Tag Archives: faith

Season of Thanks | November 6

Posted on by under country life, gratitude, Photography

This really is a marvelous time of the year.

Today was one of those rare days where I was able to cook and bake to my heart’s content, write for the Hill City Prevailer, and work cows with my husband and father-in-law. The best of all the things! This photo just tickled me—Dave and Brad and Josie, discussing the rest of the cow work for the day.

Sarge was around to give good hugs, which is always appreciated.

The kittens have gotten cuter and cuter. Yellow Cat has entirely given up her motherly duties. The kittens aren’t suffering, however. Grey Cat is a wonderful little mother. I could listen to tiny kitten purrs all day long.

I baked a traditional kneaded sourdough boule and a loaf of French bread today, something I don’t often do, since I prefer the low-maintenance batter bread recipe I have. But it was so pleasant to knead the dough and proof it and score it, and (imperfect as the boule was, since I’m still learning the technique) it was a joy to take it to our Gideons supper this evening, with a jar of homemade plum butter. I was delighted to see the loaf disappear, as folks went back for seconds and thirds of the bread, exclaiming over how delicious it was!

It was a poignant reminder that if I am failing to be thankful and joyful, it truly is a matter of the heart, a matter of taking for granted the good things I have been given, the good things I enjoy without even noticing.

Season of Thanks | November 4

Posted on by under country life, gratitude

Early mornings with splendid sunrises, warming to the camaraderie of helping neighbors preg test cows.

Hard to beat this. And an excellent preg test is so encouraging for the next year!

Season of Thanks | November 3

Posted on by under Agriculture and Ranching, country life, gratitude

Thankful for beautiful fall days, the days we remember to get us through the winter. Days working with my husband and our dogs. Days working cows. Riding horses. A life that God providentially provided.

If someone had asked me ten years ago or five years ago what I hoped for in my heart of hearts…it was this. Isn’t God kind and good?

Season of Thanks | November 2

Posted on by under gratitude, Ordinary Joys

This picture says a lot. It says a lot about the kind of man I married, the sort of husband who dismisses his wife from the kitchen on her birthday so she can go read while he makes supper for her family that HE invited over for her special day.

We are so good at overlooking the beautiful kindnesses our closest people gift to us. May it not be so.

Reformation Sunday and More Good Men

Posted on by under Writing

Today was Reformation Sunday (Reformation Day is Tuesday), and it seemed appropriate on this quiet evening to watch one of my favorite movies, Amazing Grace. What an inspiring story, and inspiring because it is true. One man against the entire British parliamentary system, who, with persistence, defeated the slave trade in England. History reminds us that there have always been those that opposed God, but then there have always been those that God has chosen to stand up and fight for what is right.

Men like William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson, preachers and doctors and commonplace political activists, Barbara Spooner who became the wife of Wilberforce, people whom God used to accomplish such a monumental task. Those who are imperfect, yet called by God. Fearful, but relying on God for strength. Checkered pasts, yet trusting in a merciful God. Ashamed, yet lifting their heads to gaze on a Savior.

If you haven’t seen this film, I highly recommend it…It came out almost 20 years ago, which is hard to believe, and as someone who enjoys British film it is fun to realize now the high caliber of the cast, a number of whom were already celebrated, and others who became celebrated over the last nearly 20 years. The storytelling is excellent, the music is beautiful, and as someone who also enjoys historic costuming, that is also done with excellence.

They were, however, incorrect to have a late-1700s William Wilberforce sing the song “Amazing Grace” to the tune we are familiar with, since that tune wasn’t published until the 1830s. Oh, well. You can’t get everything right all the time.

Good Men

Posted on by under country life, Writing

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established….Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil….Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. ~Proverbs 16: 2-3, 5-6, 8

Do you ever look around and wonder where the good men are? The real men? Men who will stand up for what they know is right, men of conviction and courage and moral integrity who are willing to be the defense of those who can’t stand up and fight?

I do. I look around and wonder. And then wonder how I was so fortunate.

Because God gave me a good husband. A kind husband. A gentle husband. A hard working husband. A highly-imperfect husband who loves Jesus and wants to help his highly-imperfect wife love Jesus more.

And then I look beyond my own good husband, and I see my father and my father-in-law, and I’m even more thankful. And then I look at so many of the men I am blessed to have as neighbors, good men who do good for their families and communities.

True strength isn’t measured by toughness or macho-ness or muscular strength. There are too many manipulative, lying, aggressive, unkind, selfish men out there masquerading as men of strength and courage. Men who won’t step in for the helpless. Who will use their physical strength to bully and intimidate. Who use fear to get what they want. Men who are too cowardly to put a stop to wrongdoing.

Women, if you have a good man, hold him tight. Don’t take him for granted. Not everyone is as fortunate.

Dote on him. Be there for him. Love him passionately. He isn’t perfect, but the imaginary husband you’re comparing him to is insufferable. Love him with his imperfections. Don’t let a day go by without thanking God for him. Without telling him you love him. That you’re proud to be his. That he’s your hero and your best friend and the only one for you.

Life is short. Marriage is hard. But with a good man at your side? It is amazing what God can do with two imperfect people joined together for life.