The Family Farm

Spending time on the family farm is a love that I have made a priority to instill within my children since they were very small. We have all watched movies or read those amazing books that paint a picture of the family farm in an almost “too good to be true” light. But for those of us blessed with a farm in our family, we know that these stories are just the tip of the iceberg. The family farm offers a place to get away and slow down. It is so quiet there is no sound but the farm sounds literally.

The family farm
Josiah caught a tree frog during our last visit to the farm. It afforded him hours of entertainment!!

It is so quiet you can hear the cattle mooing in the field at the top of the valley but you can’t even see them from the house. The children are free to run and explore and visit the animals as their hearts desire with little worry about strangers or traffic.

The family farm
The new “attraction” this summer is the sandbox.

Not only does my parents’ farm offer animals to learn and explore, it also offers a pool, a sandbox, a hot tub, a creek, tire swings, a trampoline, and even bikes and scooters. What child would not love going to a place with all that!!!

The family farm
Maggie is rarely out of the pool during the summer.

And for a momma it is nice to be able to sit back, sip some iced tea, sit in the shade of the patio table and enjoy watching my children. Not much phone reception, no television, no traffic to listen to, and no housework staring me in the face. Life just slows down.

The family farm
Even Elizabeth gets in on the water action this summer.

And don’t we all need that? Life is just zooming by and we seldom get the chance to just enjoy our children, to smile at their giggles and to watch the wonder in their eyes. God calls us to rest. He even created a day for it. But for those of us in ministry it is often hard to feel “rested” after you serve all day at church. Never the less, we are still people and the command is still the same. Rest.

The family farm
The children start early exploring and learning on the farm. Jeremiah sat here for the longest time watching a momma bird and her nest full of babies.

And though I didn’t set out to find my “rest” during my Fridays spent on the family farm, I do often find it. God is so good at meeting our needs in the most incredible ways that we know only He could orchestrate. Everyone’s need for rest and definition of rest is different. But I encourage you other momma’s to find a way to rest. Rest in His blessings and His provision. Take time to smile at your loved ones and realize how blessed we are.

The family farm
Food always tastes better on the farm.

One Response to “The Family Farm”

  1. Amy Matthews

    What a blessing. We would love to have a place such as that to visit so very often! We settle for visits home to my moms once a month or so. :) I’m so glad you have that place and such amazing parents to offer it once weekly. God is Good all the time!!