Farmstead Chronicles

  Pastor Dave and some of the worship team Sitting in my "church"     Does the best of intentions really count? I have wondered that SO MANY times in my life. This morning, I got up got ready for church and was attempting to help Noah & Charley get ready as well. Well, it went downhill quickly! The toddler did not want to cooperate, and it was nap time (at 10:00 a.m.) Charley could not find a shirt to wear, that I thought was "good enough" for church and quite frankly I was just in a bad mood by this point. So, I decided that I was going to put Noah down for a nap, Charley was going to draw or read a book and I was going to my she-shed for church. I went up with my headphones and my phone and had church and drank coffee and ate snacks in the peace and quiet. I actually got to listen to church and focus on the sermon. Pastor Dave preached on how no matter what we do, Jesus loves us. I even took notes and inserted my name in there... I have made many...

Expecting mommas The sunset over the hill I missed those trees and ALL of their beauty The Old Farmhouse Ahh, the view Camp Hollow Farm      I have been meaning to do this blog for weeks, but other pictures came up and I wanted to blog them first. I get my blog inspiration from things I see, then I take the picture and write the blog based on the picture(s). Camp Hollow Farm is truly a sight to see in the Fall. The trees behind the barn turn all the beautiful colors and it's just gorgeous. I captured them later and so you don't get to see many of the colors, but what is left is still nonetheless breathtaking. I remember when I moved here a year after Garrett and I got married, I would get so tired of the drive and it would make me so tired too, but it really is a sight to see. I can see the mountains from my bedroom window and in the morning when I can lay in bed and see the sun come up, I always say Thank you Jesus for this beautiful view.      Camp H...

  my sweet girl     Earlier this week Charley overheard a friend talking to me about the news and what's going on in Israel. When we drove away, she had SO MANY QUESTIONS. I welcome questions from my children, because I would rather them hear it from me than from a friend/peer. I tell them the truth, good, bad or uncomfortable. She started asking me questions like "what's going on in Israel?" "can't Jesus stop all of this?" "When is Jesus coming back?" and what does this mean or that mean? I was honest with her and said, Charley I don't watch the news, so I don't really know what's going on in Israel. I don't think I have ever really been a news watcher, but I most definitely stopped watching/listening to the news in 2020. It gave me anxiety. In my opinion, you cannot believe anything you hear on the news, especially since 2020. So, I just don't watch it. I told her I had read the bible from Genesis - Revelations and Jesus i...

It's nail day I color my own hair, sorry Megan     I have not always taken care of myself. There were many, many years I was young, raising 2 boys and barely making ends meet, so self-care was not feasible. Probably when I turned 30, I would say I started to pay more attention to self-care. When I turned 40, I decided I was going to make it a "priority." I am still in the throes of raising little kids and time is of the essence for me. Now, when I say self-care, I don't mean I spend hundreds of dollars on myself. I mean I save my tip money and go get my nails done. I go to TJ Maxx for "wrinkle cream" and Collagen (and any other new skin care cream I can find.)  I own my own business, we live on a farm, the list goes on and on; just like it does for you too, I'm sure. But I have come to find that if I take care of myself, I am better able to take care of my responsibilities.      I listen to a lot of self-help and self-improveme...

  My 4 greatest blessing The middle child My only daughter My sweet Vintage Baby     The last picture,  I took this evening of Noah and I. He will come up and put both little hands on your face and either kiss you or pinch... very hard! He was pinching tonight, but that sweet face of his, I couldn't be mad. His milestones are fresh because he's the "baby." I like to sit and go back in my memory bank and think about each child when they were Noah's age. My children are spaced pretty far apart. The older two boys are 22 & 17, the younger two are 9 & 1.5. I consider it a privilege to get to raise Noah and watch him grow. If you follow this blog, you will know that I had Noah when I was 41 years old. I thought I was too old to have a baby (clearly not.)      I had my first son when I was 20 years old. We did a lot of growing up together and he taught me a lot about being a mom. I had no clue what to do with a baby when he was born! It was craz...

  Making sure Charley doesn't throw Nana out of the wheelchair. A selfie she took on my phone - she deleted it, but I found it. hahaha     She's probably going to be upset when she sees this blog. Mainly because she doesn't like to be bragged about. But I have to tell ya'll about one of the strongest women I know. Since my nana broke her hip on September 20, my mom has been at the hospital or Summit Square EVERY DAY. She goes in the morning and doesn't leave until afternoon. Sometimes I think it's because she's afraid she's going to miss something. I have told her multiple times over the last several weeks that she needs to take care of herself. She just says "I know, or I am" when in fact, she is tired and mentally exhausted. She takes it on herself to take care of everyone and everything. That's where I get it from! Her plate is running over with taking care of Nana. This coming weekend she has The Barn and is not prepared for that at all...

Mother & Daughter "Coneheads" Ol Magpie     Today was finally the day. I had called the SPCA months ago to make an appointment for Maggie and Addie to be spaid, at the time they were not taking female dogs and put me on a waiting list. I went ahead and made an appointment at the vet to have Maggie spaid. She has had 2 litters of pups (a total of 23 😟) and this last litter did her in. It changed her. So, I decided it was time to get her fixed. She was supposed to go to the vet the middle of October to have the surgery done. The SPCA called me on Monday and said they had 2 appointments available for Tuesday. I said I'll take them. We had to be there at 8:00 a.m. I got the kids to school and the sitter's and the dogs to the SPCA by 8:00. There was a pretty long line and I waited in line for an hour to get them registered. I dropped them off and made it to work on time to at least get the coffee pot started.            Dr...

Getting outside for a little fresh air Nurse Charley Noah & Naynay playing with the exercise bands Mom & I in the shadows The beautiful gazebo     Today the little kids and I went to visit my Nana. She is at Summit Square for rehab after falling and breaking her hip on September 20th. She did NOT want to go there; however, my mom just had her gallbladder removed on September 11th and could not help with rehab due to lifting restrictions and my Uncle Bubbi still works. The Dr. thought this would be best for Nana, so that's where she is for now. The kids and I took her a milkshake (she loves ice cream and would eat it for every meal.) She's walking pretty well on a walker and is doing her rehab like she's supposed to. This week she will practice steps and getting in and out of the car. She broke her left him and told my mom she could get in the driver's seat and drive herself home. I cracked up laughing, my mom did not see the humor in it. Nana & I thought ...