Introspection

"Faithfulness in little things is a big thing."

Saint John Chrysostom (c. 347-407)

A look through my journals recently, which contain pictures and quotes and stories I like, I came across this quote that describes me:

"Although I never rose above the position of secretary, my reputation as a woman of notes was recognized by many in my day."   Bernard Barton, Quaker Poet

Secretaries have not always been thought of as a desirable position. But I found it to be fulfilling, and it used the gifts God gave to me.

This quote brought back memories from a girl in school. A friend's mother was a secretary, and I wanted to be one. I couldn't understand shorthand in High School, and thought, "I can't be a secretary.

After a few years with the local telephone company, I was given an opportunity to be a secretary. Even without shorthand. A dream came true. I never thought it would happen.

Then a few years later when I became a Christian, I was walking down the church hallway. As I passed the church office I thought: "I'll never be able to work in the church office because I've been divorced." Some twenty years later I found myself working in a church office. I never thought it would happen.

After a few more years, I found myself working as a secretary in a State Convention. I never felt worthy. Why would they want me? I've been divorced. But God said I was worthy.

Being a secretary was all I've ever wanted to be. I was offered management positions in the telephone company, but I turned them down. And I did inspire to a higher ground with the convention but still in the Administrative field. I knew my talents and gifts were specifically meant to work as a secretary. And God fulfilled each dream.

It may not seem like much, but for me it was everything. And early in my career I started writing notes. And the purpose of my writing notes was to encourage others with God's love. And because of Him, I have been recognized for my service of note writing.

Little things. A secretary. A note writer. Little in many eyes. Big in my eyes. I've found it's not what you are. It's if you're faithful with what God has given you to do.

This isn't a pat on the back for me. I am unworthy of everything. It's the faithfulness of God when someone gives their life to Him.

"Is your place a small place? Tend it with care!--He set you there.

Is your place a large place? Guard it with care!--He set you there.

Whate'er your place, it is Not yours alone, but his Who set you there."

John Oxenham (1861-1941)

So never fear in how big or small the things are that you do for God. Use the gifts He has given you and be faithful.

"God has not called me to be successful; he has called me to be faithful." Mother Theresa of Calcutta

Abby and Jo waiting for Mom to finish typing.

The Farmer's Inn

A popular Inn opened for the season just down the road from us. I visited it a few times when Jerry and I would come up for a long weekend. On a beautiful spring day we drove over to enjoy a meal. The slide show is from their website.

Located a few minutes from Clear Creek State Park, and down the road from Cook's Forest State Park, it's a well know establishment that offers food, a small zoo, golf, play areas for children and on this lovely day the goats were showing off their newborns!

As always, I had my camera with me. Hope you enjoy the snaps!

The spring season started a little late for me. Daffodils are only now blooming. They were in beautiful form as we went to church on Easter Sunday morning.

While out snapping the daffodils I found these three turkeys practicing their fanfare!

We'll visit The Farmers Inn during the spring and summer. A few years ago they had a bear, but I must admit, he didn't look very happy to be there. Advanced in age. In a rut. But, a bear is a bear. 

Our new driveway up to the front porch is now complete. They put down fine gravel over the limestone on Monday. The worker said it would harden and be similar to concrete. As I mentioned on Facebook, it has been a long four months of snow, rain and mud walking down to the vehicles. It's so nice to be able to walk down the porch steps and have the vehicles right there! 

I read a short work on "The Power of Humanity: Why Women Need Their Girlfriends" by Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis.  It speaks for itself. "Our girlfriends can't save us, for only God can do that, but girlfriends can help make a tragedy bearable. They can read our mind and our emotions, intuitively recognize what needs to be done--then do it. They can listen, empathize and show compassion. They can be used by God to comfort us and provide a timely shoulder to cry on."

I do write a lot about girlfriends. I think one reason may be that I don't have family members close by, like my sister who lives in Oklahoma, or my estranged daughter who lives in Florida. Their presence is missed.

Relations in my family have not been good through the years. So I've built my life around friends. It's been a good relationship all these years, but at special occasion times, like Easter, a side of me hurts for not having family members near. I am thankful and grateful for the joy I receive from my friends, and will always carry them close to my heart.

If you are fortunate to have close family members to enjoy, say a special thanksgiving today for those people.

And if you're like me, with little or no family around you, thank God for bringing you into His family and fulfilling a need that we all have.

