Processing Lambs, Preparing the Garden, and more of my Rambling

Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 01:43

Hello Friends!
The Wood family has been busy processing lambs and enjoying the results of our hard work. We had some friends of Joe come and show us how it was done and what an experience! We processed 8 lambs for our own family and were very pleased with the results. The meat tastes great- lean and delicious! We then were able to help some friends of ours process two of their older lambs. We felt so blessed to be able to return the blessing for others since the Lord had so kindly given us someone to show us how to learn this new skill for our family! I love blessing others, don't you? It feels so good to take whatever we have whether it be a kind word, warm Scone, used textbook or extra garden seeds and share with others! I thank the Lord for the joy He gives us in the simple things of life! I have posted a few pictures of the lambs we processed. We have enjoyed sharing meals with friends and roasting marshmellows together. It has been great fun!

Beth-Joy and I have been plotting and preparing for our garden. Thanks to a dear friend we have all our seeds and just need to put in the labor to get the garden going! We are all excited to enjoy the fruit of our hands. Joe and I have been pruning the fruit trees that haven't been done for 20 years.... can you imagine the tangled mess? It has really been quite a challenge and while I prune these poor trees back I am reminded of the many times my life has resembled this severe pruning.  The trees look empty as if they will never offer fruit again. The children walked by as my Joe and I worked questioning if we weren't really killing the tree instead of helping it and I loved my Joes' reply. He said, "It may appear as if this tree will never again give us fruit but in reality what we are doing is going to produce bigger sweeter fruit that is easier to harvest." Oh, how that has been the case so many times in my life. I have felt as if I had nothing left to offer, that I have been pruned by the hand of God is such a matter that I could never again bear fruit. I am sure some examined my life and questioned the Master themselves and yet today I see that I am bearing fruit- fruit that is easier for others to have access to because it is no longer hidden within the tangled branches of life!

As you can see the Father continues to show Himself to us through the daily activities here on our Ranch! I am encouraged to seek Him and learn from Him. To not become so busy in the activity of life that I miss the Messages from Him that are eternal. The children are all growing and enjoying this time of year. They are eager for the next snow storm and yet, today I am enjoying the warmer weather. My mother sent me the link that I have posted on the top of my blog. I encourage you to listen to it and then go through and investigate each issue that is discussed. My Joe and I have been researching the issues and been made aware of much we didn't realize before. I know that today on the news they were talking about postponing the May 2008 date mentioned in the clip to 2010 due to some difficulties with getting government agencies to communicate and share information. I don't post this to scare anyone or to sound like an alarmist... more just to encourage you that we already know the "end of the story" so let's be prepared Spiritually.. keeping our eyes steadfast on HIM. Don't become tangled up in things that really have no eternal substance. As a mommy I delight in the fact that ministering to my children and husband have great eternal meaning! It is my desire to do a job that I can one day hear the Father say, "Well done my good and faithful servant." May my life lead others to Him!

With much love,
Mrs. Joseph Wood

Elisha learned along side his daddy and took the matter with great respect and honor. The two men walking Elisha through his frist lamb are friends of my Joes. Our time was so peaceful, not stressful at all!  Each of these lambs had names and we had bottle fed them yet, no tears were shed because we knew we cared for them as the Lord would have us too in apprecation for the food they would provide for us.

Daddy and Elisha working on our lambs


Daddy and Beth making the cuts while I put it all in Food Saver bags.

Foodsaver

Posted by Cheryl on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 07:28 - Link

Jeanette, do you use a Tilia foodsaver? I have gallon AND quart size bags I just 'sold' on the local online yard sale group. BUT the gal hasn't emailed me back, so I will post them as "sold" and save them for you. Please let me know if there's a time you're over this way or that I can get them to you. I'm fairly close to your mom's a couple of times a week and can put them on the porch if you remind me of her address!

Untitled Comment

Posted by schatzila on Monday, January 14, 2008 at 09:44 - Link

I watched the YouTube....WOW.....I am so thankful that God is bigger than all that...and nothing that goes on in the world passes His eyes....I serve a mighty God and He will have the ultimate victory.

Blessings,

Connie