Goats, God, and His Great Grace 

Pixie, Paisley, & Peanut
 

Ruthie, Roxie, & Scout

Last night I said good- bye to six of my fur babies. It broke my heart and my heart is still hurting this morning. Someone we know and that lives just a few miles down the road bought them and will take great care of them. I am learning that this isn't "no to goats, forever" it is just "no to goats for right now, for this season." After the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart Thursday that it was time to sell the goats, I cried for hours. I cried because I was extremely sad for two reasons: One, I would miss those cute furry creatures that made me smile and brought me joy almost daily. Two, because I knew immediately that giving the goats up was the WISEST things to do. It was BEST for my marriage, for my family, for our finances, for our schedule, and for my heart and the emotional part of my brain that caring for 6 goats (who could often be a handful) required. It is no surprise that I love animals. I always have and always will. I love every animal we have here at our little Smith Farm. The flock of 30+ chickens, the sweet velveteen rabbit, the vocal turkeys, our three lovable dogs and one awesome barn cat. I love them so much that when they are hurt, I hurt for them. When they sick, I worry a lot. When one dies, I have a hard time dealing with it. As one can see, these animals take up a lot of room in my heart and in my mind (on top of the room they fill in my schedule and my checkbook.) So I knew Thursday, when I had prayed and asked God in my heart "What do I do to ease some of the stress I have been dealing with?" In my heart I immediately heard his spirit whisper   “It is time to sell your goats."

Like I said, I CRIED! I cried hard, ugly, sounded like I was choking, but through the tears I texted a farmer down the road and posted my goats for sale on two farm pages on facebook. Within 5 minutes I had OVER FIVE buyers wanting the goats immediately   I knew that God was honoring my obedience. I knew that God was being GRACIOUS to me in providing me a way out. Here is another cool part of the story that I didn't see coming. I sent them message below to some friends that I had asked on Thursday to pray for this situation.

---One more example of God's faithfulness and provision in the past 24 hrs....earlier this week I told Jimmy Maverick would be getting braces July 7th and that we would need to adjust our budget for that. We still have 2 more months to finish paying on Harleigh's first set of braces/ phase 1.

Jimmy was frustrated that we would be paying for both kids to have braces at the same time and was overwhelmed on what to cut from our budget and trying to decide how much money we would put down on his braces. I sold my goats this morning for (X amount of dollars.)

At lunch time I spoke with Wilson Orthodontics to try and prepare financially for Maverick's upcoming appointment the next Friday and they said That I would need to be prepared to put money down on Maverick's braces Friday July 7th and asked if I could put down (The same X amount of dollars as I sold my goats for!) God's provision never ceases to amaze me. He is always on time. He blesses obedience and our intentionality. 

Thankful for the Holy Spirit and his prompting my heart to do make a decision to sell the goats and for God and his always on time provision during this next season of life.

We are in a different season of life than we were a few years ago when we first got our goats. We are in a new and different season with our family, our home, our kids, and our work. We have costs we didn't have a few years ago. We have activities, interests, and needs that require our commitment and attention that we didn't have a few years ago. Our kids are growing up. They are helping make decisions within our family that will affect how they spend their days and directly affects the schedule our family keeps. I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit lives within both of my children and has guided them in being intentional

in what things they say yes to and what they say no to. Harleigh chose to give up formal violin lessons this past spring. She wanted two after-school afternoons a week back to read, swim, get her homework done early and play outside. She loves violin and believes she has learned enough to keep playing at home and church and teach herself. 

Maverick chose to take a season off from baseball. He enjoys the game but was so tired of playing sport after sport back to back with no off- time for 24 months straight. He said I want to come home after school and have more time to swim, read and play outside. He also chose not to sign-up for Jr. Trojans Football this season. ( I love watching him play football so this broke my heart.) He had thought long and hard about it and said he didn't enjoy his positions he was assigned. Even if he got to play both ways the whole game, it just wasn't fun anymore, especially for the time and commitment it requires. He said he loves football and will play again, but maybe not till middle school. For now, he had chosen a light version of football, flag football through Upward Sports.

Seeing the fruits of the Holy Spirit in my children's choices makes my heart so FULL! Prayers I have prayed for myself and for our family are being answered...not just because of what I decide and choose but through the wise choices my children are making through being empowered by the Holy Spirit. This summer we have all been intentional about who and what we say yes to as we feel a strong desire to protect our family time and our time at home. Lots of people don't understand us. Most of the choices we make are counter- cultural in a fallen world and culture that tells us do more to get ahead, max out all you have to get the most of what life has to offer. 

So with all that I have learned this week I am attaching some pictures of the goats, of wisdom from godly women and scripture that has encouraged my heart. I can say as I sit here on this rainy Monday morning that I have a peace that surpasses my understanding. Through the tears I have and am crying as I look out across our property and DON'T see my goats grazing, I DO FEEL the arms of Jesus wrapped around me tight and sense him holding my heart. I trust his heart for me. I never want to settle for less than God's best for me. I am excited for this season we are in now and the things I will be able to say yes to because I have chosen to travel light for this next season and have a greater capacity to open up my mind and heart for what the Lord has instore for myself, my marriage and my family.