It's hard to believe - - we have reached the one year anniversary of this blog!
Thank you to each of you who have read, commented, encouraged and shared life with me in this little space. I have truly enjoyed the friendships here and the opportunity to share the joy of nesting, creating and celebrating life's special occasions with you, kindred spirits.
I am excited to start a new series on Sundays, named after my very first post...
'Faith for a Farm'. While most of the posts on Little Farmstead have to do with home decorating, DIY projects, parties and bits of pieces of our family life here on our mini farm, this new series will focus on our personal stories of faith.
I hope they will be an encouragement to you!
Finding our Little Farmstead
For many years, my husband and I dreamed of a country home where our three boys could have some wide open spaces to play and explore.
We hoped for a mini farm where we could learn together the joy and responsibilities of caring for some animals. We imagined a home with additional outdoor space that would be inviting for our extended family and friends.
My husband's one requirement was that our new home had a place for a fire pit. Growing up camping, he knew that's where our boys would sit and talk with us - around a camp fire.
I think a big part of the dream was having more reasons to be at home together, as a family.
Over the years, we looked at many houses, but the doors always seemed to close due to possible job relocation, finances, timing, didn't quite feel right, etc. My sister and I would scour online listings and do many "drive-bys" of homes for sale, keeping the dream alive. Thank you, Jodi. ;)
During this time, I struggled because I knew I had so much to be thankful for and didn't want to be materialistic... yet the dream for a change in lifestyle for our family was so strong, I could almost taste it.
The challenge was to continue to hope, dream and trust without becoming discouraged or discontent.
In addition to our prayers and the prayers of our family, we had a special group of friends who prayed with us about this dream. I remember one girls night out with three of my close friends. After enjoying dinner together, we sat in my friend's mini(van) and prayed together. We each asked the Lord for specific desires of our hearts. It was amazing to see each one of those four requests answered, including us moving into our little farmstead!
When we first were shown this home - with over two acres of mostly fenced, flat land, a charming country house, a barn and a chicken coop - we knew (okay, we hoped!) this was it. It was all that we had hoped for! And can I tell you how glad we were that none of those other places had worked out? It was truly worth the wait. We moved in the week before Thanksgiving one year ago.
Though I know happiness is not a place, we are so grateful and happy to be here. We thank the Lord for answering our prayers and bringing our family here... for however long He sees fit.
Please know I am not equating a house with many more urgent situations. I know there are people struggling in relationships, with health issues and with financial needs.
I share our story of finding our home in hopes of encouraging you to offer your dreams to the Lord in prayer, knowing He is always good. And that He cares deeply for you. Perhaps what you dream of is a desire He has planted in your heart for a reason...
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17
Have a blessed Sunday!
xo
Sharing with:
Dwellings - The Heart of Your Home
Coastal Charm
'Faith for a Farm'. While most of the posts on Little Farmstead have to do with home decorating, DIY projects, parties and bits of pieces of our family life here on our mini farm, this new series will focus on our personal stories of faith.
I hope they will be an encouragement to you!
Finding our Little Farmstead
For many years, my husband and I dreamed of a country home where our three boys could have some wide open spaces to play and explore.
We hoped for a mini farm where we could learn together the joy and responsibilities of caring for some animals. We imagined a home with additional outdoor space that would be inviting for our extended family and friends.
My husband's one requirement was that our new home had a place for a fire pit. Growing up camping, he knew that's where our boys would sit and talk with us - around a camp fire.
I think a big part of the dream was having more reasons to be at home together, as a family.
Over the years, we looked at many houses, but the doors always seemed to close due to possible job relocation, finances, timing, didn't quite feel right, etc. My sister and I would scour online listings and do many "drive-bys" of homes for sale, keeping the dream alive. Thank you, Jodi. ;)
During this time, I struggled because I knew I had so much to be thankful for and didn't want to be materialistic... yet the dream for a change in lifestyle for our family was so strong, I could almost taste it.
The challenge was to continue to hope, dream and trust without becoming discouraged or discontent.
In addition to our prayers and the prayers of our family, we had a special group of friends who prayed with us about this dream. I remember one girls night out with three of my close friends. After enjoying dinner together, we sat in my friend's mini(van) and prayed together. We each asked the Lord for specific desires of our hearts. It was amazing to see each one of those four requests answered, including us moving into our little farmstead!
When we first were shown this home - with over two acres of mostly fenced, flat land, a charming country house, a barn and a chicken coop - we knew (okay, we hoped!) this was it. It was all that we had hoped for! And can I tell you how glad we were that none of those other places had worked out? It was truly worth the wait. We moved in the week before Thanksgiving one year ago.
Though I know happiness is not a place, we are so grateful and happy to be here. We thank the Lord for answering our prayers and bringing our family here... for however long He sees fit.
Please know I am not equating a house with many more urgent situations. I know there are people struggling in relationships, with health issues and with financial needs.
I share our story of finding our home in hopes of encouraging you to offer your dreams to the Lord in prayer, knowing He is always good. And that He cares deeply for you. Perhaps what you dream of is a desire He has planted in your heart for a reason...
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17
Have a blessed Sunday!
xo
Sharing with:
Dwellings - The Heart of Your Home
Coastal Charm
