Catching Days

 How we spend our days, is of course, how we spend our lives.

 What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing with the time (God has given to us.)

A schedule defends from chaos and whim. it is a net for Catching Days. 

It is a scaffolding on which a worker can stand and labor with both hands at sections of time.

A schedule is a mock-up of reason and order-willed, faked and so brought into being; it is a peace

and a haven set into the wreck of time; it is a lifeboat on which you find yourself, decades later, still living, each day is the same, so you remember the series afterward as a blurred and powerful pattern.

Anne Dillard

I love

  A schedule defends from chaos and whim. it is a net for Catching Days. 

O be still my heart.  These ordinary days I live out where one day runs slap into the day before.

My life less complicated than it has been in years and the expected almost always happens when you

plan for it.

The stillness making you reach deep to enjoy the small moments of this life.

And those are almost always the simple things

sunshine

fires

smiles

cows

hats

art

   

The Lord teaching me that common ground is the best ground for the everyday.

Remembering  that I have been forgiven for much and parenting with that in mind.

I never want my kids to think I'm "some know it all perfect parent."

Because I'm not; but to them I am, and that humbles me when they tell me so.

I am hanging on to dear life most days. 

Praying I don't make much of myself but I always do,

and frustrations and expectations alway meet me there.

I'm

Praying they can see me as a real person.

A forgiven person.

Most mistakes are the mistakes of making much of oneself and forgetting

your old self and how much the Lord taught you and brought you through.

Most forget, but I can't forget and I remember that from which

he saved me.

I tell them stories of my old self and the older ones giggle and say mama I can't believe you 

did that or this. I gently remind them that that is the very reason Christ came to save us.

He forgave me and turned me in a different direction and I will forever be grateful.

 Common Ground is the ground on which I can stand with my not so perfect children and husband

and live the beautiful everydays. 

Catching moments

We are all on common ground and we all forget.

We are all just sinners and none of us have it all together.

I choose to make a schedule for my day and live a very simple lifestyle

down to eating almost the same meal every week just to make sure that my kids

are grounded in the everyday, but someone else may do it totally different and that's good too.

We play in mud and choose to do our school at home.

We have a cow.

 Adoption has blessed our family so we feel 

like we need lots of bonding, even years later.

 I take bonding very seriously. I have a brood of children that need to be strong

and know who they are and know who saved them. They need more and 

 I have a few years

to teach them and to make sure their roots are deep.

I water everyday, I weed and I sit still.

I'm available.

The love story for each of our children is beautifully written by our Lord 

yet when you bring a child home from a different country or a different state you dig deep

into a terriority that is God's alone. You cry for wisdom and stand and bath them in your love

and acceptances and pray they get it.

It takes time and lots of it. 

Some look at our life and don't know why we do the things we do.

 So my parenting style might look different than 

yours. 

My van doesn't leave the driveway all week and for some that might drive them crazy but 

for us it's the amount of time we need to keep balance in our home.

Catching our days

We have two grown children who still love us even though we made plenty

of mistakes.

 The common ground leaving much room for forgiveness.

~

 A schedule defends from chaos and whim. it is a net for Catching Days. 

Do Whatever it takes to catch your days.

A simple schedule, especially if you have younger kids,

that they can fold up and put in their pocket.

My simple schedules can be found tucked in jeans or a coat pocket.

They love knowing what we're gonna eat for the week and who's day it is to help with

kitchen duty. 

Keep yourself available and still.

Remember What the Lord has done in your life and pass

that down to your children.

Ask forgiveness and be willing to be wrong.

Don't compare yourself with me or anyone else.

Seek The Lord above all.

~  

I'm busy Catching Days On The Farm want you join me?

A place we call Puckett's

Sometimes, in my life, I see the beauty so clearly and today was one of those Crystal clear days.

The stacked firewood and the cozy fires crackling outside of one of our favorite places to get away,

Puckett's. It's actually Leipers Fork, Tenn, but Puckett's is a cozy little store/ restaurant.

