Friends Family & Faith

Fun times spent with a dear old friend. That is what I did this past weekend and it helped to clear my head and give me a breather. Not to mention, I enjoyed something I had never seen before....what at least at this level. I visited a Renaissance Festival with my lifelong friend and new friends she has brought into my life. What a fun time we shared. It was like being in Sherwood Forest for the day. An unexpected delight was the music. The weather was perfect and I am so grateful for such a wonderful time.

Today I spent the morning with my Michele and Amy. That always makes me smile and feel so good.

In the afternoon, I received information concerning the sale of the ranch and the purchase of my new home. It is good news. I really think this is all going to happen. And it all feels right. I have learned that what seems to be a failed prayer, is actually the answer to a prayer. It is so hard to understand God's plan till you get to the other side of it, but if you hold onto your faith-it will all come clear.
I don't want to say too much about all of that until I am actually through this transition. I think that should be the subject of my first post-hopefully from my new home.
Stay tuned. Closing may come soon and I will have much to share.
God is great!!!

More changes on the horizon

Ok, here we go again. I have another contract on the ranch! It seems to be going well and we are scheduled to close November 1st. However, I learned my lesson before and know it's not done until its done! So I am back on the roller coaster and very excited.

Before an offer was even made, I began to think of feeding the cows through winter so I made the decision to sell 3. It was really difficult. I choose to think they are happy on another ranch somewhere. These are the 2 cows I still have.

I still miss John but God has held my hand and led me to a place of peace. I know that I need to move in order to move on. In my heart I know that John understands and is behind me on the this decision.
Slowly but surely, everything is going to be OK. I am getting closer to yet more changes.


Happy Fall everyone..........

I am still here!!!

And by that, I mean still here on the dirt road and still here to blog. I took a break from the blog but it was never out of my mind and now I am ready to return.
 
So many changes and yet many things are the same.
My move to town did not happen. In real life some things don't go as planned and this was one of them. Apparently, funding for the buyer fell through at the last minute so I lost the house I wanted in town. Very sad, but on the bright side, I am still in the wonderful house that John built.
I am still hoping to move to town and have a wonderful realtor that is trying to make that happen.
I know in God's time-it WILL happen. So for now, I am learning patience and still adjusting to the many changes in my life. Next week (August 29th) will be 2 years that John went to heaven.

I am spending a lot of time babysitting my newest grandchild, Amy. That brings me joy and purpose. Being with my entire family is the light in my life. I thank God every day for the wonderful relationship I share with my 2 children and their families.

My focus has changed a bit but I still face all the issues farm life can throw at me with my chin up.

One Month to go....

In January, a buyer put a contract on the house
and a portion of the ranch.
While I am so very torn between my feelings, I move forward. This is my first time to make such a huge decision alone. I must admit I am terrified. Sometimes I actually get sick at my stomach.
Once the decision was actually made and I began to move forward, then came the stress. With the help from Michele, I found a precious house in town. If all goes as planned
I will be moving mid April! 

So much to be done and so so stressful. It seems things were better for a while and now my feeling are all back to the surface. I look out over the ranch and think of the dreams John and I had. They were so short lived but I must remember, at least we lived them. We worked side by side building this ranch. We laughed, we fought, we worked, we played and we made alot of love. We watched the the skies at night and explored over every foot of our land. But now life off the dirt road is not the same. This was OUR dream, and without John, I am just lonely and isolated. But I have beautiful memories. They will be mine forever. What a wonderful chapter in the book of my life. My heart will forever be fuller for having John Murphy in it. I am so grateful to have lived a dream and shared it with the man I loved. I didn't want it to end, but God had a different plan. The sooner I accept that and find a new dream, the sooner I will find peace and happiness again. I am working on it.

God give me strength and patience.

That is my prayer every night.

More babies

To my surprise, a young heifer had a calf. I have been expected the big black/white cow to calve any day, so I have keeping an eye on her. So when I got home and felt something was different, I noticed a precious new calf in a low area of the ranch. I saw the young heifer near and thought, "what is she doing so close to the calf"? Where is the momma? Then I realize, SHE is the momma. Incredible how these animals handle everything alone. I am so grateful for their Independence and self sufficiency but it still amazes me. This new calf is a little bull.

 

And his young momma

 

 

I am keeping my eye on the older cow and wait to find another surprise. I hope and pray everything goes good....again. I never take for granted the miracle of birth.

Then there is the chickens! Again I thought I had a missing hen. For a few weeks I did not see her. I was still getting eggs from the hen house so I wasn't too worried. But to my surprise, the missing hen made her debut on a bright Sunday morning with 8 little chirping chicks! So very cute.

Life on a farm is full of surprises, work, happiness, sadness, excitement.....did I say work? ALL of this and more.

Welcome Miss Amy

What a blessing. February 13, 2013 at 110:01 am, my daughter Michele, gave birth to her first child.

A precious baby girl, Amy Kay Carswell.

 My cup runnith over.

Mother and daughter are doing very well. The first month has been spent adjusting and bonding. Those first few weeks are so special and new. Everyone learning their new roles. So many hugs and smiles. Sleepless nights and tired days. That's where Meemaw comes in. I have been taking time off work to spend helping in any way I can. Lots of time rocking and patting and kissing my newest grand-daughter.

                           Today Miss Amy is 1 month old!

I give thanks that both mother and child are healthy and happy. God is great!

Changes

Time passes so quickly....I turned around and more than a month has passed. The holidays have come and gone. Everything has been put away-except for the outside lights. One string around the top of the house is on a sensor so they come one at dusk and go off at daybreak. I like it! I never come home to a dark house.

 

A few things that happened since my last post.....

 

In the last month snow came to Murphy Ranch. It always amazes me how quiet and beautiful snow is. It is cold and still with such a calm beauty. Although it is beautiful, the snow worries me. I worry about the pipes, the animals and heat. But all went well and there were no problems.

 

We are getting close to meeting my daughter's first child!

 

 

My grandchildren have given me so much happiness

 

 

Two full moon have come and gone.

 

 

But the most incredible thing that has happened.......I feel it is time to turn the page in my life and move on to the next chapter. With much prayer and heavy thought, I have decided to sell the ranch.

Time will tell if this change is meant to be. So for now and always, I remain happy with my home and look forward to the possibility of changes. Scary Changes. Happy Changes.

 

So I invite you to walk with me on this new path. Realizing that the path could take me to blacktop or keep me on the dirt road. Either way, I know our heavenly Father will hold my hand. I know that my family and friends will also be by my side. Those here and those watching from above.