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It's hard to believe this is the last post of 2014.

As I look back on this year, I am amazed at the way God has worked in my life.

On January 1st I posted my 14 things I wanted to accomplish in 2014.

Let's see how I did...

1. Pray about everything!
I can honestly say that I spent more time in prayer in 2014 than I ever have, but I can't say that I prayed about everything. I think this is a process in which it takes time. My desire is that prayer becomes second nature.

2. Study Scripture Daily.
I did not study God's word daily. There were days that it just didn't happen...and that's OK. Through God's word I learned this year that I have to give grace not only to others but myself as well.

3. Tithe 1st, not last.
We did a better job this year with tithing from the heart than in years past. I still find it difficult to give when I know money will be tight. I am working on leaving my comfort zone so that we may give freely without hesitation or remorse.

4. Memorize 12 verses of Scripture
This year taught me that I stink at memorizing scripture. As much as I try sometimes the words just don't stick. I have hidden more verses in my heart but still struggle with complete verse memorization.

5. Organize my life.
Ummm...we live in organized chaos does that count??

6. Declutter Our House
A huge work in progress!! We have hauled more than clothes, toys, and "junk" off this year than ever before. I still feel like I am drowning under a mountain of laundry but we are working to corral that.

7. Set a daily schedule and stick to it!!
Bahahahaha....all I can do is laugh. Our set routine is basic and just gets us by. Farm life doesn't allow for dinner every night at 7 however patience and grace does allow for us to roll with the punches.

8. Pay off Debt!!!
We are better than we were last year at this time but still working on accomplishing our dream of being debt free!

9. Put at least $1000 in our savings account for a rainy day fund
I am happy to say as of this moment we have completed this task and then some. However with a pending maternity leave and no enough paid time to cover it I'm sure we will have to use these funds when baby #3 arrives.

10. Put at least $200 extra into each of the boy's savings account.
We did add to the boys' savings accounts this year...praying that they don't have to encumber the debt I did if they choose to go to college.

11. Do a family outing once a month.
We did do more family outings this year, however many of them centered around livestock shows...which honestly for this show mom is perfectly ok :)

12. Exercise 3 times a week and include the boys as often as possible.
Let's just say this didn't happen as planned...

13. Go on a date night just William &I once a month
Nah...this didn't happen either

14. Post 60 blog post, plus keep our social media sites updated.

In 2014 I posted 103 blogs.
I completed my 1st blogging challenge.
The top 5 post focused on Family Farmers.
Our social media presents grew by leaps and bounds,
not only for my blog's Facebook page but also the farms.

Overall I think 2014 has been a successful year and I can't wait to see what 2015 holds.

Happy New Year to you all & God bless you!

Caci

Today is Day 30 in our 31 days of Farming and Family. Over the last month we have met a lot of farm families from across the US & Canada. Some of them have been close friends that we love dearly. I can honestly say that today's farm family is more like an extended branch of our own family. My husband has grown up with this family, their parents are friends, they went to the same church, same schools, have traveled together, stood beside each other as they said their wedding vows. And now the 2nd generation is sharing in the same memories. Honestly I think I had to get "approved" by both the Nance's & the Covington's before the farmer asked me to marry him.

Both farms are in the dairy business and neither started out as dairy farmers. Between the 2 farms they have more cows in the town limits of McConnells than there are people...and neither would have it any other way. So grab a cup of coffee and enjoy learning about this amazing farm family!

1. Who are you and where are you located?

We are Bill & Peggy Covington of McConnells, SC.

We have 3 grown children Carrie (2nd from Left), Abbey (Far Right), & Craig.

2. How did your farm begin?

Our farm began years ago when I (Bill) was still working full time at a local university. I would do the farm work before and after my full time job and any days I had off. In 1995 we began full time dairy farming.

3. What does your farm produce?

Our farm is mainly a dairy farm. Our purpose is to provide the milk that ends up on the grocery store shelf. In addition we keep some beef cows and produce feed and hay for our cattle.

4. What is the busiest time of year for your farm?

The busiest time of the year for us is in the Spring/Summer when we are growing and harvesting hay and feed for the cattle.

5. How do younger generations help on the farm?
When the kids were growing up each had a job on the farm. Our 2 daugthers have gotten married and work in the education field. My son is now a partner and helps on day to day operations of the farm.

