Ethiopia anyone?

Sophie in Ethiopia the incredible adventures of life for a nice young nurse from Idaho working in Ethiopia - please check out this blog entry. She is only recently back there to live for several years (or as the Lord wills). Her fun loving, generous spirit shows in her writing and honestly - I feel at times like I'm there with her - enjoying the incredible gardens, trying to deal with the sporadic electricity, language barriers and beautiful wonderful people. Please read a few of her blog posts. Sophie is the sister of a wonderful blogger named Mary at Owlhaven .
It is good on Buhlaland to remember - we are the church and God is greater than we can imagine.

Eggs, glorious eggs

We don't know which of the chickens actually got busy and did her job. This morning we found our first lovely little brown egg in the egg nesting boxes. It is shown next to an extra large eggland's best just to show size. Picture is one of the more aggressive hens - they seem to think it is a good idea to peck at us - a lot.

So we are in da egg bidness at long last (really only 4 months!) here on Buhlaland and that is good.

I don't think they really heard me say the words "chicken casserole if somebody doesn't get busy with the egg part" - but within 24 hours we had an egg. Hmmmm

Flutterbye

This morning I'd like some problems we are facing to do what this butterfly did - visit if you must but then flutter away to some other garden! Isn't that selfish - to wish problems would visit somewhere else? My late husband (a wonderful guy who passed away in 1996) was often asked if he was angry a good person like him got something horrible like cancer. He (Ross) would always say "who would I wish this on? " He was a better person than I am -you probably notice I tend to marry above my grade in maturity level.

This morning we go into Fort Worth to the Heart Center for hubby to have a a stress echocardiogram. I'm claiming verses like crazy in my heart -"fear not", "trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understand" "be still and know that I am God" - but I realize the right one for us today is

2 Cor.4: 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

The possibility of serious heart problems or any of the myriad physical afflictions which can drastically change our lives aren't equal to persecution in the faith, but making that correction in my application of what Paul wrote - I still trust our physical being WILL waste away but eternal glory - now that's a trade off worth anything. Y'all remind me of this when I get down in the dumps again OK?

It IS good on Buhlaland this morning - even butterflies have the sense to enjoy what they have when they have it. This morning I have my beloved and he has me, we both have our salvation and loving Father. That's enough isn't it?

Storms or healing rain?

We were facing a day which had a strong potential for difficult life altering storms - or a gentle healing rain. Whichever was brought to us -
we knew storm clouds don't last forever but the Father's love is steadfast and eternal.
Jesus brought a little rainfall to Buhlaland this morning and it felt wonderful. The doctor appointment wasn't the devastating news we had been prepared to hear -our Abba Father once again provided solutions beyond what our limited understanding could predict.
Tonight - it is very good on Buhlaland. We might even get some more precipitation and the spiritual rain storms - they turned out to be showers of blessings!

Still kidding around

Don't want to do a blog post about the weather - it is just hot - hotter and soon to be hottest. We took pictures of our goat herd recently. Kids born in the winter are still too small for market (I fear having a nubian buck makes for low meat production but beautiful babies). Snickers is the buck - his eye-on-you picture shows his long nubian ears.






The goats with black ears are mother and daughter with their offspring.

Kids are still nursing - some of the does are "weaning" by simply walking away. The patient doe feeding her twin wethers is Yoyo - she was not a good mama but the babies are so persistent she allows them a few seconds of goat milking!




Cute faces and interesting personalities - the light colored twins are a doeling and wether - hope I haven't posted this picture before. Last picture is a doeling I call Brat -it is totally descriptive of her personality.

That's what's up in the pastures around Buhlaland - we bought some round bales of hay so the goatzees will have something to eat - not what they like but it is nutritious enough.

It's summertime on Buhlaland - we are still in a holding pattern about a new job for me and some clear path back to health for DH - but it is still good - possibility of rain soon. woo hoo!

