Meaning

Ever since we started the very daunting moving journey, it has been difficult to focus on any one thing. We always had to clean something, pack something, move things here or there, get out of the house, be in the house, be homeless...the list was endless. It also meant that we didn't spend much time with loved ones and friends because what we thought needed to happen took precedence. More than once, I found myself wondering if this was really what God had planned for us. I was weary. I was beaten down.

In hindsight, I am able to see just how poignant those 6 months were. I am realizing that while we did what we thought we had to do at the time, perhaps we lost sight of what was truly important in our lives. We put living on the back burner so we could get to where we thought we were supposed to be.

Someone once told me, "what's going to really matter at the end of our days? Will it be the classes you took, the grades, the business of life, the projects you finished, or the parties you attended? Or will it be the peace in remembering the time you spent with those you love and who love you?" As I pause now and reflect on this, I see just how off path we were.

But  I am feeling peace now, even though I have TONS of ideas and dreams; a peace that penetrates to my core. I long to be with those who mean something to me and I know I mean something to them. And at the end of the day, I know that's what I want to remember.

While this prayer may not be the perfect example of the story I just recounted, I think it ties in well.

I Am Your Child

 

'The living, the living - they praise you, as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness.'

 

~ Isaiah 38:19~

Lord, I live today as Your child. I plan to focus on this identity. Undoubtedly I will be asking for guidance, messing things up, getting Your pristine plans dirty, and constantly asking, "Why? Why?" But You are used to the floundering of Your children. You are a patient parent. The lessons You have taught me in Your Word and through Your active love are helping me grow. I can see the person You want me to become.

Like a child, I will run in lots of different directions before asking the way. And by then, I will probably need to be carried. It is very exhausting being a child. But now, as You lift me up and comfort me with Your promise of love and grace, I settle down. To be wrapped in Your faithfulness is all I needed...I just didn't know how to get there. When I am done resting, will You tell me a story? I love the one about the day I became Your child.

(Prayer taken from One-Minute Prayers For Women, one of my favorite devotionals)

 

 

I hope this prayer and story give you comfort in the week ahead!

 

Have you found yourself in this very place in life? What comforts you and how do you want to spend your life? I love to hear your stories so please share if you like! I may be sometimes a little slow to respond to comments, but I always read them!:)

 

Enjoy!

{this moment}

Today, I'm joining Amanda (soulemama) and many others with {this moment}.

A simple picture from the week. No words, no explanation, just a simple moment of time captured and shared.

 

(I took a few liberties with this post and decided to share what my week looks like; daily, not just one moment. Each picture tells a story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have been!)

 

 

 

(With the last two pictures, look closely at the top of the tree...)

 Please feel free to share your moments as well! It's so fun to see what other beauty is captured in a weeks time!

Enjoy!

Home Sweet Home

 

After years of waiting and dreaming, I can finally say I moved into my own little slice of this planet.  As hectic as things have been with moving (and everything it entails), it has been tough to share some of our initial experiences out here.  In just a month, we have already seen so much and created an even longer list of things we want to do.

Before I start sharing our grand ideas, I want to give you a quick tour of our yet to be named little family farm. 

Our new farmhouse is set on a grassy hill on the outskirts of our 28 acre property. The 28 acres is made of 18 acres of grass farm field, 2 acres of pasture, and about 8 acres of “dry property,” meaning 8 acres of sagebrush and juniper.  With much consideration, and knowing that neither of us are farmers (at least not yet ;), we decided to lease out the larger field to be used for grass hay. The pasture and untamed winderness are ours to use.

The house is perfect. It's a single story home with a beautiful brick hearth (which means I finally have my fireplace, yay!!) and picture windows with breath-taking views! From the front room and the kitchen, you look out upon Mt. Jefferson. From the bathtub, you can see Mt. Hood! As for the rest, they overlook the property and the surrounding fields. One more great aspect: a HUGE laundry room. It has a sink, cupboards, drawers, built in hamper, the works! (It's currently being used for laundry and seed-starting :)

We also have a huge shop and a very quaint bunkhouse. It's rustic, having only lights and a wall heater, but a perfect size for a little guest house...minus the bathroom situation. Thankfully it's not too far from the house.



