The Best Gift Ever....

We hope you had a Merry Christmas....

And many blessings in the New Year.

Just a moment

A quick picture, one of our chilly days here on the farm....

I do so enjoy this time of year. I have also vowed to slow down and not do anything that makes me anything less than a happy mama and wife.

We don't eat a lot of cookies (and we don't consume white sugar or white flour) so I have a recipe I'm going to try out and that's it.

I don't decorate with too many things as we are minimalists here, and prefer space over knick-knacks and decor (I do love looking at homes that put out beautiful decorations and design so well, I'm just a more functional type person. That, and when I dust, I can't stand to have to move a bunch of things....and dust on a farm is a losing battle :) ).

We also don't have a lot of plans. We like to cozy up at night and watch movies and read books, make homemade hot chocolate with freshly whipped cream. Everyone has their favorite blanket and favorite spot.

We are reveling in this time together, and both my husband and I are excited to watch AJ as he soaks up this season. There is something so special about Christmas at his age.

Build the Ark And They Will Come

I wrote not too long ago, about how my husband and I were praying for a piece of land to farm, a little swatch of earth to till and work, to water and grow a great harvest.

Last week, I received a call from my husband. He took it upon himself to humbly ask the gentleman who owns a pasture behind our house, if he would be interested in leasing us a parcel. Something small and manageable. Something just big enough to begin our dreams.

Within minutes, they had struck up a deal and we are now leasing a piece of the pasture!!

It is absolutely amazing to watch as these dreams quickly come into fruition. My husband has already begun the task of taking down the overgrown weeds and trapping the pests living back there. He's writing up plans to build a drip system, run water lines, turn in manure, expand the compost, lay rows, till the land, and build a fence. He's collected materials (mostly donated by our kind rancher/neighbor) and laid plans to build the gate from our backyard to what will be our garden! It is so exciting!

In this season of harvest, we feel such a gratefulness for all that has been given to us. We hope that by the Spring, we are contributing food to those whose cabinets lay bare and to those who find themselves wondering how their little ones will eat. We want to grow the food that will nourish the bodies of the people who need it.

We want to make a difference.

God has given us the means and the land, the motivation and the provisions. Now we go to work.

(One day, I hope to have a cow that I can milk and make butter, cheese, cream, and yogurt from. Then, the wealth can be shared even more so. All in due time.)

With Thankfulness

I adore this time of year, reading blog posts about what people are thankful for everyday. It warms my heart to see so much goodwill and appreciation, something I know I could do a lot more of every single day.

I had aspirations of coming here, to this place, and writing down each day something that I am thankful for. But then I realized, I don't want to. I don't want to take away the time to delegate to the computer, when I could be talking about dairy cows with the neighbor. I don't want to miss reaching out to the postman to ask about his new granddaughter. I don't want to take AJ out of my lap, in the middle of reading stories to sit at my desk. I don't want to halt a conversation with my husband to work in this space.

I wish I had more time for these things, and I suppose the fault lies within me. I choose to spend my time elsewhere, and thus this little place I etched out goes neglected awhile longer. Be that as it may, I do enjoy a moment here or there. And that leads me to what I am most grateful for.

I have three men in my life who consume my days.

God.

Husband.

And my son.

Those three take all my time and attention, as they should. Most of the time, the three are intermixed. Just yesterday while I was washing the dishes, AJ was excitedly helping me with his own bowls and spoons. Looking out over the window, I see my husband helping with our neighbors horses. There he is a real live cowboy, riding horses and looking so handsome in his Stetson. My heart swoons and melts just like it did seven years ago.

That hardworking cowboy....he's not one for romance or fancy gifts. He doesn't show public displays of affection, nor is he overly supportive of Valentine's Day. He knows I don't wear diamonds, and he seldom sends flowers. But he is everything and more.

He is selfless and kind, hardworking and patient. He drops everything to help someone out. He places his family above all else. He gave up a career for me. He is loyal beyond measure and stands by his word. His heart is steady and true.

