When we first moved to the farm we heard from so many people! They would say “These are going to be the best memories your kids will ever have!” We nodded along and agreed but truthfully, we had no idea. We knew our move was big. It was big for us and it was big for our kids. We were leaving behind everything they knew of. For their entire lives, they lived in a beautiful ranch home on a secluded subdivision. It was spacious, safe, and happy. They had friends they could see on a daily basis and our neighbors would watch over your house if we left. The only jobs our kids really had was to help us with the chicken coop, garden, help clean their rooms and to do their school work (which was Kindergarten to first grade work). It was a safe and comfortable life. We were on our way to paying off our house. Why would we leave?

We Wanted More

We had a desire for more. We wanted more land and the option to raise livestock. It was this burning desire that sat under the surface because we knew we had a good life. We didn’t truly need anything more. We had it all!

And then a friend of ours came to us and told us that he was selling his place. A nice ranch home with 30 acres of great hunting land and apple tree’s.  Although we were not even thinking of moving at the time, we started to mull the idea of moving over. Should we leave this comfortable life to live a life of homesteading? We started looking at other properties (just to see). Nothing fit. Until we met a realtor who lived in the country and knew our desires. She wanting to live the same kind life. She told us about this property that she loved which had everything we were looking for. It was over our budget but we took a look. And we LOVED it. In fact, I declared it my “Dream House.”

We came home and officially pushed the thought of “my dream house” aside; it was more than we could afford. But God has his ways. A few weeks later our realtor contacted us saying that the family sold a portion of the land and were willing to sell the house at a lower price. They liked our family and wanted her to specifically reach out to us. Was this the sign we needed. We took a leap of faith and did it. We were moving to “My Dream House.” It was a whirlwind! But that did mean that we had to sell the home I grew up in; the home that my late father had built. I do not like talking about this. It is painful to my heart. For the last few years, my family was living in the house my father had built. My uncle and many my fathers friends friends  had helped him build this ranch house. I helped my father pick out the counters, the carpets, and the flooring. I helped him sand the wood paneling. My husband spend hours with my father in the basement helping him with his projects. There were a ton of memories here! After he passed, living in the house “he” built made me feel closer to his memory. And when you live like that it is easy to not actually face your grief. So, I had a lot of emotions with selling this house! There was A LOT of crying! But his dreams were not our dreams. It was time to sell our beloved townhouse first.

We had to get it ready to sell. We deep cleaned everything and fixed those things that we just kept pushing aside. It was finally time for the first two showings. We were on pins and needles. A day after the showing we received notification that the 2nd showing put in an offer on our house. It was fair and it was quick. They wanted to move NOW. We decided to accept the offer and the next few months were a whirlwind. No time for a garage sale or going through our things. It was a throw it in the box and go kind of move.

Finally moving day came. It was so bittersweet. Something to be talked about for a later post. We moved into our dream house, as the other family moved out. It was not ideal. I know it was bittersweet for them too. But it was what had to be done.

Life on the Farm

After living here for a two full years, I have to say that I had no idea my “Dream House” was so much work! I sometimes forget that I chose this path. Everyday is an adventure. I never know what I am going to wake up to. Sometimes, I wake up to a cow eating my flowers in our backyard. The horses broke through the electrical fence and are running across the field. There is an Amish man just waiting for me at my back door. The water went out and now I have to carry buckets of water down to the barn. All true stories! When I think I may get a break, God proves to me how strong I am and how I can persevere.

I can’t help but to look at our move as a new phase in our life. To be honest, I think of my old life as easy and this life as hard. I remember when we lived the easy life and could watch TV all evening if we wanted too. I think of how much work is now expected from my 10 year old who helps with barn chores on a daily basis. My 9  year old daughter is expected to stay in the house with the younger two and get everyone set up with breakfast or lunch depending on the day. We have chores, school and then more chores. Is it fair for me to ask this them? Is this really the life they will look fondly on in 30 plus years?

But I received my answer tonight, as I was thinking about this in the barn. My oldest son came down to help take care of the mini horses and chickens. My oldest daughter helps feed the cats and takes care of the ducks but can’t get the door to close the right way. My son swoops in to help. The younger two wander down to the barn in their nice clothes with no shoes. We all yell at them to get their boots on. They come back a minute later (how can they move so fast in this instance but not others, I will never know) and they run around laughing, holding kittens and jumping off of flipped over animal food dishes. I finish giving a 50 lb bag of grains to the cows and smile as I watch them run around with such joy. I then notice, my two oldest children holding their favorite kitten while observing a new spiders nest. And I think to myself…. “Yes…. yes… these are going to be the best memories my kids will have.” It doesn’t matter how much more work it is to live here or how much dirtier they get or how they have less time to play LEGO’s. They will remember this! It is better for them and for me.

I want to encourage anyone who has had a change in lifestyle with their family. It’s hard! Maybe you moved away from everything you knew. It’s ok! Maybe you were a stay at home parent and now have to go to work. It’s ok! If you are taking on a new job or career path. It’s ok! Life is not pretty. It is dirty and rough and full of love and heart. Your children know why you are making those sacrifices and if you show excitement and love for it; they will too.

There are challenges in all things. The easiest life is sometimes not the right path for everyone. But if you are “moving” to improve your family or lifestyle to what is best for you,  it will work out!

In whatever life circumstances this finds you in, I hope you gain encouragement through my story and that it gives you hope that the easy life is not always the best. You need to scrape your knee’s every once in a while to truly know how great your life is.

-Lindsay from Life on Misty Acres