Preserving more than fruit

I spent almost all of last week with my mother-in-law, Ellen, making jams and preserves. She has both apples and pears on her property but something had been stealing more than their fair share, taking a bite or two, then leaving the rest behind for her to find on the ground. Squirrels? Raccoons? She decided to just pick the fruit when it was not quite ripe yet, a day or two before the thief animal wanted it, save it in the fridge and make jam with it. Most of it wasn’t yummy enough for eating plain, but cooking it made it delicious. 

We had 4 of these buckets overflowing with apples, and nearly 3 full of Asian pears. 

It was a LOT of peeling and slicing, some at Ellen’s house and some at mine. 

(So, enjoy the variety of kitchen pics!)

The beautiful thing is that goats, chickens and worms (all of which I raise!) love the scraps that are left behind. Peels, cores and even the bruised parts that we picky humans don’t want were all put to use on my miniature little farm. 

All we did on Tuesday was peel and slice, then peel and slice some more! 

But on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we were able to actually create beautiful new things also.

We ended up with four types of jams, 76 jars total, all different sizes and styles. 

Because that is how you do it on “the farm”, lol. 

Use what you have!

I have been planning to write about my adventures with fruit for several days now. Not surprisingly, God has brought the Fruit of the Spirit into my morning reading twice in the last few days. Isn’t it lovely when He reminds us of the connections that He already took the time to make between our regular daily life and our call to a life that is pleasing to Him? 

Even our modern, city dwelling, grocery store buying selves know that fruit has to grow. It has to start small and become more.

That is what I want to remind you about the fruits of the spirit too.

Even when they are small, in you or the annoying people around you, remember that the fruits of the spirit aren’t done growing. Some days it will feel like the enemy has snuck in and stolen the whole crop. Don’t get discouraged. Just find a different plan- maybe you need to “harvest” early!

Share your fruit with those around you, my friends.

Patiently help them ripen theirs.

The more you share, the more you will have.

I promise!

The battle belongs to the Lord

 

“So David prevailed over the Philistine with the sling and with the stone, and he struck down the Philistine and killed him, but there was no sword in David’s hand. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it from its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭50‬-‭51‬ ‭LEB‬‬

The battle was not over yet when Goliath fell. The rock that David slung may have killed the giant, but it hadn’t completed the battle. The warriors around him couldn’t tell that Goliath was dead. David had to grab that sword and do the ugly work of cutting off the head so that those enemies could to see him win more completely. 

The giant fell, and that was beautiful. 

Please, my friends, remember to see the success in every single battle as it happens.

But… don’t get lazy. 

Sometimes you think the battle is over before it is ACTUALLY over. 

Sometimes you think it was the last battle when there are still more to come. 

Don’t let the giant falling be enough. Cut off its head too. 

David proclaimed that first verse before going into battle. He knew that God had things under control. But David also took the action of gathering stones, using his slingshot, running toward the enemy and picking up someone else’s sword (that the was laying there, available to him, provided by who?!) before he declared the battle over. 

He declared it won, belonging to the Lord, before it began. 

He was ready to fight every step of the way. 

Please, hear BOTH of those things. 

So now, be blessed with courage and strength as you go out to fight, for the battle is the Lords!

A very belated surgery recap!

Hello my friends! 

It has been nearly a year since I have written and I am sorry. So, first, an update on life. 

I had another brain surgery last December. 

A computer, like this, is in my head, doing a pretty good job of stopping the seizures.

It is sort of like a pacemaker for the brain. 

It just took a lot of cutting, and then stitches, to get it there!

A beautiful spring rolled around while I healed.

 I love this tree, the boy in it, and the family photo shoot we had with it.

We took some great family pics…

And had a quick family trip to Savannah before Canaan deployed to the Middle East. 

He keeps in touch every single week and I cannot complain. 

So I try not to!

But prayers for my deployed boy are always appreciated!

I got more chickens…

And more goats…

I am settling into farm life and healing really well. 

Andy has settled into a new job, not military any longer.

This is my last year as a homeschool mom. Zion is a senior this year! 

Lots of transitions and changes for our crew. 

So, I am seeking what God has next for me. 

It is time to write again, I hope. 

Check back again soon. I am trying to find words. The brain is healing. I just have to make my typing hands work now too!