It was our first year to host Thanksgiving at the farm after celebrating the last 20 years in Carthage at Grandmommy’s house.
Change is hard.
Our family likes SAME. Same foods, same traditions, same, same, SAME. So all the different was a little scary.
But I think Justin said it best, “I’m thankful that traditions have more to do with who you’re with than where you are.”
It was a great week of family time and prep for the festivities.
And a beautiful, perfect Thanksgiving day for old and new traditions: the coronation of the Pumpkin Queen,
Pumpkin Olympics (with the addition of carefully curated hype music),
Chicken Dancing (with live chicken in hand), and an afternoon of feasting, fellowship, and football.
I had all my kids home for the first time in a very long time.
Our barn, our bellies, and our hearts were full.
Believe me, nothing is ever perfect, no matter how perfect the pictures might look. One of our cats was locked in the barn overnight, so Thanksgiving morning we woke to a pile of poop on our doormat and a spilled gallon of paint on the floor. We had a septic scare right before people started arriving, and Josh spent an hour running a hose to break up a clog. We had uninvited flies and bees at our gathering (we are in a barn after all). And one of my kids ate so much they puked.
And of course, there were beloved faces missing around our table.
But God.
These are the good old days.
Thanks for giving thanks with me.
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today.”(Hebrews 3:13a)
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalms 100:4)
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Psalms 107:1)
~ for a beautiful fall. Texas isn’t known for colorful autumn foliage, but I think it’s splendid around here myself! These views just don’t get old.
~ for rain. I really love the rain, especially listening to it on the metal casita roof.
~ for a fun night for the girls at their first Homecoming Barn Dance. Aren’t they lovely?
~ for a productive Gold Network ETX Board meeting. The men and women on our Board are truly a gift to me, each one bringing unique perspective and talent to the table. So thankful for friends who share the vision!
~ for my hardworking kids. I’m so proud of how much they have learned since we’ve bought the farm. They have learned to use most tools, many of them completely independently. This week they helped Dad replace a pump on the pond fountain, build a cover for the pump, and hang more finish trim on the barn. They never cease to amaze me.
~ for days when homework looks like this.
~ for sweet Birdie recovering from her spay surgery. No more puppies for this mama. Also, sometimes my kids are strange.
~ for a tasty steak dinner and a date with my sweetheart. Love that we are still dating after 25 years.
My pastor said something in his sermon this morning that I immediately wrote down. I’m sure I’ve heard it before, but today it just really resonated in my heart.
“That’s how He found me, but that’s not how He left me.”
I think of the condition I was in when I found the Lord. WHAT A MESS! Lost, lonely, disillusioned, aimless. Equal parts ashamed and afraid. I was no good to nobody.
But God.
My girls have a favorite song that they learned at Pine Cove camp over the summer. It’s one of those songs that has a pounding beat that gets right into your pulse, and the lyrics make you want to SHOUT.
“He picked me up, He turned me around He placed my feet on solid ground I thank the Master, I thank the Savior Because He healed my heart He changed my name Forever free, I’m not the same I Thank the Master, I Thank the Savior I thank God”
Tonight I’m just filled with gratitude to my loving, redemptive Father who met me in my mess.
“That’s how He found me, but that’s not how He left me.“
Thanks for giving thanks with me.
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” (Psalms 40:1-3)
“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 11:19)
~ for the spicy sweet smell of cinnamon spice waffles.
~ for our sweet Sprinkles who surprised us with 7 darling bantam chicks. She’s such a good little mama. And Tatum K is the proudest Grandma.
~ for growth emerging on my baby rose bushes. Looking pretty good for Day 19.
Day 1Day 19
~ for hot, buttery homemade JoJo’s Biscuits to go with our tasty farm fresh eggs.
~ for the beauty of the the intricate lacework of frost glittering on a cold autumn morning.
~ for the tedious task of carefully covering all our garden plants to protect from said frost. We’ve never done this before (really, we’ve never done ANY of this stuff before) so (as per the usual) we weren’t sure what we were doing. Thankfully we got MOST of it covered, and MOST of our plants were salvaged. Definitely a big learning curve, but it was a start. We’ll be better prepared next time!
~ for the meaningful tradition of our Family Thankful Game. Initiated and maintained by Grandmommy, it’s a beautiful way for our family to share our hearts daily as we give thanks for the big and the small things around us. “Dear LORD, we DO have so much to be thankful for.”
