The Tale of Honey-Water Farm || meet Rowdy Russell the Raccoon

 

Hello, dear reader,

I'm excited to introduce you to one more Honey-Water Farm friend! This raccoon is adorable, and you could seriously grab him up in a great, big hug.

I grew up in the middle of nowhere on a farm, and we learned that farm animals included more than ducks, horses, sheep, and goats. We had possums and snakes... and raccoons, which happened to be one of my favorites. ;)

And maybe I'm partial because Ms. Debbie illustrated Russell adorably. ;) I hope you enjoy this little introduction to our character friend, Russell.

"Russell had the biggest raccoon smile in the whole wide world. He looked at the Helper who let out a deep laugh.

'Is this for real?' Russell asked."

Meet Russell.

He has a special place on the farm. He's not the funniest or bravest, and you'll find him constantly bumping his nose into a tree or tripping over roots. But arriving in the middle of the story, Russell has a deep love and loyalty to the Helper who invited him to live in Honey-Water Farm.

Russell gets to go on adventures, from a pond tea-party with a lollipop cake to collecting sap in the dark of night to make maple syrup and running into treacherous animals. 

But he also has secret treasures from his life before the farm, and he's not sure if he can give them up, even for the Helper.

When his old life and new life collide, he has to pick what's most important. He must decide if he'll be faithful to the Helper and if that sacrifice is worth it.

I think that's something we all have to decide:

Is Jesus worth it?

The Bible talks about there being a treasure in a field and a pearl of great price (Matthew 13:33-36), and the discoverers were willing to sacrifice everything to gain them. And in my own life, I've had to decide if Jesus was that treasure or if I wanted my life to pursue something else.

And I've watched my friends and siblings make that same decision. I saw my brother give up his most valued possession to follow Jesus faithfully because He asked that of him, but a friend decided that something else was more important and pursued that.

What's crazy is that Jesus loves both those people so, so much and died to offer them complete forgiveness and a future hope!! He lets the rain fall and the sun rise on both the evil and the good out of His great love, mercy, and kindness (Matthew 5:45). He desires us to belong to Him, like the Helper wants Russell's friendship and quality time and to be family.

I'm inspired when I read Russell's story. He's not only an adorable, fuzzy creature (*all the heart eyes*), but his decision to choose faithfulness or not inspires me to declare,

...But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:15

And to sing,

I have decided to follow Jesus

No turning back. 

I Have Decided

Jesus is worthy of it all, and following Him is the greatest joy in life!

At the end of Russell's story, he gets to experience something more wonderful than he ever imagined! So enjoy his tale, and may it challenge you to decide if Jesus is worthy of it all.

(psst) The Tale of Honey-Water Farm giveaway is still open! Click here to enter!

Or hop over to this link to preorder your own Kindle copy of the book!

So, would you consider raccoons a farm animal or no? And are they fuzzy and cute or rascally and wild? *wink* 

And if you're a Christ-follower, when did you first start following Jesus? Let's chat below!

For it brought me great joy when some brothers came and told me about your faithfulness to the truth, how you are in accordance with the truth living your life. 

3 John 1:3

~♥~

 

The Tale of Honey-Water Farm || GIVEAWAY!

Hello Friend!

My new book "The Tale of Honey-Water Farm" releases in 7 days (December 14)! So methinks it's time to celebrate with a book release giveaway!

This giveaway starts TODAY, and I'll pick a winner on release day! Scroll down to see the fun stuff.

(this was so fun to pick out. Just picture me with two happy sisters walking through a farm store finding the cutest animal gifts to give away. Writing farm books is the best. *grin*)

 

THE PRIZE:

• a proof copy of the book (the official book but a limited, early copy with a watermark)
• a Christmas-y, farmish mug
• chamomile citrus tea
• and an adorable goat ornament (because Nelly the Nanny Goat insisted on butting in here)

HOW TO ENTER:

• Just drop a comment!

(didn't you want another picture of the cute goat ornament?)

