Oh the Life of a Farm Girl

I've been helping out with the cattle chores of late. Apart from the fact I'm strongly tempted to feed the bovine in my pajamas I don't mind it all. Perhaps I don't look like a farm girl as another farm boy once pointed out to me many years ago, but I do my best to fill the part when necessary. With three brothers I lived the life of leisure of cooking enormous meals and washing filthy clothes. As they left it was time for me to fill their shoes. Pun attended, I never got my own coveralls and rubber boots. My brothers old one's worked fine.

I liked it best when I got to sort hogs. This may sound anomalous but I rather enjoyed sorting the fat piggy’s on their way to market. Granted I did enjoy cleaning up afterwards as well. Just a small side note, If you happen to get pig manure (i.e. poop) on your bedroom carpet do not judge the severity of the stain by smelling the pile at close range. Just ask my mom, she nearly fainted after doing so.

Another piece of advice as well if you are short in physique beware that the pigs may want to escape using any possible route including the opening between your legs. Let me put it this way when a pig runs under a short person there is simply not enough room for both. Therefore you might find yourself in the position of taking up hog riding for a living. I am still not sure how much money we lost by not getting this endeavor on video.

Though I'm not sure I always made a very good farm girl I loved being on the farm. The combine has been sold for many years now but I can still remember how much fun harvest was. Chewing on the fresh wheat kernels before enjoying an afternoon lunch. Getting those delightful suckers from the Co-op. Riding in the cab of the combine and even more fun standing on the running board. Admittedly I must say I never had the experience of having to haul the grain in the truck. Sisters and in-laws have a few stories about such experience. Trucks do have a funny way of stalling on the grain scales. But I've said too much.

Even were there the times when I had my own livestock to chore. I spent a whole winter tending to my two little piggies. Faithfully giving them water even when I had to break the ice on bitter winter days. Spending hours stuck in the feed bin because those things are terribly hard to get out of. All for $60, I thought that was appalling little compensation for all the trouble I had gone to. I decided never to repeat that entrepreneur ever again.

I fared better with the bottle calves. I didn't mind so much making the bottles and delivering morning and night. I found their noses to be quite slimy and nasty when rubbed all over me. When the milk spilled it did make me cry and have less than nice thoughts for the dear calf. I relished the fact of position as a milk maid and secretly longed for a cow to milk.

I must say that this sounds like I had an awful time on the farm. This is true. However character lessons were learned that you just can't find anywhere else. They say the farm never leaves a person. And I think it’s true. Every time I eat beef or pork I feel very smug to know its sitting on my plate and not out in the pen waiting to be fed.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

I felt that scary music and lots of tall taper candles casting spooky shadows on the walls would have completed the atmosphere last night. Kansas gave us one an outstanding thunder storm last night. The country side was fairly drenched by late evening and it was still pouring. I felt comforted by the fact that God had promised that we wouldn't be flooded again such as Noah had. With the pond overflowing its banks well over the driveway and spilling into the field and meeting up with the other pond it certainly did feel as though a boat might be needed.

Earlier in the day I had been helping host a bridal shower for a soon to be bride of a young man in our church. At one point the basement was curtained in darkness. Before the bride had even seen her gifts no less. But not before the ladies had gotten a good look at the refreshments. Thankfully the lights came on. Staying on only until the evening concert was in fall swing. Mom said the it actually sounded better without sound:)

Green leaves sit on the trees now sprinkled with rain drops. Our pond is more like a river although thankfully we have been spared having to ford across the driveway. The sun remains hidden behind the clouds and lazy little me is thankful for an excuse not to hang out laundry.

So why do I tell you about all this rain? Just because I want to share little piece of my world and send it to yours.

Oh and by the way a good book is just as good if not better being read by a single candle. Sadly it was missing the tea cups and the presence of an old maid carrying on in an English accent. Where do I get these ideas? Another story for another time.

Taken in Victory

Just another Sunday morning. My brother and I slurped up our weekly treat of cold cereal. Dad's eggs sizzled in the pan. Mom chatted on the phone with my brother who was on a trip. Sleepily I went through the motions not bothering to be in the least bit cheery to my family. Just another day. While we were enjoying the pleasure of a normal routine, others were watching as a young man slipped from this earth into the arms of Jesus. Mom talked on the phone with her son as another mother said her last earthly words to the son of her womb. Begrudgingly I served up some eggs to my big brother as another sibling mourned the loss of his big brother. Life so blissfully normal for us, life so painfully turned upside down for our distant cousins.

Today the privilege was ours of attending a remembrance of life. Ironic it seemed to me, my niece celebrated her birthday today. Two celebrations today, one so painful and wrong, the other full of happiness and joy.

I stood so very close to my brother not wanting to think about him being gone as well. My mother couldn't shake the thought either of the shared age of the mourned one and my brother. Every time I saw his figure breathed in his scent. I wanted to say how much I loved him and to wonder why was that this young man was gone and not my brother. I cling to my family tonight lacking the words to them of my deep love and gratefulness. The Father knows.

To my mind it seems so very wrong. How could one so young just die? Someone so bright with future and hope. Humanly we ask God these questions. Answers are in long while coming.

One thing is understood. This young man has only died in body and now lives for ever in heaven. As the pastor said "only passing through the shadow of death not dying for eternity".

God knows the pain of the parents. Was it not Him who gave His own son up for death? Our Father gave His son to die so we might live. Today we mourned the loss of a dear brother in Christ. Tears flowed freely however as we sang praise--so equally due to who's Hand reigns over all.

Moments after losing their son the parents sent out an e-mail notifying of the death. Included simply was the phrase "Death is Swallowed up in victory".

