Benjamin and My Virtual Farm

Benjamin's Farm - Sue has everything at her farm except a pig

I just love it when God reaches down and gives us a kiss on the cheek along with a smile.  That is just what He did for Benjamin and me this week.

We walked to the door two times to find unexpected boxes of "goodies" from two precious women.

We both have dreamed of a farm.  Benjamin wants the animals.  What I want and envision is a place to roam, be still and enjoy a garden with chickens.  Our dreams became "virtual" through two blogging friends.

Sue of Pear Tree Lane Farmhouse sent Benjamin the farm animals and a tractor.  To fulfill my love of home-made canned jam, she sent us two jars of hers.  She also provided garlic for our suburban garden.  Benjamin has adopted Sue and he climbs up on my lap to enjoy her blog on a regular basis. She has also allowed him to name some of her farm animals.  If you don't know her....well, you should; she is a jewel. Sue has encouraged me in my spiritual walk more than once...sometimes beyond the blog post through emails. Thank you, Sue.

Leslie of Farm Fresh and I met at the beginning of my adventure into blog land.  We emailed back and forth and got to know each other beyond the pages of our blog.

Gifts to Benjamin from her kids.

 She is a "wiser in years" mother also...so we both enjoy the mixture of menopause symptoms, while taking a child to kindergarten.  She has a farm!

 Her retro-kitchen is just a joy.  So when she saw my kitchen and knew my desire for her farm life....well, she added to my kitchen and sent more "virtual" farm goodies.  Her two little ones sent items to Benjamin also.

  Her humor is shown in the "chicken poop"  and "udder" lotion. She also sent seeds for my flower garden.  She allowed me to dream even more as I looked through the magazine she sent.

To Leslie and Sue...you have made our day.  We are both enjoying our "virtual" farm.  Love you, girls!

Advent the Season of Hope

Strolling into the sanctuary, weighed down with many hearts concerns, I met the Savior.

Though you have not seen him, you love him.  Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.  It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good new to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heavens, things into which angels long to look.  Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.   I Peter 1:8-13

Advent, formed from a Latin word meaning "coming" or "arrived" is about the coming of Christ.  It 's the celebration of the first advent of Jesus and the anxious awaiting of His second.

Advent

My Savior started to speak to His child as the Advent service progressed.  The most overwhelming joy for the Advent season, lifted my heavy heart.  I believe my age and life experiences are allowing me to enter this Advent season in a deeper depth than years before. The first teaching was over patience and expectations. Where is our Hope?

Quotes from our church Advent Guide

"Expectations are powerful.  We long to trust possessions, people and ideas with our hope - hope of something greater than what we currently have. Relationships, careers, and entertainment willingly receive our expectations.  To the degree that we think each will deliver, anticipation grows inside of us.  The voice of childhood may change tone through the years, but the same gut response comes with every disappointment: But you promised....

There is no more powerful expectation than patience in the promises of God, for He has provided the Lamb, and the Lamb is the coming King."

There is where my Savior meet me....His promises and my lack of patience in His promises.  There in the sanctuary I sang out..

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

1. Consider what you place expectations on and how that affects you when they are not met.  Are you patience or irritable?
2. If we place our hopes in finite things, which never fully meet our expectations, it seems that are meant for something greater.  What things have you trusted in for the joy of your heart instead of Jesus.  Who is fully able to meet your every need?
3. God's faithfulness is proven as each of His promises comes true.  Where are you tempted to forget or distrust His faithfulness to you in Jesus?

Welcome Advent Season!  My heart jumps with joy over this time as I place my Hope in the one who fulfills His promises.

Still Amazes Me

Each year as I recount with my children the story of God's providence over the sojourners of the Mayflower, I am amazed.  The story never grows old.  The story inspires me through my struggles and once again reminds me God has a plan.  It truly is His Story.

How can you not have tears come to your eyes when you step back and look at the sovereignty of God over the Settlers of Plymouth Plantation? Amazing examples of God's sovereignty:

• the main beam of the ship broke...which should have led to the sinking of the vessel...instead there was a screw brought with the passengers for home building that repaired the mast
• 66 days at sea
• not one person lost on the voyage
• boys set off firecrackers and yet they didn't catch the gunpowder on fire that would have led to a total explosion of the ship
• a compact made between all travelers before leaving the ship
• corn found in baskets that provided food through the first winter
• over half of the Pilgrims died during the first winter...none were children
• usually only 6 adults were well enough at a time to build the settlement
• peaceful Indians....they also spoke English - Massasoit, Samoset, Squanto
• A clearing in the land for the settlement
• Squanto taught them how to survive while he lived his remaining days with them
• A peace treaty with the Indians that lasted over 50 years
• A three-day celebration after the first hard winter - more Indians in attendance than settlers
• No one turned back to go home

As I recall the story once again, I stand amazed.  God touches my heart, reminding me of His plans in each of our lives.  He is our strength.  To Him we owe all our Thanks.  He is Sovereign.

Happy Thanksgiving

Last years post on how we celebrate Thanksgiving - click on Thanksgiving.
Happy Birthday to my oldest...he turns 28 today...now how can I be old enough to have a child that age?