Bell our new farm cat



 When we left our old house, our little family consisted of Cam and myself, our two dogs, and three cats. But by the time we moved into our new home, we had accumulated four more! We inherited one 12 year old barn cat, and three Barbados sheep; one ewe and two rams, and the ewe was VERY pregnant. It has been a lot of fun watching them interact with the other animals (those still here waiting to be moved) and with us.



We have been here a month now and already we have created close to 3-years worth of projects we want to start! Our first is creating my vegetable garden along with planting our "orchard" (I'll call it that because I always wanted to say I had one, but really its just a few fruit trees, ha!). I consider myself truly blessed to be here and cant' wait to see what God has in store for us!

 



I also wanted to throw something else out there that I was looking for some feedback on.  I started this post by saying "our yet to be named family farm" but I do have an idea, actually it was my dad's idea. You see, the house is on the top of the hill of our property and just beyond the yard is a hillside of rock. Not just little rocks, I mean BIG rocks and hard-pan very near the surface. The only way to really dig in it is with a pick-axe, which I just had to purchase (I'll be sharing that experience soon).  So, my dad came up with, Stony Hill Farm.  So what do you think? Keep it? Chuck it? I would love to hear any feedback and/or any suggestions or ideas you might have! Creating a name is a fun part of this whole experience and we want something fitting and unique!

 

Mt. Jefferson from our couch in the front room :)

 

I'm looking forward to sharing what we've done so far and what we are hoping to do! Hopefully this was a good sampling of the joy we've experienced so far!

 

Enjoy!

 

 

The End of a Story

I know it has been monhts since I've updated this blog, aside from the few sporadic "This Moment" posts I've had. But sometimes that is just where our lives lead us. Life is not always rosey and perfect; hiccups occur, setbacks present themselves, discoruagement sets in, and sometimes all we want is just for time to pass us by so things will seem better than they are. That has been my life for the last six months.

 We found our dream property over the summer and went back and forth on if we could affod it, if it was a good decision, and if we were ready for the major change. Knowing what we wanted in life and where we wanted to raise our family, the decision was easy but slow-comeing. When we finally decided to go for it, we put our house on the market and have been living in stasis since October. 

We cleaned up our house, packed things away, and made our current home more eye-catching to potential buyers. And it worked! By Thanksgiving, we had officially sold our home! Exctatic doesn't even begin to express how we were feeling about this major life moment. We began packing up our things and preparing ourselves for the move. We were so excied about the prospect of being in our new farmhouse by Christmas. 

A month into the process, just before closing, we found out that our buyers were denied their home loan so the deal was off. We were devistated. Things were looking great for us and suddenly we were thrust back to the starting line. I remember asking why. Why now? Why, when we were so close to attaining our dream? Why, after all we went thru? And no matter how many different ways I asked that question, did the answer ever make sense to me or seem fair. So, to be quite frank, I put on my big-girl panties and trudged onward. 

I cleaned, gussied up, and packed things away to make my house presentable once again. For the entire month of December (yes through Christmas and New Year's!) I had to clean my house and vacate it nightly. It was hard - and you all know how much I love Christmas - but I truly felt like this was a position God had put us into for a reason, so I had to soldier on!

By my 30th birthday in January, we had a buyer! Things began to unfold the same as before, so I proceeded with excited caution. Packing became fervant. I wanted to make sure we did everything we needed to to be able to move. 

By mid-February, we had a scare. They buyers and thier mortgage company were unreachable. I, once again, was thrust into despair. I couldn't believe it! Not again! But God answered my prayers and gave me an answer. Three days later, we were contacted by our realtor saying that everything was still a go! That night we celebrated and finished packing!

For the next 10 days straingt, I spent my entire days (I had to take time off work for this) packing, loading and unloading trucks and moving vans. It was intense. I had help with the furniture (thanks to Cam and my brother-in-law and sister!) but the rest was up to me. And I did it!! We are officially out of our home and in temporary housing. 