I'm thankful to have such a man who is simple, genuine, and faithful.

He always says, "Life isn't complicated, people complicate it". Much like marriage and family.

I will always sing songs of thanksgiving to God for this wonderful life.

That little boy who continually challenges me and teaches me. I can't help but sit in awe at this amazing little man who refuses to have the world hold him back. He is a firecracker and I adore his inability to do anything in moderation. He has a passion for life that is unsurpassed by anyone I know, and he can have you forgetting his tantrums with the quick wisp of a smile and those cheeky dimples of his.

Most of all, I am thankful to God for whom without none of the above would even exist. His unconditional love and forgiveness has rendered me speechless time and time again.

Swoon, every time

On Strong Shoulders

My husband and I have been venturing out on an extreme workout routine.

One that involves flipping a tractor tire....

Over and over and over....

Then pulling said tire across a field...

And back again....

Taking a sledge hammer overhead and repeatedly pounding on the tire...

Why, you ask?

Because the calling God has for our lives demands us to be strong.

If we are to work in the fields, if we are to grow an abundance of food for the people who need it, then we must be of sturdy stock. We do this everyday, continually growing stronger and stronger, with muscles stretching and growing, our hearts beating faster and faster, the sweat pouring from our brows. We run with purpose. We trudge on with purpose.

We don't know when or where God will open the doors for us to receive the land necessary to grow food to feed the hungry, but we do know that we will be as strong and as fit as we can possibly muster. When I'm not working in the garden, working around the house, or working my job to pay the bills, I'm flipping a tire. AJ thinks it is the most hilarious thing he has ever seen and enjoys his view from his Nana's lap on the John Deere tractor. That little mighty spectator even has his own little bike tire and rubber mallet as he seeks to grow strong like Mama and Daddy.

We hope he will join us in the fields one day, happy to meet the need of others and do the work set out before us.

(Yes, he is quite a cutie, dimples and all)

I've never been this strong before. In fact, I was always the twiggy, frail girl who couldn't do much on her own. I never thought much of myself, nor did I expect much of myself. But now I have big dreams and lofty goals. I know I'm preparing to build the fields that will feed the hungry bellies of those who need it, by the strength of our backs, by the sweat of our brows, by His provision and dream, we will reap a great harvest.

In due time.

Sitting in Awe

I have little in the way of words these days, but I do know, my heart is overflowing....

And some days, when the world seems like too much, I look at the men in my life, and thank God for this life.

These Dreams are a-Changin'

I wondered how long it would take me to gather the courage to write this post.

Something about putting my thoughts down to words seems to make them concrete, to give them life.

For some time now, my husband and I have known that God was working through us and would be demanding much of us. We felt something deep in our bones that told us to hold on, to trust in the future, and to be willing to do what was asked. So we waited, and waited, and waited.

We prayed harder than we ever had before.

And then the other day, my husband came home and told me what he was to do. He wants to start a non-profit here in our little town to help the youth with their futures as well as meet the needs of the day to day. He wants to provide activities and education, kind of like a Boys and Girls club with counseling and physical activities. My husband is not the type to speak lightly of such situations, rather he is the type who chews on an idea for awhile before speaking up. I know his heart, and I know when he says that this is something he feels called to do, than by gosh it will get done. God spoke to his heart, and he listened.

I kid you not, within a week or so of him telling me this, I was washing up the supper dishes when I heard the answer to my prayers. Not only will we establish a safe haven for adolescents, but we will also grow a garden that will exist for the sole purpose of feeding others. There will be no cost, just an opportunity for others to receive nourishing food, free of charge.

I have no idea how these endeavors will be funded, but I know who will fund them. He will give us a way, guide us in a direction, allow us to be the feet and hands to His work. And we will labor tirelessly and joyously, without regard for the amount of pay. We have seen mountains move, and lives change because of the awesome God we serve.

