Our Farm

For some this land may not look like much, but to me it is just the place where my heart belongs. This farm has been in our family for 102 years and for me symbolizes heritage, hard work, and happiness. This is a sacred place and I am humbled to be the one who gets to call this place home. As I walk our land, I am reminded of those who walked before me, staying faithful to the task at hand and I am connected to and inspired by them in a way that is beyond words. This farm thing is hard, folks. There are animals that constantly need tended to, sore muscles, and a perpetual pile of dirty laundry and filthy boots.

The difficulties however cannot outweigh all of the good that also comes with dwelling on a farm.  The crowing of roosters, the way we get to work hand in hand with God, the Master Gardener, to produce a crop that will in time find its way to our table, the pride that comes with seeing our Farmer Boy hard at work in the greenhouse, and the priceless sight of watching him on the tire swing and running wild in an open field. These moments deliver the purest forms of pleasure in life and flood my heart and soul with the deep contentment of knowing we are planted right where our Heavenly Father wants us. So without further ado, let me introduce you to the cast of characters that you will meet on our farm.

The Farmer and Farmer Boy

 These two fill my world with so much joy, love, and constant surprises. They love to pull jokes and you never know what either of them will drag through the front door. The Farmer and I have been on many adventures over the last 12 years we have called each other Mr. and Mrs.. He is my strongest supporter and has a way of seeing in me things that I never knew existed. Yes, we have our share of hardships, but at the end of the day we know that we are one, working together towards the same goals. He is strong, faithful and forgiving, and carries inside of him a sense of determination that some days frustrate me and test my patience to the limit, but overall fills me with pride, inspiration, and admiration.

Then, we have the Farmer Boy; and no matter how hard I try, I could never find all the words to express the love I hold in my heart for him. He lights up my world in a way that pushes back the darkness and keeps me smiling no matter what the circumstances. This boy sees right through me and challenges and convicts me to be a better person on a daily basis. He loves deeply, forgives quickly, and holds a world of knowledge inside his mind. He is a nature lover and is constantly filling his bug catcher and nature collection with new treasures. He is my joy and my reason for waking up each morning.

Next up, all of the animals…

The Pigs

Though very smelly some days, we are quite fond of these peculiar creatures. Most of them are actually very personable and their curiosity draws them near to us every time we set out on an exploration through the hog pasture.

The Chickens

These two legged friends are quite comical and Farmer Boy gets a good laugh from them on a regular basis. The majority are very calm, and I’m amazed everyday at how steadfast they are in their work. They don’t seem to mind the monotony of pecking and laying, pecking and laying, and they inspire me in my work as a homemaker and mother of cleaning and discipling, cleaning and discipling. Also, we are very grateful for the fresh eggs we enjoy every morning that they so kindly provide.

The Farm Cat

Meet, Mr. Stripes. This picture pretty much sums up all that he is in a nutshell; adorable, sweet, and unquestionably Farmer Boy’s best friend here on the farm.

These are all animals we have outdoors. Indoors, we also have a faithful boxer named Starbuck, a rabbit, and a blue tailed skink that The Farmer caught for his reptile loving boy last summer. Did I mention the surprises that come through my front door and the constant tending to animals? Yes, now you see why!

Then there’s Me…

The wife, mother, and child of The King who has to get on her knees daily and beg for patience, wisdom, and joy amidst all the chaos that comes with living this blessed and broken life. Most days you will find me under a pile of laundry and Legos, hair a mess, coffee in hand, and peace in my heart. This life can be messy. Marriage can be messy. Motherhood can be messy. And farm living most certainly is messy, but there’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be. My prayer is that you will come and journey with me through the beautiful mess and that you may find joy and encouragement through these out loud thoughts of mine that are stored up on this page.

Abide in Him Always,

Ashley