So, it's Saturday, the 18th, and we left on Friday the 10th. Didn't have much internet at Yosemite, so haven't posted lately. Let's catch up!
Friday, we wanted to leave around lunchtime, but it took a lot longer to get ready than we expected. Pulled out about 2. The drive to Yosemite should have taken 3 hours...ended up about 5 or so, lol. Never having been there, neither of us expected the steep drive up that would make us crawl, and stop over and over, pulling off to let the van cool. But we made it, and it was WELL worth it! Yosemite was amazing.
We planned to leave there Monday, but ended up extending our stay to Thursday. It was just so gorgeous, and the campground was great, and we had nowhere to be, lol. We did several short hikes, saw the history center, the big trees at Mariposa Grove, all sorts of stuff. It was just wonderful. We took tons and tons of pics, which I still need to figure how to get off the phones, lol. And videos and pics on the video cam, too.
We went actually into Yosemite 4 days, and spent a lot of time relaxing at the campground, too. The kids rode bikes, waded in the river, sorted what they believe to be gold out of the sand on the banks...
Definitely somewhere we plan to return to someday!
Highlights of Yosemite...seeing Steves face as he saw Half Dome. Lee falling in the water after being warned the rocks were slippery (one of those scary at the time, funny now things). Lee and Sasha learning to ride their bikes WELL at the campground, and loving it. The amazing pictures in the Ansel Adams gallery (Steve and I went alone to that, lol!!). Watching the butterflies land on Megans toenail polish down by the river. Jack loved the shuttle buses. Sasha loved the history center, with the old cabins and homesteads. Tony says his favorite part was camping, and Lee loved the tunnel tree in Mariposa Grove (got some great pics!). Mariah says the waterfalls and rivers were here favorite part.
Then, Thursday, we left Yosemite. Again, took it very slowly down the hill, so that we didn't overheat the brakes...or go sliding off an edge, lol. Between that, and the slower speed on the freeways for towing, what mapquest said was a 4 hour drive to Bakersfield turned into 7-8 hours, but we made it here. Not without a casualty, though. Our bike rack on the back bumper overweighted the bumper and bent, so we lost a bike. Have been in Bakersfield since, repairing the bumper and reinforcing it. Should be leaving tomorrow, it seems. But the kids are loving the pool, and today the park had a bounce house set up, so it's been fine.
Hopefully, I will have better internet most of the time now, so I can update better. Sorry for the quick overview, but I've been by the pool all day with the kids, and need to start dinner now while they shower. Keep it rubber side down, everyone!
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Following Him.
For the last 2.5 years, we've been blessed with this amazing experience. A farm, 10 acres of green to roam, to grow things, to enjoy. We raised a steer, who is now in the freezer. We raised chickens, for both meat and eggs. Ducks, turkeys, guinea fowl. Goats and sheep, and horses...because what kid doesn't want a horse? And it's been awesome. We've loved it.
So when I tell people we're moving, invariably they ask "Why?" "If you love it, why leave?". Well, because it's time. God said so. He made it very very clear that He has something different planned now, and I have to trust that His plans are greater than mine.
Because I DID have plans. 3 months ago, we were planning where to put the fences, to keep the chickens out of the garden. I was poring over seed catalogs. And I was waiting anxiously for the VBS emails to start! I do love VBS. And then...it became glaringly obvious that Steves health was getting worse. And one day...he said "I can't keep doing this". And I'd been waiting for that for years, and seeing it coming faster and faster for the last months, and yet it was a shock in some ways. Suddenly, this enormous change that we had always talked about as "someday" was "now". "NOW"!!
And so, we're following Him. Clinging to the knowledge that He has gone before us, and laid His plans, and that He has something else awesome planned for us. Because He always has. 2.5 years ago, when it became glaringly obvious that we were going to lose the house, I broke down in tears. "Why, God? We had it so good here!". And He let me mourn, and blessed us with something even better.
And just over 7 years ago, we were told that Steve would probably never walk or work again, and DEFINITELY never have children again. And not only did God let him walk and work again, but He has blessed us with 2 more adorable miracles since then!!
So I know that He will give us His best, which is all I can ever want. And yet, I don't think He minds us mourning, either. Because it's hard to let go of the future in my head, you know? And yet, I'm not losing anything, because I'm winning so much. I'm anxious to get started on this adventure He has for us, and see what awesome gifts He has planned! I have already seen so many...a huge lessening of Steves stress. His ability to really interact with the children again, since he's less stressed, and less exhausted. Friends, old friends and new, coming to lift us and carry us and help us through.
