DELICATA SQUASH

They're so proud of their first delicata squash harvest, these 2.

(picking squash)

They worked so hard on their buddy box and have cared for it diligently.

Both Nova and Noble are very diligent children in general.

It's so exciting to see their hard work pay off.

(seed saving)

We received squash last year from our sweet neighbors and saved the seeds from those

for our garden, which makes this particular harvest even that much more special!

From farm to table, it's pretty rewarding to enjoy dinner fresh from the garden.

We thank God for His amazing creation and for the gift of working with our hands.

"And God said, 'Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit

in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.' And it was so."

Genesis 1:11

FLOORS

{Nothing against plywood, but I didn't realize how nice it would be to finally have real wood floors again.}

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Psalm 119:105

GOAT WALK

{same time...every day}

Elka loves her goats!

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

Psalm 23:1-3

BEA UPDATE

(dr. visit buddies)

Bea has had 2 follow up visits with the cardiologist since coming home from surgery. She is doing so well!

(happy homecoming)

Though she has had some fluid around her heart, it had diminished by the second appointment

and so we are hopeful and prayerful that it will be completely gone by the next.

(goodies on the way)

Since she's on a particular blood thinner, she has to have weekly blood labs for a while (6 months or so). That's been an adjustment along with some new medications and times, but otherwise Bea's transition back home has been beautiful.

There's a sense of completion having finished off Bea's surgeries. Although she will still need a transplant someday, we rest in knowing that for now, we have done all that we can to help her heart. By the time her transplant is needed, medical technology will have advanced so greatly, that we really don't discuss the future yet, but it's bright. And full of hope.

We thank God for all that He has accomplished in Bea's young life.

She is a testimony of His faithfulness and we are so blessed to get to be part of her journey.

"He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms;

he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young."

Isaiah 40:11

HAPPY

We walked and talked and shared our hearts. It was a really hard day. One of the toughest in a while.

When that bite of loss swoops in like a thief it's easy to waffle, want everything to just go back to being normal again.

But there's a lesson in the loss. There always is. We searched for it determined yesterday.

When we lived in our old house, waiting for the new life we found here, we would dream of getting a dog for Brodie. It was something he waited and waited and longed and longed for. Happy was our gift to him, to them all, the day after we moved into our new home. She came with the changing chapter and her name has summarized our year and a half here perfectly.

Happy.

She was such a special dog and brought everyone in our family joy. She was gentle, obedient, sweet, and had a wonderful personality with the kindest look in her dark eyes. I trusted her with the little ones. She was the fastest runner with beauty in her long strides. Her long golden ears were floppy and humble. She was part of the family. She was a friend. She was Brodie's special dog.

To lose Happy so suddenly and without any real warning has been startling to say the least, and yet, we seek the opportunity to turn our sorrows Godward, to teach the brevity of life, to focus on eternal things, to cherish the days we have while they're ours, to discuss legacy and trusting God in all things. Yes, we decide to employ the loss of Happy as an opportunity to gain so much more.

We're thankful for the memories our Happy girl gave us and we're thankful for the pangs of loss that stir up love in new ways. Thank you, Lord, for growing us through pruning and for using our tears for your kind of good. It's never easy, but you use it all and we trust you. May we learn what you seek. May we all be malleable, vessels in the hands of the Potter. We've asked you to burn off the dross in our hearts and lives, to leave us more refined, more like you. May this experience equate to more of that.

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

Proverbs 25:4

"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