"Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted"

"Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted"

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
’Tis the Christ by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, ’tis He, ’tis He!
’Tis the long expected prophet,
David’s Son, yet David’s Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
’Tis a true and faithful Word.

Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning,
Was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear His cause disowning,
Foes insulting his distress:
Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.

Ye who think of sin but lightly,
Nor suppose the evil great,
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the Sacrifice appointed!
See Who bears the awful load!
’Tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed,
Son of Man, and Son of God.

Here we have a firm foundation,
Here the refuge of the lost.
Christ the Rock of our salvation,
Christ the Name of which we boast.
Lamb of God for sinners wounded!
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on Him their hope have built.

It's Started!!

Most people laugh when I talk about birthdays as I almost always start of talk about it with by saying "Birthday season starts in Feburary.".  Yes everyone laughs and then says "Birthday season?".  Yes, it's birthday season.  No, we do not have a birthday every month.  But once Feburary 26th comes around we have on avarage a birthday every 3 weeks, please note as the months go by and you see birthday wishes from me to my family members that I said on avarage!  lol

Since I started this blog in March of last year Linnea is the only one who do not get a birthday wish on here, thankfully she has yet to notice.  lol

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINNEA!!

Miss. Linnea, who is more like me than any of my other siblings yet so very different from me.
 Just like me she loves to cook, have things clean and organized, teach the youngers, read, learn about guns and history.  She also has my temper, attitude (both of which I wash that neither of us had), and tendency to boss and try to do other people's work.

But unlike me she would rather wear a hoopskirt at all hours of the day, live without energy doing all her cooking and washing over a fire.  If she could get away with it we would all being wearing clothes from the '60s, make that the 1860's, going around dancing and with books on our heads if need be.

With that said I love her dearly and am grateful for the day that God gave her to us (and yes, I do remember the day she was born!) Again...

Happy Birthday Linnea!!

Noah Says....

Mr. Destructo the ever amazing (current) five year old in the house says that he wants to call Judah "bookshelf" and Black Jack "Peanut Butter".

I love the boy!!

It's Just Not Right!!

When we are in the last week of Feburay and for us to get snow!!  And these weren't little snow flakes that you sit there for ten minutes with another sisters going back and forth...Sister: "Yes, I think it's snowing" Me "No I don't see anything", Sister: "Yes!  See it's snowing!  There are flakes there, and there, and there!", Me: "Oh, I guess there might have been a tiny flake right there but you can barely call that snowing!!"

The flakes were there.  They were huge, you could see them while driving down the road and from what the girls tell me it stuck and they had a snowball fight!  Which is more then they had in Vancouver, where they had rain yesterday.  lol

Me?  I just froze in the wind, rain, and sometimes sleet with Christin and mom selling milk, yogurt, and kefir to those faithful customers who braved the "Winter storm warning" that had been put out for Houston. 

Did you know there's a reason that I live in Houston?  Well, besides the fact that that's where my family resides and that's where the goats that I milk happen to be.  lol  It's the fact that I HATE being cold!  I( would much rather have the heat and humidity then the freezing cold and snow where I can't run around barefoot, where I always have to wear a bulky jacket, and where there's always the risk of freezing!

Much as I love watching the winter Olympics and would love to go Bobsledding or Skiing, I don't think I could handle the weather to do so. 

Now, to go hunt around in the kitchen and see if we have any hot chocolate, (since we ran out of coffee yesterday) and if we don't, then hunt to see if we have a tea that I might like.  Y'all enjoy your day!

(Oh, look Sara.  I blogged about the weather again!  lol )

"What Wondrous Love Is This"

"What Wondrous Love Is This"

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am”;
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on.

Ever Feel....

Have you ever felt like you had a ton of work to do and there was no time to do it?  Or have you ever felt like you had a million and one things to do, but could only remember one or two of those things? 

Well that's the way I feel today!  So far I've been to the Vet, called about a sign for one orf our Farmer's Market, Called the Rodeo to get some money refunded since they charged me a late fee that they shouldn't have.  E-mailed someone interested in buying soap for her store, helped a friend hitch up the trailer (they are taking an animal to the Vet as well).  All this since 9:45 when I had to leave Christin to milk by herself and leave. 

Now I am about to leave to take our neighbor to her therapy appointment (she was in a car wreck Christmas night and broke her arm) and Grace to her Dentist appointment.  And I have to be back in time to milk tonight, whew!!  What a day!!

Y'all have a nice day, enjoy any snow you might get tomorrow and Wednesday, while I freeze as I run around town today and at market tomorrow.  :D 

Humpty Dumpty

"If Walt Whitman Had Written Humpty Dumpty"

O Humpty! O Humpty! You've had a fearful spill,
You've tumbled from the stoney height,
       your're lying cold and still;
Your shell is cracked, your yolk runs out,
       your breath is faint and wheezy;
You landed as a scambled egg, instead of over easy;
       The king has sent his steeds and men
             To mend you if they can;
                   I pray that they did not forget
                          To bring a frying pan.

