Country Kids and a Little Country Livin

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

1-Here's a few pic to show you how our farming/country living is coming along. About a week ago,while cutting some hedges, I discovered a nest of eggs(at the bottom of a tree) belonging to one of our hens who happens to be roaming free. It was just Tuesday I walked out to check on this nest and discovered a chicken snake in the process of trying to eat one. I should have taken action against this snake(we wouldn't mind if we have some baby chicks) by myself, after all it was just one 4ft chicken snake, but being the country chicken I am who has no practice with killing snakes, I recruited help and let someone help me take him down. Sorry I didn't get any pictures. 2-John Paul wanted me to take his picture by the nest of eggs. You can barely see them on our right behind him. 3-Out of the five roosters we had, these are the two we now have. If you can find beauty in a rooster, I think these are some pretty healthy ones. 4-In the process of cutting hedges, I have also come across some bird next. Some old some new. This one had two babies in it. Just like all youngins do, they will be leaving the next soon.
5- I decided to get a video with John Paul giving our visitors a tour of our gardens. I tried to do it and it didn't do well. So I got my oldest to help me. Considering he has more experience with this kind of stuff and John Paul tends to be somewhat of a natural born star, I thought the two could probably work well together. I thought this, 'first for our blog' 3 min. video turned out well.
In case you cannot hear him well enough, he is showing you our tomatoes, okra, Crookneck squash, beets, and Zucchini squash. Then he shows you our corn. Now if all goes as planned, we are about to plant some some potatoes and more tomatoes.

The Proverbs Lady, Day 20,21

Saturday, May 22, 2010
(In honor of Memorial Day I thought I would use this picture
for our Proverbs 31 Lady).

"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".
Proverbs 31:30,31

The virtuous woman trust not her good looks or her good works to gain favor with God. She anchors her faith in God and trust Him for her salvation. Praise is bestowed upon her because of her lifestyle. which is not a product of her good works but of her faith in the Lord. The key to her success is her love for God and her obedience to His commandments.


She is due "the fruit of her hands." She is worthy to be praised. She is deserving of the place she has earned among her fellow citizens. As a faithful wife and loving mother, she deserves the
recognition given her by her family and her friends. "Walking in Wisdom" Dr. Raymond Barber

My Own Words
Today is our last day with our Proverbs Lady and what a journey it has been. Today we look at these last two verses. This virtuous woman is wise enough she knows she cannot depend on her
good looks or her good works to save her soul. Her faith is in the Lord and His Blood atonement on the cross. Those that know her, know she is what and who she is, because of her love for her Lord and Savior and her desire to serve Him. Because of how she has lived and lives her life, she has gained, and rightly so, great respect and admiration from those who know and love her.
Now there are many women who might read this and laugh thinking this stuff is just simply too old fashion for today. After all there are way too many men who seem to not have a clue in how to respect and treat a lady. This has made many women angry and bitter toward the male
gender and from there it has exploded into alot of sinful lives in one way or another.
Because of numerous women who have been used and abused in many ways by men, there are very few ladies who have even a small interest in being this Proverbs Lady. You probably feel if
being this lady means being treated badly, you have no use for it. You may even be angry with God over your situation.
However, if things could be different, I'm sure there are those who would love to be this lady who loves her husband and family and it shows in all she does.
I have a challenge for you. There is a good chance if you were to begin doing your best to be this lady, even if you may not be in the perfect situation for it, God will see your efforts and bless them.
Depending on where you are at in your life, this may take more effort for some than for others.
It will not happen overnight. It will take time. Don't forget, this lady began when she was young and it took her entire life time to be an accomplished Lady. What is going to matter now is do you have the heart of a "Proverbs 31 Lady"?Having the heart or desire from the start, can take us a long way. This is where it must start. If you feel you are haveing trouble finding the heart for this, remember, seek the Lord and He can give it to you. Without Him we are nothing. Some people want to clean their life up before allowing Him to take over. It will never work this way. You must let Him come in first and then He will help you do it. You must confess you need Him and then through Him "all things are possible".
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13
For those who would like to begin their Proverbs 31 Lady, please remember this words.
First, make sure you know the Lord. Second, you must love and respect yourself before you can
show this to others. And third, even for those who have not earned your respect, may may be surprised at how things can turn around by showing love and respect to those who are most undeserving. As I have said before, I am still a work in progress myself. My love for my Lord and family and serving Him and them, are what keep me going.
May God bless you in your efforts.

