Building a Life that Stands the Test of Time

Happy September!

I can’t believe the official end to summer has come, but I am excited that fall is right around the corner. I am already enjoying pumpkin spice everything!

So, I just returned from a week-long 18th-century timber framing class and, as always, there were so many God moments! Not only did I learn how to use a chisel and a mallet (which I sort of failed at…you’ll find out what happened when you watch this episode!), I learned the value of community and how important it is to work together.

But as I was working with others in constructing a timber frame the old-fashioned way, I got to thinking about the building that matters the most to God. No, not a church building….but us.

Mother Teresa once said that we were the dwelling place of the living God. We are the homes, the houses, the sanctuaries in which God dwells in. And as such, well, I guess I am wondering how strong of a foundation is this home, and how am I building a life that will stand the test of time and point to the love of God in the world?

Yes, a lot of questions on my heart.

But for now, I can’t wait to catch up with you and share all the sights and insights from my recent adventure!

So pull up a chair, make yourself comfy, pour a cup of tea or coffee or a cool glass of lemonade (it’s still quite warm here in Vermont!), and let’s enjoy a wonderful visit together!

Blessings!

(Click on picture below to start your visit!)

Finding the Blessings Beyond Our Comfort Zones

I went back to school this summer — 18th-century singing school, that is! And it was amazing. Now, I can’t sing nor can I read notes.

So to say I was out of my comfort zone is an understatement. But I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to spend a weekend at East Field Village, a campus of authentic 18th-century buildings where, with no electric or running water, people are invited each summer to a Colonial College — learning skills from a time gone by.

This course was about shape note singing which was popular in New England during the 1700s and early 1800s. What I learned, though, was more about how important it is to welcome others and no matter how different we all are, when we join our hearts and voices together, we can make amazing music. I learned some other valuable lessons as well — like how important it is to try something that we feel totally unskilled at. 🙂

So come! Step back in time with me. I can’t wait to share what has been on my heart. After our time together, drop me a note. I would love to hear your thoughts — and I would love to hear your stories on how you once challenged yourself to learn something new.

Blessings!

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

August 1 is a big day here at Old Stone Well Farm. It is the celebration of Swiss National Day, the Swiss equivalent to our Fourth of July.

But this year I discovered that August 1 is also Lammas Day, which means Loaf Mass Day. It was a time to celebrate the beginning of the harvest by making a loaf of bread from the grain and have it blessed at a local church.

Since I tried my hand at growing wheat at the farm for the first time, I decided to embrace Lammas Day, and Lammastide (which is an entire season of harvesting).

I harvested some of my wheat and, I look forward to making bread out it!

As I was gathering the wheat, though, I was thinking a lot about how beautifully God provides for us. We pray for God to give us our daily bread, and He does.

But this summer, though, I have found myself forgetting about God’s promise. I have been worrying about my tomorrows. I have been questioning, “Will my family have enough?” I am sure I am not the only one who worries about this.

And so, if you find yourself worrying…or just need to take a break from your reality right now…pull up a chair and come to my 18th-century rural home in Vermont for some conversation and friendship. It is great to have you join me especially for Swiss National Day! Blessings!

Sidelined for the Summer

I did not expect to find myself sidelined from all the summer plans that I had made. But here I am, dealing with…are you ready for this…Lyme disease.

Yep. After years and years of frolicking in the woods with no problem, the dreaded red rash appeared the other day, shining light on the reason why I have been feeling out of sorts for a few weeks now.

So here I am, trying to heal my body, and my spirit. This time has been such a reminder for me that in my weakness, God is strong and God’s grace can get us through it all. But I am tired of resting and miss being with you.

So come join me as I share with you not just my Lyme diagnosis, but some thoughts on dealing with rejection as well…and how I recently experienced the sting of rejection firsthand. What a summer it has been! I pray you are all well!

And I promise to catch up on all your messages this week. 🙂

I love hearing from you all. Blessings!

You Really Do Learn Something New Every Day

While it’s not officially summer yet — a few more days to go — summer living is in full swing here at Olde Stone Well Farm in Vermont.

After too many busy weeks, I am enjoying smelling the roses, taking long walks in the woods and saying hello to my neighbor’s cows.

June has always been one of my favorite months — not just because it is my birthday month and that my parents and I almost share a wedding anniversary day…they married June 17, I married June 18.

No, June has been special to me because it always presented so many possibilities in learning something new, to go on new adventures, to discover interesting places and fun facts. T

his year is no exception as the celebration of Juneteenth led to my discovering of something called “hush harbors” or sometimes called “brush harbors.” T

hese were secret places deep in the woods that the enslaved would go and gather to worship freely. I also heard a story of how one of my favorite foods — hush puppies, which is basically fried cornmeal — got its name.

So pull up a chair and let’s catch up my friends.

And tell me — what was your favorite part of the summer when you were a child?

Would love to hear!

Learning to Leave the Blessing

While I am still unpacking my bags from a series of business trips, and still dealing with the banging of a new roof being put onto this old house, I finally found time to enjoy the sun and the abundance of rhubarb and lilacs that are filling my days with joy.

I have so much rhubarb that in addition to pie I tried a new recipe — rustic rhubarb bread. It was quite good! I will include the link to the recipe a bit further down.

But with all my trips there were a lot of hellos and goodbyes, and that got me thinking about how important it is to bless all of our interactions. Bless the hellos…bless the goodbyes.

“Leave the blessing” as an old saying goes. What would happen if we did this each and every day? How would blessing every encounter we have change our perspective on the world?

Perhaps we would see more of the goodness that is all around. And so, my friends, it’s great to be back home…and be with you all!

How is your season of springtime renewal going? (And can you believe it is almost June!) Yikes. Where is the time going?

Fill me in. Drop me a note, share and like! (Make sure to watch the end as I share behind the scenes bloopers with Fritz!)

Blessings!

(As promised, the link to the recipe! https://gbskitchen.com/one-bowl-rustic-rhubarb-bread/)

(Click picture below to start your visit to the farm!)

Making a Dream Come True – (And A Recent Award that Changed My Life)

My friends, a truck came barreling down my road and cut the internet line hanging over the road in half.

I was without internet for four days.

But I am back online and here to share with you the news: I WON an award!

The actual winning isn’t the God story, though. It was what led up to that award that the holy, awe-inspiring moments can be found. It’s a story about listening to dreams and fighting the doubt that comes with taking those steps in making a dream a reality.

But that is not even the full story. Shortly after winning, I received yet another award. This one was even more prestigious than the first — and, it brought tears to my eyes.

So come, pull up a chair and join me for a story of God at work…along with some May Day traditions that happened here at the farm and a little dandelion honey butter making.

What have you been filling your spring days with? I hope it includes lots of joy and many, many God moments.

Share, like, comment…there is plenty of room for your friends to join me here at the farm!

Blessings!

Click on the video below