The Young Family Farm »

When my son told me he didn’t care what his college room looked like—he just wanted it to feel like home—I knew it would be fast and east to throw a flag on the wall but maybe not quite feel at home. I decided to keep it simple , and instead of a flag to make banner that reminded him these really are the best days…

Made from felt…just a yard of each color from Hobby Lobby.

I found art at Home Goods—and for his living area space I made art ❤️ and found a wooden Georgia piece at a Local shop.

This was the before—while raised beds do create more space they don’t feel quite like home, AND they aren’t as easy to hop on. So lowering the raised bed was the first thing we did to make this room feel like home–then we decorated away.

We weren’t allowed to put holes in the walls so hanging the curtains with Command Strip brackets was the only way to RAISE the curtains…raising the curtains will make a small room look BIGGER as it draws the eyes up:). Little design tricks even work in dorm rooms. We left him with “no no brackets” too just in case the Command Strip ever doesn’t hold but then the curtains will be lower. Still lovely window treatments are better than no window treatments:)

The boys each have a pretty small dorm size room but a shared kitchen and living space. And don’t worry on the other side of the “Call Your Mom” pillow is a oh so basic Georgia profile decal.

Simple…but feels a little bit more like home. Sure boys can put up a flag–and stuff some furniture under the bed–but I love making it feel a little bit more like home:) Here’s to the next 4 years of college and missing him like crazy!

Its been a sweet season on the farm. Just a little update…

We have thoroughly enjoyed this year with the new barn. Richard hosts small group on Monday mornings, my group meets on Tuesdays and I have 16 sweet middle school girls every Wednesday there. We had a half court poured and started a high school age basketball team (Go Pacers!) who practice on the court 2x a week. The weekend are always filled with football watching or a gathering of some sort for our kids.

Last year the barn was just being built so it’s been fun having it for the holiday season! We will host along with the Barn Gathering girls on Sunday, December 15th worship night on the farm. All are welcome!

Im hoping 2020 brings more pauses for writing again, but I’m so thankful for this busy, sweet season where our YES’s to the Lord bring fullness and so much joy. May your lives be overflowing as you seek and follow Him this Christmas and always.

Palm Sunday.

Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Today you will most likely hear teachers of the Word talk about Jesus coming into Holy Week on a donkey. In all my years of farm living I’ve YET to hear a pastor explain to the people WHY this is so mind boggling. It usually goes something like this based on pretty words from research books about the significance of a donkey being poor and humble and meek…then they move on.

And every time I want to hit my head on a wall. Preach a sermon on the poor? Go spend years living with poor and your perspective on the scripture on the poor changes. The significance of a donkey? All the donkey owners are blown away with this verse…And Jesus spoke (Mk.11)

“saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.”

My friends. Have you ever spent some time with an untrained donkey colt? Have you ever untied an untrained donkey colt that someone has tied to a tree (I promise you this—an untrained colt colt tied to a tree is what we call a ticked off donkey tied to a tree!)—and tried to take him just 2 feet after untying him? You KNOW what happens after you untie a colt from a tree don’t you? You donkey owners are DYING HERE. After he gets done bucking—you know what is forelegs are doing already right? Locked. Loaded. And ain’t going NO WHERE.

Up the game folks. Have you ever tried to get him to walk toward another person let alone a crowd? Ain’t happening. What about a crowd of cheering people? This is like insane friends. Let’s up the game a little more here—do you know what would happen if you took an untrained colt and just put a blanket on his back? DYING y’all.

Jesus said get a colt which has never been ridden and bring him to me.

Symbolism of poor? Humble? Meek? Missing it?

Y’all. If your pastor misses this part of the miracle—you have got to extend the invitation to come out to the Young Family Farm ASAP and let me give him a VERY simple instruction to go get that untrained colt in my back pasture and JUST bring him to me. I won’t ask him to bring him through a crowd. I won’t ask him to keep him calm through aisles of people waving palm branches or screaming. I certainly won’t risk your pastor’s life so I wouldn’t dare ask him to attempt riding on his back. Gracious no!

I’m 99% sure this has far less with being symbolic of poverty and I’m 💯certain the people here were amazed and as mind-blown as I am because during this time everyone knew this…riding an untrained, unridden colt in a loud space with branches coming toward him was IMPOSSIBLE. If Jesus was trying to show them just poor and humble he would have simply walked himself through the crowd. But He wanted to show them IMPOSSIBLE. Have you ever waved a plastic bag around a donkey colt because that’s pretty close to the sound palm branches make? Try doing that at the next donkey farm you visit and the owner might pop you over the head for trying to spook his colts.

Oh but gracious. The King of Kings was a miracle maker.

“Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.”

YEAH RIGHT😂😂😂

And just like that the colt came.

“When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

He got on him and rode him. Miraculous. Calmly. A donkey—especially a colt—is anything but MEEK. Gracious no. But to the King. The donkey was meek. An UNBROKEN donkey is never in a million years meek. But something about meeting the Savior instantly broke him—in a way those of us who know Him can’t explain it either. And that colt took him closer to the cross.

