I Realized When

I realized tonight just when this is going to get hard~ it is going to be when I take my eyes off of the cross. That is when I will start to think that this is our final home. That is when I will forget where Trent is, and what it cost for Jesus himself to bring him there. I will start to forget that God himself gave up a son for my son to enter His glory. I will start to forget about God's perfect plan that He called good. I will forget about the grace poured out on us on every step of this journey so far because Trent was saved and is now in heaven. There were 11 other boys with him, several who have admitted to us that they are not saved and would have been in hell right now had God taken them last Friday. When my eyes stray from the cross my apathy returns and I forget the souls surrounding me that have an eternal destination. I will then seek my comforts here and expect again that this world will offer me what only God can. I will forget that my life is only as a shadow, that my eternity will be in heaven, and that only what is done for Christ will last. I can say with Paul:

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

May God never take my eyes off of the cross in all of this. May He keep me faithful to the high calling He has brought in my life. May it all be for His glory. And may many souls be woken up to ask the question~ What if it had been you that died on that slope on Friday? Where would you be? Where would your children be? Christian parent, what are you raising your children for? For the glory of God, or the glory of the world?

Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 3:17-21, and 4:1&4 taken from http://www.biblegateway.com/

Looking back I found these posts very interesting in light of God's sovereignty~ click here and here and here to read more.

The Morning After

Everybody has told me that it will be the day after the funeral, and the weeks, months, and years after that will be hard. So, given this is the dreaded "morning after", I have found since last night that for their sake I (because I tend to be a people pleaser at my core) think it is only appropriate to crash now. Since Friday I have only determined to do one thing at a time, finish one detail before I move on to the next good work that God has ordained. His grace is sufficient for today, tomorrow has enough worries of it's own. We have watched God be with us and give us strength every step of the way so far and we are determined to realize that it is only by his grace that we will take every other step as well for the rest of our lives.

My thoughts over the last couple of days, and especially this morning, have been about being refined by God's fire. When the day comes to write the whole story I will rejoice in the twenty years that God has been preparing me for this, but for now I need to remember His abundant mercy, love, tenderness, and promises that will sustain me until I enter glory. I am so much the more living eternally minded because of what God did Friday. Looking ahead to the day when all things will be tested by God's fire. What was built with precious gold and stone will be revealed, and what was built with hay and stubble will also be revealed. Trent's life was precious gold and stone to his mother's heart. His loss will always stand the fire as it is just as scripture has said, that the gospel will go forth with much sorrow and heartache. What I find myself being aware of right now is how I go about building the rest. Will I choose to believe what God has promised~ that this is His good work, that He is sovereign, that He really does have every day planned, even Friday? Will I build this to be a poor Terri pity party so I get the glory? Or, with everything that is within me and with all the strength that God gives me, will I hold onto knowing and somehow extolling that this is all about God and him being glorified? Will other's souls be of higher importance to me at this time? I know that Trent is in heaven, I watched God work in his life. God has revealed and proven enough other scriptures to me that it is a simple equation in my brain to see that God did what scripture says in how he saved Trent (He allowed us to see Trent's hard heart, revealing to us clearly that he was dead in sin. God then saved him, not by our coaxing at the time, etc., but clearly at a time that God changed his heart.), to believe that Trent is now in heaven.

So this morning after I have determined to be where God wants me, not where everybody else thinks I should be. I have begged God to never let me want Trent back here. There is nothing here that I would want him for if it denies him being with God. I want to always praise God for His perfect plan of salvation. Those who love salvation love God's ways (Psalm 40).God has also graciously brought several examples from scripture to mind. When the baby died was when King David rose up from his mourning clothes, washed, anointed himself with oil and called for food. Those around him were baffled, as many are around us, but his response was that the baby died. David knew that he would go to the baby, but the baby would never return to him. God has chosen Trent to go home at this time; God has chosen us to live at this time. May we always be faithful to God in the days left we have to live and do His work.

Another example is Jesus Christ himself, who Hebrews says suffered in many the same ways as we have. He fully knew the consequences of sin and that God's plan for salvation would include death, even his own death. I have been recalling His reaction, and can not recall ever when he was angry about it. He struggled in the garden, but in the end it was God's will that He longed for over his own. God also reminded me of Lazarus, and how scripture says that Jesus wept. It is okay to weep. But my thoughts of Jesus also go to his resurrected body, and give me yet again the hope of one day gladly giving up this body, as Trent has just given up his body, and look forward all the more to the day that God calls me home. I would not want to be wished back.

