Articles from Jackie
Here you’ll find encouragement, sage advice, and godly counsel I wish I’d had while going through the difficult seasons of life.
October On the Farm
A Bountiful Harvest Here on the farm, the maple trees are ablaze with glorious red leaves. Hay season has ended, but the harvest is still underway, with soybeans and corn ready for gathering. Harvest generally begins in mid-September and can run as late as...
Seed Packets
The information on the seed package reads: Seeds germinate in 6 to 10 days Growing height- 3 feet Best sown in a sunny location after the danger of spring frost Thin seedlings when they are 2-4 inches in height Garden hints: Keep moist and water frequently. I follow...
May on the Farm
This spring, we planted Macintosh and Delicious apple trees to replace an old tree that fell this winter. The fruit from that tree was tart, suitable only for making pies. And, speaking of pies makes me think fondly of my mother-in-law, who held the gold seal in the...
April on the Farm
Spring sunshine and warm breezes energize me. Some days I feel like a tornado whipping around, cleaning and organizing inside and out. My exercise regimen also jump-starts every spring, just like daffodil shoots. But invariably, a remnant of winter blasts through the...
Finding Joy As You Journey Through Grief
I’ve learned that we never get over grief. It becomes a traveling companion as we proceed through our lives. We discover that despite our losses, life does go on. And one day, when we hear the name of that special someone, and we smile instead of cry, we know we have...
March on the Farm
Spring officially began last week. I feel the warmer breezes, I have started my annual search for green shoots poking up from the dirt, and I hear the squawks of the Canada geese as they fly back to the pond. Sure-fire signs of spring that don’t require a calendar. I...
February on the Farm
As I anticipate the arrival of the seeds ordered earlier this month, I remember the Parable of the Sower, recorded in Matthew 13. Jesus told about a farmer who scattered seeds randomly. Some fell along a path where they were trampled and consumed by birds; they never...
January On The Farm
Looking out over the snow-filled fields at first light, on this cold January morning, I shiver at the sight of gray skies and the sounds of howling winds that have ushered in another winter on the farm. The horses are blanketed, the heater is plugged into the water...
New Year’s Giveaway
As the blustery winds whip outside, I find myself curled up inside, reading some wonderful books. I’d like to share some of my favorites with you. Be sure to read to the end to find out how you can enter to win one of these books. You Were Made for This Moment by Max...
Waiting, Anticipating, and Longing
Some years, turning the pages on the calendar comes more easily to me than other years. Seasons change, and I change with them. Labor Day rushes past, and I start baking with apples and winter spices. By Halloween, I’m pulling out scarves and mittens and writing to-do...
Widowhood
My husband died from the aftereffects of Agent Orange and his years in the military. He fought glioblastoma with every ounce of his being—and mine. The fight gave us seven years together beyond the doctors’ prognoses. When we humans find ourselves in crisis...
Caregiving
Caregiving. It's a HUGE job. You’re offering medical/emotional/spiritual/physical aid and assistance, reassurance, and rehabilitation, often for someone you love: a child, parents, a spouse, or a friend. Caregiving is demanding, physically and emotionally draining,...
Pickleball
I stepped into the gym. New faces. New places. “You can do this,” I said to myself and put a smile on my face. No matter my age, I still fear the unknown, especially when I face the unknown alone. But the faces were all friendly, the players all appeared to be having...
