The Wilkes Team

There are times in life when we need to slow down and remember the Lord’s faithfulness.  Our family was in need of one of these times when God blessed us by bringing the Wikman family to our home for a couple days of refreshing Christian fellowship!

Although our time with them was much too short, we were so encouraged and blessed by their family.

Their continuous reliance on the grace and mercy of the Lord was an inspiration to all of us.

We had a delightful time laughing about life’s joys, talking about our wonderful Savior, playing games, and making melody in our hearts to the Lord. We praise the Lord for this time of refreshment. We were  encouraged to keep pressing on remembering that Christ will guide and direct us as we continue to wait for His leading.

Psalms 133:1-“ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

Thank you Wikman Family for blessing our home once again!

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Sweet little baby still in the womb

Hands so small and cares so few

Your precious face we long to see

A large family is waiting for you

We look forward to the day

When our eyes first meet each other

It will be a glorious day I’m sure

When all the family around you gather

We love you already dear baby

Can’t wait to see who you really are

You are being made by a loving God

A God who loves you both wide and far

We are waiting for you baby

With ever such patience and zeal

You will be loved and cherished by all

No matter how fussy or happy you feel

You are a highly desired little member

Although we do not know you

Your cute kicks, bumps, and twirls in the womb

Make all of us think you’ll be a nephew

Now you must know dear little baby

That you’ll be hugged, squeezed and loved on

Don’t worry about not getting attention

There will be always someone coming along

We love you already dear little member

Can’t wait to hear your sweet voice call us

We pray that you will be obedient to your parents

And accept God’s precious Son Christ Jesus

Now my dear little one

Keep growing big and strong

Your mommy is protecting you

With her is where you belong

We love you little niece or nephew

Your family is excitedly waiting for you

With love by: Auntie Sarah

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What a glorious time of the year! There are so many reminders of the incredible gift of life during this beautiful season of spring!

I look outside and I see our flower gardens bursting out with fresh green shoots. Tulips standing straight and tall with their stark colors of purple, pink, white, and red contrasting against the green around them. Iris’s dancing in the wind, and the clematis beginning it’s upward climb on the garden arbor. What an incredible Creator we have!

Yet, the gift of life doesn’t stop in the garden…….. Life expresses it’s self in many different ways and forms.

Along with the gift of life comes the responsibility of life. We will face challenges, joys, trials, trying circumstance, temptations to sin, opportunities to forgive, the ability to experience the beauty of God’s mercy and love, and the list could go on and on.

As we fulfill our daily responsibilities may we not forget to see the beauty of what God has given us. Take the time to express your gratefulness to God and others. Take time to enjoy the beauty of His creation

We have been given so much! Praise the Lord for the family He has placed you in. We all were given life at this time in history, born to specific families, and have been called by God to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

Rejoice in your salvation! This is the most precious and meaningful gift ever offered to mankind! We have been given so much through Jesus Christ. May we never cease to sing His praises!

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

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Did you tackle the trouble that came your way

With a resolute heart and cheerful

Or hid your face from the light of day

With a craven soul and fearful?

Oh, a trouble’s a ton, or a trouble’s an ounce,

Or a trouble is what you make it,

And it isn’t the fact that you’re hurt that counts,

But only how did you take it?

You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what’s that?

Come up with a smiling face.

It’s nothing against you to fall down flat,

But to lie there—that’s disgrace

The harder you’re thrown, why the higher you bounce;

Be proud of you blackened eye

It isn’t the fact that you’re licked that counts,

It’s how did you fight—and why?

And though you be done to the death, what then?

If you battled the best you could,

If you played your part in the world of men,

Why, the Critic will call it good,

Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce

And whether slow or spry,

It isn’t the fact that you’re dead that counts,

But only how did you die?

                               Edmund Vance Cooke

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  Over the recent months, a new segment of a certain kingdom has arrived on Honey Brook Farms. Of course, this kingdom has flourished for quite sometime on the fields of our farm but it’s mainly been the wild, nocturnal, and unfriendly kind. The most recent additions have been so much more docile and friendly. They have learned to enjoy us and we have learned to enjoy them. This Kingdom is titled Animilia. The recent additions have been a dog and two goats. Accompanying this wonderful trio are some new feathered friends. These came by way of the U.S. Postal Service and are commonly known as chicks, turkeys, and ducklings. As the following evidence will prove, whether working with feather or fur, Wilkes Team farmers are enjoying a unique, fascinating, and surprise filled aspect of God’s creation.

Our first arrival in 2012 was a furry white pup. Even before her landing she was named Liberty. Her friend in the future will be Justice, and the pups that will come from them will be for all. Or in other words: Liberty and Justice for all.

Also in the future she will our guard animal; protecting the livestock around her from skunks, foxes, and all those other unwanted creatures. For now she is a puppy, full of spunk and life, yet quickly learning the importance of obedience from her faithful trainer Jennifer.

Next in line came two goats. Nibbles the elder will be giving birth to one of her kind in a month or so. The first night on our property was quite rough for her. It also was quite rough for us first time goat farmers. We stayed up till way past midnight trying to calm her down. This proved totally futile and she ended up declaring her miserable state to all within hearing for the remainder of the night hours. Poor poor Nibbles! Poor tired farmers!

Now she is doing so much better; only has jumped the fence half a dozen times and only returns to her bleating (much shorter in length) two or three times a day. She is such a friendly animal that to be left alone is quite hard for her to take. When we are with her, she is the most tame and happy animal you’d ever see. Yet the absence of human bodies for some reason causes a state of panic leading to problematic results.

The last of the trio is Charlotte.  It’s hard to describe this spirited animal. For one thing you can never be sure what her next move will be. The possibilities are almost endless: eating a forbidden shrub,  frolicking, jumping in the air with a clang of her meeting hoofs, stubbornly resisting the leash, chasing with every ounce of her strength, or climbing on top of a loaded wheelbarrow.

The last additions, thus far, have been the egg layers, broilers, meat turkeys, and laying ducks. With these arrivals came the need for building new structures and putting up of new fences.

Frisky continues to bring excitement to us all. Whether he’s out catching mice, birds, or baby rabbits or snuggled up in a blanket with Hannah!

These animals and birds have been fun to enjoy and be with. It has truly been a blessing to work together and take care of these creatures of our Creator, learn from them, and see the similarities between them to us and us to God.

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This verse was read the day we were preparing to plant 150 blueberry plants on a quarter of an acre at Honey Brook Farm! Our hope and desire if the Lord wills, is to have a pick your own berry patch in the future!

The joy, enthusiasm, and energy that everyone had in their labor was contagious!

The goal was to plant all the berry plants that day. We were a little doubtful as to if that was possible but we committed ourselves and our plans to the Lord and resolved to proceed with diligence. Knowing if God permitted, it would be accomplished!

The Dunn family came over and linked arms with us in this endeavor. What an unexpected blessing their help, fellowship and unending energy was!

God loves to show Himself strong! Especially when we by faith step out to do something that we think is beyond our ability.

By God’s grace we planted the 150th blueberry plant just as the sun was setting on the Shenandoah mountains.

Is this not how God likes to work?

He gives us a challenge and teaches us to walk by faith and not by sight.

He requires diligence and faithfulness from us but tells us to leave the results in His hands.

He reminds us not to focus on the outcome but on listening and heeding the still small voice of the Lord.

So when we see our Savoir face to face we can say with joy, “It was worth it all!”

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