Eight years ago I introduced myself on this blog. Wow! Seems like a million years! Life is a funny thing. It travels both at the pace of a turtle and at the speed of sound. One minute we are bogged down in the mundane day to day duties, the next minute we are marveling at the fact that a kid was just born yesterday and today she's turning 22. It happens that way, sadly, all to often. We complain about the nit picky things that we must trudge through daily, then find ourselves sobbing at the fact that it's been 7 years since I last posted on my blog! (Please tell me it isn't just me!) So very much has happened to us since my last blog post...and since I know you are dying to know...let me just share a bit of our life... even though I'm not the "milkmaidmama" anymore, it is still very much a part of who I am today, so I'll just let that name stay for now... anyway, happy reading!
2017 was a tough year for our family. Our beautiful 2 story home, the one that my husband built with his own 2 hands, burned. We lost every material thing (except for some things that were downstairs that didn't get damaged from either smoke or water). We were all safe, but the house had to be demolished. We lived in a rent house for around 14 months, where we welcomed the arrival of Baby Number 8, while Darrell converted his workshop to a home for us. While we were in the rent house the Lord laid it on our hearts to minimize, so we sold all our milk cows and milk goats. It was hard to let go...it felt like letting go of our way of life, but it was something that we knew the Lord was leading in, so we knew there was a purpose.
The rent house was a challenge, especially for me. Nine months of the time we were there I was pregnant and emotionally a MESS. The house itself was old and not built to accomodate a family of 8 soon to be 9. The hot water tank was too small. We had to make sure all laundry was washed by 3 pm and we had to make sure the dishes were done by 5 so that we would have SOME hot water for folks to take showers...which had to be super quick. Then we discovered that the septic tank was also too small. One evening, while showers were going, the sewage began coming up in the kitchen sink! Can you imagine the response of a pregnant and totally stressed out mama???!!! Yeah, that was me.
We did manage to survive and happily moved into our new house...er, shop...er shouse. Really it is just our home. We've done what was needed to make it comfortable, and it fits our family. Yeah, we still have concrete floors, but hey...when you spill water...you don''t have to worry about getting it up immediatly! I never cease to be amazed at my husband's abilities...he can do anything! He can not only create the vision, but he has plenty of ability to envision the vision! Here are some of the lovely things he's built...
My sewing corner... I LOVE it so much. I've made some changes to it since this pic...but you get the idea. Take note of the tiny vintage sewing machine in the corner on the crate shelf...that was my grandmother's!😍
This...oh my, I am so proud of and in love with this! (And the guy who made it!) Beautiful and functional...who wouldn't love this?!
We don't have cows or goats anymore, but we have some super friendly feathered friends...
One thing that I am very aware of is that right now, our world is in chaos. I saw it coming...not because I have special abilities, but for some reason the Lord chose to show it to me. We have insanity running amuck everywhere. We need to be alert and on guard, but I tell you what...I am so thankful for the world we have built here...our sweet family of 9...surrounded by lilac bushes
A few nights ago we were blessed with a spring thundershower. If you live in a place where spring = pollen, you know how welcoming those showers can be. Darrell and I took a walk after the storm had past. It was just before nightfall. The chickens were starting to make their way to their roosts for the night. The roosters (of which we have WAY TOO MANY!!!) were still crowing and fighting, but they too had begun to seek their nighty night spots. The ducks were waddling around, looking for a little snack in the puddles made from the rainstorm and the night creatures were starting to sing their songs...the frogs were especially loud! The sound of the water flowing through the creek
and the sun going down behind the clouds that were remaining was so peaceful...and oh, the smells! If I could have somehow captured the smells that were brought to life from the rain...the wet cedar trees, the oils from the grasses, the lilac bushes and apple blossoms... in the midst of a world in chaos, I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father, for giving us this little piece of heaven on earth.
Trials are coming my friends. Those who are among the true church are bound for persecution of the likes we have never seen before, so take in the peace while you can. Let me go a bit further and encourage you to get in tune with the Prince Of Peace...seek Him now while He may be found. Get your house in order and prepare for that time that Jesus warned us of. The time when His people will be hated and persecuted for His Name's sake.
❤ Deb
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