tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59058790317908357282024-02-21T05:42:41.178-05:00BeingTriedAsGoldEvery Day Happenings with Farm, Family & FaithDave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-15603554597057195852018-08-01T22:48:00.002-04:002018-08-01T22:48:29.558-04:00New Blog Site<div style="text-align: center;">
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After taking a break from blogging, I am back on a new blog site. </div>
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You will find us at:</div>
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www.ordinarylivingnstuff.com. (copy & paste)</div>
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Stop on over and catch up with us. </div>
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Leave us a message telling us who you are and that you followed</div>
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BeingTriedAsGold.</div>
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We would love to hear from you!</div>
Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-89014443326251381482015-12-23T23:02:00.001-05:002015-12-23T23:02:39.646-05:00Merry Christmas 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">With
each passing year, we understand more than ever that what really matters are
relationships. The connectivity and
trust we have with the people intertwined in our lives and with our Father and
Savior is of utmost importance and worthy of pursuit. It’s difficult to be close to someone,
though, if we don’t know them deeper than what is on the surface. Most of us go through life fearful of letting
people know who we truly are and what we really think and feel on the inside. So,
we train ourselves to say things or behave in a way we think others expect of
us rather than be ourselves for fear they will not like us. That is unfortunate
and diminishes our chances of meaningful relationships. We decided this year,
rather than just tell you what we have done, we would allow you to see a tiny
bit </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";"> deeper under the
surface and discover that if you really knew who we were, you would know this
about us………….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Dave – fears bats and socialists ~ has a goal
of being a wellness coach ~ read “Bonheoffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy” by
Eric Metaxas and found the book to be life changing ~ loves the quote: “Become
what evil fears” ~ had an original thought – “uh…… umm…… yeah…” ~ thoroughly
enjoys good conversation in which he learns something and getting up at 4:30 to
listen to lectures on YouTube ~ regrets not appreciating each moment to its
fullest ~ wonders how it is possible for a placebo to work? ~ frustrated because
he can’t find the answer to why he has neuropathy in feet ~ completed a 2 day handgun
class <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Brenda – fears elevators and driving alone ~
loves learning new things and having meaningful conversations ~ regrets not
being a more routine/consistent person ~ loved the book, “Speaking of Jesus” by
Carl Medearis ~ has an interest in becoming a Notary Public ~ wants to improve
thinking before speaking ~ is questioning her love for her wringer washer ~
wishes there was more time to spend as “grammy” ~ realizes it is easy to make
Jesus who we want Him to be instead of whom He really is<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Ben – fears the drive thru at the bank </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">, rats and mice ~
enjoys being informed, and foreign languages ~ regrets not being more frank
with people ~ turns 27 on the 1<sup>st</sup> ~ wants to be a millionaire by age
30 ~ read “What Every Body is Saying” by
Joe Navarro ~ completed a first action medical class <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Kelsey – she would have a very interesting and
fun newsletter if I can convince her to write one <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Solomon – married a pretty little lady on Dec.
12th – too in love to add to newsletter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">George – enjoyed the book, “Fearless….” By Eric
Blehm ~ met Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, Author, Military Psychologist ~ likes the
quote, “When you say to yourself “someone should do something about that” that
someone is you” by Garry Marr <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Uriah – fears heights ~ loves hanging out with
friends and being social ~ desires to raise meat chickens again ~ finds school frustrating ~ thinks this
newsletter is not so cool <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Oliver – fears needles ~ loves swimming and
being with friends ~ finds Uriah frustrating ~ loves the quote, “It is not
shameful to have fear, but it is shameful to let fear control you” ~ thinks his
life is pretty boring<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Family highlights this year was adding a
bathroom downstairs, going to cabin in August, redoing bathroom upstairs and
finished out the living room. Wow Wee!
</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";"> Wifey
had this idea that they were simple projects.
“Simple” projects prove to always, ALWAYS take 3 times longer than
anticipated. But, now that they are
complete, they were well worth all the weekend and evening hours of labor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">God created each of us so unique, so
intricately - just like He planned us to be. May we strive to see and except
ourselves and each other, in all our messiness, imperfections, interests and
fears, as Jesus sees us. Be yourself,
everyone else is taken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Have a very merry
Christmas - 2015! Dave and his cronies <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-60216355322445237372015-08-03T04:25:00.001-04:002015-08-07T12:53:33.775-04:00Buried Hope<div style="text-align: center;">
If you walk straight out our front door and across the stone driveway, you will stand in front of a hand dug well. </div>
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Over 31 years ago, this farm was owned by a hard working, dedicated farm family. It was then sold and rented out for 20 years until we bought it 11 years ago. Soon after we moved here, we had the privilege of having the mother of the original family visit us before she passed away. She slowly walked around the farm reminiscing how things used to be when her family lived here. In the midst of the reminiscing, she informed us that in the bank beside the driveway was buried a hand dug well. </div>
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This information piqued the curiosity of my masonry minded menfolk and soon after the Mrs. W's visit, the bank became an excavation site. </div>
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Sure enough, there it was! </div>
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It had been leveled off at the ground and capped with a cement slab. Removing the heavy slab revealed a beautifully hand dug stone laid well. Debris had been thrown in to prevent water from laying on the bottom. With the aid of a ladder, bucket and shovels, the men started digging. Would they find treasures? Would they find water? They did find a few treasures, but no water. When their curiosity was satisfied, Dave added masonry to give the well height, and inserted a strong grate for safety.</div>
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He used landscaping stone that was bought at an auction followed with various colored plaster to create a stone laid appearance.</div>
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Fast forward to Spring of last summer - 2014. I noticed some weeds growing out of the back wall of the well from between some of the old stone beneath the part that Dave laid up. The idea of weeds growing out from part of a well that had been buried seemed slightly odd to me and if I could have reached them, I would have removed them. However, as these "weeds" grew, it soon became obvious that they were actually a butterfly bush.</div>
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Incredible! </div>
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How is that possible?</div>
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I have become friends with one of Mrs. W's daughters who works at the local high school. I emailed her to inquire how long it has been since the well had been covered. She thought it was at least 50 years!</div>
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This Spring and into Summer, the growth continued and as I observe that bush every single day, it brings me encouragement and hope.</div>
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I don't know for sure if Mrs. had a butterfly bush planted beside the well so very many years ago. I don't know for sure if a seed can truly be buried for so very many years and still retain a thread of life in it. But, the thought of that seed possibly laying dormant in the cold, dark, deep soil for over 50 years and springing to life when exposed to light, warmth and air has provided a refreshing feeling of hope within me.</div>
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Sometimes I feel despair. </div>
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Despair over personal struggles and the thought that I will remain a tedious work in progress until I breathe my last breath. </div>
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Despair over the realization that persecution is a real possibility and I am weak.</div>
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Despair that our bodies are frail and hormones is not always a friendly word. </div>
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Despair over the distracted Christianity of today.</div>
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Despair that dirty dishes and smelly laundry appear every day like clockwork. </div>
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Despair </div>
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The cold, dark, deep soil that smothers the soul.</div>
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Somewhere in the deep of the darkness lies a tiny seed of hope that no matter how long it is buried, it contains a thread of life.<br />
Life that is sustained by the One who created the seed.<br />
Life that will spring forth when exposed to the warmth of the Son and the breeze of His Spirit.<br />
Life that springs forth into a hope that defies all darkness. </div>
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Hope that brings forth the reality that Light overcomes all darkness.</div>
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Hope is growing from my well.</div>
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Allow it to grow from yours, also.<br />
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Until next time........... </div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-90234884775044736082015-01-04T08:40:00.002-05:002015-01-05T22:43:47.179-05:00Never-ending!<div style="text-align: center;">
There are a few things in life that are never-ending ....</div>
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laundry</div>
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the need to eat</div>
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and dirty dishes</div>
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I fancy thinking about the fun things we could do, the lovely places we could go, and the money we would save, if the above mentioned were "ending." </div>
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If we didn't eat, there would be no dirty dishes. But not having to eat? What would that be like?<br />
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And what about the laundry? Oh! I have an idea for that one! Disposable garbage bags! We would have to petition Glad to make purple, pink, blue and green bags for sure, and save the black bags for funerals! :) This type of apparel could be hosed off and reused and when it gets holey, pitch it and get another one out of the box.<br />
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But if we didn't eat? What WOULD it really be like? How much time do we really put into shopping, preparing food and eating it? And how many hours do husbands and wives have to labor to pay for it?<br />
Finding those answers is your homework assignment for this week. :)</div>
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I have never kept a time-card to log in and out while feeding my family, but I am positive I go into overtime! Double overtime including laundry! And I am positive that many of you are saying,</div>
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"me too! me too!" Many mom's can relate to overtime. </div>
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This was my yesterday.... <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(this is not my typical day)</span><br />
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Packaged 100# of fresh cased sausage</div>
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Fried approximately 35# of fresh loose sausage</div>
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Mixed up and baked 4 dozen sausage and egg muffins, and 4 breakfast casseroles for freezer</div>
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Curdled 4 gallon of milk into a batch of cheese</div>
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Beat 1 2/3 gallons of cream into butter</div>
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Prepared a gallon of yogurt to be fermented </div>
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The menfolk sliced 7 pans of meat pudding to put into freezer</div>
