I Know, I Know

It's all about Olive Hope lately, but this little lady captured my heart. You really should grab a box of tissues, sit down and watch the video that Lynette made for Olive's memorial. Oh, how precious! I wept for this little life gone so soon, for her mama and daddy left with arms around each other and a hole where she should be. I am amazed, I guess, not just by Olive Hope. But by her parents living their life out loud, seeking God during her short and trying life for all to see. What amazing love. What amazing faith. What dedication and hope.

I know that I will cry a few more times for sweet little Olive. I know that Rusty and Lynette will be crying much more. Lynette posted a letter to her little one. Oh, how sweet! Oh, how honest! They keep walking out this faith, this hope for a future. Well done guys. Well done. I am honored to know you and to have shared even a little bit in this tiny ones life. I have said it many times, and I mean it~ I am carrying you around in my heart and lifting you up to Him all the time.

I keep thinking of the hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus". Indeed, we do.

Hope Endured

I got online today to see that little Miss Olive Hope has passed away. I read through every single comment that people had left on Rusty and Lynette's blog while tears were streaming down my face. I saw a couple of postings from my friends and family. I have been sitting here crying, thinking about the Body of Christ and how amazing it has been that one little baby brought so many people before God in prayer. She flew half way across the world. She was a pretty special little lady.

I love this photo of her with her little scrunched up face. You will be missed Olive.

I'll be praying for her mommy and daddy, Rusty and Lynette as they grieve, mourn and figure out what God has in store next for them. To read her full story you can go to their blog. Peace be with you Rusty and Lynette. The Body of Christ is mourning with you.

They are asking that donations be made to the Ahka Youth Center where they have been working in Thailand. Those youth loved Olive, too. So many people did.

Shopping In The New Year

I have so wanted to post more frequently this year. So far it just hasn't happened. Let's face it, life is busy even when you intend for it not to be. One of the things that we all have to do is shop to feed our families. It takes up a good deal of time and energy. Can I get an amen?

I took a major shopping trip this week. You know, the one where you end up stocking the pantry a bit unintentionally or slightly intentionally. Ever since the Marietta Farmer's Market has closed for the season I hate going grocery shopping. I truly enjoy knowing where and who our food comes from. It doesn't open again until May. My life might have a few more panic attacks as I have to step into places with florescent lighting and advertisements at every turn. I don't mind Trader Joe's and Harry's so much. It just isn't the same as chatting with the farmer's and enjoying the outdoors.

I guess that I will have to go to my old stand by, Burger's Market. They are family owned and operated. They shop at the big farmer's markets in Atlanta and Asheville. Their stuff always looks great, Is mostly what is in season, has a great price and no advertising. If it is good enough for Alton Brown, it is good enough for me. Just kidding. I don't even watch Alton Brown, but he does shop there.

I think for our meat I am going to try to plan ahead and buy things occasionally from the Bray's. They sell at the Marietta Farmer's Market. Good people. Good food. I have bought from them a lot this year. Their meat is grass fed and delicious. Check out their website. They have photos up from the flooding this summer. They are breathtaking and not in a good way. They may be starting up a CSA this year too. Possibly a meat CSA as well!!

Where do you shop that doesn't begin with a "K", a "P" or a "W"? Do these places give you as much anxiety as they do me? I am curious.

Brrrrrrr.....

It has been four days now with temperatures not rising above thirty two degrees. In the south this is frigid! We had a little snow storm. It was mostly ice on bridges and roads and school closed. I always love a snow day, especially when there is actually snow on the ground. Kids were definitely sledding. What fun!

I am over it now. The temperatures at night have been in the teens with a wind chill in the single digits. Seriously. Cold. There is still a bit of ice on our driveway and sidewalk and snow on the ground too. Our house is old and drafty, read that no insulation in the walls. So keeping our house warm is not the easiest thing to do. We are layering up and I am trying to keep something in the stove at least once a day. I do believe that I will be making bread again this week!

I have been really concerned about our chickens in this weather. I know that chickens live in much colder climates and do just fine. I have been keeping a close eye on them. We ended up buying a heated dog water bowl for their water. It kept freezing, poor girls. Now we don't have to worry about their availability of water, just if it is clean or not. They have definitely slowed down and aren't very active. What is the use in scratching around when the ground is frozen?

We have had one chicken hardship. Jemima's break broke! I have no idea how. When she was younger her beak cracked. I am assuming that with the cold she pecked on something and there was a weak spot. It scared me to death. I walked out and found a bloody breasted bird. For your information, you could compare a chicken's beak to a cat's claw. If you trim a cat's claw down too far it bleeds. Or like a finger nail when cut to the quick. She is okay and her beak looks fine. It doesn't seem to hinder her eating or drinking. Poor girl. I know that it hurt because of the sounds she was making. The other girls were great didn't peck her a bit! Chickens have a tendency to peck at blood or open wounds. I am proud of them for being so kind.

We have been keeping ourselves busy with the process of installing the wood stove. It is a bit slow going. Or slower than I expected. The concrete hearth is now poured. Micah ordered for where the glass goes. Feet for the stove sorted out. Oh, how I wish the stove would have been up and running this weekend. It would have been wonderful. At least we will be prepared for the next round of wintery weather!

This week we are supposed to get back up into the fifties. I think that it will feel like a summer's day compared to what we are experiencing now. I can't wait!!

Any more thoughts on braving the cold? What did you do while snowed in?

Just Another Monday

Today was just another Monday. Nothing special. The first Monday of a new year.

I don't really have much to write about but I want to write. It is cold outside. Seriously cold. I might lose some of my pretty plants tonight. They can take a night or two of this, but a week? I do hope that they survive.

I am trying to make good on some goals. I have bread rising on the stove. So far it looks beautiful. Warm bread sounds like just the thing for a cold night. I really want to get back into the habit of baking bread once a week. It is really therapeutic and so delicious! It will go great with the beef stew simmering on the stove. I hope to master at least two kinds of bread this year.

Dave is at work. I miss him at night. We don't get to see much of each other. It makes our time spent together more special but the weekend seems really far away. So I have Star Trek on, one of his favorite shows. Makes me think of him.

Ok, gotta get up and tend to things in the kitchen... What are you doing to brave the cold? Got any new recipes? A hearty stew?