Cartoon drawing credits:Wenda Grabau
Jesus Put Death in its Place
Easter commemorates the one day in history when Jesus put death in its place. It is evident from archeology, historical record, bureaus of vital statics, newspaper records, that those who live, eventually are overtaken by death. Death has been man’s enemy. Its authority over man has successfully overshadowed everyone for all time.
To conquer such a foe, someone had to experience it and overpower it by coming back to life. That is just what Jesus did. The historical record makes this very clear.
Now, some folks may argue that it was such a long time ago (nearly 2000 years) that Jesus’ resurrection is a myth. If that be the case, why would millions and billions of years make anyone consider some theory such as evolution to be valid? The historical records of the resurrection of Christ are recorded. The evidence can be examined and found to be true.
So the good news today is that Jesus rose from the dead and has not died again. He has authority even over death. He has the authority and desire to grant this same never-ending life to all of mankind. He desires this very thing for you.
The reason death got the upper hand, is that man sinned. That means he wandered away from God and chose to ignore or disobey Him. Isaiah 53:6 puts it this way, “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; …” To be just, restitution had to be made. Isaiah 53:6 goes on to say, “… and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” The one who bore the iniquity for us is Jesus. He experienced death on the cross, the penalty for sin. The payment was made. His resurrection broke sin’s (and death’s) chains and freed us to live for Him.
How can a person experience this freedom from sin and death that Jesus provided for us? Hebrews 11:6 tells us, ” But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” God requires that we have faith in Him. The apostle John wrote, ” For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
What will open the door to this new life?
- A personal repentance (change of direction)
- Confession of sin (agree with God that we are wrong and He is right)
- Placing trust in Jesus’ death on the cross and in His resurrection (laying aside your efforts to earn righteousness and coming to Him by faith in Jesus)
My hope for you this Easter is that you personally believe that Jesus did indeed put death in its place. He deserves your trust and your devotion. How glad we can be that through Him the sting of death is gone and the grave is empty!
photo credit: maf04 via photopin cc
photo credit: Яick Harris via photopin cc
A Walk in the Woods
Today, the sun displayed the blue of a clear spring sky. Brisk breezes proved that spring is in the air. My daughter and I decided to take a walk in some nearby hardwood forest, to view the coming of spring from a different perspective. I was particularly curious to see if we could find Spring Beauty in bloom.
Many old leaves still shroud the green life in its infancy. Wild flower leaves peak through at various places. Shelf fungi cling to the sides of several trees. Wild raspberry bushes and gooseberry plants show their tender new leaves. Their super-sharp thorns pierce when one walks by too closely. It is too early for blossoms to catch the eye.
Yet , with the absence of much green, one can see through to the far side of the woods for quite a long ways. We walked to a clear opening where our field stretched out before us. As we returned, we followed an old, dry path. Dear Grandpa blazed the trail years ago so that he and others could enjoy a nice 
walk to the corn/hay field as the summer progressed. Since Grandpa has gone, new growth seeks to cover that old path. Next time we go out to the woods, I will take a clippers along to clear the way where Grandpa loved to walk. Maybe next week, we can see further plant growth, God’s handiwork in the forest at springtime.
photo credits:Bretta Grabau
Inspired by Spring
Delight in the changes of the seasons is brought to light with the changes we behold in our world.
We have several cards. . . .
. . . Inspired by Spring!
Young perennials spiking up into the sunlight after a winter rest
Birds finding rest amongst bushes and trees covered with bulging buds
Flower buds busting forth their beauty
Find these and other cards in our catalog or in our store.
Drawings by Wenda Grabau
Spring Cleaning
Signs of spring are evident on the farm. Aside from all of the milking and chores, several jobs are in progress. Since we have had a hard, long winter and the cold temperatures linger, there is more wood to move into the wood room. Still, the blackbirds and robins are here, the position of the sun warms the lawn and green is breaking through the sod.
Spring cleaning on the farm becomes a priority.
- Downed and bothersome branches of trees and bushes are cut and hauled away.
- Cleaning of calf and chicken sheds take time.
- Manure removal and spreading must be done.
- Raking of flowerbeds to beautify the landscape of the grounds is moved to the top of my “Do List”.
- Oat seeds, cleaned by the fanning mill, are made ready for planting.
- Seed corn, alfalfa and garden seeds have been ordered.
- Machinery is maintained and made ready for the planting season.
- Bull calves have been sold.
Why all this “To Do” for spring? Why does the farmer do this every spring?
Since the time of Noah, God made mankind a promise. It is recorded in the ancient writings, in Genesis 8:22.
