In 2004 God brought me to an intersection where I had to ask Him if a dream he had put into my heart as an 8 year old was something I made up or something from Him and that if it was from Him, could He find a place within 20 minutes of the church. What He brought to me what the words from a sermon I had heard a while back when the pastor was preaching how it is easier to steer a moving car than one that is parked. I realized that this meant I had to start looking. The initial ones I found within this criteria were way too expensive and so we started to work with a real estate agent and 21 homes later, we foud our little place of heaven.
With the blessing that came with Phil's farm, were 2 horses who were boarding on the land and the opportunity to grow the animals on the farm. We started with getting chickens the first Easter, but lost some to my neighbor's dog. She blessed my children by getting them bunnies as a replacement for the lost hens. It was a great start and each Easter as we learned more and grew our flock. Over the years, I also learned about predators and how to prevent the loss to them. We also loss the 2 horses who were originally boarding on the property, but have added 2 horses and a pony which the family enjoys. It has also been a blessing to many others who have been able to take advantage of the basement appartment we have to get some rest and restoration. What a blessing this place has been not only to me and my family, but to many others.
Some call it Phil's Farm...
A dream since I was a child was to have a horse farm. Not to long ago after praying about it, I was reminded of a sermon by my pastor that mentioned that it is easier to drive a moving car. I realized God was saying I need to start looking if I want it to come true. Faith is Active. So I looked on the web and found only one place and it was millions more than I could ever consider. After looking at twenty one places where they weren't suited for our needs - either a beautiful house but no place for a horse or great pasture but the house wasn't right.Then we found it, more than I could have ever asked or imagined. Each day after we moved in I realized more and more things that I had dreamed of through out my life that I never noticed before we purchased the place. God is great! You can't outgive God.
Some call it a chicken farm...
The chickens spend their nights in a chicken coop and their days walking around their chicken run which used to be a vegetable garden. The eggs vary in color from white to various shades of brown/red and a few that are green shells. One dozen a month go to the winner of a United Way giving campaign. Many people at work seem to find that the eggs are far beyond anything that they have tried from stores and I had one person say the only place they were able to get eggs like this was when they went to the market in France. The chickens are very entertaining, but require work to keep them safe from predators that have shown up this fall.
Some call it a petting farm...
Petting farm some may say... There are the chickens. There is a horse. There are bunnies. There are two cute kittens. Many things that children enjoy getting to play with and experience.
Some call it restoration ranch...
God has a purpose for everything. As such people have come from near and far to fellowship and find rest. It gives people the time away from the hustle and bustle of the city while time to focus on God and fellowship with those who will share love and life with them.
Some call it a horse farm...
When we moved in, there were two horses and there was one that we had inherited. Today, we now have 1 pony that is ours along with 2 horses that she hangs out with. In the upper pasture, we have occasional guests of up to 2 horses. God has started to train me in the ways of taking care for a horse and realizing the responsibilities of having my own horse. As I have started making time in my day to keep an eye on Shiloh, I realize that this is a time of preparation that God is walking me through. He has such plans that are bigger than I could have ever asked or imagined. As Shiloh has passed on, that good old horse, we now have our own pony and a friend's horse(s) living on the farm.
I call it my little piece of heaven on earth that God has provided.
God's house where he let's me live out a childhood dream and raise my family.
Praise God.