WILLOW'S 1ST DRAWING

{"Mommy & Willow"...melt my heart}

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him."

Psalm 127:3

HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY NOVA

9?!

I can't believe she's 9.

Nova is the tiniest package with a great big surprise deep down inside.

(mini farm girl)

. . . . . .

Nova is:

meek

prayerful

gentle

kind

thoughtful

deep

considerate

encouraging

witty

artistic

creative

easy-going

mellow

adorable

LOVED

Nova, today as we celebrate your 9th birthday, I thank God for His workmanship in your heart and life. You bless others with your heartfelt prayers and depth of care. You surprise us all the time with your mature choice of words and obvious time spent pondering. Your artistry amazes us all and brings a sense of awe and childlike wonder. To see you love the Word of God (and your prayer walk) as you do and work so diligently to learn to read the Bible is the greatest blessing a parent could ask for! We're so proud of you! Nova, you are so humble, meek, and kind...it's easy to admire the sweet soul that you are, and we all do!

Happy 9th Birthday Nova Jade!

(the inseparable and adorable Nova & Lily)

You are SO LOVED!!!

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Matthew 5:5

ELKA + "WINNIE"

{It's special when an animal can be one of your favorite friends.}

"The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made."

Psalm 145:9

SOMETHING'S MISSING...

X3!!!

{That's a lotta missing teeth!}

And India was so brave at the dentist!

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three;
but the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13

PARASOL PARADE

Our neighbor gave us parasols, which became quite the event with the China dresses and all.

Fleeting though they may be, how I cherish these frolicking days of childhood.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty."

Psalm 91:1

UNCLE KEN

At the request of his biggest fans, Uncle Ken was kind enough to oblige with an
impromptu live concert before heading home. Amen, He is alive! Praise the Lord!

Inspiring talent...

{SMILES ALL AROUND}

Thanks Uncle Ken!

"And behold I am alive forevermore."

Revelation 1:18

WALK & TALK

In a family of our size and chosen slow pace with Quantity Time at home, it is important to find special ways to connect one-on-one with our children...often. When we lived in the city, we were able to pop out on quick dates easily, but even then, it was our conviction that the quality time was really spent on the simpler things like a smile across a crowded room, snatching a loooong hug, snuggling up on the couch, letting just one come into Mommy and Daddy's bed, taking time to talk with an older child, sharing a game or a puzzle, and various things of the like: the little stuff that adds up big.

(the beautiful hues of winter walks)

(our special path...soon green as we're seeing signs of new growth already)

That said, one way I've really noticed that connects our hearts here in our set up is a walk and talk stroll around the property. It's a way to instigate miles of heartfelt conversations, ask and share prayer requests, to go "there", spend time with just the one, invest, train, show love, encourage, and it can happen spontaneously or planned at any time of any day. It's really such a gift and it's a piece of the large family pie that I'm quite sure I'll cherish as I look back, our walk and talk time spent together.

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time."
James 5:15-16

MOMMY + INDIA

{LOVE India's artwork}

"But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them,

for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'"

Matthew 19:14

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY ELKA!

There's another teenager in the house and in all honesty it's pretty hard to believe she's just 13.

Elka has matured so far beyond her age in this past year of her life, it's remarkable really. Elka is incredibly compassionate and servant hearted. She offers the shirt off her back and never expects anything in return. She loves people and could run the household herself if needed. She has endless creative energy and makes beautiful, thoughtful things constantly. Elka is a faithful friend, exceptionally generous, devoted follower of Jesus Christ and His Word, and always willing and ready to accomplish any task. I truly can't say enough to express how much she has grown this year, let alone how very proud we are of our girl.

Elka, you amaze us all every day. You make us laugh, yet cause us to well up with blubbery tears with your encouraging and considerate words and gifts. You are a joy in our home, a pillar just like your big sister, the best of friends, and servant to any and all without preference. I picture you one day all grown up and lovely, surrounded by children and animals and garden harvests and wool and overflowing, boundless love. You are so extremely special! We love you so much and are so blessed by who you are in our family. Thank you for all that you do for everyone and for how you encourage us all daily...especially your Mama.

I'm so fortunate to share my life with you, Elka.
You make me want to be a better person with how you love like Christ.

Happy 13th Birthday to my Elka Sue, my beloved Farm Girl.

I love you so much, Elka, and I am so blessed to call you daughter and friend.

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018 - ISN'T GOD GOOD?

It's a brand new year, full of fresh new starts, and there's no better time to consider all that God has done this past year while we ponder what He's yet to do in the next, asking Him to lead us every step of the way from here. He is faithful.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you."