We thought we would only be here for a few days but the property we purchased was still waitng on the last of their paperowork so they could have a place to move to. So, with Cam gone all week with business, I got us ready for the final move. We just got word tonight that tomrrow evening we get to move in!! I could not be more excited!

This has been an extrememly trying and learning time for us. I never thought I would learn so much about patience, and what it truly means to posses it, and what exactly it means to fight for what God has placed on your heart. But as hard as it has been, I've learned more about my dirve and resiliancy than I have ever known. I was pushed way beyond my comfort zone to a point that literally the only thing keeping me moving was that phrase "God never gives us more than we can handle," and the Newsboys album "In the Hands of God." I am truly blessed and thankful!

So I am writing tonight from a place of transition. Somewhere I hope to not have to find myself in again. But in the same breath, I am thankful for it now...because of what I know is in store! This time tomorrow I will be moving the first of my things into our little 28 acre farm!

I dedicate this post to a great story, five years in the making, that has just come to a close. You will always hold a dear place in my heart!

Merry Christmas!

Today, Christmas Day, is one in which I feel whole-heartedly that we need to stop and slow down to remember what this day - this season - is truly about.

I just want to share a breif story to remind us all of the greatest gift we have all been given!

An Event for Everyone

 

"Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock,

gathering the lambs in his arms, 

hugging them as he carries them, 

leading the nursing ewes to good pasture."

~Isaiah 40:11~

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. they were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

"Glory to God in the heavenly heights,

Peace to all men and women on earth who please him."

As the angel chior withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!

(Luke 2:8-20)

(This story was taken from God's Message of Christmas Love by Eugene H. Peterson)

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and may the wonder for God's perfect gift stay with you!

Enjoy!!

{this moment}

Today, I'm joining Amanda (soulemama) and many others with {this moment}.

A simple picture from the week. No words, no explanation, just a simple moment of time captured and shared.

 

(I took a few liberties this week and decided to share what my week looks like; daily, not just one moment. Each picture tells a story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have been!)

 

 Please feel free to share your moments as well! It's so fun to see what other beauty is captured in a weeks time!

I know my updating has been obsolete as of late...okay, for the last several months but there has been so much going on. We are in the process of selling our home and trying to buy the homestead of our dreams. It just seems that there are so many things working against us that it has been difficult to think, much less do, anything else.

Our hope and faith, and patience, have held somewhat strong and we are still reaching for that dream!

Since Christmas is upon us, I've been finishing up the last of my home-made presents, but I'm hoping to sit down and update you about all that has happened! 

Enjoy!!

{this moment}

Today, I'm joining Amanda (soulemama) and many others with {this moment}.

A simple picture from the week. No words, no explanation, just a simple moment of time captured and shared.

 

(I took a few liberties this week and decided to share what my week looks like; daily, not just one moment. Each picture tells a story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have been!)

 

 

 Please feel free to share your moments as well! It's so fun to see what other beauty is captured in a weeks time!

Enjoy!!

{this moment}

Today, I'm joining Amanda (soulemama) and many others with {this moment}.

A simple picture from the week. No words, no explanation, just a simple moment of time captured and shared.

 

(I took a few liberties this week and decided to share what my week looks like; daily, not just one moment. Each picture tells a story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have been!)

 

 

Please feel free to share your moments as well! It's so fun to see what other beauty is captured in a weeks time!


Enjoy!!

{this moment}

Today, I'm joining Amanda (soulemama) and many others with {this moment}.

A simple picture from the week. No words, no explanation, just a simple moment of time captured and shared.

 

(I took a few liberties this week and decided to share what my week looks like; daily, not just one moment. Each picture tells a story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have been!)

Please feel free to share your moments as well! It's so fun to see what other beauty is captured in a weeks time!


The "good" news we have been awaiting...well, we're still waiting. But during this time, we've learned to count all of our blessings and cherish all the small moments every day brings. Hopefully soon some of our questions will be answered and we can move on with our dreams!

Enjoy!!

{this moment}

Today, I'm joining Amanda (soulemama) and many others with {this moment}.

