Don't expect perfection

First shared 5/28/16:

There is an unseen war on to corrupt our children's hearts, minds, and bodies. As a parent very aware of the battle, it can be overwhelming! Clint and I are constantly looking for ways to drive home the seriousness of making wise choices. We have a lot of conversations about how thinking wrong leads to doing and doing wrong which then leads to negative consequences. 

I've been asking my children this week how does this quote apply to real life and what foundations can we apply to keep our footing in a world where temptations and evil are everywhere: 

“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

For our family, a firm foundation is found in knowing and applying God's Word, especially His commandments. 

Beside our front door, I have a handwritten sign which says: 

Before you go out this door

REMEMBER

WHO you are... __________ Asbell

WHERE you come from.... your family

WHO you represent...A HOLY GOD<--- b="">

Let your speech and behavior reflect these facts.

This sign is not pretty. It was hastily handwritten by a tired mother who has more to do than hours in the day. The neon yellow arrow does not match my decor. Sometimes I cringe inwardly when others seeing these signs, wondering what they think. However, my decor isn't here to serve my desires for perfection or color coordination others will envy. I am not here to please others by seeking their approval. My home is here to glorify my God, and I can do that by teaching/reminding my children of Truth. 

I can say the same about my blog posts. They aren't eloquently written. They have spelling and grammatical errors. I want perfection, but I can't achieve it and still fulfill my many other duties. I know there are other Christians, parents, women, wives, mothers who are also engaged in this battle. I hear from many of you often. I want to give encouragement and share ideas because I know how battle weary we can become especially when the godly older women the Bible talks about in Titus 2:4 are so absent in our lives. 

Don't worry about your decor or other frivolous matters. Keep your eyes on the goal. Fight for your children's hearts and minds because if you don't the consequences can last longer than a lifetime. They could be an eternity. Fight, mamas! Fight hard and don't forget to fill your tank (take care of you spiritually, emotionally/mentally, and physically) so you can keep going.

Don't expect perfection as you raise and launch your children. I know my efforts don't guarantee anything. Life is messy, and human beings are fallible. Darkness seeps in through the cracks. "Perfect little angels" don't exist. There will be trying times. There will be sin. There will be hurts and disappointments. However, I do know God will bless my efforts and help us through the trials. I know giving them Jesus is the best thing I can give them, so I labor on. I am praying for you. Please pray for me too.

He's a Techie Kind of Guy

Me: Hey Clint, will you turn off the water hose to the pool as you pass through? I added water because the filter pump was cavitating.

Clint comes to a dead stop, turns around, locks eyes, smiles, winks, and says: "Oh baby, I love it when you talk technical to me!"

Our Little Hobbit

Clint called her his little pack mule.
(She grabbed the bags while he paid.)

I call her our little hobbit.

Bethany has a quick wit and is a lot of fun.

When she and Joshua start debating, it's a riot!

Time slow down, please.

Question: Do You Think We are in the End Times?

Mark 13:32-33 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 

Matthew 24:42-44 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 

Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 

My beliefs: I believe in salvation by faith through grace through the redemptive work of Jesus's crucifixion, death, and resurrection. I believe in a pre-Tribulation rapture aka "escape" (harpazo). 

My perspective: I am 52 years old. I grew up in a prophecy-watching Christian household, attended a Christian school until 10th grade, and accepted Christ as my Savior at 7 years old thanks to Mrs. Linda Jordan at Suffolk Christian Schools. 

I have lived through the oil embargo of the 70s, the prediction that Armageddon would start in 1975, the passing of Hailey's comet in the mid-80s, the rapture prediction of 1988, the Gulf War in the '90s, the end of the century predictions, 9/11, the 2012 end of the world Mayan calendar, and the tetrad of blood moons. Along the way, there were more dates where the Lord's return was predicted by well-meaning Christians. Yet, here we are waiting still for His return.

Please notice, I am not scoffing at the date setters. I am stating my observations. I believe the things I have witnessed over the course of my life show there are Christians who ARE obedient in being sober, alert, and watching for the Lord's return. That is a very good thing. However, the flip side of being in a constant state of readiness is that sometimes you go too far with eager anticipation. I think it is fine to speculate (make an educated guess) a time frame, but we should stop short of predictions.   

Why I watch events: Through Scripture, Jesus commands His followers to watch what is going on around us and we will know His return will be soon. He lets us know we can get an idea of when His return will be by what we see happening around us. He also very strongly warns us about being deceived. 

