Know your passion

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I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you...
Ephesians 1:18 

One thing that I have learned in life is people seem to be much happier when they are following their purpose.  What does purpose mean?  It is a reason for something to exist or be created. Well we are created for something, but we have to listen for the what.  I thought I would let you all know that when you are quiet and least expect it, God will let you know your purpose.  Maybe you are meant to be a helper in the community, maybe you are meant to be a teachers and inspire youth, maybe you were created to fight cancer and then inspire others to win that fight.  Whatever you were created for, it is unique to you! Let's face it as teenagers in high school we hear what EVERYONE else wants us to be.  The adults are pushing us to go to college and be this or be that and we never listen to God or heart's desire.  I remember this as being me!

Growing up, my family always pushed college and being what I wanted to be.  As a little girl who lived on a farm, I immediately fell in love with the idea of being a veterinarian and the idea stuck.  Years and years of me saying it and my family encouraging it, I thought it was my purpose in life.  I went off to college with the idea that this was my future.  I was going to be that veterinarian, HOWEVER God had other plans. One night I was just taking a walk on my college campus and in my quietness, I heard God say as clear as day: "You are going to turn your farm into a place that helps people." 
I changed my college track the following day and graduated with BA in Psychology and then went on to obtain my Master's in Counseling because I had a passion to help people, I just never knew how I would but I really wanted to fulfill this purpose. 

Fast forward to now and here we are.  Thanks to others who are passionate in helping me succeed, we have grown a small non-profit for Equine Assisted Therapy and the For profit side of the farm is working harder than ever to get farm fresh food into the hands of those in our community.  I enjoy what I do and these past few months have been hard as I sit in the house more with the baby and the cold weather as I miss cleaning stalls, taking pictures of the lambs, feeding everyone, and of course just spending time thinking in a place where the smells mean everything. Anytime it's warm enough for the baby, you can bet I am getting out there or I will ask my hubby to switch roles for a little while so that I can go out and do chores.  The smell of the barn is like home to me and I know that no matter what the challenge of farming is today, tomorrow, or a year from now; I am happy to just be doing it because God called me to be here.  

This purpose I have here on the farm has taught me one thing...don't push thoughts on my children and encourage one path in life.  College is not necessary in life.  We need plumbers, electricians, blacksmiths, and more in order to make this country run.  So as my own kids come to me or the youth that I talk to here at the farm, you don't find me encouraging college.  You find me encouraging them to find their purpose, their passion and to reach for that.  College is a stepping stone for some, but it's not meant for everyone.  My oldest son wants to be a blacksmith and my middle son wants to be a donkey farmer.  We talk about things they might need to know to encourage them to be successful and that's how God intended it to be.  He wants us to be passionate about our purpose and I know that I am passionate about being a generational, small family farmher! 

Farming with Faith & Family Always! 
God Bless, Amanda 

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