Well...
the next big project that took place on our farmyard was building a 2000 foot rail fense for my horse. It started in August 2012. Believe me,
it took a lot of work! Post pounding for 3 days and nailing on 5 inch rails with 6 inch nails. By the end I even got pretty good with a hammer and nail. Thank God for our able bodies and good health. By November 2012 we had completed.
It follows our winding driveway. We are pleased with the end result! We welcomed another addition to our farmyard at the end of August. Our wonderful german shepherd pup Ace.
Well it has been awhile!
It all started in 2010 with a vision of what an open alfalfa field and rolling hills could become.
We had to dig a well and have a foundation on our property before hydro would come in which became the shop. A picture is worth a thousand words right? In June 2011 the construction of the shop took place. Before Stuart and I were married he lived in the camper while the shop was being built.
Hi, my name is Sarah. I am country girl living on a small ranch 50 miles to the nearest city. My husband and I decided to start a new yard site. Together we're building it up. God has opened up so many doors for us. He is so good and we are blessed!
About Lone Creek Ranch
We have always wanted to name our place, We have a creek at the bottom of the valley and no one around for miles so the name we came up with is Lone Creek Ranch. Our property was an open rolling alfalfa field with a vision. We don't earn a full living on our ranch, but we do have horses to feed, hay to harvest and fences to fix. We love it here and wouldn't change a thing.
About this blog
Earlier on I wrote about my life. Now that I'm married, the focus has changed a bit. I have spent some time thinking about what comes easiest to write. Since I'm not an expert at anything this blog will be about our life. It will include, but not be limited to: faith, family, friends, decorating, gardening, farming, cooking, photography, thrift finds and everyday life. Thanks for stopping by!
I have def not been a very faithful blogger. I have been planning a wedding, working, and had a trip to Belize. I know that to be able to do all of this I am blessed. Wedding planning has been going amazing!! I love planning and decorating. 7 hours and 109 invitations later the girls and I are done. Who hoo!! They turned out awesome! A big thanks to everyone of them. You know who you are. Here are some pics of our eventful day.
A sneak peak to the country wedding we are planning: happens to be all about detail! each envelope was hand cut and each flap had fabric sewen on with a machine then hand tied at each corner so yes it was a lot of work. rsvp's maps and the actual invitation were cut out as well. finally the envelope was tied with burlap string.
It made me take a good look at myself... am I truly living for God or am I just a Sunday christian. Can people tell by the way I act and what I do that I am different from this world? When God's name is spoken in vain, do I stand up or, do I let it slide just one more time? Am I afraid to tell people that I am a believer? Is God only in parts of my life and not all of them? Do I continue to sin even when I know its wrong? Do I forgive as Christ forgave me? Am I too accepting of wrong that is going on around me? Is Christ the centre of my life?
An example the pastor used was acceptance of homosexuals posters being placed in the classrooms of young children. A question he asked is this: are we doing something about it?
Romans 1:21-32 made me see that even in the Bible times they faced the same things that we face today.
Matthew 6:14-15 reminded me that I must forgive.
As I was reading my devotions I came across Matthew 21: 12-13. Jesus didn't just stand there and let the wrong happen, he took action.
God calls us to share the good news and stand up for what is right, and stand on truth. To often I am afraid to say anything for fear that I will be persecuted for my beliefs. I don't trust God to do the speaking for me and rely on my own strength.Through reading more I have found great encouregement. I believe there are others who struggle with the same things I do and I hope this helps.
We were challenged to share Christ's love with others. He wants the lost and broken.
If you wonder if there is a God, look around you, nature shows there is a God. Go out on a clear night and look up in the skies. The beauty is breathtaking. If you think the Bible is just a book, then I challenge you to read it.
This is to my best friend and maid of honor, Leanne. She's a little crazy, with a georgous smile. A farm girl who helps out and rides her cow! She loves music and is very talented at playing the panio (even if she doesn't think so). She is genuine and like a sister to me.
Throughout this past year Leanne and I have really gotten to know each other. Sharing an apartment with one bedroom hasn't always been easy, but it made us closer. So often we talked about confusing issues, boys and dating. When things got frusterating, Leanne was there. We vented, and talked through things. Her faith in God and encouragement to trust in Him when things seemed so uncertian is a blessing. She is a woman who is beautiful inside and out. She has the patience and a listening ear when I babble on about something. I appreciate her honesty. No beatin' round the bush, just say it like it is and visualize it realistically.
We have made a lot of memories, had great laughs, and just plain fun!
Some of the best memories are:
-Lunches of mac n' cheese and toast after a long morning of painting bathrooms at our summer job
-Singing along to tunes from good ol' country to christain and hyms in the car, kitchen, or round' the panio
-To countless hours of sitting and allowing me to style her hair (even if she wasn't in the mood) which often resulted in playing dress up and a photoshoot
-Bonfires and faspas
-Last but not least, Value Village nights almost every thursday
She has seen the worst of me, and continues to be there. God has blessed me with a wonderful friend. She reminds me of the virtious woman in Proverbs 31. I have learned much through her.
