I'm thankful for: A Legacy

On this Thanksgiving, I was thinking of things I am thankful for.  The kids and I made a fun list to go with their memory verse this week, which included things like being thankful for not having to take a nap anymore (Gideon) and for horses (Canaan) and for tractors (Lincoln).  But I began thinking the one thing I am most thankful for is that my parents told me about Jesus.  I often think where I would be if I hadn't grown up with the family I had.  Mine was a very strong Christian family.  Not just my immediate family, but my extended family on all sides were Bible-believing, faithful people.  For me, it was normal.  I never realized until high school that most people did not grow up with this kind of very functional family.  And even then I didn't realize how truly blessed I was until I joined a ladies Bible study last winter.  We spent one evening discussing our testimonies.  Some of the women looked at me with disbelief when I talked about my extended Christian family.  When I talked about the faithful example I had to follow in not only my parents, but my grandparents and even great-grandparents, and then some of them talked about how few examples they had, it started to sink in.  I am really blessed.  More than that, I am really, really thankful.

Every Thanksgiving we loaded up the car and drove to Missouri to celebrate with my grandmother's family.  My great-great Grandpa had preferred the Thanksgiving holiday over Christmas, so he made a deal. His family could spend Thanksgiving with him, and Christmas with their in-laws.  This seemed to work for everybody, and it became a tradition.  So every year we gathered: 40, 50, 60 of us, though one year for my great-grandparents 60th anniversary, there were 80.  It was always a fun time, seeing cousins we hadn't seen all year.  My family was also inundated with good cooks, so the food was always homemade and incredible.  The day after Thanksgiving, we always went bowling, even my great-grandparents.  We got to stay in a hotel.  But what made it even more special is how many of us were united in our love for and faith in Jesus Christ.

Then there was my grandpa's family, which was smaller, but just as dedicated to their faith.  I watched my other great-grandma come to church every Sunday of her life, until she finally became bedridden.

And my dad's family, who we gathered with every Christmas day, the memories of which give me more peace and joy than almost any other childhood memories.  Sitting around my grandma's table, with my parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, which we did much more often than merely on holidays, was where I learned the value of family, of hard work, of our faith.

I was surrounded by faithful examples everywhere I went.  I'm not saying I had a better family than everyone else, and they certainly weren't perfect.  But I realize more and more what a rarity it was to grow up in the family I did.

I always thought my testimony was boring.  "I grew up in a Christian family.  I became a Christian.  The end."  Then, I had a good friend tell me, "Amber, you're their legacy.  The result of the faithfulness of your great-grandparents on down.   There's nothing boring in that."  I had never thought of it that way.  Thanks to the decision of those who came before me to raise their families to fear God and to honor His commands, I know the Truth!  What came as a result of my great-grandparents' decision spread out into all branches of our family tree.  But what strikes me as more exciting is that even if you didn't grow up with the legacy I did; even if you didn't have family after family member who obeyed the Gospel; even if you're the first one in the family to follow Christ, your legacy can start today.  All it takes is one person, just one decision, and your family legacy can change forever.  Our God is a God of restoration, of change, of redemption.  All it takes is your choice to follow our Savior, to actively teach your children about Him, and then someday your grandchildren can say, "I'm here because of you."  The power of our decision to honor the Gospel is amazing.

When my grandparents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, our family gathered at their church on a Sunday and sang the song "Find us Faithful."  I'll never forget the words.

Oh may all who go behind us find us faithful.
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave,
lead them to succeed.
May the life we live inspire them to obey.
Oh may all who go behind us find us faithful.

While it is a prayer for our own lives, I have reflected on those words as I've thought about the family that came before me.  Yes, I found so many of you faithful.  For that, I am eternally grateful.

Snow

Sunday night the first flakes flew.  Big and wet and fast, it fell and everything changed.  We drove by a field.  The crops still standing from the late harvest; now dusted with white.  The combine and wagons turning white.  It was beautiful.

