Harvest Lane Cottage

Once upon a time, a long time ago, in the land of Kansas, a little tiny boy was born to a couple who had prayed for three years to have a baby. They had prayed for a name for him even though they thought he would be a she. They settled upon Matthew David because it means, "Beloved Gift of the Lord". When he was a month old, his Momma dressed him in a little preemie outfit. Then, his momma and daddy took him to church and dedicated him to God and to the Lord Jesus the Christ. And he grew and he grew and he grew.... He was his momma's world. She just adored him. She read all the books and listened to the experts and did the best she could. She wanted to do everything just right so that he would turn out just right. Silly Momma! She only needed her Jesus and her Bible and prayer. But, she didn't know that then. So, she tried and tried in her own strength and understanding. Because she only had so much strength and so much understanding, she did as we all ha...

Yes, we were high school sweethearts. Different high schools, but sweethearts nonetheless. I love him still. We didn't need to scratch the 7 year itcch. We didn't want each other to drop dead at a decade. We didn't lose the fire at fifteen. We didn't think twice at twenty. Today it's twenty-three. We don't want to be free. We made our commitment to each other and to God twenty-three years ago at 4:00 in the afternoon. God was our witness. He was and He is a member in this three way covenant we made. Many trials and storms have come and gone in our life together. God has always strengthened us at just the right time. We are Lowell and Laura...always and forever...until death do us part. Lowell, I love you no matter what, no matter where, no matter.... Father God, I love You and I thank You for the grace and perseverance and trust in each other that You've given us. Thank you for teaching us very early never to say the D word, no matt...

It's a busy weekend here. My daughter has already put the chicks out in the yard. They're getting big. I'll have to post another photo soon. ~ I've already made two trips to the store for items we needed for waffles. I was out of canola oil, butter, and canola oil spray. I also picked up the Glad plastic wrap and freezer bags that I'll need to put up corn in the freezer later today. I found corn at Pricecutter for $.10 an ear. I couldn't pass it up. So far I have about 50 ears. There's a limit of ten at a time; so, I'll have to make a few trips more if I want to stock up. I'm going to freeze some of it as ears and some of it as cut, according to the Ball Blue Book instructions. ~ When I got home, it was time to take my oldest son to work at the old fashioned hardware store down at the square. I stopped and asked about pumpkin plants at the farmer's market. No. So, we'll keep looking for seeds or plants. There aren't any down at t...

"Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." Psalm 116:7

Today is my birthday. Thank You God for a great family that is already making it happy for me this morning. Thank You God for another birthday. I'm 44. I may as well say it because my daughter has announced it to the world at church, on the local Christian radio station, and anywhere else and to whomever else she can think to announce it. ~smile~ In a way, I feel older on this birthday because my son, Matthew, is graduating from high school next week. How did I get to my father's age? I don't think of myself as old enough to have a high school graduate. I still feel like a kid trying to figure this life out most of the time. An old kid, that is. ~grin~ You know, the closer one gets to middle age, the older middle age gets. I like to think of middle age now as my fifties. The truth is, I've been in middle age for awhile. Forty-four is probably about as middle age as it gets. Not many of us can expect to live longer than our eighties. Most of us won't get t...

Dave Ramsey's Town Hall for Hope was fantastic. Things aren't nearly as bad as what the media would try to make us think. I really like Dave's definition of fear. False Evidence Appearing Real We as Christians are to live by faith. Faith in God, not the economy. I encourage you to check out Town Hall for Hope . You can also read more about fear here . You can read more about faith here . Laura

Mother's Day is coming up soon. I read an article in Homestead Happenings that brought tears to my eyes and made me miss my mom so much. This letter to God and my mom are the result of it. In a way, it's a tribute to her. If your mom has gone on to be with Jesus, I think you may relate. ♥♥♥♥♥ Father God, You know that I don't talk to my momma. You know that I believe you don't want us to try to contact the dead. But please, will you give my Mom this message? Tell my mom I love her. Tell her these things for me please Jesus. Dear Mom, I miss calling you on the phone anytime I need you saying, "This is Holly Homemaker hollering home for help." I miss the you and me trips to the EZ Shop for a soda. I miss running to garage sales on Saturday mornings to hunt for treasures. I miss going to the grocery store together. I miss cooking with you. I miss singing in the car together. I miss asking advice on this or that. I miss your voice. I ...