Even when looking at all of the "He's coming!!" predictions I have lived through, I have never witnessed such a more visible time of good and evil warring heatedly back and forth. It is clear there is a silent war going on all around us. 

Satanic rituals are performed right in front of our eyes under the guise of entertainment. Slumbering and deceived Christians are dancing, singing, and signaling with demons. Our music, music videos, movies, and tv programming contain symbols, allusions to, and outright statements to darkness and those who worship it. If you are aware of the dates, terms, and symbols of the partakers in evil, then you can easily find them. What I and others see them displaying says they think Jesus' return is imminent too. I could share about the evil in our governments, education, healthcare, and so much more, but I'll stop here.

Considering 

• the signs in the sky
• the happenings in the world
• our physical calendar when considering the Fig Tree generation
• and the behavior/signaling of the ones who follow darkness, 

I believe we may be very, very close to the Lord's return. 

If what we are witnessing is not leading us to His imminent return then we are, at the very least, at the beginning of a very significant time period.

There is too much going on everywhere we look. Even the science points to His return or something very big happening very, very soon. Even the evil workers are showing us they are expecting something big. Every pastor I know personally and the others I follow are expecting His return. 

If Jesus returns today or 100 years from now, it does not change how we are to live. Jesus' followers are commanded to stay watchful and prepared lest we be caught unaware. After accepting Jesus as our Savior, we are to make Him LORD over our lives by laying aside the things contrary to His Word and doing what He wants us to do. We are to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. We are to live out the 59 One Anothers (printable pdf) in Scripture and seek to reach the lost (evangelize). We are to make His return, His kingdom, and His commands our focus. It should be HIM we run to first when we have questions, thanksgiving, and worries in this life. There is great wisdom in not giving us, His soldiers, an exact time because it keeps us in a state of living our best for His glory. 

Dear Reader, Christians are told in 2 Corinthians 13 to examine themselves to know if they are of the faith. If the Most High visited you personally, read your thoughts, and saw how you were living, what would He tell you to do differently?  Examining our faith, our thoughts, our actions, and comparing ourselves to God's standards is something all Christians should be doing regularly. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Make sure you are giving God the proper place in your life. Make sure you are treating others the way He wants you to value them. Are you sharing the good news? Do people you care about KNOW that you know Jesus? Consider your life carefully, and ask the Lord to make you ready for whatever is coming next. 

Come, Lord Jesus, come!

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.  Romans 13:11-14

Plan of Salvation in Hashtags (feel free to copy and share)

#ThereIsHOPE #Romans6v23 #Romans5v8 #Romans10v9to10 #Romans10v13 #John3v16to17 #Romans5v1to2 #Romans8v1 #ChooseYouThisDayWhomYouWillServe

Feel free to copy and share on social media.

it is because He is seeking us

"You and I obviously do not seek out adversity just so we can develop a deeper relationship with God. Rather God, though adversity, seeks us out. It is God who draws us more and more into a deeper relationship with Him. If we are seeking Him, it is because He is seeking us. One of the strong cords with which He draws us into a more intimate, personal relationship with Him is adversity."

-Jerry Bridges

Trusting God

Why is it easier to obey God than to trust Him?
Because obeying God makes sense to us. In most cases, His laws appear reasonable and wise, and even when we don’t want to obey them, we usually concede that they are good for us. But the circumstances we find ourselves in often defy explanation. Before long, we begin to doubt God’s concern for us or His control over our lives. We ask, “Why is God allowing this?” or “What have I done wrong?”

During such a time of adversity, Jerry Bridges began a thorough Bible study on the topic of God’s sovereignty. What he learned changed his life, and in Trusting God he shares the fruit of that study. As you explore the scope of God’s power over nations, nature, and even the details of your life, you’ll find yourself trusting Him more completely―even when life hurts.

Emily's Art 1

Raises for Three

Amanda is no longer on night shift! She is on vacation at the moment. If she does not answer your texts, it is because her mama is taking all of her time. When Amanda starts back to work, she will be on 12-hour day shift in the same leadership role she is in now. She already knows several of her new co-workers which will make her transition easier.

Joshua is doing EXCELLENT in his role as manager and received a raise to reflect that. He receives another raise in July.

Caleb has been given his raise in his role as a trainer.

Bethany was given a raise too! 

