Day 2: My Blog Name

I am my dairyman's wife. Obviously, the dairyman is my husband. He was sent by God to redirect me. My dairyman and I are a team, and work very hard to respect and love each other the way we have been loved.

Wives, follow the lead of your husbands as you would follow the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives. Love them as Christ loved the church. He gave Himself up for her.
Ephesians 5: 22 & 25

The 30 Day Blog Challenge

OK, so it' s been a very long time since I've written, but I offer no apologies. My non-blog life has needed me more.

My sister has handed me a challenge. The 30 Day Blog Revival, of sorts. So here goes.

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts

My name is Kate. I am a child of my Savior, wife to my husband, and mother to my three children. That about sums it up.

This is my recent picture-taken about six hours ago. I am on the left and will introduce the others at a further date.

Interesting Facts

1: I think about blogging when it's the most inconvenient.

2:I am a dairy farmer.

3:I homeschool our children.

4: God challenges me everyday with His blessings.

5:Obviously, I am a Michigan State fan.

6:I have recently lost 15 pounds and plan to lose more.

7:I hope my sister is doing the 30 Day Blog.

8:I'm not very interesting.

9:I worry that blogging is a lot like bragging and whining and searching for validation.

10:I love animals.

11:I knit, hopefully, blessing my loved ones with gifts.

12:I love to read but rarely find time to read more than children's books.

13:My little one told me today that his sock had holes in it beacause that's how God made it.

14:The most-played song in my mini-van this week was 'Stuck Like Glue' by Sugarland.

15:I'm glad this is the last one.

She's talking and talking and talking and talking....

Lydia learned to talk early and often. She talks all the time!! She asks stunning questions like, "Mom, who made us and why?" She may tell me repeatedly that she wished she'd have ordered chicken nuggets instead of a cheeseburger the last time we went out for fast-food. She talks all the time!! Everyone has heard that families should sit down at the dinner table and discuss the happenings of the day. It centers the family and draws it closer. More and more, I find myself requesting mealtime silence from my children, so that I can think again. I love that she's looking for greater knowledge, but she may surpass me very shortly. She talks all the time!!

It's a Long Trip Alone....

I ventured out with our camper for the first time on Wednesday. It was perfect, in thought. We needed some time away. We can travel mid-week. My sister lives about 115 miles south. Easy, right?

We left in the rain, after we had waited in the driveway of the farm for an hour so Roger could show me the fuse that was blown. This fuse was imperative as we otherwise wouldn't have running lights on the trailer and didn't know what kind of weather we were heading into. I went through every fuse under the steering column to have my husband saunter up and say it was under the hood. All this time it was raining just enough that the kids could not get out of the pickup. By the time we got started, we needed a break!

Arriving at the Coloma/St. Joseph KOA 1hr and 45min later, the sun came out with almost 100% humidity to make setting up an absolute sauna. We gave up and played to retain that last ounce of sanity! When Christy arrived for supper, she helped watch the kids while I re-leveled the trailer and finished setting up.

This particular campground does not allow campers to bring firewood. Therefore, we bought wood from the camp store. After finding out that the hatchet was terribly dull and the large pieces we'd bought were damp, we complained, and they brought us enough extra (dry) wood to roast our brats, hot dogs and marshmallows.

Thursday morning met us at about 50 degrees, breezy, and heavily overcast. The kids didn't even stay out very long riding bikes and playing. We ended up watching part of a movie until it was time to leave for lunch.

Aunt Christy was able to have the afternoon off to spend with us. We met her at Silver Beach Pizza on the St. Joseph Shoreline. The kids did very well, and we enjoyed a nice meal together. Afterwards, we walked up the bluff to the Curious Kids Museum downtown. It was the best place we could have picked for a drizzly, grey afternoon. The kids loved the hands-on exhibits, and even Christy and I got to play.

I made a quick stop at Ivelise' Yarn Shop before joining Christy and the kids at her house for 'rest time'. Ha! I think the adults needed more rest than the kids. We had a great Broccoli/Chicken meal and headed on back to the campground.

