First Deer

My oldest son, Samuel, killed his very first deer this past Saturday. It was a young buck maybe 1 1/2 years old. It managed to get in a double lung shot using his Winchester Model 12 16ga shotgun firing Remington slugs.


The deer went 90-100 yards after the shot. We tracked it and found it about 20-30 minutes after the shoot was made. Sam wasn't sure he had hit it - everything had happened so fast. We harvested approximately 55 lbs of meat from the deer. This would equate to an approximate live weight of 125-135lbs.

I have to say it was one of the best tasting and tenderest deers I have eaten. We placed it in a cooler for two days in a salt/vinegar brine to draw out more of the blood. After packaging it up, I placed a couple of pounds from the back thigh into a skillet with oil and some seasoning. It made a very tasty addition to supper.



We are grateful to God's provision throughout all aspects of our lives. And this seemed to be a very special blessing. I hope each of the boys will have opportunity as well this year to take their own deer.


By the way Sam was a bit put off earlier when a couple of dozen turkeys walked right by him. The season had closed just the previous day.


Blessings to all who are in Christ and a plea to all who are not -







Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! 9 O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. 10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing. 11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth.

Season of Change

I must say that I am mesmerized by the color of the leaf changes this year. I am surrounded by the magnificent evidence of God’s Glorious Creation.

Words are few and indescribable for the sights of the season! We have taken as many pictures as we could that was safe to pull over and snap. But most of the pictures were for our passing by view only!

I share this with those who do not have this advantage of these wonderful trees. Those in California really don’t get this special treat. And if I recall most of the trees in Louisiana just turned brown and fell off! They are spectacular to behold. The oranges are bright almost florescent. The Yellows are everywhere. The reds are dazzling and then there is the deep reds almost burgundy in color. You may see them in a cluster. You may drive down an entire covered highway like a colored canopy. It may be the hillside that is speckled above the grazing cows that catches your eye. And not to forget the drive up the mountains that hold the multitude of them all. But the ones that to me were the most majestic were just in people’s yards!

Do the trees get permission to do this “change of scenery”? Do they just up and rebel at their green lifestyle? Do they decide when and what color they will turn to? The answer to all this is NO. God decides……

I wanted to share about this not only because the colors are so dramatic but also about seasons of the heart. When God takes us to a new season of our lives…………what then, can we decide the “colors” we want, the “whens” “hows” and “wheres”?

The answer to that is NO also. There are different seasons of our lives. For instance we do not have little ones romping around our house anymore………I miss there little feets! A new season is here, I now have teenagers, driving lessons, and college tuition. Do I refuse to change “colors”? Or do I shine just a brilliantly in this season as when they were learning to walk?

Another change of seasons for us has been from a community lifestyle as in a subdivision in the city to country life where no one pops in anymore and it is a looooong ways to town! Do I refuse to change “colors” until I have the “right” place that pleases me? Or do I allow God to “change” the leaves to new places, new lifestyles and new ministries?

Another season change for us is no longer being in the military and making a new life career changes. When it is not easy do I just give up my “leaves” and let them all fall off?? No, let God decide how long they are to “hang on”.

Still more season changes, we are getting older. Our bodies complain A LOT more than they used too. We get tired more quickly and keeping up with they kids is much more difficult. It is not easy to see your limitations. So do I just give up and die? Do I refuse to accept the changes? It is not as if the trees can help it, can they??

I just want to encourage anyone who is in a season of change to look to The Lord and to accept what ever changes He has for you. May we all together present a hillside of beauty to God in all the colors He changes us to!

Enjoy the Seasons of Change!

laura

A Time to Dance...

We were invited to a reformation day celebration with our friends from Allelon Farm. It had been sometime since we had been able to fellowship with these friends since we are constantly traveling in opposite directions to church.

Chrissy called the dance. It had been a while since we had been at a contra dance as well. She does a really good job at keeping everybody moving in the right direction and making sure all have a partner that want one.

We meet several people that we had not seen before as well as renewed some old acquaintances. The boys all had a good time and we enjoyed sitting down visiting and watching the festivities. I highly recommend including some dancing as you walk through this life. Dancing that lifts the spirit and encourages the soul.

Some would have it labeled sin while others would take it into debauchery. It is much what you make out of it. As for my family we can equally praise and serve the Lord through all aspects of our lives. None of them are separate.

Take the time to fellowship with other believer's as the Lord gives you opportunity. More importantly those that you may not normally get to enjoy. Invite them along when you can, you never know who may need ministering in their lives. Open up your homes and your hearts. You will be greatly blessed.

(Sorry the photos are a bit blurry - but then it went by too fast!)

Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven--2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.9 What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime;13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor-- it is the gift of God.