Update: Caleb had an interview with a company yesterday. The company requested he see them about the job. They sought him out not the other way around. They offered him the job in the amount he requested. They told him he can work full-time, part-time, or 1099. They need him to start immediately. The 83-year-old man who was doing the job had to quit because his wife fell down the stairs. They do not know when he will be back. Caleb is prayerfully considering it. 

Emails and Texts

Soon, there will be a period where some of our family will not be answering emails or texts. We will be off-roading and camping with family and friends in remote areas of the VA and WVA mountains. 

My Hero

Clint and a lady helping a HUGE snapping turtle get across the road safely.

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. Proverbs 12:10

Joshua Storytelling

His stories are the best!
He can take a normal daily happening and turn them into something that is very entertaining! He sees things most of us miss!

He is doing EXCELLENT in his managerial role.

Knocking it out of the ballpark!

They have broken records under his watch.
His boss wants to put him on other shifts so he can find and correct inefficiencies in workmanship. Clint and I are very proud of his success!

Question: Why should Christians watch current events?

Luke 21:34-36 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. KJV

Luke 21:34-36 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” NIV

Dear Reader, We are commanded by Jesus to do so. If we are more focused/over-indulging on the daily living and the pleasures/worries of this world, we are failing to obey (disobeying) this command with a warning. If we are disobeying this command, we are in danger of being ensnared. Awake Christian! Do not be lulled into complacency!! The stakes are too high. There is A LOT going on right in front of your face. Take note of world politics, science, "entertainment," weather, and more. Ask the Lord to give you eyes to see with discernment, understanding, and wisdom. Open your Bible and start studying. Be wise! See Matthew 25. 

A good place to start a Bible study would be all of Jesus' watch commands followed by the exhortations of the apostles to watch. Similar words like take heed, observe, time, awake, etc are helpful in expanding your studies. A good thesaurus will help you there. I always start with prayer for knowledge and wisdom to be imparted to me followed by a deep look at Sola Scriptura. This is because I want to go to the SOURCE first and see what my initial takeaway with the Holy Spirit's leading, prayer, and contemplation is. ONLY THEN will I see what trusted teachers say all the matter while praying for that which is true to hold fast and for that which is not true to be removed from my consideration. Take your Bible study seriously. Your time with the Lord is of utmost importance.

Bethany is making ​octopodes.

If I say octopuses or octopi, 

I can get a fun rise out of her.
She will fun-lovingly debate anyone on the proper word.

Petition: Help Chuck our Local Artist

My family loves double amputee artist Chuck Dickerson. He is very popular in our community for not only the beauty he creates but also for the beauty of his heart. This is a kind, gentle, and patient man. He brings joy and inspiration and is an asset to our community. He was banned from our local Walmart after a grinch complained about him "loitering." The petition below is to get Walmart to allow him back. Meanwhile, our local Chickfila is letting Chuck paint there. In Gloucester, he is also often at the Stagecoach Fleamarket. 

Please Sign the Petition: (At the time I posted this, the petition needed 739 more signatures.)  https://www.change.org/p/walmart-allow-chuck-dickerson-to-remain-on-walmart-premises-for-art-work-purposes?signed=true

Articles and Video on Chuck:

Oh, and he studied with Bob Ross. THE Bob Ross of the “happy little trees,” the famous landscape artist and television host who died in 1995. Years before, Dickerson was in Richmond at a doctor’s appointment when he heard Ross was doing a seminar at a nearby hotel. https://www.thehealthjournals.com/tracking-an-elusive-artist/

https://www.wtkr.com/2018/09/04/double-amputee-shares-artwork-inspires-williamsburg-community

https://www.gazettejournal.net/mathews-artist-provides-an-inspiration-to-others/

video: https://mediaplayer.whro.org/program/curate-757/e/chuck-dickerson-2hh0j5

One of Mine.

I'm Kind of Homesick

 I'm kind of homesick for a country

To which I've never been before.

No sad goodbyes will there be spoken

For time won't matter anymore.

Beulah Land, I'm longing for you

And someday on thee I'll stand.

There my home shall be eternal.

Beulah Land -- Sweet Beulah Land

I'm looking now across the river

Where my faith will end in sight.

There's just a few more days to labor.

Then I will take my heavenly flight.

Sweet Beulah Land

Squire Parsons

Not one of mine, but one of "mine."

This is not one of my children, but I do know who it is!

