Out here on Rocky Ridge...

[oldandslow]

So here I am on a cold, misty, windy day in April thinking about God and all the blessings He has delivered. I live in a little house with about 90 acres of land that I may or may not get paid off in this lifetime, but I will be warm tonight. I am kind of old -56- but God gave my wife and I the health and fortitude to adopt three kids (a sibling group) five years back and they simultaneously drive us crazy and fill our lives with joy.

We have a good church. Oh yeah, they have a worship team that plays contemporary Christian music, which I don't really care like, but every Sunday I leave with a new appreciation of our Lord.

We are raising a new crop of chicks (30 red stars), 4 calves, and 5 feeder pigs. We have an old Jersey cow that I milk twice a day - whether we need the milk or not lol. Every morning the Lord reminds me of the interconnectivenss of all of life. These animals give their lives so that we might survive. I think about that as I grind some more corn to feed the calves.

Part of our garden is up - the potatoes look really good. I planted corn early and it hasn't germinated yet. Might be that I have to replant now that the ground is finally warming up. I am reminded of the vastness of God's power - how he gave us these tiny seeds, that will soon become the food that allows us to grow.

I have to put a new fence around the back of the pasture. That will cost money that I don't have right now, but I suspect God will provide. If nothing else, I have some cedars I need to get rid of...lots of work, but really cheap posts.

We don't have much. Our clothes didn't come from Macy's and my old truck has nearly 200,000 miles on it. But I have Bug's (the nickname for our five year old) laughter in the morning and his whining that he doesn't want to go to sleep at night. I have my wife's devotion and respect and God has given my the capability to love her beyond reason. My 9 and 12 year old are growing, physically, emotionally, and spiritually despite both being born meth addicted and one being a shaken baby. God fixed them after what their mother did. And then He gave them to us.

Yeah, I am a Baptist. And I read these forums nearly every day. I just wanted to remind all of us that whether we are Calvinist or Armenian, Pre, Mid, or Post Millenial, Independent or SBC, YEC or OE, that God has blessed us.

In the end, it's all that really matters. That's what the view is up here on Rocky Ridge anyway.

 

[1watchman]

Hello oldie ---I am one too. I hope you find good fellowship here. I was saved while in the Baptist church, but have been led on. Its nice you and your wife are giving some little ones a new home and life

Write me anytime at my PM.

 

[oldandslow]

Hello 1watchman, it's really nice to meet you. I see you go to a nondem church now. One of my brothers goes to one of those. He seems to get along well there.

It's misty and rainy here again today, but much better than the tornados they had south of here in Ark. I read where a man and two daughters were killed near Little Rock. Prayers for that family.

Today, Lord willing, I am going to finish a new hog pen and work on the foundation for the new Chicken house. Building it out of rock and mortar like they did in the old days - soon my chickens will have a new home.

The Lord has been good to us. Last evening my lovely wife fixed a fine meal of beef stew and homemade bread. My goodness, what a feast. All the kids went back for 3rds lol.

The Awana's group my kids attend are having a competition (kind of like a spelling bee) with memorized Bible verses tonight. No reg Wed night Bible study, but it will be good to see the kids placing the Word in their hearts and minds.

Well, better get some coffee and get started on my day. Thanks again 1watchman for your kind response. Hope your day is blessed.

 

[oldandslow]

Hoo-Ray...

My 8 and 12 year old finished 3rd and 4rth out of about 40 kids in their memory verse bee...I am so proud of them. Happy day, I am going to make ice cream tonight to celebrate.

I am especially happy for my 12 year old. She was a shaken baby and born addicted to meth. She and her brother (the 8 yr old) had been placed in 6 different foster homes before they came to live with us. That was all about 6 years ago. We were forever getting the adoption to go through but finally, it all came together through God's sweet grace.

When we first put her into public school, they put her in a special class. Through Kindergarten and First Grade, we were told that they didn't think she would ever be able to even read. We eventually took her out of the public school.

Prayer did it. And my wife's willingness to live with less and home school.

She went through 16 rounds of Bible verses never missing a word until, finally on the 17th she messed up. But I tell ya what. I am one happy papa.

On more mundane notes, I did finally finish the hog pen yesterday. I do have to work on a gate, but other than that, they will be ready to move by the weekend.

Our potatoes are really doing well in the garden. So is the brocoli. Lettuce is just ok. I am going to till tomorrow and get the grass down. I know lots of folks use raised beds and such and don't till, but I couldn't ever raise enough to feed our brood without being aggressive with the grass and weeds.