Snow.  It is one of my most favorite things.  Sometimes, the sound of it falling is almost deafening in your ears.  As if everything pauses, and breathes, and says, "Snow." It makes the world say hush.  It covers the dead earth and hides it flaws; turns the ugliest things pristine and white.  It falls in your hair and sparkles like jewels. It glitters the ground.  It is a deep breath, a soft sigh, a winter song.  It is a gift.  Snow.  It softens the sting of the wind, eases the edge of the cold, colors the dreary and bleak brown of winter.  It covers the death and makes it alive.  Vehicles and bushes and fences covered, until everything is just smooth bumps of white.  It frosts the trees, the land, the tiny tips of the fence.  Even a spider web catches the small flakes.  Snow.  It makes the air feel cleaner--purifies with every deep breath. It wets your eyelashes and cools the tongue.  It swirls and whirls and blows.  Snow.  It is a present for excited little eyes that hurry to the window early in the morning.  Snow.  It gives you a reason to stay in, and curl up, and do nothing.  It invites you out, to play and dance.  It is a miracle, a gift of God.  It is snow.

I can smell it.  Hear it.  Feel it.  And it brings tears to my eyes.  Deep inside, my soul sings.  It rests for a moment from life's worries.  It sings out "Peace on earth.  Goodwill to men."  It's because of the snow.

One of my little ones turns to me, as we walk through the snow.  The crunching of our shoes filling in the quiet spaces.  "Mommy, this is my favorite time of year," and he sighs.  It seems sometimes, he has inherited part of my soul, that one.  I hate to disturb it.  The perfection of the snow, the moment.  But I don't want to stop walking, with his hand in mine, as it covers, and protects, and blesses.

Sunday night the first flakes flew.  It was beautiful.  Snow.

Meet the Herd

One of the most fun things on the farm is watching our goats grow and develop.  Just like our children, each of our goats has a distinct and unique personality that sets it apart from the others.  And just like people, some are easier and harder to get along with.  Many of you have had the chance to meet or already know our family.  But, very few of you get to meet our goats.  So, here are a few members of our herd:

Sassy: 

Each goatherd has a queen, and Sassy is it.  In college, I had a dear friend who used to jokingly say, "I'm Melissa, and I do what I want."  If Sassy had a catchphrase, it would be, "I'm Sassy, and I do what I want."  There is no telling Sassy what to do.  She comes out of her pen when she wants, she gets on the stand when she wants, she is afraid of no one and nothing, not even the dog who relentlessly tries to herd her.  She is fearless, determined, proud, and aptly named.  She's just Sassy.

Blizzard: 

Blizzard is Sassy's daughter, and our easy-going goat.  She doesn't let things rattle her, is pretty even-tempered, but still got enough sassiness from her mom to make her interesting.  To me, she is our prettiest and best goat.  She gives 2 gallons of milk a day during peak milking season, and it wouldn't surprise me if in a year or two she succeeds her mother as herd queen.

Annie: 

Annie is afraid...of everything.  She is the most shy goat we have, and the hardest to get on the milk stand.  If it's dark, she refuses to come out of her pen.  Or if it's windy, or rainy, or she can see the dog, or a cat, or my foot, or one of the boys.  I have drug her to the stand more times than I can count.  And if you put her on the stand, and then walk away to do something for a moment, she's bawling her heart out because you left her there alone.  She makes up for her annoying habits though.  She has some crazy-good genetics, and also gives a little over 2 gallons per day during peak milking season.

Shocker:

While her official registered name is Kool Hugs, Gideon nicknamed her Shocker shortly after we brought her home, and it stuck.  Shocker is footloose and fancy free.  If she were at a goat party, she'd be the life of it.  She is affectionate, playful, and always in a good mood.  She is the easiest to work with when she needs doctoring, hooves trimmed, or anything else.  She is just a lot of fun to have in the barn.  

Prima:

Prima is our oddball.  She was never bottle-fed, so she is not quite as lovable as our other goats.  While the others will "listen" to me when I pull on their collars, it is often all I can do to keep her from dragging me through the barn.  She rarely likes to be petted, and is usually all business during milking time.  

Caspian on the day we brought him home 3 years ago

Caspian:

If Sassy is the queen, then Caspian is the king.  He is big, stinky, and hairy, but also love-able and easygoing.  When he escapes his pen, it usually doesn't take much to get him back in, because he usually follows you around like a lost puppy.  We are really thankful to have him in our herd, because he keeps fathering beautiful babies.  

We also have four young doelings whose personalities are still developing.  It will be so interesting to see what kind of adults and milkers they grow into.  Now that I've introduced you to our herd, don't you want a goat?  Come March after kidding season, I know exactly where you can get one.  ;)