The Asbell Bonfire 2021 is in the planning stages!

59 One Anothers (link)

The "59 One Anothers" found in Scripture highlight how Christians are to treat one another. We should be united through our core beliefs in a partnership of joy, trust, and generous grace.

https://www.smallgroupchurches.com/the-59-one-anothers-of-the-bible/

Made for Me

Every year at this time, Clint and I reflect on how we started out as best friends and eventually started dating. Today marks 35 years we have been a couple. God made Clint and me for each other. Then He gave us to each other. God not only gave me a precious gift in Clint; He showed me yet another example of His great love for me.

Bonfire?

I can't recall if I have addressed this or not.

I was asked if I'd check with Clint and see if the annual bonfire is a go or not. It's been weeks. I apologize for the delay. 

Clint says YES! That's contingent on weather and whatever life may throw at us this fall. 

We will give more info at a later date. 

This and That

I apologize in advance for any typos. There is a lot going on around me.

Things (new and bigger contracts, production) are really picking up for Clint at work. There was a big issue in hiring people who had the skills to do the job. Some quit within a few days. Others were let go after a week or two. A group of us started praying about it, and they have found two excellent men. 

Clint and I have found hidden away places where it is legal to off-road. These places are mapped but not many know about them. We have already driven several that are close to us and had a blast doing it. 

Brandon has made some very good financial decisions with the pay increase due to his new role as IT Manager over six industrial plants. He is currently praying about another big one. He's made progress on his project car which is a VW Beetle. It's the yellow one pictured in a much earlier post. His loves of VW Beetles started with the Herbie movies.

Amanda is set to go to dayshift by the end of the month. Hopefully, there will not be any more delays. She stays pretty busy between work and home. Her sweet kitty, Diva, escaped. Amanda was quite worried about the cat, but she had to go to work. Clint and I took our trap and tried to lure Diva in with smells from food, bedding, and Amanda's t-shirts. It turned out the cat ignored all of that and came home when she wanted to a few days later. That's a cat for ya!

Joshua is loving working full time in his role as manager. He has received some high praise. He and his co-workers have broken long-standing records under Joshua's leadership. Yay Joshua!! One of his bosses wants to put him on another shift for a short time to allow him to streamline their processes and improve their workflow. Joshua has his own ministry to his co-workers and family too. 

Caleb. Mercy, that boy stays busy. He not only works full-time but he also has a side job. Then he has a thriving side hustle. He has three standing requests with companies that want him to work with them. One will give him training and a truck. Even though he lives at home and I stay up to make sure he gets home safely from work, I do not get to see him that often. (I am up, but in bed. He texts me so we don't wake anyone up.) Caleb carves time out to sit down and talk with me at least once a week though.

Bethany is very glad to be done with college (at 17!) and is loving work. She is just as darling as she can be in her uniform. She loves the car she bought and is hoping to sit for her driver's license soon. CoVid has slowed that down, but she gets where she wants to go just fine between everyone in our family. She's content to wait until things get better. When she is home, she helps with pressure canning and cleaning which is a nice gift to her mama.

Emily and Hannah are doing school off and on. On the pretty days, we take off to do an outside task or just to enjoy the weather. When the winter weather was bad, they did six days' worth of lessons most days, so they are far ahead of where they need to be. That allows us to be very flexible. 

Allergy season is here. If I get too worn down as my body deals with the allergic response, it can cause the CA-EBV to become active again. I know to rest more until the worst of the season is over, so I have slowed my pace a bit. Identifying and responding to this part of my life has made a huge difference in how much CA-EBV affects me. I have not had a major re-activation in several years. There are other things I do to mitigate it, but allowing my body to rest a little more than usual is a big factor. 

Warn your people. Watch out for your pets.

Cicadas Swarm And Copperheads Snack: It's A Thing In Virginia, DC

When billions of Brood X 17-year cicadas emerge this spring in DC and Virginia, copperhead snakes may be waiting to eat them.

takes his faith seriously & speaks on behalf of Christ

 "Anyone who takes his faith seriously & speaks on behalf of Christ and His kingdom will be accused of fanaticism at some point." ~RC Sproul

About 20 ago, I had a friend who told me I was "too Christian" and "too focused on Jesus." She said she belonged to a nature religion. She kept me as a friend because she liked to ask me about herbal medicine. Just recently, that person gave her testimony publicly that she and her husband were saved because of my steadfast commitment to Christ. What a joy that day was!

