Through some incredibly hard seasons we have learned that the ultimate priority we have is to help our children grow up to be followers of Jesus. We decided to find a way that we could prioritize being home together and spending each and every day with our children.
We sold the gorgeous suburban backyard pool ‘dream-house’ on 1/2 an acre in a great school district with every amenity close by and bought a 71-acre lot with a 1/2 the square footage cookie cutter home about 30 minutes from a big box store.
We homebirth, homeschool, and homestead. We embrace hard things, spend lots of time outside, and like to DIY just about everything. Our family’s journey is consistently evolving and we are so grateful for the lessons we have learned along the way.
We have zero desire to be entirely self-sufficient. We have a tremendous desire to be community-sufficient. We like to grow our mental library of skills and build community with local folks to do life with.
Megan – aka Mama
I almost always have my children at my side and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Being a mama is my favorite and getting to do farm life with my crew is a dream come true. I hatched this crazy scheme to buy a farm and impulsively bought a dairy cow off Craigslist (really terrible story for another time) having never seen one up close. I can kill a plant just by thinking about it and my black thumb will not deter me from planting a garden each and every year.
I love cooking for people, real conversation, and teaching.
I don’t care for following directions, clutter, or sugar in my coffee.
Gabe – aka Daddy
By far, Simon’s favorite human, Gabe can build anything I dream up. His favorite builds include a treehouse with power, a catapult, and a potato gun. He loves well through building all the things, even the ones I explain poorly – and not rolling his eyes at my plans. I think he owns every tool there is and can ‘MacGyver’ anything the kids and I manage to break. He refuses to buy a livestock trailer as it will make it easier for me to bring home surprise animals but somehow talked me into the truck that will pull a giant livestock trailer.
Gabe loves teaching the kids to launch items through the air, music that I’ve never heard of, and cold weather.
He doesn’t care for vegetables, chit-chat or drinks without sugar.
Morgan
Although ‘big seester’ is away at college she is the sweet, warm, cuddly one of this crew. Always stand next to Morgan in a circle – she won’t have the loudest comments, but those she makes under her breath are the best. She is studying education and has the patience of a saint with kiddos.
Morgan loves coffee dates, quality time, and real conversation – preferably all at the same time.
She STRONGLY dislikes possums, math, and possums.
Ben
By far the most easy going family member, Ben has an incredibly strong work ethic and will say yes to any and all service projects. He is studying computer science and cyber security and enjoys that I understand almost zero of what he talks about.
Ben loves music, being outside, and all things tech.
He doesn’t care for coffee (and is the only family member who doesn’t), chit chat, and drama.
Maggie Mae
Maggie is the labor force behind all animal projects. She is such a hard worker and wants to do everything that anyone else is doing. She has an intuitive nature with animals and dives all in to any project, just like her mama. She hopes to one day be a farm vet.
Maggie loves milking with mama, every animal ever, and being a big kid.
Maggie doesn’t care for eating chicken, being cold, and that big brother and big sister moved to college.
Charlie
Charlie Daniel abosolultey wins the family superlative of “Most likely to never ever live on a farm.” He is our resident lego expert and his tender heart loves big. When he grows up he wants to be a grandpa.
Charlie loves chocolate chips, ninjas, and colossal squid.
He doesn’t care for food with any flavor whatsoever, being succinct, and anything that cannot be fashioned into a weapon.
Simon
Simon is always dressed in green, and plays harder than anyone I’ve ever met. His creative projects amaze me every day and he is always covered in dirt. He can dream up any scheme and execute it with tremendous precision. Always ask him what is in his pocket, because he will likely have money cash, a tool, a rock, a couple screws, a couple toys and binoculars.When he grows up he wants to be a superhero controlled by a remote that lets him change into all the different superheroes.
Simon loves following Daddy around, building anything he can, and mischief.
He doesn’t care for vegetables, wearing clean clothes, or being hot.