When we started this blog, we wanted to make it to represent our authentic journey of following God's will to start a youth/men's summer camp and working farm/ranch. The journey has definitely been longer and harder than we both expected. Aside from the the financial hiccups that we have been having, my Crohns disease has been flaring up for about the past year. This was coincidentally about the same time that Ashley and I lost our jobs. It makes sense as Crohns is triggered by stress. I know the right thing to say would be that God will take care of everything and not to worry, however this is an authentic blog and I want to share our true hearts. I know God will work it out in the end, but in the mean time I am in a lot of pain (emphasis on a lot)! My latest surgery was on 6/20 and we will have to see if that is going to do the trick or not. In the meantime, I can no longer work as I am down a lot of weight along with the pain. With the physical pain comes frustration at the length of time, and difficulty involved with accomplishing our goal. With every physical pain comes a financial setback, and with every financial setback comes more frustration...and with the frustration comes stress and more Chron's flareups. And the cycle continues...
Am I just venting or does this have a point? A little of both I would say, but here's the point. Life would suck if it was all pain, but fortunately God blessed us with this thing called relationship. Sometimes, only out of the pain, do we truly see how blessed we are in the realm of relationship. Our new church family has really taken us in and cared for us whether it is lunch at Cracker Barrel, mowing the lawn, bringing over supper, or just chilling together playing Scattegories. I don't know what this does chemically and physically to the body, but I do know that it feels as if the Crohns starts to flee at the first sign of God's love being shown through others.
A quick update on the farm...we now have a gorgeous 8x10 cedar shed with a red metal roof on it to house the four wheeler and some of the garden supplies. There are currently 7 fruit trees planted, as well as a few raspberry bushes that are being protected by a solar-powered electric fence. This is all being grown organically, and will hopefully someday begin to supply our ranch and guests with healthy tasty food. Latte, our mini corgi farm puppy is doing great. She loves kids and will make a great therapy dog someday soon. We plan to take her to the nursing homes and hospitals in the area to help others, just like someone did for me when I was in the hospital as a kid.
If you want to help, prayer is what we need the most as one job between the two of us is not enough financially, and the pain from Crohn's is just barely tolerable.
We appreciate your support, and look forward to the day when we can have everyone out at the property to enjoy God's blessing of fellowship.
We appreciate your support, and look forward to the day when we can have everyone out at the property to enjoy God's blessing of fellowship.