~ for a GLORIOUS VICTORY as our Texas Rangers CAME AND TOOK the World Series!!! We watched every game, and I bit off every nail, and we are sure the screams in our barn echoed from Arlington to Arizona. Although we were never quite all together in the same place to watch the games, we were all watching as “together” as possible. And the long-awaited win was an emotional one. Baseball, specifically Texas Rangers baseball, means a lot to our family, and it just felt really special to feel like we got to be a part of history. I know our kids will always remember it.
Colton’s “Thankful” entry
~ for a lovely evening of worship with our church ladies here at the farm. We feasted on hot soup and fellowship around a blazing campfire. It was a perfect evening.
~ for the next step of progress on finishing the barn. “How can there still be more to do?” you ask. We are learning that there will always be more to do. This week’s project involved, installing custom metalwork on the facia directly below the roofline. It was one of those steps I didn’t really understand…it didn’t seem important. I was absolutely amazed at the difference it made, and so thankful to have that area of the barn protected from the weather. And so very thankful that Cooper was willing to interrupt his plans and come help.
~ for one of our favorite days of the year: the annual trip to Yesterland Farm with our Gold Network of East Texas HERO families. The fall weather was glorious, the staff was welcoming as always, and the air was full of laughter. What a gift to serve such an incredible group of people. They’ve walked through hell, many of them are still in the very midst of the battle. But they are still just moms and dads and kids who long to connect, both within their own family units and with others who understand. Today was truly a joy-filled gift.
3 brave warriors comparing their stories and their battle scars
Thanks for giving thanks with me.
“He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.” (Deuteronomy 10:21)
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.” (Psalms 63:1-4)
There’s nothing like Gold Run week. It’s emails and errands, yard signs and donation pickups, tv interviews and newspaper interviews and over-the-phone interviews. It’s checklists and double-checking lists and oh-my-goodness-I-nearly-forgot.
Like my new ride????🎗️
And life is also relentlessly happening. School and cross country and football, goats and chickens and too many puppies, laundry and dishes and lots of cereal and frozen pizzas for dinner.
And then it’s here.
Gold Run day was glorious. The weather was perfection. We had a bounty of volunteers. The park filled with HEROES and their Tribes of supporters, runners and walkers and watchers.
It means the world to these families (myself included) to experience the love and encouragement of people who show up to stand beside them and publicly support. One HERO mama said it best, “It was fun and I was so proud of my bunch. A 5K seems like such a small thing but it was a ‘suck it, cancer!’ event for us.”
Watching HEROES cross the finish line. Watching triumphant families celebrating the lives of their child. Watching weary, battle-scarred moms and dads and grandparents push through the fog to prove that their child’s battle means something. Watching tearful parents walking to honor the memory of the child whose only physical presence there was on our Wall and in their hearts. ETX Gold Run is so special. My heart is full.
And just like that, it’s done.
September is almost over. Pumpkin Spice is back, temps are dropping (outside of Texas anyway), and everyone is ready for fall.
Please don’t let all the GOLD fade away for a whole year. Keep having conversations. Donate. Reach out to a family. Volunteer. These kids deserve a voice and a chance at a normal life. It really does matter.
BUT IT ALL MATTERS.
Whatever is your personal passion. Or the real life, everyday work/school/kids/dishes/carpool that doesn’t feel like passion at all.
Run your race.
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)
The Lord gently (sometimes abruptly) reminds me that I must both give thanks for and always be in prayer over all of it. ALL of it. My marriage, my kids, my responsibilities, and all that Gold Network is.
It’s all His.
Lord, it’s all Yours. Your ministry. Let me seek You everywhere and find You there. Let me honor You and reflect You in whatever it is I’m doing.
Thanks for giving thanks with me.
“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.” (Psalms 107:21-22)
~ for a week of good eats: delicious homemade burritos with fresh white-corn-jalapeño salsa,
breakfast date with Josh and Tatum K,
ooey-gooey, cheesy, decadent quesadillas from Ruby’s,
and for the rare joy of finding my ultimate favorite (but NEVER IN STOCK) chips! Haven’t found them in months. I downed TWO BAGS bags this week!
~ for our sweet dogs. Bear and Birdie are smart and funny, and add so much love to our family.