Let them make fun of you. Let them talk about you. Then let the Holy Spirit do His work in their hearts. It may take decades or even a lifetime to see the fruit of the seeds you plant. It can be very discouraging at times. Do your part and trust the Lord to do His. The timing and the victory are His!

There is this one man I have been praying for since we were about 8 years old. From the things he says, the "poetry" he writes, and the things he embraces, he outright hates God. He makes fun of Christians. I have been one of his targets. He mistook the grace God enabled me to show him as me being too dumb to understand what he meant. He doesn't know I know he has a drinking problem. I still have the Holy Spirit's leading to pray for him, so I am still trusting the Lord to do His work. God does not waste our time. If He is leading us to pray, there is a purpose for it! If you will, please take a second and pray for the salvation of B.

Feline Welcome Committee

Four deer are being greeted by one of our rescued barnyard cats.

Full Circle

This is the fuel injector from Brandon's Jeep.

It is a Siemens injector that was made in 1996 in Newport News, VA

Clint worked at Siemens in Newport News, VA in 1996. 

This injector passed Clint on the machines he worked on.

Pretty cool!

Locals: Free Microchipping

We do rescue work and also work as a "halfway" house for pets and some livestock. I do not discuss it much because we have been involved in some high-profile cases. There is some risk involved, so these are stories I only share in person. We currently have two neglected pets who needed a safe place far from the public eye recuperating in our home. We do this because we have people at home 24/7 and have space to keep them. I microchip all pets and many livestock that come through our farm.

FYI for locals: I can inject a microchip for you for free. I can also direct you to two free registries where you can register your pet and information online. You will need to pay me for the actual chip which is a mere $2. Don't just pop over. Make sure I have chips. If I don't, I'll order them. I order them in bulk, so I usually have them.

I can also read chips in found pets -also no charge. I keep the reader handy for strays and lost pets.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Is your church teaching you concepts like this? Are you learning how to battle for the kingdom of God in your spirit? 

"Unless a Christian plainly knows his work is finished and he no longer is required by the Lord to remain, he should, by all means, resist death. If the symptoms of death have been seen already in his body before his work is done, he positively should resist it and its symptoms.

To concede-by sizing up of our environment, physical condition, and feeling-that our time has come is an error on our part; we instead need to possess definite indications from the Lord. As we live for him, so must we die for Him. Any call for departure which does not come from the Lord ought to be opposed. 

To overcome death believers must alter their attitude from one of submission to one of resistance towards it. Unless we cast off our passive approach we will not be able to overthrow death but will be mocked by it instead and finally come to an untimely end. Numerous saints today misapprehend passivity for faith. They reason they have committed everything to God, so if they ought not to die, He verily shall save them from it: if they ought to die, then He doubtless shall allow them to die: let the will of God be done Such a saying sounds right, but is this faith? Not at all. It is simply lazy passivity. 

When we do not know GOd's will it is fitting for us to pray: 'not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42). This does not mean we need not pray specifically, letting our requests be made known to God. We should not submit passively to death, for God instructs us to work together actively with His will. Except we definitely know God wants us to die, we must not passively permit death to oppress us. Rather we must actively cooperate with God's will to resist it. Why should we adopt such an attitude as this. The Bible treats death as our enemy." (I Cor 15:26)" -The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee 

I Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Prayer Request for Jessica

We were asked to share a prayer request for Jessica. She lost her son six weeks ago. She tried to take her life last night. Her family says she will survive the attempt, and they are getting her some help with the grief. Thank you to those who pray for Jessica.

April

April is a different kind of month for me. I have lost a child and a couple of good  friends in April. Birthing my deceased child was very graphic, traumatic, and life-changing. PTSD. Nightmares. Years later, I had another stillbirth in early May. There are things about these births I have not even discussed with Clint. I have not been able to look at my babies' belongings brought home from the hospital since I packed them away, but I will soon. 

This year, I was working on the grapevine when I thought of telling a friend what I learned about the vile invasive weed threatening my grapes. I had forgotten she is not here anymore. She died several months ago. My heart broke all over again. Hannah was working beside me, so I "sucked it up." Later I saw the plant I purchased to grow on our farm in my friend's honor. I had protected it as best I could, but I wasn't sure it was enough. Yet here it is sprouting up from the soil with that beautiful new green! I was so very happy to see it had made it through the rough winter! 

