The Positives and The Penderwicks

How has God used the COVID for good in your life?

A positive at our house is that I finally read a chapter book to my kids, like I’ve wanted to do since the last one I read to them three years ago. Mainly just the big two listen, but the little wigglers might catch some of it too. We read the first book in The Penderwicks series. If your upper elementary readers haven’t read these, they would enjoy them. You would too, and that’s what I learned about reading books aloud to my kids – I need to read a book that I actually want to read. We’ve now started on the second book in the series. The characters are adorable and you will chuckle out loud in at least one point in every book.

We’ve had other positives too. Fewer kid events, meant less time away from farming for Brad. I have a new appreciation for the song “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.”  Elliana’s been able to learn enough to run the planter, so she can keep planting while Brad does other errands. Wyatt has been able to golf weekly. I think we’ve all had more vitamin D than usual for this time of year. I’m sure I could drum up some more things too.

The facts that God can use all things for good and that He wants to give me truly good things have been extremely helpful to my mental state during all of this. Maybe remind of that in September if I have to do tele-therapy with young elementary children again. 

Farmer in Training

Oh to have a three year old view of farming. This little guy thought it was great to be there to help Brad change a few things on the planter.

The chilly wind and sand in your eyes doesn’t bother him!

With just under two thirds of acres left to be planted, he may get some more time to be out there with his dad!

Side note: I would like to commend the person that designed the hood on William’s jacket. It’s the best kid jacket hood ever. It doesn’t fall down and doesn’t need to be tied! 

 

COVID Sorrows

We are entering serious farming season. As a mom during these seasons, I’ve learned ways to successfully make it through these times where Brad is gone. Here are some of my strategies:

1. Go to the park
2. Have the kids go spend time with their grandparents
3. Get together with other farm wives whose husbands are also gone
4. Have grandparents come visit and help
5. Go to work so I can have a break from the house
6. Look forward to special events
7. Go to step class
8. Remember I am not the only one in my situation and that others have it harder than I
9. Know Jesus will show up everyday

Do you hear what I’m saying here?

You should also know that we’ve now added homeschooling a kindergartener to this busy season. It’s a good thing they can’t tell me not to do #8 and #9 because I would be buried under my covers in tears at the moment if I didn’t have that. Now I’m just standing up in near tears and trying to motivate myself to get out of my pajamas.

Keeping it real friends. Huge hugs to ALL the moms out there.

Isaiah 53:3-5

Jesus was despised and rejected by men,
    a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.

Still Farming

We can’t go to school. We can’t go to church. We don’t have any basketball to watch. BUT we can still farm!

Farming is the perfect job for social distancing, although William was very excited to join Brad in the tractor today.

Spring Break Field Trip

We went all out for spring break, and went to check cows with Uncle Darin. If someone could make a go of agricultural tourism, it would be this family. They know how to give you a good education and a fun time.

If you would come visit them and their animals, you might get to feed a baby lamb its milk in a homemade Mountain Dew bottle. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

You might get to go chase some lambs to see if you can catch one.

You’d get to smile at things like farm cats and the lamb licking the dog who isn’t supposed to bother the lambs.

If you come during calving, you could learn about what A.I. stood for before it stood for artificial intelligence.

Show Calf For Sale

You’d get to see minute old calves and their owner making sure the each new calf was with the right momma. (These were born the same morning and the cows were right next to each other. The babies were just drinking from whatever mom they wanted until Darin risked their momma anger and separated the pairs.)

If Darin doesn’t get back to the gates he left open in time, you might get to ride a 4-wheeler to help get the cows back in the right field.

You never know what adventure would await you.

Seriously, if you’ve never driven on a gravel road, watched a rancher take care of his cows, felt a baby lamb, had a tractor or combine ride, ridden a four wheeler, piled in the pickup and driven through the pasture with the windows down, sat on a horse, asked a farmer or rancher about their operation… you need to get to the country. We’d probably feed you delicious beef and discuss how good it is for you, and I don’t even think we’d charge you for our time and effort. We just want you to know about us and what we do.

We have fewer people out here to catch the coronavirus from too.

Help Spread the Word!

We have the privilege of being involved with this wonderful ministry named CARE Uganda. It currently is serving 180 children in its own school and around 70 children in boarding schools who were part of the program before we started our school. The CARE Uganda website gives much more information, but in short we “care” for these children by teaching them about Jesus, providing them with three meals a day, and giving them an education and medical care.

Of those 250 children I mentioned that we are serving, 225 of them have sponsors. We’re adding 25 new children every year, and we just added the newest little ones into the nursery program. This is a Nebraska based ministry and most of the people that know about it are from southwest Nebraska. Having 25 children that need sponsors right now feels like a God sized task, especially since sometimes it doesn’t even feel like we have 250 people in our own county.

What’s the point behind this post? I’m asking you to help spread the word about this organization that God is using to change lives in Uganda. I know most people aren’t sitting around hunting for places to give their money, but what if you were talking with someone that was in just the right spot in their life where they were looking for a place to give $40 a month and prayer to support a child, and you could tell them about CARE Uganda?! (Connectedness is one of my strengths, so I’m speaking to all of you connectedness people out there.) If it just so happens that you’re reading this and you’re the person with $480 dollars burning a hole in your pocket each year, then Hallelujah! – just click on the picture below!

This is an exciting time for CARE Uganda since a team of people is leaving for there today, just like Brad did last year. If you like CARE Uganda on Facebook, you will get to see real pictures of what is happening in this Uganda community while the team is there. You’ll also get to see updates about what’s happening after they leave and can be reminded to keep spreading the word about CARE Uganda.

THANK YOU!  

If you’d like to know more, just drop me a line. I’d be happy to chat.

It’s Baby Time!

William and I went to see the baby lambs and baby calves yesterday. I tried to tell him we should wait and go when it was warmer, but he wanted to go now!

This little lamb was just born the day before. His wobbly, skinning legs were adorable.

This little one must have been hungry or trying to figure out how his tongue worked. I put a video on twitter if you need another dose of cuteness.

William said the baby calves were his favorite. He just sat in the pick up and soaked it all in.

Just a few hours old

Liza wasn’t with us, so I’m sure we’ll be back.