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Boundaries–Lessons from Rockin’ N Farms

Life at Rockin’ N Farms has become a little more interesting. A *certain* little girl talked her daddy into some goats and at the end of April, four cute little boys made their home in our back pasture and barn with the donkeys. When the call came through that they were ready, we had to scramble to get an area set aside for them because of their size. We felt it was best for the donkeys to get used to...

Scratched Pews

Several months ago on “our” church pew we noticed some scratches. We were oblivious until those scratches became deeper and more visible. It was then we realized the buckles from Kelly’s suspenders were the culprit. A choice had to be made. We could choose to ignore the scratches and continue damaging the pew…or not. A small pillow was quickly grabbed and put behind him as a barrier to protect the wood from those metal buckles. Looking at those scratches made...

Love Like Jesus

Over the course of the pandemic, we watched and worshiped with several congregations over the United States.  On one particular Lord’s day, we worshiped with Kingwood here in town and Green Lawn in Lubbock, TX. Both Brother Jeff Brown and Brother Dale Mannon had the same message: LOVE LIKE JESUS.   That afternoon, Jody decided it was time to install a basketball goal in the barn.  The directions said it took four capable adults to lift it and secure it into...

God and the Waves

Last week we just needed away.  A family friend graciously offered a place to stay in the panhandle of Florida and we packed up and spent a few days on the Emerald Coast with the pure white sand.  This is one of our FAVORITE PLACES.  The kids LOVE playing in the water, exploring, building sand castles and sea creatures, taking sunset walks and crab hunting at night. Oh…and the fresh seafood.   A couple of days during our stay, the ocean...

Remember who you are and whose you are…..

Youth sports. For our family:  our two oldest boys play.  The youngest one (a girl)–hasn’t necessarily expressed all that much interest but put her in the gym and she does want a basketball in her hand (which makes this basketball coaching momma happy). We try and balance.  It is tough.  It can be demanding and some weeks it takes up probably more time than we would like.  But our boys love it–whether in the gym with a basketball or on...

God’s Beautiful Tapestry

When I was a little girl, I wanted a BIG happy family! I remember praying for it and imagining what it would be like. I thought a big family would solve the woes of my world. You see, I was pretty much an only child raised by my beloved grandmother. My parents were good people actually but they could not beat their demons of substance abuse the first sixteen years of my life. As with most folks without God in...

From my heart about racism today

I with the rest of America was broken watching George Floyd beg for breath in his last moments. I heard the anger, the protests, the pain. I can’t write. I can’t think clearly. I unplugged from social media after a former student hurled racism at me for not posting sooner; I was stunned. I turned off the news when the “spin” became louder than the situation. I am a child of the integration years in Little Rock. Busing, segregation, and...

My “Ode” to the Journey–A Sincere Heart

God desires from us sincerity..He wants us to have a sincere heart (Ephesians 6:5); a sincere mind (2 Peter 3:1), a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5), a sincere wisdom (James 3:17); a sincere devotion to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3), and a sincere brotherly love for other Christians (1 Peter 1:22). That means He wants our whole heart in every area of our life.  He wants us to be authentic.  He wants us to be real. Most of you know that...

God Said No…

Prayer changes things.  A few weeks ago I posted on Facebook a picture of my “prayer board”.  It seemed like something a few of my friends might like to make for themselves because…I’ve got PRAYING friends!  These friends keep journals, lists, notecards, mirror notes, and notebooks filled with requests from those who know they are committed to their prayer life.  If you ask them to pray for you – IT IS DONE!  No need to worry that it will be...

Dear Betty Crocker Cookbook–and Thank You Grandmommy Kay

Our word this week on Sheltered in Grace is HONOR.  When defined, it means to give esteem and respect for what someone has done.  I have been blessed with incredible grandmothers, a great mother, much like Timothy.  They have poured into me, guided me, pruned me when needed (even when it hurt), and helped mold me to who I am today.  So today, I want to honor one of them:  Kay Francis Beaman Hays–my maternal grandmother, whose influence still reigns heavily...