Becky’s story

Hi, my name is Becky,  I live in western New York, U.S.A.  I am one of seven children, and adding spouses and the grandchildren, we make quite a crowd! Here is my family:

Our family homestead is a full and busy place.  We raise pastured beef and poultry, and eggs to sell.  We have a family milk cow, a team of halflinger draft horses, donkeys, pet chickens, ducks, alpacas, pigs, and other critters.

 We grow crops of potatoes and strawberries, as well as rhubarb, blueberries, raspberries, and fruit trees.  We have a large kitchen garden to supply produce for freezing and canning.  We have sold plants from our greenhouse in the spring, baled hay in the summer, and pressed cider in the fall.

I enjoy the gardening, both of vegetables and flowers; baking bread, and other homemaking activities.

I have a big, sunny craft room upstairs where I love to sew and create all sorts of things.  Quiltmaking is a favorite hobby, as well as stamping, spinning, miniatures, and all things handmade.

My parents have taught us to honor the Lord, to study the Bible, and follow its teachings.  Our family is close-knit, and our door is always open in hospitality to others.  Our special family verse is Proverbs 3:5,6:

  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding,  in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths”.

My chosen verse is Psalm 16:11,

“Thou wilt show me the path of life, in Thy presence is fullness of joy,

at thy right hand there are pleasures forever more.”

I want to honor the Lord with all my heart.  I want always to be aware of His presence near me, for true Life is only found in unity with Him.  God loves us each incredibly and made us for friendship with Him.  That is where we find joy.

Life is not easy, it is filled with many trials and sorrows, God has entrusted me with poor health.  I struggle daily with chronic fatigue, but it has stretched and deepened me greatly.  I am richer for it.

When the idea came to start this website to share Penny’s adventures, and to send Penny dolls to collect stories from many more countries around the world, and to share her bead story, I was amazed that little me could do something so global!   But why should I be surprised?  It was a year ago that I began praying around the world using as a guide the book I bought called Operation World, by Jason Mandryk, “A Prayer Guide to Every Nation”. God enjoys it when we pray, and it opens big doors.

Penny has taught me that the rest of the world is not so distant as we might think.  In other climates and cultures there are people just like you and me.  They live ordinary days sometimes with a smile, sometimes in tears, all have need of a friend.  All have a story to tell.  Each has a heart that can be touched by kindness.

I want to learn their stories.  I want to get a feel for where and how they live.

That is why I begin this site.

We have a big God, who has created a beautiful world.

O Lord, my God! When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed,

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;

How great Thou art,

How great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze;

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;

How great Thou art,

How great Thou art!

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin;

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;

How great Thou art,

How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come with shout of acclaimation

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration

And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee;

How great Thou art,

How great Thou art!

A beautiful sunset framed by the big black walnut tree in our front yard

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