I’ve started and deleted this post so many times and I’m not exactly sure why. Maybe because I feel like I should start it was a funny story like how my coffee exploded in the microwave or how my attempt at making homemade bread failed miserably, but the truth is none of those stories seem like a good introduction for this post. So let me start it this way, I feel like 2019 is going to be a big year for us! Andrew and I are opposites in a lot of ways, yet we have a lot of the same interests. I love Summer, he loves Winter and this surprisingly enough has been beneficial for the both of us and our farm. I have always loved Summer. I loved staying outside until the streetlights came on and swimming until I was a prune. It’s weird to think Oakley won’t learn to ride her bike on asphalt or know what it means when the street lights come on as a kid, but I am so excited for her to grow up on a farm. This Summer I loved waking up in the morning, drinking a cup of coffee, and heading out to the garden with Oakley before it got scorching hot. Later on in the day, she spent a lot of time in her plastic, little pool. Something tells me my barefoot little babe is going to be a Summer girl just like her mom. Andrew on the other hand could bypass Summer and move straight into Fall. Between his job, the ticks that infest the ground in Arkansas, and how common heat stroke is in our area, Andrew counts down the days until Summer is over. If you know Andrew at all, you know he always has to be doing something so it drives him nuts when a lot of his projects come to a screeching hault during the Summer. When Winter finally arrives and the first frost kills off the ticks and chiggers, Andrew runs out the door! The past couple of weeks Andrew has been making huge improvements and checking off projects left and right at our house. He feels like Winter is a big push to get some high priority items checked off our to do list. I on the other hand can not wait until the days are long again. I hate when it gets dark so early, but we’ve passed the shortest day of the year, so things are looking up haha.
With all of that being said, we spent the first day of 2019 walking around our little farm and talking about all of our plans that we’d like to accomplish this year. Spoiler alert: they all have to do with more animals! I’m not one for New Years Resolutions, never have been. Probably because I most likely won’t keep them but I sure do admire people that set them and stick with them. I’ve also kicked around the idea of picking one word that I’d like to focus on this year, but that’s not how I’ve done things in the past either, so I’ll stick with what I’m familiar with and what has worked for me. Indulging in what’s been placed on my heart. For the last couple of weeks, I’ve had two phrases that have been placed on my heart.
The first is that God’s plans are greater than we can ever imagine. A friend gave me a book this last year and I was so inspired by the author. Her faith is admirable and the fact that every big decision she ever made, she heard God speak to her is awe-inspiring. I mean who would close a prospering, growing business that you poured every dime and penny into along with your blood sweat and tears? Regardless of what that business meant to her, she listened to God and closed the doors on her little shop. Where God steered her from there was more than she ever could have planned or imagined. If you know who I’m talking about or what book I’m referring to, leave your guess below as a comment!
One thing I say all the time is, “I couldn’t have handpicked a more precious baby myself.” Actually, I pictured myself as a boy mom but God already had the perfect baby selected for our family and we are forever blessed to be her parents. The joy she brings to our family is insurmountable. We think we know what we need but God knows better than we do.
The second thing that has been put on my heart parallels my first phrase. I have a tendency to get a little impatient because I think I have a plan or I think I know the best timing, but Andrew quickly reminds me that God’s timing is better than our timing. One time I was getting a little impatient and Andrew said, “I would rather it be His timing than ours.” Wow, say no more. That really put things into perspective for me and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it for the past month or so. I guess the bottom line is I want to find peace and comfort in God’s plan for our family and allow him to be in total control. So, that is what we will strive for in 2019 and I already feel like wonderful things lie ahead for our family and our farm!
I'm Courtney, a wife and mom that lives on a farm in rural, Arkansas. I hope you enjoy my farm life, gardening skills, natural living tips, recipes from scratch, and DIY projects!