Sharing with friends or posting on your own blog or social media is encouraged but does not give bonus entries; I want this giveaway to simply be a huge thank you to YOU.

This book is a journey Jesus and I got to go on, and I dream that it will be a gift to you wonderful, encouraging blog readers. A gift to cheer you on as you seek Jesus fully and savor childlike joys, as it urges me to.

So drop a comment! Here's some fun questions to pick from!

// What's your favorite hot drink in winter?

// Describe 2022 in a word.

// What's your favorite Christmas tradition?

// Do you have a farm you love?

Let's chat! (I hope you win!) *wink*

Consider the amazing love that the Father has lavished on us, so great as for us to be called children, yes, of God! It’s true! ...

1 John 3:1 

~♥~

The Tale of Honey-Water Farm || meet Doubtful Doreana the Duck

Today on our family farm, there're cool rainclouds filling the pastures with bright puddles. It's a good day to be a duck. ;)

I've always thought ducks were one of the cutest farm animals! We've grown up with them since I can remember, and they are constant splashers. Ducks are one of those animals that can literally laugh (I've woken early to their quacking laughter!), they may show up on a random day with a dozen, tiny ducklings trailing behind, and yet they're maybe the messiest of any farm animal.

(I found them this week swimming in my cow trough leaving feathers and mud everywhere. And yes, they're still my favorite) ;)

Thus, while writing The Tale of Honey-Water Farm, this duck character was one of my favorites, and I think you'll have fun exploring her story!

“Doreana almost squawked like a chicken. ‘A surprise? Then I must get ready!’”

Meet Doreana.

She lives on the Honey-Water Farm with her neighbor, Tuff Tobias the Toad of the Pond Patrol, and loves it! She has a constant smile, can't help but "accidentally" splash everyone, and has skill as an artist (which is quite impressive if you imagine drawing with feathers!).

But she has one huge problem:

Her webbed feet are much too big.

She can’t fly, and she thinks they’re ugly. So Doreana tries to hide her feet with toenail polish, but it makes it worse. (I mean, nail polish on a duck is never a good idea.)

But the Farmer still loves this silly duck, and he has an exciting plan for her. It includes trekking through the swamp, meeting unexpected strangers, getting to have a pond tea party, and eating a banana.

But what I love is her relationship with the Farmer.

In the darkest moment, when she has nowhere else to go, he changes her life. He loved her as a lost duckling unable to fly south for the winter with her family, and he continues to guide her and treasure her as part of his family out of his great kindness. Even with her big, funny feet.

And because of that, she invites everyone to the farm!

Jesus did the same thing for me. He changes everything. He forgave me when I was a sinner and loved me when I was undeserving, and this life with Him is the best! I could dance around like Doreana just to praise Him!

Sometimes I imagine God looking at us and not seeing the people we are today... not the mistakes or awkwardness or distractedness. If we're in Jesus, we have been forgiven! Clean. Those sins are washed away and removed as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:11-13). And He is a kind, gentle Father. I imagine Him seeing the wonderful person He has created us to be, that man or woman in His image on the day He returns and restores shalom to this broken world.

And like a child with her Daddy, may we listen, learn, lean into His arms, and even now become that person. He doesn't leave us in the mess--He is our Teacher, and conviction is a beautiful thing.

That's what I see in Doreana. The Helper gave her everything she needed. He didn't look at her silliness and disqualify her; he loved her. It drew her to see something more important than big feet, and it changed the lives of a raccoon, rattlesnake, and a fox. (who you'll get to meet soon!)

Thank you, Jesus. ♥

So for all you duck lovers (like me), I hope you laugh through Doreana’s story and enjoy her adventures on Honey-Water Farm! Meet the scary characters she encounters in the swamp and enjoy the tea party for yourself!

The Tale of Honey-Water Farm is now available for preorder for Kindle on Amazon! Click here to claim your own copy!

Therefore, as people chosen by God, set apart and dearly loved, put on your "new clothes"--a heart of mercy and compassion, kindness...

Colossians 3:12

 

~♥~