For the time being, I'm finding it more helpful to blog over at homesteadblogger.com.  So, if you want to keep up with my rambling...

Given Moments

It's been way too long since I updated, but so much has happened in that time.  What we have now actually looks like a real house!  We'll be starting on trusses later this week and then it's on to roofing and siding.  Things seem to be flying now!

The kids started their homeschool outreach classes last week.  One whole day every week, and they're getting to take some wonderful classes (nothing like we had in school!).  They even got to take their first ride on a school bus -- big moment for everyone.  :)

Here's the latest house picture:

Well, after we were told that we'd be on a waiting list for the foundation crew we found out that they were actually experiencing a lull in work and had been laid off.  So, straight to work they went, the entire crew, and we had a foundation almost within a day!  How's that for God's sense of humor??

The kids really enjoyed this trip, they took crayons to color on the walls ("their" walls), and had fun drawing lines in the dirt where their rooms will be.  It's so hard to leave when it's time to go, the kids just can't seem to get enough of the fresh air, dirt piles, and tree climbing.  It brings back lots of memories for us parents, and we feel so blessed that we get to share this lifestyle with our kids while they are still young enough to enjoy all the kid stuff.

We also did some kite flying.  The kids had a blast... alright, so did we.  The wind was perfect!!

Our fabulous builder and his crew poured the footings today.  Footings, I learned are the precursor to the foundation, which we may have to wait some time for as there is apparently a waiting list right now.  When our builder shared this bit of news, my first reaction was to pull my hair out, but after witnessing God's grace in this entire process and His faithfulness to remain on His schedule and not ours, I simply responded with, "Ok, that sounds great!".  I may be slow, but I'm learning...

Well, we're committed now!  Groundbreaking was July 17, 2007 and we are now the proud new owners of a giant hole in the ground.  Yay!  The kids were most excited about the giant mounds of dirt, great for playing in, on, and around.  We tried to explain the significance of the hole, but it's still a little abstract for them I think.  Footings next week!

Wow!  There's comments on my blog???  I'm not sure what to say... I guess I didn't expect folks to actually *read* my rambling thoughts.  Imagine my surprise... :-)

Well, we press on with the land/home project.  We're thiiiis close to breaking ground and it's getting unbearable.  I'm so glad that I've already learned patience in this process.  God has been so great at teaching me to wait on Him.  Just about every step of this process has been an adventure of waiting.  God's theme seems to be, "Let me know when you're done trying on your own and I'll make it happen."  We're getting the hang of it, bit by bit.  I've decided humans have got to be the slowest learners on the face of the planet!

And since people are actually reading this... if anyone has information on windbreaks and hedgerows, would you share?  We've got a pretty good prevailing wind which is nice in the summer, but I'd like to be able to control it some or we'll get a fair amount of snow drifting in the winter.

Till next time...

Yes, it's been a month and a half, but what a month and a half it's been.  I had no idea when I created the title for this blog that we'd be experiencing our country hopes so soon.  We're in the process of acquiring 10 rural acres to try our hand at country life.  It's been a busy journey so far, and the hard part hasn't even started yet.  You see, this is bare land... we'll be building a house!  So, for those of you that have walked that path and know what we're facing, please pray for us.  We've heard so many wonderful things and just as many funny and horrible things about the building process.

Join me soon for an adventure of epic proportions, including such things as building permits, septic plans, choosing a home site, and hopefully sooner rather than later, housing materials, paint colors, etc.  It's sure to be a journey to remember!  :)

So, I've sat here staring at the page trying to come up with some witty way to start this whole blog "thing", but alas, my mind is, for once, blank...

Why blog you ask?  Goodness, I don't know, I'm a horrible journaler.  Which is odd because I'm a die-hard talker and reader.  I find typing easier than writing though, and the idea of sharing what's going on in my life with others out there on the wwweb (including family) is nice.  I did the forum thing for a while, but if found if I wasn't there daily I lost track of topics and if I was there daily it was because I was talking more about getting things done than actually doing them.  So, I figure blogging will give me the best of both worlds, I'll be able to connect with others on topics that pertain to my life, but I'll be running the show so I won't "fall behind".  Type A enough for ya?  :)

So, what will this blog be?  Well, probably a horrible mish-mash of topics as that's how my mind operates, but hopefully it will be a method of connection to my family, friends, and homeschool community that will enrich and challenge all of us.

Thanks for watching... I now return you to your regularly scheduled websurfing.  God Bless!