Sometimes it's hard to see someone you love so much suffer and endure pain. It makes me want to be able to take it away and place it upon myself instead of them. I ask God why... and wonder. My roomate has a note posted on the wall that says: Sometimes God doesn't calm the storm, He chooses to calm His child. I realize how true this is. Trusting, hoping and trying to stay positive throughout sickness is a hard thing. It is only done through God's strength.
I would like to share with you two of my favorite songs.
Supper was shared with everyone around the table! Even my twin and his girlfriend were there. After, we all went out for public skating. Tonight was the first night the community rink opened. Yes we finally have ice. The rink brings back so many memories. I remember going through skating lessons as a kid, then going into power skating, then teaching all the little guys how to skate. : ) I really did miss a lot by moving away. All thoes little guys are not so little anymore. The rink brings the community together. I was able to catch up with classmates I haven't seen in a while and talk with friends. After public skating my fiance and brothers played hockey. I was able to stand and cheer as the Young Guns won 6 to 1.
This past week our family has lost a dear friend, Martha. A "prayer worrior" is what my mom calls her. She went to meet Jesus January 10th. I know we will miss her.
Martha had a cheer that radiated from her. Despite difficult circumstances she remained happy. She was one of the kindest, out spoken ladies I have ever met! She could talk and tell such interesting stories that time just didn't seem to matter. I have sat in her kitchen several times mesmorized by her stories and waiting for a batch of fresh cinnamon buns to come out of the oven. I can almost smell them now asI sit here and write. She made the best ones.
She was a real encourager. She wanted to see me succeed and become a nurse. She had joked and told me that one day she was going to need a nurse close by so I better get my degree.
Martha was really excited about mine and Stuart's future. The land that Stuart bought and built a place on is where she use to live. She was glad that someone was putting a home there. Before she died, she was given a tour and had wanted to come visit once we moved in.
There are so many memories I could continue writing. I know she is in a better place, for that I am greatful. One imprtant lesson she has taught me is to live your life by example.
God has known what I have needed from the beginning.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
Jeremiah 29:11
I found a beautiful christian song that I would like to share with you.
The link to hear it is below.
The lyrics are as follows:
I hear it in a love song or see it on a movie screen
The kind of perfect love story
That I have always dreamed
Would somehow come into my life
And yet it seems so out of reach
Its all I think about sometimes
Will I ever find a love thats meant to be?
Maybe these thoughts seem foolish
To a holy God who made the sea and land
But you were the one who created
Love between a woman and a man
And deep inside I hear you say
You see all my hopes and fears
And if I give to you the pen of my life
Youll write a tale that all heaven can cheer
Far beyond my deepest hearts desire
Far beyond what I could ever dream
Far beyond my fairy tale imaginations
Is your perfect plan for me
Theres no limit to romance in all its beauty
When the author of love shapes my destiny
Far beyond the most that I could long for
I will find the dreams you have dreamed for me
I could search forever
I could look for true love everywhere
If all my dreams were answered
They still could not compare
To the beauty of your ways
And all your plans for my life
cause youve been scripting out a stfuory for me
Before the very foundations of time
I do struggle with trusting God fully with every aspect of my life. It seems when things are going great I forget that He is leading my life and I try taking hold of the reigns. Soon my world comes crashing down and I wonder why. It reminds me about a Sunday School lesson on the Children of Isreal when I was little. I remember the teacher saying how when they fell away from God things went badly for them, but when they were right with him everything was ok. I asked why would they fall away and the teacher said it was because it is our nature. I look at myself now and know that I am exactly as the Children of Isreal, always having to be taught lessons. Some are harder than others.
Sarah
P.S Eric and Leslie Ludy sing amazing songs! I have definitly found encouragement through them. They also write wonderful books. I recommend looking them up on you tube and listening to their other songs and clips of what they talk about.
This past year I have come across many different blogs and that have given me inspiration and encouragement. For some reason, others' real life stories of laughs and struggles help me to put perspective into my own life. I enjoy putting thoughts and moments on paper, only to throw them out a little while later because of the clutter. I figured blogging is a good substitute for the papers I never keep, a way to share and a way to encourage.
First a little about myself... I have been blessed with a wonderful family and fiance. A mom and dad, a twin brother, another bother just a little behind us, then two great little siblings. Last but not least the love of my life, Stuart who, Lord willing, I will soon be sharing a life with.
I have started my bachelor of nursing and hope to become a nurse. I currently work as a health care aide and love helping people. I have a wide variety of interests which include everything from creating, designing, and building, to just plain doing! I love being outside, riding horse, cooking, gardening and so much more!
My goal is to live for God, be more thankful to those around me, (often I fall short and don't appreciate them as I should) use what God has given to me to serve others, and live each day like it were my last. A verse that has meant a lot to me is Hebrews 12:1. A verse my Grandpa lived by. Too many times I loose patience and forget that God is in control. It reminds me to stop, take a breath, and refocus on the task set before us.
