Book Review- Mountain Breezes

I enjoy poetry, and I am grateful when a faithful saint can put into poetic words what I may struggle to articulate in comprehensible sentences. I first came across the compilation of Amy Carmichael's works at a conference several years ago. I took a picture of the book to look up at a different time. Several years past and it was not until this past fall that I obtained my own copy of this work and what a blessing it has been to my heart! 

"Mountain Breezes" is the collection of poems written by Amy Carmichael. Born in 1867 in Ireland and the oldest of 7 children, Amy grew up in a loving, Christian home. She spent time as a missionary in Japan before finding it necessary to leave due to the strain of the climate on her health. She landed in India in 1895, where she organized a traveling band of Christian women who wanted to reach other women and children. When made aware of the horrific and demonic trafficking of young children to be "married" to the Hindu gods and used to "religious" prostitution, Amy gave her heart and soul into rescuing those precious young souls. The Dohnavur Fellowship of South India was founded, and due to the faithful efforts and countless prayers of Amy and her helpers, child after child was rescued from the horrors of the life destined for them and lived to see the heinous custom of temple prostitution become outlawed in 1948. Though never marrying, Amy became "Amma" (mother) to many children who would have been lost to the evils of the world had it not been for her faithful obedience and willingness to lay it all on the line. She never had a furlough and spent the last years of her life as an invalid, but maintained a steady and fervent trust in the Lord in whom she had looked to for all those years. Amy Carmichael passed away in 1951. Her legacy continues in Dohnavur today.

The poems of "Mountain Breezes" are divided into several sections and touch a variety of heart cries, including poems for worship, surrender, ministry, encouragement, and more. There is a "rawness" to the verses that help me feel like my heart position, struggles or fears are articulated for me when I do not feel I have the ability to articulate. I highly recommend and encourage obtaining your own copy and I am thankful for how the Lord has used it in my life.  

"Missionary life is simply a chance to die." ~Amy Carmichael

Family Life - November-December 2024

November and December recaps...better late than never! Both months held holidays which, for us, were different this year than others, but we were together and we can laugh about it now. =) 

The weather was beautiful through the 2 months with unusually warm temperatures. It was excellent for our house building project and a great deal of progress was made. 

Caden was here for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Emma, Stephen, and the boys traveled here the day after Christmas and were able to be here through New Year's. 

November began with a morning of cattle work!

House project: tearing apart the back deck

The quality of this picture is not good, but rain was coming,
the wind was strong and we were trying to tarp the open part
of the house. It was a rather scary undertaking, but it was successful
and has left us with a great family memory.

House project: picking up busted bricks...

... and stacking the bricks.

Several of the family enjoying a Saturday night SEC college
football game.

In late November, I drove up to Louisville to work on some pro-life
ministry needs and spend some time with my cousin's family which
included meeting their new baby!

House project: shoveling gravel

House project: finished cleaning out the garage and the beginnings of
the plumbing begun 

House project: footers dug, block laid, and gravel poured

House project: the garage gutting begun

House project: garage gutting finished and the 1st wall up!

I began using some Saturday mornings to slip off to the local
coffee shop to work on ministry tasks, write letters, do research, 
and enjoy a hot coffee!

House project: concrete pad laid (and dried!) and framing up

Mid-December held a pro-life ministry fundraiser for me to help plan. 
I am thankful for this niche of ministry to serve and am looking 
forward to what 2025 holds in that capacity.  

We created donation Christmas gift boxes for that family member
"who has everything".

House project: roof on, "eyebrow" begun, some of the windows in,
and more of the brick off!

House project: ZIP siding up and ready for windows

Every once in a while, our family will have an outing together. In 
the past, this has usually been to Ollie's discount store, but we chose
Menards in December. Fun family memories and time spent together.

Christmas 2024