It serves a mean bacon-cheeseburger and well the little one bathroom stall only lends itself to the charm.

It's a little country town in the middle of nowhere, but the charm is amazing

and it keeps us going back time after time to eat a burger or sit a spell at the fire-pit.

For some reason this place stops the motion of the everyday and draws you in to the 

slower pace of "Puckett's ville". Why don't we find more Puckett's on our journey? The slower pace of enjoying simple things like twinkly lights and good music and great art.

We go down country roads that house people like Toby Mac and Keith Urban. Their houses making us breathe deeper and the awes from  the back seat are never-ending as the houses seem

to get bigger and bigger the further down the road we go.

This trip we took Tay and Marlee along 

Known for their bacon cheeseburgers and sweet potato fries, they didn't

disappoint. We had a table full of food and laughter and lots of love. 

Marlee was passed around more than the ketchup bottle but she didn't mind.

We carved our names in tables along-side many others while

 the owners watched and encouraged. Cullen, before pulling his knife out of his 

pocket said 'mom your serious?' Yes, Cullen you can.

Channie-Mae, wasn't  going to be left out of the fun so she carved her own name to the beat of

the blues going on behind us. 

  

 We walked down the little charming path to the next business and the beauty of art was all around us. This little treasure of stores, tucked in, off the beaten path, made us want to linger.  Linger we did
at the roaring fire pit as the flames danced in a cool breeze.

They had fire pits and marshmallows and an old wooden bench to sit on. The lady running

the local art gallery told the kids to eat as many as they wanted.

I don't think she sees many kids this time of day and I don't think she realized these kids

could eat some marshmallows.

The art was amazing and the owner/artist's reflection of the Lord in his art work was so 

encouraging.

Did I mention he has a thing about Birds and I happen to be called Birdie.

 I love this little place.

Scott and I spent a week here over the summer and I would come into this little gallery

and be drawn in by the music and the smell of the place.
Our marriage being renewed here, just down the street in a gated horse farm.
The lush grass and the quietness of the foothills bringing our marriage to a sweet place of remembrance of being each other's. The slowing down and letting go is a place we long to get back to this year, Lord willing. Keeping our marriage a priority is so hard but it is something we are committed to.

As much as I love the gallery I love the art the Lord has given me more.

The art of their faces as they blow out lighted fluff, or the way the flames keep them warm.
The joy of eating a cheeseburger hot off the grill or carving your name in a table.
The art of the everyday.
The beauty within their smile.
I don't have to drive to Leipers Fork to experience beauty
but 

The many laughters and squeals along the journey is priceless, and well, my heart is bent toward these kids like the willow in the front yard leans heavy over the pond. I just love experiencing life with them and now experiencing life with Marlee.   

The drive home, quiet, in the dark, as they drift off to sleep. The trees pass their windows and their mama drives through the night to get them home to a waiting daddy, who doesn't like coming home to a dark house without us.

We tuck little girls in, 

 wearing their new thick sweaters, snug in covers saying prayers thanking God for a fun day and then a little whisper that says
"Mama, I want to go back to Puckett's."

I whisper back, "Me too".

A few sunny days

The Lord blessed us with a few days in the upper 60's and it's always welcomed and needed.

We took hikes up the hillside and brothers danced in the Shadow of the sun.

Cooper, got up and fed mama Pig and her three babies and walked Rosebud out to her pasture and got in his boat and paddled around the pond. I saw him out there deep in thought and I cherish these moments with him.

He is such a joy and his sweetness always surprises me as he grows into a man. He's so loving and funny and I'm honored to be his mama.

Cullen digging deep in the old boat found this crazy looking bull-frog. He comes into my bathroom while I'm taking a shower and yells "hey mama look at this!"...I poke my head out to this ugly thing looking at me. I may have screamed alittle and Cullen belly laughed.

