Harvesting Hope

This last year of 2024 has been an incredible ride full of unexpected blessings, preparation for transitions and above all another year of journeying ever closer to our Lord! My word for 2024 was Hope and it has not been a disappointment! It seemed that in each passing month there were signs of Hope being brought before me, reasons to remain Hopeful were gifted to me, and an ever filling spirit welled within me that called out a renewal of Hope in my own life. This year was an abundant harvest of hopes! Below I have captured a few of these simple moments of where I have been blessed this year in Harvesting Hope:

-1) Harvesting Impact:

As an educator sometimes at the end of the day I would retreat home and ask, “What did I even manage to accomplish today? My lessons were terrible, the students were not listening, and I was off my game.” Educators are notorious for being our own worse critics! Yet, as an educator in the field for ten years now and in the same place I started teaching, but now serving as Principal; there still are those days of deep self-doubt! However, it seemed that each time I’d be kicking my self down, it was either a text, a call, a letter, or an email of thanks or an update from a former student, a parent or community member. One in particular struck me on a tough day this Fall, the text was from a former student and it said, “I just wanted to say thank you for being my biggest influence on becoming an Ag Teacher. I could have never done it without you. So once again thank you.”

I’ll admit it, I cried after reading the text. I still cry reading that text because that young student had to overcome challenges and struggles no student should face at their age. Yet, now they are going to impact and influence young minds in their own Ag program, touching and changing lives. Rarely, do we ever get to see the final result of the impact we leave, yet the Lord honored me and blessed me with these words. Don’t be afraid to send that heartfelt message to the person on your mind; that nudge was placed there for a reason and you never know the impact it can have on the person receiving it! 

-2) Harvesting Connection: This year has been a year of building some of the closest friendships I have ever experienced since college! It has been through my time in our Young Adult Catholic group there in Manhattan! One person in particular has single handily changed the trajectory of my life forever! I met Gabs on one of the random nights hanging out at Hannah’s apartment, I barely remember the conversation, but we talked about Hope Ranch where Gabs boarded her horse and volunteered. I remember that it was fun connecting with someone about Ag stuff in our group!

Then came what we call the famous GroupMe Message, when she asked to meet Faith, my dairy heifer. One year later we have been dating officially since February 2024 and she is the most faith-filled, hope-filled, and joyous person I have EVER MET! If I had not prioritized time to get away from my daily grind and invest in growing myself and being a part of this Young Adult Catholic group I would NEVER had met Gabs and I cannot think of my life without her. Rarely will we ever regret the connections we make and the growth we experience when we say yes to opportunities that truly tug at our hearts — maybe even on occasion they may change the trajectory of our lives! 

-3) Harvesting Purpose: The last year has been spent working on a few really amazing projects and opportunities! One that immediately comes to mind is the start of Gabs’ and I’s shared business of Mustard Seed Dairy and Creamery. The seed for this business was planted almost five years ago when I felt the calling of starting a small micro-dairy; after much planning I purchased my first dairy heifer about a year and a half ago! Now (fingers crossed) she is bred and ready to calve this September! It is amazing to see the fruits of that seed come to harvest in ways I could never had anticipated! We have been working on our soap crafting tied to Mustard Seed since last Spring, just experimenting and trying new methods, molds, and fragrances! Who in their right mind would have thought I would take such a strong interest in soap making!

As we have expanded our business and attended our first craft fair this Fall we found that the Lord was opening doors and opening our hearts in how he could use our discovered passion for a deeper purpose. We prayed earnestly that we could give our Mustard Seed Dairy and Creamery as an offering to our Lord and that he could use it in a small way to advance his kingdom here on Earth. As we prayed that simple prayer he began to do a work on both our minds and spirits. About two months ago I approached Gabs with an idea that came from one of my meditative sessions about bringing to life stories from scripture through our soaps and their fragrant scents. Thus our Scripture Soaps idea was born. Honestly, this is one of the most exciting projects I’ve ever worked on and doing it with someone who has an equal passion and faith for our Lord and sharing his goodness is a blessing beyond measure!

As I worked on writing the devotions and selecting the fragrances, Gabs has been crafting the soaps and designing the devotion cards! It has been fun and exciting to use our gifts towards this little mission as we craft these Scripture Soaps! Sometimes we may not know why we are feeling led to pursue an opportunity or experience, but in the end I can promise that these things in faith and trust are revealed to us — that I can speak from personal experience!

2024 has been filled with Harvests of Hope! As we look to 2025 and I know we are already a few days in, I can sense that this will be another year of tremendous growth and potential! I am excited to journey along it with you — my dearest friends may God fill your year with much hope and many blessings! 

Take care, Anthony