Our grandkids enjoy the farm by showing dairy cattle and feeding baby calves when they are here.

6. With all there is to do on a farm, are you involved off the farm?

I serve as a Town Councilman for Town of McConnells and on the board of directors for Farm Bureau. My wife is also active off farm filling many roles, one of them being a Sunday School teacher.

7. What's your favorite activity to do together as a family on the farm?

Family time is usually enjoying a meal together during a break.

8. Why is family important to your farm?

Everyone in our family has had to "pull their weight" over the years. Our family has survived on the farm. It has paid for college tuition and more. The farm has allowed us to pass on values to younger generations. It's hard to separate our family from the farm as its an essential part of our life.

9. What's one thing you want non-farm families to know?

That food comes from a farm, not the grocery store! Farming is a 24/7 job and very hard work, but rewarding!

Thanks for joining us for today's feature farm family. We have been truly blessed by their friendship over the years. I love that our farm kids get to continue this fellowship!

Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you!

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"...I realized that I had made the Spirit-filled life much more complicated that it really is. Like every other aspect of the Christian life, the Spirit-filled life is a life of faith. I had been approaching it as if it were a formula. But the Spirit-filled life is not a formula; it is a relationship, a relationship with a person- the Holy Spirit." Charles Stanley, The Spirit-Filled Life.

I grew up in church and heard folks talked about the Holy Spirit but honestly I never quite knew what they were talking about. I mean really the whole 3 in 1 thing really threw me off. I understood God and Jesus but the Holy Spirit confused me. I didn't know what that was suppose to be like. I couldn't seem to find anyone that had a concrete answer to my dilemma.

As I have began to dig deeper into my walk with the Lord I felt I was missing a vital part of it. I was fortunate to be sent the book above by BookLook to review for my honest opinion. It could not have came at a better time.

Book Description

A wise, measured, and deeply passionate invitation to a Spirit-filled life

Are you trying your best to be a good Christian but still feel something’s missing? Do the peace and joy you long for seem to elude you? Does following Christ sometimes feel like a lot of work—or like it’s just not working very well?

Much has been written and spoken—and argued!—about the Holy Spirit and what it means to be filled with the Spirit. Charles Stanley cuts through the confusion and introduces you to a living Person as real and active as God the Father and Christ the Son. Through personal stories, biblical exploration, and insightful explanation, he will help you discover:

who the Spirit is—and how to develop a relationship with Him
who the Spirit isn’t—and how to avoid damaging misconceptions
how being “filled” with the Spirit actually works
what the Bible really teaches about spiritual “signs” such as speaking in tongues
how the Spirit can increase your capacity for faith, hope, love, and personal transformation
what it means to “hear” the Spirit’s voice
how to make the most of your unique spiritual gifting to build up Christ’s body
what happens when the Spirit’s power is unleashed in your workplace, your family life, your friendships, and every other area of your life

In The Spirit-Filled Life Charles Stanley reveals how to recognize and begin to live with the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit.

My Take

I truly enjoyed this book and will reread it several times as there is so much to take in. Dr. Stanley has used strong scripture references to help you dig deeper yourself into understanding the Holy Spirit in your life. He has helped me to learn as a believer I am already filled with the Holy Spirit...he has permanent resident in my heart...but how much am I willing to let him control is the question. Thankfully he doesn't just leave you with one answer and expect you to figure out the rest. Dr. Stanley continues to take this journey with you, so that you too can recognized and live with the guiding of the Holy Spirit. I highly recommend this book for Christians no matter where in your walk you may be. This would also make a great gift!!

Until we meet again may God bless you and keep you!

Caci

Welcome to day 28 of 31....actually we are a few days behind...but you get the idea. Today's farm family hails from my home state of Georgia. Both are big fans of the Dawgs but better yet I have know both of these folks since high school...OK maybe before then....they were a bit younger than I am. I have been able to watch each of them grow up and become amazing leaders in the community.

Honestly I remember Regina back when she was just getting her feet wet in one of the greatest youth organizations. She was just as sweet then as she is now. And let's not forget Raymond...recently found a picture of him at a FFA conference (Greenhand Jamboree, I think) from when I was a SO. This couple together is a powerhouse for agriculture with their feet and faith planted firmly in the Lord. I am blessed to call them friends!

