I'm afraid I'm not very good at keeping up with a blog, but here's an update from this past week.
School: ... let's just say I've been spoiled by my semester of christian liberal arts education. My professors here are of different breed, and I find I'm really having to stretch myself to get through the day. This is an area of growth and prayer for me. How blessed am to be able to attend college within eight minutes from my home? I wonder if I'm not cut out for school, but in honoring my parents, I have to give it my best shot, not matter how difficult! *sighs*
Family: We celebrated my daddy's 57th birthday on the 18th. We really enjoyed ourselves. I made a cake from a mix that I tweaked up a bit and topped it with homemade butter cream frosting- yummy! Momma fixed our family's birthday supper for him (country fried steak and gravy). I'll share pictures soon ;) Then, Thursday night Dad and I got a real treat! We were planing on going off to the auction, but Momma actually wanted to come with us! So the three of us headed way out in the sticks and enjoyed the "hillbilly auction" as Mom calls it. Daddy even bought me a pretty little green and pink case knife!
Farm: I've been busy trimming up the does' tails and udders in preparation for their babies and milking. Early in the week I noticed one of my nubian does, Junya, had a large knot in her neck. She started running a fever, so off to the vet we went. Turns out she's got an infection of some sort and it has flared up her lymph system. Dr.Will thankfully wasn't concerned with CL (an infectious disease in goats). With antibiotics, the swelling in her neck is already coming way down.
Faith: Last Sunday was almost retreat like for me. I visited the church of my dear friend, Ilana, and through the message God restored so much hope and faith within me! I'm really wanting to make it through the bible this year. More posts to come about some callings I've had lately!
And finally, whoever you may be, I pray that you are strengthened in your own faith this coming week!
God Bless!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Kidding 2012! ButterBean
Blog, for your first taste of my goat bug, Meet my favorite doe, ButterBean, don't ask me why, I just have a thing for this girl. She's a nut, and frequently goes "deer in the headlights" mode at the littlest things. Yet, she has all the personality and wit I could imagine wrapped in an Alpine package. She likes me, and that trust wasn't easily won, so perhaps this is what makes her so dear to my heart.
In the years I've owned her, she has never kidded with me, and after months of "doing the baby dance" I believe I'm starting to see those first signs of her growing a BabyBean or two. Yay! I even had my close friend, and fellow goat breeder take a peak at her, and she too agrees that things look promising!
Things are going to get be busy busy for the Red Gate dairy goat gals! In just a few more weeks we will begin our 2012 kidding season, 7 does to deliver this year, 4 alpines, 3 nubians. I'm so looking forward to all those bouncing, beautiful kids :)
If by chance someone finds this little corner of cyberspace and might be interested in purchasing any quality registered dairy kids, please let me know!
God Bless,
Anna
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Home.
Happy New Year my dear infant blog! Perhaps one day I may actually grow you to a worth reading size. After all, as much as you are for me and my faith journey, it is my prayer that I may use you to reach others.
So far, these last few weeks have been settling for me. Moving back home (my growing up home) from a place that I felt in every way was that special "home" for me has been,to say the least, very difficult... and yet, it has given me a fresh start.
My "big college" semester was a retreat and boot camp for me all wrapped into one. There is no doubt in my heart that God called me there in that small season of my life. It allowed me to break away from some habits and relationships that had been holding me back, and in this process some beautiful people came into my life that continue to support me and love on me, even when I feel unlovable. If I could describe those few months in a couple words, it would be raw emotion. For the first time, I felt as though I really saw myself... and what I saw was a blurry. Who was I?
I turned to my faith for answers. I believed... But I felt alone and was ashamed... I had been running and only looking up on those darkest nights. I remember tearfully praying the night after I moved into my dorm, "Father, I know I need you! I want to want you with all of my heart! But I'm scared! So Scared! Help change my heart through this place!" I began to feel the heavy burden of going against the grain of God. He began to gently show me the worldly things I was clinging to so tightly that were keeping me from living fully in His light. That began the painful process of actually getting rid of those things, though I know it will be life long battle. The hardest purge for me, was breaking off the long relationship with my boyfriend. It hurt so much, it made me sick... the tiniest reminder of it, and my stomach knotted into a hundred knots instantly!
Thankfully, in a new town, in a new school, and a new outlook rooted in the truths of God, those reminders faded, and I was able to see some new love within my blurry heart. A love for sweet worship with my Father, and fellowship with my sisters in Christ, a love for horses and a love for handicap children through my new job, a love for keeping house(dorm), a love for being urse and listening ear for my hall mates, and a love for pushing the boundaries of human love shown to others, because this is all just an overflow of the love of Christ in me!
So why did I leave this new home?
God called. I could feel in my bones that I could not continue there, on a path which I was never certain of to begin with. This was difficult to explain, to myself and others. But with bittersweet goodbyes, back to my family home I came, and on my parents wishes, enrolled in our community college for the Spring semester.
The years I lived here, I felt it wasn't my own. Now, I get to truly inhabit this "home". No regrets. Intentionally, living. Finding those roots again, and growing them deeper. To be the daughter I wish I could have always been for my parents, and help show them too what home means again.
To be fully shaped by His every stirring of my heart! Oh yes, with my Jesus, I'm home sweet home!
So far, these last few weeks have been settling for me. Moving back home (my growing up home) from a place that I felt in every way was that special "home" for me has been,to say the least, very difficult... and yet, it has given me a fresh start.
My "big college" semester was a retreat and boot camp for me all wrapped into one. There is no doubt in my heart that God called me there in that small season of my life. It allowed me to break away from some habits and relationships that had been holding me back, and in this process some beautiful people came into my life that continue to support me and love on me, even when I feel unlovable. If I could describe those few months in a couple words, it would be raw emotion. For the first time, I felt as though I really saw myself... and what I saw was a blurry. Who was I?
I turned to my faith for answers. I believed... But I felt alone and was ashamed... I had been running and only looking up on those darkest nights. I remember tearfully praying the night after I moved into my dorm, "Father, I know I need you! I want to want you with all of my heart! But I'm scared! So Scared! Help change my heart through this place!" I began to feel the heavy burden of going against the grain of God. He began to gently show me the worldly things I was clinging to so tightly that were keeping me from living fully in His light. That began the painful process of actually getting rid of those things, though I know it will be life long battle. The hardest purge for me, was breaking off the long relationship with my boyfriend. It hurt so much, it made me sick... the tiniest reminder of it, and my stomach knotted into a hundred knots instantly!
Thankfully, in a new town, in a new school, and a new outlook rooted in the truths of God, those reminders faded, and I was able to see some new love within my blurry heart. A love for sweet worship with my Father, and fellowship with my sisters in Christ, a love for horses and a love for handicap children through my new job, a love for keeping house(dorm), a love for being urse and listening ear for my hall mates, and a love for pushing the boundaries of human love shown to others, because this is all just an overflow of the love of Christ in me!
So why did I leave this new home?
God called. I could feel in my bones that I could not continue there, on a path which I was never certain of to begin with. This was difficult to explain, to myself and others. But with bittersweet goodbyes, back to my family home I came, and on my parents wishes, enrolled in our community college for the Spring semester.
The years I lived here, I felt it wasn't my own. Now, I get to truly inhabit this "home". No regrets. Intentionally, living. Finding those roots again, and growing them deeper. To be the daughter I wish I could have always been for my parents, and help show them too what home means again.
To be fully shaped by His every stirring of my heart! Oh yes, with my Jesus, I'm home sweet home!
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