Mom's Empty Chair

My sweet friend, Romayne, sent this to me recently in an e-mail and just had to share it with all of you. I have this posted on my other blog, "Coffee with God" as well!

I thought it was a great image of what prayer is.

MOM'S EMPTY CHAIR

A woman's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her mother. When the minister arrived, he found the woman lying in bed with her head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside her bed. The minister assumed that the woman had been informed of his visit.

"I guess you were expecting me," he said.

"No, who are you?" said the mother.

The minister told her his name and then remarked, "I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up."

"Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden woman. "Would you mind closing the door?" Puzzled, the minister shut the door. "I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the woman. "But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head. I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old woman continued, "Until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, 'Prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here is what I suggest: Sit down in a chair, place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised, "I will be with you always." Then, just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now.' So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm."

The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old woman to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with her, anointed her with oil, and returned to the church.

Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her mama had died that afternoon. "Did she die in peace?" he asked.

"Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, she called me over to her bedside, told me she loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found her. But there was something strange about her death. Apparently, just before Mom died, she leaned over and rested her head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?"

The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could all go like that."

AMEN!!!

PPFOC TUESDAY (Parents Praying For Others Children)

<center><a href="http://goosehillfarm.blogspot.com/"><img border="1" src="http://i42.tinypic.com/1glssw.jpg" /></a>

"PPFOC TUESDAY"
(Parents Praying For Other Children)

If you would like for us to pray for your child specifically by name in our prayer time, please either leave a comment or send us a message with your child's name and/or prayer request.

If you would like to join in "PPFOC Tuesday" with us, please feel free to grab a button and let us know you are participating by posting it on your blog.

God Bless!

A Parents Prayer
© Althea A. Anker

Thank you God for
The children of mine
Who teach me things
That blow my mind.
They entertain themselves
In the funniest ways.
I pray that the innocence
They possess never goes away.
I pray they will
Grow up and be smart,
And I pray that they will never grow apart.
I pray that they will call home
Whenever they are near a phone.
I pray that they never feel alone.
I hope they turn to YOU
Through guidance and prayer
And know that YOU and their parents
Will always be there.

Our Newest Addition To The Farm

Skippy, Kiddo, and I went on a road trip today to pick up a very special young lady. May I introduce you to the latest addition to our family, precious Pheobe! She is a WONDERFUL girl with such a sweet disposition! This first pic is of Pheobe and her new daddy. She climbed up in between the two front seats and helped him drive the whole way home! lol It was 102*F, so I'm sure part of the reason she was sitting there was to get all the coolness from the a/c! Smart baby! :> )


A friend of ours who owns a kennel/pet resort, called a few weeks ago looking for Goose.. She said she had a lady who was looking for a home for their beloved pug. We had wanted a Pug for quite awhile.

We met Pheobe's family today and they are WONDERFUL people. We promised to keep them updated with pics and e-mails and they can come and visit her any time they want. I know how much they meant to her and can't stand that thought of that sweet family never seeing her again.

Here are a few pics of our newest addition and a cute little poem I found on-line. I hope you enjoy them!



A PUG POEM

In just six days, in order to begin it,God made the world and everything in it.

And after he rested, he said with a start,"Whatever shall I do with these leftover parts?"

"When I decided to make creatures to travel two by two

And populate the world, I thought my work was through.

But my order got mixed up somehow I found out with a shock,

All my creatures are completed, but there's parts left in the box!

There's noses and toeses and things that look like roses

And eyes that melt your heart away-

You think anyone supposes

There's enough left in the box, that with lots of glue and stuff

Another creature can be made that would be good enough?

"So God summoned Gabriel, who said "Now don't you fret,

Let's stick the parts together and see what we get.

"The angels put their aprons on and spread the parts around,

And soon another creature appeared there on the ground.

Four tiny legs stuck on a sausage bod,

A piglet's tail on one end, the other just as odd.

Just a mass of wrinkles where a face should be

And the nose put on inside out-least it looked that way to me.

