We did it!! And it's hard.

Some of my tiny cut garden

Jeff has talked about farming for years.  It's something he has always wanted to do.  I NEVER thought I'd be okay with that.  But, God worked on my heart for a few years.  I started homeschooling the girls.  Then, Jeffrey came home from public to be homeschooled. After that, Micah decided he wanted to be home, too.  He didn't want to leave everyday if the rest of us were going to be home!
I had started to get into living a more natural, organic life.  We were growing our own veggies and herbs in the summer, raising chickens for fresh eggs.  I was growing a tiny cut flower garden.   The benefits of this kind of lifestyle were starting to kick in.  I could see the rewards of our hard work.  It was enjoyable to me.  I'd spend mornings and evenings, barefoot, in the garden and with the chickens.  It was a JOY.

An evening harvest

I was starting to look forward to it everyday!  I loved it!  I loved homeschooling and having everyone home.  Jeff and I started dreaming about all of us home together on a piece of land that was bigger. With a simpler lifestyle. Simpler doesn't mean easier.  We understand that.  But, we started thinking that it would be worth it.
We spent a lot of time in prayer.  A lot of time discussing.  A lot of time preparing the house to sell. We met with a realtor and then things just happened really fast!
Our house was listed on a Monday.  The realtor put a 24 hour block on showings.  So they'd start on Tuesday.  Tuesday had a bunch of showings and we had an offer by 11 am on Wednesday.  A good offer.  Over our asking price!  The couple loved the house and they were super excited.  We saw God's hand through the whole process.  It was amazing.  He was so good!  There were times when we were just overwhelmed by His goodness.  From the home inspection to the appraisal and lots of little things in between. 

Fresh eggs from our backyard flock

But, here we are in Virginia, and it is HARD.  The house we fell in love with did not work out for us. We made three offers on it.  After the second offer, Jeff said "If she doesn't counter, we're walking away."  She didn't even counter.  Jeff went back on his word when he saw my heartbreak. So we offered cash, because there is an issue with the heating that needs to be addressed before a lender will approve a mortgage. She is choosing to wait for a FULL PRICE, cash offer.  We had to let that dream go and continue the search.

The view from the ridge behind the Airbnb

So here we are, in this amazing Airbnb property, searching.

If you ever need to quiet the noise and get away, I highly recommend this Airbnb in Pilot, VA. 

It doesn't feel like a vacation anymore. We're homeschooling, Jeff's working and we continue to look. Continue to pray.  Continue to trust.

But here's the hard part.  These kids.  They are being so amazing.  They are such good kids.  School is going well.  They're all amazing.  But, they're human, and they're children.  They don't know exactly what they're feeling.  Uncertainty, perhaps??   And it comes out in other ways.  Like the break downs...over math that is too hard or being corrected and disciplined.  Or the fight with a sibling over the "silver" pencil.  Or crying over a popped balloon from Red Robin.  I mean, everything is an emotional event right now.  And I get it.  I SOOOOO get it.  It's hard not to cry with them.
I want a house.  I want to be in my own place, decorating for fall.  Planning halloween costumes and baking all things pumpkin.  But, that's not going to happen this year.  We're here in this temporary house and I don't have all my baking pans and I am watching my kids feel a little bit of insecurity, uncertainty, or something I can't name.

We get our milk from Hickory.  She's so sweet and hangs out in the pasture all around the house here.

We're going to look at houses again on Thursday.  I'm excited about the possibility of finding THE ONE for us.  And in the meantime I am reminding myself that He is faithful.

From the driveway looking into the neighboring farm.