George MacDonald

Well, things are still up in the air with the ranch thing.  Please just keep it in your prayers.  We don't want someone to come and buy it only to struggle.  It needs to be something they can handle as well.  After being bummed that things aren't moving faster, we are all remembering that it is OK.  God brought us past where we thought we could go.  He has Blessed us many, many times.  It was disappointing, but I think we are fine with it in our disappointment.  There is nothing that we can do.  It is not any different than what it was a month ago.  God was providing for us then, and He will provide for us now.

On a happier note, I am meeting a lady tomorrow to sign papers for my first wedding shoot!  I am excited and nervous about that.  God was good to me and brought me an older couple with a small wedding.  Nice for the first time. :)  My photography friend and mentor is coming with me as well!  God really blessed me with her. :D

Here is a quote from one of my favorite authors, George MacDonald in his book The Landlady's Master.

"At other times they went on with the usual employments and games of children. But there was this
difference between them and most grown Christians- when anything roused thought of question, they at
once referred it to the words of Jesus, and having discovered His will, made haste to do it. Their faith

was not theological, nor did they ever stop to consider whether their beliefs matched the tenets of the

Shorter Catechism they had learned. Practicality was the only code between them: could something

be done? If so, where was to be found the first opportunity to do it? "

This passage (the whole book!) really encourage me to remember to include seeing the daily action that Christ showed us.  Include it along with studying what He was meaning.  This book reminded me that Christ did both.  He practised and He taught.  I find it easy to get wrapped up in pondering it, rather than doing it.  I mean doing it as in seeing the World through His eyes and how I can show the world His love. 

Anyway, I hope it encourages you as it encouraged me.  If you haven't read George MacDonald, I recommend him.  He has some huge nuggets in his books.  (the bits I have read)

Love in Christ,
Rebecca

Praise God from Whom ALL Blessings Flow

I have a big praise to let everyone know about, as well as asking for some mega praying.  (Is there such a thing as mega praying???) 

We had a wonderful family come and look at half the ranch on Sunday.  It is a family of 5, with the oldest 2 children grown and married with children.  The youngest is still at home and is Josh's age!  They are homeschooling, are Christians, and are a sweet family.  They have registered Angus cows (!), raise horses (!!), do 4-H, show steers, and do rodeos.  The greatest thing is that they are really interested in making the whole neighbor thing work.  I mean really work.  They don't want to be your "average" neighbor.  They are wanting a good friendship.  They are only interested in part of the ranch which means that we would both be able to run about 170 cows.  A good amount. 

After a plethora of e-mails back and forth, they are coming out Sunday to join our church for Lunch, and then they will stay and we will talk some more.  Please be praying that we would be able to work it out so that we can both do what we are able to do.  Time wise, this couldn't be better.  We were both needing to get something worked out ASAP.  They have a lease that is expiring, and we need to get something moving!  (Doesn't that sound like God?) 

One of the things that was talked about was that instead of us selling the headquarters and have to build and move, they would buy the raw land and they would build and move.  (instead of us both moving)  Because the relationship is such, they could use our corrals until they get theirs built. 
At first we were a bit unexcited about this option.  As Mom and Dad talked it over, we realized that it would be a bit of work, but not bad to get this place fixed up the way we want it.  Plus it would save us the headache of building and moving.... :)  We would build a new house, just slowly and with us working on it which would save us a lot of money and we can build it just how we want it.

I had to share our praise with you and let you know.  I know many of our friends have been praying with us for a looong time. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.  For those of you who don't know, you know how to pray for my family!  No, nothing is on paper and signed, but we feel like that is where it is headed.  Please be praying for open doors if this is where God has us going.


In His Strong Arms,
Rebecca

The Grace Card

This is a movie that unfortunately, we either missed or it isn't coming to our theatres.  :(  Go look at their website (here) and buy a copy!  I know it will be good.  Plus it is a good idea to support these movie producers who are trying to reach out. 



