His Open Hand

Psalm 145:16

From Cameroon

Just a little update from our girl in Africa!


"We have been spending a few days in Limbe, learning to make transects, how to set up trail cameras, and how to identify chimpanzee and gorilla feces. I have been taking pictures, but any that I take in the forest are the property of our sponsoring agency, so I am not sure what I can post on the blog. Anyway we are going to the beach today and will be leaving for the forest on Monday so I will try to call you tomorrow afternoon.
I love you very much,
Shannon"

Hope you are all having a great start to your weekend!

***********************************************************

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Proverbs 1:7

Update from Cameroon

After her email from Brussel's Belgium, about 'bathrooms', Shannon had a 7 hour flight to Cameroon, Africa. She was so exhausted and has only now sent an update. Nothing about bathrooms at this time, but she writes:

"It was a hot four hour drive from Yaounde (located in the mountains) to the coastal city of Limbe. We have a lovely hotel room along the beach and we will be staying here when we are not in the jungle working. The "paved" road between the two cities allowed George to get us here fairly rapidly; he is an excellent driver. The roads in Duala (an industrial interior city) gave a new meaning to the word "pothole" and although cameroonians do use their blinkers and horns profusely, other driving rules are ignored. These include: no passing when there is oncoming traffic, use only your lane, do not drive on the sidewalk, yield to vehicles already in the lane (and pedestrians for that matter) and stop at stop signs. Along the way, we purchased watermelons and pineapple from roadside vendors. There was also 3 monkeys, a small antelope, a porcupine and a type of civet cat for sale as well. We decided to pass on those items, but I would still like to get some mangoes, sugarcane and coconut later.

Love you,

Shannon"

While Shannon is working in the jungle, she has a driver (I think the reasons are obvious as to why) and a 'shooter'. I asked when she first was telling me about this, was the shooter for the wild animals that may attack? No, they are for the bandits! I am still asking for prayer, please!

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not approach you."

Psalm 91:1-7

Come to my garden!

Won't you come join me on a tour of my "Friendship Garden",

a place where the faces of the flowers remind me of dear friends?

~

"A friend loves at all times."

Psalm 17:17

"But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

Psalm 18:24

Cameroon bound!

I just recieved and email from Farmer's Daughter Shannon who is on her way to Cameroon, Africa for a summer study for her Ph.D. there.

(Sorry, no pics to share.)

Let me warn you in advance ~ we are a strange lot, my girls and I. We have an odd sence of humor and have been known to have fits of shreaking laughter (over what appears to others as nothing ) which often turns into tears! We fondly call them "laughing attacks!" Poor Gentleman Farmer just leaves the room (if he can) shaking his head in uncomprehension.

With this in mind, let me share with you her first email (via Blackberry).

This is a very normal email ~ nothing to shreak about, but I did want to caution you for future stories that may appear hear. If you don't get the humor or do think this is totally odd, you are probably right and may join the Gentleman Farmer in the other room.

~

Upon arrival at her layover in Brussels, Belgium, Shannon writes:

"In the brussels airport, the bathrooms are a little odd. The toilet is standard issue, however the flushing button is about the size of an oversized envelope. It took me a while to figure out that it was a button and not some kind of collapsable shelf. The toilet paper is dispensed like kleenex, but isn't half bad. All of these items are housed in a personal closet. Outside, the hand driers are made by dyson (yes of vaccuum cleaner fame) and are very "refreshing". I'll keep you updated on further bathroom adventures.

Shannon"

~

Now, that wasn't so bad. I can only hope for something a little more side-splitting upon her arrival in Cameroon later today. (They are 8 hours ahead of us there!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am thanking God for her safe arrival so far, and thanking all of you dear ones who have been praying for her.

"Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions."

Ezra 8:21

Remembering, Honoring, Praying

Remembering...

their sacrifice...

~

Honoring...

those who serve

~

Praying...

for our nation.

~

******************************

This post is dedicated to SFC Janner T. Morgan (son-in-love)

fighting in Iraq.

~

~

Asking for your prayers for J.T.,

and for his wife ( our youngest daughter)

who is traveling today to Cameroon, Africa.

~

"No greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

Following Jesus

John 12:26

Vintage '70's Bowl

Vintage '70's bowl ( wedding present ~ am I revealing too much about myself?) with Farmhouse Potato Salad.

Visit The Pantry for the recipe!

~

"Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body."

I Corinthians 6:13

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

"Why should I feel discouraged?

Why should the shadows come?

Why should my heart be lonely

And long for heav'n and home

When Jesus is my portion?

My constant Friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me."

~

"Let not your heart be troubled,"

His tender words I hear;

And resting on His goodness,

I lose my doubt and fear.

Tho' by the path He leadeth

But one step I may see:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me."

~

Whenever I am tempted,

Whenever clouds arise,

When songs give place to sighing,

When hope within me dies,

I draw the closer to Him;

From care He sets me free:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me."

~

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

~

I sing because I'm happy,

I sing because I'm free;

For His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me."

~

(text: Civilla D. Martin)

~

This song is especially dear to me as when my two girls were small,

they would climb up into the tree branches and sing this song .

"Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one is forgotten before God?"

Luke 12:6

Return

Lady and Gentleman Farmer have just recently returned from a little trip to New York State to celebrate with youngest Farmer's Daughter S as she graduated from SUNY EFS (State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry) with her Master's of Science Degree.

~

During our absence, oldest Farmer's Daughter M, returned home to the farm to take care of things here.

~

While I regroup, won't you visit her (and the two sweetest little girls) and see what they did while they were here?
(Link at bottom of post)


~
I hear there was some

climbing of these...
~


~

~

waking up in Grandma's bed....

~

~

gathering of eggs...

~

~

feeding of these....

~

~

and these....

~

~

observing of these....

~

~

visiting these....

~

~

and much more!

I even heard of an adventure where they may have met ....

~

~

Further adventures of the Brownings here!
~

"Then the LORD said to Jacob, 'Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you."

Genesis 31:3

I Stand in Awe

"You are beautiful beyond description,

Too marvelous for words;

Too wonderful for comprehension,

Like nothing ever seen or heard.

Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?

Who can fathom the depth of Your love?

You are beautiful beyound description, majesty enthroned above.

And I stand, I stand in awe of You,

I stand, I stand in awe of You;

Holy God, to whom all praise is due,

I stand in awe of You."

TEXT : Mark Altrogge

"Let all the earth fear the LORD:

Let all the inhabitants of the world

stand in awe of Him."

Psalm 33:8

I'm in the Garden

Come to The Garden and see what's new!

~

"And the LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden;"

Genesis 2:8

Happy May Day!

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,..."

Philippians 1:3&4