I thought about how I have made it through many "rough winters." I can only imagine how it pleases the Father when He sees us survive and show our strength. 

I love celebrating Easter and the victory that is ours through Jesus. I so enjoy the newness of spring and the beginning of the gardening season. Hope! Anticipation! My trees and plants wake up, and I rejoice over the signs of life. Rememberances of how Clint and I started as a couple one April long ago are so very sweet. My barn swallows also return in April. As soon as I glimpse sight of them, I will shout a happy "Hello!" Then I will look for them every day until they leave in August. Opening the windows, watching twitter-pated birds, and sitting in the sunshine bring me simple joys.  

April. Up and down. Showers and flowers. Sadness and joy. Grief and grace. 

When the dark moments come, I find balance by disciplining my thoughts, counting my blessings, and remembering God's promises. I WILL hold my nine precious little ones again. I WILL see my dear friends again. That's my reality because I know the One Who conquered death. Dear Reader, I hope His redemption is your reality too.

My love to all!

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

Upping the Off Roading Game

These are traction boards 3 and 4.

 

1 and 2 have already been put to use and worked GREAT!

You can FEEL the moment the truck GRIPS onto the boards.

I plan to have a set of six before our trip.

Still Today

While I try to balance my grief by not reminding others constantly of my baby losses, I have not forgotten my babies. The majority of women in this unique group remember their babies on their due dates and the loss date. If I did that, it would be 18 times a year. I don't think that would good for me or those around me. I do think about my babies every day, and some months are harder than others. April and May are more challenging months for me grief-wise. I cope quite well with it by reminding myself of the promises God put in His Word. There's a plan. I shall go to them, but they shall not return to me. (2 Samuel 12:23)

Last year, Caleb took an antique planer box I admired and refinished it for me. He also added a beautiful butterfly latch. I am going to move what little I have of my nine miscarried/stillborn babies' belongings into that box if the Lord gives me the strength to do it. I have not looked upon the tiny clothes and hospital items since I packed them away shortly after their deaths. I do not know if I should unpack and move these things in private or share the moment with my family. I'll seek the Lord and trust Him to lead me.

Here I am, still leaning on the everlasting arms to get through something I never thought I'd survive in the first place. There's a type of beauty in that. I'm still needing Him for this tender spot, and He's still there holding me up when these hard moments come. Even still today.

Dear Reader: Some life events so deeply wound us we feel pain for the rest of our days. We do not one day suddenly wake up and find ourselves "over it." It is more accurate to say we grow stronger and learn how to carry the pain better. That's not the sum of it, but it is closer to the truth. I am not sitting around moping. I am up and living. I take in the joys that come, but I have not forgotten my babies. I miss them still today. I look forward to the reality of eternity.

The tears I shed will one day be wiped away by my Savior. I do not claim to know what God plans for mothers like me. I do know it will be perfect, complete, and better than anything I could imagine.

If your child died in the womb or after birth, I am praying for your peace and comfort today. 

You were born silent.
Perfect and beautiful.

Still loved.
Still missed.

Still remembered.

Every day.

Stillborn.

But still born.

A Big THANK YOU

Thank you, Tina, for the insulated dog house, dog house solar fan, and dog house heater you blessed us with! The $450 value of this gift is not lost upon us. We are very grateful for your contribution and will put it to good use!

the whole world is running towards a cliff

 "When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind." ― C. S. Lewis

Canine Scribbles

I will go over this and darken the lines I want to keep. 

Another friend's young dog. Not quite a puppy, not quite full grown.

Life's Lessons are All Around Us

 

Someone saw the butterfly. They really liked it. I decided to turn it into a future Christmas gift for them. I penciled in the text and then went over it with a fine-tipped paint pen. I did not wait long enough for the paint to dry before I tried to remove the pencil marks with an eraser. Due to my impatience, I messed up all of that work!

Dear Reader, As I pondered my poor painting, I could not help but think about what happened to how it correlates to life. When we stumble, it is important we move forward as quickly as possible. It is very tempting to waste time staring back at what we had. Sometimes our impatience causes us to stumble. In other words, we get in our own way and cause our own problems. Starting over can be painful because when we take that step, we are saying goodbye to the past. When we let go of the past, we are able to pursue something of more value. My love to all!

But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64:8

He always acts at just the right time.

“Though it is hard to wait on God, and though it sometimes seems to us that God is slow, God’s timing is always perfect. He is never late. He always acts at just the right time.”