Crape Myrtle

Natchez Crape Myrtle or what we fondly refer to as "the big one with white blooms" is beginning it's yearly display. In North Texas - we plant crape mytles as specimen plants in our landscape. CMs (as we'll call them for the rest of this short posting) can range from dwarf charmers for a border or planter to these 20 foot tall trees with interesting bark and huge bloom heads. CMs tolerate heat well, are reasonably drought tolerant and provide a focal point in our otherwise plain driveway. It is good to be pretty just for the sake of being pretty - at least that's how I see it with plants and some animals - not so much for people. It is a hot, clear Sunday in July and on Buhlaland it is good to have something flowering.

Wondering why

Here on Buhlaland - we are aware of our blessings, express our gratitude and try to share with others the abundance over which we've been made steward. For a time now - we've struggled with "why is it so HARD?" - to run a business attempting to reflect God's glory, to have a small ministry which effectively reaches those who come across our path, to relate to people in positive ways, to be healthy so we can serve? It all has seemed hard recently. "If only" people weren't so --insert appropriate negative adjective of your choice -. During our devotional time this morning what I read reminded me we have an Abba Father not a cold God who doesn't see our "wronged" hurts. Even in things/people which seem to hinder what we believe we are supposed to be doing - He is working out His plan. Knowing there is a reason - a plan -behind hard times makes for lighter burdens. Not claiming I won't chafe at times even under the lightest of burdens-- but for now - I can record today's lesson so I'll remember to see the lily and know - while it is good on Buhlaland -- it will be glorious in our eternal home
Luke 12:27-28 (New Living Translation)
27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?"


The Way Appointed by Elisabeth Elliot

One aspect of the mystery of God's sovereign will is how the calculated evil of men is not only permitted, but actually becomes a necessary part of the divine plan. We are tempted to think of the wrongs done to us as hindrances, frustrations, interruptions. "What has this got to do with the will of God?" we ask, irritated and, we suppose, justifiably impatient with human interference. But the truth is that both our time and our way are in God's hands--they are "appointed." Surely it is so for all his sons as it was for the Son of Man. When He was on the verge of being "handed over for crucifixion," and betrayed by one of his own disciples, He said, "My appointed time is near....One who has dipped his hand into this bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man is going the way appointed for him" (Mt 26:18, 24 NEB).
Out of the deepest depths of human evil the good God brought salvation--the very salvation of man whose sinfulness killed the Son He sent.
Nothing can reach us, from any source in earth or hell, no matter how evil, which God cannot turn to his own redemptive purpose. Let us be glad that the way is not a game of chance, a mere roll of dice which determines our fortune or calamity--it is a way appointed, and it is appointed for God's eternal glory and our final good.

Playing Catch up!

No bright ideas about what to say - here we go with a list of what the pictures are.
Camouflaged bird is a real roadrunner (they don't say beep beep) - actually are fast runners, good at killing snakes and lizards.









The representation-in-fruit-of-a-flag cake is the dessert we took to BFF's for Independence Day meal and fireworks fun. It was actually a WW recipe so quite legal for our weight loss plan.

The courthouse in our little town likes for people to notice national patriotic holidays - there are flags all around the town square and the courthouse grounds.

Tincan Garden - lots of green - not many vegetables. VERY hot weather.

Chickens getting big - eating a LOT no eggs yet.

Been bizzy as a bee with not so much to show as accomplishments - it is good and hot on Buhlaland and we are grateful for chickens, gardens, bees and air conditioning!

Happy and PROUD Independence Day

Flying the flag every day here on Buhlaland, we are proud of the principles upon which country was founded. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." The Declaration of Independence is a clear and well stated document. We challenge you to locate clarity or logic in anything coming out of Washington (or state capitals) in 2009.

The Creator endowed us with rights - not a government. We heard a recorded sermon given by the late Adrian Rogers reminding Americans what the government gives - it takes from us. Government has nothing to give until it takes it away from it's citizens. Government doesn't give us freedom, justice or safety - it doesn't possess them to give. Tea Parties are being held in hundreds of towns- people gathering to state the obvious - government cannot spend our country into prosperity. Please pray this holiday weekend for elected officials to exercise a sense of responsibility and reasoned action.

