lack of preparedness for the day, lack of productivity and stress. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again: stress + me = no bueno.

I had plans of doing an explanation of every talk I listened to, but honestly I don't have the energy. I will simply write my notes and you can glean from them what you will. Sorry if you were wanting more, but I just don't have the time to give it.

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 ***Disclaimer: These are the notes that I wrote down in haste trying to remember everything that was said. I may have written down a thing or two (unintentionally) wrong (probably not, but maybe). Don't hold it against the speaker or myself. Thank you!***

Sooo, I got to meet Sally Fallon (AFL), which was so awesome! I was sitting down waiting for the first talk to begin (Sally's of course), and realized she was...ahem...sitting right in front of me. Whaaaaat?! So when she glanced over her shoulder I took the opportunity to say hello and begin a conversation. Probably everyday stuff for her, but I was in shock that I actually got to meet her. Needless to say, during her talk I deemed it downright necessary for me to take a picture with her. After all, we're friends now. Right? 

She is lovely and I'm thankful to meet someone who's worked so hard to help people eat well and take care of their bodies.

Nourishing Traditional Diets- Sally Fallon

11 Principles for a healthy diet.

1) No refined or denatured foods

    No agave syrup or corn syrup (The process used to make agave uses many steps and solvents and               renders a sugar that the body is unable to digest. Stick with the good stuff- raw honey and grade B

    maple syrup.)

    No hydrogenated oils, refined oils

    No protein powders

2)Every diet (in Weston A Price's book (afl)) contained animal products.

   -Fish and Shellfish

      -oil, bones, and heads

   -Birds

      -organs, fat, and skin

   -Red Meat

      -beef, goat, sheep, game, organ meat, and fat was the most preferred part of the animals

   -Milk and Milk Products (raw of course!)

Only found in animal foods:                                     

-Vitamin A & D

-Cholesterol

-Vitamin b12

-AA, EPA, DHA

(AA is a long chain, super-unsaturated fatty acid)

More easily absorbed from animal foods:

-Calcium (dairy and bone broth)

-Vitamin b6

-Magnesium

-Iron

-Zinc

-Copper

Vitamin b12 Deficiency:

Early signs-                                                 Chronic Disease-

-fatigue                                                        -MS

-tingling in hands and feet                             -Anemia

-sleep disorders                                           -Cancer

-irrational anger                                           -Heart Disease

3) ~Huge Deal~ Nutrient Density of Food.

Primitive diets contain 4 times the calcium and other minerals and 10 times the fat soluble vitamins than our food.

Sources of Vitamins A & D.

~From the Sea~

-Sea Food

-Fish Eggs

-Livers

-Oils (Fermented Cod Liver Oil)

-Heads, Oily Fish

-Sea Mammals (traditional cultures, remember?)

~From the Land~

-Insects

-Butter

-Cream

-Egg Yolks

-Liver

-Organ Meat

-Animal Fat

We cannot absorb and digest our food and all it contains as well without the fat soluble vitamins (A & D).

Needed to convert Carotene to Vitamin A:

-Fats in the diet.

-Thyroid Hormone (assuming its working properly)

-Enzymes

-Vitamin A

It is very difficult and nary impossible for following groups of people to be able to digest and absorb their food properly without the fat soluble vitamins. Mainly due to not mature enough immune systems or severely weak ones.

-Babies and Children

-Diabetics

-Poor Thyroid

-Poor Liver Function

-Poor Intestinal Absorption

(need to eliminate nitrites and nitrates from diet!)

Vitamin A:

Needed for numerous processes in the body.

-Protein Assimilation

-Calcium Assimilation

-Proper Growth

-Prevention of Birth Defects

-Proper Function of Endocrine System

-Thyroid Function

-Immune System

-Production of Stress & Sex Hormones

-Eyes, Skin, and Bone Health

Vitamin A is the conductor of the concert when it comes to baby formation.

Vitamin A is depleted by ___

-Stress

-Cold Weather 

-Fever and Illness

-Physical Exertion

-Exposure to Toxins

Vitamin D is our feel good chemical.