Forgive my silence on this here blog. We have had lots to think about these past few weeks. For now, we continue to pray that God would give us the tools we need to do His work, and that He would provide us with the patience and persistence necessary to carry out an endeavor like this.

We don't know when or how this all will come to fruition, but we are excited to see what the days hold. For now, we continue to work our own little piece of land, in order to learn from our mistakes and bless those we can with our food. There was a time when we had little in the way of food, but we have been blessed beyond all comprehension. Nary a meal passes over our table without my husband and I both feeling a deep-seeded gratefulness for such a gift. I still cry at the sight of a full pantry.....there is a need and we plan to do what we can to meet it.

My request is this, if you would (and by no means should you feel obligated to), will you pray for us?

May you have a blessed weekend.

Praying More than Talking

We had a nasty virus hit our house the past two weeks, and with it came the abrupt silence on yee old blog.

I was down for the count, doing my best to just work and make meals for the table. My day to day, got up and left with my get up and go.

I've been known to nurse a cough for weeks on end, and I am hoping that my cough will soon leave me be, and that I can get back to figuring out how to do most of it all. Luckily, the hubby managed to steer clear of the bug and the kiddo, while he did get sick, seemed to bounce back pretty quickly after the doctor prescribed a few meds for an upper respiratory infection.

Beyond all the illness, I have found that with the current state of the house, I have found myself praying more than ever.

I pray for families with sick kiddos and the strength to endure those days. I pray for rain and for the farmers, for a bountiful and fruitful harvest in the fields. I pray for the garden out back, a blessing for the table. I pray for continued health for my husband and son. I pray that my own body would recover, quickly. I pray that I would do my best every day at work, and that my job, would continue to be a blessing in our home.

And then, I pray for the really heavy things.

I pray that God would remove fear from my life, that I would live to be a blessing to others. I pray for God to mold me and shape me, to help me become a better wife and mother. I pray for the seed of contentment and the ability to recognize when I am coveting someone else's home, achievements, abilities, etc. I pray that the pangs of the past would release me from my apprehensions and aversions.

But above all, I pray with thanksgiving. My eyes have been a little teary lately, as I look around at all that I have. There is a moment almost every night, when dinner is done, the house is settling down, and we all join together in the living room. There is so much laughter that the walls seem to bellow with us. We play with toys and puzzles, we cuddle and share hugs, we give piggy-back rides, and play fetch with Molly. There is a hilarity the ensues when we are altogether, an on-set of laughter as the sunsets and giggles begin. Without fail, each night, I catch myself smiling with tears in my eyes. This life is all mine. These boys love me, one man and one wee little one. This quiet country road, with our beautiful home, was all given to us by Him.

With prayerful thanksgiving, and a grateful heart, we begin anew each day.

And come sunset, we will laugh and sing and play, together.

Beginning the Catch Up

Welp, this little piece of me went neglected for longer than I anticipated.

For weeks now, I keep telling myself the second I have a moment, I will sit down and get to work on a post, and then....

The garden needs to be watered.

There are veggies to harvest.

The kiddo wants to color.

My husband is free, so we sit to catch up.

I have a job that puts food on the table, and thus, demands my time :)

There are meals to prepare.

There is laundry to fold.

There is a house to clean.

There is company to entertain from out of town.

And, thus you get my point.

So let's start with the garden. This year, I wanted to collect my hard-earned lessons from the two previous years, and make an attempt to have a bountiful harvest. While it's not always comfortable working beneath the heat of the Texas sun, there is something so satisfying about growing a plant from seed, and having that plant give off a nutritious addition to the day's meals. Thus far, I have harvested the following:

• 45 lbs of yellow summer squash
• 10 lbs of yellow onions
• multiple cuts of spinach, with another crop to come this fall
• a handful of green beans with more this week (yay!)
• 5 lbs of basil
• lettuce
• ornamental pumpkins
• lavender

The basil was turned into pesto and frozen for dishes to come in the winter. We love to use it on homemade pasta or homemade pizza. Half of the onions were also frozen for beef and chicken stock later this fall. I have never had beans grow to the point of giving off fruit, so those little ones have been treasured! And the ornamental pumpkins were a complete accident, a product of a mix up at the seed company! But we have enjoyed having them around the house. Also, the squash has been eaten, frozen, given away for a cookout, and used to barter. 