Walk with us through this journey, and we'll see what He has planned, and you can share in the rejoicing, ok? And maybe some mourning along the way.
So when I tell people we're moving, invariably they ask "Why?" "If you love it, why leave?". Well, because it's time. God said so. He made it very very clear that He has something different planned now, and I have to trust that His plans are greater than mine.
Because I DID have plans. 3 months ago, we were planning where to put the fences, to keep the chickens out of the garden. I was poring over seed catalogs. And I was waiting anxiously for the VBS emails to start! I do love VBS. And then...it became glaringly obvious that Steves health was getting worse. And one day...he said "I can't keep doing this". And I'd been waiting for that for years, and seeing it coming faster and faster for the last months, and yet it was a shock in some ways. Suddenly, this enormous change that we had always talked about as "someday" was "now". "NOW"!!
And so, we're following Him. Clinging to the knowledge that He has gone before us, and laid His plans, and that He has something else awesome planned for us. Because He always has. 2.5 years ago, when it became glaringly obvious that we were going to lose the house, I broke down in tears. "Why, God? We had it so good here!". And He let me mourn, and blessed us with something even better.
And just over 7 years ago, we were told that Steve would probably never walk or work again, and DEFINITELY never have children again. And not only did God let him walk and work again, but He has blessed us with 2 more adorable miracles since then!!
So I know that He will give us His best, which is all I can ever want. And yet, I don't think He minds us mourning, either. Because it's hard to let go of the future in my head, you know? And yet, I'm not losing anything, because I'm winning so much. I'm anxious to get started on this adventure He has for us, and see what awesome gifts He has planned! I have already seen so many...a huge lessening of Steves stress. His ability to really interact with the children again, since he's less stressed, and less exhausted. Friends, old friends and new, coming to lift us and carry us and help us through.
Walk with us through this journey, and we'll see what He has planned, and you can share in the rejoicing, ok? And maybe some mourning along the way.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Crazy Farm on the move
So, the Crazy Farm is on the move. For a long time, we've wanted to move out of CA, for various reasons, and now, it's time. So many things, happening all at once. So much to do, so many decisions to make, so many things to handle, all at once...
In many ways, I wish we'd done this years ago, and yet, I know, undoubtedly, it wasn't time until now, just as I know, almost as certainly, that it IS time now. As surely as possible, I am certain that God has said "Go. It's time. Now.". And so we go. And yet...it's not possible to be 100% certain, ever, until later. Until you look in hindsight, you will never know FOR SURE that you are making the right choice, following Him in what He says, and not just guessing. So, it's scary.
And I feel a lot more sympathy for the Israelites, hearing God call them out of Egypt. "Go, God? Now? I mean...I know we're slaves...I know it's not the Promised Land...but, we have food here, and homes, and we know people! I have friends down the street, you know? And the kids friends! Well...maybe...are you SURE, God? Let me think about it..."
It's huge. Walking away from everything and everyone you know. And it's hard. And yet, He doesn't ask us to do the easy. He doesn't ask us to go where we know, where we are safe, where we are comfortable. He asks us to go where it's scary and hard and lonely, because in those places is where we learn to draw near to Him, to lean on Him, to have faith in Him. When we have nothing else, that is when we cling to Him.
God, I want that. I want to be yours, completely. I want to draw so closely to you that I breathe You, not air. So walk with me, through yet another hard thing, and be patient with my fearful heart as You remind me that you have never, will never, can never fail me, even as I fail you hourly. Make me more like you, bit by glorious, painful, terrifying bit.
Thank you, Lord, that you are patient with me, even in these hard places.
In many ways, I wish we'd done this years ago, and yet, I know, undoubtedly, it wasn't time until now, just as I know, almost as certainly, that it IS time now. As surely as possible, I am certain that God has said "Go. It's time. Now.". And so we go. And yet...it's not possible to be 100% certain, ever, until later. Until you look in hindsight, you will never know FOR SURE that you are making the right choice, following Him in what He says, and not just guessing. So, it's scary.
And I feel a lot more sympathy for the Israelites, hearing God call them out of Egypt. "Go, God? Now? I mean...I know we're slaves...I know it's not the Promised Land...but, we have food here, and homes, and we know people! I have friends down the street, you know? And the kids friends! Well...maybe...are you SURE, God? Let me think about it..."