Paul's life has also been on my mind over the last few days. God for now has especially brought us the book of Philippians to affirm again His good plans in this. Paul was in prison facing his own death at the time, yet his only thought was to glorify God in it and to see many saved, which he did. Even in those circumstances, Paul says several times "rejoice~ and again rejoice". As the passage in Isaiah 65:17-25 was so sweetly given to us, I will hold on tightly to the verses that tell me this was God's good and perfect plan and it is okay to rejoice in it forever because that is what God is doing. We are being poured out like a drink offering, and like Paul, we can't choose which is better: to be with Christ or to remain here for the sake of God's work, but being that God has us here, we can only choose to storm forth and battle for lost souls with a vengeance and energy that we have never had before. We will continue to fight the good fight all the days God allows us to. When and if the hard days come, I will worry about them then. Today God's grace is more than sufficient, and again today He has allowed me great rejoicing that my son is in heaven.

I am trying to be very careful to let God handle all of the details at this point as well. I tend to have my own ideas of how God should work even in this, and I need to remind myself over and over again that God will do the rest, not me. My part is to be faithful to what and who He calls me to, not to manage the numbers and times and depth that He will take people. It is God that I need to glorify, not my own ego. I long to stay in this hiding place of God, where I am being carried by so many prayers and an abundance of grace. Where nothing else matters but the gospel going forth. The worldly things of jobs, money, schedules, etc., etc., are soon going to creep back in and I don't want to get caught up in this world again.

My other morning thoughts are the ones of the amazing celebration we enjoyed yesterday. Of the many, many ministering opportunities that we had personally, and I am sure others had as well. Of the gospel going forth several times, personally and publicly. We were told that 400 people attended the funeral. I think of the people who came to surround us. I tried to drink in every single part of the day, but at the same time let it go and not hold on to the yesterdays so we can do the work God would have for us in the tomorrows. The finality is not Trent's body in the coffin, it is the work of God being done. No matter what God chooses to do with his death, Trent is still in heaven, and that will be enough, although I long for God to do more and to save many, because that is what He promised to do. And He also promised to never leave me or forsake me in doing it. What a mighty God we serve!

This is the Day

This is the day that the Lord has made, and we are rejoicing in it. This is the day to celebrate Trent's short life here in this world and worship the God who has ordained the steps to bring him home and use his life for so much. The anticipation in our house is so high right now as we look forward to being used, yet again, to be a witness and a testimony to the work and hope of God at the funeral/celebration service this afternoon. Please continue your prayers that God would work in a mighty way today, in both believers and non-believers.

Already we are seeing the fruit of salvation that God promised would come from our afflictions; the gospel has gone forth just as He promised it would, and we have seen the beginning of the elect that God will call through this. Christians and non-Christians alike are baffled by what God is doing in our lives. We are smiling fools to many! God has granted us the peace and the joy in His plan. He has pried our fingers off of this world even more, and given us the heart for all the lost souls around us. He has made us bold. He has made us strong. He has made us to be full of rejoicing in His perfect plan. Our son is in heaven, how could we not rejoice if we believe what the Bible says?

Know that we are so grateful for the prayers that have been offered up on our behalf, as we credit none of this to ourselves. God has placed each one of you in our lives to be the support that hold us up, just as Aaron held up Moses' arms that the battle would be won. This is a battle for souls, souls that will live forever in eternity. God has called so many to have to decide to choose this day whom they will serve. He may not let you have another opportunity to decide. We have prayed for the walls to be built high and thick around us right now as we boldly proclaim what God is doing that His will may be done. I can just imagine Trent in heaven right now as he watches God's work and rejoices with us.

Just a few of God's promises to us, His children. From Psalms 40

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1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. 4 Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll.8 I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”
9 I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, LORD, as you know. 10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, LORD; may your love and faithfulness always protect me. 12 For troubles without number surround me;

13 Be pleased to save me, LORD; come quickly, LORD, to help me.

16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The LORD is great!”

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And from Isaiah 8 & 9

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11 This is what the LORD says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people: 12 “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. 13 The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. 14 He will be a holy place;

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16 Bind up this testimony of warning and seal up God’s instruction among my disciples. 17 I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. 18 Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.

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20 Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. 21 Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. 22 Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.