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washed and hung up umpteen loads of laundry</div>
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threw in the oven 3 bought pizzas for supper<br />
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</div>
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Did you notice I wrote "bought pizza?" Yep! Bought pizza in the midst of home-made cheese and butter. It was wonderful to not add home-made to the word pizza. Sometimes I like "bought" over "home-made". It is a more soothing word - it means I have more time to blog or read. :) </div>
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And it is only because of a few cows, we are able to have milk products. If we ever move from the farm, we would not experience a Saturday like the above ever again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiZxd5CPcSBtT7rb3UIsaZz68g0FvGSYvYZuvfpsmu7WYTcveXSdb3seej-ErVL0rz0Mf_xXhOLfmQSScfwJQbx45VrZF6uGZR6iQJd5HBi6tKIV6fADnP1QeWLwuvpBzpZ8eb5vbT3zs/s1600/IMG_0238-tile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiZxd5CPcSBtT7rb3UIsaZz68g0FvGSYvYZuvfpsmu7WYTcveXSdb3seej-ErVL0rz0Mf_xXhOLfmQSScfwJQbx45VrZF6uGZR6iQJd5HBi6tKIV6fADnP1QeWLwuvpBzpZ8eb5vbT3zs/s1600/IMG_0238-tile.jpg" height="340" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anyway, while chugging away at those tasks, I was not patting myself on the back for any of the accomplishments, (well, I was for the bought pizza! So glad I bought it!) but rather contemplated on whether I viewed those tasks as a blessing or curse, worthwhile effort or wasted time.</div>
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Oh, I would've much rather had my nose in a book, or rather on the Kindle that Dave gave me for Christmas. Visiting friends or sewing would've also been a nice thing to do.<br />
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But I was stuck with food prep!</div>
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Stuck?</div>
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Is that how I felt?<br />
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No.....<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(well maybe a bit a pressure was felt)</span></div>
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and after really thinking about it, I concluded that I was <i>struck</i> with a privilege! </div>
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How dare I even think about complaining!<br />
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Due to health issues with Dave and myself, our family's diet has been tweaked quite a bit since our first married years. And it continues to be tweaked. Tweaking has been extremely worth the time and effort. It has brought much improved health to both of us (will share how and why in upcoming post), however, it is not a "fast food" way of eating, as much as I wish it was. It is much less time consuming to go to the store and buy noodles, cereal, snacks, frozen meat (and of course, pizza!) than it is to grow veggies, feed that meat on the hoof, butcher and freeze, and add healthy fats.<br />
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It is time consuming to eat healthy!</div>
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Very much so!</div>
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Is it more expensive?</div>
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Maybe we can schedule a debate on that one.<br />
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</div>
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But, what are our choices?<br />
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</div>
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We need to eat to live. God made it so!</div>
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And how well we live depends on what we eat!</div>
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(and that becomes more of a believable statement the older we get)<br />
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</div>
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</div>
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So, the choices are:</div>
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eat healthy whole foods</div>
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or </div>
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eat fakeprocessedwillkillyou foods</div>
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<br /></div>
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Can you mix the choices together?</div>
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Absolutely!</div>
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It will have different results for different people.<br />
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For my hubby and I, it is best not to combine the choices.</div>
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Thus, explains the up to our elbows egg, cheese and meat Saturday.</div>
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</div>
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So, after a good nights sleep last night, a day of rest today,<br />
tomorrow I will tackle the laundry issue - again.<br />
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</div>
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I am in search of red garbage bags! I love wearing red!</div>
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Anyone know where I can find some?<br />
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</div>
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Until next time.............. </div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-1747740846664601432014-12-12T05:59:00.001-05:002014-12-12T10:37:39.104-05:00Teach Me!<div style="text-align: center;">
They say that as we get older, time goes faster.</div>
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I have found that statement to be true, however, I am not certain when the "faster" actually began to bother me.</div>
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I cannot remember too much of the time speed before school, or my elementary years, but remember time seemed to creep by during the years of waiting to drive.</div>
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And then it was waiting for High School graduation.</div>
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</div>
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For some reason, those high school days crept by at a slow rate of speed. </div>
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Time accelerated slightly during the "going to work" years, but didn't go fast enough while waiting to get married. Acceleration, but still too slow waiting for children and then grandchildren.</div>
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Sometime during this acceleration and waiting game, the realization hit that it can't be stopped! Each stage of life, each time of waiting seems shorter and the acceleration faster and no escape seems possible.</div>
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</div>
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No matter what stage of life we are presently living in, though, it consists of years, months, weeks, and days.</div>
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Days!</div>
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They consist of days!</div>
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Days in which we climb out of bed, perform whatever duties we have for that day and then collapse back in bed. Did you ever contemplate on how funny that process would look to aliens in outer space holding a big pair of binoculars observing the human race? </div>
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It's dark, there are some humans seemingly unconscious in their beds <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(yes, I know there are some of us who do not sleep when it is dark)</span>, when all of a sudden they are up and racing around doing this and that, and going hither and yonder. Then all of sudden, they are unconscious in their beds again. For some reason, that imagined "observance" strikes me silly, especially if it contained no audio. What on earth are those humans doing?</div>
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It can also make me feel very sombre.</div>
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Our lives are made up of day compartments and when I ponder about what I do each day, what I don't do, but could, all silliness subsides. Would those aliens see that my day had a purpose? Would they be able to make any sense of it? Would they be impressed or depressed by the human they observed?</div>
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Whether we have aliens observing us, some may think so, but there definitely is One who is observing us and He does not need binoculars. He also has the audio turned on and I can imagine Him sitting silently, shaking his head at times, wondering what this human being is doing.<br />
I often wonder what this human is doing!<br />
Sundays follow Sundays, January comes after January,and I can't remember what happened to all the days and months in between. Where did all the days and weeks go? And if they went that fast, did I do anything productive, meaningful or anything that counts towards the eternal?</div>
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Our lives are like a vapor, and as I age, the realization of how thin that vapor truly is makes me beg the Observer.......</div>
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Teach me!</div>
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Teach me to number my days!</div>
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Teach Me to not "climb" out of bed (climbing is work), but to joyfully "rise" out of bed with great anticipation for that day.</div>
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Teach me to slow it down, to relish it. </div>
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Teach me to fully surrender each one to You.</div>
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Teach me to love You and seek only Your approval.</div>
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Teach me Your wisdom and help me apply it to my heart.</div>
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Teach me to take advantage of every single minute in an edifying way. </div>
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Teach me to love as You love, to think as You think, to speak as You speak.</div>
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Teach me to respect my husband, nurture our children, our grandchildren, to love everyone in my life to full capacity.</div>
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Teach me to live each day reflecting You, that when those days build into weeks, months and years, the reflected images would not be of regret and emptiness, but a reflection of a life well lived. </div>
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</div>
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<br />
Teach us, Lord!</div>
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Teach us to number our days!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Until next time......... </div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-86629512711994638302014-11-30T10:26:00.002-05:002014-11-30T21:17:27.483-05:0030th Class Reunion<div style="text-align: center;">
The class of 1984 celebrated "30 years since High School" last evening.</div>
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I can't figure out how that is possible since we are only 39 yrs. old! :)</div>
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It was a very well organized evening of food and fellowship with classmates whom some we have not seen since we were seniors. Some appeared to not have changed at all, some we did not recognize. </div>
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And yes, Dave & I did graduate together.</div>
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Sadly, I did not take enough pictures.</div>
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Here we are with Mr. Ketch, who was one of my teachers in Jr. High, and Mr. Sakusky (in wheelchair), who was my World Cultures teacher in 7th grade and Dave's football coach.</div>
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This was a buddy of Dave's. They both could tell you about the terrible pranks</div>
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they played on their Vo-Ag teacher.</div>
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The name tags were great! Quite a few times we had to look at them to figure out who was who.</div>
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My class schedule from 7th grade.</div>
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We won this for having the most grandchildren.</div>
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We enjoyed the evening and greatly appreciate all the hard work that the reunion committee put into planning the evening.</div>
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Until next time..............</div>
Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-59675431348973878742014-11-19T23:20:00.000-05:002014-11-20T14:56:10.224-05:00Where is the Line?<div style="text-align: center;">
This has been by far the most difficult post I have ever thought about writing!<br />
It has been in the "writing" for weeks and weeks. I have changed the title at least four times, deleted paragraphs,
added others, changed the main topic, and almost pitched it out of my blog world, but God kept prodding me. <br />
So.... <br />
<br />
with HIS help, I am going to attempt to put words to what HE has put in my heart.<br />
