Spreading Manure

About a decade ago, when my wife and I had just started dating; I would make the long drive to spend the weekend with her family.  She lived on a small country farm atop a hill over looking a HUGE hay meadow and cow pasture. Just acres & acres of rolling hills and country side. At the back of the property in a small home lived her Grandfather. I would stay with him on the weekends that I was there. Normally drive up on a Friday evening, go out for dinner with my sweetheart and then back to her house.  Often times we would sit on the swing and talk about our hopes and dreams, then other times we would gather with her family and play a game together. Saturday mornings her dad would have planned out chores for the family to do before we could go off and do our thing, Normally the chores included house work, or outside chores like weeding the garden and such.  One Friday around lunch time, Joy (my wife) called me, said that she had alot to get done the next day around the house, and didnt want to bore me so if I didnt have to come over that weekend.  I just wanted to spend time with her, it had already five (5) whole days since I had seen her and felt like a century.  :-)  I asked if she mind if I just came on over, I would even help do whatever.  Man, was I in for a surprise the next morning.  I woke up, hurried to her house for her mom had prepared the usual Saturday morning breakfast of eggs, bacon/sausage, biscuits and gravy.  During breakfast her dat told her that she needed to spread that huge pile of horse manure throughout the garden before we left for the day.  He planned to start plowing and needed it done before he could start.  I sat in silence, waiting to see her reaction.  She tried to talk her dat out of it, but no, it had to be done.  I told her, I was a country boy and would help her out.  :-)

After we finished our breakfast, I changed into some old clothes and to the garden we went.  The pile of manure was huge, moist, and yes smelled something awful.  We grabbed our shovels and started filling the buckets. One by one we would scatter the buckets of manure around the garden.  Sometime later, as we both started sweating, and getting tired we decided to make it more fun....  Joy took a shovel of manure and flung it at me, hitting me in the face, I was stunned for a moment, then started laughing..  It was all over after that.  We grabbed buckets, handfuls, and shovel fulls of manure and chased each other around the garden..  Before we knew it, the pile was nearly all gone, and by that time she and I were covered in manure..  I told her to go ahead and go inside to get a shower, while I finished the work.

I always wondered if this was a tactic of her dat's to scare me off, or see if I would stick around.  Will not ever really know, but what I do know is that we had a blast that day.  We made memories, and the best of a  stinky situation.   All this got me to thinking, sometimes we have those days when it seems we are surrounded by manure.  There is nothing you can do to change the situation, or to avoid doing that "chore."   What does matter is how you handle that situation.  You can either let it whip you, and tear you down, or you can take it in stride and enjoy life.  Know that God is in control and everything will turn out just fine..

Thanks for reading, and until next time, God Bless!!

Jesse Adams, Blogger
The Plain Truth

One Boy, One Girl

Lately, I have been thinking about my marriage, and the ups and downs my wife and I have encountered in the past 9 years, and where we are now.  I remember when I first met my wife. Joy, as if it was just yesterday.  It was Thanksgiving of 2001, at the Jersey Holiness Church fellowship meeting.  The church I was attending at that time had come to show our support during the fellowship services.  It was on that Friday after Thanksgiving as some of the young unmarried folks were gathering after service and deciding on where we would all go out to eat at.  There was about 9 of us total in the group, a mutual friend was actually trying to introduce me to a single young lady in the group. (not Joy).  I was not really interested in her, I did however take notice to a certain, reserved young lady sitting at the other end of the table. She didnt speak a word during the meal, at least not to me, but something about her struck my interest.  I began to ask questions to my friend as to who she was, was she dating, etc.  I was told she was a great person, only about 17 years old, a good christian young lady, the daughter to one of the deacons in the church.  I had to know more, and to get to know her.  All the next day, I thought about her, and watched for her to come into the church the next night for service.  There she was, radiant, beautiful, and appeared slightly nervous all at the same time. After service, we once again gathered to go eat, this time we rode with Joy.  There was four of us packed into her little car, she was driving.  Which that is a totally different topic, yes she scared me..  haha.  That night we sat next to each other at the Chinese Palace buffet joint.  We chatted about nothing really, but did exchange email addresses, phone numbers, etc.  That was the last night I saw Joy until January 17, 2002, at which time I made the 90 minute drive to visit her church. I spent the weekend with a friend, and attended church with them on Sunday.  After the morning service, I had the pleasure of meeting her mother, and younger brother. Her father was operating the sound booth so I didnt meet him at that time.  I knew little about her, or her family, but knew she was special enough for me to get to know more.  From that time I would come over to visit several times a month.  I would usually spend the Sunday afternoons with her family.  They were all wonderful, and opened their home to me.  We didnt get to see each other during the week as she moved to north Ga to her sister's so that she could attend college.  We sent emails, spent hours talking at night, and learned more about each other.  I had already started praying, seeking God's will in this blooming relationship.  It wasnt long till I knew I had fallen in love with Joy.  I would spend the weekends with her family at least twice a month.  We had so much fun, her family was down to earth folks, just like I was raised.    Just about 12 weeks after we started "dating" we were out eating on a Friday night when I told her how much I loved her, and that I wanted to marry her by the next year.  I remember, she smiled and replied, " I would like that too."  The following weeks were a wreck for me, as I prepared myself to talk with her parents and ask for her hand in marriage.  Her father did not make it easy for me that evening, he knew what my plans were. haha.  I came into the den of their home, her mom was sitting in a chair, her father at the computer playing his card game on the computer.  The four of us sat in silence for what seemed like forever.  I finally found my voice, I announced, I have something to talk to you about, and to ask you.  Her father never turned around, his reply was "ok" After telling him that I had asked his daughter to marry me, and she had said yes.  He turned around, a very serious, fatherly look in his eye.  For the next 45 minutes he gave us both the speech about how serious marriage was, something God had created and for us both to seek his will completely.  Finally he spoke the words, if we were certain that we believed this to be God's will he gave his blessings.  Whew!! 
Over the following months many things occurred, We had not set a date for the wedding, other than knowing it would be the following year, Spring time we hoped.  We had to jump many hurdles, and go around obstacles in our way, till it seemed that we would not even get married.  I couldnt imagine the thought of not spending the rest of my life without my best friend, my soul mate.  Finally after much thought, planning, and tears we decided on a simple wedding at the court house in Anniston, Alabama. On January 14, 2003 we made the trip across the state lines to make our vows to each other, and to God to love each other, no matter what, for the rest of our lives.  During the past 9 years we have had many hardships, battles, and yes great times too. For years we prayed and wanted children, and doctor after doctor told us that conceiving was probably not an option, we should consider adoption.  However, we both wanted a child of our own, we prayed for years and begged God to bless us with a child.  Then, in 2009 God showed us mercy, we were expecting our first child, who was born in March 2010.  He was perfect, and has been my pride and joy ever since.  I can not thank God enough for his many blessings. 

Although currently we are facing a stormy battle, one I never pictured us to be in, I am still holding onto God, knowing he will work it out for our good....  My vows to my wife are just as precious, real to me today, as they were 9 years ago.  My love for my wife, and son is unbreakable, I will alway love my wife, and be in love with her always.  I want to spend the rest of my life proving to her that just how much I do love her!!  Please keep us in your prayers as we face and continue thru this current battle.  Thanks