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2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,

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6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Sweet, Sweet Words

God is good! He has allowed us more rejoicing again and we have seen Him move in mightier ways than we could have imagined. The details are becoming a bit overwhelming at this point, and coupled with very little sleep, no appetite, and ministering to all who walk through our door we are getting tired. But overall we are rejoicing still! God will take care of those little details and as long as He gives us the strength and the clarity we will press on, we will rest when He gives us that as well. We were able to take a trip to buy new celebration clothes yesterday. As most of you all know I am so frugal so this was a big part of our rejoicing and celebrating in preparation for tomorrow. The details are coming together, it is like planning a wedding for our son in less than a week. Numerous people have stepped in and blessed us and I have allowed them to. The details God has given us to handle He has also been faithful to give us the strength to do. We are being diligent to continue to find our strength only in the Lord and hold tightly to His word, prayer, and worship. As a family we are watching out closely for each other, and so far God has allowed us all to be like minded and long for God's glory in all of this; feeling honored to be a part of His work. God lead me to Philippians this morning and it was oh-so sweet.
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3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
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12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
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Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[d] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
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29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
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17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
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1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
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3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:
{enter here anything that I could take confidence in other than the Lord~ my knowledge, my faith, my trust, my strength, my church, my family, etc., etc.,}
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7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
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12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
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17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
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1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
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4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
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20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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And just a few more of God's whispers to me over the past few days~ This has been granted to me as a gift. It is allright to rejoice over this good work of God forever. I can take Christ as my example when He considered God's plan for salvation~ It would be done through death, and he never got angry or questioned God, but rather submitted and praised Him for His wisdom. God's will be done, not mine. I am free to do the same and trust my heavenly Father in this as well. We can praise God for this, even if we watch others around us struggle with God through it.

God's Grace is More than Sufficient

It has amazed me again and again in the last four days how God moves in His children. To allow us to rejoice in the midst of this suffering has baffled many, but the power of God's love has sustained us and caused us to only love Him more and trust his hand more. To be able to walk into the hospital room and see my sons dead body and praise God; to be able to wake up the next morning and still rejoice that my son was in heaven; to quietly and peacefully, and with clarity, decide with Rob how to best honor God's plan for Trent's life at the funeral; to then go sit and discuss with the funeral director how we wanted the celebration planned; to be used as a testimony to what God's word says and proclaim His perfect plan in this and still be smiling. Then this morning as God gave me the words to write my son's obituary and articles for the papers has only caused me to believe all over again that God's grace is sufficient in all things. Praise the Lord! Feel free to share our message where you would like. From all of this we long to have the gospel spread, and the question asked "What if it had been you? Where would you be?" We know where our son is, and are rejoicing in God for it. Please pray intensely for us as we celebrate what God has done with Trent's life on Thursday, February 25, 2011, from the hours of 2:00-11:00 as many will hear the gospel for the first time and will have to see death first hand and the finality of it all. Please continue to keep our family upheld in prayer as well, as it is only by God's grace that we are able to rejoice in all of His good works and long to be used by Him in this.

Our son, Trent, was born on March 10, 1998. God granted us 12 years with this precious boy before He chose to bring him home to heaven through a skiing accident on February 18, 2011.

Trent was a child that lived his life fully, with somewhat reckless abandon. He found great joy in hunting, fishing, building, playing football and sliding down mud hills. But overall his joy was found in his King and Savior, Jesus Christ, of whom he would confidently proclaim. Trent will be remembered with many tears of joy for his life lived by his parents Rob and Terri, siblings Alexis, Cole, Grace and Micah, his grandparents Janice, and Duane and Nancy, many aunts, uncles, pancake eating cousins, and friends. He is preceded in death by his grandfather, Donald.

It is with great rejoicing that we release our son, Trent, age 12, to our Heavenly Father. Dance before your King my son.

The article for the paper:

Everybody dies, but not everybody lives.

On Friday February 18, 2011, God did the unthinkable in our life~ He chose to take our 12 year old son, Trent, home in a skiing accident. It is only considered the unthinkable because our plans are not Gods plans, and our ways are not Gods ways. Before Trent was born we have entrusted the Lord with his life and have asked Him above all else to bring salvation to our son, to use him in a mighty way for God's glory, and to let him dwell in heaven for eternity. God only answered our prayers last Friday in a mightier way than we could have imagined, and we have been rejoicing in His good works and His mercies ever since.