<br />
<br />
For many of my friends, they already know that HE has put in my heart a passion for purity, modesty, healthy sexuality and a hatred for legalism.<br />
Legalism? How does that word fall in here?<br />
It does and that has been the difficulty about this post - attempting to tie it all together and make any sense to the readers. <br />
Plus, this is very personal to me. I feel smack nab in the middle of what I am about to share.<br />
<br />
There are so many blog posts and articles on the subject of modesty and to be honest, I don't read any of them anymore. There is such a diverse opinion on what "modest" is and I would like to give a different perspective on it. You are probably tempted to put your mouse on that red X in the corner and never give me a chance to pick your brain. But, just wait a minute......</div>
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Lets go back in time..........</div>
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<span itemprop="articleBody">Until the 20th century, hats were part of a man's attire. If a man did not wear a hat in public, he was not well, nor completely dressed. The vest and suit coat were also part of the attire. Men dressed up for every day activities. </span><br />
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<span itemprop="articleBody"> The t-shirt was invented in the early 1900's and it was considered an undergarment. In the 1950's, it became a stand alone, outerwear garment. The gentlemen of the early 19th century would have turned over in their grave to see men in public wearing JUST a t-shirt and, of course pants - casual pants, for really! dress pants with a neatly ironed crease down the front wouldn't jive with a t-shirt. Or would it? Well, today it would! A man can wear a t-shirt with a suit coat over top and it is stylish!</span><br />
<br />
<span itemprop="articleBody"> In the 1800's, if a woman showed her ankles, it was considered shameful. They also wore hats or some other form of covering on their heads when they went out in public. The bathing suits looked like a long dress like this <a href="http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/store/002442.php?gclid=CKLAlODCh8ICFUdp7AodqFYAtg" target="_blank">one. </a> It was worn with pantaloons and a mopcap and at some beaches they had to be inspected and hem lines measured before the woman would be excepted on the beach.</span><br />
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Obviously,<br />
<span itemprop="articleBody"> over time, the dress standards became more and more lax and the standard of acceptability moved right along with those changes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span itemprop="articleBody"></span><br />
<br />
Progressive's asked questions like<br />
<span itemprop="articleBody">"What is wrong with change? What is wrong with eliminating a piece of garment? Or shortening it? What is wrong with showing the ankles, or going hat-less?" </span><br />
<span itemprop="articleBody">I can imagine the accusations that were thrown at the conservatives. After all, weren't the conservatives choosing to be stuffy and legalistic and unwilling to conform to the styles of the day!?</span><br />
<span itemprop="articleBody">The accusations are still flying around today!</span></div>
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<span itemprop="articleBody"><br /></span></div>
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<span itemprop="articleBody">If we see a man wearing a full piece suit, including a top hat, or a woman wearing a floor length skirt, we would say that they are wearing costumes! </span><br />
<span itemprop="articleBody">They weren't costumes years ago!</span><br />
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<span itemprop="articleBody"> The public summer dress for men today is a t-shirt or muscle shirt or NO shirt and shorts and for a woman it may be tank tops and shorts (less if you visit the beach). </span><br />
<span itemprop="articleBody"> If the folks from the 1800's, or even the early 1900's, were to visit us today, they would be horrified and accuse us of being naked!</span><br />
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<span itemprop="articleBody">Culture changes. </span></div>
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<span itemprop="articleBody">The majority of Christians down through the ages have participated with all the cultural changes, the lax attitude of dress and have even developed the mentality that if they are counter-culture they are "legalistic". Uh! There is that word!</span><br />
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<span itemprop="articleBody">Some did resist major changes, even though they, too, shortened dresses, and removed some articles of clothing. They refused to except the styles and fashions of whatever day they were living in (for awhile anyway). They saw the change as sinful and scary, for where would it end? Fear was born! Fear that someone would want to look fashionable or immodest and then what? The "then what" would force others to question their stance on the issue and that is an uncomfortable thing to do sometimes! We would rather feel <i>justified</i> in our opinions and to do that, "rules" are made to force other people to comply with our beliefs. Does this work at changing the inward most important part of a person? To encourage people to become Christ-like? No, it creates legalism and hypocrisy. The focus turns to submitting to the brotherhood and "fitting in" rather than focusing on a personal relationship with GOD and seeking what HE desires for us. </span><br />
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However, some of us have a knee jerk reaction to this "legalism." If we grew up with it and saw the ugliness of it, the desire to run far away from it grows deep. We don't want to look like "them", act like "them", go places where "they" are! And in the process of escaping "them" and "it" (legalism) we tend to except and permit ideas that normally we would shy away from.<br />
<i> We fear being considered legalistic.</i><br />
This is not right either.<br />
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Modesty is dictated by the fashions and trends of the day we live in.<br />
What is modest to us now would not have been modest 100 yrs. ago.<br />
In 20 years from now, maybe even sooner, what will be considered as modest? And who will dictate that?<br />
Will that generation look at pictures of what we wear today and consider them costumes?<br />
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SOMEWHERE THERE IS A LINE!!<br />
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And that line is drawn by each and every one of us!<br />
They may look different, BUT you will draw a line, I will draw a line -<br />
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a line where we will not go along with the cultural changes, will not except the fads and fashions of the day, you will only go so far excepting the undressing of others. A line where you will choose to be counter-culture, a non-conformist.<br />
Ahhhh!<br />
An odd-ball you will be in the eyes of the progressives!<br />
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And the result of NOT drawing a line?<br />
The nudist colony!<br />
Seriously!<br />
The way our culture is leading us, we will arrive at the end of the broad highway that leads to the encampment with an entrance marked<br />
"Welcome to the Nudist Colony Where There Are NO Lines!"<br />
The nudist will accuse the bikini clad, or speedo clad figures of being legalistic, of not conforming to baring it all!<br />
See? No lines! <br />
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And when that destination is reached, my friend, our society will have disintegrated to a low life.<br />
Can you imagine? I can! And it is UGLY!<br />
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We look with disdain at those who are more conservative than ourselves, who choose to draw their line behind us. <br />
Why? I believe it is due to fear of legalism, the lifeless life that comes with it, the dislike of being told what to do. We don't want to be accused of being stuffy and old fashioned. Or maybe we feel guilty or uncomfortable about their line, because maybe theirs is better.<br />
Maybe we look down our noses at those who have drawn their line way out ahead of us.<br />
Why? We may believe that they are too "worldly". Too loose in their living.<br />
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Our assessment MUST come from within God's standard.<br />
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All of us need to bend at the kneecaps, seriously seek God's face on where the line is for us! <br />
If you are being shoved and prodded along the broad highway, apply the brakes!<br />
Pull over at the rest area, do some "self examination", figure out where your line is and how it compares to God's, and then take a stand.<br />
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It is crucial that the line you draw is supported by what is in the Word of God.<br />
It cannot be based on what is in style, what your personal opinion is, what all your friends are doing.<br />
That does not mean that God's line will be dumpy, frumpy and not stylish.<br />
If it is based on God's standards, the line will be beautiful! And free from legalism! <br />
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If the scriptural line that you draw makes you an odd-ball!<br />
Be a steady, happy odd-ball knowing that you are right where God wants you!<br />
Take a stand, even if it means you are alone!<br />
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Will it be easy? No, but God never promised an easy life!</div>
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He did promise a life of freedom, of victory, a life of inward peace and joy!</div>
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All within HIS lines!<br />
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Where will you draw yours?<br />
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Why is this personal to me? Because I am not a legalist, even though the progressives would think that I am because I choose to be more conservative in my dress and thinking. The conservatives would think that I am a progressive because I choose to wear a variety of clothing and don't "fit in" by obeying man made rules and laws.<br />
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I am an oddball!</div>
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An oddball am I!<br />
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This is where I am until God shows me that my lines are wrong. :)<br />
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May God add His blessing </div>
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Until next time....</div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-90494064772539999592014-10-23T22:37:00.000-04:002014-10-23T22:37:31.851-04:00She's 5, He's 21<div style="text-align: center;">
Yep, more birthdays!</div>
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Somehow they just keep happening every single year, no matter what! :)</div>
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Oakley turned 5 on the 3rd of October.</div>
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She is very much a girly girl and loves fancy things.</div>
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So, the theme for her birthday was "Princess."</div>
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Happy Birthday, Oakley! We love you! </div>
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Solomon turned 21 on the 22nd.</div>
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We celebrated on Sunday evening with an ice-cream cake when we were at family picnic. </div>
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Happy 21st, Solomon! You are now officially an adult!</div>
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We are proud of you!</div>
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Hope you enjoyed your birthday working in New Jersey! :(</div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-25781239444609688672014-10-20T22:29:00.000-04:002014-10-22T13:25:32.329-04:00Comical and Abundant Hidden Treasures<div style="text-align: center;">
In a <a href="http://beingtriedasgold.blogspot.com/2014/07/better-homes-gardens.html" target="_blank">post</a> back in July, I shared about our tub and trough gardens.</div>
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Since we have been having some very chilly nights and even a frost, some of the green turned brown and was no longer pleasing to the eye.</div>
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I decided it was a good day to discover whether sweet potatoes and carrots will actually grow in tubs and troughs.</div>
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With great anticipation, I first pulled the carrots, and boy! did several of them look comical! We had to laugh! </div>
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Since the trough was not deep, the carrots grew wide and very unique!<br />
Don't ask how we will peel them. </div>
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Next, the sweet potatoes....<br />
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The harvest from the trough with the carrots was not so great. They were small...<br />
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But the tubs produced some larger lunkers....<br />
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The results of this experiment prove that the troughs are not good for root produce, but the tubs are. We have also been eating some nice sized tomatoes from plants grown in the tubs. See above picture to see how tall some of the plants grew.<br />