~ for a great time at the Vintage & Co “Christmas in the Country” Sale. Giddyup & Whoa was a featured vendor with stacks of handpainted woodburned wood slice ornaments and one massive reclaimed wood statement piece. I love painting for Christmas, and this is a favorite sale. Still have a few ornaments left if you need to snap some up for teacher gifts or for your own tree.
~ for the cutest cheerleaders you ever did see.
~ for a fun school event for Zoe who dressed as Queen Elizabeth I for the 5th Grade Historical Living Wax Museum. Especially thankful for a friend who came in clutch with a dress when I realized the night before that I couldn’t find our box of queen costumes!
~ for a proud moment as Sawyer received a chapel award for the Character Quality of RESPECT. So thankful for his loving servant’s heart. (He was NOT IMPRESSED when his mama burst into R-E-S-P-E-C-T. But how could I not????)
~ for Tatum K’s very first Thanksgiving Feast at school. Her smile sparkled and those blue eyes just shined with joy.
~ for Sawyer and his best buds having a ball encouraging classmates to participate in Operation Christmas Child.
~ for lots of progress on the farm. The fence is growing,
the sheet metal continues to go up,
and we’ve got the propane heater and the TV running so we can battle the cold and celebrate the most special moments together – like double decker Cowboys + Chiefs victories today! Let’s Go!!
Days are flying by. How can it be Thanksgiving week already? I find myself rushing things along one minute, and then dragging my feet the next. The ever-present delicate tension of giddyup and whoa. I resist change, but everything’s always changing. I want to savor time with my babies, but they’re not babies anymore.
We have to hold on for the ride.
But God.
He is faithful and good. Sometimes I’m excited about what He’s doing, and sometimes I don’t understand at all. I don’t get His timing, I wonder about His methods. And sometimes I think He missed it completely, even though I know He knows. But then come those rare moments…those moments when He cracks open a window to let a glimpse of His glory out…and the doubts melt away. I stand in awe. This loving and mighty and merciful and beautiful and terrifying Father is perfectly writing this story, and allowing us to enter into the process with Him. What a gift.
Thanks for giving thanks with me.
“Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.”(Psalms 33:3-8)
“By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of the far-off seas; Who established the mountains by His strength, Being clothed with power; You who still the noise of the seas, The noise of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples. They also who dwell in the farthest parts are afraid of Your signs; You make the outgoings of the morning and evening rejoice.” (Psalms 65:5-8)
~ for a lovely lunch with a dear friend and a beautiful salad. So very thankful for the incredible ways that God brings crucial people into our lives when we need them the most.
~ for progress on the farm! Love seeing Josh’s fence begin to stretch across the property.
~ for a husband who brings me tacos.
~ for wonderful neighbors. Although they are a little on the shy side, we get along great.
~ for the great privilege of having the freedom to cast my vote. And for my voting buddy.
~ for an amazing evening representing Gold Network of East Texas at a benefit concert hosted by our friend, Derek Holland. His 60 Feet 6 Foundation is dedicated to helping military veterans and kids with cancer. I love how kind he is to Sawyer, and how clear it is that he really cares. Casey Donahew put on a fantastic show, and the kids had a blast. And pretty proud of Sawyer for bravely speaking to HUNDREDS of people from onstage!
~ for a special weekend celebrating our niece, Jackie, and her fiancé, Nick, at the most beautiful wedding shower. So grateful to be a part of such a fun and loving family, and for the godly heritage we are blessed with.
~ and to continue the LoveFest, later that same day we got to attend the wedding of a young couple from church. It was a lovely outdoor service, but SO SO COLD thanks to the abrupt Texas cold snap! Thankful for blankets and propane heaters and DANCING and lots and lots of laughter to keep us all warm.
~ for a warm and delicious pumpkin muffin that was my dinner tonight.
Thank You Lord for the big and the small gifts. Thank You for children who are actually listening more than you realize. Thank You for glimpses of fruit. Thank You for always showing up.
And to all of you who read each week, for whatever reason I never quite understand, thanks for caring about our family. It’s the season of giving thanks. If you’re not used to it, now’s a great time to start. Begin exercising your gratitude muscles, and you’ll be amazed by how quickly your perspective begins to change.
Thanks for giving thanks with me.
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalms 23:6)
“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (1 Chronicles 16:31-34)
~ for sweet smiles from this sweet girl. She did this puzzle all by herself!
~ for a deliciously ooey-gooey grilled fried-green-tomato-pimento-cheese sandwich on buttery sourdough.