When God surveyed the results, he said "T'would do no harm

To give this funny little thing an extra dose of charm.

And since the pint sized hearts are gone a lion's heart will do

For this mini creature that thinks she's 6 foot 2.

"So now the story has been told and it gives my heart a tug

To learn just how she came to be, this thing we call a Pug.

Author - Unknown

Thank you, Skippy, for this precious gift!
I LOVERS, MY PHEOBE GIRL!!

When God Says No

(This devotional was taken from a newletter I receive from Daily Focus, a devotional for homeschoolers by homeschoolers, from Alpha Omega Publications)

"In the day when I cried thou answered me."
Psalm 138:8

Our family was considered poor while we homeschooled. Living on one income left us with little money, and trips to the grocery store were made only for milk, flour, eggs, and other staples. We baked our own bread and supplemented our food budget with a bountiful garden. Thankfully, we always had something to eat, and my children never went to bed hungry. However, there were times during our homeschooling when I didn't understand why God allowed our financial situation. I longed for the convenience of prepackaged foods and thought, "It's not fair. Other homeschooling families don't have to cook from scratch, and they have so much more time for field trips and fun days."

My frustration continued until I taught my children the inspirational story of Amy Carmichael. Amy was a Christian missionary in India who founded an orphanage for thousands of children who otherwise would have suffered a bleak future. As a child, Amy prayed to have blue eyes instead of brown. When the color never changed, she was desperately disappointed that God hadn't answered her prayer. Amy's mother lovingly explained that "No" was an answer to prayer too, and years later, Amy discovered the reason for God's answer. To rescue the abused children in India, Amy had to disguise herself as a native. Dyeing her skin with coffee, Amy was able to keep from being recognized as a foreigner because her eyes were brown, not blue. After reading Amy's story to my family, I thought, "Maybe God has a reason for telling me "No," too."

As time went on and my children grew into adulthood, I finally understood God's reason for those hours spent cooking in the kitchen. Because our resources were limited, my children had enjoyed a healthy diet of homegrown, homemade food. They were fit and strong and had also learned how to be good cooks themselves. What I had considered a detriment to our homeschooling had actually been a huge blessing.

What do you do when God answers your prayer with "No"? Satan will tempt you to pout as you see greener grass on the other side of the fence, but don't believe him. God's perfect plan for your life will only be fulfilled as you learn to follow Him in obedience, including those times when He says, "No." "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11).

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Father, thank You for answering prayer. I confess that only You know what's best for my life. Like a child, help me to trust You when You say "No" and to realize that it's always for my own good. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"PPFOC TUESDAY" (Parents Praying For Other Children)

<center><a href="http://goosehillfarm.blogspot.com/"><img border="1" src="http://i42.tinypic.com/1glssw.jpg" /></a>

"PPFOC TUESDAY"
(Parents Praying For Other Children)

If you would like for us to pray for your child specifically by name in our prayer time, please either leave a comment or send us a message with your child's name and/or prayer request.

If you would like to join in "PPFOC Tuesday" with us, please feel free to grab a button and let us know you are participating by posting it on your blog.

God Bless!

A Parents Prayer
© Althea A. Anker

Thank you God for
The children of mine
Who teach me things
That blow my mind.
They entertain themselves
In the funniest ways.
I pray that the innocence
They possess never goes away.
I pray they will
Grow up and be smart,
And I pray that they will never grow apart.
I pray that they will call home
Whenever they are near a phone.
I pray that they never feel alone.
I hope they turn to YOU
Through guidance and prayer
And know that YOU and their parents
Will always be there.

Crochet Hanger

I was visiting over at "Marmalade Rose" today and came across her post on how to make these adorable crochet hangers. Aren't they just darling? I'm not a crocheter (is that a word?) but I know a bunch of ladies who are, so I thought I would post the link. What do you think, Renee.....is this something I could do?
:> )

To see and view the directions to make these beautiful hangers and other BEAUTIFUL projects, please click HERE!