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On Saturday, Dave, the boys, Kelsey and children dug our white potatoes while I worked at an auction. Finding these hidden treasures is so fun and the children, large and small :), had a blast.<br />
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Along with harvesting potatoes, Morgan was gathering worms. She presented her "pets" to me with great pride and took them home in a jar.<br />
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And then broccoli<br />
I believe it was the best that we have ever grown.<br />
The secret may have been is that the patch was located where we have raised calves for years. :) This picture is only half the harvest.<br />
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The "green trees" (what mom's like to call it if they are trying to convince a child to eat it) are lightly blanched and then frozen or they can be transformed into the likeness of people...<br />
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Very grateful for the Lord's blessings of good food - comical or not!<br />
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Until next time....... </div>
Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-2327822176931929682014-09-24T05:46:00.000-04:002014-09-24T05:54:43.869-04:00A Window into My Past<div style="text-align: center;">
Years pass by, we grow older, memories are made, but forced into the back of our minds due to the busyness of life.</div>
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However, every now and then those tucked in memories unfold and we reminiscence.</div>
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Back to my high school years....</div>
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In my senior year, I attended classes in the morning and then was dismissed to work at a job. The job of my choice for a few months was a nurses aid at The Laurel Nursing Center. I assisted in patient care, which included feeding, walking, changing and bathing the patients. I enjoyed the work, but was offered a position in a Chiropractic office closer home.</div>
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I was hired in January, 1984 (still a senior in high school) to work at the front desk</div>
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answering phones</div>
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scheduling appointments</div>
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filling out insurance papers</div>
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developing xrays</div>
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typing typing typing</div>
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Over the next few years, I traveled with them to seminars - once to the Fontainebleau Resort in Maimi, and a few times to Georgia to sit under the training of Dr. Harris. I also got married in those years, but continued to work until November of 1988, a few months before our first baby was due to arrive.</div>
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I loved being a stay at home mom, but I did miss the Dr. and his wife, who taught me a lot, and the patients, who many had become good friends. We stayed in touch for a short while, but as I said before, years pass by, life gets busy and we lose touch with friends that are out of our circles.</div>
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This coming November, it will be 26 years since I walked into the office as an employee and the time has arrived for the Dr. to retire. My mom and I attended his retirement party last evening.</div>
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It was so good to see faces from my past, to walk through the office and reminiscence about the fun, busy times of yesteryear, a time that I am very grateful for!</div>
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The following was from a newsletter.</div>
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May God abundantly bless the Dr.'s retirement years! </div>
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Windows into the past.......</div>
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Until next time...........</div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-21755102457939745902014-09-22T22:36:00.000-04:002014-09-23T08:24:12.364-04:00She's 3, He's 16, She's 24, He's 27<div style="text-align: center;">
I forgot to post Morgan's 3rd birthday, which was July 29th.</div>
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Here she is with her big sister!</div>
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She wanted a Macaroni & Cheese Cake, so that is what she got!</div>
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She has a very creative mommy! :)</div>
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What a fun blessing Morgan is to our family!</div>
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Love her so much! </div>
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I also forgot Gordon's 27th birthday in July and Kelsey's 24th birthday in Sept.. Probably because we didn't have a party for either of them for some reason or maybe just the fact that I am getting old and forgot to take pictures! :( <br />
We are very proud and love both of them very much!<br />
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And then we have George, who turned 16 on the 16th of this month.</div>
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A few of his friends came in the afternoon after our co-op and stayed for supper.</div>
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We surprised him at his youth group, though! Yes! So fun!</div>
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Here, Korinne, the youth leader, made him stand on his chair to tell us about his birthday. :) </div>
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16!</div>
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Can't believe it!</div>
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May this new stage of life, the stage where you learn to legally drive on the road, George, bring many fun and safe times for you!</div>
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We love you , too! :)</div>
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Until next time..........</div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-28469412081826085612014-09-22T00:17:00.001-04:002015-01-24T12:57:31.088-05:00Just Drive!<div style="text-align: center;">
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Dave & I were once passengers in a vehicle driven by a someone else. The dear driver loved to talk, which became a huge distraction to him and to all other passengers. I found it is very stressful to be a back seat driver!! I wondered if we would arrive home safely or if our children would receive a grim phone call instead. </div>
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By the time we returned home, Dave had a pounding headache and I was so tense and stressed all I wanted to do was scream - literally! </div>
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But, being the kind, sweet mother that I am, I would NEVER think of screaming at anyone, oh no! Never!</div>
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I instead was grouchy, miserable and short with everyone - that is what kind, sweet mama's are allowed to do, you know - take out frustrations and tension on innocent bystanders, while the real culprit is innocently and peacefully eating his supper somewhere.</div>
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What it made me realize, though, is that my hubby is not so bad a driver after all!</div>
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For you see, it is well known in our family that dad is not the best driver at times, for he is what we call,</div>
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"A Farmer Driver."</div>
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Farmer Drivers sit in the driver's seat, but their mind and eyes are on the lush pasture, the fatted cow, or tasseled corn field that is zooming by the side windows. </div>
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The farmer's wife has no idea what is even out the side windows, for her eyes are glued on the road ahead, she becomes light headed from holding her breathe, and when the destination is reached, the ability to be sweet was left among the tasseled corn. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(slightly exaggerated :) but you got the point!)</span></div>
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Farmer & Wife have reached a pact. </div>
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If he feels the need to be curious about how successful the passing farmers are,</div>
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Wife turns chauffeur <span style="font-size: x-small;">(and that is not exaggerated!)</span>. </div>
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Besides Farmer Drivers, there are other kinds of drivers.</div>
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Drivers who think that the road was paved just for them - Conceited Drivers.</div>
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If they are on the road, you are expected to just deal with whatever you have to do to avoid hitting them.</div>
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Such as, whipping it off the side of the road, which has a drop-off, causing the bottom of the van to put a huge gash in the macadam. The noise of macadam pieces flying around and around in the belts under my hood made me think that van had major problems and was deemed un-drivable by this frustratednowI'mgoingtobelate driver.<br />
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I am sure you can think of many other kinds of drivers, including the oblivious one in the passing lane going 10mph slower than everyone else, forcing everyone else to pass them on the right. Or the hot tempered driver who makes you understand why God sent the flood!<br />
Of course, the addicted driver is pretty popular today - not always sure if their addiction is alchol or texting - they drive the same.</div>
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We can chuckle at the humorous picture that I painted in your mind, but really! it is more maddening than it is funny!</div>
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Driving a vehicle is a very serious responsibility!</div>
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The lives of passengers in your car and the lives of everyone else on the road (and sometimes off the road) are held in the hands that are suppose to be gripping the steering wheel. Speaking of gripping the wheel - it is not possible to do so if you are drinking a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper while attempting to drive!<br />
Doesn't work!</div>
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It's only a matter of time for these drivers.</div>
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Unfortunately, the innocent also suffers from the irresponsibility of these manic drivers. </div>
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When you and I are sitting in the driver's seat of any moving vehicle,<br />
whether it be big or small, slow or fast, old or new, our main responsibility is to<br />
<b>just drive</b>.<br />
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Be observant! </div>
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Be Cautious! </div>
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Look ahead! </div>
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Look behind (using mirrors, of course)! </div>
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Be in control! </div>
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Be respectful! </div>
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Pull over to eat, text, put on makeup!</div>
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Keep your mind on driving! </div>
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Having a driver's license with that wonderful, flattering photo means we passed learner's permit test and the driver's test at the DMV, but how do we drive when we aren't trying to impress the cop?<br />
Did our skills go down hill?<br />
I sadly think so!</div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-79626076315584922142014-08-20T05:22:00.001-04:002014-08-20T10:00:44.793-04:00Vacation 2014 & 200th Post<div style="text-align: center;">
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Each year, my family alternates between the cabin and my brother's homestead for our vacation.</div>
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This year was the year to go to my brother's.</div>
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It is nice, for it is close to home, but still "away" and they have a beautiful place with something everyone can enjoy to do.</div>
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We had the absolute perfect weather!</div>
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No humidity or bugs</div>
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Cool enough for campfires </div>
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Great food</div>
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Good fellowship</div>
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Lots of fun</div>
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The children participated in a cookie baking contest</div>
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The contestants</div>
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The judges</div>
