This year we got an awesome house. Even better, we ended up getting to move into it the weekend between Ernie's and my birthdays, so it was like the best birthday present ever. (On the down side, we're not sure really how to ever try to top that with gifts again so...)
Oddly enough, this wasn't anything we even talked about before getting married, but as it turns out God matched us up perfectly because we both wanted to live a farm life. I guess neither of us really thought that was something that was ever going to happen, so we didn't really discuss it. Once we did, we discovered it was something we both were into. But it always seemed like it was going to be in a "once the kids are grown up" kinda way.
Amazingly, everything has come together so much earlier in life than we ever thought. We are still amazed that we are living the life we have dreamed of. As I sit here in the den, I can look out the window and look at my 6 different types of chickens and my 5 big fluffy ducks as they happily peck around in their yards. Past that I can see the neighbors horses and our huge line of evergreen trees. And to make everything better...I can't hear a thing. Its so peaceful. It may seem kinda silly that farm animals are peaceful to watch. And maybe we are just huge nerds (okay, no maybe there), but we could hang out there and watch them and be perfectly content. My sister in law, while visiting, even said "it seems like you guys have really just found your calling!" And that is putting it perfectly.
This is what we were meant to do! We love it. All the hard work is so worth it. I love raising the kids in this environment. I love that they get to go out each day and collect eggs, and that Sophie cooks those eggs every morning. Its important to me and I think its things like that, that are so easy to get disconnected from. I love so much that the kids are learning hard work. They may not always like it :) but I believe their lives will be so much richer from it.
This year has been awesome. I can't wait to see what else is in store. I can't wait to continue growing here in our home and expanding our "farm". Living off our own land is something we have dreamed about and I believe that little by little we can get there. We've just planted several fruit trees that will hopefully begin producing for us in a couple years. Soon, Ernie will plant his garden. In the years to come we'll add more livestock, and add more and more to the garden. Along the way we'll continue teaching the kids about taking care of the earth we live on, and learning how to care for these animals we raise as food, how to grow their own food and how to best nourish their bodies with it. Something I never realized, growing up, would end up being so important to me. I feel as if its my duty to do this the best way possible and I'm so blessed to have a husband who feels the same way.
Its time for me to wrap this up: I have baby chicks to take care of. :)
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