Good bye 30's

Turning 40 has always been a dreaded thing for me...not sure why... I think it is because someone put 40 pink flamingos on my mom's lawn for her 40th... seemed like 40 was a joke...and I don't want to be a joke.

So here I am, thirty-nine and three quarters...wondering if I am ready to be forty...hoping my 40s aren't seen as a joke... praying my 40s are full of opportunity...dreaming that my 40s will be filled with the joy I feel right now, today.

Being that my crystal ball has been broken since I had children, I can't say what my 40's will hold, but I do know that, at 39, I am more confident, joyful, and content than I have ever been.  I know God loves me. I have a crazy family that supports each other (and my crazy ideas). My husband and I love eachother deeper than I ever thought possible. And i have a pet pig. Life isn't boring at 39.

As I close out my 30's I look back and see my youth, my naivete, my hard headed nature... my pretty skin, figure, and hair...I also see diapers, nap schedules, and tantrums... all great moments and lessons...

When I look ahead into my 40's it is so foggy...so unknown...so adventurous. Greg and I have never shied away from a challenge nor accepted the boring and mundane. God has a plan and, although it may not be my plan is can guarantee it will not be boring or a joke.

Living Life

Look at us... all prettied up...15 years ago.

I have since ripped this dress trying to squeeze my mom body into a size 2 and the dog ate Greg's tie... I wear less make-up these days and he wears overalls and a straw hat...we have added grey hair, a few laugh lines, 3 kids, and acres of memories.

We are not natural planners, thankfully, because we couldn't have planned this life even if we tried. There is not a fight, a disappointment, a loss, we would change. Each moment is a memory. Each challenge draws us closer. Each day is part of a bigger story.

We like to think we live life a little left of the norm and we pray other's can enjoy a marriage as whole as ours.  Our marriage is not perfect. It is not the marriage by which to measure your's.  Our parenting is not textbook worthy, but our kids are amazing humans despite our sarcasm and flaws. Our life isn't for you, but our joy is. We want you to have this same joy.

How did we get here, you ask? God brought us here. It is by His grace and His love that we stand here today... make-up off, soul bared, and living life honestly.

So it is from this place we will start sharing the wisdom gained from living, loving & serving...I hope the posts that follow will inspire you to let go, experience a simpler life, & live in His plan.

This is not about the Sharp Life, this is about your life. Time to live it.

Farmers Vacation too

It's April. I gave up, called uncle, and booked our farm family on a two week camping adventure in the sunny southern USA. We left our farm beasts with 2 very "equipped" farmer wannabes, packed out trailer and fled the snow.

What do farmers talk about and do on vacation? Talk about how much they miss our beasts... and swim. Oh, and laugh. I have laughed so hard i shed tears...at the expense of a child... oh her life is full of epic moments.

We've learned a lot too... home is safe and the world is not always ready for the weirdness we embrace... but it hasn't stopped us from being who we are and living for Him. Glad that we could "be the nicest white people" an 8 year old girl has ever met. Proud we could stand up to a man openly disgusted with our family. Thankful His grace surrounds us.

We've met new friends, burned our skin, & planned spring projects for the farm... and ate poorly. Donuts anyone?

This may be the close of our family's epic camping adventures as we plan future trips to more distant lands,  but the laughter and joy will ring in our trailer and through our pics for years to come.

Here are some snap shots of our adventure so far.