Nancy Guthrie, Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room: Daily Family Devotions for Advent

Prayer Request: A Very Hard Decision

A very solid Christian friend of mine is having to make an extremely hard decision for her six-year-old son. I am asking you to pray the Lord's presence can be tangibly felt as S. seeks His wisdom and direction for her son's very life. 

Because I love you and the children in your life/future: I now know three sets of parents whose young children have had a severe brain injury from a swing hung on a tree branch. While it has an idyllic appearance, it can be life-altering/life-ending if the branch breaks. No matter what the tree looks like on the outside, you can not see the inside. My family grows and harvests trees from our own land. I can tell you firsthand that a substantial amount of rot can be hidden from the eye inside of what appears to be a healthy tree. Not only that, but you can not tell how much a tree branch has been stressed (cracks). Swinging subjects the branch to a lot of unusual force. All of the children I know that were injured by tree swings are 6 years old and under (lightweight). PLEASE do not use tree branches for swings. It's not worth the risk. 

Shammy

Our friend Richard did not receive a good report from his doctor on this last visit. He was ahead of the healing game on the visit before. However, on this most recent visit, the doctor said Shammy is not as far along as he should be at this point. Please pray Shammy heals better. Our Guyanese American friend is very special to us. Thank you to those who pray on his behalf.

Where Are You Putting Your Trust?

This is what the LORD says: 

"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,

who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 
That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. Jeremiah 17:5-6

Dear Reader: What are the ways we put our trust in man? What people do we put our trust in? What organizations? What should our response to this verse be?

Happy Eas✞er 2021!

Happy Eas✞er!

to our family and friends

near and far, 

old and new,

close and estranged

from The Asbell Family!

Dear Reader, As we observe Easter, let us examine ourselves and truly see weak areas that need to be strengthened so we can increase our testimony. Let us live like we truly experience the redemptive love the Father has for us. He offered His only Son.

Father, we ask that You show us our hearts and convict us of where we need to work so we can become brighter testimonies of Your love. Please help us to become resolved to make the changes in ourselves as necessary. Thank You for Jesus and for loving us so very much!

My love to all!

Timmy is about to lose his kidney

Timmy has been battling kidney stones for two years. For at least a year now, he has passed blood-tinged urine. He texted me a few days ago to let me know that the doctors are saying he will lose his kidney if the surgery is not done soon. Right after that, he received a call saying his April 7th surgery was being moved back to May 13th. Will you please pray for Timmy? My love to all!

Homemade Brooder

We used a 50-gallon storage tote and a wood-burning tool to create this brooder which is very effective for housing up to 25 newly hatched chicks. I designed them. Then I asked my girls made them while I did other (harder) work. I really like the ease of cleaning the plastic totes.

I used a regular canning lid for the holes. The middle hole is where we hung the heat lamp with a ceramic bulb.

We heat our home with a wood stove, so mornings can be a bit chilly. These did an excellent job of keeping the ducklings and chicks warm and safe from Bethany's cat, Gray. The tiny fowl had plenty of light from the holes during the daytime.* After they grew and were not as fragile, we moved them to a shed with a lamp and light setup.

*The standard advice is to give 72 hours of continuous light to help just hatched baby birds find food so they will learn to eat. We did not follow this advice and did not have any issues.

Transmission Intermission

Today, in the middle of prepping vegetables for pressure canning 42 quarts of turmeric chicken soup, I had to figure out how to pull a transmission (Caleb's) from the edge of the road where the delivery guy left it. Our driveway is 1/8 of a mile long, and there are no across-the-street or next-door neighbors. 

I understand people slowing down to see what was sitting next to the road. BUT, the man in the pickup truck who stopped made me concerned for my son's property. I told Caleb if I couldn't move it, I'd sit beside it and protect it. 

I don't play the helpless female, and I do love a challenge. "Gotta problem? Yo, I'll solve it!" I'm with Yoda in that there is no TRY. Do or do not. The transmission was going to be secured, hopefully in a way that allowed me to get back to my work. (I leave in two hours to a home I'm occupying for the owners' until Saturday night. The family will be there with me Friday and Saturday.)

Emily, Bethany, and I moved the transmission about a third of the way up the driveway until Joshua can get home and help get it the rest of the way to the house. A pallet, a lawnmower, a rope, a carabiner, and a good dose of female determination did the trick.