Let it Snow!

It has been a cold and busy two weeks since Thanksgiving.  Kyle and I went to our first winter market last Saturday from 10-12 in Durham and on our drive home it began to snow!  It was so beautiful coming down over the fields on the farm.  While I stayed inside to enjoy the show from the windows, Kyle went out in search of a forge for his smithy! After taking a blacksmith class in Virginia this past summer he has been wanting to have his own smithy (which to my understanding is basically a blacksmith shop).  We weren't sure if or how it could all come together but God is a good God and His ways are higher than ours and He has provided an anvil for Kyle and now a forge as of last Saturday.  And rather quickly it is all coming together and we are pumped! He will be creating all sorts of things before we know it. Upon his return we enjoyed a large bowl of snow cream and took a walk around the farm in the snow.  On Sunday after worshipping at Antioch church we shared lunch with the Murray's and went on a search for a Christmas tree in their backyard woods.  We found our beauty and Kyle and I enjoyed setting her up and decorating her later that night while listening to Christmas piano music and sipping some hot cocoa. How I love this time of year! It has been so fun having our own tree and celebrating our first Christmas together! This has been my first year celebrating Christmas and not being in school.  It has been so sweet to really get to enjoy celebrating Jesus being born and thinking about His coming to the world and being the light in the darkness. My heart is full of joy and thanks for what He has done and continues to do!

Tutoring at the elementary school every Wednesday and Thursday has been going well.  Initially it was quite a challenge and I didn't know how it was going to go.  I have learned to rely on God and put all confidence and trust in Him and not in my ability as a tutor which has been a struggle and a breakthrough all at the same time. I now have peace as I prepare the lessons, drive to the school and actually instruct the kids.  God's peace is so good and unlike anything else. I pray I will continue to grow in finding my sufficiency and confidence in Jesus and not in my circumstances, my ability, or in how a day unfolds.  Pray for me as I continue to try to love on those kids and help them with their math too!

I have been knitting fingerless gloves for quite some time now and I FINALLY just finished my first pair! My hands are excited to not be left out in the cold anymore! I am looking forward to knitting more gloves and embarking on other knitting adventures.  This week I have been able to play and create with paper and make more cards which has been so good for the creative side of my brain!

One other thing, has anyone seen the movie "The Book of Eli"? Kyle and I watched it recently, warning: it is extremely intense, rated "R", I indeed had to look away during quite a few violent times...BUT if you can handle not letting that stuff get to you, it is awesome! It portrays God's power, sovereignty, grace and love so well! In the movie, the world is ruled by darkness and evil and there appears to be no hope or light, but God is there and He has a plan to bring hope and light to the world and it's through Denzel Washington's character that He does just that.  Which He has already done for us here and now and He does daily! Amen! So good. Merry Christmas to you all! Here are some pictures to enjoy!

With Thankful Hearts

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; 

for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 118:1

Kyle and I were fortunate to be able to spend the entire week of Thanksgiving in Wilmington.  We had some very restful days of sleeping in, movie watching and taking it easy along with sweet time with family and friends.  I was able to spend time with some dear friends, Lauren, Taylor and Liz and I loved catching up with each of them! My friend Liz and I went for a run on some beautiful trails that were covered in crunchy leaves (my favorite) and were delighted as it began to rain near the end of our trek. Kyle and dad were the chefs for Thanksgiving dinner which included: a 22 lb pasture raised turkey from Sunset Farms (where we live and work), gravy, homemade stuffing, some farm sweet potatoes for the sweet potato casserole, farm collards with bacon, mom made her cranberry sauce, "sister shubert" rolls which are a delicious tradition, and pumpkin pie! Kyle and dad worked the night before Thanksgiving to brine the huge turkey in the only thing that would hold it, a large cooler.  I enjoyed helping assist in preparing some of the dishes but mainly took charge of setting the table with linens and gold lenox china and doing other things around the house. The feast was enjoyed by my parents, Christine and Lothar, Morgan, and Kyle and I. 

He just barely fit!

