What's Next?

*Sigh* When I start to think about all the ways that life has changed since May, I need to take a deep breath. There's been one BIG change that has seemed to have us questioning what's next?

In May, we moved from our rental property where we had enjoyed the "farm" life with 40 acres around us. We lived amongst the surrounding farms, where neighbors weren't far but they weren't super close either. We even had our own animals to take care of. We had breeding pigs, feeder pigs, cows, chickens, lots of chickens, barn cats, and our dogs. We had raised our own chickens for meat and eggs, pork for yummy pork chops, ham, bacon, etc. and were on our way to raising our own beef and breeding a heifer. We had a garden for a few years that we just ate off of through summer mostly. It was an amazing life. However, our landlord and family wanted to move out to their property where his shop was and we completely understood. We had more than a year to find a place which was a huge blessing.

Come April we were starting to cut it pretty close. Our heart's desire was to buy a home where we could bring all of our critters and continue the life that we had been living for 6 years. Sadly, everything that had the amount of space we "needed" was out of our price range. There weren't many homes on the market at the time either.

As, we realized that we weren't going to be able to keep our animals, our prayers shifted. We began to pray for a home that we could gather with friends and family in. A home that would be a blessing to not only us but to our community as well. Through a series of events we found a beautiful home that sits on half an acre, in a small neighborhood. The neighbors were beyond welcoming when we came to see our house before closing. We even knew the pastor that lives across from us! We truly felt that God had this home just for us through everything that happened. Truly a God story!

So we sold our breeding pigs, cows, and thankfully a friend is letting us house our feeder pigs on their farm till time for butchering. We're able to have chickens so that's been nice to have a little part of that life with us. We also did a garden this summer, which did wonderful with the fresh soil.

Even with the blessings that we've had, it's been hard. It's been EXTREMELY hard to let go of the animals that we had created bonds with, to move into a neighborhood, and still have the desire for our old life. We try to look for the good when it gets hard. We're thankful to have enough space to have a garden, to have chickens, our dogs, and we even brought one of the barn cats with us and she's enjoying the comforts of being inside! We're thankful for the open backyard that's perfect for the kids to play in. We're thankful for our backyard view that looks out to a corn field behind us. We're thankful for the extra time we now have with not needing to do chores. (I say that but trust me the time has been filled) We're EXTREMELY thankful for the home that not only keeps us dry and warm but has had more friends and family in it than the old farm house did in multiple years!

We truly do feel blessed beyond measure. But. We still have questions......

Why did we have to give that lifestyle up?

Why did we get moved closer to town?

And, of course, the one that matter where you are in life everyone seems to ask themselves is.....

why are we here?

My husband and I both like to look toward the future. Which can be a problem some times. So now our minds question what that will look like. Will we grow old here or will we live the farm life once again? We know that we desire to have a farm with animals and land but, more than anything we want to listen to the Lord's calling and His purpose in all things. So, for now we're trying our best to focus on what we're to be learning right now, in this season. Which again, for us, that's HARD!

Some things we know we're to be working on or learning are.....

Becoming closer as a family

More adventures (Big and Small)

Shaking up our lifestyle

Re-evaluating our homeschool

Increasing skills that we can use with or without a farm

(gardening, canning, preserving, cooking, baking, etc)

Creating a home that is welcoming

Hospitality

and more.

Even though we don't have the same lifestyle, there's still plenty of work to be done! The mission field to bring God glory is never ending! Our prayers are that in all things we bring glory to God. That's the whole point isn't it? That no matter what lifestyle you live, no matter where God has you, no matter the circumstances, we're to bring glory to Him and point others to His love and mercy!

In what way(s) do you feel called to bring Him glory?

If you need prayer please feel free to email me! I would love to pray with and for you!