Thankful Thursday

During the hot parts of the day we roam the woods of this property we are purchasing.  Blackberry bushes are scattered everywhere.  Bravely we reach past thorny leaves and stems to pick the ripe berries.  On the inside label of the fruit pectin is a recipe for no-cook freezer jam.  The fruit is mashed, measured, and mixed before being spooned into jars. 

Most of the boys gather for a work day.  It is time to get a chicken yard and coop made for these growing chickens.  During a recent storm one of our chicken tractors was blown a bit releasing chickens to wander.  These boys becoming men dig holes and stretch fencing to enclose an area by the garden.  Bracing an old tree house they move it to the new chicken yard.  The tree house will be recycled to become a chicken coop. 

Days and weeks fill up with work.   A few vegetables begin to bloom and grow.  Anticipation for their tasty goodness also grows as we look forward to harvesting what we have been spending our days weeding and watering.  

Daily the sun rises and sets and the Lord grants rain for watering our little garden.  I take along a hammock and Bible to rest and cool down between weeding the garden rows.  Lifting my eyes to the sky I am reminded that God is all grace and gives strong bodies to work and success to our plans.  Exhaling slowly I breathe a prayer, Father, this week I am thankful for…

“You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly.  The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for that is how you prepared the land.”  Psalm 65:9

Your wisdom in preparing the land to grow such provision

Blackberry jam

Homegrown vegetable stir-fry

Safety of wandering chickens

Precious husband and boys working together

Strong, sweaty bodies

Chicken yard

Recycling something old into something useful

Time with girlfriends

Warrior women praying together

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