It's huge. Walking away from everything and everyone you know. And it's hard. And yet, He doesn't ask us to do the easy. He doesn't ask us to go where we know, where we are safe, where we are comfortable. He asks us to go where it's scary and hard and lonely, because in those places is where we learn to draw near to Him, to lean on Him, to have faith in Him. When we have nothing else, that is when we cling to Him.
God, I want that. I want to be yours, completely. I want to draw so closely to you that I breathe You, not air. So walk with me, through yet another hard thing, and be patient with my fearful heart as You remind me that you have never, will never, can never fail me, even as I fail you hourly. Make me more like you, bit by glorious, painful, terrifying bit.
Thank you, Lord, that you are patient with me, even in these hard places.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Blogging from the cliff
When God leads you to a cliff, He will either teach you to
fly, or catch you when you fall.
Sometimes, I feel like my whole life is one long series of
cliffs. Jump. Jump.
Jump. Where is that bottom? When do I stop jumping, and rest for a
while? Tell me, Lord, don’t I trust you
enough yet?
No. No, I don’t. There is no “enough”. Until it is all, everything, complete. And that is SO hard. Am I the only one releasing things to Him,
one grasping finger at a time, as He gently pulls them from my grip, promising
He will take better care of everything than I can? I can’t be.
So let me tell you what I’ve learned so far. First…He WILL take better care of
everything. Trust Him. He IS the beginning and the end of all, and
He loves us more than we can even imagine.
Second…honestly, no matter what you do, that cliff is coming. Trust Him, don’t trust Him…that cliff looms
ahead, growing ever closer, no matter which way you turn, which way you look…it’s
there. And the only thing at the bottom
of it is Him, waiting for you. Waiting
for all of us. Jump. Jump, spread your arms, and see what
happens. The flight is glorious, and the
landing soft and sweet, every single time.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Maybe
So, I was just reading this blog post...
http://kellyclinger.com/2012/08/11/we-cant-handle-the-truth-about-abortion/
Warning, it's heartbreaking, and may be shocking to you. It was to me.
Anyhow, I was thinking about it. And I agree, that we need a revolution. But maybe not the type she meant, or maybe not JUST the type she meant. Maybe, we need a revolution of love.
One of the common objections I hear to outlawing abortion is "What will we do with all those unwanted babies? Will YOU take them?" Yes. Yes, I will. Hand me your unwanted baby. I want him or her. Boy or girl. Black, white, brown, yellow, purple with pink polkadots, I want her. Healthy or not, I want him. Whether you are a stranger, a friend, a relative, an adult, a teen...If you don't want that baby, I do. And so do thousands upon thousands of others. Some of them are childless. Some of them already have large families. But we want that baby, and would consider ourselves blessed to get him or her.
Maybe we need to SHOW it. Does anyone remember the signs people used to put in their windows, to show kids that it was a safe house to go to, if anyone was bothering them? If you saw the sign, you knew you could go there if anyone was following you, bullying you, harassing you, on your way home, etc.
Maybe that's what we need. A sign we can put in our window, on our car, on our purse, wear on our shirts... Something to show that there ARE people who want those "unwanted babies", lots of them. I'd wear it. Would you?
Maybe we need the government to make it easier for those "unwanted babies" to be adopted by the families who want them, instead of easier to get an abortion. Maybe we need to get rid of rules limiting how many kids a family can have and still adopt. Maybe, we need to stand up and say "I want your unwanted baby".
And maybe, we need to help those girls who really want their baby, but don't see a way. Help them afford it, help them learn to mother, help them see that they CAN. Show them that getting pregnant on accident doesn't make the baby a mistake, and that you can't erase a baby like you can a misspelt word in a letter.
Maybe we need to get loud about the fact that life is valuable, and WE VALUE IT!
http://kellyclinger.com/2012/08/11/we-cant-handle-the-truth-about-abortion/
Warning, it's heartbreaking, and may be shocking to you. It was to me.
Anyhow, I was thinking about it. And I agree, that we need a revolution. But maybe not the type she meant, or maybe not JUST the type she meant. Maybe, we need a revolution of love.
One of the common objections I hear to outlawing abortion is "What will we do with all those unwanted babies? Will YOU take them?" Yes. Yes, I will. Hand me your unwanted baby. I want him or her. Boy or girl. Black, white, brown, yellow, purple with pink polkadots, I want her. Healthy or not, I want him. Whether you are a stranger, a friend, a relative, an adult, a teen...If you don't want that baby, I do. And so do thousands upon thousands of others. Some of them are childless. Some of them already have large families. But we want that baby, and would consider ourselves blessed to get him or her.