Myth: only need 10 minutes a day of sun exposure to get our daily dose of vitamin D.

The body makes vitamin D out of cholesterol out of the action of sun exposure at mid-day.

Sources of Vitamin D:

-Fish Liver Oils (FCLO)

-Fish Eggs

-Shellfish

-Oily Fish

-Lard

-Butter

-Cream

-Liver

-Organ Meats

Vitamin D is needed for ___

-Bones

-Teeth

-Proper Growth

-Muscle Tone

-Reproduction

-Healthy Skin

-Insulin Production

-Immune System

-Nervous System

Activator X = Vitamin K2

Vitamin K2 is the animal form of Vitamin K. It helps prevent tooth decay.

A, D, and K are the trio that help to keep us very healthy.

Sources:

-Natto

-FCLO

-Goose Liver

-Cheese

-Egg Yolk

-Butter

-Chicken

-Fatty Meat

-Sauerkraut

Raw butter and Cheese is great for every day eating and COOK IN LARD!!!

Cholene is critical for pregnancy preparation, pregnancy, and babies.

We should eat liver once a week! It gives you the same amount of Zinc and other minerals as eating red meat every day. It is also inexpensive.

FCLO works best when consuming plenty of animal fats.

4) All cultures cooked some or most of their food. Some animal food (aka meat/organ meat) they ate raw.

Vitamin b6 is destroyed by heat and so we should eat some meat raw.

Raw milk contains lactoperoxidase and lactoferrin.

5) Traditional diets contained high levels of enzymes.

Fermented good is full of enzymes.

Enzymes give energy.

Enzyme Rich Foods:

-Raw Dairy Products

-Raw Meat & Fish 

-Raw Honey

-Tropical Fruit

-Cold Pressed Oil

-Wine & Unpasteurized Beer

-Lacto-Fermented Food

  -Vegetables

  -Meat (salami and etc)

  -Dairy

  -Fruits

  -Fish

  -Beverages

Bacteria and Biofilm is 85% of our immune system so we should be eating a lot of enzyme rich foods to keep our guts healthy and properly functioning.

6) Soaked, Sprouted, and Fermented

Did you know there is no food that has higher profit margins that breakfast cereals? And it is probably one of the WORST things you could eat.

In order to properly soak your grains you need ___

-moisture

-warmth

-slight acidity

-time

7) Total fat content of traditional diets vary from 30% to 80% of calories. Only 4% of calories come from polyunsaturated fats.

We each need to learn what makes our bodies hum and thrive. While some of us can handle less fat in our diets, some of us need more. And please, get the notion out of your mind that fat = fat. You will not get fat if you eat butter, you'll be giving your gut a favor and helping it to digest food and help you to feel full faster. I'd rather eat butter any day than a honkin salad with nothing but bird food sprinkled on top. And if you don't believe me, you should see how much butter we go through in the McNeil household...

8) Equal amounts of omega 6 and omega 3's needed.

9) All traditional diets included salt.

Salt is needed for ___

-Protein Digestion

-Carb Digestion

-Development of Brain

-Adrenal Function

-Cellular Metabolism

Salt should be gray or pink...not white.

Adult needs 1-1 1/2 teaspoons a day of salt.

10) All cultures made use of bones, usually as bone broth. 

If you haven't made bone broth yet...you MUST!

11) All cultures recognized the necessity of good nutrition for expecting mothers and those who would become mothers soon.

Special foods for parents-to-be, pregnant women, nursing women, and growing children were of high importance.

They spaced their children every 2-3 years to allow for the woman to be prepared physically and emotionally for a new baby.

The elderly taught the young how to prepare, cook, and eat their food.

The Life and Lore of Bone Broth - Tressa Yellig

Minerals found in bone broth:

-Calcium

-Phosphorus

-Magnesium

-Potassium

-Floride

-Sulfur

Bone broth helps the body digest food that is eaten throughout the day.

