A Decade in Review - From Meadowland to Home Sweet Farmhouse (The Good, the Not-As-Good, and Not-So-Pretty)

 

Almost inconcieveably, a decade has passed since the Summer of 2016.  The summer that sparked a new and exciting chapter for our family.  July 2016 brought biter-sweet goodbyes to all our dear friends, and the only place our boys ever remembered living.  In this swirl of emotions, we loaded up our new, and thankfully temporary, home-on-wheels (28-foot trailer).  Just the 5 of us, tumbling down the highway towards our new meadow-lands.  Literally rolling into our new family adventure.  Not much of our life would ever be the same.  Looking back a decade later, I am ever-so grateful for God's faithfulness, and the gift of each other.  

At the time, our little boys were going into kindergarten, 3rd grade, and 5th grade.  Our precious J.D. doggie was able to enjoy several months roaming through our meadows before we also had to say a tender goodbye to him as well. 

"The Good, The Not-As-Good, and The Ugly" from this past decade.  

Part 1- "The Good"- God's gracious gifts (big and small):

• our amazing school (K-12th grade)
• ushering our boys from elementary school through off-to-college (2 out of 3 boys this fall!)
• new, and dear, friendships made almost instantly for our boys (more amazing than we could have ever imagined for our boys)
• a teaching job (in my favorite grade) for the past decade at the same school as our boys - allowing me to always be "just right down the hall" from them 
• grandparents moving to the same town, and sister/brother in-laws and cousins also close by
• paddle boarding, kayaking, and hiking in water and mountains now in "our backyard"
• our very own meadows and woods (and zip-line) for our boys to run free and be just that
• ATV adventures on our property (if that thing could talk -- OH the stories it would tell!)
• tree house building
• epic snow days
• larger-than-life Christmas trees
• enjoying a couple of different church homes
• the opportunity to select each and every feature for our new farmhouse, as it was being built
• front-row seat to the progress -- from a property of bare land and wild grass, to finishing touches -- and the making of a house into a home
• a space and place for many, many kids (SO many boys!) to just come and hang out
• farm-fresh eggs from our faithful flocks
• our mature apple grove harvests
• very little traffic as we get around
• God's beautiful creation abounding around just about every corner
• front porch rocking chairs
• crackling fires in our wood-burning stove (T's go-to winter spot)
• rural stargazing (and even some northern lights!)
• grace found in learning the art of "letting go" with a property that's always far from perfect and "a lot bit" on the "wild-side" (boys being boys, crazy Jack Russells, chickens, so. many. weeds, dirt -- and you name it!)
• small town familiarity -- when you feel like you know people almost wherever you go
• high school sports
• all 3 boys now driving

Here are just a few snapshots of God's blessings from start to finish from this past decade:

Finally finished!

New Pup 2016 (AKA "JJ")

 

         

         

         New 2020 Pup (Aka "Gray-Gray") 

         

          

         

   

T's Senior Pictures

T's College Drop Off Day

A Grand Thanksgiving Table to Seat 20

P's Senior Pictures

P's College Tour

Now more than 25 years of marriage tucked into our belts...

They say that if you blink, your kids will be all grown up.  I am starting to believe it.  I'm just doing my best to keep my head up and eyes wide open.  

And, above all, still stay on my knees to praise the Lord from Whom all blessings flow!