A Bigger Picture

I had the craziest idea this morning about my youngest son. I mean, in a good way. I don't know how other moms sit around and wonder about their kid's future like I do, but I have been praying for my children to know what they were supposed to do in life since I knew I was pregnant with them. I believe that each of us were created to fill a specific role at an exact point in time. You can blame Rick Warren, author of Purpose Driven Life, who says that our lives are not about us. More importantly; King Solomon, author of Ecclesiastes, who said there is a time for everything. A time for war and a time for peace, comes to my mind. I also blame myself, because it seems as if I will never have a definitive career beyond that of homemaker and I wish better for my kids. But they are boys, so likely will never have my particular issues.

I had a friend once who said " Don't worry about who you will be, maybe one of your boys will be the next Billy Graham." It always made me mad that I would be known more for the exploits of my male children than for having any identity of my own. Besides I did not want to self actualize my dreams through them. That's unfair. That being said I have not been surprised when my kid's ideals ran opposite of mine. I just figured that God had a specific job in mind for each of them, and it's definitely not being like the late Reverend Graham.

Josh: Soldier of the future?

The crazy idea for my youngest is, that he become an unmanned drone pilot for the military. Uhh, do I really like the idea? Not so much, because the stakes are high and often involve making morally grey decisions in order to fulfill mission objectives. As a Christian I have difficulty navigating grey areas such as determining who a good guy and a bad guy are, especially when all everybody does is kill each other. I'm glad that I have never been called on to make the same kind of choices that, say, my military police husband does. The strange thing is, that my boy can. Weird to watch, he can objectively defeat an enemy with the aid of his team in online video games. I hate them,(most video games) they are violent and I wish we lived in a world where entertainment was dancing to bluegrass music and painting lovely pictures. That's my world. Not his, or his dad's or my other son's.

     The dad: Soldier, policeman.

For a long time it has resonated with me that we are raising up an army with the violent video games. The kids have such precision with tactical planning. Yeah, I read and saw Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. Sometimes I think my kid is like Ender; it disturbs me. However, each person is created to fulfill a specific purpose by God. maybe my youngest son's reason for being, is to be a valuable military tactician. Crazy to think of being the mother of somebody like this. The other boy is a computer science major who has heavy leanings toward particle physics. The youngest can sing like an angel, play trumpet and has great compassion. The oldest is bouncy, friendly and is avid about extreme weather. They are a combination of opposites. My artistic, idealistic self wonders how I gave birth to them.

     J.C.: Computer science and particle physics student.

It is a series of world events that has drawn my attention to the increasing need to have the skills necessary to operate these drones. There is no one thing that makes for the pattern obvious. There is also a need for particle physic scientists, and currently the world needs rough and ready lawmen like my husband.

 But most of that kind of thinking is beyond my scope.

Because... Here I sit, planting apple trees, raising chickens, making a pleasant home. I wish that I did not see the bigger picture. It is frightening.

Peach Poke Cake

Do you remember those Jell-o poke cakes that were popular in the late 70's? Umm, dating myself a bit but mom used to make them because they were tasty and simple. I think that the fruity flavors make better cakes in the springtime and summer when flavors like chocolate and spice are heavy and cloying. So the last cake that I made was for a friend and I thought it would be good to break out some cherished home canned peaches for an extra special treat.

It's not really a recipe, just a concept. I don't use a special home made batter, just a white cake mix. There is a way to improve any box mix. Use whole milk instead of water, and add an extra two tablespoons of oil to improve the moisture of the cake.

Bake the cakes as directed on the package. While they cool make the Jell-o using the quick set method. Use a wooden spoon to poke holes every inch or so in the cake and pour the Jell-o all over the top of the cake(s). Then refrigerate till the Jell-o is set.

 Our commissary only had sugar free peach Jell-o and I was concerned that it would not set up right in the cake, but it did just fine. Assembly is easy. Whip real cream, slice peaches and make pretty layers.

