Keith has suggested that I write about the incredible, sweet fellowship we experienced during the barn-raising a couple of weeks ago. Hard to believe it's that long ago, already!
First, let me say that the folks who visited as well as the local folks who helped are an incredible blessing to us (even if they hadn't volunteered their time and energy to lend a huge hand here on the farm). Their presence made the work a pure pleasure, and they are all welcome here anytime--even when there are no big jobs to do.
The work started before the Georgians arrived, with friends here the previous week helping prepare things. Our pastor helped Keith site the barn one evening after work, and brought his wife and daughter for dinner, too. A couple of families were here all day that Saturday, helping to set posts, etc.; they were here off and on throughout the big week, providing more helping hands and food, too. These local folks are great friends and encouragers in faith.
The three families--and two brothers from fourth family--from Georgia began arriving mid-day Monday. (We were and still are sad that another family that had planned on coming couldn't make it.) This is an incredible group of folks; I struggle to check my jealousy that the Lord has placed them and the other members of their church in such a small area--an area that is too far away for us to be regular participants in their activities; seems to me like this kind of fellowship should be spread around and multiplied. But then, I guess it is, in ways like this barn-raising. Each of these folks--the parents as well as the younger folks--are strong practitioners of Proverbs 27:17--
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Surely this community of "one another" believers is a special one. (You can imagine our surprise the first time we heard the pastor mention in church the "one anothers"; check out the meaning of "allelon" on the sidebar links. At the time, I'd never heard any pastor address the "one anothers" as such, so it was a very pleasant surprise and struck a note with us.)
These people are a real encouragement to us to continue striving toward a biblically-based life. More than any other folks I've ever known, they practice joy. So many Christians wear that title on a black armband, it seems, and simply don't live a joyful life that will entice others to the Lord's banqueting table. Not so with these wonderful examples. I learn more about my role as a wife--how to practice it as well as how to enjoy it--everytime I am with the ladies. And the young folks--WOW! Never have we seen a group so like what we want for our family. They have shown our children that there are other people like us--desirous of family-integrated worship (well, pretty much family-integrated everything), modest dress, pure hearts, etc.--truly desirous of living a joyous, Godly life. In looking at photos from the week, Keith and I are still in amazement about what a great group it is, frequently stating, unbelievingly, "Not a rotten apple among them!" And that's after six days of hard work--12- and 14-hour days and 26 people in the same house! We'd do it again in a heartbeat. And maybe the family that had to stay behind could come then, too.
All the men and boys (except our 3yo son and a 1yo son from GA) worked hard and long days on the barn. They woke before dawn, ate a light breakfast, and headed out to the barn site at first-light. We four wives were in the kitchen a good bit, but not as much as I'd have thought. These ladies are used to feeding crowds, and had some delicious, easy meal ideas that worked out great. We did fix a good "snack" (hearty breakfast) for the guys mid-morning, which they all seemed to appreciate. We and the girls carried it out to them at the site so that barn-progress was interrupted as little as possible. They came in for lunch, then got a light snack taken out to them mid-afternoon. Work generally ended and dinner was served when darkness made the work difficult.
The older girls (including ours) were incredible to watch as they helped wherever they were needed--wonderful future helpmeets. They were in the kitchen, with the younger children, at the barn. They made sure there was plenty of drinking water for the guys, made and served snacks, served as back-up belay/rope de-tanglers for the men and boys on the barn-roof, gofers, etc. Actually, I'm not sure of all the capacities they filled at the barn, since I wasn't out there as much as they were.
And the younger girls were a pleasure to have around. A couple of them went to the store with their moms one day, got fabric and an apron pattern, and quickly made--entirely by hand--lovely aprons for themselves. And when they were done with those, they did more handwork. Inspiring. These younger girls were fun to watch, too, chasing hens and collecting eggs--possibly a first for them, but they looked like pros doing it.
The front porch proved to be a great place of fellowship. When the guys were working and the rest of us could take a break, we sometimes sat on the front porch and watched the progress while enjoying each others' company. And when storms came (which they did), all of us gathered there, watched God's majesty in the storm, and had family worship, led by the GA pastor. We had scripture, discussion, and even a bit of Psalm-singing as we awaited the passing of the storms. As long as we've known about this church (really, our first contact was just last July--that's hard to believe, they are such an important part of our lives!), they have practiced Family Worship, with the pastor emailing a Family Worship Guide each week with scripture, Psalms, and hymns to read and sing throughout the week in preparation for worship on the Lord's day. Beginning the week of the barn-raising, he had encouraged a new "life liturgy" akin to Daniel--deliberately going to the Lord throughout the day by worshipping as a family in the morning, individually mid-day, and as a family in the evening. He has altered the Worship Guides to encourage this, still in preparation of the Lord's day. A wonderful plan that we enjoyed as a family of 26 (28, when my parents were here) during the barn-raising, as well as now.
Before the folks arrived, we were a bit worried about spare time, especially for the ones not working on the barn. We had even devised some "farm games," a week-long competition involving a variety of contests. This group of folks, however, does not need entertainment; they take so much joy in each other's company that any spare time was quickly filled by simple fellowship. None of the games were needed.
The contra dance Thursday was another part of a great week. As always, our caller (who calls dances we attend 2x a month about an hour from here) was wonderful. Her husband and daughters came, too, which added to the fun. And her husband and a couple of our friends from nearby even provided a bit of live music for part of the dance.
I'm rambling, and really am not doing justice to the great folks and the great time we had with them. Guess I'm too limited to come up with appropriate words to express what a blessing these people are to us.
Thankfully, a few items were accidentally left here by the GA folks. We have an excuse to worship with them--which we'll be doing this Lord's day!
Mary Susan
...is not like the others. He runs around, scratches, flies about two feet in the air, is fully feathered and generally seems like a normal, healthy chicken. The rest are quite different. They have been called "FrankenChickens" and that seems rather appropriate to me. They eat voraciously and lay around and grow, which I guess is why so many folks raise them - excellent feed conversion ratio, large breast, and short-time-to-market. I'll reserve final judgment until after processing day. In the mean time, does anyone have an enthusiastic recommendation for a more traditional and less freaky meat bird? I'd love to hear your suggestions.
I don't guess I can post that lovely shot of the chicks in the chicken tractor with out a full shot of the behemoth. In case anyone is curious, yes that is John Deere green paint you see. Below you can see me topping the sixteen foot monstrosity off with a little coordinating John Deere yellow. What can I say, I like the colors and it is as close to the real thing I will likely get anytime soon. There are two large lift-up doors, one on each end and I think it is going to work out all right. We didn't follow any plans; we just got out the 2x4's and started slapping it together. The 16' 2x4's were leftover bracing from the barn raising. I had planned to do something a little different. A buddy had suggested converting a hay ring to a tractor and I thought that was a pretty nifty idea. However, Kyle came down with a real hankerin' to build something with wood. So we built this and it gave me a chance to teach him about half-lap joints.