Maybe we need to SHOW it. Does anyone remember the signs people used to put in their windows, to show kids that it was a safe house to go to, if anyone was bothering them? If you saw the sign, you knew you could go there if anyone was following you, bullying you, harassing you, on your way home, etc.
Maybe that's what we need. A sign we can put in our window, on our car, on our purse, wear on our shirts... Something to show that there ARE people who want those "unwanted babies", lots of them. I'd wear it. Would you?
Maybe we need the government to make it easier for those "unwanted babies" to be adopted by the families who want them, instead of easier to get an abortion. Maybe we need to get rid of rules limiting how many kids a family can have and still adopt. Maybe, we need to stand up and say "I want your unwanted baby".
And maybe, we need to help those girls who really want their baby, but don't see a way. Help them afford it, help them learn to mother, help them see that they CAN. Show them that getting pregnant on accident doesn't make the baby a mistake, and that you can't erase a baby like you can a misspelt word in a letter.
Maybe we need to get loud about the fact that life is valuable, and WE VALUE IT!
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Crazy summer days
So, I haven't been posting much lately again. Been busy with life, the kids, sewing (made myself 3 new skirts, among other things!). And I'm not really sure my life is interesting enough to post about, you know? But, here I am anywho, just waiting for the canner to boil. Have a batch of what we are calling "wildberry" jam (because they grow wild, and we don't know if they are blackberries or boysenberries, lol) to seal. Yum. Kids went out picking. Going to have to send them more often, till the season ends. I would like to have a bunch of jam in the pantry.
Other than that, not much going on today. With the big 4 out picking, I was elected to stay home with the little 2, so I made a quadruple batch of granola, and baked a cinnamon roll cake. Just a nice day of cooking. Made both in the Nesco, since it's too warm to use the oven. Looking forward to cool weather coming, except that I'll miss the fruit.
Other than that, not much going on today. With the big 4 out picking, I was elected to stay home with the little 2, so I made a quadruple batch of granola, and baked a cinnamon roll cake. Just a nice day of cooking. Made both in the Nesco, since it's too warm to use the oven. Looking forward to cool weather coming, except that I'll miss the fruit.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Welcome to a crazy day out
Well, I suppose I should start by saying that this really isn't THAT out of the ordinary for us. I mean...you can't be crazy only AT the farm, right? And taking 10 kids to the movies and such...something has to go "wrong", right, lol? So, that said...
It started out as a normal Wednesday. Tired, but normal. It's been awful stinkin' hot, and no one slept well last night, and it seemed several people ended up in MY room...in my bed, to be precise, then on the floor when I got tired of snuggling, lol. So, I was tired. But it was Wednesday, and this week, Wednesday was movie and park day!
So we had breakfast, did chores, rush rush rush. Packed a lunch of random stuff tossed in the cooler, because I had forgotten to plan anything for today again. Lots of water bottles, all reusable and filled from our tap, a big ice dohickey...you know, normal stuff. Got out just in time, as always.
Arrive at the theater, and start unloading, and lo and behold, Tony has NO SHOES! He had them ON when he walked out the door. Megan checked. But nothing now. "Tony, where ARE your shoes?" "I took them off at home." Groan. Will they let us in with him shoeless? Almost left, thinking, surely they won't, but decided to risk it. Megan carried Tony, Mariahs friend B carried Jack, and we got in line. "Tickets for 10 to Kung Fu Panda 2, please". And in we went. No problem! WOOHOO!
Movie was great. I'm really glad we were informed that Rango had bad language in it, as that was our original plan, and I'd have been terribly upset by that. So KFP2 was a great choice, and all enjoyed it. Then, off to a special stop. Today, you see, was 7/11. Yes, it's a tradition in our house. We LOVE free Slurpee day. Love Love LOVE! So we stopped at a 7/11 on our way to the park. Free slurpees for all the kids, and a slightly larger and slightly less free one for me. Yum. Cold and refreshing and delicious.
Met with Bs mom at the park, to visit and play and trade back. Lucky to snag one of the precious shade spots at this park. Sadly, a lot of the newer parks don't have much shade, so I had a large golfing umbrella with us, in case. I don't like baby Jack in the sun yet. But we got shade, and we enjoyed our random lunch of cheese, crackers, tortilla chips, hard boiled eggs and water, lol. Yum. And our visit with our good friends. Always nice to have time to chit chat.