The other campers must have thought I was crazy! I started handing out bedtime orders at 7:30. Even though, it was after 9 before the kids were all in bed and after 10 before they calmed down to sleep.

This morning was beautiful!!! We rode bikes, played at the playground, and packed up the camper in moderate temperatures and sunshine. Too bad we couldn't have stayed another day.

Even though this trip had its bumps, I'll tack it up as a learning experience and remember the good. A BIG thanks goes out to Aunt Christy for taking time to visit with us during a very busy time of year. We were glad to see her and tour her beloved St. Joe.

My Vain Wish

Do you ever admit to your truly selfish wishes? I have one that I'll admit. I want to age like my mother and her mother. At fifty-something and eighty-something they have defied time. At twenty-something, I am starting to take notice of fine lines and lack of elasticity. Does it scare me? Maybe a little. I really try to say to myself, "God has already planned the way you will look later in life, and you can't sway his opinion." Yet I find myself eyeing creams and lotions in the drug store.

My Grandma Donner (mom's mom), like most women, probably does not have a glowing self-image. She was strickened with polio as a child and lost one leg. She was always a small child, and was made fun of. After marrying my Grandpa and having five children in six years, some told her that she was too big.

My Grandma Donner is a beautiful woman, and I tell her so. I tell her that people say I look like my mother, and my mother looks like her mother. I tell her that I take that as the deepest compliment. The body that God gave her is doing very well, inside and out. I hope she is proud of every mark and scar, because I am. She is my supermodel.

On Sunday, my mom invited her parents over to celebrate both Mother's Day and Eli's birthday. Grandma told me that she had received my Mother's Day card, and it was hanging proudly on her bulletin board. Then she grabbed me at arm's length and hugged me so hard that I had to put real effort into not falling on her. It was a good, strong, hard hug-the best kind. It was good to see her.

Before Christy left, Aubree took a picture of us girls. Grandma grabbed mom's hand and held it tight.

So, either by the grace of God or genetics at it's best or both, I hope this is an age progression shot of myself. My vain wish is to look like my supermodel-inside and out.

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone.

Doesn't it just feel better to have moderate temperatures with sunshine?! We have just had the most beautiful weather for the last few days. Now the rain will come, tomorrow. Oh well, enjoy it while it lasts.

If it does rain tomorrow, my lilacs will just burst open. I can't wait to have the whole yard smell of them.

Currently, our dwarf cherry is the fragrance. I just love to walk right up to it and smell. The blooms don't last very long, so I've been partaking regularly.

What would spring be without a birthday? Today is Eli's second. My baby is 2!!! It really does go fast, and I am enjoying him. All too soon, he will push away my hugs and choose high fives over kisses. Happy Birthday, Mommy's Monkey Boy!!!

Virtuous Women

This is borrowed from the latest issue of Progressive Dairyman. A good reflection, and definitely not what I expected in the back of an industry magazine!

by Yevet Tenney
It isn’t easy to face yourself and see your weaknesses, but sometimes it must be done.
Last month in our women’s organization, I gave a lesson on virtue. I had a chance to look into my heart and to pray. It isn’t easy to face yourself and see your weaknesses, but sometimes it must be done.
Elaine S. Dalton said, “Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It encompasses chastity and moral purity. Virtue begins in the heart and in the mind. It is nurtured in the home. It is the accumulation of thousands of small decisions and actions. Virtue is a word we don’t hear often in today’s society, but the Latin root word ‘virtus’ means strength. Virtuous women and men possess a quiet dignity and inner strength.”

