My Last Week in America

My last week in America was blessed with being able to spend it at my favorite place on Earth. Many people would probably not say that 5am wakeups, hard work, and manure to be their favorite place but to me it's the closest thing to heaven you can get. Here are just a few pictures from my time where my heart is happy. 

The "boys" (Rebel and Rowdy) are ready to go out for evening  chores. 

This is my super gorgeous work outfit haha - its all about comfort, warmth, and usability on the farm

I am very much a big dog person, after spending a week with the boys I was pretty sad to leave them They are the sweetest labs!

This is the calf feeding system they use at the farm. Its is bottles with a holding tank for pasteurized milk that is fed to the cows. It is a very cool process, any milk that is unable to be sold into the market but is still ok once pasteurized is sent over to the calf barn. It is then put through a pasteurizer and put fed to the calves. By doing this they reduce the waste of milk they are unable to sell, do not have to pay for milk replacer, and have healthier calves since it has all the nutrients in the correct amounts for them. 

This is George. George is the trusty farm pickup that may have a little rust, and leak a little power steering fluid, but he runs well, and starts when asked without too much protest! Fun Fact: I learned how to drive on George! Whew that was a while ago haha 

Here is an outside view of the calf barn (which is where I worked throughout most of the week) and the exterior calf hutches 

This calf was not feeling so hot when the week started but with a fresh warm jacket, some warm milk in its belly, and a little penicillin in her bum she turned around pretty quick.

Rowdy (L) and Rebel (R) like to help with chores, and play around a bit, but when called they are the best good boys and will sit nicely for a picture! 

They may be a little chunky but they also have quite a few "treats" all over the farm just waiting to be cleaned up, so they may or may not have put on a few extra pounds... haha 

This is the bulk tank where the milk is stored and the pasteurization system! I definitely geek out over this system every time I use it and they have had it for years now haha 

Rebel makes sure the bench and my coat stay warm until we are ready to take the 4X4 out and deliver the milk to the calves 

These are part of the girls inside.

Here is the other side for the bigger calves that will soon be weaned. 

I was pretty sad to leave the farm, my heart is so full of joy there, but looking back and I have even more joy here on the sunshine coast, which I didn't think was possible, and I am so amazed at all the  things God is doing here, and has already done in my heart. 

I do have to say I feel pretty sorry for the farm this past week in the -50 degree weather. The cold makes it so much worse. (I am enjoying the sunny and 80 degree weather here though!) 

My Psalm

I wrote this the night that I found out I had gotten accepted into the DTS Program with YWAM. I couldn't sleep because I was so excited and so, deeply, in love with the doors God could open in my life. For awhile now I have been praying to have a passionate love for God like David did, you can see in all his Psalms how honest, and truly in love with God he was - it's beautiful and when I noticed it I thought "I want that kind of passion for Christ" so I started praying for it, and the day came when I understood how David must have felt.

It came pouring out of me with so much intensity I couldn't stop the inexplicable joy that came from getting a tiny glimpse of just how big my God is. You see there is no way that I should have been accepted. The class was full, I had been put on a wait list, and yet even though no one cancelled out of the class I was accepted in through prayer. I knew that this was the journey God wanted me on and I glimpsed the opening of closed doors that God is capable of.

Then unsure of what to do with all the emotions pouring out of me I wrote them down. In counselling I learned the power and love of journaling and so that's just what I did. Here are the results.

I really debated on whether or not to share this since it was such and intimate moment with God but if David can be bold enough to share his innermost love of God, than so can I. I pray that this psalm speaks to someone, as these words are not mine, but are from God. I pray that the love I have for the Lord will burst out through this psalm, and I pray that you are able to see that love for God and God's love of us is not an old testament notion, but a living, breathing, daily relationship with Him.

So this is my Psalm to God:


Oh wonderful God, how great it is to serve you
how amazing you are, oh God.
My Abba, my Father.
You are my rock and my foundation on which I stand
I stand before you in awe of your power and might.
Overwhelmed with your joy and your faithfulness
I fall to my knees in praise,
hands lifted high I sing of your holiness

So loved am I by you my dear God
you call me your precious child
and make a straight path for my feet.

How faithful, oh God, you are.
How glorious and wonderful is your name.
You open doors that should be shut
and lead me down the path few follow
You lead me where I am supposed to be
and pure inexplicable joy comes from being in your will,
From following your path

I am honored to praise your name.
I am unworthy to be called your servant
and yet you reach out to me, my dearest Abba
and you call me your beloved child

How hard it is to fathom your love, my God
Such a sinner am I
and you have plans for each of my days, hours, and seconds.
You make no mistakes, oh God
and I am humbled by your mighty love
and your inexplicable forgiveness.

The joy of the Lord is mine
when you lead my path, precious Father.
All glory and honor to you, oh God
my heart and my path is forever yours.
I boast only in the love of you my Father, oh God
Amen.