The 365th Day
April 30th, 2006 by Northern FarmerToday is a kind of milestone for this thing called Northern Farmer Blog. It’s the 365th day in existence. The birthday is tomorrow, May 1st, which was on a Sunday, raining out, just like this year. I guess I was bored, a rainy day in May, so I was fiddling with the computer and ended up starting this place on the net. Never in my wildest dreams did I think anyone would ever notice it, let alone read it, and then even respond.
Over the past year the blog has been partly responsible for incredible changes here, meeting new folks, learning and laughing. I truly am humbled by what has happened in this little corner of the net. Now, if I was to be mean, I could blame Scott Terry for getting me hooked on this kind of communication. But, Scott is the true pioneer in my mind when it comes to Christian Agrarian blogs. That’s why he’s at the top of my blog roll and will stay on the top. Back then Herrick Kimball and I were sometimes responding to Scott and wouldn’t you know, we both started blogging a bit later. Herrick has the gift of writing that I sorely lack and he has inspired me in so many ways. And so many others in the beginning, JM, JFC, and along came Kansas Milkmaid shortly after. Still, I figured that it was just a handful of people that were reading what I wrote, and in late July Herrick suggested that I put a counter on the blog. Well, I got a surprise, it was more than a handful. And in early fall more blogs steadily came on line with the same idea in mind.
Then the true test came in October, when Rick Saenz, of Cumberland Books e-mailed, asking if he could drive up here and interview me, “gulpâ€. I was more nervous than a preacher in a….., oops, better not say it, it’s a family blog. But we survived and I was glad to see Rick didn’t throw the recording out the window a mile down the road like I figured he would.
But, all in all, it’s been a time of incredible change here. And reading my own words from over the past year makes me smile. On of the biggest things written, no I take that back, the biggest thing written and chronicled is our escape from the modern luke warm church. And the Lord leading us to a Bible Believing and Teaching Church. One that preaches the Word. Yup, that, and all that went with that string of events is by far the biggest thing of the past year and it’s recorded in the blog. Praise Jesus!
So, maybe this rain will end in a day or so and I’ll have to get really busy around the farm. That’ll cut down somewhat on the steady stream of posts that I’ve been putting out, it’ll just be getting back to normal is all. Sometimes I do wonder who is all reading this stuff I write. I can’t trace back, in fact, I didn’t want to when I set up the counter. But, to all who’ve posted and e-mailed over the past year, thanks! And never worry about dropping an e-mail, it might take me a bit to get back to you, but unless I blunder and forget, I answer them all. So, to sum it up, it’s been quite a ride this last year and from here on out starts year number two. I’m lookin forward to it!
April 30th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
Happy Blog Day! So glad you started your blog and that we found you… enjoy visiting and seem to have a blessed day after I stop in.
April 30th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
I count it a blessing, Tom, to have “stumbled” across your blog. The Lord had plans for us, and your writings have proved to be both inspirational and instructional, a tool that He used to bring us to an agrarian state of mind as we began shopping around for the place we now call home. Congratulations on a year of sharing from your heart with those of us who drop by to listen. God bless you!
April 30th, 2006 at 7:09 pm
Congradulations Tom, Keep inspiring us in your writings. Can’t waite to see what you have to write in year number 2. Happy Birthday Blog. PJ
April 30th, 2006 at 10:58 pm
“Happy New Year!!!”
—or happy blog day or happy birthday or whatever is approprate for the occasion.
Did I ever tell you that your blog inspired me to start my own? Lynn over at NDHomekeeper sent me an e-mail suggesting that I start my own blog and listed yours as an example. So your blog was my introduction to the entire world of “Christian Agrarian” bloggers. Before seeing your post and profile, I hadn’t even heard of the term ‘Christian Agrarian’.
You were also one of the first to comment on my first shaky attempt at posting.
Thank-you for choosing to start your blog and thank-you for sharing so much of your Christian farming ministry with the world.
May God continue to use your humble words to reach many more people searching for a sense of direction in these troubled times.
May 1st, 2006 at 3:48 am
Tom,
Yes, it has been a great year. The Lord has used, and continues to use, you and your words to bless and inspire others in a way that none of us would have imagined a year ago.
Here’s wishing you many happy returns.
Herrick
May 1st, 2006 at 7:51 am
Congrats Tom, your blog is something I look forward to reading every time I turn the computer on.
Mike
May 1st, 2006 at 4:59 pm
Peggy,
Thanks, and the I feel the same about your blog. It’s a place a person feels welcome!
Emily,
What you folks are doing in your corner of the world sure is a inspiration to many. I’m thankful you “stumbled” onto this blog!
PJ,
At least the others are a safe distance from me. See you soon!
Thanks. And just think, you get to put up with me twice a week in person
Steven,
And I do remember when you came on line. I had a darn good feeling about it, as I did about the other Turtle Mtn folks. And it proved out right. Keep on blogging because you sure do get me going, plus I learn so darn much.
Herrick,
Thank you so much. You know, I consider all in this group friends, but there’s something special about the folks that were there in the beginning when I was stumbling around blogging. Of course now there’s just more folks to watch me stumble around….
Mike,
Thank you sir, and never fear, I’m always reading over your way. I truely wish sometimes that I was farming down there. You folks are blessed!
May 4th, 2006 at 4:38 am
Congratulations, Tom! Yours was the first Christian agrarian blog I found, and I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoy stopping by! You never fail to bring back good memories of my own years growing up on the farm, and reading here has given me the desire to get back to our “roots” you might say, even though I’ve forgotten so much that I pretty much have to start over again with a small garden, etc.
You have a very “easy” writing style, which is a great pleasure to read. I am hoping that one of these days you might even put together a book—what an excellent read that would be!
May the Lord continue to bless you and yours, and may He allow you to keep on writing too!
May 4th, 2006 at 11:05 am
Hey Becky!
Glad to have you here! Thanks for the kind words, but I don’t know about writing a book. I just can’t sit down and do it. I figure there’s plenty of folks that like to write so why should I butt in. I’m just country folk wanting to live out here happily.