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Cookies were judged on presentation/appearance, taste, texture, and preference on a sliding scale of 1 being the worst, 5 being the best<br />
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#10 Starlight Mint Surprise was the winner!</div>
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Corn pit</div>
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Did you ever play in one of these? Fun!</div>
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Reading time</div>
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Relaxing time</div>
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Eating area<br />
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Quoits pit<br />
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Hockey</div>
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This was so fun! I hadn't played this since high school!</div>
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Story time with Aunt Mary<br />
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Campfires</div>
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My dad started this invention before he passed away, but it never was completed until recently. My brother completed it and we were able to enjoy it's first workout. Raspberry and vanilla ice-cream was the result! </div>
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Here is a YouTube of it in action</div>
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<a href="http://youtu.be/bhsgUBDfeiw" target="_blank">right here</a></div>
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And then, Monday morning it was back to reality and the rat race once again! Shame, but that is just how life goes, right? Can't make a living on vacation, or could we somehow?<br />
Ummmmm....have to think on that a bit. :)</div>
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Thank you, Lord, for providing a wonderful vacation with family once again!<br />
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And about the "post" thing? Yep, this is my 200th post on this blog.<br />
<br />
Thanks for traveling along with me over the years and sharing this "diary" of my life.<br />
I would love to have you share with me which was your favorite post? <br />
What do you like or dislike about the blog?<br />
Any other comments <br />
<br />
If you comment on this blog post, you will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of the cookbook, "Feeding the Flock" that was put together by my mother for my 40th birthday. The recipes are from my family and friends. The winner will be chosen on Sunday, Aug. 31st, so when you comment, make sure you check the box to "Email follow-up comments to......."<br />
(Some of my friends are telling me that they can't leave a comment on here. My settings are what they should be, so I am unsure why a message can't be left. I am sorry. You could also try emailing me using the contact form on the right of the column) <br />
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Until next time.........</div>
Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-77856619773909746492014-07-28T20:59:00.003-04:002014-07-29T14:36:03.085-04:00With a Bak Bak Here and a Bak Bak There<div style="text-align: center;">
Uriah started his own little business called "Bubbsie's Best Broilers."</div>
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Back in May, he bought 100 peeps, diligently fed and cared for them. </div>
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They soon grew old enough to go out in the range huts. Each day, the huts would be moved ahead onto fresh grass in the morning and in the evening. They also were fed chicken feed. </div>
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These kind of birds are "genetically modified" to grow quickly. So fast that they eventually out grow their legs and can barely walk. Their pastime is sitting around panting and it is common for them to have heart attacks. However, we never push our birds and since they are outside and feed on grass, they never get gross. If you have the opportunity to peek inside a conventional meat chicken house, you will understand what I mean by gross!! Even at 8 weeks, grass fed birds can jump and fly. </div>
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Normally these chickens are ready to be processed at around 6 weeks old, but ours are usually ready more like 8 - 9 weeks, for the feed we use is not medicated nor hormone ridden. </div>
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Last Friday, it was processing time. The night before, the broilers were loaded into the cattle trailer so the process could begin early in the morning.</div>
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My, what big chickens Uriah raised! Uniquely colored, too! :) These kind of roosters eventually have back problems.<br />
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They are taken out of trailer and put head first in cones for execution, which was George's job, with some help from Uriah. It is not a coveted job!</div>
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They are then put into the scalder, which rotates them around 3 - 4 times in 155 degree water.</div>
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from there to the plucker</div>
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Onto the work table where they are gutted. Everyone filled in wherever help was needed. Ben was the runner man. He went for more ice, equipment parts, etc..</div>
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Carried into the milk house for further cleaning</div>
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From there they came to me for final inspection and tucking of wings and legs.</div>
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plopped into barrels of ice water to cool and then hung up to dry</div>
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Once dried, they went into bags, got weighed and distributed into freezers, or to customers. </div>
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Busy and tiring day, but so worth it! </div>
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And it certainly is nice to not have to move those chickens around anymore, though!</div>
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Are you hungry? :)</div>
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Until next time.............<br />
</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-orAVmjzVdX0%2FU9bmFl64fmI%2FAAAAAAAABqA%2FT5tpRD6ngOo%2Fs1600%2FIMG_0652.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8LKh751CVSQSkCgMn1mHUEiATNt_iReZiRSDL6Vo6g0lrzYtMNz6LqEEQAUkCRjdzi6ALpeqdQw565KXhu72e40dfij-piiOdsKIsMhUWYO17pEJ334Zi3CRhVyw_JKv-YN6uKb43ZTg/s1600/IMG_0652.JPG" -->Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-46351662238777736092014-07-22T08:49:00.001-04:002014-07-22T08:57:48.132-04:00A Teenager is Uriah!<div style="text-align: center;">
Today marks the beginning of Uriah's teen years! Already!</div>
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We celebrated Sunday evening.</div>
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He wanted his cousins to come over to play and it ended up being a family reunion.</div>
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Burgers & hotdogs over the fire</div>
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and lots of other good food </div>
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Good conversation with Dave's parents</div>
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mom, Karen, Brent & Denise</div>
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quoit game.....</div>
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and now the birthday boy! Him & I love to watch the Cake Boss on Netflix, so he requested to make his own cake. He mixed, baked, made the butter cream icing and decorated.....</div>
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and we ate! Very good! </div>
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It is so hard to capture the coziness of an evening fire, but I tried. What I did unintentionally capture for sure was the two men in our family that appear to have too much knowledge in their heads for hair to stay put.... :)</div>
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Happy Birthday dear Uriah! We love you bunches!</div>
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Until next time..........</div>
Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-45128855429618655072014-07-17T04:17:00.000-04:002014-07-17T08:24:00.432-04:00Better Homes & Gardens<div style="text-align: center;">
Better Homes & Gardens is a beautiful magazine that was first published in 1922 by Edwin Meredith, who served as United States Secretary of Agriculture under Woodrow Wilson. It is the 4th best selling magazine in the U.S. and it is dedicated to helping women create better, more inviting homes.</div>
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As the pages are turned in this lovely publication, photos of pretty, remodeled kitchens complete with breezy curtains and expensive tableware, cozy porches with pillow laden furniture and colorful vases of flowers look back at you. On another page you may find a weedless garden with a cobbled stone path winding through lush vegetables or variegated flowers. Everything is perfect! Literally! And as I page through magazines like this one, more than likely in a waiting room setting, I experience longing - longing to have what is on those pages, and discontentment and ungratefulness grows towards what God has provided for me.<br />
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You see, I am not gifted in this area, nor do I have the funds or time to mimic the photos on those smooth pages. I have deep admiration (and a little bit of envy) for my friends who are talented in the area of interior and exterior decorating and it would be wonderful to have them visit me for a few days (or weeks) with the intention of putting those talents to work on our farm. Our place has potential! A lot of it and I can imagine how beautiful it would look in the end and how anyone who would drive by would oh & ah at my much better home. <br />
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But, that is not my reality and for some sad reason, what is my reality is never published in a magazine. I have been contemplating publishing one! It would be titled, "Reality Homes & Gardens" and it would feature homesteads like mine - homesteads of busy, sometimes overwhelmed, mamas. I have come to terms with my reality and realize that this is exactly where God wants me to be. I have learned much in this imperfect setting and there is much more that I can still learn.<br />
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Consider yourselves privileged to have a sneak peek at the first photos for the new publication of my imaginary magazine.<br />
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Our reality kitchen .......<br />
Seriously, why are there always dishes to do? <br />
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It is complete with the latest style of a potato, and obviously apple, bin.....</div>
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the easy to use laundry chute.....</div>
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and the state of the art dining room decor.....</div>
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A paragraph will be added on how Uriah, Oliver & I learned how to remove a toilet so a leak could be fixed. What do you think? Should this article go at the beginning or towards the end of the magazine in a section called, "The Gross Part of Homesteading?"<br />
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And then the gardens......<br />
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We have scattered gardens and they are void of cobbled stoned paths. Weeds and hose nozzles are more commonly seen as we stroll around among our plants. :)<br />
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I first planted carrots in this trough and then waited and waited for them to grow. When the delay went longer than I thought it should, I figured the seeds were bad or my thumb turned brown. So, I planted sweet potato plants along side the tomato plant. I had purchased the sweet potato plants thinking they would go in one of the bigger gardens but the master gardener informed me there was no room. I would either have to throw them out or find a place to stick em. Well, as you see the carrots did not like the competition and decided to grow. I still have somewhat of a green thumb, after all. The external of this trough looks so pretty, but is there really room for carrots and potatoes to grow in there? We'll see.....<br />
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One of the tubs with sweet potatoes... </div>
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and the bucket? Just one of the lawn ornaments. Pretty, isn't it? Wonder why we don't see more of them in Better Homes & Gardens? :)</div>
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Another trough with lettuce, tomato plant and sweet potatoes...</div>
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had pretty flowers at both ends, but they died. Not sure why......rethinking my green thumb idea. We had this trough sitting in a different location, but the menfolk moved it to work at another project, which I will share at a later date.</div>
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As you can see, I did stick potato plants wherever I could. What the potatoes will look like, who knows, but I have been enjoying the greenery. </div>
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This was once my beautiful bleeding heart bush that my mom gave to me years ago for my birthday. For some reason the dog thought it was a nice place to lay down! What would Better Homes do about this problem? I guess they don't have dogs for their children. Maybe they don't have children. </div>
