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.