Who we are...

We are a very home centered family. We are homesteaders, we homeschooled and we homechurch. We like to do things as a family whether it be work or play including worshipping together as a family. We moved back to Ohio in September of 1999. We bought a mini farm of 5.29 acres with a house and a barn. That is a story all its own. That house was a true gift from the Lord. Then God opened up the door for us to move to a farm that has 31 acres. We sold 2 acres to a friend, so we are down to 29 acres. Life is a constant stream of change. If you don't like change then life is hard. We love to garden, but have trouble finding the time to do it right. We have flower gardens (that are in desparate need of some help), and a veggie garden. We made a raised bed herb garden last year. We would like to intermingle flowers with the gardens. Many of the Amish do that and their gardens are beautiful. We are going to moving again, Lord willing this year. We will be moving to the Knoxville, TN area. We are trying to get out of debt and get enough things going on the farm to bring Michael home to work from the farm. See our links below for what we have to offer.

Michael is the husband and father in our family. He is a wonderful man who loves the Lord with all his heart and desired to serve Him. We have been married for 29 years as of April, 2008. He loves working on the farm and with the animals. His dream is to be able to do it more than he does now. He works off the farm at a large corporation. He is in the purchasing department. He is a very hands on type of guy, so sitting behind a computer and being on the phone is not his favorite thing. He is a very gentle and patient man which is a good thing living with me. =) He is a hard worker and does the lion's share of the chores around here.

Our son, Joshua (God blessed us through adoption!!) loves to work with wood, although he doesn't get to very often anymore. Check out some of the things he made as a young man. Southern Star Productions He is now a contractor doing all sorts of things. He has a cabinet makers eye and likes everything plumb and square. He has really made a good name for himself. He has built log homes, does all sorts of remodeling, roofs, and many other things. He has his own business and it is now called Blubaugh Construction. You can see many of his projects on his page. Joshua is now 23 soon to be 24. We are very proud of him. He is getting married in October of 2008 to a precious young woman we love. We are looking forward to seeing what God will do with their lives. Here is a picture of the couple on the day that he asked her to marry him. Their betrothal is a wonderful story of God's divine hand of providence. You can read the first part here and the second part here. His betrothed is a very special girl. We are thrilled to be getting Brittany as a daughter-in-love.

I am Marci. I will write more about me, as I feel comfortable doing that. It is not my place to share my family's thoughts. I am very simple and have several things that people easily identify me with. I have been accused that my favorite color is "blue gingham." I love blue, and gingham just catches my eye. So do blue stripes or ticking stripes, but not like blue gingham. I am also know for my love for sunflowers. They are probably my favorite flower. I love to do crafts and make things for my home, but don't seem to have enough time to get much done. I learned how to knit a few years ago, I crochet, I spin and I love to paint. The dividers on this page are a picture from the front of the guestbook I have in my home. My favorite hymn (Be Thou My Vision) is playing in the background. The most important fact about me is that I am first, a servant of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Then I am a wife to my sweet husband, and a mother to our son, Joshua. Then comes all the rest of my priorities.

As a servant of my Lord, one of the most important things I can do is to spend time with Him. I try very hard at spending time each and every morning with Him. Our family used to read through the Bible every year. We now each do our own thing. I spend my time in His Word and then speak to Him through prayer. He has made so many changes in my life and opened my eyes to so many things. Any good that there is in me, comes from Him. My goal in life as a young woman was to be a wife and mother. I got married at 20 and we started trying to have children. Something was not working right. I guess that I should really back up and say that I was a very independent young woman. I could make most anything in my life happen if I put my mind to it... or so I thought. I was not living for the Lord. I truly believe that He (who opens and closes the womb) allowed my barrenness or infertility to get my attention. It has been a refining fire to me. It keeps me clinging to Him. It caused me to hit bottom and to look up to Him, where I should have been looking all along. If it were not for the Lord, I don't think I would honestly still be here. If I knew back then that it would be going on 27 years with no pregnancy that I would not have chosen to live. But the wonderful thing about it is that He has walked each step of the way with me. He has carried me much of the way. He gives me joy even in pain. He IS my all in all!!! I still do not "understand" why He has allowed it to continue for so long, but as it says in 1 Cor. 13... Now I see through a glass darkly, but then face to face.... I firmly believe that one second on the other side of death, I will look back and say, "Oh, now I see, Lord. Thank you, thank you, thank you!". So, knowing that, I try to be thankful now. He gave me a song about my barrenness. I will share the words with you.