This World Shall Pass Away

This blog absence is most inexcusable I know. Perhaps some day I will write more often with a vengeance. For now the days are busy and right now very hard.

My uncle had surgery yesterday. For weeks already the doctors have suspected cancer. That dreaded word. The disease that took the life of my uncle. Cancer that flipped the lives of our family upside down, five times. And now yet again we find ourselves faced with the reality that we live in a fallen world. The doctors were unable to remove the cancer yesterday. Seven children heard the awful news about their father yesterday. Cousins, aunts, and uncles all around the world grieved.

Yet our Lord is faithful. We have hope, pain and sorrow may be our reality right now but someday it won't. Someday we will worship at the feet of Jesus forever. Knowing it was all so worth it.

The road ahead will not be easy for my aunt. Please pray. They have seven children and 7 soon to be 9 grandchildren. My uncle has 11 siblings, 2 already waiting in heaven. Including his twin brother.

"Neither shall there be any more pain".
Revelation 21:4

Yes I'm a Big Girl Now; I can Cook!

Cooking escapades seem to be a frequent topic around here probably because cooking takes up a large part of my life. Sunday we will be having our annual Easter breakfast at church. It will be potluck with every kind of egg casserole and a delightful array of pastries. Of course I will be contributing as I have since the age of12.

I do remember the year very vividly that I purposed to make a egg casserole for the church potluck. My memory is so clear that I blush every time I remember. No there wasn't a Salmonella outbreak over raw eggs. No it was much, much, more embarrassing.

Just beginning to learn the art of advance cooking I purposed to mix up the egg casserole and bake it a church so it would be nice and hot for the breakfast. Unfortunately I neglected to calculate the time this would take when taking into consideration our arrival time. Upon coming to the church I stuck the scrambled eggs into the fridge to chill before baking. Moments later someone came and asked if it was orange juice. No it was eggs I proudly announced. They wondered if perhaps I wouldn't like to bake them so they would be done in time? I agreed upon this wisdom and stuck the eggs in the oven. With little time to bake before branch.

Other casseroles began to arrive and were stuck into the oven to warm already in their dressed state. My eggs sat half naked in the oven however just beginning to come a hot temperature.

The very hungry parishioners were enjoying a devotion in the fellowship hall when their appetites were quickly dissipated. You see the aroma of burned eggs isn't very appetizing.

When someone had checked their casserole mine had spilled to the oven floor when the rack was put in place. Thankfully the smoke alarms were kept silent or I believe I honestly would have died.

The smoke cleared, and my eggs finally made it to the table long after the food line had moved past the much yummier looking breakfast delicacies.

I remember how proud I felt to prepare my family's potluck contribution. I felt so grown up to hang around in the kitchen and help the food. Exchanged looks of grief did not escape me of my cooking flop. Realizing very painfully that I had very little cooking knowledge and was just in the way.

Yes perhaps its the most humiliating of experiences that teaches you the most. At any rate I've never made an egg casserole since for the Easter breakfast. Deviled eggs are on my list to make tomorrow. No baking required.

Just Saying Hello

I'm not entirely sure that anyone actually reads this blog however readers is not the point developing writing skills is. Mother always says that every writer likes to have an audience. Quite true.

So here is a post for my grand audience of three people:)

My nieces and nephews were over the other day. They toiled the day away on our lawn playing games that only come from the spark of the imagination. By late afternoon they still had endless energy and slight sunburns.

My nephew of three years came and told me that grandma said that he could have another cupcake. You don't say? I thought to myself. I told them that there were none to give as they had been devoured. I didn't tell him I was sure he was telling falsehoods.

We had our annual egg hunt as well after dying the eggs. Egg salad was served for lunch minus four them that remained unfound in the garden.

Crispy oven baked chicken was our supper menu tonight. I got the recipe from a very dear friend of mine. Find it here and then make it. You may be assured that your family will be very happy.

Later we are having warm apple crisp just because my dear big brother will be home for Easter weekend. Loveliness.

Prayer as always is a good thing. A few things on my list.

My uncle who is facing a possible cancer diagnosis
My friend's husband who is dying of cancer
Frontier School of the Bible, very possible that their school may be closed.
Myself, it feels selfish but I'm in the process of sorting a few things out in life.

There may be more than 3 of you, I really do hope so:) Just so you know I love all of you so very much, thanks for putting up with all this gibberish and spelling errors.

Pieces of my Life

Life has been some what Topsy turvy of late. While some things are changing many things are staying the same yet feel oh so different. Seems like every time I start a morning routine something comes up and spoils it. Oh well one of the first things in life that should be learned is adapting to your circumstances.

My nieces and nephew are here today, some of them anyway. The first idea that sprung from their imaginations for play was to be "Africans". This uttered from the girl who always has her nose in a book.

Last week I had the delight of holding a sweet smelling baby on two separate occasions. I volunteer at the Wichita Children's Home in the Foster Care respite section. Oh its so fun, really who wouldn't want to hold a cute little boy every now and then?

I'm fixing dinner presently, the meal will be divided in two. A portion for a dear friend of mine whose husband is dyeing of cancer.
Last Wednesday also found me cooking first at home and than for a cooking class for our girls Bible study. Baking cakes was the topic, from scratch of course! Personally one of my favorite things to make. I think the class went well minus the fact that I served the cake with chocolate frosting much some mothers horror.

I had lots of fun, I really am quite fond of cooking shows and wouldn't mind doing my own YouTube series:) What do you think, would you like a little cooking show each week here? I promise you lots of mistakes and recipes that only come out of my head:)

Here are a few recipes, (I mean pictures I don't think I can write today), from the "Cooking Demo".

Very embarrassing to have a picture taken while talking:)

The cakes!