Channie-Mae, loves this land as much as I do and she walks these grounds like she's been here Lot's longer than her little 8 years. She grabs her cane pole and wets a hook and I see her spit on the ground like she means it. She's not embarrassed she just feels at home here. I chuckle to myself as her panties can't be seen and her little bottom is low riding in her skinny jeans.
I keep laughing at her and she say's What? Oh nothing Channie Mae keep your pole in the water.

Ellie and Josie painted the house for a couple of hours.  I love Honey for standing guard over them. I go in and out as I'm cooking supper and Honey is sitting there. These two are complete angels and I tear up just thinking about how I get to share life with them.
I love the moments of motherhood  tucking them in and singing songs together.
How they sit on the kitchen island and help me cook.

Joe always has a football helmet on which to us is just as common as eating. He sleeps with a football and wears a helmet anytime he's outside.
When I tuck him in at night he's got the biggest grin on his face and a bear and football always at his side. I adore this little guy. I see his personality emerging as he asks questions about where he once lived and I honestly am so proud of him. Joe, is just one of the nicest kids you will ever meet and well to say that he's alittle over protected by his brothers, mainly Cullen, is an understatement.
I love their friendship and I love the way Cullen accepts Joe, as just Joe.
Joe accepts everyone and It's a beautiful thing.    

I love this rowdy crew and my heart constantly reminds me just how much.

      

We ordered our chickens today and oh what a glorious day it is.
Everyone gathered around the computer screen as dad names each chicken and tells about each one.
They each get to pick out two and we are all just a little giddy waiting for the call from the post office. When baby chicks hit the farm it means business and we are getting ready. My favorite new place as of late is Tractor supply. We wander around in this store like it's a candyshop.
The little girls ride the little bikes they're trying to sell, right behind me as the guys load 50lb bags of sweet feed in my buggy. They only weigh 30lb's each so  this is always a little dramatic as they lift and push these bags on my cart. I end up walking away assuring them they got it.

Poor Rose-bud has to endure Channie's head yet once again as she looks for milk.

I try and explain that Rose-bud has no milk yet but Channie checks almost everyday.

Did I mention she is country?

      We did alot of work on the farm these last two days getting ready for planting. My face a little pink from working in the sun. My body a little sore, but a joy in my heart as I work along side these little people.
We are excited for the new life that spring brings and with everyone being one year older it makes all the work just a little easier and alot more fun.

They stand on the edge of this property and with their hair blowing in the breeze.  I snap a moment in time as they travel this dirt and I travel alongside them.

My lens revealing that they're growing and I'm getting older and I have no regrets.
I wake with the sun shining  through my window and drift asleep to the moon shining over this farm
and I lived this day every minute of this day walking along side some of the greatest of God's creation.
My Kids. His Kids.
and I am humbled to be their mama.

~ Enjoying Surprise warm days in the middle of winter~

Love from The Farm

The Blur

You have to do your own growing no matter how tall

your grandfather was.

Abraham Lincoln 

I am weary of the cold that has just unpacked herself on the farm in the past two weeks.

The sun hidden behind a dark wall of clouds, that if I look to the east or west as far as my eye can see, still rolling in. We huddle here and continue to put on boots and jackets and head out to feed the animals we share this ground with. I have noticed that the animals are fond of music. From my kitchen window their paddock is right outside and they stand as if they're listening to the sounds of our voices. they look in our windows and are silent as we sing our favorite hymn. They stop for a moment. I chuckle to myself because they don't seem like the type to like beauty, but truly pigs are one of the most interesting of our farm animals, besides my beloved Rosebud and even she can't compare with my pigs.  Mama pig as she is affectionately called lets me know when the weather will take a turn for the worse because she prepares the day before for impending cold fronts and I see her pulling tall grass that's long been dead and take it to their shelter, a modest home on the edge of her property line where she has raised two litters of babes and kept them safe from harm. She pads their sleeping area and it looks more like a bubble of hay, a safe bed. 

 I put soup on the menu for my next days meal and sure enough the coldness screams out. 

The soup is warm and filling and I have mama pig to thank.