My Song

It seems that pain is a part of my life...
and I decide what part it will take.

As the enemy it tears me down
and I want it to go away.
I let it lead me far from God
into a place of sorrow...
and there I stay for many days
wanting no tomorrows.
I want to cry out...
God, where are you?
Have you left me here to die?
But in my heart
I know who put me here.
I say...yes, Lord it was I

Chorus: Lord, help me keep my eyes on You,
when my way gets rough.
Help me to keep singing praises,
when my way is tough.
Lord, use the pain to refine me,
so Your image I will gain.
And yes Lord...I want to say...
Thank you for the pain.

As a friend it makes me grow
and I know it has a purpose.
I let it bring me near to God
for I'm told within His Word...
that before the pain reaches me,
it must go through my Lord.
He's the Refiner...
and I'm the gold.
He uses the pain for fire.
He looks within me
for His reflection
For that...Is His heart's desire.

Chorus

Treating your pain as a friend isn't an easy thing to try.
But Jesus' love is so complete
He wants to do it for you...
Give Him this burden that you bear
let Him, your heart renew.
Sing praises to Him...
and bless the Lord.
Thank Him for making a way,
a way to be made
more like my Savior.
And yes Lord...Thank you for the pain.

Marci Blubaugh
April 1987

As a wife, I feel that I am to be a helpmate to my husband. We are 2 halves to a whole, and God loves each of us the same. However, I feel we have very different roles. I was made to help my husband, not the other way around. Don't get me wrong, he does help me. I could not ask for a better husband. My job is to help him be all that he is supposed to be. I am to be his number one cheerleader, supporter, encourager and friend. You can pray for me in this, because I do not always succeed here. He is the head of our home. I am to carry out his plans, dreams and visions. Things work so much better when we do this. The Bible tells me that I am to be a "keeper at home". I LOVE being a keeper at home. I don't always get the strokes or recognition that you would get out in the work force, but I am blessed beyond belief. We listened to a great message by Doug Phillips. He said that you could take even a mediocre man and put a great woman with him and he will be great. I already have a great man, so if I choose to be that great woman, then just think what heighths my husband can reach.

God has given me more than my share of wonderful friends. Some people go a life time with maybe one close friendship. God has given me several. These are very special to me. They are the sisters that I never had. (I had 4 brothers) Most all of them live far away from me, they keep telling me that "I" am the one who moved. *Smile* I keep in touch with them via e-mail. They are sisters of my heart.

Some of these friend have shared their wonderful babies with me. Now, if anyone is around me any length of time, they will see something that is VERY evident. OK, here it... confession time. I, Marci, am a baby hog!!! There it is out in the open. I LOVE babies. I love to hold them, cuddle them, eat their necks, smell their wonderful smell, hear their delicious baby sounds.... I could go on and on. I can't get enough of babies and little people. That is why these friends shared with me. I gave them no choice. *Smile* I love babies when they are happy, when they are sleeping, when they are hollering at the top of their lungs. If you have a colicky baby, you WANT or should I say NEED me as your neighbor. The only bad thing about me and babies is they tend to go to sleep on me, and it is hard to interact with a sleeping baby. So to my wonderful baby friends.... Kisses and hugs to Sarah, Jeremiah, Berekah and Chloe!!!!!! Fish lip kisses to Brianna!!!!! Hugs to Bethany, Boaz, Josiah and Brasen!!!!!!

All writing and photography on Amazing Graze Farm is Copyright © 2005-2008 by Marci Blubaugh All rights reserved.