A Wonderful Day!

I had a great Saturday! My dh and I spent a day off the farm with adults! It was wonderful. We went to a Sustainability conference at the Pierce Institute in Hastings MI. The feature speaker was Peter Bane who along publishes Permaculture Activist. He also teaches permaculture certification courses. It was great to meet him and listen to his lecture.
He sat with the dh and I at lunch. I love shocking people with our story. It was no different on Saturday. Peter and the other lady at our table were both shocked when they learn what we have been doing for three years.
People tell us often that we have a story to tell. I would agree but I have been struggling with how to organize it so that I can tell it. After the classes and meeting Peter on Saturday, I finally hit on how to do it!
My adult life is a bell curve. I was poor for all of my 20's and then gradually moved up the ladder. Our fall back down was pretty quick not a slow gradual movement but I am about as poor financially as I was when I was in my 20's. The neat thing is that it doesn't feel the same. I am actually happy most of the time. Except for the stresses of the beginning of this year. This past week we have been blessed with the removal of that debt. Yes, God is very good!
So, I am very excited to see where he takes us next. Stay tuned and I'll try to keep you posted. :)

Kate

Dream - how to plan your life

I sent a letter off to my oldest a week or two ago. I advised him to take some time and dream about how he would like his life to look. What would he really like to do? Where would he want to live and so on.
I found out on his face book page that he is now engaged. Not where I thought he would be going but they are his dreams.
I have been practicing the same thing before I go to bed every night. What would my day be like if I could live it the way I want instead the way I need to at the moment? Still very busy - but I think a lot calmer - of course the caveat would have to be that what makes me not live this life now would be gone in this dream world.
One writing workshop I participated in encouraged us to create goals in this vain. Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, 20 years. Dream big! If you don't put it out there you don't create a way to get there either.
So when work is getting me down I think of that day when it will be as I dream it to be. It motivates me to save to get there.
Here's to dreams - the things that carry us through some awful moments.

Take care all
Kate

Ramblings - Life, children, playing and working

Having lost one part-time job, I now have time to really work with the children and our homeschool program -much to the children's regret. LOL I actually organized a week of lessons and we are following it - mostly. It has been an education for all of us. I am VERY glad we are doing this. Mac believes that he is ruined for public school. He feels that he would be spending all his time in the principals office. I have to agree. We are creating some free thinking seditionists. It is very fun! Shannon comes home and is not always sure what to say. LOL

Now that I am home more, I also have time to help out on the farm. I have very sore hands from splitting wood. Milking the cow is something that my hands have become used to but the splitting adds another dimension. I am sure that eventually I will adjust. In the meantime no knitting with really small needles.

We have been sharing our memories on cartoons and old shows with the children. I plan to share the School House Rock DVDs with them soon. Shannon too - since they don't teach any of that stuff in school anymore. They have watched some Bugs Bunny stuff which they can quote from. They can go through a whole set. It is amazing and a little scary.

I have been knitting some socks - Shannon has yet to bring me back the finished pair so I can take pictures. Really I did make some socks. I started another pair for me this time. The blanket that it becoming a really long project is nearing the end. I will take pics when it is done.

I hope that you get a chance to enjoy the nice weather we are having. Take care!

Kate