God Bless Our Farm

Our sign sits at the front gate, welcoming guests to Grey Gables.  Its weathered (despite the etsy seller I purchased the sign from saying it was weatherproof).  Its grey.  And I love it!  I love the fact that we own Grey Gables, and I especially love the fact that the sign hangs on the fence. 

I often wonder what my children will remember from their childhood.  I recently started working at the YMCA as a yplay member (the 6 and under childcare).  Its extremely humbling, but our family needed the extra income.  Anyways, today I met a fellow employee who was in her early 20s.  Shes in college and used to live around the same area as we currently do.  She spoke fondly of her childhood days, filled with chickens, goats and ducks.  About gardening and running around her homestead.  I can only hope my children will have fond memories of life at Grey Gables.  That their eyes will twinkle as they share the memories they have of collecting eggs, picking berries, and ridding Jasper... and of Bobby on the porch!

As I sat with my 5 year old yesterday reading, I was overwhelmed by emotions...she is getting so big so fast!  The girls are growing up, and I can only thank the Lord for each day I get to be a part of that.  My deepest desire is to be a mom who has her head up, soaking in each moment....not looking down at my phone or focusing on my self. 

A horse in our window

Meet Jasper, the 2015 version of "Mr Ed".  This summer, our family welcomed this sweet, loving, old pony into our farm.  The boys (meaning the donkeys) instantly warmed up to him, and so did our girls!  Jasper is such a great pony, and what an amazing experience.  We are fostering him from Safe Harbor Equine Rescue until he finds his forever family.  Our job is to love on him, and put a little meat on his body.

The girls absolutely love having him around.  I cant say that he hasn't made his way into the bonus room (ugh), or been dressed up in princess costumes.  He loves putting his head through our sun room window to say hello.  Olivia and Fae find this particularly fun, and squeal with delight when they see him waiting by the window.  I must admit, having him around the farm has been pure joy for us all.  It will be very hard to say goodbye, but I know whatever family he goes to will love him just as much as we do!

A donkey in a tree!

Oh that little Bobby!  I cant even begin to express the joy this little donkey has brought to our family. The other day, Olivia came running into the house, exploding with laughter.  "Bobby is in the tree".  What!!!  I ran outside to find Bobby standing in our tree!  Now, its a rather low tree, with several branches jetting out of it...kinda like a flower.  But still, he was in the tree, standing proudly.as if to say "Why, yes, Jackie, donkeys do stand in trees".  Sadly, in my haste, my picture turned out blurry.  However, I still managed to somewhat document yet another Bobby the donkey moment on Grey Gables.

Mr Bennett

When my friend Jenny told me about Maestro, a small standard sized donkey, my heart ached.  He was rescued from an abusive situation, where his owner was uneducated in what to feed donkeys.  The family had good intentions, but they just didn't know how to care for a donkey, and found themselves in a situation where they could no longer take care of the three donkeys they had living at their home.  That's when Safe Harbour Equine Rescue stepped in.

Olivia and I went to visit Maestro when he first arrived.  He was skinny, with a bloody sore on his neck.  He looked tired, sad, and just in need of love.  Jenny was his foster mom, and so we knew he would be receiving excellent care.  After the initial 30 day intake was complete, we adopted Maestro and gave him a new name… a name worthy of who he was.

Mr Bennett

Today, Mr Bennett is happy, healthy and loves Grey Gables.  You often find him rough housing with the boys, Uno and Bobbi.  He is the first to say good morning, and greets you when you come home from a long day.  He is gentle, and full of love for our family.  I cant tell you how much joy comes from taking care of him, because he is so appreciative of everything.

Our entire adoption journey with Mr Bennett reminds me of my walk with the Lord.  The seasons come when I am dried up… I haven’t spent time with God… I am empty and spiritually tired.  When I turn to the one who can fill me up, fill my thirsty soul, I am changed… I am made new.  Why then do I go back to the state of emptiness.  Why do I allow life to creep in and draw me away from the Lord? 