The Proverbs Lady, Day 19

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

"Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all".
Proverbs 31:29

Her virtuous demeanor and quiet spirit place her above her peers. Morally and spiritually, she towers above the crowd, not with pride but with humility. She does not associate with people of questionable character, nor does she partake of their deeds. She is pure in her morals and proper in her manners. ~ Walking in Wisdom, Raymond Barber


My Own Words
Here are more words encouraging us to have a meek and quite spirit. To be a lady of good moral and values and yet be humble in our spirit and attitude. We are encouraged to not associate ourselves with questionable character and or to take part in any evil doings. We are to be pure in our morals and proper in our manners. If we have never been taught what proper manners are, we should investigate and learn. It would be well worth our time.

The proverbs Lady, Day 18

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her".
Proverbs 31:28

Her honesty, purity, love, loyalty and industrious spirit earn the praise and trust of her husband and children. They need never be embarrassed because of her behavior nor incensed by her reactions. They have every reason to be proud of her. The spirit in which she serves them builds confidence and trust. They praise her without hesitation and honor her without reservations. She is exemplary of what a wife and mother should be.
~ Walking in Wisdom, Raymond Barber


My Own Words

Ladies, it will be wonderful if this is or could be true for our families with us. And for those who are like me, you are without question, a work a progress with this Proverbs Lady. I hope you will find consolation in the following words. In the times you fail in your efforts, just get up, dust your
self off, and go again with your chin up and a smile on your face. In the end, your family will remember your efforts and your attitude, more than your failures. In fact, your love for them may make them blind to your failures. All it really takes to be this lady is the "want to" and love for our family. God can and will take care of the rest.

The Proverbs Lady, Day 17

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness".
Proverbs 31:27

The word idleness is not in her vocabulary. She uses her time wisely, counting each moment as precious. While others languish in leisure, she labors in love. No accusing fingers can be pointed at her. she rises to the occasion and stays until the task is done. Occupying her time with worthwhile
projects, she is never bored!

Oh ladies! This one can really step on our toes. Do we have idle time on our hands? Do we waste time watching something we shouldn't watch or listening to something we shouldn't listen to? Do we use our valuable time in gossiping about someone? If so, it may be you they are gossiping about when your not around? I have spent valuable time watching a soap opera before and for what? It's not even real, too often it encourages all that is wrong, and when the hour is up, what
good was accomplished? What's more is my kids were around and I know it was not good for them to see what they saw or hear the language they heard. I furthermore discovered my own life is much more interesting and satisfying than a lot of stuff we can find to watch.
I have recently prayed and asked God to help me reevaluate my time. I felt I just wasn't using it
as I could and I was not happy about it. We all have 24 hours and what was I doing with mine? I asked God to please show me what I could do differently. That was over a week ago, and the change in how much more I am accomplishing is amazing. I give God all the glory and ask that He continue to help me, praise the Lord.

The Proverbs Lady, Day 16

Monday, May 17th, 2010

"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness".
Proverbs 31:26

Before opening her mouth to speak, she makes certain her brain is in gear. She speaks wisely, kindly and compassionately. No harsh expletives ever pass through her lips. She is not given to idle talk, and she weighs each word she speaks. The tone of her voice is pleasant, and the quality of speech is admirable. No loud screaming and no blistering words come from her "tongue...of kindness". ~ Dr. Raymond Barber

My Own Words
I have always struggled with this one. I have put my foot in my mouth more times than I wish to think about. I have allowed my tongue to wag many times before allowing my brain to be in gear first. I also know I'm not the only female who can say this about herself. God knew the female gender would have a problem in this area. That's why He allowed these words to be written in this chapter. If we are not careful, our mouth can hurt and offend and bring shame to the name of Christ. Ladies, this should not be our desire. We should want sweet and kind words to come out, not sour and hurtful. We should use our mouths to
build others up, not tear them down. If you have a mouth that doesn't know how to stop, I ask you to take it to the Lord and seek His help with this. I did and I thank the Lord for the progress He has help me to make. You can also "IF" you desire to. Being more careful of what comes out of our mouths, can make a big difference in our day and or someone elses' day and or life.
There is so much that can be said here. But, because I am working on keeping it short and sweet,
and putting my brain in gear before releasing my tongue, I will leave you with these words I personally try to keep in mind for myself.
"If there is ever a time people may be in doubt of your intelligence, do not open your mouth
and remove all doubt".
I wish you the best on this. All though I am getting better with it myself, I still literally struggle with it daily.