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The green bean patch. Instead of being bordered by pretty flowers, we have Bacon & Sausage at one corner and calves at the other end. New trend! Makes for interesting odors while picking beans! <br />
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Thinking I should add a new section to the magazine featuring laundry, for that is a daily reality around here...</div>
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Let's see, what could I call it? Any ideas?</div>
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That concludes this addition of "Reality Homes & Gardens." If you would like to make a submission for future publications, send your name, address, pictures, and story of what "reality" is to you. :)</div>
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Really, though, this was all meant in fun and to encourage everyone else in their less than magazine setting. Don't take me as complaining. I am not! God has been good to us and has provided everything we need. My reality is one of blessings, as I am sure yours is as well.</div>
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As far as the magazines featuring beautiful, elaborate, yummy dishes of food? Yeah, not my reality either. :) Would one of you be willing to tackle that edition?</div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-39108017443913995612014-07-02T23:17:00.000-04:002014-07-03T08:31:01.710-04:0016 Years Ago Today. . .<div style="text-align: center;">
. . .my dad died.</div>
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His name was George Thomas Longenecker and he was the second oldest of 10 children. </div>
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He worked for his dad, George Henry, in the carpentry business and got married at the age of 17 to my mother, Darlene Klepinger from Dayton, Ohio. </div>
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He and mom lived in Philadelphia while dad served time as a conscientious objector.</div>
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Eventually, dad and his three brothers took over the business of Geo. H. Longenecker & Sons - carpentry, electrical, excavating, plumbing. </div>
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He was a deacon in the Dunkard Brethren Church and years later was ordained as minister in the Conservative Baptist Brethren Church in 1997. </div>
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Being the social person that he was, having people in our home for meals or visiting, was a common occurrence .</div>
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It was also not unusual for him to join the young folks for a game of baseball. </div>
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Jack Snyder was dad's best friend ever since they were very young up until death tore them apart when Jack passed away also at a young age. I have yet to see another example of best buddies as those two were. </div>
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I know that he prayed hard for me and my siblings and would often tell us that the only thing he can take to Heaven is his children.</div>
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Cancer cut his life short at the age of 56. He fought it, but also made preparations for his death. When thinking of that time - it was very difficult, but one thing that I am thankful for is that we had time to say goodbye to each other. Special times together!<br />
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Dad had a lot of peace about the thought of his death and after he passed away, his lips turned up into a little smile! It was incredible! </div>
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Dad touched many, many lives and every now and then someone will still say how they miss my dad and go on to say what he did for them.</div>
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This picture was taken in 1989. It is four generations.....</div>
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Grandpa George, Grandma Fern, dad, myself and our Ben.</div>
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Grandpa George was killed in 1989 - would've been a few months after this picture was taken. A drunk driver hit him head on and at the accident scene he asked that the emergency personnel take care of the other person first, which would've been the drunk fellow (who actually was not hurt). Grandpa was flown to hosp., but passed away before the Dr.'s could help him. </div>
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This pic was taken in 1993......</div>
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Our three youngest children never knew dad, but I was expecting our fourth child while he was sick. I had the privilege of being anointed with oil by him due to my high risk pregnancy. We told him that if we had a son we were going to name him "George" and he got tears in his eyes.</div>
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Our George was born 2 1/2 months after daddy died. </div>
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His memories live on and I am thankful for each one!</div>
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One day we will be able to be together once again....</div>
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Until next time......... </div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-26598763013489915612014-06-16T00:00:00.000-04:002014-06-18T13:01:52.470-04:00Father's Day 2014<div style="text-align: center;">
Our annual Father's Day pictures.......<br />
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Dave & Kelsey - our beautiful, favorite daughter! <br />
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and then the crazy guys :)...... </div>
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dad thinking he can still take them all on </div>
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It will be interesting to see what crazy poses they come up with next year!! :-)</div>
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This was last year's Father's Day <a href="http://beingtriedasgold.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-fathers-day-to-him.html" target="_blank">pics</a> .</div>
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Until next time.............. </div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-24693344442576352032014-06-08T15:41:00.001-04:002014-08-20T19:58:07.386-04:00Mom's Workday<div style="text-align: center;">
Once a year, my family has a workday at my moms. Yesterday was that day. We have a lot of fun all the while completing projects. Plus, mom serves us lunch and this year she even made breakfast for us. If you have ever been blessed to eat from my mom's table, you will already know that we had delicious food!</div>
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Removing old swing set.... </div>
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Weeding, mulching..... </div>
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cutting down diseased tree..... </div>
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Dave was the logger for the day. We gave him a hard time for every time we turned around he was filling his chainsaw with gas and sharpening the blades. However, there was proof that he accomplished more than that. </div>
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water battles.... can't get a bunch of boys together on a hot day without getting water involved!</div>
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replacing split rail fence</div>
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I have no idea what these two were looking at...... but I like the picture... </div>
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ummmmm.......there is a resemblance here of a PennDot crew.... </div>
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changing lightbulbs</div>
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cleaning out incinerator...</div>
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doing something I haven't done in years......brought back many memories of mini-bikes, motorcycles, 3-wheelers, golf carts and snowmobiles that we used to ride in & out of the lane, back to the woods and around and around. I think this particular machine would be quite handy on the farm. If Greg finds it missing one day, don't tell him we have it. :)</div>
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crazy cousins </div>
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busy little ladies... </div>
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Brent, myself, mom, Karen, Kevin</div>
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age order - Karen, Kevin, Brenda, Brent</div>
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It was a beautiful day and we were productive! Thanks, Kevin, for orchestrating the day! Great job!</div>
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Until next time............</div>
Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-80077402588400890002014-06-05T02:21:00.000-04:002014-06-05T07:46:52.831-04:00Nuthin'<div style="text-align: center;">
Years ago, we watched a documentary on the Appalachian people. The film was called, "The True Meaning of Pictures: Shelby Lee Adams' Appalachia." I cannot recall all the details, but I remember there was a minister who handled snakes in his church services, the people were very poor, and the pictures were amazing. </div>
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And one scene that made an impression on me. </div>
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The photographer asked one of the men, "What do you do all day?" to which the man replied in his slow, lazy drawl, "Nuthin." Somehow, I believed him, for the "nuthin'" was evident when looking at his surroundings and home condition.</div>
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It stuck - that word - that concept - that idea - that "nuthin' "! </div>
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It seems like for the majority of people, there is always plenty to do. In fact, there is usually way too much to do... ...</div>
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House repairs</div>
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Meals</div>
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Cleaning </div>
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Laundry</div>
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Church </div>
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School</div>
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Sports</div>
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Vehicle upkeep</div>
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Animals to feed</div>
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Shopping</div>
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Charity work</div>
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Exercising </div>
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Current Events</div>
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And the list can go on & on </div>
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And I haven't even mentioned going to work to make a living!</div>
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I often think about that Appalachian man and wonder what it would be like to do nuthin' all day?</div>
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And that thought leads me to wonder how I would feel about myself after that day of doing nuthin'?</div>
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How would others feel about me if I did nuthin'?</div>
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What does that really look like? To do nuthin'?</div>
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I must admit that I am tempted to find out!</div>
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The crazy rat race that we get ourselves into can have us speeding at such a high rate that we cannot pull off the track to refuel.</div>
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Around and around we go! </div>
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And after awhile, we are not enjoying the scenery nor can we slow down enough to take an exit ramp!</div>
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We whiz by Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, January, April, June, 2010, 2011, 2013! </div>
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Gone! They are gone! Never to be seen again!</div>
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And what took place on those days that made an eternal difference? </div>
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Who knows? </div>
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We were so busy hanging on for dear life and trying to pass the car ahead of us!</div>
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Well, I am tired of racing with the rats!</div>
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The emergency break is being applied, I am looking for the exit sign that reads, "Nuthin'ville" and I am taking it!</div>
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When I arrive, I am going to sit in a big rocking chair with a thick cushion,</div>
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read a book, listen to the birds and the rippling brook. Watch the green leaves of the mighty oak tree sway in the peaceful breeze, smell the honeysuckle that is growing right beside the quaint wooden porch that I am doing nuthin' on. I will watch the sun sink below the horizon and the stars come to life in the night sky. The peepers will serenade me while I rest my head back, close my eyes and dream happy, peaceful dreams.</div>
