Anxiously Awaiting the New Year (Proverbs 16:9)

The Farmhouse

We hope everyone had a Very Merry Christmas. We are still trucking along on the house. Definitely didn't get my Christmas wish, nor did Waylon, but trusting God's timing and plans. His plans are always way better than any of mine.

The sheet rock is almost done and front porch columns are almost done as well. We are going back at some point and rock the whole porch foundation.  We have Electricity finally!!!!

The HVAC is working too, thanks to Lee Co. The water heater was reinstalled by Lee Co, but as it turns out, the circuit board was bad in it and they are having to get a new one. Luckily, Rinnai replaced it. We just have to pay to have it installed.... yet again.😞

We had a propane tank delivered, filled with gas and connected to the water heater. The chicken coop is still the exact same as the last post. Other things began happening that took precedent over the coop... like cows getting out and having to repair fences😂.

With the birth of Heidi, we realized we needed a small area that mom and baby could get out of stall and graze for awhile. She is so tiny we cannot put her in the pasture with the others. So Paul tried his hand at a 4 rail fence to enclose the implement shed area, which gives them a little roaming area. It looks really good and it just needs to be painted now. Hoping Paul can get going on the coop again very soon.

The Animals

Candy gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She was a Dunn silver color, but is beginning to change to more of a brownish color.  She has already had a little halter training, but does not enjoy it at all.

She is a chunky little girl, but still quite small.

We said goodbye to Ice last week. He was sold to a family farm in Tennessee, which was very close to our farm. So if we start missing him, he is still close enough to do a drive by and see him. We have decided to not breed Jersey's anymore. We really love the Highland and Highparks cattle. Through a lot of reading, I have discovered that British White and Highland are great milking and beef cattle. So I can milk them if I choose to do that at some point in the future. We are also keeping Lita because she was our very first cow, even though a Jersey. She is so small and will make pretty babies with Barry.

Waylon is still searching for his forever home. He is such a pretty and sweet bull. He actually ate feed out of my hand the other day. He is still pretty cautious when around humans. He and Iris will hang out until we can find them a forever home.

We think Wilma is very close to giving birth. She has really come a long way since we got her. She is still a loner, but comes up to you and likes head scratches...most of the time. We also think Barry is going to be the sire of her baby and not Remi (from Lil Angels Farm). "Live and Learn" has been our motto for the last 2 years!!! By the time this house is complete, Paul and I should be extremely Patient Geniuses!!! Regardless, she is pregnant and we are expecting her to deliver just anytime!!

Welcome 2022

This past year has not gone as expected. We thought we would be in our new home by now. We have spent more time waiting on others rather than getting jobs completed on our house. We are positive we have been scammed by several people, but in the mist of all our troubles, God has been with us. In our reflection of this past year we are certain His promises stand true. He has provided us with money to keep this renovation going. He has sent us good people to clean up messes that others have left. We have made memories with our children. We have had calves born on our farm. We have learned a lot about cattle, construction, and just farm life in general. He has provided us with smiles and laughter or a word of encouragement from someone when we’re ready to give up. God is good. He faithfulness never ends. We love the peacefulness of being on the farm and are waiting with excitement for the day we can move into our home. While we may think of our big picture goals for 2022, God is already thinking how we're going to get there. He's two steps ahead of us at all times to make sure we do not fail. Proverbs 16:9 says, "People plan their path, but the Lord secures their steps."

Paul and I are entering 2022 with this mindset. "It is not difficult to trust God when we can see how the promises can be fulfilled. We have outlined the future in our minds and think we know what God will do and when. But when all this changes and circumstances seem to make it impossible our minds are thrown into confusion and despair. Our fears take over and because we cannot see how God can glorify Himself in such circumstances we almost conclude it cannot happen. We wonder why He does not choose what seems to us the quickest, simplest way. It is because He is choosing the wisest way to bring most glory to Him and our faith is being tested and refined in the process. We are reminded that God’s glory, and not our personal preference, matters most." --George Hutchinson.  Happy New Year to all and we pray God's blessing for everyone and our country!!