~Frank Jacobs~

"I Think You Overbooked Yourself"

A parent at one of Tim's little league practice said that to their child a couple days ago and I had to laugh as this kid was 12 years old, but when I listened to what she told her dad she had to do each day it did sound like she had overbooked herself. This brought me a chuckle and then a groan because I thought “I never do that. Oh, wait! I do it ALL the time.”

Yes, me, Katie the oldest of "that large family", worker for "That goat dairy". Is also the Queen of overbooking herself.

And these next six weeks is a prime example of that. Thanks part to myself and my love of baseball and the rodeo and also thanks in part to my dad and his knowledge of what I enjoy doing.

In the next two weeks I will be doing the normal farm stuff. Well as much as one can do when they are on the farm as infrequently as I will be. I will be helping to coach Noah's little league team (thanks Dad!), driving Timothy to his practices when needed, going to market on Saturday and Tuesdays.

And then the first three weeks of March I will be working at the rodeo for five days out of the week, along with helping at the farm in the mornings, doing markets on Saturday, church on Sunday, and whatever else comes across my path to do.

Then little league games start the last Saturday of March, along with the start of another batch of kidding. Something tells me I need to get a day runner and a better sense of time and time management. lol

Just Wondering....

In snowboarding is there such a thing as a whole pipe or a quarter pipe?

"Welcome to the Adult World"

Or, so says my mom...

In the last week I've locked my keys in the car and got my first ticket. Imagine that, after almost three years of driving I had to go and do both in the same week!  And here I was hoping to go longer then that!  :-S

"Be Thou My Vision"

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.

Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;

Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;

Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:

Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,

Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,

May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Latin

"Reading Latin is like eating healthy food. It's tough to digest, but you feel good after you're done."

~The Complete Idiot's Guide to Learning Latin~

Living On A Dairy...

While we are milking Seth will come into the dairy with his cup and start saying "Goatie, milk!  Goatie milk!" while pointing to the goat, then his cup and then himself. 

He knows where his milk comes from and not only does he come in and ask for it, but we have to be careful or else he will start milking the goat into his cup!  And I didn't think his little 22 month old hands could do it.  lol

"Amazing Grace!"

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;

Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,

His Word my hope secures;

He will my Shield and Portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who called me here below,

Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we’d first begun.

Sports News, What Fun!!

I wait for years for this, no matter where it is, no matter what the date I'm there parked in front of the TV to watch the Nations file in announced in three different languages, while the whole world watches to see who is the best at each sport.

Yes, I am talking about the Winter Olympics, though I do enjoy watching the summer games as well there's just something about the winter games that draws me more than the summer games. I've looked forward to every four years to watch the games since 1998 and the Nagano Olympics.

No, please don't ask me which is my favorite sport I go back and forth between spots. Ask me now and I might say speed skating, ask me in thirty minutes and I will tell you Luge. But then I can't forget Skeleton, Curling, Bobsled, Skiing or Hockey.

On another sports topic, the Astros' pitchers and catchers reported to Florida today to mark the start of Spring Training and we found out in the last two days that Timothy and Noah will both be playing for the Astors in the Waller little league. Noah for T-ball 5 (which dad said he would never do, until he saw Noah the last couple years) and Timothy for the Minors. What fun!! :D

State Rights, Slavery, and the War Between the States

The posting of my mom's Confederate Hero's Day post was rather late for me to post anything on that subject. I am a southern girl through and through!! I have the flag on a heart and I wear it every day (right by my "Ancora Imparo" pendent). I have more things that say "Southern by the Grace of God" or "100% American and 110% southern!" then I care to think about.

But I am not one of those people who thinks that the south was right in everything they did and that the North did everything wrong. Yes, I do know that both sides made mistakes and that both sides made some decisions that were right for that time, no they did not always make the correct decision and those were not always made at the best of times, but I will give you that there were good people on both sides as well as those not so good guys on either side.

But I will tell you that there are a couple things that are commonly said about the War Between the States that can get me madder than a wet hen. And with my views on the war I get to hear them over and over again and it really bothers me.

Right up there at the top of the list is the common belief that the war was fought over slavery. When I start talking about the war I get any number of answers or questions on how I am wrong or what I have I been reading? I never get to state the facts, I never get a chance to tell them that though the war was NOT fought over slavery in the beginning, after the Emancipation Proclamation it became a part of the reason for many, but for many in the South from start to finish it was a war that they fought for their state rights. Their states which they considered their homeland.

