|
Christmas Morning Surprise
As we were enjoying a warm peaceful sleep after our Christmas Eve Adventure (see post below), when bright and early, (ok, so it was still very dark outside) on Christmas morn, our door bell suddenly cracked through our dreams. Some members of our family rushed to the windows to see who was out at such an early hour on this blizzardy moring. Then, we could distinquish the distinct, loud rumble of a diesel engine.
Still peeling the slumber from their eyes and straining to see through their ice-glazed window, some squealed, "It''s Josh!!" Of course, the entire household came to life as the rest of the family jumped out of bed. We rushed to the door (bed clothes and all!) and ushered our freezing friend inside. "Josh The Sheriff" always shows up at the most unexpected times, and this one was the best of all! He was on his way to work, and since the snow was deep and drifting, he drove his big deuce and a half. The diesel in it was gunking up and he needed gasoline to thin it out. After getting him warmed up (it was 12 degrees outside and no heater in his truck!) with some hot chocolate, he refueled and set off.
What a wonderful early morning "Merry Christmas" greeting! We all eventually settled down and took a brief nap before it was time to get up again...for chores.
Samuel had to show Josh his latest Lego truck invention
Quite the work of art!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009 | 0 Comments
Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, we baked lots of goodies
Since some people are not able to eat sweets, so we made beaded crosses as gifts: these are good to give to the residents at the retirement home where we hold weekly Sunday services
By the time we set off to deliver our freshly-baked cookies, the blizzard had begun - sleet, snow, and 30 mph wind. We were thankful for our four-wheel drive truck with its all-terrain tires!
Later that night, despite the worsening weather, we visited friends who live a few miles away. The drive was long...and we were all thankful to have arrived safely, although we still had to make the return trip home
We had such fun together celebrating Christmas Eve!
We ended the night with singing Christmas songs together. The treacherous trip was certainly worth it!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009 | 0 Comments
Birthday Celebration
18th birthday
My family made my 18th birthday very special. I am so grateful for the love that my parents, siblings, and friends showed to make my birthday such an enjoyable day of celebration. This birthday has been one I have, honestly, dreaded, for many years. It is the point when a young person becomes (officially) an adult and carries the responsibility for their life in maturing in God. I pray for God's grace as I face this new season in life, and that He would make me the kind of woman He wants me to be.
And He has given me the best family in which to mold me to this kind of person. They are such a wonderful blessing in my life, and I am incredibly grateful for each day I have to spend with them. This is such a wonderful time in my life that I seek to use to the fullest, with God's help.
Thank you, Dad, Mom, Nathan, Jonathan, Rachael, and Samuel, for all you have done!
Dad took me out for my annual birthday breakfast; I enjoy this outing each year and we had a wonderful time together
Off we go! [Photo courtesy Mom]
We we came home, Mom took me desk shopping - for use in expanding and organizing KBR Ministries
Rachael did a wonderful job with the birthday decorations
Mom and Dad gave me 18 beautiful pink roses
My parents and I: I am so grateful for the time they have invested in my life over these past years
To finish off a delightful day, my parents took us out to dinner at Hereford House. We had their fruit and goat cheese appetizer - almost as good as Bryant Farm goat chevre!
We were blessed to have a private room to enjoy our meal and have a quiet place to talk together
Carmel Sundae Dessert
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 | Sarah Writes | 4 Comments
New Technology
After seven years, I finallly gave in and exchanged my antique cell phone for a newer model. I have resisted upgrading for a while; it is just too much trouble to learn to use a new one! My cell phone company made us an offer we could not refuse - a free NEW phone. As if I have nothing else to do, I have to learn to use this new phone. The children say I look like I am on it all the time; the fact is, that I cannot even perform the simpliest functions on it without it taking a long time! Tom and I were each taking a photo of Sarah taking a picture of us...maybe I should use that time learning to make and receive calls...
Monday, December 21, 2009 | Dana Writes | 0 Comments
Holiday Harping
Sarah provided harp music for a holiday dinner last week at Union Station in
Kansas City
After the performance
We enjoyed a nice Christmas dinner together at this nice resturant located inside Union Station. A fun time had by all!
Saturday, December 19, 2009 | 0 Comments
Sisters
One autumn day last month while in a scenic neighborhood, my brother took pictures of Rachael and I. Pictures are fun to take together; I am so thankful for siblings!
"A friend loveth
at all times,
and a brother
is born
for adversity."
(Proverbs 17:17)
Friday, December 18, 2009 | Sarah Writes | 0 Comments
Sufficiency of Scripture Conference
We wanted to attend the Sufficiency of Scripture conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, this past weekend, but we were not able to leave our animals with the extreme cold weather we had, so we will have to settle for the speaker recordings and pictures from many friends who attended. The past Vision Forum and Integrated Church and Family conferences we have attended have been a great blessing for our family, so Lord willing in the future it will work out to attend another conference!
Life in a Shoe is offering a free set of SoS recordings - enter for the giveaway here.