She sneaks out to the boys camp-out site and gets in with their other visiting guest, Honey.

I'm looking for her and I smell the camp-fire that seems to draw you out. The guys are blowing and running after wood for a small fire, she is laying with Honey warm and watching them. Her shoes laying at the foot of the tent and her feet tucked up under her. It's cold but warmer than yesterday and the nature here won't be denied  This land seems to call for them through the tall trees whispering to each of them to come out and experience the cold with her like they do the warmth.

They can't resist and for most of the days I'm spending my time calling them in from the cold or the rain. They beg to stay out just a few more minutes and I finally give over because their childhoods only last a few hours and I don't want to shorten them because of the seasons. In a world that seems to want to steal childhoods I say no and I buy rain boots, warm jackets, wool socks and hats and push back the world for one more day as they climb trees and search the pond, dig in dirt and feed the birds.

I document as much as I can because I believe we're living in a time where children don't play outside much anymore and I want mine to remember their time here as a sweet season of learning to live without cell phones, and computers to keep them entertained. They will have them soon enough the world will make sure and we have those things and I'm constantly battling the urge of looking way too much into the lives of others and thinking I might just be missing something out here on this farm, I turn the noise off and I take a walk around the beaten path and I hear their laughter echoing threw the valley and the sweet reminders coming in waves.

 The cell phone turned down and remembering less and less where I put it.   

 When the whole world seems to be moving forward why then do I feel like we're moving backwards the longer we live out our lives here compared to most of the world.

The vastness of beauty and trees and most importantly the silence.

The things we say foreign to most

Pink sky's at night farmers delight, or the way  their daddy taught us,

since he was a sailor, pink sky's at night sailors delight.

Meaning when you look up from moving the cow and the skies above are pink

it reminds you that it's gonna be a peaceful night.

If you look in the morning while your taking the cow out and see pink skies, you whisper

Pink skies in the morn farmers be warned.

They come to the breakfast table predicting rain.

ahhh the things we learn from not even cracking a book. 

The Lord giving us so many beautiful reminders of his built-in weather gauge.

I like this a whole lot better than the app on a phone or computer.

  

I believe in childhoods.

I believe that the Lord created everything for a season

 and childhood is one of those. 

When you are a child you do the things children do. 

But what do children do these days?

Children are different computers, tv and phones, year around sports.

 Why don't we ever ask ourselves

what they're giving up though?

We're being pushed along in a stream that never stops pushing and the current pulls

at our legs. We go aimlessly with the current and before we know it we can't go back to a simple place in time with trees calling out for adventures, camp fires dancing at their feet, brothers and sisters simple childhood friends.

The everyday lighting of candles for our evening meals a time to look forward to.

Nature and Light keeping them still

and their childhoods left standing another day.

Not trying to hold them back from the world because the current is always there

but reminding myself that the world can wait.

Their childhood cannot.

It is in such a time as this that I remind them to walk slow and give each minute her time.

Climb trees

walk in the woods

watch animals

make dinner a place with no excuses to get out of it

read stories 

tell stories of your own childhood

slow down

slow down 

slow down

and they will do all of this on  their own.

If we Keep being so busy that the trees pass in a blur from the backseat and

their childhood too shall be a blur.  

Love From The Farm,

A pig farmer  

The stuff we share together

Christmas 2014

Marlee's first Christmas on the Farm

It's so awesome having a grandbaby. I could sit and stare for hours.

My kitchen is always full of little girls in wool socks and rain boots.

Bella sleeping with the girls so they don't get scared

Reading the same book for the 10th time we have power but we love candle light.

 Coopers birthday celebration

The big 13

Everyone got new rain boots for Christmas. 

Helping Tuck with his fireplace adventure

Christmas at Highlands

Roll Tide all the way

Getting her rythm on with the drums 

Cullens 10th birthday

Celebrating double digits

Channie and Cullne helping with the last wedding

So that you will remember God's faithfulness and His great love for us.

love, 

mom