Hey friends, my blog is down. Again, ha! So I am checking in this way. (Originally from Facebook Update)
The farm thrived in Oklahoma’s little snowstorm, and the people here did too, thanks to zero power interruptions and abundant groceries, soft blankets, and entertainment.
As the sun has started to melt everything, we are pretty bust counting blessings. Even inside the bounds of a few stressful situations, the blessings are front and center. I will try to not be ambiguous:
Dusty needs medical attention, and making plans with the surgeon is slow going. He is ok, happy and behaving normally, not in distress. But knowing that things have changed in recent weeks and he needs help is weighing on us. No doubt. He did great all weekend in the cold and snow, and we could not be more thankful for that. We have just loved this horse so much for almost twenty years, it hurts. Okay, thank you if you feel like saying some prayers for him.
Handsome is doing great. We have certainly appreciated the extra time together, and he appreciates everyone checking in about what happened at the Commish. We see so many blessings all over the situation, and we know the next chapter will develop in the perfect way in the perfect time. I had a realization recently
The political climate is getting to me, personally. I have tried to have productive conversations with a few people, but the emotions are all so hotly charged that it feels like too much attention to too much of it all just makes things worse. If our biggest danger right now is Civil War, and if we reduce that down to the smallest common denominator, then maybe my job is to continue finding common ground, continue nurturing connections, continue seeking peace on cellular levels. Resist division. My job is not to pour gasoline on fires. A friend of mine who spent most of her career in local politics and now comments sparingly but powerfully recently said that if we are going to talk about things, especially online, then we should “try to add light, not heat.” I just love that. Handsome and I mostly insist on having only face to face conversations about most political or social topics. I will try to return to this. Mostly.
Okay.
Do you have spring fever yet, gardeners? I one hundred percent did NOT until the snow fell. Seeing the farm and every single little garden bed blanketed in clean, perfect, fluffy snow did the trick. I wake up thinking about two things, and one of them is how I am gonna garden this year.
The other thing I wake up thinking about is the series of children’s books I’m working on, specifically how to address or avoid the topic of death in the stories of farm animals who have passed on. Heavy stuff. I try to write without that hovering over my mind, but it just sticks.
Last night we played Yahtzee, and I scored perhaps the lowest I have ever scored at Yahtzee ever in my life. Crazy.
The kids’ mushrooms are taking off! Locals, if you are interested in some home grown culinary mushrooms, truly elegant, send us a note. We will get you set up.
What’s new in your world? How are things? Much love from the W to you!
PS still loving my dual devotionals, CS Lewis and Dietrich Bonhoffer. I think a few people are following along. Let me know if you are!