Oh some of you FFA buffs might remember Regina...she use to wear this a LOT

as a National FFA Officer back in the day! Your welcome Regina :)

Let's learn more about their farm and family :)

1. Who are you and where are you located?

We are Genesis 1:24 Boer Goats and we are located near the GA/SC line in Lavonia, GA.

2. How did your farm begin?

We began back in 2010 with 4 boer goats. That has now transformed into a whole lot more! We run quality breeding does and have recently added 3 donor does to the program. We have met many people who have helped us along the way. The friendships are priceless!

3. What does your farm produce?

We produce meat goats that are Boer influenced. They are suitable for show goats for 4-H and FFA projects, but are also high quality producers of goat meat. We like to focus on quality instead of quantity and only like to produce and sell things for students to show that we would be proud to show or keep ourselves.

4. What is the busiest time of year for your farm?

We have several busy seasons. Our busiest season is our kidding season. That can start Mid January until the first of March. When kidding season begins, we have to watch our does and make sure they are accepting babies and all is well. If a doe rejects a kid, we have to either bottle feed it or graft it on to another doe within 24 hours. Does can have anywhere from single births to quadruplets. So, do the math, it can be pretty busy! Another busy season is fall breeding season and show season. We have recently started utilizing embryo transfer in our program to maximize our genetics.

5. How do younger generations help on the farm?

Our only younger generation help is our 4 year old Border Collie, "Tater." She's the hardest working family member of us all!

6. With all there is to do on a farm, are you involved off the farm?

Yes, we both work jobs that keep us busy during the day, so we can farm in the evenings.

7. What's your favorite activity to do together as a family on the farm?

I would say our favorite farm activity is really feeding and doe checking in the evenings. We will walk pastures and check goats while catching up on each other's day. .

8. Why is family important to your farm?

Family is what our farm was built on. It was a way to relax and enjoy each others company, while combining our interest and love for agriculture and God's land.

9. What's one thing you want non-farm families to know?

I think all non farm families should know that no matter how big or small, our farms matter. We are producers and stewards of the land. We farm so you can eat and enjoy things. We don't do it because we have to, we do it because we want to. Farm families are some of the kindest and gentlest people you will meet.

10. Do you have a blog, a farm Facebook page, twitter, etc where people can find out more about you and your farm?

We currently don't have official farm social media pages, but we are always welcome to receive your emails at genesis124goats@gmail.com. We will hold a sale this spring with some friends, and we hope to see you there!

Thanks to Regina & Raymond for sharing about their farm & family today. I hope you caught a glimpse of farm life many might miss. This young farm couple is working hard to help educate not only the next generation but others as well about the importance of agriculture. If you have questions or comments from them please feel free to leave them in the comments section below or email them.

Until we meet again may God bless you and keep you!

Caci

Today's family is a very special family to my family. They live just down the road from us...literally it's maybe 5 miles! Not to mention they are some of the sweetest, most genuine folks I know....and they grow some awesome produce!! I can't wait for you to learn a little more about them...and if you are ever in the neighborhood stop by and visit with them!

1. Who are you and where are you located?

I am JEB Wilson. My wife Jane and I are in our early thirties and we have one son Mac who recently turned five years old. Our farm is named Cotton Hills Farm and is located in upstate SC in the counties of Chester and York Counties. Jane helps with payroll and other farm tasks but also works in administration at a local Christian school.

2. How did your farm begin?

My great-great grandfather and grandmother began working the original 200 acre farm in 1880 as it was given to them as a wedding gift by my great-great grandmother’s father. They grew cotton and other row-crops. The farm has been passed down through the generations.

3. What does your farm produce?

My brother and father also farm along with me. My father focuses on cotton production while my brother and I focus on growing and selling produce. The produce crops include strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupes, tomatoes, peaches, and pumpkins. We all work together as needed. We make ½ bushel peach baskets in the winter time to keep our vegetable labor employed. We sell these baskets to other farmers. I manage two retail produce stores in addition to our wholesale produce business. During the fall months we open our farm up to the public and do farm tours. We try to educate the public about the importance of agriculture and give them a chance to see what we do on a daily basis.