And now a thought to leave you with . . .

"If we are involved in doing what we were put on earth to do, a joyful heart is almost guaranteed--even in the midst of deepest difficulties."

Thomas Kinkade, Lightposts for Living

Words

"A hymnal is typically a hard bound book containing a lifetime of testimonies and worship, held sacred by those who use it for praise and community. Although the songs are far-reaching and serve as the soundtrack of the lives of so many church-goers, they are in no way common, but reverent works of art." DeWayne Hamby, BackHome Magazine

This week as so many people go to church to celebrate the resurrection of Christ Jesus, take a moment and really listen to and think about the words you sing.

Don't just read the words off the screen at the front of the sanctuary. Perhaps this week you could pick up the hymnal and really look at the words you are singing for this special celebration.

The above quote really tells it like it is. Many songs are written from a heart that is bursting to tell their story. What God has done for them. How He answered prayer. When He comforted them.

My heart soars as I sing the songs of God. I see the words. I feel the words. And I may be the only one in the sanctuary that sings from the hymnal each week. I wouldn't change it for the world.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, my new pastor sings a cappella each week to open the service. It is a beautiful experience as I truly listen to the words and hear them sung from someone who believes them and stands tall for Christ.

Words are very important. This is an important week. Take time to look at those words. Your eyes may be opened to riches you've only dreamed about.

“Songs and hymns refresh the body. Hymns invoke the spirit to rise to its maker for strength. When we live in a day without a hymn or a song, we disregard the essence of the day”

Ernest Agyemang Yeboah

Welcome to the Barn

“A farmer, as one of his farmer correspondents once wrote to Liberty Hyde Bailey, is "a dispenser of the 'Mysteries of God.'" Wendell Berry

                                                                       

                                                                   Big Maple Farm

I invited myself to a barn. Not something I do every day. Or once a year! But I did it! And you're invited inside!

If you've read my posts very long you know I have a special affinity to lambs. Back in Maryland I had a favorite field I'd go to every March to snap to my heart's content. And a few years ago, a special friend from church contacted a client and asked if I could come see their lambs. I went to that barn twice and enjoyed walking among sheep and lambs and getting some great snaps!

But here I am in PA. Where are the sheep farms? I'd do what any reasonable person did. I looked up sheep farms in Brookville. I found two, both about an hour away near Ridgway.

Now comes the scary part. I called and asked if I could come see their lambs and take pictures. There was only a brief description of the farm on the internet, but it also said they had fall harvest days. So I thought if they do that, maybe they don't mind people coming to the farm.

I spoke to the mother of the farmer first, who then gave me the number of her son, Ray. And Ray said yes! So off we went on a cold, windy and soon to be wet morning to visit lambs.

Ray met us as we drove in and spent an hour talking with us, educating us on their farm operations, and seeming to be enjoying himself.


                                                 Come on it!

 It was dark in the barn. (I think most barns are like that.) So that means I didn't get good snaps. For some reason my flash wouldn't go off, so I confess the pictures aren't great. But we did have fun.

Jerry and Ray learned they both hated computers!

Momma looks like she's in dream land! All is well.

They have 3 horses, a miniature horse, a goat, chickens, including a rooster, rabbits, lots of cats, and sheep. And during the month of March, many little lambs brightening the barn.

His father started with a dairy farm in the 60s, and when he retired Ray brought on sheep. Then Ray's daughter, Amanda, went into business and started Big Maple Farm's Natural Therapies and brought in the other animals. So now there are two separate farms running at Big Maple.

                                             Ray said this one is the leader of the pack.

Ray has a full time job but said he could never give up sheep farming. It's a part of him. The work is hard; the pay is like the lottery, sometimes good, sometimes bad.

                                                         This one was 2 days old.

I took a picture of their sign out front when we left. I was about 50 yards away and didn't see that the sign was one-sided. :) Oh, the joy of Photoshop! Turned that sign right around.

Ray invited us back in the fall when the colors are alive. I told him I just might take him up on that.

I sure enjoyed my trip to the barn. We even stopped at a country store on the way home and I got 2 ice cream sandwiches! Hope you enjoyed your trip to the barn!


I was taking some snaps through the rails and caught this 4 day old one climbing on her mother's back.

“Men are not so much the keepers of herds as herds are the keepers of men.” Henry David Thoreau, Walden