Monday, February 24, 2014

You ARE Making It

I have been clinging to this blog post from my "friend" Becky. I say "friend" because we've never met, but if we did I know we would be fast friends. If you need some encouragement, read below and then be sure to head over at follow her blog Scissortail SILK. The Lord is doing some amazing things through this young momma from rural Oklahoma.

"When the situation that we are in overwhelms us, it feels impossible to see past today. It doesn’t matter if someone offers the advice that it won’t last forever. We don’t really care that somewhere someone is wishing for our struggle. We don’t think twice about how sad we will feel when this stage is a memory.

It feels impossible to see past the moment. We only want relief from the exhaustion. We can be sad about how we will feel when it is over… tomorrow. It is today that seems to overwhelm our hearts.
So, to you in your moment, I won’t say any of those things. I won’t say you’re going to regret wishing this away. I won’t remind you how short this will really be… especially when today feels like an eternity.

I will just say this.

Girl, I feel ya.

I understand right where you are.

You don’t have to feel guilty for being overwhelmed. You don’t have to feel inadequate for just barely making it. You don’t have to feel like a failure if it isn’t turning out like you thought it would.

You’re not alone in how you feel.

You are going to be okay, but until then, a reminder that God sees you. He doesn’t sit on a throne far away chuckling at your problems. He isn’t disappointed with your feelings of defeat. He isn’t surprised by your situation. He loves all of you. He cares for all of you – and that includes right where you are today.

He is right there with you.

He is a constant encourager – the cheerleader for your soul.

Can you hear His words today? Can you hear His heart?

He says He loves you. He says you’re doing a great job. He says that He is proud of you and reminds you that you’re not alone. You’re not unseen. You’re not inadequate. He promises that He won’t leave you. He promises again and again and again… continually reminding your soul of His presence.

He quiets the storms before they come. He calms the chaos before it begins. He is your constant friend.

Maybe this sounds like something I have written before, but I will say it as many ways as I can until it reaches the heart that needs to hear it in this moment.

You’re doing okay, momma, friend, wife. You’re not only going to make it, you ARE making it. Today, I pray for the grace to let that be enough." - Becky Thompson, Scissortail Silk

Thursday, February 20, 2014

#LambWatch14 - Light At the End Of the Tunnel

The busiest time of the year on our farm is without a doubt lambing. This winter we have spent the last 45 days lambing in 300 ewes. Here's the thing. Our ewes live outside and since we live it the desert it gets really cold at night. Therefore me and the farmer take turns getting up in the middle of the night to make sure new lambs are cleaned off and warm. This also means that the farmer can't get all of the chores done by himself in a timely fashion so my schedule is a little bit crazy. I spend my mornings and evenings bottle feeding around 100 lambs that aren't weaned yet. My future sister in law does the same, so we are a pair of exhausted girls! 

We recently counted the ewes that haven't lambed yet and there are only around 60 left! About 20 of those are smaller framed yearlings and will probably end up open, which means they won't have lambs this year. Therefore, the long days and sleepless nights are nearing an end ad I have a new found respect for mothers of infants.

What is the winter like on your farm?

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Farm Girl Beauty Swap

This month my friend Crystal over at Crystal Cattle teamed up with the lovely Courtney Nolz of Cowgirl Crush to organize a beauty swap!

Here's how it worked, those who wanted to participate sent Crystal our information and she paired us up randomly. As it turned out, my swap partner and I have quite a bit in common.

Annaliese over at Modern Day Farm Chick is also spends a lot of her time on a dairy farm, although she and her husband milk cows not sheep. Therefore, we like a lot of similar products including nail polish!

I was so excited when I received my package which included new eye shadow, new lip gloss, a new Redkin root booster, a new favorite nail polish and a yummy valentines day treat! I've worn the nail polish and the new lipgoss by Victoria's Secret hasn't left my side since it arrived even when I'm just headed to the dairy to feed lambs. Seriously love it!

Thanks for everything Annaliese, I haven't tried the root boot booster or eye shadow yet but can't wait.

Thanks for organizing the swap Crystal, it was a great highlight of our tiresome lambing season!