~ for an exciting surprise in the mail for Sawyer. He received an official championship ring from Derek Holland and his friends from the Celebrity Softball Classic that we attended back in June. Watching his gleeful amazement was priceless!
~ for a new baby calf next door.
~ for a fun Homecoming week for Cooper. He had the honor of being asked to emcee the Homecoming Pep Rally, and did a FANTASTIC JOB. He is so in his element on a microphone in front of an audience! And then he had a great time in the pouring down rain cheering Cougars to a Friday night victory and then a great night with his friends at the Homecoming Dance on Saturday. How is this his Senior Year???
~ for the most delicious homemade tamales with fresh salsa.
~ for new growth. Last weekend we spread grass seed and wildflower seed: Texas bluebonnets, red poppies, black-eyed Susan’s, crimson clover, and other assorted native wildflowers. 7 days later, we have sprouts!
~ for a fun night hosting our church youth at the farm. Two-touch football + volleyball + a bonfire + hot dog and marshmallow roasting made for a lively evening with a terrific group of kids. So special to be able to share our Happy Place. I can only imagine how many gatherings we’ll get to host. Thank You Jesus for this ever-unfolding-dream-coming-true.
I’m thankful for the discipline of Sunday Gratitude, and the accountability to meet here each week to count my blessings. Y’all, sometimes it’s not easy. The world weighs. Irritations mount. Another fire flares up as soon as I put one out.
This week felt more yucky than good.
I was having a long talk with one of my kiddos who was having a hard time. I shared about starting Sunday Gratitude 8 years ago, when I realized I needed to look past the insurmountable trials that were all around me and focus instead on whatever blessings I could thank Jesus for, however small or insignificant they might seem. To transform my self-focused lowly attitude (however justified it might have been) to one of humble gratitude in the midst. I told my child, I could write about (insert current trial) and (insert current irritation) and (insert current disappointment). I could write about sickness and building delays and gas prices and politics. AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE TRUE.
But GOD.
Because all the blessings are true too.
So where should I focus my gaze, focus my energy?
If we become what we consume, do I want to fill myself with grumbling and self-pity; or rather with praise and thanksgiving?
My faith is small, but my God is BIG.
I am weary, but He is FAITHFUL.
Whatever you are facing, friend, hold fast. You do not walk alone, and better days are coming. See the good. It’s there, if you only look.
Thanks for giving thanks with me.
“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” (Psalms 30:5)
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” (I Chronicles 16:34)
This week was Fall Break at school, and I’ve had a dream cooking for QUITE A WHILE.
LET’S CAMP AT THE FARM!!!
Josh wasn’t too sure. Our bed at home is very comfy. He likes air conditioning. And a toilet.
But he loves me and has become quite accustomed to my crazy ideas.
So we camped Thursday – Saturday. 1 tent + Mom + Dad + 8 kids + 2 dogs. Sounds like a fiasco? WE HAD A BLAST!!!!
And of course we got a few projects done…
We enjoyed the crisp temperatures in the mornings and evenings and marveled at how much better food tastes when cooked and eaten out in the fresh air.
Everyone MOSTLY got along. And no one ever asked to play on a phone or an ipad.
There was something really special about waking up on our farm. Knowing it was OUR FARM. And even if it was just for a couple days, I feel like new roots went down deep this weekend.
Even if we came home craving showers and our real beds…and even if I have done 43 loads of stinky, smoky laundry and still have 86 more to do. Even if we had to do head to toe tick checks and bathe the dogs 4 times…
I think we all fell in love.
Every muddy shoe and stinky armpit teenager was absolutely worth it. This is investment in their future. So thankful for our Tribe, for our farm, and for every adventure yet to come. So grateful to the Lord for His plan for our family that we never saw coming.
Thankful for the opportunity to appreciate a slower pace and the gift of simplicity. Amazing how near the Lord’s Presence seems to be when we tear ourselves away from the manic pace we train ourselves to crave. I know farm life won’t always be beautiful and relaxing and picturesque. But I truly count this weekend as a memorable gift that I will always treasure. We didn’t have to travel far to go somewhere GRAND.
Time to get back to the laundry pile, and the real world that is waiting. But I go with a heart bursting with gratitude.
Thanks for giving thanks with me.
“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,” (Psalms 92:1-2)
“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.” (Psalms 96:11-12)
Sundaygratitude 