Amino Acids:

-Glycine

-Proline

Bone Marrow:

Soak bones overnight in cold salted water, bake, and enjoy the marrow goodness!

Gelatin:

-Gives bones flexibility.

-Improves digestion

-Normalized stomach acid

Never microwave bone broth! Microwaving the broth makes it toxic; especially to the liver, kidneys, and nervous system.

Bone broth is a source of Glucosamine Sulfate.

To Make Good Bone Broth...

-heavy bottomed stock pot

-clean water

-good bones (variety)

-splash of vinegar

-aromatics (vegetables, herbs, spices)

-time & patience (8 hours minimum on a tremulous simmer...I prefer 12-24 hours)

-strainer

-storage container

-don't salt till done

Broth will last for a few weeks in the fridge and you'll know when it's bad when the gelatin breaks down.

Bone broth can last up to 6 months in the freezer.

Cooking Time:

-Up to 72 hours for beef or lamb.

-Up to 24 hours for chicken.

-Up to 4 hours for fish.

-180-212 degrees while simmering - NO HOTTER!

Types of Bones To Use for Broth:

-Chicken: heads, backs, fat, wings, hearts, gizzards, feet, neck.

-Beef: trachea, shanks, knuckles, ribs, hooves, oxtail, any that have exposed marrow.

-Pork: any of above, but NOT cured bones.

-Fish: heads, tails, spines.

Broth is a bridge to a better diet.

1-2 lbs of bones per quart of water.

If you want to have a richer broth, bake your bones first. Especially if they still have some meat on them. 450 degrees for 10 minutes.

Fertility - Dr. Kaayla Daniel

Trans fats affect everything, including fertility. Its best to avoid them along with all or most processed foods.

We are very toxic these days due to constant exposure.

Toxic Metals:

-Aluminum

-Mercury

-Cadmium

-Lead 

-Nickel

If you are having a hard time getting pregnant, consider doing a metal detox. Look into copper toxicity which can over-estrogenize women.

No matter what, avoid SOY!

Tofu was originally a food for monks because it decreased their sexual desire. If a chinese woman wanted to punish an unfaithful husband, she'd feed him soy.

Fertility Food:

-Butter

-Cream

-Eggs (especially the yolks)

-Raw Milk

Cholesterol nourishes all of our hormones.

Cultured vegetables are great for fertility and over-all health.

Avoid MSG. Autolyzed yeast extract is code for MSG. Learn all the 'names' of MSG...

Have a Healthy Pregnancy - Sally Fallon

1100 IU of Vitamin D is found in 1 Tbsp of grassfed lard. Moral of the story? EAT LARD.  

Cheese is one of our best forms of Vitamin K.

Liver and Egg yolks are a must for preparing for pregnancy, during pregnancy, and baby's first year. Egg yolks should be baby's first food. Make sure you don't feed any white!

Cholesterol is key to the healthy formation of your baby's gut.

Eat liver and feed liver to baby when appropriate. Cook liver in butter or lard to get Vitamin D.

Fish eggs are extremely healthy. To eat:

-Crispy Pancake (recipe from HERE(afl))

-Sour Cream

-Fish Eggs

-Chopped Onions and Parsley

You can eat chicken liver everyday, but you should only eat calf's liver a few times a week.

You can get Vitamin b6 from raw milk, cream, and butter.

Avoid industrial foods.

Never has there been a case of listeria from raw milk.

If you must take prenatal vitamins, take Dr. Rons Prenatal Vitamins.

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As you can see, these are clearly notes and not in any way complete when it comes to the topics. I learned so much and probably could listen to the lectures a few more times to glean from them when I would like to. I will add a ridiculous amount of pictures to this post so you can have some more info. I got tired of writing and so took pictures of the slides. The lectures and slides will be available on the westonaprice.org website soon, but not sure when they will have it up.

Here are the pictures of the slides. They are in no particular order. Too many pictures and I need to go to b-e-d. 

Dear Mama

Do you even know how much I love you? Do you know how much I remember my childhood and thank the Lord that your in it? I am already in tears as I write this to you, for you mean so much to me.