A simple picture from the week. No words, no explanation, just a simple moment of time captured and shared.

Please feel free to share your moments as well! It's so fun to see what other beauty is captured in a weeks time!


There has been so much going on these last several months that I was forced to focus elsewhere, leaving my blog dormant. Well...I'm hoping that will change now that Autumn has arrived! It will be no less busy (I say with anticipation!!) but I'm expecting I'll have much more to share! I'm hoping that in the next week I will have some GOOD news to share!

Enjoy!!

{this moment}

Today, I'm joining Amanda (soulemama) and many others with {this moment}.

A simple picture from the week. No words, no explanation, just a simple moment of time captured and shared.
 

Please feel free to share your moments as well! It's so fun to see what other beauty is captured in a weeks time!
 

Enjoy!!

Picking Up the Pieces

It's funny, when you stop and think about it, just how much time, care, attention, and nurturing a gardener invests in their little oasis. It requires dedication, commitment, and lets face it, a lot of patience and sometimes passion to be successful, and ultimately 'good' at it. That is something I have longed to posses for some time now; I have always wanted to be a great gardener.

After four years of trial and error in a garden of my own, I finally feel comfortable with my abilities when it comes to some of the smaller aspects of homesteading. I will be the first to admit that I still have a lot to learn when it comes to gardening, even more to learn about other homesteading tricks and traits, but I know I have limits and know what those are on my little plot of land. At least I thought I did. This year has proven me wrong.

This summer started out ideally. We were blessed with warm evenings and hot days very early into the season. Albeit
little rain graced these days, we were doing relatively well. I learned an efficient and appropriate watering schedule for my developing crops, making sure to feed them as well and take care of the soil beneath them, and everything was lush. For the first time, my beet greens were largely beautiful and green instead of their usual hole-ridden sparse leaves. My Kohlrabi were quite abundant and looking gorgeous, as well as my squash. I was in heaven...I began to feel like this was going to be the year when I was able to really have a beautiful and bountiful garden!

And then two days later, everything changed.

Learning Curve

It has been quite some time since I last updated the pages of my humble little blog. And in that time, so much has gone on. I have learned many lessons and have faced many new trials and learned how to make the most of them.

Instead of dedicating this post to catching you up on what has been going on, I want to share something that has made such an impact on my life as of late; I want to share a devotional.

Tonight, this particular scripture fits perfectly into where I'm at as the summer winds down, and a perfect point of reflection to carry me through the week:

According to God's Grace

 

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

~Romans 12:6-8~

 

Lord, which gifts have You given me? I do not want to waste a drop of my life by being blind to my potential in You. I seek a deeper understanding of Your Word. I want to comprehend how You manifest Yourself through spiritual gifts in Your children. I long to explore the lives of men and women in Scripture who followed You and who actively lived out their gifts.

 

According to the grace given me, I can live a  fruitful life. I can share the amazing bounty of Your goodness with others. Help me to pay close attention to the work You are doing in my own heart. I want to see, understand, and cultivate the gifts that come from You.

 

(This devotional came from One-Minute Prayers for Women)

 

It is often far too easy to get caught up in life and what it seems to mean to those around us. We see a friend who is extremely gifted in one area and long to be able to do the same thing. I am no stranger to this feeling...especially with some of the things happening here on our little homestead. But what we need to understand and remember is that God has granted each of us a special gift. Each is unique in its own way; each is ultimately important to Christ's work. When we stop to remember this point and seek out our individual gifts, we will be able to find the path Christ has laid out for our lives. That is fulfillment.

 

May this help carry you through the week...and focus on a positive new direction!

 

Enjoy!

 

~Please share what ever this verse, prayer, or my thoughts may evoke in you. I love to hear how you feel and how this may impact your life or your outlook on life situations~

{this moment}

Today, I'm joining Amanda (soulemama) and many others with {this moment}.

A simple picture from the week. No words, no explanation, just a simple moment of time captured and shared.
 

Please feel free to share your moments as well! It's so fun to see what other beauty is captured in a weeks time!
 

Enjoy!!