Christine and Lothar

Me and Morgan

This is Daisy, my parents dog who also happens to be crazy...and great!

The day after Thanksgiving Kyle, mom, dad and I went down to Oak Island to stay with my Nana and Craig. We brought leftovers with us and basically had a second Thanksgiving dinner! We had a great time visiting together and staying at their rental house that has a beautiful ocean view.  Nana and I knitted after dinner and we all enjoyed a walk on the beach the next morning. 

Kyle playing golf with a jellyfish

That's three generations right there!

When Joanne and Dean returned from spending Thanksgiving in New Jersey, Kyle and I spent the weekend with them. Joanne and I set up the tree and did different Christmas decorating around the house while the men worked out in the shop doing what men do in the shop. We also celebrated Joanne's birthday which was on the 17th and Kyle and I made her favorite, cheesecake! We had a fun time making the cheesecake and an even better time eating it- it was seriously delicious!

Joanne, Dean and Ginger with the birthday cheesecake!

Family, Food, and Football, Oh My!

This past weekend Kyle and I went to Winston-Salem to join my parents and Lauren and Brad to share an early "Thanksgiving" meal together as Lauren and Brad will be with Brad's family on the actual day.  One thing you should know about my dad is he always does dinner right!  Growing up on the nights dad was in charge of the meal I knew I was in for a treat. He most definitely never held back.  Think homemade mashed potatoes, steak on the grill, bread rolls, green beans... and this dinner was no different! My dad came with fresh seafood from the coast including shrimp and cocktail sauce to start, then clams dipped in butter and fresh crabs for the main course! It was delicious! We had a great time visiting together, catching up and watching Lucy (Lauren and Brad's dog) attempt to attack the live and pinching crabs! Brad's dad, John, joined us for dinner and we enjoyed his company too!

On Sunday before heading to Charlotte for the Panthers vs. Ravens game we had a breakfast caserole cooked with deer sausage from a deer Brad had hunted.  I do not recall having deer prior to this and I was surprised to find it quite tasty!  Then there was much scrambling about as everyone got ready and then the girls left in one car, the guys in the other and each car with its own walkie talkie (thanks dad!).  We took the metro into downtown Charlotte which was fun! I felt like I was in DC or NYC (those are the only other places I have ever been on a metro). Metros are so fun (esp. if you have to stand)! It's something about being with a bunch of other people who are going somewhere...everyone gets there at the same time so it eliminates road ragers...getting to look outside...or strike up conversations with those around you...who knows what exactly it is, but it's great! It was a beautiful fall day with lots of sunshine and warmth. We had fun at the game cheering on the panthers (at least Kyle, mom and dad and I), who at one point were not far behind the ravens, but ultimately the ravens won to Lauren and Brad's delight! I am thankful for a great weekend, not everyday do you get to eat a bunch of amazing seafood or watch an nfl game in person!!

In spite of the weather:

In order to combat these overcast skies lingering in lower alamance county (LA), I am going to write about what is good and beautiful today.

In our front yard I have been loving a beautiful tree with brilliant orange leaves.  Sadly it is shedding its leaves far too quickly.  With the wind today I am afraid most of the leaves are gone. I had hoped it would last longer!

Much to my surprise I also have been loving Taylor Swift's new album, "Speak Now".  If someone told me a year ago that I would go out and spend money on a Taylor Swift cd and then procede to blare it throughout the house and car while washing dishes to it, dancing to it, etc I would have told that person they were crazy. But it has happened and I cannot deny that I love it! So for any of you who happen to think T Swift isn't your style...let down your defenses and give "Speak Now" a chance.

Another something I have been loving is a book about the life of Husdon Taylor who was a English missionary to Inland China in the 1800s (which I did not know before reading the book).  Kyle was given the book last year and neither of us had read it, but for some reason the other day I was looking over all the books on the shelf and I grabbed it and haven't been able to put it down! I have no deep love for China or the 1800s era, but I do have a deep love for Jesus and so does Hudson Taylor! Reading about his life and his heart for God has been so encouraging to me and my faith and life in Jesus. And honestly this is the first time I have read much about China and I am now interested. The book is "Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret" and it rocks. Let me know if you wanna borrow it, at the rate I am going I should be done in a few days :)

Another fun new thing that I have been doing is making cards. I love stationary. I love journals. I love paper. And I love cards. Turns out, I love making cards too! Who knew?! I have high hopes for making cards for my family and friends for the nearing gift giving season in hopes of spreading my love of cards to them!