Lately I have felt it… I have felt tired, overwhelmed, spiritually empty.  I keep crying to the Lord…but am weak.  I’m thankful that I am going to be able to attend the homeschooling conference tomorrow. I’m praying this is the breakthrough I need. 

Maybe none of this makes sense to you… maybe its my lack of sleep which is causing gibberish to come out.  I just feel this is all part of this ‘baby’ season… this 3 kids under 5 season?  I don't want to rush myself out of it…but I do want to survive it with a changed heart and a stronger walk with the Lord! You with me?

Slipping and Sliding, Franklin ice storm continues

I am still sore from yesterdays events! We decided to stop off at my donkey breeders house to pick up some medication for our adopted standard donkey, Mr Bennett (that's another post all together).  He has a nasty looking sarcoid, and it pains me to look at it.  She had a product called xterra, which she said I could use. So far, all the main roads are clear from ice…however, many of the driveways are covered in a sheet of ice.  I assumed hers would be fine because she had been traveling on it…

When I started to drive up her driveway, my car wheels began to spin.  As much as I love my Explorer, we opted for a two-wheel drive instead of four.  We didn't think there would be snow here in Tennessee…ha!  Anyways, I reversed, went forward, still slipping and spinning.  Yikes!  So, the clever mom I am, thought of a great plan.  We would walk to her house!  Jenny’s driveway is long…it goes up a hill then back down a hill.  The middle of the driveway was clear, with the appearance of gravel.  I just thought, if we stayed in the middle, we would be fine.

Now everything would have been fine, if the entire driveway had a cleared out gravel area, but of course it couldn't have been that easy.  The fun began, once we reached the top of the hill.  It was pure ice!  We started walking but realized, with two little ones and myself in Ugg boots with zero traction, it was not going to work! So I did what any sensible mother would do…I left my 5 year old and 2 year old at the top of the hill holding onto a tree, and slid down on my bottom with the baby in the car seat sledding down!  Fear filled my heart…but we made it! 

After I left the baby with Jenny, I climbed back up the hill, and got the other two.  We slid on our bottoms and made it back to Jenny’s.  All the while, I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to wet my pants.  I was not dressed for this at all, and didn't even have a coat on!  After a short visit, Jenny drove us back to my car in her 4x4.  I was looking forward to making a quick exit, until my car was stuck. After a few minutes of going back and forth, with a lot of prayer, we made it out!

I sit here, still sore, and embarrassed as I think over yesterdays events.  The moral of the story… don't leave home in icy conditions with out a coat and shoes with traction… And don't try to drive your two-wheel drive Explorer up a slippery hill!

On a positive note, I let the boys out on the field yesterday afternoon, and Mr Bennett took off running with the boys.  It was a beautiful site to see all three of them playing!  I will write more about our journey with Mr Bennett, our Safe Harbour Equine adopted donkey.

The Problem with Grey Gables

There is a certain problem with Grey Gables. I don't want to share it with you all at this moment, because its embarrassing.  It makes me come across as ungrateful.  Its as if someone has given me the most perfect gift…and instead of saying thank you… I look at it, and then start saying how much I don't like it because of a certain quirk.

I have struggled with this issue since we purchased Grey Gables.  I didn't notice it before we closed on the house.  It was only afterwards that it bothered me.  It was then that I became obsessed with the issue.  I have wanted to sell the house, Ive complained to others, Ive cried about it… and then I told my group at CR (Celebrate Recovery).

         Interjecting a little CR plug here:  I have been attending CR for a few years now.  I began going while in England, in hopes of helping others.  I soon realised how much I needed the program, and have been blessed ever since. I have only completed all the steps once, and am hopeful to join a new step study in March.  To others, my issues may seem trivial… Im not struggling with a huge issue others associate with a recovery group.  I just am dealing with issues a lot of moms deal with, and I find CR helps me to work through those things, and to be the best wife and mother I can possibly be.