Never in my life do I remember a time where you weren't there for me, where you weren't always ready and willing to listen to my thoughts, fears, and sorrows. You've always been my biggest fan and have offered a place of rest and assurance. I never felt like I wasn't wanted around or that I was a burden to you, in fact I always felt like you were happiest when I was near. You are not perfect, but you are perfectly suited to be my mama.

You taught me so much growing up. You taught me to always speak kindly, how to love others (even when they are unlovable), how to work hard, and how I should be treated. You taught me that sacrifices are made when you love others. We never really had a lot growing up, in fact there were times where we had very little, but you always made sure I had what I needed.  You taught me that 'things' aren't what bring happiness and that family and God are what makes a person truly happy. You never put an emphasis on material gain, on designer clothing, on a perfectly decorated house, fancy cars, or expensive jewelry. And no, these things aren't bad in and of themselves, but you showed me real worth. You taught me that what I say is important, that I needed to be honest, and that I needed to follow through with what I say. You gave me character and strengthened me as a person.

When I had my rough patches in middle school and never seemed to get a break from the teasing, you were always there. You were always ready to tell me that I was smart enough, pretty enough, and that even though it was painful, the things I was hearing simply weren't true. I am grateful for a mama that always put things into perspective. Your love for me knew (and knows) no bounds and I feel it every time we are together.

I remember when you and dad had your rough patches too. I remember the closed doors and the silent struggle. In this too, I learned something from you, something that has stuck with me through all these years. You never once talked bad about dad, belittled him, or made him seem less of a man. If anything, you always spoke of dad to me like he was a superhero (and he is). You never let your disagreements affect the way you spoke of dad to me. I can't thank you enough for this! The Lord no doubt granted you the wisdom and the self-control to do this. I know that those struggles weren't all dad nor were they all you, but the effects of two strong first born children having to work things out. I remember when the Lord healed your marriage and I watched the two of you fall in love again. What a testament to the power of God and the blessing of perseverance! You both have shown me the importance of marriage, of putting God before all else, and that just because something is tough doesn't mean it's not worth fighting for.

I remember after high school when I had my world rocked, you were there. You asked gentle questions and when I opened up, there was no judging. I praise God for this because I think I would have died if your response wasn't so loving, so caring. You understood my sadness, my sorrow, and offered love in return. It is safe to say that I've always felt loved to the core by you.

Mama, I love you.

More than I can say. More than I can convey in a letter.

I am a mama now and I thank God for the example I've been given. I now know what it's like to love my children and can fully understand why you were the way you were with me. I love seeing you with my children. You are the beloved YaYa and my kids adore you. They always want to be with you and I know exactly why. You love them like you love me. Unconditionally.

I know you and how you think. And I want you to know that most of what you think about yourself is not correct. You are one of the most beautiful women I know, inside and out. You are truly a gem. Your green eyes, red hair, beautiful skin could make any woman jealous. Your inner person is even more beautiful. You are a caring, generous, and soft hearted person that gives of your time freely. You know the value of time and so give it to others without restraint.

Thank you for teaching me, for raising me, for loving me. You have given me a role model to look up to and I hope you know how dearly I love you. I couldn't ask for a better mama.

Like the scriptures say, I am rising up and calling you blessed. For that is what you are...blessed!

Lord bless you mama and Happy Mother's day!

The Path Less Taken

I live a blessed life. Truly, I have a blessed existence. The Lord in His providence saw fit to place me here and gave me strong convictions about life and purpose. I have many thoughts coursing through my mind and at times, it is difficult to sort them through, to place them in the highest order of importance, and it can be draining to someone who wants to fix the worlds problems (me) and realize that I cannot. Only God can. I am His tool however and I pray that I will be used mightily.