The Proverbs Lady, Day 15

Saturday, May 15, 2010

"Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come".
Proverbs 31:25

The honor in her soul and the strength in her body give her assurance as she faces and unknown future. Her mental attitude, coupled with her emotional stability, equips her for whatever unseen events may come into her life. Rather than dreading what may happen in time to come, she looks ahead in time with joy and rejoicing. Making good use of today prepares her for the challenge of
tomorrow. "Walking in Wisdom" Dr. Raymond Barber

Out of this whole 31 chapter, this is my most challenging verse. I will rejoice in the day I am able to claim this verse true for me. As far as I'm concerned, this verse revolves a lot around us ladies being secure or not. Ladies if you are one who may find this challenging also, I encourage you to take it to the Lord. This is what I did. It is what I had to do. I praise the Lord He is slowly performing a miracle in my life in this area.


JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION
As of now, our computer has been attacked by a virus. When we use it, we are struggling. If we
should be gone for a while, it is because we are having repairs done necessary in being able to
use our computer. We thank you for visiting our blog and ask that you please be patient due to our problems. Thanks so much. May God bless.

The Proverbs Lady, Day 14

Thursday, May 12th, 2010

"She maketh fine linen, and selleth [it]; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant".
Proverbs 31:24

Sewing and knitting garments for sale to the merchants, she provides extra income for her family.
Day in and day out, she works to assist her husband in providing the needs for her family and friends.
She also gives to the poor. "Walking in Wisdom" by Raymond Barber

This lady can and does manage a home business and still manages her home and family. It is a blessing when a woman can do this.

The Proverbs Lady, Day 13

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

"Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land".
Proverbs 31:23

Supporting her husbands vocation, she makes him look good as he "sitteth among the elders of the land." His tailored suit is a product of her labor. Her hands hold the spindle, and she designs clothing that makes him feel comfortable among his peers. The law of love in her heart is expressed in the labor of her hands. "Walking in Wisdom" Dr. Raymond Barber

My Own Words
Here we are again with our sewing skills. Except now, we are considering how good we make our husbands look when he's sitting among his coworkers. With my husbands occupation, he is a produce manager. He works hands on with all kind of produce six day a week. He expects to get dirty and he often wears an apron for what protection it offers. His "dress code" is usually blue jeans and a type of polo. All I do for his clothes is make sure they are washed, dried, and then replace in his closet. I do have the occasional hole here and there that must be repaired. His wardrobe never requires much ironing, but if it did, I would.
However this verse would bring our attention to how our children are dressed, as well as how our husbands are dressed, reflect on how well we do in taking care of our family.
It is harder for some than others. I will admit my husband is a low maintenance man and he pretty much does his self maintenance himself. He was this independent when I married him and he has preferred to stay this way for our almost 22 yrs of marriage. The most I usually do
besides ironing his clothes for church, is give him his monthly haircut and I do my best with this.
Although is job duties can somewhat be dirty, he is still dealing face to face, one on one with the public daily so he must take care to be groomed as nice as possible.
Do you take pride in how your man looks?

The Provebs 31 Lady, Day 12

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

"She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] silk and purple".
Proverbs 31:22

As a model wife and mother, she takes pride in her appearance. She chooses the finest material
(silk and purple) to design clothing fit for a woman of her character. Nothing is spared to cover the healthy body of this virtuous woman. Her modesty warns her of a place among the dignified women of the world. She is pretty with being pretentious. Walking in Wisdom by Dr. Raymond Barber

My Own Words
If you remember when we began this Proverbs study, I warned she could be intimidating. It's verses like this that reflect just that. Although, with this verse, we're not talking so much about any skills we do or don't have as much as we're talking simply the way we look on the outside and how much pride to we take on how we look. This lady is taking the time to keep her hair clean and looking attractive. She is keeping her body clean and healthy. She is gives her self
manicures and pedicures to keep her hands and feet healthy. She takes the time to keep her body pampered just a bit for herself and others. She may wear a little perfume but not so much she is smothering others with it. She may wear a little make up but just enough she still looks somewhat natural. She takes enough thought for herself she looks for some of the nicest material
for her clothing. She has respect for her self and takes of her self in a way that earns her the respect of others. If we love and respect the Lord, loving and respecting ourselves comes easy.
And it's never intimidating.

