2012 District 4H Presentations

This year Rebecca and I, along with my niece's uncle, Andy, were selected to advance to the next level of our 4H public presentations. We were able to go, along with our respective families, to a Gander Mountain store. There we presented, along with many other 4Hers. It is always a very interesting experience, and a trip to the nearby Panera Bread at the end is always the main highlight.

Rebecca's 17th Birthday!

Of Chainsaws, Men and Trees

This week, Isaac, Dad, and Nathaniel took several days off from their regular vocations to work on clearing fence lines out in the "Diversion Ditch" field. Three chainsaws, a John Deere tractor, a Gator, a chipper, and friends and family were thrown into clearing action, which resulted in the clearing and chipping of several hundred trees, which were marked out to make way for a new fence line.

Christ Is Risen!

Easter, the day we celebrate the reason for our faith, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter, the day that Jesus conquered death so that we could live.

“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?" -1 Corinthians 15:55

Why?

We all ask it. It's actually one of the first words we learn to speak. Why? We ask out of curiosity but also out of a deep desire to understand, to comprehend, to know. We ask in our times of need, during moments of duress, in hours of hopelessness. To ask why is to be human. Why me?

There are often no answers. We ask, why? Silence. We cry, WHY? Resounding silence. We sob, why? We feel abandoned. Suffering is real. I've seen it. I've experienced it. There is no easy way to explain it. Life is full. It's full of joy, but also carries the weight of pain and sorrow. Broken promises, betrayal by friends, false accusations, utter loneliness, maladies and malignancies.

But on that cross many years ago Jesus asked it. Why? It hurt. It really, really hurt. Not just the pull of gravity tearing his flesh, the crown of thorns piercing his brow, the nails sticking through his bleeding palms, the sheer physical pain of hanging on a cross. This paled in comparison to the abandonment, the angst, the loneliness, the severing of the closest relationship ever existing. He cried. Loudly. Why have You forsaken me? God had left him alone. To die.

Why does this matter? Why did Jesus have to die? Why couldn't God just have said we're okay? Because we're not. There's something that went wrong. And Jesus had to come fix it. And even though it cost him everything, he thought it was worth it. That's more than enough for me. That's true love. Not only to lay down his life for his friends, but also his enemies. Why? So we could know, we could comprehend, we could understand the depths of his Love for us. Don't be afraid to ask why. Jesus did it. But when you do, look at him, and remember. Remember that he was forsaken so that we never will be. Jesus, thank you.

Spring = Lambs

This spring, Rebecca's small flock of Miniature Southdowns was added to by two of her ewes giving birth to three little lambs. Dubbed Ramborgini, Ukulele, and one TBA. Her third ewe, Raquel, is pregnant as well, and has yet to give birth to the adorable little lambies.

Mom and Dad's Visit To Mohonk

Last week, Mom and Dad were blessed by a stay in a mountain resort nestled in the Shawangunks. They enjoyed a marvelous time of napping, reading, climbing the Labyrinth(a cliffside path), eating, swimming, napping and relaxing. Did I mention napping?