Knolltop Farm Wife (Melissa Hart)

Welcome to my blog! I'm a wife, mother of four and a self-employed freelance writer. In addition to writing, I am involved in producing several dairy magazines and am the editor of Dairy Agenda Today where I have a blog there as well! This is a place where I can get what's in my head, down on paper (the internet). I hope you find encouragement and maybe a giggle or two!
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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Farm Kids to Ski Bunnies!

Today is a first for Luke and Sarah and I won't be there to see it.  Their first step, the first time they rolled over, the first time they drank from a sippy cup, I was there for all of those firsts in their life. But today, I'm really, really, really bummed because I won't be there the first time they try out downhill skiing.

The entire high school is going skiing today. One hundred and one teenagers will load up this morning and head to the hill and for most of them, this will be their first time. It seems so odd to me that my kids have never been skiing.  Back in the day, skiing was very popular. There were a few kids who frequented the slopes and you could tell how many times they had gone by the number of lift tickets on still attached to the zipper of their jacket. But for some reason, it has never occurred to me to take my kids skiing...probably because I was such a failure at it....but we won't go down that mountain today.

Luke and Sarah asked what they should wear. As I thought about the navy blue snow pants and coordinating ski coat I had when I was there age, I realized they did not have the proper outfit for the slopes. So they improvised.  With a trip through the washing machine, their Carhartts that they normally where in the barn suddenly transformed into their skiing outfits!



Sarah's Carhartts were new at Christmas. She's not had them long enough to rip or stain her coordinating raspberry barn clothes. She's bound to win the best dressed for the slopes award. By the way, her jacket is the one I was sent from www.countryoutfitters.com back in December and I gave it to her as a Christmas gift.  This jacket is so warm and she absolutely loves it.  I love the color!  And like everything Carhartt makes, it will wear and wear and wear!

On the other hand, the farmboy, is a very different story.

Luke's barn clothes aren't so new and like everything Luke owns, he literally wears them out. Note the jacket pockets that are no longer pockets. And also take notice of the Mickey Mouse hat that has been in the barn hat collection since they were in grade school.  I asked if he was really gonna wear that hat and he said, "Ya, it keeps my head nice and warm, why wouldn't I wear it?"  

As Luke hits the slopes today, my guess is, he will probably look the worst, but after he gets the hang of heading down hill at break-neck speed, his wardrobe challenges will be the least of his worries.  More than likely, this adrenalin junkie will be challenging everyone on the slopes to a downhill race and come home wanting to start training for the Olympics. 

I'm hoping for lots of pictures and maybe some reports on Facebook today!  And I'm praying that they don't break anything!

Friday, February 10, 2012

God Shares His Word in the Car!

I've been wanting to write this for two weeks but haven't had the time to put it down in words. I really don't have the time now, but the house is quiet and I want to write!

JW left early that morning for his MMA fight in Taylor. JW, Luke and I prayed together for God's protection before he walked out the door and I continued to pray all day long. While I don't pretend to know God's path for JW and his desire to pursue MMA fighting, I did see Him at work on that Saturday in January.

I was enjoying a cup of coffee that afternoon before leaving for the fight when a text came in...it was JW.  He asked if someone could read the story of David and Goliath from the Bible to him.  Overjoyed at the fact that my son wanted to hear scripture....I said, SURE! 

With Bible in hand, I loaded up three teenagers and we headed to the fight. About half way there, JW called and said, "Ok, can someone read it to me now?" Because I was driving and I didn't feel the need to die, I handed the phone and the Bible to Luke and said, "Here....read 1 Samuel chapter 17 to JW."

Luke being the middle child never balked or questioned, he just started reading about a little shepherd boy taking five smooth stones and a sling shot and with his faith placed in God, he killed the giant. He read the entire chapter to JW over the speaker phone. And when he was done, they said, 'goodbye' and hung up. That may seem silly to some and not a big deal to others.  I mean, it makes sense, right? If you're in a fight and you need a courage transplant, what better story to read than David and Goliath, right?

God knew JW needed to hear it but God also had more than JW in mind when His word was being spoken out loud in a car filled with three teenagers, two of whom didn't grow up in the church.

For those few minutes, the Truth was being heard by tender hearts.  Some seeds were planted, other seeds were watered and still other root systems were being strengthened. Never in a million years could I have written than scene or predicted that instance. God promises that His word does not return void. This was orchestrated by Him, for Him and through Him and He will use it in the lives of those who heard it.

God is in constant pursuit of each one of us. He loves us enough to tear down every obstacle to get to our hearts.  That's just who God is and I can't wait to see what He does next!