The Arkansas Farm Girl

3 Things You Probably Don't Know About Me.  I love getting to know my readers and I want to share some of my life with you as well. My goal with posts like this is for us to feel more like friends than blogger and reader. I want you to be able to spit off random facts about me like you would your sibling or a friend so what are we waiting for?  1. I own my own business. In 2017 I started a handmade goods store called Piney Creek Craft . Though it hasn't grown much over the last 2 years, I am currently taking steps to change that.  2. I am a published author. In 2017, (it was a big year for me), I released my first book. It's a book of short stories called The Joys of Christmas by Abigail Wilson. In addition I am currently working on other books that I hope to share with you soon.  3. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Skittles. I kid you not, I am obsessed with Skittles. They are my favorite candy in the whole world. I would probably pick a box of Skittles over most foods...

One Berry Can Make a Difference  I know this sounds like a weird title but I promise you will understand by the end.  Do you have a friend who isn't a believer or is weak on their faith? Are you trying so hard to witness to them but feel discouraged because you don't seem to be getting through to them? Guess what, I know how you feel.  Sometimes we try really hard to change people and expect there to be a drastic, immediate change in their lives. The tough truth is that that's not how it works. We cannot change others through the big things we do, but God can use you to do little things to impact them, even if it's only slightly. One of my favorite summer activities is picking blackberries. For the most part it's fun and easy but sometimes you find yourself climbing into the middle of a broad patch only to find two or three good berries. Bummer right? Not exactly. See, three berries don't seem like much on their own but, in the long run, they can mak...

2019 County Fair is in a Month! Y'all the county fair is in a month and I've gotta say I'm impatient and also very much in need of more time. There is so much to do in preparation for the fair but I love the  process.  Of course Trigger and Amigo will be my big projects, but I enjoy entering things in the education hall as well! This year I will be exercising my newfound love for making and canning jelly and enter blackberry jelly as well as cobbler and several crafts! One of my favorite parts of the education hall is the creative writing entries! I'm currently working on a short story called An Unlikely Friend.  It is based on Duke and Azreal. I fully look forward to the next month of preparations!

The Storms of Life The storms of life always come out of no where. A friend and I went on a trail ride recently. We saddled the horses and checked the weather to make sure it wouldn't rain. The radar said that there was a slight chance we would catch the corner of a passing storm but not likely. With that, we were on our way.  Thirty minutes into the ride it started raining fairly hard and we looked at the radar again. This time it said that we had walked right into the middle of a bad storm. Within five minutes it was storming so bad that we were soaked and the horses could barely see. It got bad enough that we had to get off and lead them. We got to shelter and unsaddled before heading inside to change. It took four hours for that storm to blow over. Life's storms often times blow up out of nowhere. They come on strong and leave you searching for shelter. Just like the cow shed and house provided shelter for us and the horses, God is our shelter in storms. We run t...

Balancing Your Time Between Life and Your Show Stock  Sometimes it can be hard to balance the amount of time you spend each day with your livestock and everything else in your life. On the one hand, if you spend all day with your animal, you will miss out on oppurtunities to experience new things or make new friends. The alternative is often spending little to no time with your livestock and can result in a nearly wild animal that doesn't trust or obey you. I have a few steps that can help balance your time. Make a schedule. This is especially helpful if you work or have more than one animal. Since I work during the day, I try to set aside a few hours each evening to work with my animals. Because I have more than one, I alternate who I work with on each day. One day I spend more time working with Trigger and vice versa with Amigo.  Even a little time helps. Maybe you have a full day planned and that's alright but you can still take 5 minutes to work with your animal. ...

Spiritual Freedom  On this holiday, July 4th, we celebrate the independence of our nation. We remember those who gave their lives so we can live ours. This freedom is important, but our Spiritual Freedom is more important.  What is spiritual freedom? It is believing in Christ and obeying His word and knowing the truth.  Is it truly freedom? Some people say that Christianity is more like a prison than freedom, but I beg to differ. It is so refreshing to be able to believe that there is someone who will be with you and care for you no matter what. Sometimes it's hard to obey the Bible but remember that those rules were made to protect you, because God loves you and wants you to spend eternity with Him. Knowing the truth about God and His Word gives you a sense of love and freedom in Christ.  Is it attainable? Absolutely! Pray, read your Bible and live your life with Christ and you will be free.