U N C E R T A I N

 In a dessert of uncertainty 

Lost in it all 

Feeling like its smothering me 

I’ve lost all control 

And I don’t know where I am  

I’m losing all sense 

Of where up is 

And I’m ready to curl up 

And admit defeat 

But I’m still lost 

Without a way out 

And I want to live 

Really live 

I sit surrounded 

Uncertainty on every side

And out of the darkness 

A star appears in the east 

Guiding me out of this 

I follow not knowing 

Where I’m going 

But knowing it’s leading me 

To the one who knows all things

Amid the darkness

I follow the star

5 Ways to Give to Your Local Food Pantry

I know everyone is trying to grab your attention this time of year and get you to give their cause, but I wanted to share some ways you could help your local food pantry. Here we go!

1. Give time. 

Your time is one of the most valuable things you can give. Seriously, almost all food pantries need volunteers. That will look different at each one, but they need you. At my food pantry, they desperately need people to come and simply put an assortment of food in bags to give out easily. I normally only help out for an hour a week, so it's not like it's a huge commitment, but it's great to work there. 

2. Give (Good) food. 

My family was unemployed for two years. We depended on food pantry food to eat for a lot of weeks. I distinctly remember one week getting very excited because we had gotten a box of food which meant finally some variety in our contact diet of mac and cheese. I cannot express my disappointment when inside the box was limp cabbage and cans of stuff I don't think anyone actually eats if they aren't desperate. We ate it, and my mom used it as a lesson on how we should be grateful for everything God provides and I still appreciate that lesson. But I can't help but hope that a lot of kids won't have to learn that way and that they'll be excited to get bags because they have good food in them. Most food pantrys depend on donations, and so what you give is very important. Out of date, super weird, or half-used food items are not a good way to go when donating, but what you give may mean the world to someone. I remember getting chips one month and it was the biggest treat we had had in a long time.

3. Give money. 

Food pantries often have a lot of monetary needs. Most of the time they buy food to supplement donations, have to pay utility bills and have to buy equipment to keep operating. Giving money is a great way to help them stay afloat. 

4. Give prayers. 

Handing out food is not a photo-op event, it's pretty rough a lot of times. So pray for your local food pantry and the people who come through. 

5. Give cards. 

Most food pantries will accept cards to give out to the clients. You can write encouraging notes to make people smile. Or simply write your local food pantry and tell them you appreciate them. 

So there you have it, five ways you can help out at your local food pantry. I hope you will at least look up the food pantries in your area and check them out. They can be so awesome! 

Merry Christmas y'all!! I may not post next week since it's Christmas. =) 

R E C O N C I L E

I wrote this for myself because it's what I needed to hear. 

 Reconcile 

Is not a word we like today

We like words like

Toxic 

Hurtful

And detrimental

We're not as into words like

Forgiveness

Grace

And putting things in the past

We don't like 

Loving when it's painful

Or facing hurt again

We don't like to be uncomfortable

But if we don't like words like

Reconcile

Forgiveness

Moving on

Loving 

Or being hurt for people

Then I guess we don't love

What Jesus did for us

That He came to reconcile us to Him

To forgive us

To move past our sin

To love us

Even when it killed Him

November Highlights

This month had some ups and downs, but the good far outweighed the bad. <3

I was watching my favorite little kid. He's almost three, and I told him I loved him, and he said he loves me too. My heart just about melted. Two and three-year-olds are just about the best. <3

After a Bible study zoom one night me and my sisters made a late-night run to get ice cream. =D 

I had a cold for part of the month. It was rather uneventful, just mild discomfort and staying home. Thankfully it cleared up in a couple days and I was able to go back to work. But telling people your sick in 2020 is terrifying. XD 

I participated in NaNoWriMo. I had been unsure as to whether I was going to do it (Due to stress, and recent questions about the site) but I decided to go for it. I write 30 thousand words with of short story and book beginnings. Nothing stuck until I got to the last 20 thousand and I managed to write a Novella about my character Mandy.  I finished on the 27'th and really enjoyed my experience. I have never been so busy while doing NaNo. There were a lot of nights when I was writing till 1AM (A time of night I do not enjoy), and a lot of writing in the car between jobs, but I loved it. All the stress was worth creating again.  

A Bible study group I've been a part of met up in the park for the first time. After seeing everyone on Zoom for the last few months, it was super fun to be able to meet up in person (from six feet apart). 

My dad pinched a nerve in his back (super painful), and so we've been taking him to a lot of appointments. I've tagged along to keep my mom company, but thankfully he's finally starting to feel a bit better.  

I did a lot of Christmas shopping and wrapping. I had a bunch of fun buying things for my friends and wrapping them. <3 I was going to go black Friday shopping online, but the sheer volume of things on sale completely killed my enthusiasm, so I didn't. 

We had our family Thanksgiving celebration. We weren't able to go up and see my great-aunt this year, so we just stayed home, had fried chicken, and enjoyed being together. It was sad not to be with extended family, but I am so grateful my whole immediate family was able to be here. <3

I became a rep for Mudlove.com. They are an awesome company, so I was super excited when they started an ambassador program. I'll be one for six months and I'm super excited!!

Honestly, the best part of my whole month was getting to meet Jesseca Wheaton and Deborah Cook. We went to Magnolia Market (which honestly, I'm not really impressed by), and then we went to a drive-in For King and Country concert. It was pouring rain, so we all stood huddled under an umbrella and blankets freezing, but it was worth it! The songs sounded even better in person, though my favorite had to be hearing them sing Together and Priceless. <3

I am excited to be featuring both the books I've read and the movies I've watch this month!

Books: I re-read my all-time favorite Dear Mr. Knghtely along, and discovered The Story which was my favorite new read of the month. <3 The Traitors Game was also a first, but it was my least favorite due to the romance. 

Movies: I watched a lot this month, but most of it was re-watching. The far-right row was the four new movies I watched, none of which I liked. XD Unleashing Mr. Darcy and its sequel were my favorite thing I re-watched and A December Bride was my least favorite new movie. 

Most of the posts this month were Black Friday deals. XP

What If  Summer of 1999

Inktober 2020 A Farm Girls Life

Gingerbread Cookies Ellen's Musings 

20+ Unique & Thoughtful Gift Ideas A Farm Girls Life 

How was your Thanksgiving? Do you like the addition of movies in my posts?