This fall, I am planning on a garlic bed, spinach, lettuce, and hopefully some cabbage.

As for the kiddo, he is growing like a weed, and turning into quite the independent little boy. He is stubborn and wild, happy and joyful, friendly and kind, and a pistol when he is upset :) 

And I absolutely adore him.

He is also my right-hand guy when it comes to watering. He already such a hardworkin' kid, he loves to help out with chores!

My husband's mom had to unexpected leave town for five weeks to take care of her mother (she is fine now :) ) but that meant that my husband was running her farm while tending to home and school. I picked up the slack here, while working for the editing company that I have been with since January. Luckily, I am able to work from home, so the little guy doesn't feel the pinch when mom and dad are exhausted from working, he just happily goes about his day at home, and never has to be shuffled to and fro. In fact, he goes to help daddy some days at the farm....

So while this may  not be the most exciting post ever, it is a journal of sorts for our family, a way to remember this time in our lives. I wouldn't change a moment of it, and find the routine to be soothing. 

I'm Here!

I'm working on a catch up post, but it is oodles long, so here is just a little pick me up....

For the record, next to marrying my husband, this kiddo is the best thing to happen to me.

By a landslide.

When Life Gets Busy....

I could apologize for my lack of blogging, but in reality, summer is a bustling time between family visiting, working every day, and tending the garden, I have done my best to live in the moment.

I mean really be present.

I've been retraining my brain to think in a different way, where I no longer wonder or worry about the future or what could be, rather I just be.

What a difference it has made!! All those years of worry just melted away, and I found myself laughing with my family more, sleeping better, and accomplishing more throughout the day!

That's a win-win-win in my book!

And last week was the icing on the cake, as my parents came out for a visit. We haven't seen them in a whole year, and as you can imagine, one week just flew by.

Yes, he really is this cute :)

Helping Mama water the garden

Grandpa's feet must have been dirty!

Cheese!

Talkin' with Grandma

Making Grandma's chocolate flourless mousse cake

Silly Grandpa!

Loves

And now, with the house all quiet and the company back in California, God has blessed Texas with 70 degree weather and plenty of rain. For us Texans, especially in northern Texas, the drought has been horrid the past four years, and we never see rain this late in summer. Everyone is breathing a sigh of relief and thanking God for giving this quenched earth some very unexpected rain. It has been glorious, revitalizing our spirits and enriching the land.

What a blessed life.

Pick Me, Pick Me

Since the days of dodge ball and otter pops, when chocolate milk and root beer lip balm was all a girl needed, and everyone was a best friend, there resonates within us the need and the want to be included.

No one wants to be picked last at dodge ball.

No one wants to be left out of the birthday party.

No one wants to be told over and over that everyone else is "too busy" to stop and give a minute.

I remembered the feeling of being left out, especially left out of the fun when I was growing up. I had friends (thank the good Lord above), but there were times, when others didn't know me, that I wasn't included. I've always been too tall, too awkward, with unruly red hair and freckles galore. I get embarrassed easily, and when singled out or asked a question directly, I secretly wish I could be absorbed by the walls surrounding me.

All this to say, this evening when I was putting dinner together, AJ was at my feet and he was begging me to play with him. Of course, I have yet to figure out how to make myself appear in two places at once so I settled for giving him a bowl and unopened spices. He sat there, as content as could be, happy to be included in the "cooking". I was able to toss together dinner, while we cooked alongside one another, neither feeling left out or excluded.

