Sweet Mates

I love seeing our animals get along.  Sharing spaces.

Sure, some are bigger than others, and may take up more room.

But we give them plenty of options for other housing and company.

And sometimes they take it.

Here's hoping you are enjoying your sweet/suite/soul mate today. 

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.

Psalm 133:1



Saturday Sled Dogs

The week was one of work.

As it should be.

"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."  Proverbs 14:23

 

 

But now, the weekend is here...

And it's time to play.

We hope you have a wonderful day playing, doing what you love most.



3 in 30

It's true.

I've only left the long driveway that connects the outside world
to our 40 acres a total of 3 times in 30 days. 

Upon coming home from my last day at the office on 12/29/10,
I've found little reason to leave since my retirement. 

But 3 times, I was drawn away from home.

1.  To get our new dog, Rory.

2. To head to the Kalkaska Winterfest sled dog race as a spectator.

(To see old friends, such as Taylor Brehmer from Abrams, WI, along with new friends.)

3. To do a load (1) of laundry. (One is enough when you don't go anywhere.)

 

What...you say?

That sounds like drudgery, looking out your Wee House door, day after day.

 

The truth is...I've never experienced more freedom in my entire life.

I am directed daily by Him. 

And He provides for me. 

For us.

Sure, we work harder than ever.  But it's wonderful feeling grounded to the earth. 

So grounded, I'm beginning to walk like a farmer. 

So close to the earth, I hate to lift my feet.

Will I always stick close?

Perhaps. 

My bliss is home. 

No reason to leave.

I have a heavy dose of God's glory all around me.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."

(Psalm 19:1-4; Psalm 97:6)



Haul and Maul: Russ-Stick Style

Today, Tuesday, is wood day.

Russ will be hauling some out of the woods, via dog team, and my assistance.

The sweet dance of life continues. 

Thank you God.

Until tomorrow, Lord willing.

Saturday Dogsledding Tour

It's cold.

It's snowy.

And we have a big tour group coming today.

I wonder who God is going to place in our midst.

I love being a fisher of men, God willing.

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,

for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2



Spring Prep

Even though...

We are knee deep in snow.

And busy with dogsledding tours...

We need to think ahead for spring, and the promise it holds.

Any day now, our summer supply of open-pollinated, non-hybrid seeds should arrive.

Heirloom seeds.

Heritage seeds.

Chemical free.

From Victory Seeds.

GMO free.

Order yours today!

Until tomorrow, God willing.

Worship at the Wee House

Wednesday nights are taking on a whole new meaning at Russ-Stick Acres.

It's been a long time coming.  Over a year of planning.

But it begins tonight.

Worship at the Wee House.

I can't wait.

Russ can't wait.

Just imagine...

For where two or three are gathered together in my name,

there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 18:20

 

Thank you Brother John, for nurturing that planted seed.

And praise God, from whom all blessings flow...

Praise Him, all creatures here below...

In the Wee, God willing.

Our Greatest Joy

We've been doing a lot of talking these last couple weeks. 

Russ and I.

And we've come to the conclusion we love seeing the joy on children's faces when learning.

Especially with the animals.

Children do not fear.

They listen intently to instruction.

Their glee is evident.

They are strong.

Sometimes stronger than adults.

And the animals respect them.

Adore them.

And their touch is gentle and kind.

Because of this, we are looking at changes in the way we do our business.

The business of providing bliss on the back of a dog sled.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones.

For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in Heaven."

Matthew 18:10

Wi-Fi at Waldon Pond? What if?

This is a question I've been pondering (no pun intended) for the last couple days.

Earlier in the week, I made a decision to move even further away from civilization.
Quite frankly, what I was seeing in society wasn't too civilized.

Since we no longer have any TV viewing of any kind,
I assumed the next step would be Internet.
So...
I made a Pro/Con list,
seeing if "deactivating" my Facebook account might be the proper route.

The list read something like this:

Pro:
More time with nature.

Con:
Will miss connecting with family and friends.

Pro:

See less negative information/gossip.

Con:

Will miss connecting with family and friends.

And so on...

Bottom line, I felt I needed solitude.

My thoughts wandered to Henry David Thoreau as he began his 2-year journey at
Walden Pond back in early July of 1845.
Young Thoreau felt he needed solitude when he built his 10 x 15 cabin,
to write and live rent free on his buddy, Ralph Waldo's, land.
However, Thoreau liked visitors.
Ralph W. Emerson visited almost daily that first year.
(Word has it, he was also checking on his land and pond...)

Thoreau liked visiting.
He even wrote a chapter in his book about "Visitors".
As he said: 
I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.

So, you ask...would Henry David Thoreau have plugged in?

Would he have kept his social network of the day going?

You bet.

This past week, with urgings from friends and relatives,

and even husband,

I prayed about my decision to get off Facebook.

And in doing so, received some very interesting insights from God.

I realize now that Facebook takes me to a new level.

I'm not afraid to use it as my ministry.

To lift up.

To spread the word of God.

I was willing to give it up.

But in turning away from Facebook, I would lose that connection.

I would lose, perhaps the chance to witness to someone.

I like the written word. I love the written word.
I always have, and will to the day I die.

I need to be connected.

"Secluded" does not equal solitude.

We must be here for each other, especially in these troubled times. 

Like family should…FB family.

And... I have the BEST Facebook friends in the world.
Hands down.
Some are relatives, some are old friends, some new friends. 
But all have a face.
Facebook is just that…putting a face, to a book.
The book of life.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Thank you Lord ~ for giving me the clarity in this decision.

Until tomorrow...God willing,



Less is More ~ Tale of a 4-dog Team

It's true.

Four sled dogs could take you 'round the world.

And back.

You need leaders with brains and dedication.

Who love spending time with you.

Those who may be little, but oh-so-mighty.

And those who have the soul of a sled dog.

We are blessed to have 5 such 4-dog teams.

It is purely our pleasure to care for them while on this earth.

Thank you Lord ~

Until tomorrow...God willing,

Rory's First Run

We have a new pup in the kennel.

Rory.

Yep ~ she's the pup in the middle.

So eager. 

So willing.

So...sled dog.

First time out, and she's looking like a pro.

We love seeing new dogs fit in.

Welcome Rory...

We plan to have you in our team forever...

God willing.

And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

Genesis 1:30



God's Special Gift

This Monday, I finally headed out the gate of our 40 acres.

It had been a while...a dozen days or so.
I hadn't left since the night I came home from my office, officially retired.

I didn't want to leave, but we had an errand.
Picking up a pup. 
Little else could get me to leave our place. 
But...what a glorious treat the Lord had for me that day. 
We viewed an eagle.

Sitting so majestic. 

Overlooking the Jordan Valley.

While sitting in the truck, looking at him perched nearby, he reminded me of so many things.

Freedom.

Our country.

Our constitution.

Our rights.

I needed to see confirmation of these God-graced foundations.

And I saw them in this young eagle.

 

It was a strong symbol that all would be o.k. in this issue-rocked world of ours.

 

We will persevere.  God will lead the charge.

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31