Broken Ground Farm

Tuesday – This was a school day. It was the first “full day” for us. We had been adding a subject daily and Tuesday was the first day to do them all. We are definitely going to have to fine tune things.

When we were feeding pigs we found a tiny toad. We caught it and brought it into the house to observe. The kiddos wrote about it in their science notebook and then we released it safely back into the yard.

You can see by the size of my fingers, that this was a tiny toad. Happy has been learning about how to tell the difference between frogs and toads in science and this was good confirmation of his knowledge.

There was also a humming bird flying around our feeder. We were sitting outside on the porch and were able to grab a few photos.

I am absolutely amazed by these creatures. We always watch for them. The feeder was empty this day and it still came by. The way they hover and fly and their intricate design is so amazing.

Sunshine had an appointment in town that we went to and it went well.

Wednesday – This was another school day. I am liking all the curriculum this year. It is a change of pace for Sunshine and Lovey, but they are doing well. We did school, C.N.R. had work. We taught kids class at church that night. We had a larger class, but it went well. We are still teaching parables and taught about the 10 talents. We have expanded on being ready for Jesus and about using what the Lord gives you. We don’t have to be afraid to share our talents and gifts from the Lord with the world. He wants us to use them. I mean, we wouldn’t want to give someone a gift and them never use it…

Thursday – More school and work for my people. By this day I finished my door hanger and got it on the door. C.N.R. measured and printed a hook to hang it by. It fit perfectly.

I took a picture of some of the garden beds.

The wallow in the path is from the original spot where the piggos were in July. We have sprinklers running about once every day or two. The bed on the left was seeded but not raked in very well. The bed on the right was seeded and raked and the seeds covered better. Big difference that we will be taking note of on the other beds.

Friday – I decided to make monkey bread. It wasn’t sourdough, but it did use a yeast packet. This turned out to be a longer process than expected. C.N.R. had taken the day off and we were shuffling kids and school, house work, and trying to bake monkey bread. By the time I was able to start it, it had 2 small rises, and bake time, it was super late in the day. Not so much a breakfast.

It was delicious. C.N.R. helped me get the dough prepped to bake and then these things baked for nearly and hour! But oh my gosh they were tasty. They were even good left over.

Friday night we had to pick up supper and head to my in-laws house. A small congratulatory retirement party for my father-in-law. It was good to visit with family. We had a nice meal and some evening conversation around the fire pit. The kids watched toads, played laser tag, roasted marshmallows, picked up fallen acorns, and much more. Kiddos spent Friday and Saturday night there.

Saturday – WORK DAY! With the kids not being home we slept in and it was nice. We slept way longer than I expected we would, but it was needed. Once we got up and going it was time to paint. My desire to decorate for fall turned into a full out “let’s fix up the house” and it was time to put that in motion. We found out Wednesday night the tile we ordered and had shipped to the store was all damaged and had to be reordered. So, we didn’t get to work on the hearth, but that was ok. There was still plenty to do.

We spent lots of time taking things off the walls, mudding holes in the walls, and taping things off. We worked, with food breaks, until nearly 11:30 at night. But it was so nice to get to spend that time together. We enjoyed the quiet, the conversation, as well as the progress made on our home. I am feeling like it is finally coming together. It was so much easier to do this without the kids. Trying to paint wrecked the house and they didn’t have to be in the middle of it.

Sunday – That is today. Today we slept in and went to church. We got on the road headed that way when my mother-in-law said we needed to bring Happy a belt for his pants. We had also forgotten something else so we turned around to gather things and still managed to get there about 10 minutes early.

Service was really good today. We had an awesome time in worship and then a few people presented on their most recent mission trip. I love getting to hear their experience and how God is moving. It is so cool to see Him working here, but also in other countries. The same God that lives and moves in me is speaking and moving all over the world. And it is amazing because He speaks and draws me and others to himself.

I was thinking and praying during worship today about God being lifted up. We have recently been teaching the kids about how when Jesus is lifted up, He will draw people to Himself.

John 3:12-15 – ¹² If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. ¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Jesus was lifted up on that cross when He died for our sins. Some mourned, some rejoiced, but He had done what He came to do. To be the sacrifice for our sins, to pay the price we never could. The enemy thought that death was the end and he had victory, but he was so wrong!

After Jesus was resurrected, He stayed on earth a while. He was seen by 100’s and taught people. Then He ascended again into heaven. He was lifted up!

Acts 1:1-9 –  In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, ² until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ³ He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

⁴ And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The Ascension

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ⁹ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹ and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension He was either lifted up and drawing people to God or lifting God up in obedience, which was drawing people to God. So I need to be lifting God up in my own life and family. He needs to be raised above any doubts, fear, worries, or daily agendas. When I give God the rightful place in my life I will be able to magnify Him and walk in peace. Not to say life is all dandy, but my focus will be shifted to God and that will make life much better.

As we taught the kids about God being lifted up and drawing others to Himself, we compared it to the draw of a magnet, pulling people in and closer. My mind went from magnet to magnify and what I fixate on, or magnify is what grows. I want myself to be fixated of Jesus, for Him to be lifted up above all else, for His presence and peace in my life and family to grow.

As C.N.R. and I were talking this weekend we were talking about how the things we believe really matter. What we watch and listen to matter. What is going in us is coming out in some form and how important it is to guard our family.

There has been a lot going on in the world lately. A LOT. It really makes one think. I am so grateful that as I think and process all the garbage that the world dishes out, that I can filter it through God and His word.

Isaiah 55:11 – so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

So after church we had a baptism service and that was good.

Then we went to eat lunch in town. The in-laws joined us and we treated them to lunch.

Next we ran some errands in town. Then we came home. It is so nice to be home with all my people.

All those acorns the kids gathered….

Loved by all the piggies. We saved some for a treat tomorrow.

We have been working to put the house back together. It is getting there.

Bed time tonight included prayers and reading. Sunshine even colored some. We got everyone tucked in and shortly after Sunshine came out with and upset stomach. Not fun. I think it has passed and she is all good to go now.

It has been a good day today. I am about ready for bed. If the Lord gives us tomorrow, I expect it to be a good day too.