As you enter into Palm Sunday and the Holy Week ask Him to take you closer to the cross. If He can take a colt—nothing is too much, too hard, too far gone, too impossible for Him. My gracious He loves you. This impossible ride was for YOU. May you know this King who makes the impossible possible. He can walk with you toward ANYTHING and conquer it FOR YOU. Don’t miss the miracle. He wants to do them over and over in your life. Trusting Him with you.

We have been a part of Wiphan Care since it’s first days–and it’s been a wild ride watching it grow from one school with 250 kids to 3 schools with almost 950 orphans and 150 widows. 2 of the 3 schools has fencing to protect the school and students as they learn and grow–but we still need a fence around our 3rd school. Check out this video about this goal we have for THIS week!

Wiphan / Fund-the-Fence Farm Prints from Wiphan Care Ministries on Vimeo.

We are so thankful that our friends and family have given so generously already. We created farm prints to THANK YOU as you give! We hope you enjoy them and bless others as you have also blessed the kids at Wiphan! Here’s your link friends for your prints and donor gift cards! PRINTS AND DONOR GIFT CARDS LINK

We do this thing here when a child turns 13–the rite of passage into a new phase of maturity–where those who love and who have invested thus far write letters to champion the new teen into this next phase of life.

Last year for Parker’s 13th we had many write letters which were presented in an album to him at a special round table filled with men mentors who have been there for him through the years. This week my best friend’s son turned 13–and today he will receive the many letters others wrote to him including ours.

These are 4 things I pray for him in the next phase of life. May we raise kids who will BE THAT FRIEND to another…

Dear one your 13th Birthday…

First may I take a minute to boast that I’ve known about you just about as long as anyone. Bring your mom’s best friend for so many years—I have gotten the inside scoop on your life since the beginning. Which mind you—has also given me the privilege to fiercely love and pray over you since the beginning. I met you for the first time in Northside Hospital 13 years ago—and from that day since I haven’t missed a birthday and I’ve been on the receiving end of the best stories as your mom has proudly shared them. I consider myself blessed to know you your whole life, and I’m proud of the man of God you are. 

As I pray about what to bless over you on this special birthday that christens you into the teenage manhood years—I want to challenge you with the word FRIENDSHIP. 

I feel like challenging with this word is most fitting because it is the friendship with your mom through decades that brings us here today. I want to challenge you what to look for in a friend—BUT MOST OF ALL WHAT TO BE IN A FRIEND.

There are 4 things I pray you can BE and have one friend (just one Godly, God-fearing, God-finding and man after God’s own heart you need in your life—so never be deceived that popularity with friends and favor with God is the same. Seek to please Him alone dear one.) I am praying you can BECOME AND BE these 4 things to a faithful friend that will stand the same test of time your mom has to me…

1. May you be the steadfast friend. Steadfast can be described as “stick-with-it-ness” and loyal. In your teenage and adult years, may you be the man others find loyal. May others know because of your character where to find you—the first man to stand up when something is right and the last man standing when there is still need. May you be the friend that shows up and can be counted on. May you be the word keeper—the one who keeps his promises even when it’s hard.

2. May you be the kind friend. Kindness is easy when others are kind first or in return. But—may you also be the man who is kind in the face of unkindness. May you be slow to speak, slow to talk (react), and slow to become angry. May your words be seasoned with salt—fresh air and hope to a hurting world. May you be the lifter of hearts pointing to Jesus—and May you listen and hear and speak words of truth as the Holy Spirit places them on your heart. You have always been the kind one—don’t stop. In your steadfastness—keep being the kind one.

3. May you be the wise friend. I pray when you are uncertain which way to go, you are humble enough to wait and seek godly counsel. With your wisdom—stay humble as others see your wisdom. Recognize pride quickly and confess it just as quickly. Take a minute in every moment to ask your Savior is this the way you want me to go—in everything. He is faithful and will always show you. Be brave when everyone goes one way, and God shows you a more narrow path. The wisest decisions will be the “yes” moments where He asks you to trust Him in a different way than everyone else. Remember you will not be alone because He will go before you, with you and behind you.

4. May you be the fun friend. I know this one has you either smiling or surprised to end on this one as the others were quite serious. But never be too serious to lose site of the glorious adventure of the life God has given you. Don’t ever let the world tell you the fun friend is the friend who does the wrong thing, gets in trouble or displeases God. No. Your mom and I have had a lot of fun in life while being steadfast, kind and wise. Following Jesus can be radical, indescribable and silly FUN. So look for the adventure and hold up your hands for an unbelievable ride as you follow Him. Be the friend who says yes to good, clean fun even when you are an old man. Take the trip. Stay up late to see the miracle (like those sand turtles!) and celebrate the touchdown in life. 

You, dear one, have been such a good friend to my son. There are many things I see in you both as you both are true to conviction. I am so proud of the man you are becoming—and through your teenage years I will continue to pray for you. It is my prayer that you will have a friend who stands the test of time like I have in your mother. Be that kind of friend to someone else—and pray for the ones who are not. Never fret or worry when there are unkind friends each year because the world has many of those people—just stand true and tall in your steadfastness, kindness, wisdom and joyful fun with your eyes always up to the One who loves you most. Our family is here for you all your days—and if you ever need anything we are always here. We love you and wish you the best birthday as you begin a new stage of life! 

Love,

Mrs. Andrea

(Mr. Richard, Parker, Laney, Frank, Isaac, Zeke and Janie Claire)