WE ARE all in this TOGETHER

This week has been quite productive! The sun has been shining and it’s been getting a little warmer making the work outside pleasant. Dad spent most of Monday and Tuesday outside. So far this week we’ve cut a TON of firewood! Almost all of the wood outback is cut and stacked ready for the next cold snap. We are reorganizing the back yard to better utilize what we have so we’re also moving the unused firewood to behind the shed/barn.

He and Bradley got the new garden beds built and laid out. We planted some more seeds too. The two existing beds are currently filled with onions, salad greens, radishes, carrots, and brussels sprouts. Dad’s able to get some wooden crates from work so he and Bradley are converting several of them into raised beds. He cuts the bottom off and attaches them to create one long bed. Two of the bottoms we moved to underneath the Dining Room window for our green onions.

So all-in-all we have gotten at least a month’s worth of work done in just a week. I know, it’s as crazy and exhausting as it sounds; but it’s so worth it!

Remember a few weeks back when we planted all those seeds? Well, they’re sprouting and growing! Some of them have grown so much that we need to take the lid off so that they don’t get squashed… we’ll be pulling down our tiny green house and moving them in there so that they have more room!

As news of the Pandemic escalates so does my anxiety. For about a week it’s been through the roof…

For the first time in a long time I’ve been feeling the physical affects of being anxious. I’m tired, mentally drained, and just haven’t been feeling the best. I’m thankful that when I get really anxious my family encourages me to take a step back. To quit scrolling on social media; instead read a book, try a new recipe, or spend time reading the Bible and praying.

Last night I was very anxious and pulled out my Bible to read a little before going to bed. I started reading 1 Peter 5:5-11. And I was really encouraged. They’re such familiar verses but they’re taking on a deeper meaning lately. I found verses 8-10 specifically encouraging. “Knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:9b). This virus is affecting EVERYONE. Worldwide. We can take comfort in knowing that we aren’t alone. God knows what we’re going through but our family, our neighbors, and our friends are all going through the same thing. We’re all having to cancel, or adjust plans, and we’re all unsure of how or when this will all be over.

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you”
(1 Peter 5:10).

I found this verse especially encouraging. I looked up the meaning of the word “settle”. It means to “become calmer or quieter, sit or come to rest in a comfortable position, and to move or adjust something so that it rests securely.”

I’ve seen this to be true in my own life lately. God has been shifting things around. Different things have been happening with the blog making my job easier and allowing me to create a healthier work/life balance. He’s showing me what’s really important…Though we’ve always done things as a family and it’s been a dream of ours to live off the land; I’m seeing just how important it is in times like this and as result my perspective has changed.

And it’s not just me. I’ve seen SO many sediments from family and friends saying much of the same. This time spent staying home with family has allowed many to truly pause and remember what really matters in life. Faith in God, family and love for our neighbors… This time at home has offered many of us a unique opportunity to reevaluate our lives and shift our priorities before it’s too late. I pray that even though times are hard now, when life goes back to “normal” we won’ t forget the lessons we’ve learned…

Until next time,

Bailey Sue