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And then....</div>
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reality will hit!</div>
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In Nuthin'ville, the stomach rumbles,</div>
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the weeds overtake the landscape</div>
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the rocker breaks</div>
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the book comes to an end</div>
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the leaves fall off the tree</div>
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the skunks move in under the porch</div>
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self worth grows cheap<br />
and our bodies grow weak<br />
and we start losing our minds <br />
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</div>
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Now what?</div>
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Yes, now what?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Have to get back in the race and look for a different exit sign.</div>
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One that is between "High-speed" and "Nuthin'ville"</div>
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<br /></div>
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When I find it, I will send you a postcard!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Until next time from my pit stop..........</div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-89357582324083353022014-05-15T04:32:00.001-04:002014-05-15T04:51:33.490-04:00Get Naked!<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
What a title! What a request!<br />
Just stay with me and don't write me off as perverted.<br />
What I ask of you, I am also asking of myself. <br />
<br />
<br />
Lock yourself in your bedroom or bathroom alone, whichever one has a nice size mirror.<br />
First, take a good look at yourself with your garments on.<br />
Who are you? What do you look like?<br />
Are you a well dressed business man? A sophisticated lady?<br />
Maybe a rugged looking cowboy or apron clad housewife? <br />
Maybe a hip teenager in the latest style?<br />
or maybe a "religious" looking being? <br />
Who are you? According to your dress?<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVHyCC68ST-Z_boTykxmNJinAINo6qdPua23zayLqsNtZoW8YRsPMWajlAJyNjs2Pl4WrVH-g_K_aS7_A13KsGEg_ZQglFd9CSCm1pF8_3y81bGBicFvsM4r-yAwODbm2lSYvRQjhLFC9/s1600/mirror+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVHyCC68ST-Z_boTykxmNJinAINo6qdPua23zayLqsNtZoW8YRsPMWajlAJyNjs2Pl4WrVH-g_K_aS7_A13KsGEg_ZQglFd9CSCm1pF8_3y81bGBicFvsM4r-yAwODbm2lSYvRQjhLFC9/s1600/mirror+1.jpeg" height="299" width="400" /> </a></div>
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Slowly strip off one garment at a time and each time I want you to ask yourself<br />
"now who am I?"<br />
Is your identification changing much? <br />
Keep going! Another piece and another until you are naked. <br />
<br />
Take down your hair, wipe off the make-up, remove the jewelry. <br />
<br />
You have now removed all of your external identification and stand naked before the mirrored image.<br />
There is nothing to hide behind. You are exposed!<br />
Some may be cringing, some may be proud, some may be remembering a day when the image was much more impressive. :) Or depressing. <br />
But, hang on.... we aren't finished.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I want you to go further.<br />
Strip away your friends one by one, your family name, your church affiliation.<br />
Strip away any titles that you hold - Professor, Pastor, Missionary, Dr., Counselor, etc..<br />
Strip away your talents, your gifts <br />
Is the image that has been stripped of all outward and social identification someone you are familiar with? <br />
<br />
<br />
As we stand there before the mirror, we still have not seen who we really are as a person,<br />
<br />
for the person we really are is still there hidden deep in the heart.<br />
<i> It is within the crevices of our inward being.</i><br />
It is the part of us that nobody sees, but our Heavenly Father.<br />
<i><b>And this is the part that is the absolute most important to HIM!!!</b></i><br />
<br />
We, as human beings, tend to make judgements of who is acceptable and who is not -who is righteous and who is not, but that line is almost always, ALWAYS based on the outward and social identification of a person. But God don't care about those things like He cares about our way down deep condition of our hearts, for that my dear friend, is who we really are! We can hide behind "legalistic" rules that are laid on us, we can think we are righteous because of how well we follow those "rules". We can dress ourselves all up, or down, we can attach titles to our names, we can perform just perfectly, we can speak fancy words, but all the while hidden beneath all that can be - envy, jealousy, hypocrisy, hatefulness, self-righteousness, lust and secret immorality, unfaithfulness, bitterness*.<br />
<br />
Let's start digging and see what we find!<br />
This self-examination can be a very painful process!<br />
It requires us to become vulnerable, honest and humble.<br />
It is much easier to hide and put on that beautiful front, while underneath is written across our bare chest - "warning - sin is lurking beneath the surface."<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We can fool our fellowman, but we cannot and will not fool the all knowing One!<br />
Stop pretending, get real, get naked and get radical about cleaning out those deep crevices that have been hidden beneath our facade.<br />
After standing in front of our<b> own</b> mirror naked, slowly and carefully start to get dressed. Put on a layer of repentance, add a layer of forgiveness, followed layer by layer of His grace, mercy, wisdom, righteousness & truth. Top it off with an outer garment of obedience. May the words upon our chests fade into the words,<br />
"Blameless from the inside out".<br />
<br />
My face is in the dust!!!<br />
I don't care at all for the image reflected back to me from that shiny, revealing mirror!<br />
The words on my chest read "Warning!"<br />
I am not happy with that! <br />
<span id="goog_301295801"></span><span id="goog_301295802"></span>But, that is the whole reason Jesus willingly went to the cross!<br />
For me, for you - that the word "Warning!" can be replaced with "Blameless"<br />
and the reflection looking back at us from that mirror can be a reflection of HIM<br />
and not ourselves!!! <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
* - Galatians 5:19-21 </div>
<br />
Until next time...........<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-16512831437069495382014-05-13T15:22:00.001-04:002014-05-15T01:46:45.622-04:00What's Been Happenin'<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span data-dobid="hdw">Well, I am back!</span></div>
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<span data-dobid="hdw">And I have missed you!</span></div>
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<span data-dobid="hdw">I have decided to keep the blog as it was and recommit it to the Lord.</span></div>
<span data-dobid="hdw">In
the past, I said that if only one person is encouraged or challenged
by something I write, than it is worth my time. I will continue to
share about our family, farm and faith and trust that the words of my
"pen" will be pleasing in His sight and encouraging to at least one of
you. </span><br />
<br />
To catch you up on what has transpired in the last few months......<br />
<br />
Ben turned 25 on Jan. 1st<br />
On his birthday, he had whiskers and I did not get a picture of him. :(<br />
Now that it is warm, he decided to say "goodbye" to the them.<br />
This was a surprise picture, but he is handsome, don't you think? :)<br />
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Oliver turned 11 on Feb. 4th<br />
Enjoyed having his cousins over to play. </div>
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Beginning of April we found out we are going to be grandparents </div>
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again at the beginning of December, </div>
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Lord willing! :) </div>
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Kelsey was baptized on April 20th.<br />
Beautiful, happy day! </div>
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I turned 48 on May 1st</div>
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There is no photo to prove it, so I guess I can just say that I turned 30! :) </div>
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Toby turned 1 on May 8th</div>
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Dave turned 48 on May 10th</div>
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and since I did take a photo to prove it, I am now married to</div>
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a wonderful man 18 yrs. my senior! ♥ </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE12zZej7FnzXcx-X9CWTiS1XhlJa9Pxyw1LyVyKD-yL5O0hFPndPkHz2i0poY1wvsl-boJ3uEDz__8rkgVbF_Fm1ArfcuYEf5b1Sb8E7BBEM-x0lR3_oQW7MPNvMA_4SJnzYFOuk_Gim/s1600/IMG_0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE12zZej7FnzXcx-X9CWTiS1XhlJa9Pxyw1LyVyKD-yL5O0hFPndPkHz2i0poY1wvsl-boJ3uEDz__8rkgVbF_Fm1ArfcuYEf5b1Sb8E7BBEM-x0lR3_oQW7MPNvMA_4SJnzYFOuk_Gim/s1600/IMG_0616.JPG" height="400" width="300" /> </a></div>
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We are finished with our home school co-op for this school year. </div>
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We will miss everyone, but we were also very ready for summer break.</div>
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New addition to the farm....</div>
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Bacon & Sausage </div>
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<b>Things we have been enjoying......</b></div>
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The color<span style="color: lime;"><b> <span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="background-color: lime;">reen</span></span></span></b></span><span style="background-color: white;"></span></div>
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Blossoming strawberry plants and addition of blueberry plants </div>
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mixed with dandelions :) </div>
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flowering apple trees</div>
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I always wanted a dogwood tree ever since I was a little girl who listened over </div>
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and over to Al Shade singing the Legend of the Dogwood Tree. Finally was able to buy one at</div>
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a nursery auction. They are so beautiful! They have flowers on them with </div>
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2 long petals and 2 short petals - likeness of a cross - and the middle is the crown of thorns.</div>
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Now don't go criticizing the mason who laid the crooked </div>
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little side walls! The head honcho mason around here is super busy</div>
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(which we are very grateful for after the winter we had), so the lady of the </div>
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house had to do the best she could at making this project complete. </div>
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Do you think he would hire me?</div>
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this is what it looked like before....</div>
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And then there are the 5 sons who always amaze me with their strength!</div>
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These 2 brought topsoil up for the one garden and </div>
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this one cylinder dump wouldn't lift it, so they had to shovel some off ..... </div>
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until George just decided to lift it himself! :) </div>
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Just kidding!</div>
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Solomon took on the task of putting up a volley court on the farm....</div>
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Wolfe House Mover equipment arrived.... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcIJdt7VfGTKStqkWiI5O3xig-g1tMq0htJ5V7kewVvX-MwmlGfMUsJmFfW2acgJNSr-jDDWrEhGk0KNmQNy-e6B9qpRnSjQwxVGX8Hv8Xfk-ok4ff3AT8b8mSyQyOGQFWWhn8DMtD5qH/s1600/IMG_0608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcIJdt7VfGTKStqkWiI5O3xig-g1tMq0htJ5V7kewVvX-MwmlGfMUsJmFfW2acgJNSr-jDDWrEhGk0KNmQNy-e6B9qpRnSjQwxVGX8Hv8Xfk-ok4ff3AT8b8mSyQyOGQFWWhn8DMtD5qH/s1600/IMG_0608.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
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and the task of taking a useless area .....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJMoIfuYGBqQSLoLEHOmz_9Lc4K2Ll5L5CwQ09fNG5_LdgiK6h3cjzUgPdSHeoFGBXEnErHl-rMIv7VlSDnOjgR3mR3hVGorTkzmB2EPxNi5KO5SrPEg964Q39SxY4eO6QjRw9x5H3ebI/s1600/IMG_0609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJMoIfuYGBqQSLoLEHOmz_9Lc4K2Ll5L5CwQ09fNG5_LdgiK6h3cjzUgPdSHeoFGBXEnErHl-rMIv7VlSDnOjgR3mR3hVGorTkzmB2EPxNi5KO5SrPEg964Q39SxY4eO6QjRw9x5H3ebI/s1600/IMG_0609.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
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and making it into a court begins....</div>