Trent was a boy who truelly lived. From the very beginning he did what he loved and enjoyed the gifts and skills that God gave him to the full. In his short life he saw much of this world, traveling as far as India, the Bahamas, and Missouri to his favorite destination of Bass Pro Shop for his golden birthday, as well as many camping trips. God instilled a love of hunting and fishing into Trent and a joy of the great outdoors. Since he was little all he wanted was to turn 12 to be able to go hunting. During his 12th year God allowed him to shoot 2 deer. Trent loved to cook, to pick on his siblings Alexis, Cole, Grace and Micah, to protect his mother, to snuggle with his father, to be with his friends, especially his best friends Thomas and Samuel. Everything he was interested in he tried, even carving his own long bow and succeeding in taxidermy. In his short years he truelly lived.

But as we are all destined to, Trent also died. On Friday February 18, 2011, we said goodbye to our son as he left for a skiing trip with his friends. God says he knows the number of our days, that He has created each one, and that He will do what He pleases. Trent struggled with his own sinfulness before God for most of his life. He knew that he was not right before God, and nothing he could do would ever make up for the sins he committed to make him worthy to enter heaven. In the summer of 2010 God graciously chose to bring salvation to Trent through repentence and the saving grace of Christ Jesus. Trent's life was transformed and we enjoyed the young fruit in his life as we watched God work.

It was with great peace and much rejoicing that we as his family have sent him off before us and accepted Gods perfect plan for Trent's life. Our longing is that God would be glorified in what He has done to wake up many to the realization that we are not guaranteed any number of years in this world. On Friday morning we had our son, on Friday afternoon he was gone. God's standards to enter his kingdom are high, He expects perfection. Trent was not perfect, not even close. God graciously provided His perfect son, Jesus Christ, as an atonement for our sinfulness and requires that we simply believe and acknowledge Him for it. God does the rest.

What we have asked nearly every person we have seen since Friday is "What if it had been you? Where would you be right now?" We diligently raised Trent up to know his sinful state and taught him what the word of God says because we know the implications of denying Christ now, and God was gracious to answer our prayers and to save Him. Scripture says that the gospel will go forth with much sorrow and heartache. Please let Trent's short life be a wake up call to you. We are rejoicing in the sorrow because we know where our son is and that we will one day be with him again for eternity because of our own salvation.

God's mercies are new everyday, and His peace does surpass all understanding. God has been so gracious to us in these few days by blessing us first of all with His peace. The family and friends that have surrounded us and have lifted us up in prayer are amazing and another testimony to God's goodness. It is with great rejoicing that we release our son, Trent, age 12, to our Heavenly Father. Dance before your King my son.

His Mercies are New Every Day

Ladies~ Thank you for sharing this walk with us! Know that God's plans and God's grace are greater than ours. We have been rejoicing since Friday for the good work that God has done! We have prayed for over 12 years for Trent to go to heaven one day and to be used by God in a mighty way~ and God has honored that. Who are we to complain when and how?? Trent died in a skiing accident with his youth group in Duluth, MN. In God's sovereignty he went just the way he would have wanted to go, in the woods, instantly. God's mercies have been many and amazing! We are praising him for them! Feel free to share the photo and our message on facebook (I understand it is already on there) or your blog as we are trusting God to use this for salvation for many and long for the real story of God's glory to be known through it. I love you all and will share more soon. Your words of encouragement mean so much to me, and your prayers are felt immensely. Terri

God is Good

I don't know where to begin to tell of how amazing God has been in the last 4 days in our lives. His mercies are certainly new every day, and His grace is sufficient beyond anything we can imagine. The work of God is perfect and He rejoices in it, therefor so shall we. Those who love His salvation love His ways says the Psalmist. I have never been so close to God's outpouring of grace in my life, and I never want to be away from it in this same strength again. We are being poured out like an offering, filling up the afflictions of Christ in us that the gospel may go out and salvation may be brought to many. And through it all we are praising God and long to be used for His glory. God has anwered our prayers for Trent's life and we are rejoicing! We do not weep like those without hope because we know that Trent is in heaven; we know that God has planned all things for our good; and we hope in the resurrection to come when we will have eternity to spend with him.

A New Home

On Friday February 18th Trent went home to heaven. God's peace that surpasses all understanding is at this point being poured out on our household and we are rejoicing in His goodness. God granted Trent salvation last summer and we all enjoyed the fruit in his young life. Already we are seeing God move in mighty ways and desire to see Him glorified in it. Dance before your king my son.

17 “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.