But isn't that how life is?

We want to be asked.

We don't want to be picked last.

We want someone, somebody to include us.

AJ doesn't ask for much. All he wants is someone to build legos with, a helping hand to take him outside, and the occasional cooking adventure in the kitchen. It's not much, but it means everything to him.

(He picked me flowers :) )

And so it means everything to me.

Father's Day

While my Daddy lives thousands of miles away, today I celebrate with my husband and his role in this family, as a husband and a father.

He's one hardworkin' cowboy.

Happy Father's Day to all those Dads out there....the soon to be, the yet to be, and the tenured ones....here's to you.

Giving Up

No, this is not going to be a recollection of all my downfalls and my pitfalls.

That is what I would have done not too long ago. In fact, that is what I have been trying desperately to turn away from.

That pesky seven letter word. The one we all try to achieve and fool ourselves daily into believing.

Perfect.

It's official folks, I'm not perfect. And it is so exhilarating to say that!! I have many, many flaws, so many that I have fought tooth and nail to hide them away. I always thought that if I was thin enough no one would notice the fact that I am tall, too tall to wear heels and just tall enough to be awkward. Then I thought if I was the top of the class no one would notice how my face beamed red with embarrassment whenever I was called on, fearful of making a mistake. I thought if I was the wife who did it all and was soft-spoken then I could be remembered as the sweet, kind little wife. Once I became I a mom, I thought surely I could juggle it all and do it flawlessly.

Oh how wrong I was.

I am a woman who can move dressers around a bedroom without any help because God made me strong. I am smart and intelligent through the determination that God has laid upon my heart and my mind. I am not meek and I speak my mind, but I try to do so in a way that He sees fit. I drop the balls that I juggle often, but I refuse to let them lay there listlessly on the floor, so I pick them up, and start over again.

The past few months, I have done what I have always wanted to do.

I gave myself a break. I realize that days cannot be molded and shaped into what you want them to be. Rather, I have learned (and continue to learn!) to be flexible and to take it all in stride. I have plenty of road to travel, but I look forward to the journey. There is a freedom nestled between the giving up and the giving in. I think it's called living.

A Lifetime of Stories

(I had no intention of taking such a long break from blogging, but we have been blessed with company in town, two weeks in a row, and I decided to live in the moment, and be present for all the laughs and all the stories. There will be quite a few posts coming up, as I have scribbled them down, lest I forget :) )

My grandfather has been here for a week long visit, which means there is an extra cup of coffee to make in the morning, another place setting at the table, another person to laugh with, and a whole lifetime of stories.

There is something about grandparents, they have the best stories. I count myself undeniably blessed to have this time with him, to hold tight to his childhood memories and to hear about the people that I never met, but without them, I wouldn't be here. There are the war stories. The love stories. The we-lived-through-hard-time stories. And there are the family secret stories. Each one important and lending itself to the next.

This past week, I have gained insight and knowledge about generations past, and somehow, I feel more connected to my family ties, it's almost as though their legacy continues to live on through those stories, and by sharing the memories, they are never forgotten.

I plan on telling AJ all of them one day, reminding him of where he came from, the generational lineage laid out before him. I will tell him of the strong men who worked laboriously and tirelessly to provide for their families, and I will tell him of the kind women who supported and loved those men.

I will tell him the stories so that he may know just how much he is loved and how he means the world to so many. I will he remind him of the stories so he may remember that while his legacy may not seem grand in the world's eyes, he is the world in ours.

A legacy is only forgotten if you fail to tell the story.

Living on the Prairie

We live in the panhandle, and tornadoes are part of living here.

We have had our fair share of close calls, but today I am brought to my knees, asking God to guide the first responders to all those who are hurting and scared. Praying for those who are displaced and without a home this evening.

May we all bombarde the gates of Heaven with prayers for refuge, rescue, and safe harbor.

Humble Beginnings

My wish is to stay broke...