“While the earth remains,
Seed time and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer
And day and night
Shall not cease.”
God promised us that we can expect seed time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night. We can plan on it and we do.
photo credits:Wenda Grabau
Through Heaven’s Doors
In 2010, I wrote this little poem when my dear Dad died.
Today I witnessed your last battle.
Could you sense me standing near?
Did you hear my voice sing “Amazing Grace”
Or recite for you “The Lord’s Prayer”?
Did you hear my tender, “I love you,”
As I held and kissed your hand?
I longed for you to feel me near
When you left for that better land.
Despite your lengthy sojourn here,
It ended way too soon.
Silently your sweet soul slipped away
To rest in your heavenly home.
In your ninety-sixth year,
Jesus took you by the hand,
Destined for total victory
To the place He prepared for you.
At last your deaf ears heard sweetness;
Birds singing with angel choirs.
Your painful feet leaped for joy
When He led you through heaven’s doors.
photo credit: Loozrboy via photopin cc
photo credit: Wildlife Boy1 via photopin cc
“Party Line”
This is the image of a family telephone that was used on the farm. Mounted up high on the wall, one might need to step on a stool to use it. Telephones have certainly advanced the capability to communicate, even on the farm. How they have changed.
In the old days, several neighbors shared the same telephone line and could join in on a conversation or at least listen in. It could be problematic. If someone needed to make a quick call to someone, the already “in-progress” conversation of a neighbor could delay their call, often irritating and impeding progress for the day. The wait could be seemingly endless.
When single lines became available, folks could pay a higher rate to the phone company for a private line. Private lines became for the norm over the years. Now a party line is just a memory.
In the cold winter, what better time can there be than to make a call or send a card to a friend. You may send this little card with it’s “Party Line” memories to a friend. It is available in our store.
Pencil drawing by Wenda Grabau
Egg Scale
In an old cupboard in the basement, I found this little treasure. It is a Dekalb Agric. Ass’n egg scale. What fun to find out the size and weight of our eggs.
This little gizmo is left over from when my husband’s parents sold eggs many years before I came on the scene. When my husband was growing up here on the farm, his parents sold eggs…lots of eggs. They raised 300 chickens. The “egg man” would drive up in his truck and take a week’s-worth of eggs to warehouse. The scale may have been a help in the selling process.
In those days, brown eggs sold for less than the white eggs. They made it to bakeries, but not to store shelves. Our farm eggs were brown then as they are now.
When the poulets start laying eggs in the summer, the eggs are small. As time goes on, they get to be like the egg pictured on our scale. They get to be extra large and even bigger.
I used to see this little scale tucked in a utility shelf in the basement. I have really enjoyed examining it and reminiscing about how it was used in the past. Now I will have to display it more openly. It is a real memory, here on Heritage Farm.
photo credit:Wenda Grabau
Memory – “Making Donuts”
I have an old cookbook with many recipes to stimulate my creative side. Although I am not making things no one has ever tried before, in my culture, many of them are no longer commonly done. It is so easy to stop at a local market or bakery to purchase their wares.
One of these recipes I use is for donuts. When I consider the cost of flour, sugar and yeast, I could make these delicacies much 
cheaper. Granted it takes time and effort. It is not something I wish to do often. So when I do, it is special. We invite friends to share in the experience.
My recipe is a yeast recipe. The dough is started and has to rise twice before our guests arrive. My husband and I work at the deep-fat frying. Our friends and the children get to sugar and frost the donuts when they have sufficiently cooled. We top the time of by enjoying the yummy fruits of 
our labors with a tall glass of fresh farm milk.
If you have an old cookbook, check it out. You may find a fun recipe like this that you will be able to make into an experience you can share with your children and others.
photo credit: joyosity via photopin cc
photo credit: 305 Seahill via photopin cc
photo credit: Qfamily via photopin cc
“Seed Packets”
It is not too late to get started planning your garden. Peruse your favorite nursery and seed catalog for the choices available to you. Some seeds may need to be started inside, so get them in a timely fashion. Coupons or discounts may be available for ordering early.
My order will come soon. Even though the landscape is overrun with drifts of snow, spring will come sooner than we think. So to avoid the hurried “trip to the store” to buy my seed, I plan to buy them from the comfort of my home by catalog.
This little card named, “Seed Packets” will bring back memories of the garden or the farm to someone. It might even make a fun May Day gift if you slip a package of seeds in with the card. Use this card to greet your friends and celebrate the return of spring. View this and other cards in our online store.
Pencil drawing by Wenda Grabau
Heritage Cards Catalog
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