Synopsis
Everything can change in an instant ... and take a lifetime to unravel.
When Mac McDonald loses his son in an accident, the ensuing 17 years of bitterness and pain erodes his love for his family and leaves him angry with God ... and just about everyone else.
Mac's rage stonewalls his career in the police department and makes for a combustible situation when he's partnered with Sam Wright, a rising star on the force who happens to be a part-time pastor and a loving family man.
Mac's home life is as frightening as anything he encounters on the streets of Memphis. Money is tight and emotions run high as he constantly argues with his wife and his surviving son Blake, who is hanging with the wrong crowd and in danger of flunking out of school.
Sam Wright also never expected to be a police officer. He has a calling—to be a minister like his Grandpa George. But leading a small, start-up church doesn't always put enough food on the table for a young family, so Sam doubles as a police officer. With his new promotion to Sergeant, Sam starts questioning if his real calling might actually be police work rather than the pastorate.
Can Mac and Sam somehow join forces to help one another when it's impossible for either of them to look past their differences—especially the most obvious one?
Every day, we have the opportunity to rebuild relationships and heal deep wounds by extending and receiving God's grace. Offer THE GRACE CARD ... and never underestimate the power of God's love.



Blessings,
Rebecca

Thankfulness

God is AMAZING!
Here is a small list of some of the Blessings He has given my family:

~Our bulls averaged 2200 including a bull that died!  (We normally want 1800-2000 for them, so this is great!)  GOD is so GOOD!
~We only have 1-2 more bulls left to sell
~Our Milk cow calved so we have fresh milk again.
~We have a 10 year old car that is still running well
~We all have what we need
~Our family was rejuvenated by another family recently, something we were all needing.  We are full of Joy again and ready to tackle what is ahead.
~We were blessed by a gift from a friend to take our family photo (she has a studio so these will be good!) we haven't had a family photo since Caleb was really little, so this is a nice blessing
~We have had healthy calves born so far.  We did lose 2 to the cold weather (-34 below!!) and God is providing us with exactly what we will need for next year!
~We have had LOTS of inquiries on the land!  We have had a few out to look, and a few that we are trying to get dates set for them to come and look.  (Please be praying for that)
~Everyone is strong and healthy. 

Wow.  Some of these may sound silly to you, I know.  But it has been a hard year and all of these things are great and wonderful blessings to us.  This year is going to be a good year, I know.  Thank you Dear Lord!

A Blessed,
Rebecca

This is too cute!

She is so cute!  Such a wonderful story-teller.  You can see some more of her stories at YouTube under her name (Mary Margaret).

Prayers Please!

~Hey there!  We are heading out tomorrow for a bull sale to sell 3 of our bulls.  Please pray for safe travel as we go, and that our bulls would sell well.  We are pretty excited as we enjoy going off and being away from the house.  :)

~I also ask that you would be praying as we have someone interested in the ranch.  Actually, we have a lot of people interested in the land and/or ranch.  Please be praying that God would make it clear to us what we need to do, and that everything will work smoothly.  We have been cleaning like crazy!  Mainly because we are leaving for the bull sale.  God has just been amazing and took us a whole year farther than we thought we would be able to go!!! Is our God good, or what? 

~Our calf's name is Millie!  Here are a few pictures of her with her Momma Dolly.  Dolly is doing so well with us milking her!  It has been so nice to not have to deal with a cow that wants to kick you every second. 

The second day we go out to milk and... the calf wasn't there in the pen!  I mean, you can't really go anywhere, it isn't a huge pen and we can see all of it from the door of the barn!  We laughed at ourselves and walked around the feeder... No calf. 

We got a bit worried wondering where she would be able to go.  I stepped around the tank to go look in the other pens and there she was!  She just thought that nice black tire would be a warm spot to sleep next too! 

Sure scared us.

Dolly is so gentle and doesn't mind us petting her calf or her out in the pen. 

Alright, I am going to go curl up and go to bed.  It has been a long day.

What do you think of the Calf's new name? 

Your Sister in Christ,

Rebecca

Mercy Me

Mercy Me is one of my favorite song groups.  They have some great music that gets your head moving, and yet the lyrics will make you stop and think.  Here is one of them.... I added the lyrics below.



Well if I come across a little bit distant
It's just because I am
Things just seem to feel a little bit different
You understand
Believe it or not but life is not apparently
About me anyways
But I have met the One who really is worthy
So let me say


So long, self
Well, it's been fun, but I have found somebody else
So long, self
There's just no room for two
So you are gonna have to move
So long, self
Don't take this wrong but you are wrong for me, farewell
Oh well, goodbye, don't cry
So long, self


Stop right there because I know what you're thinking
But no we can't be friends
And even though I know your heart is breaking
This has to end
And come to think of it the blame for all of this
Simply falls on me
For wanting something more in life than all of this
Can't you see


Don't feel so bad (don't feel so bad)
There'll be better days (there'll be better days)
Don't go away mad (but by all means)
Just go away, go away

So Long Self!
Jesus' Rebecca