Making A Home And Family

I am so so so thankful for the connections I have online.  I know, sometimes, we all “waste” time online but I have gained so many connections from the internet that I cannot even name them all.

First and foremost, I met my husband on the internet.  We went to the same school, but we really met on the internet through old school ICQ.  We chatted, we met at school, we went on a date, and it just kept rolling.  Who would’ve thought that 12 years ago in some chat room, we were actually meeting our future spouse.

I was part of Bolt and LiveJournal back in the day too, and I am still friends with some of those people thanks for Facebook or Twitter.  So many connections there that helped me process a lot of things with a group of people I felt safe sharing those things with.

Now I am a blogger, read others blogs, and I gain so much from that.  Tips how to cook, how to parent, how to homeschool, how to be a good wife, how to be a good person.  I have even met a few fellow bloggers along my path, and they were amazing visits.

I’m a member of the “Dingos” – a group of running moms who can’t even be put into words.  They accept you even when you haven’t ran in months and months, they accept you as the woman you are, helping you face the challenges you are facing, and I want to live next door to each one of them for different reasons.  A few of these ladies I have met in real life too, and it was like walking into a sister’s house.  All with open arms and the comfort of someone you’ve known for ages because even though we talk online – we have known each other for ages!

Also, I’m a sister in the Organic Sister‘s tribe.  She does coaching calls in groups about topics relating to relationships, raising children, being authentic throughout the holidays… These and the forums are a blessing.  They challenge you, but all within a sisterhood of wonderfully wise women who are all trying to get to the same place.  Happiness, contentment, and just being real.

I’m on Twitter where a whole bunch of mamas have my back, and I’m on Pinterest where I pin a whole bunch of things I want to aspire to be, do, get.  Of course, I’m on Facebook where I chat with people I know, people I’ve met, people I used to know from other sites, and I share info about my blog, my business, and even my farm there.

The internet is a blessing because it brings so many people together.  I am thankful for all the connections I have made this way.

I’m thankful that this morning, despite wanting to stay home, I got us ready and went to story time.

Val needs to be with other children, learn from other people, and I need that time to see other adults and families.

I came home, made lunch, and did day 1 of school from my curriculum that was given to us. We both loved it! And it’s not too difficult to do with a baby in arms.

It’s refreshing and motivating just to get out of the house and be among other people.

I am so thankful today for meeting other mamas in my area. They are so nice, understanding, and giving. One friend helped with Val and then held Aiden so I could spend time with Val at homeschool group today. She sent Val home with costume jewelry which she is in love with.

Another friend invited us over after homeschool group. She showed me her homeschool set up so I could learn from them. I am inspired! She also gifted us a box of curriculum for a month and an infant curriculum book. I feel so blessed!

How were you blessed today?

Where is the month of November going?  Wow, it’s already day 16 of my thankfulness journey!  It will be such a wonderful thing to have on my blog to return to, and I hope I am inspiring others to think of things they are thankful for too.

I am thankful for the days when my kids nap at the same time – even if it’s a struggle sometimes.  There is nothing sweeter than watching the sunset over the neighboring field while I pour myself a cuppa tea from my tea pot.  Jack Johnson singing to me from Spotify.  Catching up on my social media and maybe getting a chance to read a few pages in a book.

There’s something so soothing about a hot cup of tea though, isn’t there?  I’m so thankful I get to pour myself a cup at least once a day.  It helps me take a deep breath and relax for a bit.

How do you make time each day to relax?

I am thankful for my few hours alone (well, with my nursling) to go to book club.  My mom and sister watched V so I could go, and they also did some of my laundry because I still don’t have a washer and dryer.  That’s beside the point, but they needed a shout-out.

The book club was new and we spread the word to our friends on facebook.  We had 6 women there to have tea, share cheesecake and potato fries (thanks M), tell stories, and decide on book for a month’s worth of reading.  I always leave a girls night feeling refreshed, and this wasn’t any different.

I am looking forward to reading our new book and discussing next month with them.  What are you all reading these days?

I’m doing this post a little late, but better late than never right?

I am thoroughly thankful for all of my friends and family that took time out of their busy schedules to help us pack and move last month. It wouldn’t have been smooth or even possible as I was still healing from giving birth and bonding with my baby.

I don’t think you all know how important it was to our entire family to move to our farm while making the transition as easy as possible.

We appreciate and love you all.

I woke up this morning with a lot of rumbles in my tummy, and I knew that I needed some food.  I am so thankful I have a kitchen (and pantry) full of food to feed me and my family.  Good, nourishing, wholesome food!  I made myself some specialty coffee, the family breakfast, and put some meat and canned goods from our summer garden into the crockpot for dinner.

Throughout the years, I have experimented with a lot of recipes and now I love cooking.  It’s fun to be able to put together a good meal, and it’s even better if it came from your own garden or your own farm.  I hope the bounties continue to grow while we live on the homestead.  It’s a blessing to be able to have the food options I have – clean, organic, and full of good things for our bodies.

I am thankful for the blissful, quiet mama time I can sneak in a day. Sometimes it’s when both kids are finally asleep at night, and I can read a few pages in my book. Or I can sneak away to the barn to do chores alone while Dada plays with the kids.

Yesterday though, I had a whole afternoon naptime to myself. I’ll admit I did a few “to-do’s” but then I made tea, listened to a podcast, and relaxed.

Times like that I can recharge, get inspired, and keep evolving to be a better person.

Yesterday James and I took Val to homeschool group for family fitness day at the YMCA.  They went swimming together, and Val just loved it.  I am so thankful for that experience with her.

Val has never been in an indoor pool before even though she has swam in the many lakes around us and had a kiddie pool of her own, so this was a big deal.  She seemed a little hesitant at first, but I think the fact that she knew all the adults and kids in the pool already it made it a lot easier on her.  James swam, played, and challenged her a little bit and as I watched I was so proud of it all.

She fell asleep on the way home and slept like a rock!  I think that was a sign that she was just as happy and fulfilled by the whole experience.

{Source – Lindsey’s Great Pyrenees}

The last two days, James has been traveling to pick up a working dog for our farm. He arrived home late last night with 2 little white fur babies – Great Pyrenese puppies!

I am thankful for their cuteness, little squeals, and their mischievous personalities.  I am thankful that someday the pup will protect me, my family, and the barn animals.