Yep you read that right, but lest you think I have plum lost my mind let me explain.

When I have the least, I give the most.

When I have little, I remember to rely on God for not only His provisions, but also His comfort and His love. My husband and I have talked for days on end about this, and we both agree, we tend to pull away from God when life is easy, but with cling to Him with fervor and earnest when we find ourselves in tight spots. There has been feast and there has been famine in our household, and while we are grateful for every moment and all the in between times, we feel the greatest love rooted in our trust that all will be provided for. In the lean times, we witness the raw love and compassion of God and others.

I welcome anything that may come, as I welcome the sunrise in the morning. I see others accomplishing great things, attaining their dreams, buying their dream home, and I am genuinely happy for them because I am genuinely happy. There is a joy that has taken hold in my heart, an overflowing sense of bliss.

Few things are certain in life, and of those, I can count on these:

1. I never want to become too big for my humble lifestyle.

2. I don't want to forget the feeling of the sun shining down on me as I work beneath the Texas sky, planting and praying for a bountiful harvest.

3. I want to remain in a state of utter gratefulness for all that I have, and while I look, remember that if someone said they needed this or that more than me, that I be willing to give of these things.

4. I never want to forget the overwhelming appreciation of full cabinets. There are children who go hungry everyday, and AJ, never feels the pangs of hunger. As a parent, all you want for your children is a safe and happy life, to be unable to give them nourishment for their growing bodies must be unfathomably difficult. I pray for those sweet children.

5. I want to look at life as a glass-completely full girl. Forget half-full. God granted me with another day, and the ability to go out to the world and change it.

6. Lastly, I want to hold moments close to my heart. Moments of laughter and joy, family dinners, a silly kiddo at bathtime, coffee at the kitchen table with the hubby, mornings spent in the garden, playing chase with Molly and AJ, watching the wind rustle in the trees, thunderstorms rolling across the prairie, the smell of homemade bread, holding my beloved's hand just because.

If life is supposed to be any different than nobody tell me.

And if this is broke, than I'm the richest girl in the world.

Laughing from within

Ever since our little family grew from two to three, I have learned some of the greatest lessons.

1. Messes are just that, a small reminder of a growing boy exploring the world around him. In the not too distant future, I will miss the spilled milk and tossed Legos. He will only be little once, so I leave the messes.

2. Disney channel beats the news any day of the week. We all seem happier when we watch things with happy endings.

3. You are never too old to make a mud pie.

4. Dinner is a time to share a meal, dangle noodles in front of the dog, and tell funny stories. Dishes can wait, nobody but Mom will notice them anyways.

5. An afternoon at the park will make any day special. Don't over complicate life by planning out the day. Just live in the moment and let life happen.

6. Hold hands, share kisses, sit down to cuddle. Those moments are precious and nothing will ever be more important than taking time to love those around you.

7. Lastly, laugh often. Don't take life so seriously. Laugh from deep within your belly til your cheeks hurt and your eyes are watering. Not only will your mood and outlook improve, but no day should go without happiness and joy. Each day we have together is a gift, one that is not to be squandered or taken for granted.

So there you have it. Once again, I've found life's greatest lessons wrapped up in those mud-pie handprints.

Here's to laughter and love....

The 1 am Post

Yes, it's true.

Here I am at 1 am, waiting for the laundry to dry, so I can move another load to the wash before bed.

There have been many a times I hoped to write here, but I have an editing project on top of my everyday editing job, and time is s sparse 'round these parts.

We are in full planting mode here, with asparagus, peppers, berries, cherries, onions, lettuce, spinach, chard, garlic, herbs, and soon corn, more onions, carrots, and beets. We try to grow everything we eat, and this year we are hoping for the biggest harvest yet.