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A Bible question for today: Who was known for his coat of many colors?hint-look in Genesis 37:3

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The Proverbs 31 Lady, Day 11

Monday, April 10th, 2010

"She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet".
Proverbs 31:21

The winter storms do not catch her unprepared. She has with her own hands fashioned warm clothing for each member of her family. Wise woman that she is,she looks ahead and does what is necessary to protect her household from the elements. The blowing snow is no threat to her family.They are warm and comfortable even in the harshest weather. "Walking in Wisdom" by Dr. Raymond

My Own Words
This is another tough one for me. The winter storms do not catch me unprepared, but it's not because I've spent hours knitting, sewing, crocheting, or whatever, a soft warm whatever, for
who ever. If they still do it, you'll not see me entering any quilt or anything else in any contest anywhere, because I don't know how.
Before you get the wrong idea, I am just being honest about myself with this verse. I don't think it's a good thing that I and many other women, probably couldn't make a soft warm blanket, a beautiful hand made quilt, some exquisite hand embroidered pillow cases, lovingly knit a nice sweater for a special someone, if our life depended on it.
I know there are many people who may say, "why should we worry about being able to do this,
if someone can do it for us, and we can always buy these items in a store already made and for less than we can make them ourselves"? I agree with all of this. I am a "Proverbs Lady" wanna be myself and my husband is a Christian man who is all for my efforts in becoming this woman the best I can. But for the reasons above, he has not rushed out and bought me "ANY" of the necessities to hand make anything. In his defense, about a year or two ago, I think it was our anniversary, we went to a local retail store that had a pretty decent craft department. Because I wanted it, he bought me a knitting kit, a crocheting kit, a cake decorating kit, a painting kit(for painting designs on clothes) and some other items. I have yet to seriously use any of them. I'll admit, it's only my fault. Mean while, from a dear aunt, I have since inherited many of her sewing supplies. She moved and ageing, she doesn't sew like she used to and chose to give many of her items to me. This stuff included a decent amount of material and I have yet to make anything. And I do have a working sewing machine.
For those like me, who would like to, but haven't, I think the problem is lack of motivation. A "why". A reason to. I think our first "reason to" would be right here in our verse. Our Lord had
King Lemuel to write this last chapter in Proverbs as a guide for us ladies, as how He wanted us to take care of our selves, homes and families. In other words, as Christian ladies, if we have not already been taught, which most of us have not, I think God expects us to learn if given the opportunity. Once again, we could say,"why, what does it matter if we can make this or if we can sew that, as long as our family has what they need"? I believe it is a matter of our testimony or witness for the Lord. Any thing we ladies can do to show our love and care for our home and family and our Lord, it say's something for us, our families, our homes, and our love for our
Lord. If you are like me, you will need some guidance in learning. This can be achieved different ways. We can go to our computer and get instruction there. I have found "google" to be very helpful. If you know of an an older or younger lady that can help give you one on one hands on instruction, that would be wonderful. Some people are better learners when it is hands on.
You can also go to a library and find many helpful books with helpful instruction. And one last option, you can find different kits from beginners to experienced, in some homeschooling catalogs. Some of these web addresses are listed at the end of this post. I can't say I agree with everything they sell, but, you might find alot of their products helpful.
The best thing we can do would be to pray about it. Ask God if He wants us to do a better job
in this department, to please speak to our hearts and open the doors of opportunity for us. I know if it is important for us, He will.
If you are an older lady, a 'Titus 2' Woman, and you have the knowledge of how to do this, I pray you will open your heart will lend your guidance if needed and wanted, to some
"Proverbs Lady" wanna be. You might be surprised at the sweet friendship and fellowship that can develop in the process.
May God Bless

