Almost Home
Petit Jean State Park Waterfall
Ya’ll!!!!! It’s almost time for me to come home! For the last 3 months, I’ve been working in Little Rock, Arkansas at Arkansas Children’s. It was the first time I had a travel assignment so far from home. Far enough that I had to fly home for visits.
I’m not going to lie, it was difficult being away from home. My assigned shifts made it difficult to come home often. Once a month I was able to come home for 5 or 6 days. I am so thankful for that time, it was so appreciated and we felt so blessed to have it.
What an experience this has been. I must have been 10 or 11 years old the last time I was in Arkansas. I remember the mountains and the waterfalls, but that’s about it. I will tell you, Arkansas is beautiful. I have never seen so many daffodils, tulips, pink magnolias, or cherry trees. I can’t even imagine what it looks like in the fall. The lakes, rivers, geese, ducks, birds; all I can say is God’s beauty abounds here.
My mom flew out to drive home with me. I’m so thankful for mom and dad. They have helped us get through this travel assignment. Mom and I will pack up my Fiat and drive home on Sunday. Honestly, I’ve never been as ready to be home as I am now.
I hope you all have a wonderful Easter. Peace be with you!!!
Love ya’ll, Brandi
P.S. Here are a few photos from my time in Little Rock, from January to today :) OH!! Check out the video at the end. What an amazing little chapel we visited. Anthony Chapel near Garvan Wooodland Gardens in Hot Springs, AR.
Anthony Chapel, Hot Springs, AR
Stand Firm
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.
1Cor.16.13
This past year many of you received cards with your orders that had a picture of Lake Jackson on it.
This is one of my favorite places on this Earth that God has made for us.
I wanted to share a recent picture from this beautiful place with you all.
And more importantly I wanted to share this scripture from 1 Corinthians with you.
Most of you may know this verse well.
Some may be seeing it for the first time. 🙂
Peace be with you this 2023.
The Lord Stood With Me
This morning, I was sitting on our front porch, drinking a cup of coffee, listening to the birds, and being thankful for all of God’s blessings. When the traffic on the road became too loud to hear the birds, I decided to scroll through my social media. I’ve become really good at weeding out all the negative/evil out of my social media. Now, I feel like I have a vibrant, diverse Christian community. I also include people that may have different views from me, sometimes it changes my perspective or it may strengthen my own beliefs. Well, this morning I was listening to Chad Bird’s Tik Tok on blessings, and he said something that really resonated with me. The Lord’s blessings don’t always come in a way that makes us happy or jubilant. His blessings shine brightest when we are at our weakest. Christ “promises that in our weakness always to be our blessed strength”. I know that the holidays can be the hardest time for some people. And I’m so sorry if you are struggling. Just know, that Christ is with you and He will stand with you always.
But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that the entire message would be preached through me and so all the nations could hear it. I was also rescued from the lion’s mouth! 2 Timothy 4:17 CEB
Give Thanks
Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:20
This Sunday at 3 central, 7 of these handmade Curly Maple Scripture Blocks will be available! They will be here on Brandi’s Scripture Blocks page of the website. 🙂
They are 5 1/2 inches square and will be available for $37.
Also, Brandi will be back in the Barn full time next week and will be working on Sunday Scripture Crosses for every Sunday until Christmas!
We are so Thankful for each and everyone of you!
James the greater
The greatest calling of a servant of Jesus is to serve others. James discovered that following Jesus Christ can lead to hardship, persecution, and even death.
But, the reward is eternal life with Him in heaven.
James the Greater was killed with the sword on order of King Herod Agrippa I of Judea, about 44 A.D.
Every time I make this cross I look deep inside and ask myself this.
“Am I ready to be more like James the Apostle of Jesus?
Am I ready to die for Jesus right now at this moment.”
If the sharp end of a sword was piercing into the back of neck as my family watched.
“Would I deny my savior?”
Getting along
Getting Along
A little bit about these two rascals. You all know Leo, but a lot of you may not know our oldest girl, Little Bear. :)
Born 13 years apart Leo and Little Bear are different as you can easily see. But, like all of us, they actually do have a lot in common.
Little Bear was one of five born to a Mom that wasn’t anyones dog. And, her Dad was a wild dog for at least a couple generations back.
Leo was one of five born to a Mom that was no one’s Cat. And, his Dad was at least a couple generations wild.
They were both born in the Country. But, Little Bear’s family was from the woods and Leo’s family lives in the open fields. Both of their families in an instant could be very far away from human contact and would rarely be seen.
Little Bear and her siblings used to break out of a make shift chicken pen everyday at my Grandparent’s house to go on “hunts” we can only assume. At some point I am sure they ran into the many Coyotes, Bobcats and possibly a Panther. Each time they went out into the woods less of the puppies would return… Then one day, Little Bear returned alone.
(Side note: Little Bear is the one who would break them out by climbing the fence and lifting the roof up.)
Leo as y’all know was the only one to survive the horrific storm and Little Bear and the other dogs seeing them as a threat.
They are both stubborn and hard headed and have very “wild” instincts still.
Little Bear doesn’t like Leo to sit behind her. Anytime he does she repositions herself to watch him.
And, Leo doesn’t like Little Bear coming into the shop while I am working.
So, this as you see is the compromise. i.e Getting Along!
Leo is in front of Little Bear as Little Bear likes it to be and Leo is guarding the door Little Bear can’t get in. 😂
But, it works! Whatever differences they have, they have worked out a compromise and they “Get Along.”
We honestly could learn a lot from Little Bear and Leo!!
We come from different times and have different genders, skin colors, and upbringings.
But, we could simply live with each other peacefully as they do by respecting each other’s boundaries and forgiving what we consider other’s short comings.
Not everything is going to go “our way” and this life is going to be sooo very tough… It’s truly tough enough without us bickering at each other constantly.
So, can’t we all just get along like Little Bear and Leo do?
P.S. Yes, Little Bear is smiling in this photo. 😁
Leo? No, he’s not smiling. He’s tired of me taking pictures of Him. 🙄
