Homegrown

There is nothing better then 'stuff' that is homegrown and homemade.  I think its important, especially now days, to be able to provide food and things that help you live and helps others live-the basics.  This current culture, on the whole it seems like, has gotten away from the basics.  Electronics, entertainment and a society that is teaching that life is all about yourself and what you can do for you does not ultimately put food on the table.  While yes, electronics can and do help, playing imaginary games all day honestly makes you dumb and numbs you to the things that matter-life isn't a game-there are values. Entertainment can be enjoyable and a nice relief from the daily grind, but making a living centered on the opinions of others is crazy-everyone has there own opinion on what looks good, sounds good constantly changes it seems yearly, etc.......Its not possible to live in any consistent, daily life routine this way-look at Hollywood and all the drama of the celebrities.  Could you imagine living everyday constantly worried about the 'reviews' you got from your last show, or songs, etc.....Do they realize, that when it comes down to it, that stuff does not truly provide for the needs to live-food, clothing, housing etc......and our kids are driven to this sort of 'fame'.  Now, understand, I'm not against going and watching a movie and I love my music but I can live without them and I am certainly not caught up with the latest, 'who's divorcing who and who got caught with drugs again, drama, drama, drama...'

So anyhow, back to 'homegrown and homemade' and things that matter.  We were not put on this earth to serve ourselves. We were put here to serve and glorify God in all things and to help each other and I think that its very important to teach our kids this.  Teaching them where things come from and that good, honest work will be blessed and really has a sense of satisfaction and that we are all accountable for our actions is true reality.

  So in light of where things come from-food is important; can't live without it.  The girl's and I have our garden boxes. While yes I know that this will not feed us for a year, it teaches about where our food comes from-it wasn't 'made' in the grocery store.  Gardening, farming, agriculture, etc....is something that requires special attention to details and time.

   Now please understand, I am not saying that if you aren't gardening acres of land and consuming yourself with all that growing food entails your setting a bad example, but I think its important to know and understand that the things that sustain your life take work and some years really hard work to eventually get it available for your use.

 Gardens don't have to be big and elaborate; potted plants can produce quite a bit.

 Chicken!!!  It is not 'made' in a store-pink slime is not chicken just in case you were wondering.  We raise chickens for a few reasons-fresh eggs are the best-they haven't been sitting on the shelves for weeks or even months at the grocery store; I know what my chickens have been eating so eating them causes me no concern; they are great weed eaters and help with bug control-if you hate creepy crawlies get a couple chickens, they love bugs and give you eggs in return plus they are quite fun to watch-good entertainment!  I do still buy chicken from the store as I am not into raising tons of birds(we've done that)-that can get expensive but we try to 'supplement' how much we buy and it again teaches our kids and others that food is ultimately grown and then 'made' into something and it takes good, honest work that is rewarding to yourself and others.

 Speaking of good and honest work-notice that my girl's have smiles on their faces even though we are chopping weeds!  See, it can be as much fun as a nintendo game if you make it plus there are actual benefits to it.  Even little Melody is helping as the 'water girl'. These weeds are a major nuisance-they spread like crazy and nothing eats them because they are poisonous-something else good to learn.

So, I have to laugh because when I loaded these pics I wasn't actually planning on venting but its really sad when people don't realize where things come from-ultimately God who sustains all things by His powerful word. Heb. 1:3.  The reality of true values, things that matter are becoming less and less all the time. Take the time to teach your kids and yourself about the value of life; in order for you to live, something died whether it was an animal or a plant.  Know that there was hard work put in by someone so that you could have that food or garment of clothing or house, etc.....Know ultimately that all that we do have is a blessing from the Lord and should not be taken for granted but treated as a 'gift' that we don't deserve. The sinners that we are deserve only death but thanks to the sacrifice that God made in His Son Christ, we have been given new life and are new creatures-the old has past away- 2 Cor. 5:17 therefore we should live each day thankful for what we have-ultimately a hope in Him and the things to come!