Oh my, yesterday was a busy (and tiring!) day for us. It's a good thing the snow was light, and not heavy, because of all the shoveling and clearing we had to do! Shoveling out the paths (again), shoveling off the porches and decks, shoveling paths to the vehicles and clearing them off, shoveling a path down the front yard over headed towards Gracie's pen for the water hose, and Levi also pushed snow out of the driveway with the tractor! I'm sure glad we didn't lose our electricity or anything like that!

So, here's some of the promised photos that I took today, between shovels. I had to shovel a while so that I could get my fingers nice and toasty warm (instead of being white, numb, and frozen!) so I could snap some photos, seeing as I have a real hard time doing it with my big, bulky gloves on.

I stayed on the paths most of the time while taking photos, because I didn't want to risk getting snow and ice down my boots! Brrr! And in some of the spots where the snow had blown more than 13 inches, it was well over the top of my boots! The first photo up on the left was taken from my bedroom window yesterday morning. After I saw how the light was "hitting" (can't think of a better expression!) the trees, I just couldn't resist snapping a shot of it!

Then a picture of snow on the tree limbs…icicles hanging off the barn roof, a closer shot of them, and Hannah with the guineas!

There's Hannah and Shadow on the path to the turkey building. They're usually behind me, instead of in front of me (especially if I have the scratch bucket!), but this time they decided to take the lead. I love this next picture of Shadow… his tongue is out! haha!

The last photo is my favorite, I think. With the snow, icicles hanging on the barn, and the wood smoke coming out the chiminy, just gives it that nice "look", if you know what I mean!

Is it really true that today is the first day of 2010? Indeed, it seems not too long ago since last year began, and now it has flown by already and a new year has begun. It seems impossible that yesterday was actually the last day of 2009!

I wondered and wondered what I could post for the beginning of the new year, and decided to post one photo from each month to recap/review the year. Enjoy! By the way, does anyone realize how hard that was for me, to just pick ONE photo from each month?   (In order, from January to December)

In the year that now is before us, I pray that we all would seek the Lord more earnestly, draw closer to Him and strive daily to become more like Christ. I pray that those who call themselves "Christians" would come to realize the truth of what is taught in God's Word, and not be deceived by false teachers, preachers, pastors, or prophets. Oh, that they would turn from their sins and follow Christ with their whole heart, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts! Let all who name the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

May those who are truly following Christ be faithful, stedfast, unwavering. Let us constantly seek His face and His will, studying His Word to shew ourselves approved, rightly dividing the word of truth, and obeying the truth without hesitation, choosing like Moses, to suffer with the people of God, rather than enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season.

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6)
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. (James 4:8a)

In conclusion, allow me to leave you with some quotes to ponder on…

The Bible no longer has a lawful places in most of our schools and colleges; family prayer is generally a lost habit; our Lord Jesus Christ, God's only begotten and well-beloved Son, is discredited and dishonored in the house of His professed friends; corporate testimony on earth is over; the call to Laodicea to repent unheeded; and our Lord's promise of communion with Him is now to the individual. — Richard L. Roberts

Only those who are thus earnestly following Christ are worthy to be called Christians. – Mabel Hale

'August Emperor,' Macer cried, 'I am a Christian. I will fight wild beasts, but I will not raise my hand against a fellow man. I can die, but I will not kill.' — from The Martyr of the Catacombs

We chose His cross deliberately, and together. It is His cause. As He died for us, so we must be prepared to die for Him. His grace is our only strength and His promise our hope. – Margareta Sattler

Those are without faith who have not ceased from sin. — Michael Sattler

Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for? — Leonard Ravenhill

We ought to be willing to live our lives, and if necessary, give our lives, in His service. If our faith is not worth dying for, it is not worth living for. – Worth Dying For

Ah, so much progress has been made with the building since I last updated you all! It doesn't just look like a bunch of sticks concreted in the ground now, but actually has a roof, can you believe it?!

Last week Mom and I went back to WV for a quick trip to pick Megan back up and bring her back for another visit with us (which we're all greatly enjoying!). It's actually been one week already today that she's been here with us! How strange that time flies by so quickly.

Sometime soon we will be getting a little kitty cat for the barnyard, Lord willing! I *think* it's the one on the first picture all the way to the left (who looks like he's about ready to punch the camera ), but there's two orange ones so I kind of get confused as to which one it is. Right now they are at my Aunt Mel's house, but I think she's going to be bringing one down here soon.

It's a male, short haired, and orange. I am really hoping he'll turn out to be a good mouse cat, because we've really been getting a lot of mice around here lately and I'm not too good at catching them myself! We haven't decided on a name for him though, I reckon that'll wait until we get to know his personality a bit, then can decide on a proper name for him!

In the left picture you'll notice Shadow getting a drink…..out of Dad's water cup!! LOL! He must've really liked that cold water! And in the right picture you'll see the chair I was sitting in, beside Megan, only when I got up my seat was instantly taken by someone else….Hannah! That silly goat!

I'm sure by now ya'll are wanting to see the updated pictures of the barn structure. Ah well, I suppose I've kept you waiting in suspense long enough!

There you have it, friends! All our progress made since my last post, and it sure is a lot, isn't it? I'm very thankful that the LORD has kept us safe while we've worked on it, especially when Dad and Levi were up on the very top metal roof putting it on and doing stuff!!

Oh my, this year is seeming to go very fast! It seems like yesterday it was February and March, and now 'tis August already! It is almost hard to believe.

The past couple of days have been spent settling the goats in, and they are doing splendidly! We also changed King's name… it's now officially Shadow (because he's so black, and he's constantly being Hannah's "Shadow"). We've been keeping them in Woofie's old dog pen during the day when we're not outside (and we've been outside a whole lot more getting them used to the surroundings) and right now they're residing in the Turkey Building at night, which seems to suit them well.

Gran and Pap are supposed to be coming down tomorrow, so in the morning is house cleaning time! (and won't they be surprised to see goats!) I look forward to getting to spend a day or two with them while they're here!

I gave Daniel (the rooster) a bath the other day… I used to give my old Black Australorp rooster baths all the time throughout summer (and he loved it; floated just like a duck!) and he never had a problem with mites, lice, etc ~ he was a very clean rooster! Danny didn't care for the water too much, to say the least, and I think I got wet just about as much as he did!

Jacob didn't mind it as bad, and I got him pretty well soaked.. of course I think he kind of enjoyed it today because it was sooo hot outside! Very, very humid and sticky. I'm glad there was at least a little breeze blowing!

Above are a few of the new Scripture wallpapers and tag graphics for blogs that I've been adding to Thy Word Forever. If you click on them, it'll take you to the correct post on TWF so you can download the wallpaper(s) or tag! Remember, I'm doing the requests there now (and also posting them all there), so if you want a custom Bible wallpaper or a custom Scripture tag for your blog, you'll need to go there to request it (and feel free to do so!)