In many cases those that fought for the South were against Slavery, even if they were for slavery they were not fighting to keep the slaves, they were fighting to keep their state's rights; those rights that they believed had been given to them under the constitution. The same thing that their fathers had fought for against the British--Their right to make the choices for their state. (In fact the South had a better base from breaking from the Union then the colonies did from England.)

I find myself wanting to ask if the war was really fought over slavery how come most people fighting for the South didn't own slaves, never had and the chances of them owning any were slim to none.

Or if the war was fought for Slavery how come there were those who fought for the North who had owned slaves or who had family members who owned slaves as well? And how can a man whose wife owned slaves during the war fight on the side that was against slavery if the war was truly fought over freeing the slaves?

Yes, slavery was an issue but even Lincoln didn't make slavery a pivotal issue until it was politically expedient to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. This proclamation didn't actually free all the slaves just those in areas that were "in rebellion"--

"And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free;"

No, I am not condoning the act of slavery; in fact the very idea that people could own other people is beyond me. What I am saying is that I agree with the states, in that it was their right given to them by the Constitution, to decide state by state what they wanted to do about slavery. 

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

Yes, some states may have made the wrong decision while others made the correct one, but then that is nothing new as we are all human and are prone to making a mistake here or there. At least they tried to do their best for their state at that time.

For people to say that the war was fought only for slavery is oh, so infuriating especially when there are men who would turn over in their graves if they heard people say that and to be told that I am harboring hate when I defend the South is just as infuriating.

Yes, I have kept an open mind about this, when I first started reading about the war I thought that the North and Lincoln were right. It did take a couple years for me to see things from the South's side (right about the time we started reading about it in history). And when I started reading about it from the South's side it didn't take long for me to see the south's side of things might be correct (even at the age of 12).

Not only the fact that I used to believe everything the "victors said" keep me with an open mind, but more members of my family are Northern or believe that the North was right, so I do have to be careful with what I say and do around them.

Now that I have stated my beliefs on slavery, state's rights, and the War Between the States, I am sure I will have a couple people leave a comment on how right I am about the war and the reasons, while I will have other people leave comments about how I am wrong for supporting the south.

Even though I have never had anyone get really nasty at me over this I have had my arguments and I have had to deal with people who think I am just plain crazy for believing what I believe about our history, but that is nothing new either.

Now a days those of us who dare to show our heritage, tend to get raised eyebrows at the very least. Honestly when I wear my St. Andrew's cross heart or ear rings, put a bumper sticker on my car that says "Heritage not Hate" with all the Southern flags, or in any other way show my "support" for the South it is not that I think we should break away from the Union (we tried that already and you see where it got us...)

Rather my bumper sticker explains it all..."Heritage not Hate".  It's my living out my heritage, my heritage that which God has given me and is part of what makes me, me.

It's your history as well as mine and I think it might do some people a world of good to read up on what makes their country the country that it is today and one way of doing so would be to go back and read some of those "horrid, old, dusty history books" and maybe they will see that there's more to the war then what the text books say there is.

Meet My Family--My Dad

Meet my dad--Tim Carlson Sr.

This is my dad, I do believe that though I have never properly introduced y'all to him I have written a post or two about him and the wonderful things he has done for me or my family. :D But here is a little on him to give you a good idea of who he is and how he has affected my life (besides being my dad), what I mean to say is all the things he's done to help make me the person I am and all the wonderful things he does

This picture was taken a year or so after we moved out to the country; he still had his city job. At that point we were sill in pre-dairy age. Dad would drive 50 miles there and 50 miles back so that we could live in the country and have goats, chickens, bee hives, and a large garden. And all this from "Mr. Do I look like I can live in the country".

Yup, that’s my dad I’m talking about! Not once, not twice, but many, many times over the years that my parents were married and we lived in the city (and that would be the first 19 years of their marriage.) Whenever someone would say that we needed to move to the country for all of the kids, or so we could save on the food bill with a garden and chickens my dad would laugh and say--

"Do I look like I can live in the country? No, sir not me! I'm a city boy through and through, I LOVE living ten minutes from the zoo, museums, Ball Park, and church. I love the city and got here as soon as I could, thank you very much!!"

But then his heart was changed, for a couple of reasons we moved out, since then what we do out here has changed. Including my dad. :D

My dad has gone from "Mr. City" to "Yes, I'm the farmer!". Through it all he has still been a good dad for us.

When we lived in the city he would take me to almost any Astros' game I wanted to go to. All I had to do was name the date and he would somehow come up with the tickets (I think that might have had something to do with the fact that he could get two tickets for $5 lol), if I wanted a book, he'd look for it until he could find it for me, be it from the library or a book store. And then there were those times when I was in need of discipline, he would hand it out to me as well, because I needed it.

