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Turkeys and the Word of God. That’s what this post is about. What does cooking a Thanksgiving Turkey and reading Scripture have in common, you may ask? Great question. Read on.

I read somewhere about a month ago about using a cookbook holder to hold your open Bible on the kitchen counter during the day. I don’t know about you, but I am in the kitchen more than any room in the house, on any given day. So, I knew immediately that this would be a winner idea.

I found a “decorative easel” at Target (part of the wonderful Hearth & Hand collection at Target) for under $10. And it’s been a blessing to me. Whatever passage I read in the morning, I leave my Bible open to that the rest of the day. So, when I’m readying lunch, or doing dishes, just one quick look at the verses I read anchors me back in the Word of God and HIS voice.

I want to keep this fresh, because after a while, I’m sure I’ll get used to seeing it there and not notice, so each week, want to move it to a different spot in the kitchen. Near the sink, near the stove (not too near, of course) Keeping it fresh is important! It’s easy for me to go on autopilot mode. (Anyone else?)

About the turkey, now. Many years ago, Diane Comer, an amazing, intentional woman of God and a mentor of mine once talked being intentional to “marinate” our kids in Scripture, as we marinate and baste a Thanksgiving Turkey in the delectable juices that develop while cooking (since we’re on the subject, The Pioneer Woman’s Thanksgiving Turkey recipe is absolutely the best. You’re welcome) . Okay, back to marinating in Scripture. If I want Scripture to be a priority in my kids’ lives, it must first be in mine as a parent. And what common ingredient do basting and marinating have?

TIME. Lots of it. It’s repetition. It’s intentionality. It’s faithfulness.

In our microwave-mentality world today, things that demand time are hard-fought. Its easier to just buy a turkey ready at the store, and it heat up, even in the microwave! But everyone knows that that turkey’s flavor won’t hold a candle to the turkey that has been carefully marinated, dressed and basted.

I don’t know about you, but it’s easy for me to marinate in other things: worry, social media, etc. I want to fight hard to marinate in Scripture — the truth — and this easel idea has been a great “tool” to help me do so.

Just some thoughts for our Monday morning/afternoon. What are some ways you marinate in Scripture throughout your day? I’d love to hear more ideas (and I’m sure others would love to hear, too!)

Choosing a slow day where we have stayed home all day is a TREAT. I didn’t always use to think this way. I’m more of an introvert, but I do also like some spontaneity in my life, especially as a mom. But I’ve seen something happen during the years. Days at home have become special. Necessary. Life-giving, even. Days where we don’t have to rush off anywhere, do something, meet anyone. Of course, at home there is the school work and teaching, doing of chores together, cooking food 3 times a day, laundering, all the homemaking things.

But these are the days where there is space to linger of the kids’ favorite book — again. Or bake a spontaneous loaf of banana bread with one of the kids. Or take a walk in our neighborhood. Or make slow food. Or go check on our garden and celebrate the sprouting carrot seeds planted 11 days ago. Or have a good conversation with a child who needs extra attention and encouragement.

It feels easier – almost like there’s a gravitational pull – to LEAVE the house looking for fulfillment. But as time goes on, and my mindset is being challenged and reformed, I’m finding great joy and contentment in living our day anchored at home. And the kids do, too, it turns out. There is space for creativity, ideas born out of a slightly-bored moment (those of you born before the mid-90’s, the state of being bored was a common enough occurrence before all of these screens showed up).

Staying home is a sacred discipline, if you’d like to think of it as such. It is these days we all seem to be more content, more present to God and each other. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a hermit mentality. We want to follow Jesus into His way of life. And I’m finding that some days, leading a “quiet” life at home, not doing anything flashy and entertaining outside of the home, is good for the soul. There’s a contentment that must be embraced to stay at home and know that most of the world is working, traveling, striving, etc. We are, too, but with a feeling of contentment. And if God brings across a neighbor in need, or a mom friend that is sick, we can more easily enter in to ministering to them because we are not rushing around.

Not every one of our days is lived this way. More like 3 out of the 7 days, due to hybrid school schedules. But I’m embracing it for us. We’re growing and learning as we go. And keeping in mind this verse,

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”

{ 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 }

Sometime after welcoming our fifth kiddo into our family, my soul hit a wall — the busyness of being a wife and parenting 5 kids ages 7 and under together, homeschooling them, managing a home and being active with family and in our neighborhood and community, while not being the best at taking care of myself — it was a ticking time bomb for a meltdown – physically, emotionally and spiritually. This launched me into a long season (years- and still in it!) of seeking to re-integrate my life and pursue Jesus and His way of life. The way I was “carrying” my life wasn’t working – the busyness and stress (from issues I needed to resolve) of the things in my life needed to change. A lot.

Enter resources that were brought into my life – Bridgetown Church sermons, books such as To Hell with the Hustle by Jefferson Bethke, Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist, Life Without Lack by Dallas Willard, and The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer.

These, by God’s faithfulness and provision, helped give me framework for reordering my life. Our life as a family of 7 in busy SoCal. I soaked in these books. Journaled a lot. Prayed a lot. Read and meditated on Bible passages that were aimed at abiding in Jesus, slowing down, etc.

Why is the word farm included in the blog title, you may ask? We live in Southern California, and feel very, very blessed to have some land, 1/2 acre to be exact. Both my husband and I have developed an interest and passion for backyard gardening, growing vegetables and an orchard, berries, raising chickens, and cooking slow food. The smell of homemade bread is a common happening in our home. We do not live on an official farm, but we’re embracing a farm-style life in many ways. And we find it so exhilarating and slowing, and our kids enjoy learning alongside us.

So, that’s what this space is for, learning with each other in how to slow our lives down to be present with God, with those we love, present in our neighborhood. We do not have it all figured out by any means, but we’re starting to catch on to something special, and would love for y’all to come alongside for the journey. To God be the glory.