Pictures of the Week, March 27 to April 4, 2011

It was a week, and that's about all. It was good to begin with but ended on a terribly sad note. This post will include up Monday, April 4. I do not have pictures for both Sunday or Monday.

Sunday, March 27, 2011:

The kids raced their derby cars at church.

Monday, March 28, 2011:

Feeding hay is a regular occurrence on the farm. Sometimes the kids get to help and sometimes the kids get to watch. Here they are playing on the bales while Seth is in the background feeding the cows a bale. I was able to catch Eden mid-jump!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011:

My own band! They love to get out the musical instruments and march around the house.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011:

My vanilla extracting.

Thursday, March 31, 2011:

Pizza Ranch with friends! I met my college roommate for lunch on Thursday. We gave her daughter Emma a birthday gift of a doll bag. This is Emma, Eliza and Eden.

Friday, April 1, 2011:

You just never know what you're going to find in the scrap pile at the scrap iron dealer! Seth and Neal were at a local scrap dealer and found these. We've ordered a new set of tires for the one scooter, but otherwise, they're in good enough shape to make my boys happy. We'd thought about buying them new for the boys, but they're not really conducive to farm life/gravel, etc. But for free, you can't pass it up!

Saturday, April 2, 2011:

Picking up sticks!

Sunday, April 3, 2011 Two funeral visitations. It was a tough day.

It was on Thursday, March 31 when we found out about two deaths that would impact our friends. The first was a college friend's father. He was 85 and had been battling cancer and tumors. It was a bit expected, but still death takes a toll on the family and friends. We were able to travel to Atlantic Sunday evening for visitation and visit with the McFadden family and our friends Scott & Julie.

It was also on Thursday, March 31 when a terrible accident took place that claimed the life of a father in our community. He leaves behind a young widow with four boys, including a newborn. And two boys from a previous marriage. Three of his boys are the same age as my four kids. So, we took the news kind of hard. You don't want to imagine yourself as a widow at such a young age. It's at times like these when we have to cling to our faith. Psalm 16:8, "I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me."

We never know when our time on earth is completed. We need to be ready. While we cling to our faith in tough times like this, it is also when we question why something like this would have to happen. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." Isaiah 55:8. We don't know the big picture, God does. And we may never know what the good is that comes from this, but we have to trust that there will be some good. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28.

The funeral visitation for this father was probably one of the toughest ones I've been to. Mostly I've been to funerals for older people and while death is always difficult and there is still pain, there was a different level of grief.

Monday, April 4, 2011 Another difficult day with the funeral. Life will never be the same for several families involved. But the sun still comes up each day and God promises that we can come to him with our grief and our questions. He won't give us more than we can bear and He will provide a way for us to endure the path that He has ordained for our lives. Please pray for the farm family who witnessed the accident, they go to our church. Pray for rest and peace. Pray also for the truck driver involved. And lastly, please continue to pray for the Shaffer family, for peace, comfort and rest.