I Just Thought You Should Know
I sit down, laptop in hand, breakfast by my side. Stewart is manning the children, breakfast, and the morning school activities and I am in a quiet room with enough coffee to float me down a river.
I guess that’s what it takes to bang out some photo editing and key strokes these days. But it wasn’t always this way.
Once upon a time I started this blog with a toddler and a new baby. I wanted to share some of the things I had learned as a wife and mama and homekeeper and fledgling homesteader. I wanted other people to benefit from the things I benefited from and I thought that if I shared them on the internet, maybe someone might.
But I also started it for a very selfish need of my own. I was looking for something that I hadn’t had since I became a mama in a place where I was a bit of a fish out of water. I was looking for something everyone needs that us extroverts might crave all the more and that those long days of talking to no one over two-years-old had starved me of.
I was looking for community.
Because we were unable to find that and all that it truly entails where we were, I began to reach out through this space and the other ones that came before it.
And I found it, or at least the version that the internet can provide. Those who were dabbling in food fermentation, natural parenting, dirt-loving, or homesteading started emailing me, or vice versa, and a bond, however virtual these things are via the internet, was formed.
But somewhere along the lines a shift occurred.
This place became a platform from which I began to work-from-home after we quit a corporate job and moved across the country to really delve into these concepts called community and homesteading that are so important to us. I knew the Lord would provide, I just didn’t envision this as the how.
Community has become a real, tangible way of life now. It doesn’t take away from those dear friendships I’ve made here through inboxes, but there is nothing quite like walking down the road to share a melon from the garden, someone stopping by and saying “Sure, I can baby-sit!”, or partaking in a sweet time of fellowship over a shared meal.
And life has become full. So incredibly rich in relationships, long in to-do lists, and sweet in the every day that I find my head hitting the pillow hard every night with ten things not checked off the absolutely-have-to-get-done-today list. There’s just nothing left for my heart to desire except to give thanks for the blessing of it all.
Just now I can hear a set of red headed pigtails yelling “Mama” not too far outside this door and I’m spending a lot more time on our children’s education.
No longer is it just a matter of teaching these loves of mine numbers and letters and colors and shapes. Now I’m talking geography and history to a seven year old who corrects me on the many details I might have wrong and our second child is learning to read. Our second child.
I’m not quite sure when all of this happened.
One minute I was waking up at 5 a.m. to sneak out into our living room and pour myself into this space through keystrokes, the next we live in a space the size of that living room and I am in the thick of it as a homesteader’s wife, work-at-home homeschooling mama, and on the precipice of being the mama to a “large” family.
Come again?
All of this, the time-consuming, too important to miss moments that are right now, fills me passed brimming. The time that I do allot to punching out keystrokes is heavily prioritized, and with several projects in the works, most of those keystrokes end up in a format that will go towards buying water tanks and feeding our chickens and improving this soil that needs some loving care of its own.
Sometimes life is so full in the doing that the sharing has to slow down.
So, I don’t know how things in this space will look going forward. I have many, many posts drafted and in some stage of ready-to-be-published, so in my usual self-contradictory nature, I will probably go forward as usual with more words and pictures than ever.
Or, maybe not. But I couldn’t quite bring myself to publish anything else here before letting you know.
What I do know is that a certain five-year-old comes in for squeezes every couple of hours while I’m hiding away working, and that’s something to close this laptop for.
I keep thinking of writing a post like this- well said. I am 30 weeks pregnant with #5 and my oldest is 8 yrs. we are not off grid, but have a cow, raise chickens and pigs, and my husband has a full time job in addition to it all. Cheese, lard-making, homeschooling three…it all takes a lot of time!! But all important. We will enjoy hearing from you when you have time!!
Shannon, I understand completely. Blogging really does take a lot of time, and there is only so much of that to go around. I used to enjoy blogging very much, when I was getting started on my journey to a more self-sufficient life. But now that we are here on our homestead, and I am homeschooling 3 of our children, I can’t see how I would find time to blog at all. Certainly, I would have to sacrifice something important. But what?
I hope that you will continue to update your readers once in a blue moon about how you guys are doing – I think about you often you know, even though you don’t know me because I can’t remember if I’ve even commented before. I think it is so awesome that you guys are building your home without debt. We on the other hand are living under a crushing weight of debt and I loathe it. You are blessed that you and your husband are on the same page about stuff like that.
Laura
I am so with you. I would love to blog again and think about it daily, but simply can’t figure out how to do it without sacrificing things around our homestead, especially my children. For now, that is simply not an option. Perhaps when homeschooling is flowing a little more easily and the animals aren’t quite so many after many have made their way to our freezer. And perhaps when winter settles in and some of the outdoor chores end… perhaps then, but who knows. I hope you continue to enjoy and appreciate the life you have and always put it before this site. (Even though I truly enjoy reading what you have to share!)
Hello Shannon, just saying thanks for a lovely blog. I only found it recently and it’s such a treat. I selfishly hope you do find time to post but so respect what you’re saying. I’ve just started blogging myself (about sleep, which comes naturally to homesteaders so probably not of interest to your readers)and I can see why people love doing it. But what I really, really like is reading other people’s blogs – like this one. It’s great and congratulations on putting it together.
I am leading a totally different life from you and the rest of the readers posted here, but I too enjoy reading your blog. While I have been very active in getting back to real food, gardening and learning good old fashioned skills to provide for my family, we are just my husband and myself along with our dog. We had no children as it was not part of the plan for me. However, I grew up in a family of seven children so I understand many of your challenges and simple pleasures. Still, even with my very little family I feel blessed for the unwavering love of a very kind and gentle man. We have faced many challenges on our journey, but have seemed to survive them in our 36 years together. Life hands many unexpected hurdles, some tuff while others bring joy. It is how we ourselves choose to look at things that determines if we are happy and satisfied. I think we as readers will all understand the times when your post will get lighter because family calls you away. You have your priorities set right! Speaking for myself, I enjoy both the light posts like this one as well as the more informative ones too. I just wanted you to know it spoke volumes to me.
Thank you Shannon for your words of wisdom. Our children are all grown providing us with beautiful grandchildren. My prayer is that one day they will all realize that our Lord Jesus Christ and the simplicity of His directions is the only way to a contented home life. Your blog and the pictures of your beautiful children are a joy to behold. But thank you for having your priorities properly aligned.
The seasons are there for many reasons–to let us know that life continues forward (even when we don’t want to), to show the continuation of life, to make the changes that sometimes we don’t want to make, and the list can go on. You have shared several of the seasons you have gone through to get to where you are now. This particular season is just one more. If you care to share the season (journey) with us–wonderful–we will join in the ride. If not, that is okay too as your family is always more important. Blessings on you and your family as you pass this season and continue to grow/change and be all that God has created you to be.
Shannon, it is a fact, homesteading (especially off grid) and caring for a family just doesn’t leave much time for blogging. Sad but true. Those who manage a post every day are undoubtedly younger and better organized than I. I’m glad to hear you are well. I emailed to check on you but it must have gotten lost in virtuality. No worries. Post when you can and know we think of and pray for you all often.
Bless you,
Judy On Big Turtle Creek
Shannon,
Thank you for your honesty and willingness to share your journey. This season of your life is full to overflowing with family, home and fellowship. Thank you for sharing your experiences–if my hubby and I were 35 years younger, we might be there alongside you. The beauty of fellowship and community seems to be lacking in our culture, it is encouraging to hear that you have found it. Feel free to take the time for the children you are growing and teaching–a blessing beyond compare. When you want to touch base through your blog–we will be here–but no pressure! Take care and God Bless your family.