This is the person who held me when the Astros' lost in the World Series, telling me that it was O.K. there was always next year we always have a chance the following year I just needed to pray that I didn't end up like him being the fan of a team that went 86 years without winning a World Series (nice guy huh?).

This is my dad, the man who takes time to read to us, give us book ideas, help us to love reading and history. This is My dad, the man who would do anything he could to help us learn more and to grow up and do things that we believe in or want to do, including driving an extra hour a day to allow me work for a campaign. This is the man who stays here and milks the goats with us, so that we can all have a family owned and runned business. The man who shows trusts in us, from allowing us to help him with the dairy to allowing us to work part time jobs that we enjoy by ourselves.

Some people know him has a good friend, some people know him as their bus driver, while others know of him as goat farmer or "That crazy man with a LOT of children". But I know him as my dad, the man who has been there for me whenever I need him, helped me when I wanted or needed it. Someone who backs me up when I need it or who tries to talk sense to me when I not. He's one of God's many gifts to me, and one I am oh so grateful for.

"How Sweet And Awesome Is This Place"

How sweet and awesome is this place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores!

While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,
“Lord, why was I a guest?

“Why was I made to hear Thy voice,
And enter while there’s room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?”

’Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste,
And perished in our sin.

Pity the nations, O our God!
Constrain the earth to come;
Send Thy victorious Word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.

We long to see Thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May with one voice, and heart and soul,
Sing Thy redeeming grace.

Super Bowl

Yup last night was the Super Bowl and I milked goats and went to bed.  Unlike Christin who when she watches the Super Bowl watches it for the adds, (if she can get away with that) I watch it for the game as I do sometimes enjoy watching football every once in a while.  This year I didn't really care, we weren't going to anyone's place for a "party", there wasn't a team I cared to watch (I even forget who was going).  I had no real interest in watching and as I had to milk the goats I didn't have an option.

So, I milked the goats, and went to bed very thankful that tonight was super bowl night and by the time I woke up it would be over and we would be one step closer to the start of another baseball season.

Yup, that's how I look at the Super Bowl--Just one more step towards baseball season starting.  We are within weeks of players reporting.  And while some football fans moan about the lack of football and others rejoice over being the Champions, I sit back and enjoy the fact that we are less than a month away from games being played in Florida. 

So for all you football fans, I am not sorry the season is over, I just can't believe that it is!!  There's something to this dairy business, it makes the off season easier to handle.  :D  

"Rock Of Ages"

"Rock Of Ages"

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Meet My Family

It occurred to me that I've never really introduced you to my family; I've just talked about them and let you guess who was who.

One of my sisters suggested that after almost a year of having this blog didn't I think it was time I introduced each member of my family to y'all one at a time, maybe with a picture, their hobbies, etc. so that you would understand more fully who I am talking about or what I am talking about when I mention Grace and her horse or Linnea and her gun.

I figured it was worth some posts as my family is very important to me and a majority of my blog post have been about them or mentioned them somehow, some way. Not to mention I love my family and love talking about them.

So as not to overwhelm you I am not going to do them all within a week, I think I will take my time start oldest to youngest and work my way down the list taking a few weeks to introduce y'all to everyone. I have a rather large family you know.  lol  So, enjoy getting to know my family and their likes and dislikes.

This Year

So, how has everyone's year been so far? Is all going well? Those North of us, are you enjoying your snow?

How are those of us at Swede Farm doing? Well it's been one hectic year (I can't believe we are already in February!!) One thing after another happening to cause it to be very hectic. I believe that more ten one person in our family has been caught muttering "When it rains it pours!” It all started with Mom not feeling well for a week thanks to killer headaches, to the point where I took her market! Thankfully after a week they went away, she thinks it was a combination of a couple things to make it a really bad headache. Then my Grandfather is in the hospital.

Three weeks ago our washer decided that it did not have to start, followed the next day by our dryer deciding to eat our clothes. Thankfully it was nice enough to hang laundry on the line and I now know where all the laundry mats are within thirty minutes of us. :D

The following week our followed by our water heater died on us. Let me tell you, we are a bunch of wimps when it comes to losing the water heater. Three days later our stove finally bit the dust. Talk about trying to plan what to cook and where! lol Dad went out and bought a hot plate that with the turkey roaster, oven, and grill has made for some great meals.

And then yesterday our main monitor died yesterday and the backup gives a red hue to everything. It's been a little weird trying to do computer work, not mention a little creepy as everything from a dog to people are reddish looking.

But through it all we have seen God working to help us live through each trial and to keep us afloat, eating hot meals, wearing clean clothes, keeping mom out of the hospital, etc. This past month has been one trial after another causing us to have a very hectic life, but through it all God has shown us he is in control and he can take care of things and help us!