My intention for this blog is not to show off my accomplishments (they are few) and to make much of myself. No, that is not my goal and I hope it doesn't seem to be. My goal for this blog is to journal mine and my family's life here on our farm so we can encourage others who would like to do the same. I want to be the Proverbs 31 woman. This may seem silly to you, but I desire to be her with every bone in my body. I can get discouraged when I read of her because I can see my failings so clearly, but God gave us this woman as an example of what a godly woman can and should be. I therefore conclude that He can also give me the strength to fulfill the role He desires for my life.

Every morning and evening when I go out to do chores I see God and His hand in creation. Life is bursting here on the farm. The fruit trees are already getting heavy with fruit. Apple, peach, plum, and pears - just to name a few. The walnut trees are absolutely majestic, so big and grand with their long branches and broad leaves. My seedlings - even under the care of a black thumb - are doing amazing. The tomato seeds I planted last week are growing like crazy! It seems like they grow every time I check on them, which is often. My pumpkins are still the greenhouse kings and they let the rest know it. Already, their vines are taking shape and towering over the other seedlings showing off their distinct leaves and quick growing ability. The chickens are pretty much full grown and we still have worries of a rooster. I hope we are wrong in our assumptions. *Only about 30 minutes after writing this post it was confirmed. We have a rooster.*

My sheep are another story. I called our shearer the other day and he's supposed to come out soon to clip them of their winter wool. I am awaiting this day with great anticipation because we aren't positive they are bred. Our ram is pretty young and even though his effort was never ending, we just aren't positive that he was - ahem - 'ready'. Time will tell and we still have a little while before we can officially say yea or nay. I so desperately want lambs this year, I may shed a few tears if we don't have any. Sniff. Wouldn't you?

I often wonder about this life that God has led my husband and I to. What is His plan, purpose, and direction for it? I read about, hear about, and witness people all around me getting the 'bug' so to speak. Right now it seems that people are really wanting to go back in time a bit and live a simpler life. People want to witness life in all it's forms. Really we all are wanting to see God and it is so easy to when you live this way. I'm not sure how you can deny His existence when you see a lamb be born, or your very first seedling pop up from the soil. It's truly a thrill! I believe 100% that the most miraculous event (physical...not spiritual. Salvation of course reigns supreme.) that a person experiences is the birth of a child. There is nothing sweeter than the reward of a child after the hours of travail and grueling pain. The sweet smell of a newborn, the warmth of their skin, looking them over intently and meeting the new little one that God has given you. I'm almost to tears right now, I love my babies!

Are you one of those people? Do you yearn for a garden, livestock, a simpler life? Do you desire a spouse, happiness, children? These are great things to desire, but I hope that all of us desire God the most. I hope that we surrender our lives to Him and let Him guide us. It is easy to get distracted these days; there are so many things that can take away our attention. The Lord is merciful and is always patient with this child of His - moi. He always gently leads me to the Rock that I can lean on, the River where my thirst will forever be quenched.

Physically my family is taking the path less taken. Farming is not necessarily glamorous and it seems that celebrity and glamour are what a lot of people want today. Farming is definitely not the life of ease.  We want a life that is spent growing, raising, and nurturing life so it can in turn nurture us. We desire to spend our time helping others, for we truly desire with our farm to bless others. Right now we are still figuring out the kinks, but this farm is not ours, it's God's and we want to use it to bless others, feed others, and point others to the One that matters.

Spiritually we are living the path less taken. It seems that the idea of God is attacked from every corner. And let me just say, God is NOT an idea. He is not just some moralistic 'being' that floats in the sky and tells us the things we cannot do. He is not some goody-two-shoes that is a pushover and merely makes suggestions for how people should live. He is not a figment of the imagination that people have created so they can explain away their fears. No, He is the embodiment of perfection. He is truth, He is holy, He is righteous, and He is just. He is the Creator of life and without Him, we wouldn't be.

May my life, my family, and yes, this blog point in one direction...up. I am living proof that God loves and saves sinners. Lord willing, my life will not be lived in vain. Lord willing, my husband and I will use what we've been given to bless and teach others.

When I am old and my life is spent, I hope to look back and see Christ and all the He's done through His servant.

I hope I will always continue to take the path less taken.