twas the week before Christmas + some Cowboy wisdom

by Karmen |

Twas the week before Christmas at the barnyard and beyond…

Our tribe was all a scurry from

Boy Scout awards

to the Barnyard to sing

germs and sickness all around

the community full of worry

“The show must go on” rang crystal clear

Said the family, “We must spread Christmas cheer”

Christmas parties

to see Santa and the lights with the family

(the week felt a lot like these pictures -BLURRY!)

back to our farm chores,

trim the rooster spurs

pedicure for all

pitch em’ some hay if they’re furry

“Come on! we’ve got to hurry!”

When the Cowboy spoke up in his calm, wise witty way,

“hey babe, we can not be at all of the places for all of the people”

When what to my wandering heart did appear but the reason for the season once again all so clear……

it happened so fast

one minute we were on track ..with our hearts turned toward heaven focused on the reason for the Christmas season

—> JESUS

and the next we’re running around like chickens with our heads cut off, caught up in the hustle of the season

irritable, tired and mean.

so friend, how ya’ holdin’ up?

Are you as “prone to wander” as I am?

The Cowboy is the voice of reason around here (thank you Lord)…he is the one who reminds me

we can not do it all

He’s right ya’ know?

We must be wise with our yeses and even more discerning with our no’s

as we approach the beginning of a new year may we choose carefully how we will give of our resources and more importantly of ourselves.

This morning during a quick exchange with a dear friend I shared how desperately

I want to be PRESENT in the PRESENT

(particularly this next week)

Don’t you?

To be intentional

Savoring the moments, the people, the conversations, the food

Not so focused on the next thing that I miss where I am

We can my dear weary friends, we can! And we will!

By His grace we can choose joy and be at peace even when we are really busy

I’m rootin’ for you!–> better yet

I’m praying for each of you who visit here. I’ve ask God to keep His hand upon you this week as you focus on Him. I’ve asked Him to bless each of you as only He can. May you sense His presence and know that the Prince of Peace reigns. Oh come let us adore him…Amen

Encourage ONE person this week with the GOOD NEWS of Jesus.

Remember :

“To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.” -Dr. Suess

Merry Christmas

Love and appreciate y’all so very much

are you struggling? or peachy keen?

by Karmen |

“Some days are hard other days are harder” is what she said when we hugged

“A man could preach on pain and suffering 52 weeks a year and it still wouldn’t be enough” is what he said just before they said “Amen”

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If you’re new here, Hi, I’m Karmen the voice at Blessings Beyond the Barnyard. I’m real, I don’t believe in accidents & am ever so grateful you’ve stopped by. I live on a farm with the love of my life I call “the cowboy” most of the time, sometimes “J” and other times, well never mind, this is a family show. We are doing our very best to love with all of our might as well as rear our two cotton top little boys we refer to as the rascals. We home school, own/operate the local feed and garden store & farm for the fun of it. Oh, and I’m writing a book because God is real and He has done great things.

Now that you’re up to speed here is where we are today.

**************

It’s no secret life’s tough. I bet if I were to ask you right now: “ Are you struggling? in your marriage? your finances? kids? health? job? Seriously. How are you .?” The struggling verses the peachy-keen.

Up and down we go where we stop nobody knows. Some days we LOVE & romp at what we do other days we’re not even close. We succeed and then we fail. Epically.

Most recently we’ve been bombing parenthood. Just ask our kids. The ol’ quantity verses quality principle. True story. We are with our boys a lot. Being that they are taught at home and with the flexibility of being self-employed they are with one of us most every day with the occasional sitter when momma needs some sanity. All that’s fine and Jim-dandy and you’d think their little love tanks would be full except for this.

Last weekend my tribe (=momma, daddy, sisters and their gang) had planned to go camping. I’d kept it on the down low hoping the boys wouldn’t catch wind because the weather was favorable and we had hay waist high ready to cut. After weighing it all out the cowboy decided to mow hay and I decided to take the boys over for one day and one night of family fun while the hay cured. I assured him I’d be home in time to rake and help haul. It sounded like the perfect plan until it come time to go and the boys set in wondering why daddy wasn’t going with us. “It’s hay time boys.” My condolences hardly settled our oldest. His love language is quality time. (key word: quality) He loves to fish and camp and sit around the fire. His facial expressions and subtle comments revealed that his love tank was on “E.”

The boys and I savored our twenty-four hour camping trip with my tribe. We laughed and ate. They swam and got way too much sun. The cowboy manned the store, teddered (fluffed) hay and worked on equipment while we were away. Just as we’d promised we were home by noon on Saturday. We grabbed a quick bite to eat, gathered the boys a few toys to play in the dirt and by two-ish the cowboy and I were on the tractor together making our first lap around the field (because the cowboy likes to check for limbs and go over for the nine hundred and twenty two thousandth time what gear I should run in and how not fast I should go) I took advantage of the time we had on the tractor to discuss how we were bombing this parenting thing. “They need us J. They need US. Not the go play and do your thing get out from under my feet us but the engaged us-with-them kind-of-us. The we-care-about-what-you-like and we don’t just want you here & safe and not drowning in the pond. The we care about what you’re good at and what scares you or thrills you. We know better J. We’ve got to do better.”

With that said we later talked to our super-dooper employee and asked him to meet the feed truck Monday morning so we could have the whole day to do all the things we’ve not been doing lately. And that’s exactly what we did.

