Tuesday, August 21, 2012

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

39 comments:

  1. Tonya, this is fabulous- I can't wait to see where this journey takes you and your family- and perhaps to participate too!
    Love, Mel

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  2. Those are some great new goals that you have. I know that we would love to have a simple vacation on your farm when that time comes. Good Luck with achieving your dreams.

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  3. I am SO excited for you ! What a wonderful vision! May God bless you thoroughly as you wait for His definitive moving!!!

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  4. Tonya, this is so exciting! I truly look forward to seeing where this dream takes you. :)

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  5. What a wonderful idea Tonia! You and your husband will share the skills you have been gifted, and it will get passed on to someone else...and so on...and so on.

    The circle will go unbroken and the need to live simply will be the goal towards a better life.

    m.

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  6. Sounds wonderful-I hope you find a perfect spot to start a new adventure.

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  7. It all sounds very exciting! Thanks for sharing the adventure with us!

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  8. Tonya,

    Such a beautiful post and how wonderful that, you are opening your home to others so that they "can try before they buy into their dreams." I wish you well as you move forward into your new way of living and will keep you in prayers.

    San x

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  9. Dear Tonya,
    A kindred spirit you must be!!
    In many ways this could be our own dream.
    Home, family farm and hometead revival with others
    May you be blessed in this and that it comes to pass soon
    God Bless
    Gae

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  10. Ohhhhhh, this is good good news! New adventures, new ideas fermenting, new visions...love this! I would love to come visit :) And isn't it true, that the journey is more than half the fun of getting there!
    xo Jules

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  11. So exciting, part of the fun will be in the planning and seeing this dream come alive! I look forward to seeing the plan as it evolves.

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  12. I'm so excited for you and your family Tonya. You have all done so well and it's been a blessing to see your progress. Thanks for sharing so much of yourself. I'll be the first to book a weekend.

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  13. wishing all your dreams come true, dear Tonya and family!
    God bless you

    Sanne

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  14. wishing all your dreams come true , dear Tonya and family!
    God bless you
    that´s sounds so wonderful
    maybe maybe
    who knows whom you will meet one day
    Sanne

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  15. Amazing idea. Wishing you all the best as you make it into reality!

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  16. Tonya,

    There is an article in this months Back Home Magazine that talks all about this... Hold an Event (Bring in extra income to your farm or ranch by Helen Burnett)
    http://www.backhomemagazine.com/current_issue.htm

    I will be praying that God leads the way....and that you can see fruit of your labor very soon!!

    Many Blessings,

    ~~Renee

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  17. What a beautiful vision. I am excited for this new adventure for you. Be blessed, Tonya!

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  18. Sounds absolutely perfect. It will be full of beautiful imperfections but I can feel the optimism and energy flowing through your words. Best of luck with your new venture!

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  19. It all sounds wonderful and I know the Lord will guide and direct you in the days and months to come! Maybe we'll be able to come and 'get away' with you some time!

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  20. Such exciting new goals to work towards and a wonderful idea to open your home to others. I look forward to seeing where this takes you. I wish you all the best on your new journey.

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  21. "Build your castles in the air and then put foundations under them!" H.D. Thoreau

    Here's to dreaming!

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  22. praying you on your way, lovely Tonya.
    Going to be a great adventure.
    It's my dream also to help others live on the land, so maybe our prayers are intertwined on their way to heaven !

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  23. I don't see why God wouldn't be behind it, as there are not many examples of learning families can do together, while on holidays. Many of the farm stays are aimed at having fun rather than participating in what should be learning basic human skills.

    I've always thought the way you guys work with wood should be passed on to others. It's not simple, as you have to age the wood before you work it. Then to age it you have to store it properly. These skills are almost gone with the generations which had to use them.

    So passing on a legacy which enables people to use God's resources without over consuming them, has to be a good thing. :)

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  24. We just spent our second year visiting Huckleberry Tent and Breakfast. Good luck to you in this new adventure.

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  25. I think this sounds truly wonderful!! I would come and stay (well if I could get to your part of the world I would lol). I think all of us, no matter where in the world we live, need to get back to the more old fashioned way of living and your idea of opening up your home to teach people these skills is just brilliant.
    I sincerely hope that your plan comes together and blossoms for you and your family.

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  26. How awesome! So wonderful that you are sharing your wonderful, simple, family-centered life with others. You might not know it, but reading your blog has changed my life and thinking! I know God will lead you. Hope I can come and stay on your homestead one day and learn more from you!

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  27. What a beautiful thing! I so enjoy reading about your family and to someday learn from you in person would be wonderful! Many blessings!

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  28. So exciting! It's a wonderful vision and I wish you the best of luck!

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  29. I am so thankful for your blog and wishing you much success in your new plans.

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  30. this sounds fantastic! good luck with it, I hope it happens because what a positive vacation. I can only imagine how many people will be inspired by it to live simpler

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  31. Best of luck with your future plans hope it all works out for you :)

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  32. This is so exciting for you and your family Tonya. I had no idea your new plans might involve moving! You know you have always been such an inspiration to me. I bet you would be surprised though to know that sometimes I think it is you who has the more simple life! Oh but I do love ours though... XO

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  33. Thank you so much for all the kind words and encouragement.

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  34. tonya,

    I'll be hanging on by the edge of my seat to hear more!

    Good luck to you!

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  35. What a wonderful and inspiring vision! And I love the tent cabin idea, I really can see how that would work. I'm sure many people would love to come and learn from you, I hope your path becomes clearer over the coming year xxx

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  36. Tonya, I have goosebumps hearing about your dreams. They sound wonderful, and I am sending you prayers and hopes as you open yourself and your family to this path! -Annie

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  37. Awesome! My husband and I have had several interesting conversations about that very thing (a tent & breakfast sort of deal on our land). Huckleberry Tent & Breakfast is right here in our neck of the woods! (Did you read all about them in Backwoods Home magazine?) I think your idea and plan sounds wonderful.

    You'll chuckle at this, but when I very first began reading this post I thought to myself, "oh no, are they going to move back to town and get a normal life?!" LOL I'm so pleased that is not the case.
    ;)
    Aubrey

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  38. Awesome! can't wait to see how this all evolves.

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