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Quite some zippy drivers! Wow! </div>
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Very impressed! It was fun to watch them.</div>
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And then there was and is and always will be.....laundry! </div>
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But it sure is nice to hang it outside again!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia45xioBE0Y5wpl6yHwAgA8BboaGaJDiCm1cEnCazskBblT1xVtiRZIR34mYAcGHNDHi2AT_WzCzvNfB8NjQQol5lN7Gq_q95_oFIQtes0-rhsP9S4RhnQG9iCQCcMaOSc5554GFH7w5iJ/s1600/IMG_0642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia45xioBE0Y5wpl6yHwAgA8BboaGaJDiCm1cEnCazskBblT1xVtiRZIR34mYAcGHNDHi2AT_WzCzvNfB8NjQQol5lN7Gq_q95_oFIQtes0-rhsP9S4RhnQG9iCQCcMaOSc5554GFH7w5iJ/s1600/IMG_0642.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
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Remember the cool lady that we posted a picture of years ago?</div>
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This lady?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Zt8YyKacd-vZE1Ccw_rxhV-RVj1Dwg8HeYxpK76qxhPvfIWf0SfgBIWzzlo8wWTJEBBRpboLkVoWFha_f3EEcWN6R-2v8khquCE0SdhF8TbnicDje5H7yZ78OlfD39ijXAskv714v8w6/s1600/Oakley+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Zt8YyKacd-vZE1Ccw_rxhV-RVj1Dwg8HeYxpK76qxhPvfIWf0SfgBIWzzlo8wWTJEBBRpboLkVoWFha_f3EEcWN6R-2v8khquCE0SdhF8TbnicDje5H7yZ78OlfD39ijXAskv714v8w6/s1600/Oakley+001.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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well, here she is today, even more cool!!</div>
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Somewhere out of the blue, this silly monkey arrived on our doorstep </div>
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and we decided to adopt him! :)</div>
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<i>(can't you tell it had been a very very long winter?)</i></div>
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We managed to freeze about 4 cases of bananas (for the adopted monkey, of course)!</div>
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No, honestly, there was a truck accident and it happened to be hauling.....</div>
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bananas! They make delicious milk shakes! And for those of you</div>
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who remember.....so do <a href="http://beingtriedasgold.blogspot.com/2012/08/blunder-in-blender.html" target="_blank">hotdogs!</a> :) </div>
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This past winter, we experimented in baking grain free desserts! </div>
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I highly recommend the book, "Against All Grain." </div>
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Uriah is starting an endeavor of his own - growing chickens to sell.</div>
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Today the first 100 arrived at the Post Office.</div>
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And last, but not least, I am still traveling the highway to better health.</div>
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I know....broken record....broken record </div>
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Thankfully, this Spring is going MUCH better than last Spring and I have</div>
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high hopes that this Summer will continue to bring improvements. </div>
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I am learning to say "no" (most times), and listen to</div>
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when my mind & body is saying "enough, I need a break!"</div>
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(It really is good for you to sit a read a book in the middle of the day!) </div>
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However, I also had to say a reluctant "no"</div>
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when my mind & body was screaming "beach" and "Hawaii"</div>
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in the middle of this past winter! Boy, that was a very hard "no" to say!</div>
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One thing remains, no matter how time ticks away,</div>
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no matter the sad conditions of this world,</div>
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no matter what good or bad situations happen to us</div>
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no matter how old or young we are</div>
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no matter how busy we are </div>
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~ God IS still there! He IS bigger than the boogie man! :)</div>
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And HE loves each of us!</div>
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Until next time............ </div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-78390771911584096842014-02-09T20:52:00.001-05:002014-02-09T20:52:27.435-05:00Question of Direction<div style="text-align: center;">
Standing in the middle of a crossroad </div>
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looking east</div>
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then looking west</div>
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no, how 'bout south</div>
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or maybe north?</div>
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Should I or shouldn't I?</div>
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And if so, should I do something different?</div>
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Are you wondering what on earth am I talking about?</div>
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Blogging....</div>
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This blog has been my diary for years. </div>
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I highlighted important events in our lives and my goal is to have it printed into a book for me to keep.</div>
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But, in my blogging journey, I have reached this crossroads.</div>
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Do I stop blogging for good or for a season?</div>
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Do I still blog keeping it the same or change it and take it in a different direction?</div>
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I don't have the answer and haven't for quite some time,</div>
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so</div>
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at this time, I am taking a break from blogging</div>
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and will be in prayer on what the Lord wants me to do</div>
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with</div>
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BeingTriedAsGold. </div>
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Thanks for sticking with me all these years! </div>
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Until next time (maybe) .........</div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-77685049645115983742014-01-20T01:04:00.001-05:002014-01-20T22:27:43.573-05:00Look Deeper!<div style="text-align: center;">
Over the past 9 years, we have turned most of the fields on our farm into fenced in grass pastures for the cows to graze. We have adopted the farming method called "mob grazing." We also have NEVER applied chemicals on the land since we purchased the farm, thus classifying it organic. The soil was so depleted and lifeless when we moved here and now it is rich, worm infested (good thing!) soil that is nutrient dense, retains moisture and produces wholesome rich crops. This type of farming is not the typical method of farming and the "conventional" farmers frown deeply down upon anyone who tries it. </div>
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<i>Well, they can frown away! </i></div>
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We also rent the neighboring farm land and have implemented the same farming method to 18 acres of it, and we sub rent the rest to a friend who is a conventional farmer. The other day the owner of the farm curtly spoke to Dave and wondered what we are doing with our fields - aren't we farming them? My hubby kindly and patiently, explained how we farm, the benefits and the results that we have been noticing. His curtness lost it's edge and he began asking questions and really listening.</div>
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There is a whole science lesson on the above topic. You see, when this method of farming is applied, it does not always look so neat, tidy and organized. The grass is allowed to grow, an area is fenced in and the cows are left loose to "mob" it for one day. They go in, eat to their hearts content, and in the process, trample the rest into the ground to become mulch and while they are doing that, they are leaving a trail of wonderful fertilizer. The next day they are moved to a different paddock and so on. The grass that was not eaten nor trodden will stand in odd clumps throughout the pasture making it look "unfinished". </div>
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The mobbed fields receive a harsh judgment by any passer by for their unattractiveness and the farmers are criticized for "not farming" their fields. But, if you could only see beneath the matted grass, you would find beautiful strong plants popping through the earth to replenish the pasture, and beneath the soft top layer of earth, you will find rich, nutrient dense soil that is able to support LIFE in abundance!</div>
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In meditating on the reaction of the landlord of our rental ground, it made me think that his reaction and judgement can be compared to what happens among people, especially in the "Christian" realm. Some churches fabricate standards that they believe are more "Godly". Even though these standards are not even required by God, they implement them, force them and make them a foundation of judgement against anyone else who does not comply with them. The promotion is to become cookie cutter members that have the appearance of righteousness, perfection and unity, just like the conventional thing to do. They were sprayed with the deadly chemical of legalism and occultism. What happens in these groups is the externals become so severely emphasized that heart issues, the inner most being of a person, never gets properly fed, if fed at all. Thus producing a beautiful outward "field" that is just a cover up for the chemical ridden, hard packed soil that has been stripped of life and filled with hidden sin. These folks are unaware of what is happening beneath their hardened crust, and they may not even be concerned that they are unaware, for after all, everything looks fine above the surface. </div>
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Such is the life of a conventional christian.</div>
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Let's visit the farm next door where the organic Christians abide. They refuse to apply the chemicals of man-made standards, for after all they kill the little sprouts of faith, true deep holiness, and obedience to God alone from springing forth in their lives. They refuse to be molded into a cookie cutter, for they realize that God has created each of us with uniqueness. They seek to obey the Holy Spirit in whatever, wherever, however it may lead them, even in the area of "appearance-ever". They don't judge someone because they don't hold the same standards as them, for if we compare standards, we ALL fall short of God's standard. They give freedom for Christ to work in other people's lives in HIS timing. The focus is to feed and nurture the soil of their inner being first, asking God to make it rich and nutrient dense that when the "crops" spring force, they would be full of life that reaches far below the surface. The harvest that springs forth from organic soil is amazingly different from that of chemical ridden soil. </div>
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When the neighboring landowner questioned our method of farming, we wanted to beg him to look deeper! Look beneath the surface!</div>
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How many folks around us are begging us to do the same? Look deeper! Look beneath my shaggy, imperfect surface. See me for who I really am, not who you think I am by what you see! </div>
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That is my heart's cry!<br />
Oh, may I be able to see people in depth as Jesus sees them.<br />
To see beneath the surface and into their souls.<br />
To create a desire to be organic - pure and full of life!<br />
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May that be your heart's cry as well.</div>
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Until next time.......</div>
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Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905879031790835728.post-15097108873954613702013-12-23T12:07:00.001-05:002014-01-21T07:33:17.719-05:00Merry Christmas 2013!<div style="text-align: center;">
May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas celebrating the birth of Jesus!<br />
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We did not compose a newsletter this year! Our creative minds hibernated already. However, if you follow this blog, you already know what happened to us this past year. :)</div>
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Until next time...........</div>
Dave ~ Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969488242088890863noreply@blogger.com0