From Forest to Highlands

“Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life, having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity,  and in our efforts to build a new earth,  we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim.  Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas, where storms will show your mastery,  where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizon of our hopes,  and to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.  This we ask in the name of our Captain, who is Jesus Christ. ” ― Francis Drake

As you may have noticed my blog has a new title! I decided it needed a change, to get stirred up and re-vamped. It's fitting too, since my life (in a way) is getting stirred up and re-vamped as well. :) I have been wanting to create a personal blog for some time... but I didn't want to just make another  random blog. So I figured I'll just re-use this one! (How's that for a creative outlet for recycling!) After much thought I chose the name "From Forest to Highlands."   There's a meaning behind this name. It represents 2 opposite parts-- Quiet, reserved vs Wild, Un-afraid- Gentle Graceful Elves vs Rough Scottish Dwarves- Resting in God's Grace vs Boldly Fighting Temptations- Darkness vs Light- 2 parts of myself that I am equally drawn to and equally torn between. A continual pendulum that I find myself drifting back and forth between. I definitely wanted a Blog and a title that covers the whole spectrum. I feel like t...

I think I've hit a milestone in life. I'ts been several years in the making but I think I've arrived.... It's this period of time when you realize your childhood has slipped past your grasp and hid in a corner somewhere-taking your sense of wonder & dreams/plans about "how life could be"  right along with it... and all that's left is monotonous drudgery and the panic that comes with paying taxes, car insurance, college plans, applying for financial aid and realizing the necessity of getting a part time job-Which brings with it job interviews, clinicals in a nursing home, unhappy co-workers/patients, etc... But it has also given me many opportunities to share the gospel and conquer my fears. I'm learning to live less for other human's approval (or even my own approval!) and more for what Christ is calling me to do and how to live as He reveals in his Word. I know God has put me right where I need to be in life, and I have full confid...

Phew...  2016 was a LONG year! We started out 2016 living in our travel trailer @ the Jamieson's house and shortly moved into our current house in Arlington. We had planned on moving in October, but the Lord had other plans! We got the floors re-finished and peeled off a bunch of wallpaper before moving in. Since that time we've been slowly but steadily re-modeling our house/property and getting ourselves settled in. In this last year we've learned a lot about animal management in Snohomish County. It's definitely much different than what we were used to in Skagit. We had fun moments---like enlarging the goat pen, delivering 2 sets of triplet baby goats, setting up an electric wire, several clutches of baby geese/chickens and new pets like hermit crabs and turkeys. We had very sad and challenging moments--- a pig dying, a tough kidding season, several raccoon/coyote attacks and rat infestations. I can't say it's been an easy process but I know the Lord is...