Monday, December 14, 2009 | Sarah Writes | 0 Comments
Serious Sledding
If nothing else, the children have made good use of the snow! Even when it was in about 15 degrees, they made some sled ramps. Then when it warmed up to a wopping 30 degrees, we all went to test them out.
Flying!
The photographer risked her life for this picture...ok, maybe just the life of her camera
Then they got out Mr. Toboggan, an old cow feeder, which first came into use in the '07 snow. All members of the family can fit in it; granted, there is no steering, so few venture to do so. Some bailed out of this ride before waiting to see if it would hit the big rock it was headed towards...others just hung on for dear life.
Saturday, December 12, 2009 | 3 Comments
A New BFF Implement
Last weekend we went to a farm auction, and bought a "new" tractor! New, to us anyway. This one has more horse power than all of our other tractors combined, and will enable us to do more of our own work - grinding feed, baling hay and other jobs. It has been well kept, has many new parts and is in tip top shape! We are thankful for the Lord's provision.
Thankfully, it was only a three-mile drive home, though quite a chilly one for the driver
He survived, though!
This week, we also picked up a new portable grain bin. Mom and the children went in one direction to pick up the grain bin while dad drove an hour in the other direction to pick up our steers on our other property. The pond there will freeze, so all the cows will reside here for the winter months. We are thankful all went smoothly and we all made it home a couple of hours before the snow started to blow...
The Reid Ranch was in the vacinity of the feed store where we bought the grain bin, so we stopped by to meet Mr. and Mrs. Reid. She makes quality soaps and salves from their Jersey cow milk; her face lotion is the best I have used. Check her products out at Carolyn's Natural Soaps.
Cold weather has arrived: we had over 4 inches of snow Monday night and more on Tuesday night. It has been exactly two years since our 10-day power outage of '07. We certainly are not desirous for a repeat of that year!
Today the windchill is -14F; very cold but a clear sunny day!
Thursday, December 10, 2009 | 0 Comments
Thanksgiving with the Weinholds
Gathering together to ask the Lord's blessing
We enjoyed a Thanksgiving celebration with our new friends, the Weinholds. It was a wonderful day of fellowship!
"Now
therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name." (1Ch 29:13)
The boys caught a raccoon the night before the Weinholds visited, so all the young men skinned it together
Talking tractors
Outdoor activities: foot races
Arm wrestling
We enjoyed a time of singing together and playing instruments
Harmonizing...there was lots of bass voices with 12 men!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 | 0 Comments
The Great Hunt
Nathan, scouting for deer!
Is it every boy's dream to go hunting? It seems to me that it is...at least all the boys in my family! Nathan had a dream come true this week - he went deer hunting! The past few years, a man that works with my dad, has supplied us with dear and elk meat. He graciously offerred to show Dad and our boys how to hunt. Nathan is a very good shot normally, and has been faithfully practicing his shooting skills. His work all paid off yesterday!
Dad, Nathan, Jonathan and Mr. Itao left for our property before the crack of dawn, weathering the cold and windy morning, to hunt on the first day of deer season. A few hours later they called and said Nathan shot his first buck -- on the first shot, it dropped! We were so excited!
Mr. Itao and Nathan in the blind
First shot - Nathan, with his trophie
We are so thankful Mr. Itao taught the boys how to process the meat, too. He expertly taught the boys how to cut and wrap it. It looks so professional! What a tremendous blessing to have someone teach us. Thank you, Mr. Itao, for your time and effort!
Thursday, December 3, 2009 | Sarah Writes | 2 Comments
Thanksgiving Turkey
Our fresh, home-grown turkey
This is the pot I usually cook our turkey in. Not this year! Our turkeys were so large this year that we were not sure how we were going to cook it. These past nine years we have had to be creative in how we cook our turkey since our oven is small. We smoked it for several years, then when Tom bought me a set of waterless cookware, the stock pot was big enough to cook the turkey in... Until this year. Our turkeys grew nice and big...really big.
I usually start our Thanksgiving meal prep the day before but was not able to do so this year; we have whittled our menu down to only the foods we really like, so it also takes less prep time. Thus, Thanksgiving day arrived this year and I had made no preparations. After barely being able to lug the turkey into the kitchen from the garage refrigerator, I thought I would try my regular pot, obviously for a good laugh. As I stood there wondering what to do with this huge turkey, Rachael reminded me that I have a huge canning pot. It was a perfect fit! This turkey was the best we have had.
What a blessing to grow and eat our own turkey. We are thankful the Lord has taught us these things.
Mixing the cornbread dressing. The meal corn we grew this year has been slow in drying, so we had to make a concerted effort to dry the corn enough to grind for our Thanksgiving meal. It made great cornbread dressing. Being from the South, this is the only type of dressing we have ever eaten; I still use my grandmother's recipe. Traditionally, we had sweet potato pie - never pumpkin pie. Our family now traditionally eats pumpkin pie since we grow our own pumpkins; we enjoy making these pies with our fresh milk and eggs, too.
How many people does it take to get a naturally-raised Bryant Family Farm turkey out of the pot?
Table decor, thanks to Rachael
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 | Dana Writes | 0 Comments
|
