Category Archives: family

roller coasters + mushrooms

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It has been a roller coaster ride of emotions and plans over the past few weeks. We have been entertaining and accepting offers on our first house, only to have them fall through. We are  convicted and tested; our goals and ideas changed. Still we have held on. Trusting.

Sunday we leaped. We drove the two hours to our former home and sealed a deal – for now. Then we went mushroom hunting. It was a good farewell to all that we left behind, and a step forward toward our longed-for homestead in the country. Someday. Meanwhile we trust, do our part, and eat mushrooms.

“There are times in spiritual life when there is confusion, and it is no way out to say that there ought not to be confusion. It is not a question of right and wrong, but a question of God taking you by a way which in the meantime you do not understand, and it is only by going through the confusion that you will get at what God wants.”
:: Oswald Chambers

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update + sifted

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It has been a busy month: moving and unpacking, adjusting to city life for this country girl at heart, dealing with a sick toddler and baby, a little traveling, trying to find some time to grow our side income to get us to our financial goals, and just the day-to-day responsibilities and modifications at our new home.

Next week I am excited to start sharing some of the recipes I have experimented with for our family (chickpeas are on the menu again!), as well as a few ideas on what to do with an abundance of that summer harvest which may be piling up for you (for me it was plums and potatoes)! I also want to finish the Life-in-a-Fixer posts with the last photos I took before we moved and reveal the plants (and trees!) I started growing at our new home!

Today, I am leaving some links to my favorite internet discoveries since my last sifted post. I hope you enjoy!

: : This homemade deodorant recipe is amazing! It really works!

: : I found sage growing in our yard, so I will be making this as an all-purpose cleaner.

: : Since downsizing to 1,000 square feet, I have found inspiration in posts like this.  Hopefully soon we can build our own tiny home, tailored for our family (there are certain benefits to marrying an architect). Less is more!

: : Love this post about focusing on beauty even in the midst of difficulty. Holding on to those moments, especially in parenting!

Follow me on Pinterest for additional links!

waiting and breathing

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It has been a long (and fast) few weeks since our world changed. Brian has been working in the city while the girls and I stay on the coast and wait for the closing on our Portland home. The weekdays are often hectic and lonely as I manage things here by myself. My camera has been out of order for several weeks, causing a steady stream of Instagrams as I continue my habit of freezing a few of these moments, to remember and cherish as the days rush on.

Despite my reservations with gardening after we found out about the move, we have managed to gain a fair amount of our fruits and veg of the season from its bounty. Potatoes, salad greens, kale, radishes, cilantro, strawberries, salmonberries, and onions have all been gathered, while the carrots, blueberries, raspberries, sugar peas and garlic continue to thrive and promise a delicious harvest.

All this change was unexpected, and in the opposite direction we were anticipating (I guess that full-on farm/homestead will have to wait a bit longer), but as all the doors flew open, we decided to step through. Moving forward. Waiting and breathing.

new pathways

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The past week has brought about significant changes here. The pathways are leading us 2 1/2 hours away, to Portland Oregon. There has been a hurried activity of finishing projects, packing, and figuring out a plan for the next month. The gardening has sadly halted (although I hope to resume wherever we end up landing). The chickens have found new homes. Our lives are about to change, hopefully for the better. Stay tuned as we pack up and discover our next homestead/fixer!

sifted

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sifted

I took a small break from sharing online. Sometimes I need rest from exposing my life. It is difficult to allow myself to be vulnerable in this whole blogging venture. Exposed to scrutiny and judgment, opening up my life, and my family. It is a dangerous, radical thing, especially in this season. That and we have been so busy that it becomes hard to sit down and compile my thoughts and projects coherently without consuming what little and precious time we have left.

If I don’t feel ready to speak, it is helpful to let others do it for me. Below are some of my favorite internet discoveries of the month. I plan to collect these links each month or so, and post them for whoever else may be interested.

: : The disappearance of childhood has been on my thoughts lately. I want my children to grow up slowly, enjoying a connection to nature and simpler things. Too often children skim over their best years staring at a screen or sitting and reciting things in a classroom.

: : As our family transitions to a gluten-free diet we have been loving this recipe. Great for making a large batch and eating leftovers throughout the week or freezing. If you have any favorite gluten-free recipes, let me know!

: : These 5 things are quite important, and I think I will always feel like a beginner gardener.

: : I love these thoughts on parenting and grace. I couldn’t have explained it better.