Happy Father's Day, Dad

“Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!”
-Lydia M. Child

I would like you to meet my dad, Ralph Gordon. This is his graduation picture taken back in 1947. He stood 6'11". This is one of my favorite pictures of him. Isn't he just the most handsome fellow?

He was a wonderful dad with a love for the LORD! Dad had great sense of humor. . . . .you have to with 8 kids! lol
It is hard to believe that Dad has been gone 20 years this past May. Barely a day goes by that I don't think of him.

I love you, Dad, and can't wait until the day that we will all be together again in God's glorious kingdom!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, PAPA!!

I LOVE YOU!

Farm Humor

ENJOY!
:> )

Then and Now

It's hard to believe that our Amberlink pullets are now 6 weeks old! It doesn’t seem very long ago that they were sweet, fuzzy little chicks. To view their first pics and video, please click HERE!

I was certainly NOT ready for them to be in their house, but it was time. The pullets are doing great on pasture, and it’s amazing to see how well they forage for insects, slugs and seeds. It is hysterically funny to watch them chase one another when they think their sister has something worthy of sharing! I find myself shouting, Zig-zag, baby.......ZIG-ZAG! lol

I have to say, I just LOVE my baby girls. I spend each morning talking to them while I either read or have a cup of coffee or pink lemonade. They are each starting to develop their own personalities, which is really cool to watch. There is one that is REALLY LOUD so I named her Gena after one of my girlfriends who has an amazing singing voice! LOL She loves it!

It has been extremely hot here as of late, so we have put 2 fans in the chicken house to circulate the air. One sucking the hot air out and one to oscillate. We are hoping to put a couple of windows in too and then wiring them out so nothing can get in. We have already lost one sweetie, my poor Bessie Girl, to a neighbor's outside cat! Oh, how I cried! :> (

On Saturday, Skippy and Kiddo put together a chicken run for them that we can move around the yard. This way, I can leave them out to forage and get some fresh air and sunshine without having to sit there and keep watch like I do now about 7 times a day. I am, however, getting a lot of reading done and I am getting a nice tan! Skippy asked me this morning, while looking at my stack of library books, how I have managed to read that much lately. Well, now he knows! lol













Here are some pics of our babies now. I hope you enjoy them!

To My Friends

Getting Back To Normal

I have so enjoyed the time that Bean has been able to spend with us. We have had a wonderful time shopping, going out to lunch, watching movies, or just hanging out doing nothing. Her 2 Boston Terriers are the cutest little guys and we have become very attached to them. I will hate to see them all go, but they are all anxious to get home and see Tex. Bean was able to finally talk to him since he left for the field almost a month ago. It didn't matter to her that it was 3:30 THIS MORNING! lol

My sweetie will be leaving on Sunday, but will be returning again in August and will be staying with us while she finds an apartement. We would love it if she stayed with us, but she wants to get a job and be on her own. KUDDOS to you, Bean!

Well, I can't tell you how much has NOT been done while Bean has been here. So many things have been put to the wayside so I could spend time with my girl. Starting Monday, it's back to the norm.....I hope! lol

I hope everyone has been doing well while I've been gone. I miss you all and look forward to getting back to blogging and catching up with all of my precious friends!

Best Friends

One of my best friends, Daisy, came over to drop off her fur baby, Mollie. Mollie gets so excited when she gets to come and spend time with Aunt Laura and Uncle Skippy. We have the pleasure this time of having her for the long weekend.

I was so excited that Daisy was able to spend a few hours with us before she had to leave. We had dinner, talked, and played Mancala.

Then it was off to the porch for some SUN TEA and to just relax and enjoy each others company.

Later on she also battled with Kiddo on Guitar Hero. That was a hoot to see. I even took a video but my battery died before the song was finished. I think it was the longest song on the game, "Free Bird!"

I thank God for Daisy, for being such a wonderful friend. I am so blessed to have you in my life!

Love ya!