Blueberries are just starting to bloom. I have to get some more oak mulch to put around them as I noticed the previous year's mulch is getting a bit thin.

If anyone reads this, you might want to keep us in prayer concerning a decision we are going to have to make soon. I think I am going to have to add 10 or so Jerseys and start a micro dairy in order to get ahead a little bit. Lot's of demand for local milk, but it means we cannot go anywhere...ever. Milk twice a day...every day. I grew up on a dairy farm so I know the business, so that's not the issue. I am getting up in years now tho and this is a lot of work and commitment.

I know God will give me the answer. He has been very good to us up on Rocky Ridge.

 

[Bluelion]

There is something very calming about your life, I believe it is Jesus in it.

 

[JoshuaDaryl]

I am with ya brother, we live in a 100 year old farmhouse on 50 acres, never any money, work is never done. God has blessed, our place is paid for and I am 18 years younger than you. But the tractor is broke down, the transmission is out of the truck, a bolt that holds the radiator hose coupling which houses the thermostat broke on the wifes Durango. Fences need mending, having to shell out 800 dollars for a new lawn mower. But as you said, somehow God always makes sure we have what we need when we need it. God Bless

 

[oldandslow]

I am with ya brother, we live in a 100 year old farmhouse on 50 acres, never any money, work is never done. God has blessed, our place is paid for and I am 18 years younger than you. But the tractor is broke down, the transmission is out of the truck, a bolt that holds the radiator hose coupling which houses the thermostat broke on the wifes Durango. Fences need mending, having to shell out 800 dollars for a new lawn mower. But as you said, somehow God always makes sure we have what we need when we need it. God Bless

Joshua - I literally laughed out loud at your post...So True...all of it.

At least my tractor is working right now. Bush hogged the pasture yesterday and it looks right nice, I must say. Multi flora rose is the bane of my existence!!!!

Anyway, I got the rest of the garden in over the weekend. Growing potatoes, corn, squash, tomatoes, green beans, cukes, melons, squash, brocoli and kholorabi. Also worked a bit on some new fence. That is going to be a month long project.

The baby chicks we got in the end of March are just doing super. I have been very pleased with them and am gonna have to get some new nests built. They are going to start laying before you know it. The kids really get a kick out of them and rush to help me feed and water them every morning. Good to see.

Had a good Church service on Sunday. Attendance was down a bit, but I think that it was due to it being super nice outside and people needed to get some things done for spring. Didn't stop the word from being preached tho. I was blessed.

I walked up from my pasture last evening after turning the tractor off and looked out into our woods to see dogwood blooming and green just exploding everywhere. I heard manhy birds singing and chirping and watched a squirrel scamper up up a tree, his partner chasing after him. I thought to myself - Isn't God good. Wow. The blessings just keep raining down from heaven....

 

[JoshuaDaryl]

Joshua - I literally laughed out loud at your post...So True...all of it.

At least my tractor is working right now. Bush hogged the pasture yesterday and it looks right nice, I must say. Multi flora rose is the bane of my existence!!!!

Anyway, I got the rest of the garden in over the weekend. Growing potatoes, corn, squash, tomatoes, green beans, cukes, melons, squash, brocoli and kholorabi. Also worked a bit on some new fence. That is going to be a month long project.

The baby chicks we got in the end of March are just doing super. I have been very pleased with them and am gonna have to get some new nests built. They are going to start laying before you know it. The kids really get a kick out of them and rush to help me feed and water them every morning. Good to see.

Had a good Church service on Sunday. Attendance was down a bit, but I think that it was due to it being super nice outside and people needed to get some things done for spring. Didn't stop the word from being preached tho. I was blessed.

I walked up from my pasture last evening after turning the tractor off and looked out into our woods to see dogwood blooming and green just exploding everywhere. I heard manhy birds singing and chirping and watched a squirrel scamper up up a tree, his partner chasing after him. I thought to myself - Isn't God good. Wow. The blessings just keep raining down from heaven....

goats will totally destroy multiflora rose. My neighbor hates my goats, as he depended on the rose bushes to hold up his side of the fence, the goats ate it, all the leaves buds and bark, till it died. But for goats you must have good fence.

Spring cleaning, cutting and burning brush and trash from winter, and barn restoration. Watched a bluebird pair in an old hollow fence post, snuck over for a peek, 5 beautiful tiny blue eggs , oh how that just brought home the miracle that is spring. Every year God demonstrates our eternal hope, spring we are born, summer we grow, fall we age, winter we die, but in spring all is raised from the dead.