This is one juicy and luscious warm weather cake. pansies are edible if they haven't been treated with any pesticides and make easy decorations.

I know it's crazy, but I do not always prefer chocolate when the weather warms up. I wonder if other people feel the same?

Happy

Yeah! our beloved doggie is home! 
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A Threat

My meanest rooster has sacrificed his life for the flock. Coyotes have killed off six birds now and I have felt despair over the losses. It has been impossible to create a chicken run that would protect the flock during the day. In addition, two neighborhood dogs are hunting my birds too.

The worst: our wonderful family dog ran away yesterday during a thunderstorm. We are grieving.
The parents of the barn swallow chicks in the barn have disappeared too. Family issues are happening. The bank account has been on empty for a week.

Sigh.

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength. An ever present help in times of trouble.


The good things:

I might be able to get a job as a cook at my church.

It is green outside.

My husband had fun teaching my sons how to be a better shot yesterday

There is still plenty of food in the pantry.

There are pretty goldfinches at my bird feeder.

It is pleasant and cool outside today.

There are ox eye daises in the yard.

The forest sounds alive and happy.

There is always hope.

My Backyard "Pets"

Bird feeding is one of those things that has to happen in order for me to be happy. Plus, it helps keep the bugs down so the garden can do better. The best things are the colors and sounds that come with feeding the birds. It makes for entertainment that is far better than any programming on network T.V. I call it Backyard Bird Television!

 

This is the setting. A new-old bird feeder that I built out of scrap lumber and tin that was abandoned eons ago here on the farm, just for me to find. I love living in the country because people leave behind all sorts of junk that is useful.

I have the usual suspects found in the Mid-west. cardinals and bluebirds, goldfinches, doves, titmice, nuthatches, and indigo buntings. I have had migrants like red breasted grosbeaks too.

I like the bluebirds the best, because they are not common at the feeder. This guy is not interested in seeds. He is scoping the yard for insects to take home to his wife and children. I am lucky that they nest in my yard. Last year they used one of the nest boxes I put out, but this year I think they are in a cavity hollowed out by a woodpecker. A few years back, Missouri had a tremendous ice storm that killed off a lot of larger trees. In the years since they have become valuable real estate for woodpeckers and then other cavity nesters' such as bluebirds.

The open feeder is for birds that dislike having a roof over their heads. I did not know that there was a preference for this until I made the large covered feeder. The covered one keeps seed from getting wet, but the open one allows for the birds to scatter quickly in case a hawk comes.

But sometimes the threat is no more than a bluejay making a convincing act of a hawk. They do it to scare all of the other birds away from the food, the little boogers! I love them anyway and all of the birds are kind of like an extended family of pets that I look after. I help feed them so they can feed their young. They repay me with music, pest control and entertainment.

It's the Little Things

The garden last year was a bust other than the kohlrabi and the radishes. That's mom holding up our bounty. We both don't really know what to do with kohlrabi, but the radishes were good with butter.

There is nothing like a college algebra class to divide attention away from the things that really matter. That is where my entire last summer went and I had no energy left to tend to growing anything. Having finally conquered the dreaded math class I feel much more comfortable throwing some of that energy into this years garden.

The family helped put up fences to keep the chickens out and hopefully some deer as well. That's mom again helping out with her trusty mini tiller.

I am happy about this garden and have hopes for tomatoes so juicy that they run down my chin.

We also bought fruit trees from Stark growers who are located only 3 hours away from Waynesville. We bought three apple trees suited to Missouri, a peach tree and a cherry tree too. The first year of homesteading was about learning how to raise chickens. This will be the year to begin establishing our gardens.

 

 Seeds for perennials, I have only dreamed about having, are started and doing well. As a military family we have moved with too much frequency to consider planting anything other than annuals, but I think we will be here for a while.

So bring on the garden and all of the joys it inspires. Thank you God for all the blessings you have given me and my family.