Sunday morning we attended campground baptist church. A slightly nicer sister church of Roadside baptist. We used the dumping station for the first time. It was gross. I'm thankful that I could just stay in the truck :)
We left for the farm and got there late that night. We were nervous after our first farm. But I should have seen the hints. Text from George, the owner:
- I cut a 13 foot piece of wood and walked the drive to make sure you'd be okay. I cut all the limbs lower than that
- I'll wait for y'all at the end of the drive with my lights on so you don't miss the turn.
We got in so late so didn't really get a feel for them or the farm. One thing we had decided is that we would only volunteer enough of robs time for a place to stay. I would just do the girls and lines of grace and we would eat on our own. We did learn some things from bio way!
We've been here a week and half now and we couldn't be happier! It's more like visiting a friend or nice uncle than working! Robert works 10 hours for our spot/electric and 10 paid.
They also made it clear the first day that because of the season they didn't really have any food to share. Since then we've been given
- multiple bags of the granola they make here in their commercial kitchen. It is probably the best I've had!
- Fresh raw milk every single morning! This is one of Roberts favorite things. He now does all the milking while George just oversees.
The first milk that rob got by hand:)
- 3 containers of yogurt. They have a creamery where they make yogurt. Y'all this yogurt has a layer of cream on top! Good enough to eat hidden from the kids with no sweetener or anything added. And you just about want to die when you add some of their granola and a smidge of syrup!!!
- pork chops from their pigs. Rob grilled these and we were fighting over the last bites:) pigs will definitely find a spot on our farm one day!
- two bags of pancake mix. They make their own from their pecans and roll their own oats. Did you know that pa. Ale mix is the same as muffin mix? We tried it each way. Pancakes were good enough that we didn't add any syrup or butter!
- two jars of organic oats and a roller so we could have fresh rolled oats whenever we wanted.
- a bag of popcorn kernels that's so good it doesn't need salt or butter.
Needless to say we feel like friends! Rob hasn't been this happy in a while. He is repairing things, learning about the cows, talking farming with George.
At one point after taking an hour to explain something about the pecans to me and the girls and taking them to be cracked I asked Robert to mention to George that we don't want to waste his time. He doesn't have to feel obligated to stop and talked to is as we explore w farm. He told Robert there is a difference in wasting time and spending time. :)
Becky his wife is just as nice. She does the office side and the kitchen side. I spent Thursdays helping in the commercial kitchen to bag the granola. The smell was just about to kill me and I had to really keep myself from sneaking bites:)
They've already dug out a rocking chair and swing for the girls.
They sell their cows and pigs by half and they are always sold before they are even processed.
They take their granola, pecans and mixes to a farmers market every Saturday in Columbus Ga, about 30 minutes away. We went a little later and were excited to find there was a Veterans Day parade.
The property is beautiful! Massive pecan trees spread everywhere, milk cows and beef cows wandering around, ckickens, the lake...
We are parked a bit from the main house near the creamery and barns. We like it that way. At the end of the day we feel alone and have a beautiful view.
They have asked us to stay for a while and I think we will. We are learning a lot and feel at home here. We are still thinking and deciding.
Wednesday night church search was a disaster that found us in an area were we were double checking the locks and trying to get out of the area fast! Sunday was much better:) We found a little start up church about 40 minutes away. It's in a store front but they made it as church like as possible. It reminds me of the arcands church.
Mom, the pastor's wife wants you to visit so she can talk to you:) she wants daddy to come and help them find land lol:)
I was in nursery with her Sunday morning and night. She was explaining why they are in a wired little building that was a store. I could tell she felt a little embarrassed of where they were. I told her about how y'all had a rough start to your church, you lived in the barn, turned it into the church, moved the church out in the country... She was so encouraged. Sunday night she couldn't stop asking questions. They have been there two years. Auburn is growing because of a own car plants and the college so everything is expensive. She would love to email you:)
I was so proud to share your story. How y'all didn't quit and how you have your lives for people. Watching y'all give away everything only to see God bless y'all in ways that didn't make sense.
I thought how funny it was that thirty years later, back in the state where y'all started a church, out in the boonies, in a church we could barely find that you and daddy were encouraging a couple that was just starting because you didn't quit. It made me quite proud of my heritage.
Also there is a college girl that goes to auburn and is from Pasadena! She got saved down here from their college outreach. She goes to lighthouse in the summers! Small world:)
Things that take some gettin use to:
- We actually have to "go I to town" anything aside from dollar general is a good 30 minutes away.
- church is a lot further than we are used to:)
- no phone service
- wifi only during the day in the office
That's all so good. Glad you found a church where you can be a blessing.
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