In the past couple weeks the Stenersen home has been blessed with having many visitors who have brought joy to us.  Two weekends ago my mom and her friend Christine came to visit. They came by the Durham Farmer's Market first and hung out with us there then I went with them to the new Tanger outlets that just opened near my house. It was the first weekend the outlets were opened (we didn't think too much of it) and we had an exciting adventure that wasn't long lived due to the insane amount of shoppers there.   Loved spending time with Christine, my second mom, it had been too long. My sweet friend Caroline came to see the farm and have dinner with us last week and we loved catching up with her and sharing stories. Thanks to her I now have someone who can sympathize with me about how creepy and daunting the basement is, thanks Caro! My Nana and her friend Craig were driving across the country from Washington State to Oak Island, NC and stopped in for the night as they were passing through this past Saturday.  We hadn't seen them since our wedding and it was so sweet to spend time with them.  My sister Lauren came over from Winston-Salem to share dinner with us and hang out and it was so good seeing and being with her too! It also happened to be the night of our friend's birthday and we were babysitting two of his children so there was a lot going on! Eston and Adela were joyful and wide open, constantly giggling and playing and they really enjoyed my sister and Nana and Craig too! My heart is thankful for all our sweet family and friends and getting to spend time with them. God is so good!

Christine loved Snowball, the farm cat

Here are some pictures from helping Kyle with the afternoon chores today (feeding and watering cows, chickens and hens and gathering eggs)!

Harley, the Murray's pet dog

Meet Salatin, she lives in the field and protects everything!
I love her. 

This is Lavender the farms newest addition and first milk cow!
Behind her is one of three calves. 

Excited for November

-Katelyn

It's only the fourth day of the month and November has already shown itself as an eventful month with purposes orchestrated by God alone.  Yesterday I started a new job tutoring in a local elementary school working with four students on their math skills.  Anxiety plagued me as I drove to the school unsure about what to expect teaching second and third graders.  God's peace comforted me as I spoke to Him for the twenty minute drive. I was delighted to meet Paige, the other tutor from Sylvan who seemed much more aware of what was going on (she tutored last year).  With all my minor mistakes and not being the most prepared (only because I didn't know how to better prepare) I survived the first day and feel confident that I will continually do better with each week.  I have a desire to not only help these kids in math but to build their confidence, love on them, encourage them to love one another, encourage them in their lives, and hopefully at the same time break through and improve their understanding of some math concepts.  I trust that the good Lord will help me and His love will make these things possible.  After meeting the children and their parents and seeing their struggles, it is evident that they have a need and a desire to be loved unconditionally. I pray I reflect Jesus in all my time with them.

Upon leaving the bank yesterday I found myself speaking Spanish with Elisio, a man who was leaving the bank at the same time.  Elisio explained how he lives in Burlington away from his family who remains in Mexico where he is from.  Elisio thought I was Latino and was surprised to learn I, along with my parents, are American (and that my ancestors were in fact German and not Spanish).  Kyle joined us and Elisio shared about his life in Mexico and his life here and we shared about our life on the farm.  We could tell Elisio was refreshed to be talking to someone other than his coworkers or roommate and still in a language he could understand.  He was curious to know if we liked Mexican food and we were sure to express the great joy it is in our lives!  Elisio invited us to have lunch with him and we exchanged phone numbers and planned to get together next week, possibly at the Italian restaurant where he works.  Kyle and I are excited to get to know this man, share life with him and see what the good Lord has in store. I am in awe of God's soverginty and His power over all things.  If we just live our lives walking with Him, looking to Him first, He takes care of everything else. Amen!