Psalm 32:8

Looking back on 2017, it was a year of loss as the Lord allowed me to conceive 3 precious children for His glory and for His heavenly place, though they would not get to be mine here on earth. But they are His for eternity and we celebrate that victory in spite of the physical and emotional pain I endured the majority of the past year through miscarriage. Isn't God good?

"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Job 1:21

And though it was a year marred by loss, it was also a year full of gain. The skills we acquired this past year through farm animals and growing our garden, vineyard, orchard have been invaluable and we will look back with gratitude for both the practical lessons learned as well as the spiritual analogies applied. Pruning, harvest, seasons, rain, seeds, soil...these are words that have taken on new meaning living here and growing things and trusting God for it all. It's been inspiring and isn't God good?

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away,

and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."

John 15:1-2

(planting our vineyard)

(harvesting grapes)

(spreading wood chips)

(building our raised beds)

(harvesting delicata squash and experiencing the joy of seed to farm to table)

(pruning our fruit trees for the first time..in the rain)

(farmhouse mornings)

(learning to milk the goat)

(baby goats)

(baby chicks)

And SO much more...It's been a wonderful year of singing new melodies, learning as we went along!

(making a joyful noise to the Lord)

"Make a joyful noise the the Lord, all the earth!"

Psalm 100:1

Speaking of learning, we praise the Lord for our first homeschool graduate this past year! What a rewarding and joyful time to see our first baby accomplish her growing-up goals and keep striving for new ones from here! Isn't God good?

(Aida {17...and a graduate!})

One of the ongoing highlights of the past year were our San Diego Zoo and Safari Park passes. Sweet, sweet memories were made as we learned to appreciate even more of God's creation while savoring special family time together at the zoo. 

"In his hand is the life of every living thing and breath of all mankind."

Job 12:10

Isn't God good?

This past year, we were blessed to be able to finish our kitchen renovation. The heart of our home has never been so warm as it is now and we are extremely grateful for how the Lord provided for this special home improvement. Isn't God good?

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:18

(beginning)

(middle)

(end)

In going to Tennessee and then back to Tennessee this past year, the Lord has been working in our hearts as we consider our future and the hopes and dreams we have for the next generation. We wonder what He has in store and we embark upon the new year prayerfully as we consider our next move and the next chapter in our family story. We trust the Author and follow Him because He is trustworthy, wise, and in control. We will see what He has planned in His time and isn't God so good?

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6

As I reflect upon the fullness of 2017, I must praise the Lord for His workmanship in Bea's life when He threw us a curve ball that would result in her receiving a repaired heart through her 2nd and life-saving open heart surgery up at Stanford just last summer. What a miracle and reason to give thanks! Wow, isn't God good?!

(amazing grace right here)

"Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!

Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!"

Psalm 150:1-2

We closed the year out with our favorite season, Christmas, which was as dear and traditional as ever. Each year, the Lord uses this special holiday time to draw us nearer to Himself and to solidify our bonds with one another through the sacred time of worship and festivities surrounding the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Isn't God good?

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

. . . . . .

Through loss and gain, both praise and pain, there is no doubt that one theme of the past year stands tall among the rest:

- REFINEMENT -

Indeed, through the loss, through the gain, through the attention paid to Scripture and the slowing down to snail-like pace in our Quantity Time at home, through this season of retreat and regroup up on our hilltop habitat where intentional choices have been made to cleanse the dishonorable, the Lord has been refining our family this past year. He's been creating something new, something more beautiful in His eyes, something different, something changed, transformation in full swing as we step into the new year. He has pruned and purged and taken and given and blessed be the name of the Lord...through it all.

And oh, isn't God good?

"Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use,

set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work."

2 Timothy 2:21

"The end of the matter; all has been heard. 
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
Ecclesiastes 12:13

So today, as we greet 2018 ready to leap by faith into all that the Lord has planned for the coming year(s), I praise Him for His refiner's fire, the one that singes and burns and casts far away that which is not useful to Him for His purposes. As we say goodbye to 2017, welcoming the brand new year, full of fresh new starts, we choose to look back with gratitude even as we keep pressing forward into whatever this new year should hold for our family, for the glory of God. May He take what He has refined and repurposed for His intended use and in His time and in His way write the next chapter of our lives as He sees fit and as we trust His lamp to our feet and isn't our awesome God good?

(Mother's Day 2017- surrounded by love and counting my blessings)

(Still just me and you, on adventure...together.)

{HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018}

"Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel."

Proverbs 25:4