My hubby and I have both started heavy workout routines, specifically the Spartacus workout. We both want to optimize our health and we know that a high intensity workout paired with cardio is imperative. Today at the market, a woman stopped and asked if we were 'juicers' since our buggy was full of produce. We just smiled and said no, we just enjoy fruits and veggies. She then proceeded to say that surely AJ didn't eat like us. We kindly answered yes he does as she scoffed and walked away.

We had to chuckle.....we are now known as the produce family in town.

With planting season here, we have been spending ample time in the sun and my oh my, does the fresh air and sunshine feel good! I do believe everyone is a wee bit happier with a hefty dose of Vitamin D.

AJ is such a little man these days. He runs everywhere, and climbs on everything. Very seldom is he still, so the other night when he fell asleep in my arms, I didn't move!

That laundry is just about done.....

Good night all.

The Not-So Famous

I try to write all of my posts with intention, a practice of writing words of prose while knowing what will follow the preceding words. I have been mulling this post for quite some time, but alas, the days grow shorter, my to-do list gets longer, and I scramble to keep up.

AJ wanted to snuggle tonight, and even though I had plenty to do, I sat with my little one, and remembered the feeling of the rise and fall of his chest, the heavy weight of this growing boy. In the stillness, I remained until he grew restless and wanted to stretch out in bed. But for that hour, I fought back the tears, knowing that life doesn't get any better than times like these.

My heart fills to the brim, until at its peak, the love and adoration for my given life, encompasses all of me, and I can't help but sing songs of praises.

Whenever I get a chance, I sit and read a few blogs. (Albeit not as often as I want to, the job of editing has taken precedence over my time and now there is a consulting editing job to be done in tandem with the first one!). Some of those blogs have a few hundred followers, some have thousands. These women have the equivalent of my town's population following their blogs, awaiting that insight into their daily lives. They draw inspiration for the evening's dinner from their recipes. They look at their sponsors for the perfect pintuck striped shirt for their child's school photos. They heed the authors advice to take pictures in a certain light.

These women talk about how they are planning to write a book. They talk about how a publishing house has chosen to pick up their works and soon the pages will be displayed on bookshelves nationwide.

These women were the ones I was beginning to envy.

And envy is not a good color.

I wanted to be "famous" for lack of a better word, like these women. I wanted to hit the post button and wake up the next morning to see that 30 comments were awaiting my eyes, thirty different people who just had to leave a note about what I wrote.

I wanted to be that blogger with the book deal. What I thought I wanted was to feel important, as though by others acknowledging my presence and my words, I would somehow validate my value as an individual, both personally and professionally.

And then God pulled me back to reality. He placed me among my people.

My husband and my son.

They don't care for fame or fortune, they just ask that I make fresh biscuits every few days. That their favorite t-shirts make it in the days wash. That I skip the chores or bypass the errands for a few more minutes of playing soccer in the front yard. That I hold on a little longer when he goes to hug me.

These are my people. They don't care that I am anyone other than who I am.

With all of that I am so grateful for those who do stop by and read here. Writing is always on my heart, but between work and being a mom and a wife, the days seem to slip away from me.

But that doesn't deter me from finding the time to strike the keys or scribble a quick note.....

Easter Recap

Our Easter was quiet and simple, just the three of us.

We dyed eggs with blackberries....

We visited our neighbors and had an egg hunt....

We enjoyed tasty food and ate til our bellies couldn't possibly take another bite.

All day, there was the faint whisper of gratitude, a thankfulness for family and the memories we create. Words fail me when thinking of Christ and His resurrection. All I can say is, I thank God for His Son and for the wonder that is my family.

Those two, one man and one boy, have my heart forever. That is something I don't take for granted.

Some things you may not know about me....

1. My husband is monocular--meaning he only has one eye. After a cliff diving accident gone awry, he had his left eye removed. My husband always had dreams of joining the military and serving his country. He is proud and strong, unwavering in his confidence to defend liberties and freedoms we cherish. He also has a hero complex--one that I am certain would have been his demise had he been in theater. He admires men who selflessly give of themselves so others may live.
Being monocular was the only way God could keep him safe. And for that, I'm grateful every day.

