Sleeping People

It is a beautiful Saturday morning. Our children have permission to sleep in until 8:00 and they are doing a very good job. My beloved is also still sleeping. He almost never gets to sleep past 6:00 and I am thankful he is getting a little more sleep today. Even the bald hill that curves protectively around our place has a sleepy air about it this morning.

When I got up, I made the rounds. I looked at each sleeping face. I listened to each person's characteristic breathing. I thanked God they were not scattered in a jungle or in a desert trying to avoid persecution as some of their counterparts in today's world are. I prayed for the people who are being persecuted in the world. I tried to think specifically of who the individuals might be, wanting my prayer to be valid, not just a mantra that I say every day. I am so grateful to be safe. For my children's biggest concerns to be getting an education and balancing their schedules or perhaps whether they will need another surgery.

There are many mothers who won't be able to find their families today. Perhaps they will be reunited in a refugee camp some day, perhaps only in eternity. I pray for peace in their countries. As the Bible admonishes, I pray for the peace of Jerusalem. When Jerusalem is finally at peace, it will mean that the Lord has returned as the King of Kings! In that day even predators will be at peace with their prey and little children will be able to play with an asp (a type of viper) safely. Please come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Today, as I enjoy  undeserved privileges and prosperity that are greater than those of  99% of the world, I plan to be joyfully grateful. I am going for a walk now, in a safe area, while my children rest safely untouched by fire, flood, famine, or war.. I am hugely thankful for all my blessings.

Lawana


P.S. What song did I sing in my sleep last night?

                                                                                     
Lead Me To Calvary

King of my life, I crown Thee now,
Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.

Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.

Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid,
Tenderly mourned and wept;
Angels in robes of light arrayed
Guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.

Let me like Mary, through the gloom,
Come with a gift to Thee;
Show to me now the empty tomb,
Lead me to Calvary.

May I be willing, Lord, to bear
Daily my cross for Thee;
Even Thy cup of grief to share,
Thou hast borne all for me.

It Is Breaking My Heart

I am going to have to give up my beloved goats. We have already had kids born and I didn't share any photos or birthing stories. I didn't have the heart to. I decided during the worst of the winter weather that I would sell my goats.Until I have the means to build a barn very close to my house to properly shelter my animals and my hay, I am going to have to be without dairy animals. I am unable to haul hay from the barn that our neighbor loans us and get it to the goats pens at the house. My children serve me tirelessly and kindly and take care of the goats throughout the entire winter. In spring, I am more able to navigate outside, but I still can't do the heavier work.

I love goats...all animals really. We moved to Montana with a desire to teach our children animal husbandry. In Alaska, we had the blessing of living a seaside subsistence lifestyle. Our children learned a great deal alongside us about how to make a simple living on an island in southeast Alaska. They learned to eat roe, seaweed, bear, sea urchins and anything else the sea and shore had to share. They also learned how to catch, harvest, prepare and preserve these foods. What they really couldn't learn there was how to care for livestock and how to farm. In the 8 years we have been here, they have learned how to care for horses, goats, chickens and now we are being blessed to learn about (and make our first costly mistakes with) pigs. I suppose, that with the goals being mostly educational and the secondary goals of wanting to supply clean, organic foods for the table, having 6 years with dairy goats has probably served its purpose. All of my children but one can milk pretty well, they all know how to care for the feeding and watering needs of goats. They understand basic genetics and reproduction and they have a gratitude and respect for where their food comes from. Though I am sad (and wrestle with feeling like a failure) I trust God to supply a barn if we need one and in the mean time to give me the wisdom and contentment to adjust to whatever situation He allows me to be in.

God is good in Montana. How about where you are?

Lawana