19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.

20 “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.

21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.

23 They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them.

24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.

25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD.

FYI~ I Don't Know What I'm Doing

Tapping Maple trees is something I have wanted to try for quite a long time. It just so happens that we have a couple of Sugar Maples here on the farm and the weather is prime for tapping trees~ 30-40's during the day and still cold overnight. Now just so I make this clear from the beginning~ I really don't know what I'm doing when it comes to tapping Maple Trees so if this latest endeavor works out we'll all be happy. I have been doing some research on how this all works, which started by finding some Maple trees on our property last fall. I understand that you can also tap Boxelder (which we have an abundance of), so I will probably be doing some experimenting with Boxelder Syrup as well. After Bert got word of my idea he drew up a little design for me of how he tapped his trees last year. The first thing I did was find a helper who wanted to run the drill.

To start with we tracked down some little containers until Rob gets home from work with the big containers. I didn't want to miss a single drop of sap so my impatience settled on a coffee container, a milk jug, and a juice jug.

Trent drilled the holes for me~ about 2" deep at an upward angle.

Did you see he got a haircut? One day when I was at work he let Rob buzz his hair so he can spike it (no spike today tho)~ he has been using more hairspray than his mother. I told him I miss his Ken-Barbie doll look!

Once the hole was drilled and cleaned out we inserted the plastic tubing. The drill bit and the tubing are both 1/2". To help secure the hose we partially screwed in a finish screw.

Then we ran the hose down into the container. And now we wait to see if we get any sap.

Like everything in my life we had an audience of extra critters and kids~ just the way I like it!

Mmm... Mmmm Oatmeal Bread

We were all hungry for oatmeal bread after being at Cathy's house to help her with her quilt. Paige had made some beautiful loaves of oatmeal bread and was gracious enough to send a loaf home with us. It didn't even make it home Paige! It was delicious! The next day I dug through my Better Home's and Gardens New Cook Book and found a great recipe for Oatmeal Bread.

Oatmeal Bread

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4 1/4 - 4 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1 pkg active dry yeast (I used 2 tsp)

1 3/4 cup water

1/3 cup brown sugar

3 Tablespoons margarine or butter

2 cups quick cooking oats

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Combine 2 cups of flour and the yeast. Add warm water (120 degrees), brown sugar, and margarine. When mixed together add the oatmeal and enough flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl. I usually spray the bowl down then roll the dough ball around so that all sides get greasy.Cover the dough and find a nice warm place for it to rise until double (1 - 1 1/2 hours). Punch down the dough (or in my case, settle the fight over which kids' turn it is this time to punch down the dough). Turn onto a lightly floured surface, divide in half. Let the dough rest while you send the kids on a mission to find the missing bread pans. Spray or grease 2 pans. Roll into loaves and place them into the bread pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until nearly double (45-60 mn).This is a great time to start a bit pot of Cheesy Broccoli Soup to go with the bread for supper.

Cheesy Broccoli Soup

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Boil some water and lightly cook desired amount of broccoli. Strain, reserving the water. Next make a rue~ melt some butter in a big pot (can be the same broccoli pot to save dishes), when it is completely melted add some flour to make a thick globby paste. Add milk and keep stirring/heating until the base is as thick as you like. I don't always like such a milky base so I add some of the broccoli water as well. Add your choice of seasonings~ we like garlic, pepper, salt and chicken boullion. In the middle of the thickening process add as much cheese dip (the kind in the jar) as you like for taste. I have also made this soup base with cream cheese and some shredded aged cheddar. And it's not only good with broccoli but with all kinds of vegetables, or potatoes and brats~ yummy!

Once that bread has raised nicely bake it at 375 degrees (starting in a cold oven) for 40-45 minutes or until it sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from pans and enjoy it warm or let it cool and toast it in the morning. Good stuff!

My Favorite Time of Day

This is my favorite time of day. Part of my winter morning routine is to head down to the basement to fire up the woodstove. On my walk back up the stairs I see the sun shining across the horses out at their hay feeders. Especially at this time of year it gets me to dreaming about warm sun shiny days and all those spring projects..... like tearing down the old rickety fence and replacing it with a new wooden fence and a big beautiful horse barn. Of course, being that has been the dream for 4 years there is no guarantee that this will be The Year, but at least I can dream. Aaahhhh spring...... hurry up and get here.