4. What is the busiest time of year for your farm?

July is a very busy month for us as the peaches and all other vegetables are at peak production. September and October are our busiest months though as we are harvesting pumpkins, giving farm tours and are picking cotton.

5. How do younger generations help on the farm?

Mac and my two young nephews, Thomas and Tucker enjoy riding the harvesting equipment with my brother and me. Mac is also learning to do chores such as feed the few animals that we keep during tour season. I think it is very important to involve children from a young age so that they learn a love of farming.

6. With all there is to do on a farm, are you involved off the farm?

I am involved with the SC Farm Bureau Federation on the county and state level. I also participate in the Young Farmer and Agribusiness Association. My family also attends our local church where my wife and I serve as treasurer.

7. What's your favorite activity to do together as a family on the farm?

We enjoy riding the cotton picker together. We also enjoy getting to have other families tour our farm and talk with them about farming and agriculture.

8. Why is family important to your farm?

Family is very important to our farm as it is a mulit-generational business. For the farm to survive the next generation has to be taught a love for farming and taught how to be successful as a farmer.

9. What's one thing you want non-farm families to know?

I want non-farm families to know that we are good stewards of the land and resources. We try very hard to take good care of the land that we are entrusted with.

10. Do you have a blog, a farm Facebook page, twitter, etc where people can find out more about you and your farm?

We maintain a website at cottonhillsfarm.com and we can also be found on Facebook by searching for Cotton Hills Farm.

Today's Farming & Family feature hails from Iowa.

I sent Katie a list of questions and in her easy going style she answered them just as if we were sharing a cup of coffee while our 4 boys played...except there were no wrestling matches, broken dishes, or yelling...so maybe the boys where hanging out with their daddies :)

My husband is a 3rd generation turkey farmer, but our farm officially began 5 years ago, as a result of increased demand for turkey because of Subway's $5 Footlongs! It was kind of a unique situation that I have written about extensively on my blog. Another turkey farmer in our area wanted to expand and offered to help us build new barns as partners with him. We took him up on the amazing opportunity and never looked back.

We raise more than 100,000 turkeys every year. Although many people assume that our turkeys are eaten at Thanksgiving, we grow turkeys year round for further processing (lunchmeat, ground turkey, sausage, etc.) So our farm is busy every single day. We do not have a slow season.

We have two boys, ages 3 and 6, and they love to help on the farm. When we get a new flock of turkeys, we all unload them together, and the boys often help move turkeys from one barn to another. When we're not working on the farm, we love playing outside (especially soccer and t-ball), family movie nights, and building legos together.

I work part time for the Iowa Turkey Federation, and have my own small home decor business, called The HomeShed. Between those two things, renovating a farmhouse, and keeping up with my blog, I always seem to be on the go. Luckily, my parents and in-laws both live nearby, and we take advantage of our "village" for raising our boys and getting things done on the farm.

Antibiotic use is a hot topic right now, and I've written about it a lot on my blog. But more than anything else, I want non-farm families to know how dedicated farmers are to animal welfare and food safety. Because I did not grow up on a farm, I had some pre-conceived notions of farming when we started out, but many of them were just plain wrong. I'd like to encourage people to ask farmers directly about how food is raised, and I am happy to answer any questions about my turkey farm.

You can reach me on my blog: www.onthebanksofsquawcreek.com

or...

facebook.com/onthebanksofsquawcreek

@katieolthoff on twitter

pinterest.com/katieol

Thanks Katie for sharing about your farm and family. If you have questions for Katie please feel free to visit her links above or leave them in the comments section.

Until we meet again may God bless you and keep you!

Caci

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14 in 2014: Year In Review

MyFarmer: Lessons Learned

MyFarmer: JOY

MyFarmer: Raising Men

MyFarmer: The Road Less Traveled

MyFarmer: Priorities

#MyFarmer: Learning by Doing

#Myfarmer series

Farming & Family: Day 31

Farming & Family: The Covington's

What She Read Wednesday: The Spirit Filled Life By Charles Stanley

Farming & Family: The Fitzpatrick's

What She Read Wednesday: NKJV Study Bible

Farming & Family: The Wilson's

Farming & Family: The Olthoff's

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