Try these websites:
www.christianbook.com
www.keepersofthefaith.com
www.lovetolearn.net

The Proverbs 31 Lady, Day 10

Saturday, May 8th, 2010

"She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy".
Proverbs 31:20

She does not wait for the neglected and impoverished to come to her door asking for assistance.
She takes the inititive to reach out to the poor and needy. Her unselfish spirit motivates her to share her blessings with those who are less fortunate than she. She is a perfect example of what
Solomon wrote in Proverbs 19:17. "He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay again."(Walking in wisdom" Raymond Barber)
'

My Own Words
This one can be a tough one for a lot of people. First of all, whether they will admit it or not, a lot of people are selfish. I personally have struggled with it to a degree for a lifetime. Unless you want to change, you probably won't. And as far as helping those who are in need, many are afraid to because there is so much dishonesty in the world today. For those who do have a heart for giving, it can be very discouraging because of those who would take advantage of our help.
Please let me encourage you with this. I have had my thoughts on this situation. If you do have a selfish heart, I ask that you look to the Lord for help. If you really want to have a giving heart, I assure you God can handle this with no problem. Next, ask the Lord to show you where you could be a help that would make a difference. God knows who is dishonest and who isn't. He furthermore knows who would put you in an uncomfortable situation and who would be more than thankful with no strings attached. There are also many ways to give. We can give our time, money, whatever. Things we might want to sell at a yard sale. We could donate these to someone. What is useless to us may be a treasure to someone else. The opportunities are endless.
God wants us to have giving hearts and there are those we could be a light to by helping them.
Ask Him to put someone in your heart and or your path today!

Country Kids

Friday, May 7th, 2010

*John Paul by our chickens. He is great with gathering our eggs. We only have three hens to lay, but they are doing some fairly good egg laying. *Matt got the tractor and plowed up the spot for our corn. Here he is inspecting the ground he plowed. *Our CBCCC Sunday night,

May 2nd . *The boys are planting the seeds for our corn.

The Proverbs 31 Lady, Day 9

Friday, May 7th, 2010

Hello, we're back. We finally got the devotion out. Now back to our Proverbs 31 Lady.

"She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff".

As a woman of station above the ordinary, she is careful to make sure her attire is proper.

'Skillfully she spins the yarn to design her clothing and that of her family. How industrious a woman she is, sewing and weaving by hand to cloth her family'. ("Walking in Wisdom" by Dr. Raymond Barber)

My Own Words

If you have the skills of a seamstress, that is great. I do not. For ladies, such as myself, who make dressing modest a priority, the ability to sew and sew well, can be very helpful. I use to shop for myself and my only daughter(she is now almost 16) in your average retail stores, in search of "modest clothing". It pretty much didn't exist then, and is still hard to find now.

What I found was either too short on the legs, too low at the cleavage, or if it covered both the high and the low areas, it was usually too tight from top to bottom. So, in determination we were going to dress according to Gods standards and not the worlds, I began praying that God would somehow supply our needs. Well He did and still is. And I am working on sewing better. It's a good thing if you have any decent skills as a seamstress. I encourage anyone who has a chance to improve your sewing, do it. You might be surprised with how this knowledge can be of great use in many different ways.
This verse is also referring to the condition of our clothing. Are there any rips, tears, or holes of any kind? How about our husbands or childrens? The Proverbs 31 Lady tends to them as soon as possible. She wants her family to look well care for. Does the hem in something need let out so it benefits someone who needs it longer? Does a garment need taken up because it drags the floor? If something is too tight can we let it out? Is something too big to where it is unflattering?Take it up.

If you are interested in sewing or sewing better, but you are feeling insecure about it, take it to the Lord. He knows your heart and He can give you the confidence you need.

The Proverbs 31 Woman, Day 8

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

"She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night".
Proverbs 31:18

'She knows that what she has purchased or made with her own hands is good. It has nutrition value. It has monetary value. She is a good manager and spends the night hours making certain that her products are sound and sufficient. While others sleep, she diligently works'. (from "Walking in Wisdom")

My Own Words
On this one, I could be worse, yet I definitely have room for improvement.
with this, I AM A WORK IN PROGRESS!