New Dreams

Just 7 years ago, our family felt called to pick up and move to northern Vermont with no savings and no job.  We knew, though, that God wanted us to work toward a simpler, family and home centered life.  A life where brothers and sisters truly enjoyed being around one another, where Mike and I would be able to see one another more than just a kiss goodbye in the morning and then again at the dinner table (if he didn't have to work late), where we would have time to give, and where we could some day afford to buy our own place.

We knew that there had to be another way and reading about others that were living just such a life inspired us - money never has.    We have had to work through some really tough times during our transition but I know that each of the challenges was God pushing us harder and making us grow just a little more.  

Now that our business has grown to a nearly unmanageable pace, we are back to thinking about where God wants us to go now.  We have established our family culture, developed many homesteading skills and applied them to our daily life (but do have so much more to learn and now our business is so busy it has been hard to spend as much time in this area as we would like), and have established a steady income stream by the work of our hands.

Mike and I both feel we are moving toward a new kind of life.  Yes, we will still be creating rustic decor and toys, but it is time to start moving back toward our original goals of living more simply (perhaps off grid again), growing more of our own food, learning new old time skills, and now - sharing all of this with others.  We are ready to share our family with others - to let them see in real life how our family lives by staying with us.

image from http://www.huckleberrytentandbreakfast.com/index.html

This will require a move - a move to a homestead with larger acreage (we have 3 here and more than 1/2 is wet).   Enough to gather all of our own firewood, provide material for our business, more room for gardens and fruit, and, to put up tent cabins for others to come and stay with us for a simple living vacation.  

That is our new vision - a working homestead where others can come and learn the skills of yesteryear.  We don't know when or where, but know that if it is God's plan it will all fall into place in His time.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11

In the meantime, we will keep learning and putting into practice our homesteading skills and be conservative with what we are given in order to  see where our new dream takes us.

Warm wishes,

Tonya