Principle, Passion, and Open Doors....a voice from the farm.

Wow, in the past three weeks I feel like I have been propelled to be dedicated, motivated, and passionate about something. The propulltion is not my own doing or will power, but it is something way bigger than that. The sunday before last I sat in church thinking that Pastor Bob (PB) had pulled a sermon our of his pocket and pulled it out to talk to me, obviously because I had not been there in a while. His sermon was on finding you purpose and God given tasks. After church we texted back and forth. I told PB that I sure wished I had some idea of what my God given talents or "purpose" was. He made some blanket statement about how I would "know"!!!!!

You know the old saying about don't let the door hit you in the *** on the way out, well how about don't let the breeze knock you down when the door flies open!

I feel like I have climbed a mountain, I am standing on top, and looking out over many obstacles and trials that I have faced. Even before Denton died I was always waiting on something tragic to happen or go wrong. When you change your perspective from that to hoping and having faith that something good might happen - THINGS CHANGE! I am not in some pollyanna fantasy. I know too well that HORRIBLE THINGS happen all the time. I know that as high as I feel right now that something is going to try to knock me down off my mountain. However, I like looking forward to good things instead of worrying and waiting, staying stuck and stagnant, and negative.

Many of you know that Daniel and I are very involved in TN Young Farmer's and Rancher's Program. We heard Pettus Read speak about a recent conversation that he had with Cracker Barrel in regards to their decision to listen to HSUS. Here is the link to his article - http://www.tnfarmbureau.org/content/forcing-farmers-will-lead-us-european-outcome

This fired me up! I posted on my personal fb page that my family would no longer support Cracker Barrel (Wendy's, Sonic, Burger King, or McDonald's). My friend (who has a totally different perspective on farming) and I started a dialouge about these issues. YF&R members jumped in and it got to big for just my page. Jami and I then agreed to start an open group on FB called "Food For Thought" https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/424542547588572/

The interest, passion, and involvement in the last three days from both sides of this issue is mind boggling to me. We will see where this goes.........

Another Door
I was able to attend a work conference in Atlanta with Daniel. I am currently staying at the Intercontinental Hotel in Atlanta (pretty swanky). Last night we had the opportunity to ride in a pace car and dine at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. We were also able to meet Pat Driscoll the Corporate Relations Director for Furniture Row Racing and the brains behind Farm American - http://farmamerican.furniturerowracing.com/

I timidly waited around to speak with him about what had taken place in the past couple of days. My timidness turned into fire and passion as I began telling the story. I pray that positive things will continue to happen. I gained so much confidence last night by stepping out of my comfort zone and "TELLING OUR STORY"!

Wow!!! Pastor Bob, I guess you were right! Doors will open if you are following "THE PLAN"!

I am so grateful today! Thank you Lord for these opportunities!!!! Thank you for my blessings, and thank you for my Family! Thank you for my job and and allowing me to teach young people about the passion that I have for agriculture!

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

A voice....from the farm

I opened a can of worms on facebook.....in regards to the deception of HSUS and Cracker Barrel's recent announcement that they would follow the animal husbandry guidelines suggested by this anti-agriculture organization that pursuades the general population to give them $19.95 a month to save starving and neglected animals. The conversation became a discussion about food safety. I have a lot of respect for my dear friend, Jami and I know her background and therefore can understand where she may be coming from. However, I do not agree with all of her beliefs. I do not enjoy this type of confrontation with a close friend so let me openly apologize for any hard feelings. I will still resolve to agree to disagree. I love you Jami, and I am proud of the work you do to provide healthy food for your family and others......

However, my family's livelihood depends on the productivity and safety of the food we grow. We cannot deceive people and I will not support organizations that are based on deception, or businesses that are persuaded to make uneducated decisions. I have eaten for the last time at Cracker Barrel. Their unwillingness to discuss the issue of animal husbandry with the very people that they depend on for their profit is appalling.

http://www.tnfarmbureau.org/content/forcing-farmers-will-lead-us-european-outcome

On the HSUS issue, if you would like to help neglected and starving animals please support your LOCAL humane shelters. HSUS spends less than 1% of its millions of dollars to save those neglected animals it shows on the tv commercials. http://www.tnfarmbureau.org/content/forcing-farmers-will-lead-us-european-outcome

A word about food safety, price, and availability can be better stated by the following article. http://www.foodinsight.org/Content/76/What%20the%20Farmers%20Say-Mod%20Food%20Prod_9-1-09.pdf

As for my family we are so very grateful that we have the opportunity to live and work on a family farm, and that my husband can help other farmers be productive. Thank you Lord for our many many blessings.

Following Through

Following through.....

