Back in 2013, I was regularly milking a couple of Dexter milk cows, including one named Maggie.
That cow was the inspiration behind the name of this blog. The kids always asked for a glass of “Maggie’s Milk,” and I felt like it sort of nicely summed up our life on the farm.
Little did I know that this blog I started on a free Blogger site all those years ago would be the springboard for so much.
It was here that I rediscovered my love of the written word. This blog is where I stumbled through learning how to write for an online audience, and found my voice.
This site provided me with samples when I launched my freelance writing business in 2015.
It’s fun to reminisce sometimes, and realize how different life is now.
Back when I started this blog, I always thought we’d stay here on the farm forever. It’s where I grew up. It’s beautiful. My mom lives next door, and most of both of our families are close.
And it’s definitely home in my mind.
Yes, it certainly would have been comfortable and easy to stay here forever.
But, God’s plans aren’t always our plans.
And now we are on deputation, currently raising support to serve at Missionary Acres, in Silva, Missouri.
It’s a path that doesn’t make a lot of sense to many people around us. Frankly, it doesn’t always make a lot of sense to us either!
It’d be so much easier for a smaller family to travel the country and share the vision of Missionary Acres with churches.
It’d be so much easier for a family without a disabled child to undertake deputation and visit church after church.
And, it’d be so much easier if we could just get comfy here on the farm and keep our roots planted.
But, I’m reminded of one of the early posts I wrote here on the blog. It’s called Wouldn’t It Be Easier?
I’d encourage you to go read it.
Because, yes there are many things in life that would make our lives easier.
But, easier does not mean better. Easier is just easier.
And though we don’t always know how or why God directs the way He does, we know that we can trust Him.
It’s only because of God that a family up here in Washington State could feel such a burden for a little place in Missouri.
It’s incredible how my ties to this ranch have slowly been fading as our love for Missionary Acres grows stronger.
I never would have been ready to leave just a couple of years ago.
But, God has this figured out. And He has given us a glimpse of a life that focuses on more than just us and the life we thought we had figured out.
So we are just trying to trust Him. And prepare the best that we can for the changes.
Which brings me to some logistics. Like selling cows.
Selling Maggie
I put my little herd of cows on the market last fall. When we are gone on deputation, we won’t be here to care for them.
A couple of my cows sold almost immediately.
Another sold over the winter.
And now the only one that remains is Maggie, and her new baby bull calf.
I’m thankful that I got another winter with Maggie. Selling her has been a lot harder than I ever thought it would be. I hope she goes to a great home soon!
But, I know that God has a plan for us. And I’m excited to walk down that path.
Even when everyone else things we’re crazy!
And don’t worry – just because I’ll no longer have a cow named Maggie, I still plan on posting to this blog. The name will be a good bridge back to the past and the farm that played such an important role in shaping me into the person I’ve become.