Ok, back to what I was saying.  I shared my issue with Grey Gables with my CR group and felt embarrassed as the words came out of my mouth.  It was like a big flashlight was turned on in a dark room, and the issues seemed so small.  But, I do still struggle with it.

So, what is a girl to do?  I know there are so many of you out there who have struggled with discontentment and disalusionment with something that should be so perfect.  Whether its your marriage, being a mom, homeschooling, or in my case, my house, whatever it is, its what pulls you to the Lord.  For me, this issue brings me to my knees. I have to constantly commit it to the Lord. I have to constantly ask Him to help me…to give me joy, and to practice an attitude of gratitude! To be thankful for what He has given me, for the place He has put me in.  There is nothing perfect in this world… perfection is waiting for us in heaven!

So, I want to encourage myself, and those of you who are reading this and may be struggling with something you can't really change… if it wasn't this issue, it would be something else.  Satan wants nothing more than for us to not have joy and be discontent.  I don't know about you, but I want to be joyful…and be the gal who is thankful for EVERYTHING the Lord has given to me… even if it has a quirk!

To end, I am leaving you with a  picture of my darling donkey Bobbi and my daughter Fae… they truly do leave a smile on my face!  And without Grey Gables, this adorable picture wouldn't have been possible.  Thank you Lord for the blessings of happy memories you have given my family on our farm!

Ice Storm in Nashville…Well, Franklin to be exact

All I can say, is this weather has been crazy.  The girls and I have not left the house since last Saturday. Thats one whole week stuck at home with three littles.  If it wasn't for having to tend to the animals, I would have suffered from MAJOR cabin fever!

I spent most of the week picking ice balls out of the donkeys hooves.  Boiling the kettle and then giving the animals warm water.  And making sure everyone has plenty of hay.  All while trying to keep the girls entertained with indoor activities. Oh, and of course Fae chose this week to decide to potty train and Maggie is breaking her first tooth.  Thank goodness for the frozen stash of Girl Scout Cookies!

But on a serious note, thinking of activities to do with your kids in this kind of weather can be exhausting.  I have been getting a lot more frustrated lately with the kids, because all I want to do is go outside and garden, or work with the donkeys.  But I cant. Im inside, trying to entertain them without the use of tv.

One thing that got me through this week was diffusing sweet orange oil. I'm serious, this stuff works!  I was a bit skeptical…but I was by Tuesday, I was desperate.  So, I turned on my diffuser and prayed…prayed it would work. Prayed for peace in my house and joy.  And the Lord heard my cry!  A few hours later, I felt less tense…. I felt more joyful, and my kids in turn were happier.

I sit here now with rain…lots of rain falling.  All the things we had wanted to do this weekend are on hold.  The mound of quarter down sits in the driveway, frozen under a sheet of ice.  The garden is still full of rolled up grass, and the new posts have yet to be set.  Everything is submerged in ice and water.  But inside… inside I hear my husband singing songs with the kids at the dining table… we are warm, and we are happy.  So I will choose to allow the sun to shine in my home while it storms outside!

Welcome to Grey Gables

By definition, a hobby farm is:
A hobby farm (also called a lifestyle block in New Zealand) is a smallholdingor small farm that is maintained without expectation of being a primary source of income. Some are merely to provide some recreational land, and perhaps a few horses for the family's children. Others are managed as working farms for sideline income, or are even run at an ongoing loss as a lifestyle choice by people with the means to do so, functioning more like a country home than a business.^[1]

That pretty much sums up Grey Gables. Why the name Grey Gables you may ask. Well, it all started when I told my realtor we wanted a house that looked like it came from Anne of Green Gables, where I could have chickens. Simple enough, right? Wrong!!! It took months of searching and disappointment until I found Grey Gables. I sat infront of it, my daughters in the back seat, and we prayed, Hard! After we commited it to The Lord, after many months, the Lord gave us Grey Gables. Our life as been an adventure ever since.