Then the REAL fun began, lol. We were off to the library (hoping to pass another 7-11 on our way, but no such luck). Following the GPS directions, we headed out....down this road, turn on this one, up and onto the freeway...tra la la.... Now onto this other freeway...up and over the flyway onto the 2nd freeway and BAM, the traffic stops. No big deal, except that the weather is well over 100, and as we are inching along, the van begins to warm up....the gauge begins to climb higher...and higher...and I begin to worry. And pray. And worry some more.
Luckily, we made it to the offramp, and then got to take a scenic tour through downtown Sacramento. See, the GPS wanted me to get back on the freeway, and was kind of...obsessive about it, lol. "In 200 feet, take onramp" NO. "Turn left (to the onramp)". NO. Finally figured out how to get where we were going without her help, and had a nice leisurely drive to the library, lol. Got to drive past Sutters Fort (really need to go there). Got to drive over the beautiful, cool looking river. And in the end, got where we were going.
Library books (30 or so), and then home. Didn't have time to start a "real" dinner, so we had eggs, toast, hash browns and watermelon. And chores, baths and bed.
So, that's a crazy day OFF the farm, but not too out of the ordinary for us. Lots of blessings, and lots of fun, and we survived to do it again next week. YAY!
It started out as a normal Wednesday. Tired, but normal. It's been awful stinkin' hot, and no one slept well last night, and it seemed several people ended up in MY room...in my bed, to be precise, then on the floor when I got tired of snuggling, lol. So, I was tired. But it was Wednesday, and this week, Wednesday was movie and park day!
So we had breakfast, did chores, rush rush rush. Packed a lunch of random stuff tossed in the cooler, because I had forgotten to plan anything for today again. Lots of water bottles, all reusable and filled from our tap, a big ice dohickey...you know, normal stuff. Got out just in time, as always.
Arrive at the theater, and start unloading, and lo and behold, Tony has NO SHOES! He had them ON when he walked out the door. Megan checked. But nothing now. "Tony, where ARE your shoes?" "I took them off at home." Groan. Will they let us in with him shoeless? Almost left, thinking, surely they won't, but decided to risk it. Megan carried Tony, Mariahs friend B carried Jack, and we got in line. "Tickets for 10 to Kung Fu Panda 2, please". And in we went. No problem! WOOHOO!
Movie was great. I'm really glad we were informed that Rango had bad language in it, as that was our original plan, and I'd have been terribly upset by that. So KFP2 was a great choice, and all enjoyed it. Then, off to a special stop. Today, you see, was 7/11. Yes, it's a tradition in our house. We LOVE free Slurpee day. Love Love LOVE! So we stopped at a 7/11 on our way to the park. Free slurpees for all the kids, and a slightly larger and slightly less free one for me. Yum. Cold and refreshing and delicious.
Met with Bs mom at the park, to visit and play and trade back. Lucky to snag one of the precious shade spots at this park. Sadly, a lot of the newer parks don't have much shade, so I had a large golfing umbrella with us, in case. I don't like baby Jack in the sun yet. But we got shade, and we enjoyed our random lunch of cheese, crackers, tortilla chips, hard boiled eggs and water, lol. Yum. And our visit with our good friends. Always nice to have time to chit chat.
Then the REAL fun began, lol. We were off to the library (hoping to pass another 7-11 on our way, but no such luck). Following the GPS directions, we headed out....down this road, turn on this one, up and onto the freeway...tra la la.... Now onto this other freeway...up and over the flyway onto the 2nd freeway and BAM, the traffic stops. No big deal, except that the weather is well over 100, and as we are inching along, the van begins to warm up....the gauge begins to climb higher...and higher...and I begin to worry. And pray. And worry some more.
Luckily, we made it to the offramp, and then got to take a scenic tour through downtown Sacramento. See, the GPS wanted me to get back on the freeway, and was kind of...obsessive about it, lol. "In 200 feet, take onramp" NO. "Turn left (to the onramp)". NO. Finally figured out how to get where we were going without her help, and had a nice leisurely drive to the library, lol. Got to drive past Sutters Fort (really need to go there). Got to drive over the beautiful, cool looking river. And in the end, got where we were going.
Library books (30 or so), and then home. Didn't have time to start a "real" dinner, so we had eggs, toast, hash browns and watermelon. And chores, baths and bed.
So, that's a crazy day OFF the farm, but not too out of the ordinary for us. Lots of blessings, and lots of fun, and we survived to do it again next week. YAY!
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