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Even King Solomon of ancient times realized the importance of virtue. He didn’t say a beautiful woman’s price is far above rubies. There are plenty of beautiful woman in the world. In fact, even the plainest of women, with the help of make-up and photo touching, can be made gorgeous. He didn’t say a talented woman’s price was far above rubies. There are plenty of talented stars who reign in Hollywood, but they are a dime a dozen. The real beauty comes in virtue. The strength to think right, pray right, and to do right no matter what the circumstances. More than that, she knows what is right and is led by her well-trained conscience.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. Once I heard the saying, “It is better to be trusted than to be loved.” Since I have raised teenagers, I know you can love someone deeply and not have confidence that they will be obedient and stay out of trouble. You have to follow-up in school, activities, on dates and even in church. The media is full of juicy news stories, movies and songs, where wives are unfaithful to their husbands. The poor victims find themselves led into a trap by some handsome stranger, and in a weak moment they give up all for a titillating romp. They forget their husband, their family and their God. The only problem is, there are very few traps in life. There are choices. The unfaithful fling doesn’t start with the wink of an eye from a stranger. It comes from meditation, a mindset, and free wandering thoughts in front of the television or reading material that promote infidelity. It comes from unbridled passion. Can you imagine how valuable a woman is to her husband who keeps her virtue under lock and key? He has no need for revenge, or the rewards of battle. He can peacefully expect his woman to be his and his alone. The virtuous woman doesn’t disappoint him.

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. The first concern of a virtuous woman is her husband and family. She spends her time in service to her loved ones. She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. It is difficult for a busy woman to be unfaithful. With our many modern conveniences, it is easy to run out of housework, but there are myriads of things to keep a virtuous mind occupied. There are ancient arts that are being abandoned by lesser women. Instead of surfing the net, why not crochet, knit or quilt? Why not raise a garden? Why not make your own clothes? Virtuous women are industrious. They keep their minds busy as well as their hands. In a virtuous woman’s mind, self-talk consists of creating. Virtuous women ask questions and make connections. She prays quietly in her heart as well as vocally asking for the Lord’s help on every decision. How in the world could she possibly fall into a trap and do her husband wrong?

She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. A virtuous woman is concerned about nutrition and the health of her family. She looks for bargains and ways to save and bless her family.

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. A virtuous woman lives by the adage: “Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” She cares for everyone. Her family comes first, but those who work for her are also important. She may not have employees, but there is the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker, who bless her life. A virtuous woman finds way to bless others.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. A virtuous woman plans for the future. She is not content with just letting life happen. She is pro-active. In our world, women don’t plant vineyards per say, but they set up savings accounts, put food in storage for winter, and prepare for children’s education and future well-being.

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. Exercise is an important part of a virtuous woman’s routine. She may not go to the spa or run marathons, but she walks and does a variety of things that will keep her body in shape. She knows that if she is weak, she will not be able to meet the needs of her husband and family.

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. A woman of virtue has a good self-image. Her creations will be met with “and God saw that it was good.” She will not berate herself and compare herself to the latest beauty queen. Her self-image comes from God. She sees herself as a beloved daughter of Deity, and she will never sell herself short.

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She is conservative and frugal. She knows the more she saves the more she will have to share.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She cannot see a need and not do her best to fill that need.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. She doesn’t fear the future because she has made adequate preparation today. She realizes that God will care for her and her loved ones as long as she does her part.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. A virtuous woman brags about her husband in the market place and in the beauty shop. She lets everyone know he is the best. When she is filled with praise for her husband, she can’t be thinking of the other fellow’s muscles and good looks.

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. To have wisdom flow from her tongue, she must first be educated with wisdom. A virtuous woman reads and ponders. She “seeks out of the best books words of wisdom.” When she finds a treasure, she is willing to share. She is a woman of kindness. Virtue and a loud brawling voice do not go together. One repels the other. Her voice, like the Lord’s, is a still, small voice. Her voice may be gentle and filled with love, but it is firm and unshakable in the face of temptation or in matters of discipline.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. A virtuous woman will not accept credit for something she has not done. She will work and teach her children to work. She doesn’t sit by the fire and give orders; she gets her hands dirty in the teaching of her little ones.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

A virtuous woman is a choice woman, and only women of virtue will change the world for the better. Virtue begins in the heart and it will, if fostered, fill the whole world. PD