Rob's Worm Farm

Here's a little secret about our farm. Rob is not really farmer material. He just loves me so much (and a good steak once in a while) that he pretty much plays the farmer role for my sake. Oh, he does enjoy the steers and the pigs and an occasional project, but farming really isn't in his heart. He could take it or leave it if I didn't enjoy it so much. But he has found an area of farming that he does enjoy~ his worm farm. It is so fun to watch him enjoy his little Red Wiggler's and his many attempts at trying to get Waxie's started. This kind of farming is right up his alley. It involves precise temperatures and moisture levels, very little time and strenuous work, and if done right it has amazing results. I have to admit, the worms aren't my cup of tea and I only enjoy them for his sake. Many a days he has tried to lure me down to the basement to look at all his little worm eggs and baby worms and there are many occasions that I have tried to pretend that I really know the benefits of adding corn meal or powdered milk to the worm food ration. But being he helps me out with so many of my projects I try to help him out when he needs somebody to pass him supplies for his new and improved worm homes (5 gallon pails with holes cut out and weed barrier glued in) so the little critters don't crawl out and invade my basement.

Here a Chick, There a Chick

The chicks are here! The chicks are here! Our 25 little chicks arrived safe and sound from McMurray's hatchery and have taken up residence in the warm basement. We have ordered from McMurrays in the past and again were very pleased with our new little feathered critters. They arrived healthy and chipper (all except for the one poor little dead chick, but being they ship an extra with every batch we still got our 25 chicks). They were scheduled to arrive on Monday, February 7th, at our local post office, but on Saturday night around 11:00 p.m. an in-between post office called to say that they were there and we could come and pick them up or wait for them to be shipped off for Monday's arrival. Bright and early on Sunday morning I awoke from a dead sleep thinking about those little chicks being in that big cold post office storage room with no food or water, so at 6:30 a.m. I called the post office and somebody actually answered. I woke Cole up and we made the 40 mn trip to collect our little chicks. I ordered 20 Light Brahma hens, 2 Light Brahma roosters, and 3 Black Silkie chicks for Cole the Chicken Man. It is so fun to see them everytime I go down to fire up the woodstove and to hear their little peepings from down below. Only 5 months to go until we are in the egg business again.

Ouch!

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I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:147

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I am no stranger to pain, but the last day or so has brought the intensity of it up just a notch higher. For several years we have fed our critters with round bales, hay rings for the bigger ones, but for the goats (and the horses in prior years) we peel the layers of hay off twice a day. And, about this time every year, I have felt the daily wear and tear that the work has on my back. Not one to grumble much (out loud at least) or expect others to help (a bit of pride perhaps) I keep going. But add into that a silly horse with one too many trips of bouncy trotting and quick, spinning turns to head back home, and I was really feeling it last week. I iced it and took the weekend off from riding (to sit at an ER desk). It felt much better until yesterday with the sun shining, temps around 10 and itching to ride Russell's trails again, the girls and I headed out on our mighty steeds. All was well until about half way through the woods when, in the midst of a sudden bouncy, trotting, unexpected quick spinning turn to head back home, something in my back was re-jolted~ ouch! I had no choice but to make it back home (mostly on top of my horse) and figured everything would be fine with a bit of ibuprofen, ice, heat and a massage. But the pain has only worsened and I am even considering actually heading into the dreaded doctors office today.

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It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn your decrees. Psalm 119:71

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Finally getting out of bed due to the pain around 5:00 has turned into a good thing, tho. Rare alone time to ponder God and life and love. Time to think and pray, before the kids or the dogs are up. Time to be in Scripture and savor the word of God. Time to be in prayer~ savoring the quiet. I have been learning to trust God more and more and in a different way over the past couple of years. Learning the cost of standing on His word, seeing my own desires being stronger than wanting to stand on His word, and seeing Him love me and grow me despite it. The sweet words expressed in Psalm 119 could have been mine this morning as I read the Psalmists plea to God to do something about the sin and corruptness that he saw all around, the sin and corruptness in the world, in the church, in his heart, in my own heart. Clinging to the laws and hopes and promises found in the Word, and waiting and trusting one day for God to be faithful to them.

