Our Eyes Are On You

I saw this on Pinterest.  And it spoke to me.

Because so many times I run around not knowing what to do.

Something happens that I didn't expect. 

And I don't know what to do about it.

Is my first thought to give it to God??  Sometimes, but not always.

Sometimes my first thought is "How am I gonna fix this mess?"

But that is not what our God wants us to do.  He wants us to trust Him.  He wants us to let go of our circumstances and let Him take control.

And while we're waiting for Him to take care of everything, He wants our eyes on Him.

Because when our eyes are on Him we experience peace in the midst of the storm.  When we are looking at Him, we aren't looking at the problem. 

Lord, help me to ALWAYS keep my eyes on You.

A Time To Sow . . . . .

This has been the strangest spring I have ever seen.

We haven't really even HAD spring.  It has been cold.  And it's been wet.   And it's been COLD.  And it's been WET.  And then it warms up a day or two.  And then it snows again (yes, we had snow last Wednesday, April 24th).  Yesterday it was 81 degrees.  Today it is 51 and raining.

Our garden is way behind.  I mean WAY behind.  We have a few onions out, and some lettuce and that's it.  And the lettuce isn't coming up yet.  I can't think of a year where we have ever planted anything in May.  'Cause my Grandpa always told me "you can't plant in a month that doesn't have an 'r' in it."  And May doesn't have an 'r'. 

So here's what we planted yesterday.  Corn.  (AND FOR THE LIFE OF ME I CAN'T GET THIS PICTURE TO GO IN HERE ROTATED TO THE LEFT???)

 

First we had to till the garden.

 

 

 

Then put the corn in the planter and plant. 

 

 

Doesn't that look NICE!

Hard to believe that in a few weeks there will be little shoots of corn coming up out of the ground.  That is, if it dries up and warms up.

Oh, and in case you're wondering . . . it's raining again right now. 

And it's COLD.  COME ON SPRING!!!!!

 

Shabby Apple

I'm proud to announce that I am now a Shabby Apple affiliate!  Click on the link in my sidebar and you will be linked to the Shabby Apple website.  They have great ladies clothing, maternity clothing and cute children's clothing.

Here is what Shabby Apple is all about:

"At Shabby Apple, we believe in both femininity and feminism. As feminine women, we create clothing that is artful in design and crafted with a vintage-style flare. Each piece is carefully constructed to both flatter a women’s figure and maintain her mystery. As feminists, we created a company that is women-owned and operated and that donates to help other women start their own businesses. With our old-fashioned style and modern ideals, we believe the best is yet to come!"

So head on over to Shabby Apple a www.ShabbyApple.com !!

I AM THE WAY . . . . . .

Farming In Wintertime

We are between storms here at Down On The Farm.

We had a big winter storm last Thursday.  Lots of sleet, and snow, and freezing rain.

This is from the pond dam looking north. Those brown areas are hay on the ground, not areas where it has melted.

This is from the pond dam looking west.

Looking to the northwest.

Looking back toward our house. 

Looks cold and snowy doesn't it???

Another shot of some of our cattle, with one of our turkey barns in the background.

These pictures were taken a few days after the storm.  We really got hit.  Lots of sleet and snow.  Actually more sleet than snow.  And its not melting very fast at all.

In February our heifers start having calves.  Here are a few of our babies that were born during or right after the storm.

This one was actually in my basement getting warmed up.  Sometimes the mamas just can't get the babies dried off and warmed up soon enough.  And if that doesn't happen, well, they don't make it.  So sometimes, if we find the calf in time, we can help them out.  This one spent several hours in our basement in a little home made calf warmer.  It's doing fine.

This little baby needed lots of help.  The heifer had just given up, so we got her into the lot, pulled the calf and kept them in the barn overnight.  Again, the calf is doing fine!!

 

 

Isn't it cute????

Looks like another winter storm headed our way tonight and tomorrow.  We would appreciate your prayers for our livestock as we have LOTS more baby calves to be born over the next several weeks!  We have too many cows to get them all in the barn during a winter storm.  So God made a farmer . . . . .

February 20th Facts

 

If the weather forecast is accurate . . . we'll be seeing a lot of THIS here at Down On The Farm!!!

 

Today is Wednesday, February 20, 2013.

 

Right now it is CLOUDY outside and COLD.  The temperature is 28 degrees.

 

We are under a winter storm warning beginning late this evening and extending through 6 p.m. thursday night.  Here are the details:

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN REMAINS
IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM CST THURSDAY.

* TIMING AND AREAS AFFECTED...SNOW AND SLEET WILL OVERSPREAD
CENTRAL MISSOURI AND THE EASTERN OZARKS LATE TONIGHT INTO
THURSDAY. A MIX OF WINTRY PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE MUCH OF
THURSDAY BEFORE ENDING FROM THE WEST LATE IN THE DAY.

* SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS...TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW AND
SLEET WILL GENERALLY RANGE FROM ONE TO FOUR INCHES...WITH THE
HIGHEST AMOUNTS ALONG AND NORTH OF THE HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR IN
CENTRAL MISSOURI. POCKETS OF HEAVY SLEET WILL OCCUR WITHIN ANY
THUNDERSTORMS.

* ICE ACCUMULATIONS...TOTAL ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF A THIN GLAZE TO
ONE TENTH OF AN INCH ARE EXPECTED OVER AREAS NORTH OF THE HIGHWAY
60 CORRIDOR...WITH ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF INCH OF ICE EXPECTED
ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE HIGHWAY 60 CORRIDOR.

NICE.

Honestly, Missouri weather is weird.  I mean, we could get 7 inches of snow, and the storm might miss us altogether.  No joke.  I've seen it happen. 

 

Missouri gas prices are NO JOKE.  Regular unleaded gasoline in Eldon is $3.69.  It was $2.99 back in November.  The prices just seem to keep going up every couple of days, and for no apparent reason other than we will pay it so they will charge it.

 

Today is the day our heifers are to begin calving.  We have already had 2 baby calves born today.  Could be a long night tonight, and a long day tomorrow if those heifers start having babies in the snow and sleet and rain.

 

So God made a farmer . . . . . .

 

STAY SAFE EVERYBODY!!!!!!!

Nothing But the Blood!!!!

For the past few days I've had a song on my mind.  You know that feeling when you just can't get a song outof your head??  Well, I've got THIS SONG in my head.

You remember that old hymn "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus?"  Well, Andy Cherry sings a more up to date version of it.  Click on this and have a listen!!

I love the old hymns.  I grew up with them.  And for most of them, I know every verse, not just the first verse.  But I also love contemporary Christian music. And I really love this song.

"What can wash away my sin, NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!  What can make me whole again, NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!"

Folks, the blood of Jesus is the atonement of our sins.

Feeling guilty is not asking for forgiveness.  Doing good deeds doesn't bring forgiveness.  Confessing your sins to an individual doesn't bring forgiveness. Going to church doesn't bring forgiveness.  Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse us from our sin.

We sin every day.  I sin every day.  And I have to ask my Savior for forgiveness, EVERY DAY.  And it is that simple.  Ask Jesus for forgiveness and He will forgive.  Now we have to repent, and repent means to TURN AWAY from our sin.  We don't sin just because Jesus forgives.  We strive NOT to sin so that our lives bring glory to Him.

In John 14:6,  Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No man cometh unto the Father but by me."

He did not say I am one of the ways to come to the Father.  He said I am THE WAY.

I am so thankful that I know Him.  He is my Savior.  And I am thankful for forgiveness.

What can wash away my sin?  Nothing . . . . . but the blood of Jesus.