2. I don't own diamonds. In fact, I don't ever want to own a diamond due to the blood diamonds and the destruction and inhumane treatment of others.

3. My husband knows my version of diamonds is through grass-fed butter and grass-fed meats.

4. I'm a whole-foodie, scratch-baking, garden-raising, dirt-loving Mama.

5. I used to think the more make-up I wore, the more time I spent doing my hair, the skinnier I was, the happier I would be. Now, I don't wear much make-up at all, my hair is what it is, and I'm strong rather than skinny.

I've never been happier and more confident :)

6. I still want to write a bestseller, but no publishing how will take my book.  (I guess I just haven't found the right one yet :) )

7. Last year, I spent close to 3000 hours pumping for AJ. Given the chance to go back, I would do it all over again.

8. I could have a dozen kiddos. Being a wife and a mom is my greatest accomplishment.

9. I used to dream of a big farmhouse--now I dream of a piece of land.

10. My house is a mere 1,000 sq. feet, but ever square inch is cherished and loved, making it not a house, but home.

As Cute as Can Be

We officially have our friends over to watch movies now :)

For Love of a Small Town (pt.2)

Continuing on with the stream of thought and my love for this little town, I would have to say, I love the quiet.

And I'm not talking about a moment here or there when the world seems to take a breather. No, I'm talking about the kind of quiet that settles over the earth and creates its own sense of peace. The quiet wraps the land like a gentle fog, blanketing and muffling the outside world. Here, in this place, you can hear the gallop, the clap of horses hooves on the barren land. Thunder clouds roll in with a deafening rumble, just as the wind howls with vengeance across the prairie.

Just the other night, my husband said the night was so still that he could hear me blink! And even when Molly goes to work on the farm, I can hear her bark from the deepest corner.

As it is, AJ does not like toys that are very loud, nor does he like sing-a-long books or the TV to be much more above a whisper. We all like the quiet and find that when the peace descends upon the home, we all take a deep breath, knowing that no words need to be spoken, no songs need to be sung, no volumes need to be turned up.

There is peace in the quiet, so the quiet is where we shall be.

For the love of a small town

My love for small town living grows daily. Years ago, when I lived among the concrete jungle of Southern California, I dreamed of wide open spaces, with fresh air and open fields. I dreamed of a place where I could relax and enjoy God's creation, blanketed by the blue, open sky above. I had my dreams, nestled in my pocket and anchored over my heart, and I held on tightly to those dreams, always hoping one day they might come to fruition.

In honor of my love of this small town, I plan to take note weekly of my reasons why I love this place. I could sit and write them down all at once, but with work and my youngster in tow, there just isn't enough 'me' time to do it!

So in honor of AJ's first birthday that came and went, I would like to honor my wonderful neighbors.....their love for my family is one that I had not found until moving to this lil' ole' slice of Heaven. For AJ's birthday, they brought over their horses and baby goats, bringing the petting zoo to our homestead. The kiddos were able to ride horseback and bottled feed little day old goats, just their size.

 (A little cowboy in the making, my little man is well on his way to becoming a full-fledged cowboy.)

The sense of community and belonging is bar-none, one of best feelings in the entire world. We have friends here. There are people who care about us, and we care about them.

Nuthin' better than that.

The Buckaroo's First Birthday

There is no better feeling than celebrating the birth of a sweet little one with loved ones. I look back on AJ's first birthday and I have to choke back the tears as I reflect on a day of love and happiness. The weather was perfect, the chili was yummy, the company was delightful. It was wonderful.

And since in these times, pictures capture the moments we hope to remember the most, here are some from that day. One of the best day's of my life.

There is something both humbling and comforting when you are surrounded by people who love not only your son, but you as well. We all need to feel that sense of community every once in awhile. It sustains us and gives our souls the nourishment we crave.

To say my cup overflowed would be an understatement.