Savor the Joys...

 Remembering Timothy Keller

Timothy Keller, beloved pastor, theologian and author passed away last month after a 3 year battle with pancreatic cancer.

His ministry, his life and his voice herald the joys of  learning to savor the moment, the gifts of time here in this place while standing firmly in the convictions of his faith.

He shared those convictions in a beautiful article several years ago in The Atlantic.  The article is aptly titled...

Growing My Faith in the Face of Death

We mourn his passing, yet rejoice in a life so well lived.  There is a prayer that he shares to keep our eyes and our hearts focused on the One who loves us beyond reason and is our only Hope...

"And as I lay down in sleep and rose this morning only by your grace, keep me in the joyful, lively remembrance that whatever happens, I will someday know my final rising, because Jesus Christ lay down in death for me and rose for my justification."

~ Timothy Keller

Amen and Amen!

In Grace, Remembering a Life that touched so many,
My Love, Always,
                    Jane

October Happenings

There's just something about the crisp, chilly days of autumn...And we have filled them up to overflowing this year (there might be a pic or two!)

Traveling the back roads of America's heartland with good friends, a surprise and cherished family photo shoot, and a fabulous, much-needed girls getaway to Waco... 

We have been loved well by our family and friends!! 

In a world

where you can be anything,

Be

Kind...

My Love,
Always,
Jane

Snake!

Y'all...

He just slithered up to check out the progress on our log cabin...

And not just your ordinary, every day slithery kind of rat snake.  No, we grow 'em big and mean in Texas...

You might know from previous posts that we are a No-Kill Zone here at the farm.  But y'all... He was a Timber Rattlesnake.

On our back porch!  Like, in broad daylight. Right where we have walked a thousand times cutting lumber and tile for that crazy dream of a cabin. (And yes, we are still building that dream... and it's glorious and hard and Slow! Lol!)  And should not include stories about venomous snakes. Y'all... We almost stepped on him to get to the chop saw!

Seriously! 

Now he's a dead Timber Rattlesnake.

There's an unspoken code of justice here in the country, and that big, venomous snake just crossed the line.  I'm believing that he won't be doing it again in this lifetime.

And here are two free facts for you:

1. The Timber Rattlesnake is often called the Velvet-tailed rattler because of it's black "velvety" tail. Trust me, it is not velvet. (But does look amazing... in a scary, don't get too close kind of way)

2. A rattlesnake adds a new rattle to its tail every time he sheds (roughly 2-3 times a year).  So our rattler was probably a little over 2 years old.  And much bigger than any 2-year old I ever want to see again!

But enough about scary, venomous snakes... we've got work to do!  That dream cabin isn't building itself!

And thankfully our neck of the woods is filled with a sweet beauty that remedies the nightmare visit from our Velvet-tailed rattler!

Blessings this day,

May God's grandeur surprise at every turn!

My Love,

Jane