Snow Snow Snow

Wowsers...did it ever SNOW!

I don't know if you can really tell from the above picture or not...but it was just a few inches away from the bottom of our swing.  Here is another one to try to show you how deep it got:

You can see how the pickup drug on the snow as it drove out...crazy stuff. The boys had a great time helping to shovel paths and make ways to dig out the various animal shelters.  Here are a few shots of them working hard.

This shot is similar to one we had back in 2004.  I had to dig it out to show the Farmer that I think that was the last time we had had this much snow.

 Needless to say the kids had a great time playing out in the snow and even if we never got any more over the winter, they at least had ample opportunity to make forts, hills, and snowmen!

Copyright © 2013 All Rights Reserved MMFarmlife - Melanie Schlatter

Meet Blizzard (aka calf 449)

With all the snow and freezing temperatures, one would think a cow would NOT want to have a calf...but unfortunately, that is not the case.  Early the next morning, the Farmer found this calf freezing in the snow.  

The kids immediately named it Blizzard and helped to warm him up with the heating lamp.

I only got pictures of Ethan helping because the others were already done and gone by the time I thought of taking pictures, but it is still very adorable to see Ethan helping out with his cow gloves in his jammies!

I am happy to report that calf 449 is doing well and is growing beyond recognition!  

Copyright © 2013 All Rights Reserved MMFarmlife - Melanie Schlatter

Sarah's Headstone

They finished Sarah's headstone and got it all installed on Monday. The Farmer heard about it and set it up for us to go see it together on Valentines day. He was so sweet...he first took me out for coffee at the place in Smith Center which is also a flower shop and he had requested ahead of time to have a red and yellow rose.

When I asked why he chose those two he told me that he knew I favored laying a yellow rose at Sarah's grave and that we were going to go see her headstone. It really meant a lot that he had thought that all through and prepared it like he did!

For those of you who want to see it, I have attached some pictures below. (On the iPad I cannot format the pictures, so I'll tell you what they are and then you can scroll through them.)

The first one should be of the whole stone from a top view so you can see that we put a picture of Sarah there. The Farmer really wanted the cross & I wanted the picture. The next picture should be a close up of the Willow Tree Statue that we placed overlooking her picture. This statue is a 'Forget-me-not', and its verse says "Holding thoughts of you always." When trying to decide where to place it...it was the Farmer who thought of having it overlooking her...and it fits beautifully! The last one is of the rose we left for her.

Jesus is Calling - What is Peace?

*I wish I had formatting on my iPad blogger app...I find I am rarely at the computer these days but the iPad comes more easily used. Please note that any of the posts starting with 'Jesus is Calling' will have an excerpt from Sarah Young's devotional.*


~My Peace is like a shaft of golden Light shining on you continuously. During days of bright sunshine, it may blend in with your surroundings. On darker days, My Peace stands out in sharp contrast to your circumstances. See times of darkness as opportunities for My Light to shine in transcendent splendor. I am training you to practice Peace that overpowers darkness. Collaborate with Me in this training. Do not grow weary and lose heart.~

My key sentence in this devotion is "I am training you to practice Peace that overpowers darkness." When darkness is all around, it is difficult to receive peace...but seeing it in the sense of a shaft of golden light shining through the darkness I realize it is not received..it just is! I can practice recognizing it and collaborate, or refuse to see it and grow weary.