We celebrated our freedom (THANK YOU VETERANS) Monday morning with pancakes and piddlin’ on the porch. After breakfast the boys fed the barnyard while I swooped through the house. (It was awesome..the house was almost clean for like fifteen minutes or maybe ten. I should’ve invited you. We should’ve had a party.)

Later the cowboy caught ponies that we later took and traded for 12 hens, two roosters, a guinea and a little cash (buy-sell-trade are a few of the cowboy’s favorite things)

the newest members of the flock

I worked in the garden a bit while the boys worked at the fort.

The chuck wagon arrived just in time for lunch.

We picnicked in the pasture lot and talked about the day

The cowboy assisted and mended as needed

I took more pictures than they wished I had

And then our oldest said, “y’all can go now.”

I guess we overran his love tank.

The cowboy and I took the hint, let them be and went and gathered eggs

We ended the memorable day with burgers off the grill and the THRILL of the first big bass of summer (of which I was not allowed to photograph)

So, here we are. The day after the catch up-make-it-all better day

WE ROCK PARENTHOOD <——sarcasm #ifitwereonlythateasy

Days of jam-packed family fun are fabulous and I wish every day were that easy but that’s not real. What is real, is grace.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

When we bomb parenthood or find ourselves spread to thin

When we disappoint or are disappointed

Have unfulfilled expectations or are called to suffer

there is grace…

Tomorrow is a new day my friends

Stay strong…He’s not finished with us yet

much love

PS~ HIP HIP HOORAY the hay made it to the barn

3 sure signs of SPRING!

by Karmen |

Yoohoo, hi there,

It’s me, Karmen the long lost author of the blog…no I haven’t fallen off the map or forgotten the address to this blog…I’ve been wrestling this week…and before you go to a bad place with that let me clarify -a spiritual match.. Tug-o-war within my soul .. Much of “no you can’t” and “YES YOU CAN” kinda stuff…you know.? Surely you’ve been there.? and it’s not over…will you pray for me? many of you who read here are family, others are friends of ole and some are new found forever- friends…

I need you.

Please join me in praying through the next “what’s next” …For several months I have felt like I have been trapped in the house of mirrors ..The fun house at the fair except it’s not fun…hitting my head at each turn..the way becoming clear and then distorted .. FINALLY just this week a couple of things began to unfold and appear more clear…The Bible says

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct^[a] your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

So that’s what I’m doing..

Meanwhile in other news 3 sure signs that SPRING in on the way…WOOOHOOO…

On the farm we’ve had 3 baby lambs born this week and they are a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e

Twins born yesterday. Thankfully the rascals missed the delivery..because after they saw the piglets “hatch” there were LOTS of questions-(note to self: must.write.about that good talk SOON)…The lamb’s “hatching” was a bit more complicated- the cowboy had to pull one ..she had the other on her own. All are well this morning.

The votes are still being counted- but these black and white lambs may be cuter than the last litter of piglets..

In the garden we’ve got carrots, some lettuce and broccoli in the ground..

Hoping to plant potatoes and onions this weekend..lil farmer “Jack” and I LOVE this time of year…

Trees and bushes all around the farm beginning to show signs of spring PRAISE YE THE LORD HALLELUJAH..the cloudy days were beginning to mess with my head…

Mommas of boys LOVE THE SUN…we need sun ..because boys NEED outside.. and everybody said, “AMEN?!”

In town, on the storefront~ the cowboy says everybody’s caught spring fever ..fertilizer, seeds and vegetable plants are flying out the door of Fort Payne Feed & Garden.. THANK YOU for your patronage. We are GRATEFUL to have survived our first year of retail. We’re excited to have a bit more of a clue as to what to do & look forward to year two of gardening with you..

Thanks for reading, for your friendship and mostly for your your prayers…Y’all are a part of this journey…

~eternally grateful..

EXACTLY how we wanted to spend the morning-except not really.

by Karmen |

“YOUR PIGS ARE OUT!” was exactly what this homeschool mom wanted to hear on a frigid February morning last week with the cowboy working the store instead the farm…..

“LET’S GO BOYS..” was the rally when a reassuring hand flew into the air followed by, “Don’t worry mom. Me and daddy fooled with this yesterday- I know just what to do.” Johnny quick..- little “Jack” was out the door & saddled on the four wheeler –

The little rascal and I jumped in the car, headed down the drive in search of roadside pig tracks…No sign of them until we pulled into grandmomma’s drive..#yikes

Signs of feverous rooting e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e

“THEY’RE DOWN HERE!” was the echo from the woods

Quick like a cat (except not really because I’m not quick like that.. more turtle-ish really..especially in February but annyyways)

I scurried past the frustrated grandmomma towards little “Jack’s” voice..

“Jack”,ever-so calm and cool (just like his daddy) walked the misplaced pigs from the yard to the wrong pen to the right pen…while the little rascal worked diligently-stomping the soft plugs of uprooted turf back into place….

With the restoration of grandmomma’s yard, the pigs escorted back to the barn lot, the rascals and I returned home to finish their schoolwork –just in time to receive the afternoon call…

“YOUR PIGS ARE OUT!”

happy Monday y’all

Hope is was a good one

😀

TRIVIA QUESTION: pig or hog? is there a difference?