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Accept, O Lord, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. Psalm 119:108

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Time in the recliner has also given me time to read one of my all time favorite books, The God I Love, by Joni Eareckson Tada. You see, I believe what Scripture teaches about God's sovereignty. That everything, every situation, every joy, every hardship, every decision is ordained by God and is for His glory, yet somehow in that we are still responsible for our decisions, our sin, our actions. I don't pretend to understand how it all works together, but there is great peace in knowing that God has it all worked out for our joy and His glory. Knowing that for some reason my intense pain is in His plan for good, to know that all the hard stuff and the "junk" is being used for transforming me to look more like Christ. The kids and I were reading in Judges 1-5 yesterday and found it interesting that God allowed hardships to be left in the Israelites live's to allow them the struggle to choose to serve Him. It made me ponder all the "struggles" I can find to whine about in my life and decide if I am going to choose to see them as ways to glorify God or use them as stumbling blocks for my own destruction.

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...but I will ponder your statutes. Psalm 119:95b

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Joni Eareckson Tada touches on her own struggle with this in her questionings on the "why's" and "what-if's" of God's plan for her life prior to the accident that would put her in a wheelchair for the rest of her life, leaving her dependant on others, and knowing God in a way deeper than she ever would have known Him without the accident. "[Does] God take risks with us? Not the crazy sort that would have us diving for the keel or hurdling a five-and-a-half-foot-fence - but a divine dare that really is noble and courageous. A risk where he really does look out for our safety yet at the same time propositions us with a hint of danger, as if to say, 'I'm not satisfied with your mediocrity. I have something in mind for you that's above the norm. Can you follow me? You're not afraid, are you? C'mon, you can do it.'"

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My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. Psalm 119:50

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The quote, coming on the tail-end of a conversation with Rob last night, really struck me because, first of all, I have been pretty mediocre with God as of late and have been able to justify it with being a tired mom, the cares of the world, children, work, husband, farm and I really didn't need it pointed out thank-you-very-much. That and, yes, I am afraid. I mean, what if I had to take a stand for God, and gasp, really admit who I am? Loving the unlovable, putting down my stones, admitting failure, getting out of my comfort zone, trusting God, allowing Him to love me, forgive me, heal me, use me. It would mean accepting His plans, letting go of my own. Can I follow Him? I am afraid. I don't know God~ can I do it? Full surrender?

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Let me understand the teachings of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders.

Psalm 119: 27

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I think by nature we are a short minded, short visioned people. If we don't see the results in 2 minutes or less we want our money back. Sometimes it is too hard to ponder the deep things of God that take soul searching, sorting and tough decisions. Is His word truth? Will I live by it and trust it? Will I give up the world because He is greater? Is my sin really that bad? Is my time really that worthy (for Bible study, prayer, church, to invest in my children, etc., etc...)? In my life I tend to always want a quick fix. I want God to come riding in on his white horse (without a sore back) and rescue me from whatever my latest affliction is. I don't want 11 years of daily pain to sink in His message that these bodies are not eternal and makes heaven look all the better. I don't want dividing lines in relationships over the word that cause strife. I don't want to stand alone. I don't want to suffer. Deep down I really just want the cotton candy and the pony rides.

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Accept, O Lord, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. Psalm 119 :108

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A quote from a long-ago pastor: "If you are not growing in Holiness (The state or quality of being holy; perfect moral integrity or purity; freedom from sin; sanctity; innocence.) , you've never been justified (to free from blame.). Justification always causes sanctification (to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate; to purify or free from sin: to make productive of or conducive to spiritual blessing. )." So I guess I am somewhere in that sanctification process. Praising the Lord who died in my place to make it all possible. Trusting the one who ordained it. Waiting eagerly for the day He will reveal it, and finding joy in the midst of it.

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Days will come when you don't have the strength

And all you hear is you're not worth anything

Wondering if you ever could be loved

And if they truly saw your heart

They'd see too much

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You're beautiful, You're beautiful

You are made for so much more than all of this

You're beautiful, You're beautiful

You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His

You're beautiful

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Praying that you have the heart to fight

Cuz you are more than what is hurting you tonight

For all the lies you've held inside so long

But they are nothing in the shadow of the cross

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You're beautiful, You're beautiful

You are made for so much more than all of this

You're beautiful, You're beautiful

You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His

You're beautiful

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Before you ever took a breath

Long before the world began

Of all the wonders He possessed

There was one more precious

Of all the earth and skies above

You're the one He madly loves

Enough to die!

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You're beautiful, You're beautiful

In His eyes You're beautiful!

You are made for so much more than all of this

You're beautiful!

You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His

You're beautiful!

You are made for so much more than all of this

You're beautiful!

You are treasured You are sacred You are His

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by MercyMe

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