OK, I admit it that I refer to all of our animals as "my favorite." But maybe it was more true with Benny. I fell head over heels for him so quickly. Just as quickly as he came to us, he had to leave. Benny was considered a senior dog with a long list of ailments when we rescued him. I didn't care though. He was a constant companion on the farm, following me from the barn, to the shed, to the coop. Even room to room, Benny would pick up his 186 pound body and hhrumphh himself down on the floor next to me. That's all he wanted. 
A couple weeks ago, he was once again in agony from his GI problems, this time rendering him unable to stand or walk. It was the worst time for him and it was finally time to let him go. It was time to stop being a hero and let him run in the heavens, the way a Benny should. 
Finding Benny was the greatest.
Saying good-bye was the worst.

​Benny Bean
2008-2016

 Windows in! It's taking shape. We can envision the rooms filled, laughter, dancing, togetherness. 
Wow! What a journey. 

A couple days of mild temperatures gave the guys a window of time to make a BIG difference on the Barn Project. Take a look!

​Prayer leads to Progress. We give thanks for those that see the vision to build His barn. The addition is well underway that will connect the original barn to the cattle shed. The bathrooms, showers, bunk room and mechanical room are framed in. The cattle shed will house the kitchen, mud room/laundry, lounge, office and single bath. The new ballroom will connect to the old barn and extend the ballroom space where people can gather, celebrate, dance, sing, pray, reunite! 
We give thanks for those that see the vision to build His barn. 
For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Hebrews 3:4
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When the sun rose this Monday morning, the trucks came in one after another. It's been this way all week. They stop working when the sun goes down and return at dawn the next day. Here’s the latest pictures of the barn project. Giving thanks for the safety of the workers, the mild temperatures and the efforts of Steve McCormick, Sean Janssen, Ted Krause and all the people that work for and with them. They are outstanding! 

After a month of being a Bean family member, this fella is being officially introduced as Benny Bean!
Benny has moved into our home and taken over our hearts. He loves car rides (minimum of one a day) & humans.
​A word to the wise: run for cover when Big Ben shakes his mammoth head. He can sling an arc of drool up to twenty feet. 
Please welcome our latest rescue to The Bean Farm!

​Last Saturday, a handful of friends came to deconstruct the lean-to portion of our century barn. In just one day, they had the structure down and the debris cleared. They saved as much barn wood and galvanized steel as they could. Now, if only Doug will agree to let me use the rusty steel for a ceiling in the new building! Many thanks to our friends George, Kelley, Dale, Tami, Cecilia, Brock for your mighty strength in removing the old lean-to!  

The concrete is here!
Building a strong foundation takes so long but will sustain us through the years. This foundation will be "built on rock" and uphold the space that He will provide. A perfect space for joy, peace, happiness, reflection and where memories are made. 
Along with multiple cats and Big Ben, we stood by to see this milestone being met.
Thanks be to God for the safety of His people, perseverance, resources, knowledge, dedication.
Blessings (and gratitude) from The Bean Farm

Just after the sun rose behind the amber corn, we spotted this face poking out from the underside of the cabin. It appeared to be a coyote separated from his pack so Doug was prepared with the shotgun over his shoulder while he walked down the drive. Tentatively, the frightened animal stepped out, putting his body in full view. We could easily tell he wasn't a coyote. Doug put the shotgun down, crouched down on one knee and called him over. The dog moved indirectly and slowly, tree to tree with his eyes fixed on him. He couldn't get any closer than about ten feet but saw that the dog didn't wear a collar. Doug had to get to work and the dog acted as though he'd hang around a while.  
Around noon, I went outside to check to see if he was still here. He sure was. When I saw him, he was walking around the trailer where the crew's trailer is parked.
"Well, I guess this one is on my shoulders now, Buddy," I said to him, now feeling responsible to care for him.
I snapped a couple pictures to post in search of the owner while Garry and Mike shared their lunch with him. "Someone probably dumped him," I thought but knew I needed to at least try to find his family if they were out there. He was well fed and had no collar, typical for a dumped animal. He looked old and a little stiff when he walked but a real stray would have been thin and gaunt, too.
After no one responded to my posting on Facebook and my daughter had checked with all the neighbors, I went back outside to check on Buddy. Gary and Mike had taken him under their wing. While I wondered what I'd do with this dog that I knew nothing about, as if reading my mind, Gary offered to keep him.
That night, he took him home. No one ever responded to the Facebook ad.
A couple days later, Garry took our new friend to his vet. It turns out that the original owners of Bear (formerly Buddy) were from Illinois. The vet tried to contact the owner since the dog had been microchipped. The original owners never responded to claim him.
So, a bittersweet story because he was unwanted but what a blessing that he wasn't lost for long! Buddy was blessed that day, regardless of the fear he must have felt in unfamiliar territory.
Wishing everyone the same kind of grace when they're lost and left alone. That, like Buddy, just the right person will  be placed in your path to help you live an even greater life, too! 
Blessings from The Bean Farm