We have all done really well on the budget this week. I have thought a lot about my blog post and the direction that I want to take it this week (but I have not made the mandatory two posts a week I was striving for. I have several ideas but I think my mom mostly would laugh at me. I think I will just keep it a secret for a while.....Suspense might keep you reading! Humor is hard for me, but maybe blogging will help me with that too!

I have spent the last almost eight years caring first for someone other than myself (Avery, not to mention any names). I am sure that other mom's can understand where I am going with this. I asked my husband who at times is very picky about brands and things he likes......I couldn't really come up with many things I was really particular about. In fact I am not really particular about anything and it has caused my life to be a little out of control, so in the spirit of order, soul searching, and organization here is a list of 33(in honor of my years) of my favorite things, wow that seems like a lot!!!!!

1. secret soft conditioning deodorant (The Hubby is most picky about his deodorant, so I thought this was a fitting place to start! I thought this was crazy until I couldn't find the kind that I usually buy for me!!!!!)

2. Mayfield Milk, Purity is ok, but there is a difference!! (My Mamaw worked at Mayfield's for 36 years and her picture hangs above the bathroom at the Mayfield's Visitors Center in Athen's TN. She was the laboratory technician that had the lab certified, and she did it with a broken leg.....will have to tell that story in a later post......)

3. Fresh Peaches
4. Angel Soft Toilet Paper
5. Scrambled eggs
6. Chris Ledoux
7. 4x4 trucks
8. Fenton Glass
9. Martin Saddles
10. Purple
11. A Good Picture
12. Investor bred quarter horses
13. Bay
14. Chevy (however I really miss my keypad on my Ford)
15. Showsheen
16. Fiestaware
17. Melagel (Melaeluca is a great company with great products.....if anyone wants to share a membership I have six months to re-enroll)
18. Handmade quilts
19. My Mamaw's Sourdough Bread
20. Reining
21. International Harvester
22. The Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg (I have eaten at both the one in Nashville and Gatlinburg)
23. Cooking
24. HGTV
25. Luccessee
26. Hanes hi cut (unmentionables)
27. 27 (My daddy ALWAYS says 27.....)
28. piggy tails
29. Labs
30. Quarter Horses
31. My Favorite Place to show Quarter Horses was Perry, GA
32. Crest with Scope
33. Sleep........

Axes and Liberation!

Revelations.....Dave Ramsey is my hero! Maybe it is just time for a change! On our way to Gatlinburg last week I somehow started listening to Dave Ramsey and I couldn't turn him off. I rarely listen to the radio, so maybe this was meant to be. The urge to follow his guidance was and is overwhelming.

Daniel and I are on the same page of paying off some debts and saving some money, so that it might be possible for me to stay at home with Addie and be more flexible to be at functions for Avery.

So, in the last three days we have started a budget, relieved our friend/housekeeper of her duties, cancelled my Melealuca Subscription, reduced my cell phone bill by 100 dollars per month, and tried to find people who will help support our goals.

I have read that having a support system in place is extremely important. I am somewhat excited and I feel almost liberated instead of stifled by the axes that are falling on my pleasures in life. Notice the above mentioned cuts to our budget are all "me" related.

One of my goals if our ultimate goal comes to fruition will be to continue to be productive and successful for our family and for my well being. So, I have been soul searching trying to figure out how I can add to our income. I love to write.....I have always wanted to be a journalist (why I didn't do that as a career I will never know......)

I am obviously not very dedicated to this blog, but in celebration of our liberation I will be posting at least twice a week. I hope that after three months of doing this I will be eligible to apply with Blogher. Ultimately this will allow me to write for the public and possible earn a little money. I also hope to document the life of my family in a more timely and dedicated manner.

I hope that you will follow us as we embark on this journey. Change is always scary, but hopefully this change will be fruitful for our family!

Here is a list of goals I/we hope to accomplish.....July 11, 2012 so here are 11 goals on the 11th
1. Save a pile of money and live on one and partial of one income!
2. Reduce our grocery and eating out budget (so far so good) I would like to document that this endeavor did not start out easily, because our power was off for too long and we lost everything in our fridge and freezer!! I guess it a fresh start!
3. Can and save foods in the next few months as garden produce is fresh and available. I thought our tomatoes were done form but after this rain they actually look good!
4. Develop my writing skills.
5. Be more dedicated to my blog and documentation of the joyous children in my life.
6. Get back in the saddle! I really want to get back in the horse industry. This was my passion, it will be good for Avery, and I need to do something for myself. I also hope that this might lead to some income for my family(I know I know this does not sound logical, because in the words of pinterest....."horse people spend thousands of dollars for a 98 cent ribbon"
7. Bake bread from my mamaw's bread starter, and not let the starter go bad!
8. Eat cleaner - meaning less processed foods.
9. Become more organized, obviously this list of goals could be more organized......its a start!
10. Increase my love and work for God and the church.....
11. Be a more attentive mother and wife.......