Monthly Archives: November 2018

Super Thankful

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An honest confession is good for the soul:

There is nothing in me that looks forward to birthdays.

Don’t get me wrong- I’m thankful for every day, but somehow as the candles on my cake create more of a raging fire, I just want to hit pause. These are such good days, and somehow my mind loves to worry that these days are rapidly dwindling.

So we shot through Thanksgiving with a very grateful heart as the sun shone and I ate my nontraditional feast- Sweet Lebanon Bologna sandwich in the bean field and rejoiced. Thank you, God, thank you 💞 Have I mentioned that the rain has had us struggling and how thankful I am for every field successfully harvested?

Black Friday found me taking a flying 800 mile/one day trip to OH as a van driver. My passengers had lunch plans, so I left at 1 am and returned home by 11 pm. The full moon lit our path and I watched in awe as it set over the flat OH plains, and at the same instant the sun peeked over horizon in my rearview mirror. Such a timely Universe 💞

And then began birthday weekend. I am totally blown away. So many of you reached out to me and I feel so loved. Why wasn’t I excited about this day? 🤷🏻‍♀️

My birthday twin and a few girls from church joined us for lunch. They made us wrapping paper dresses. (Notice Colleen even has a scalloped neckline)

My fam had a surprise fondue party for me last night. The guys enjoyed the meat the most (especially after they gave up on cooking it in the broth, and Sherman finished the meat in his smoker) I loved the cheese sauce and of course the chocolate 🙈

This morning as I wander thru the house in the post Birthday daze, everywhere I look I see little reminders of the love I received. I’m so thankful.

Em gave me a metal print of a picture we look this summer 😍

My mom often quotes this poem. Such a good reminder.

I will go on, bravely

Doubting not that

Morning shall be fair.

For what is life

If it is spent

In hopeless pursuit

Of nothing

But dreaded passage?

Then let me lift

My daily flask

To my soul’s lips

And drink it calmly

Boldly, Joyously!

And in the drinking

I shall drink with God!

– E. Witmer

Having a birthday over Thanksgiving is the best way to extend the Thanksgiving Season. I have too many blessings to count.

Crazy Blessed,

Kendra

Bonus Pic:

Julia found me a Fisher Price airport to go with an airplane I’d discovered in a thrift store. I’m now accepting story plots for Farmer Stan takes to the friendly skies.

November Notes

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I was so busy sorting through the 100s of new Labradoodle puppy pics on the computer, I didn’t even notice my dad.

“Are you blogging, Ken?” He asked

No, I wasn’t and I started in on an explanation that I was trying to find a few pics good enough to encourage 11 families that they needed a puppy for Christmas.

He didn’t seem to care. “You should blog again. It’s been awhile.”

Need a good dog?

So here I am.

Usually this time of year we are parking the harvest equipment and praising God. This year is not usual. But we are still praising God.

I guess the rain delays explain the wide variety in what has occupied my time the last little while. So enjoy this quick photo tour of recent highlights:

We picked one of the coldest days yet for an impromptu picnic in the state forest. Julia ended up shivering wrapped in a tablecloth and Father was sure his gloves were a must 😉 but the sky was so blue and the food was wonderful.

Em and I enjoyed a “make your own pizza” date with 2 of the cutest guys around. (My friends have the most adorable families 🥰) You should’ve seen them flip that pizza dough. What kept the pizza off the ground is beyond me.

Windows of Harvest show up as teasers keeping us praying for dry weather and dry soybeans.

It’s that time of year when the Valley people are compelled by an unknown source to travel north of the Mason Dixon Line.. 3 trips in 3 days set a record for me. I survived a wedding, a horse sale and an equipment auction 🙂

Thankfully it rained enough that Someone could stay home for the surprise lunch and the visit from his sisters 🙂 My dad turns 60 the first of December-let the celebrations begin 🙂 Also so special to be with our Maryland family again!

I’ve been savoring lots of quality time with some of the most important people in my life and the great out-of-doors… These are good days.

I named these pics from today “the Clash of Seasons”

So thankful that our Heavenly Father promises to provide for my needs…

And that my earthly Father humors me in all things including my blogging obsession 🥰

Blessings,

Kendra

Jesus Understands Pain

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Recently Jesus’s words in Luke 22 at the Last Supper stood out to me. 31: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

I watched Peter’s next moves with interest as the crucifixion story unfolds. Judas arrives after Peter has been in the garden with Jesus praying and SOMEONE cuts off an ear-which Jesus repairs and reprimands.

The group moves towards the trial. Peter follows, watching from afar and is accused by 3 different people of being with associated with Jesus. Each time Peter’s response is similar to this:

60. Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times. 62. And he went outside and wept bitterly”

What emotions must have passed between my Saviour and Peter in that significant look? Pain? Compassion? Betrayal? Forgiveness?

Whatever it was-Peter’s regrets, remorse, and repentance were immediate.

I think Jesus looks with the same burning tenderness into the faces of his children today.

Life throws us all kinds of curveballs. Maybe it’s results from a doctor’s visit that turns our world on end.

Maybe it’s a relationship that didn’t turn out at all like you had expected and trust seems like a distant memory.

Or maybe the wolf is at the door and financial stress is about doing you in…

Maybe you made choices that you need to forgive yourself for. Or maybe you had no choice in the direction your world has taken.

Whatever your pain is- Jesus understands it. And He’s there ahead of the problem. “Satan has requested- but I have prayed for YOU that your faith will not fail.”

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

Trust Jesus, He understands.

Kendra

Bonus Pics:

The gorgeous sunrises, sunsets, and rainbows recently feel like messages from Heaven to my heart 💞