Family Life - January-February 2025

January and February could be summarized in 1 word: "winter storms". Well, technically, that was 2 words, but who is counting? =) Our first storm blew in the first full week of January, and it felt like after that storm followed storm, complete with freezing rain, wet ground, frigid temperatures, cold winter winds, ice, and snow. It was a true Kentucky winter! We were able to put the cattle with the highest needs in our renovated poultry buildings for shelter, for which I am so grateful. Though winter storms are hard, they cultivate some of the greatest memories and sibling bonds, another blessing for which I am thankful. 

In early February, Dad came down with singles, and a few weeks later, Olivia and Hope broke out with chicken pox. Not too long after, the rest of the kids followed suit, but that is moving ahead into March. Mom would say when we were little that if we knew of someone who had chicken pox, we would go visit so we would catch it and get them over with. This never happened, though, and although it was a very challenging season of illness and itching, the Lord provided, and it was a blessing that the kids got them relatively close together, and it was not prolonged any more than it was.  

For the other details of January and February, I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story....

There are some winter days when we wake up and do not understand
how the cattle made it through the night alive, only by God's mercy.

I had this "picture-esque" idea of doing a gingerbread house with the kids, 
and when I found one for a decent deal, I got it during the holiday season. 
However, December passed, and it never happened, so one evening in January, 
we broke it open for a sibling project. It turned out to be quite a house, and we 
discovered that none of us will be professional bakery decorators! =)

One Saturday, we sisters took off for town to do some shopping and 
drop into the local coffee shop!

January 20th - thankful for the sovereignty and mercy of God on our country.

Hope and Joel braving the winter weather

Mom and I drove out to visit Grandma at the end of January.

One of the decent days...

For my birthday, back in the fall, Joel gifted me with dinner out with him,
but by mid-February, we had yet to have our "date". So the night before
Valentine's Day, we went out for dinner (we tried Blaze Pizza for the first
time...highly recommend) and got a bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes
and ate it on the way home after doing some shopping. Joel has such a 
sensitive heart toward us girls, and along with Dad, spoils us on 
Valentine's Day.

The quality of this picture is not good, but there is nothing like witnessing
a new life emerge and begin in the world. It is beautiful every time, 
and it is a privilege to watch God-given instinct in nature.

Though we do not have house dogs, when the girls had chicken pox, we would
bring Peaches in to make visits and cheer up the sick ones.

"And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wonderously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed." 

Joel 2:26-27