Enough of the heavy stuff - here on Buhlaland it is hot - going to be hotter. Watermelon in our fridge and a turkey is defrosting for weekend feasting. Below is a quiz I found online and reproduced here - hope you find it fun, instructional and you can trot out some interesting facts at the family barbecue this weekend! Stay safe - be grateful for our liberties - freedom has never been free - whether for a country or our eternal home-the cost has been blood. We are blessed and grateful here on Buhlaland.

American trivia: How much do you know?

THE DATE
1. Which three presidents died on July 4?
2. Which president laid the cornerstone for the Washington Monument on July 4, 1850?
3. What was the title of the 1969 Broadway musical, written by Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone, that told the story of the founding of the United States?
4. What city in the American South fell to Ulysses S. Grant and Union forces on July 4, 1863, after a short siege?
5. What twin advice columnists were born on July 4, 1918?
6. In one of the wildest baseball games of all time, the New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves, 16-13, in how many innings on July 4 (and 5), 1985?
THE FLAG
7. When was the Stars and Stripes authorized by Congress as the national flag?
8. The flag has 13 stripes. How many of them are red?
9. Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the Star-Spangled Banner after witnessing what?
10. Where and when was the first 50-star flag flown?
11. On the first U.S. flag, why were the stars displayed in a circle?
12. True or false: When the Pledge of Allegiance was published in 1892, the words "Under God" were not included.
THE PRESIDENTS
13. Which president served the shortest term?
14. Which president, to show his disdain for ceremony, would greet ambassadors in his pajamas?
15. Which president was the first to throw out the season-opening pitch for professional baseball?
16. To whom was the first telephone call made from the White House in 1878?
17. At 5 feet 4, who was the shortest president?
18. Which president's pet parrot had to be ejected from his funeral for screaming obscenities at mourners?
19. Which president had the most children?
20. Eleanor Roosevelt made news in 1939 when she served what dish to visiting King George VI and Queen Elizabeth?
21. Which president, when short of funds, offered White House china as the ante in poker games?
22. Which president's election was marred by charges of electoral vote corruption in Florida and other states after he lost the popular vote to his opponent?
23. Which well-dressed president was rumored to own 80 pairs of pants?
24. Who was the first chief executive to appear on television?
25. Which two presidents were signers of the Declaration of Independence?

Answers
1. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams (1826) and James Monroe (1831)
2. Zachary Taylor. He became ill with cholera that night and died five days later.
3. 1776
4. Vicksburg, Miss. It came a day after the Union victory at Gettysburg, marking a turning point in the Civil War
5. Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren (real names: Esther "Eppie" Lederer and Pauline Phillips)
6. 19 innings. The game ended at 3:55 a.m., and the Braves then fired off their Independence Day fireworks, leading many local residents to believe the city was under attack.
7. June 14, 1777. This date is observed as Flag Day.
8. Seven.
9. The bombardment of Fort McHenry
10. Philadelphia, 1960
11. So no one state would be above another.
12. True. The phrase was added in 1954.
13. William Henry Harrison, who died of pneumonia shortly after his inauguration. He served only 32 days, from March 4 to April 4, 1841.
14. Thomas Jefferson
15. William Howard Taft, on April 14, 1910, at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C.
16. Alexander Graham Bell (called by President Rutherford Hayes)
17. James Madison
18. Andrew Jackson
19. John Tyler (15)
20. Hot dogs
21. Warren G. Harding
22. Rutherford Hayes, in 1876
23. Chester Arthur (also the first to employ a full-time valet)
24. Franklin Roosevelt (April 30, 1939)
25. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams

Last day of first half of this year

177 days until Christmas


233 days until my birthday


183 days until 2010





Yep - sunset on the last day of June - the sixth month of our twelve month year. Is your cup half full or half empty? Have the first six months of 2009 been used wisely, wasted, or a combination of being fruitful and being foolish?

Regrets are truly a big waste of time. Very human to regret and pick at the emotional scabs of your heart but totally useless. Once you've repented, confessed and been forgiven - it is gone - there will still be consequences from our bad choices but we don't have to bring them up repeatedly to ourselves or to the Lord.

SOOOO - how's your year going? It is a little bumpy here on Buhlaland but we are reminded with warm beautiful sunsets, the serenades of cicadas and fresh ripe peaches from a neighbor's tree - it is good - very good.