Saturday

I woke up this morning and milled some grain and baked some bread. 10 or 12 baguettes and 10 loaves of milk and honey bread. Milked Coco. Skimmed milk and made three quarts of cream into butter. Several sets of friends came over and did things like fix an electrical outlet, repair screens, work on the milking parlor, etc.

Am still working out the details of how long to bake the bread in the new oven. I feel afraid that I won't be able to handle full capacity baking. "One day at a time," I tell myself. I don't have to bake full capacity today. Today I was able to bake enough to practice and to have plenty to share and for the kids to eat all week. Nora had been asking for some baguette. She has eaten almost half a loaf, all by herself.

The rain is hovering. A slight mist is starting to fall. Seems like the grey skies make the spring green even more vibrant. A nice rain would water in the garden very nicely.

This morning I paused in the baking long enough to make myself an omelet. I listened to a couple of Andrew Peterson cds while working and eating. Many of his songs speak to me, but these days, one called Faith to be Strong is especially dear.

Here are the lyrics:

Give us faith to be strong,
Father, we are so weak
Our bodies are fragile and weary
As we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead
Give us faith to be strong.

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard.
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong.

Give us peace when we're torn
Mend us up when we break
This flesh can be wounded and shaking.
When there's much too much trouble for one heart to take
Give us peace when we're torn.

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong.

Give us hearts to find hope
Father, we cannot see
How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom.
And as hard as we try,
Lord, it's hard to believe
So, give us hearts to find hope.

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard.
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong.
Give us peace when we're torn
Give us faith, faith to be strong.

When people ask me how they can pray for me, I have been suggesting they pray for me to be strong. It is hard for a weak person to run a farm or raise a family, for that matter. It is so hard to ask for help. But in our time of weakness, we have experienced an incredible tapestry of friends and community rising up around us to help. Patient. Understanding. Not mad at me for being weak. It is amazing. I think I am almost getting an inkling of the concept that the power of Christ is manifested through our weakness. I think is has something to do with all these people, the church friends and the non-church friends, all working side by side to be our strength. I think Philip must be so pleased to see how well our friends are caring for us.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9.