The Bike Trail

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After we knew that Twin Oaks would indeed be our new home, I began to pray that the Lord would burden me with ideas of things to do with the kiddos once we moved.

Right away the bike trail that runs between our new town, Westby, and a neighboring town, Viroqua, came to mind!

I knew it would be a great outing in the afternoons to run of some energy and get out in the sunshine and fresh air.

When we woke up a week ago Wednesday and I saw what a beautiful day it was going to be, I planned to head to the bike trail after lunch!

It did not disappoint!

We have so much fun together – me and my crew!

I have to confess something here.

When I watch Tate tackle something like scootering on a scooter for MILES at one time, a sob rises in my throat.

He would stop, hand me his scooter, grab my other hand and say “This is hard, Mommy! But it is the best day ever!”

I would answer, “Do you want me to carry you for awhile?”

He immediately would take off running and say “NOPE! I can do this! I can do hard things!”

Those are the same affirmations I speak over and over to him all the time.

Yes, sweet boy, you CAN do hard things.

Jesus is your strength!

After being on the bike trail, we drove to the our favorite Co-op and got ice cream.

It was a great way to end the afternoon!

It WAS the best day ever!

And here’s hoping we can do it again soon.

Life Since Moving

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One of the hardest things about this move has been finding our new normal when everything is literally upside down!

When I think of all that we have asked of these kiddos of ours, I could not be more thankful for how they have handled this transition.

There have been some hard times, yes, but the Lord has been SO good to us and has answered fervent prayers – especially for the littles!

We had a neighbor come over and introduce himself on one of our first days at Twin Oaks, and also announce that he wanted to do something for our family.

It wasn’t hours later he was back – with equipment – and proceeded to “find” our land for us!

It was almost all covered in eight foot high weeds.

Even so, the yard is still not ready for kids to play and run in.

He found a lot of big rocks, garbage, and even broken glass under those weeds.

We have hired someone to help us grade our land and get it ready for grass seed, but that won’t be happening for awhile yet.

The kiddos have learned to enjoy what they have to the fullest, and play on our drive way every chance they get.

There have been some beautiful days!

The temperatures have been so cool!

On this day, we even took our lunch plates outside.

Round and round this driveway they go!

The views out the back of our new home are SO breathtaking!

Every time I see these Twin Oaks, my heart feels SO full.

Our driveway is small, short, and very close to the road.

It certainly is not something we would have chosen to be this way – but we know, from the years we lived on the farm, that you just get used to the way things are.

We are getting used to it!

It also will make the finished land SO much more amazing than it already is!

I bet we spend many more hours playing on the driveway.

Memories in the making!

I am sure you know the best part.

My new spot on the front porch.

I loved it at Adoni Acres, and I love it here too!

Twin Oaks, you are such a blessing!

So thankful Twin Oaks is a part of this amazing story the Lord is writing for us!

The First Day of School

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We spent our first night at Twin Oaks on Tuesday, August 8th.

I had a lofty goal to start school the next Monday, August 14th, but quickly realized amidst all the construction and moving chaos that it just wasn’t meant to be so.

We did start school a week later though!

It was not quite the celebratory start we normally have with a special breakfast and new school supplies.

In fact, most of the books had just been ordered and were still on there way here.

Also, as I planned our first week, I realized several of the things I needed are still in boxes on that beloved semi that is parked somewhere in Onalaska.

I was confident though.

Confidence can take you far!

Just look at our line up this year!

Eliza Claire, five years old and in kindergarten.

Tate Owen, six years old and in kindergarten.

Lane Stevan, nine years old and in fourth grade.

Chad Ryan, thirteen years old and in eighth grade.

I still have a hard time believing I only have four in school and no high schoolers!

At night there have been mattresses all over the school room because the kiddos bedrooms are downstairs and are not finished yet – but we clear them out in the morning and stack them in the master bedroom for the day.

Organized chaos, I tell you!

So thankful our new home has four bedrooms so we can use this one upstairs for school!

The boys have been doing their independent work at the island in the kitchen, and I have been teaching the littles in the school room.

It is working well!

We do our Bible time, read aloud, and projects together wherever we feel like being on any given day.

Tate and Eliza are doing My Father’s World first grade curriculum that I am adding a lot of hands on activities and work sheets to.

Chad and Lane are doing ABeka math, Apologia science, Daily Gram and ABeka grammar, impromptu writing assignments, Spelling Power and Bob Jones spelling, cursive practice, and My Father’s World Countries and Cultures curriculum.

We have had a great week and a half of school – but I will admit if there is only one thing I have learned over the years it is to lower my expectations for the beginning of school, and to be thankful for every step we take – even if they are baby steps!

Expectations can really get you!

We also have all been learning all new chores – which have included daily construction dust, a half-finished house, mud for a yard, and a dishwasher that looks beautiful but is not hooked up yet!

Even in all of the crazy, crazy – we are finding our groove – and absolutely loving it!

Looking forward to this school year with my crew!!

They are the sweetest, easiest kiddos to teach ever, and I am one blessed Mama to be with them every single day!

Let the school year 2017-2018 BEGIN!

The Move to Twin Oaks

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We did it.

With the Lord strengthening us every step of the way, we did it!

We got ourselves moved to Twin Oaks!

We hired the cheapest moving company ever…team Moschel!

We worked hard, but always in fellowship.

Most of the move we did not even eat a proper meal!

We are SO thankful to be living at Twin Oaks – no more back and forth!

On Saturday, August 5th, over two weeks ago already, we started bringing loads over to Twin Oaks.

At that point, we almost had that semi loaded with everything we would not need right away.

The guys needed to finish loading the shop and the garage, and then it was ready to be parked for awhile!

Hannah came back to help us, Addie took off work, and Kayla helped with the littles and meals…again!

We got a lot done in two days!

Saturday morning the guys worked on getting the pool drained and taking the swing set apart.

The kiddos were SO good for us!

They watched shows, helped out, and Hannah took them to the library late Saturday morning.

We napped the two littles at the farm while Hannah, Addie and I took over our first load.

We had good weather for the move – except for a few times of some heavy rain!

There was also this huge road construction project going on right in the path from the farm to Twin Oaks.

We sat in that construction A LOT!

The builders were working diligently to get areas of Twin Oaks ready for us to be able to set things in.

It was starting to look like our new home!

The girls scrubbed the areas that the builders had finished so the guys could start putting furniture in those areas!

After the littles were up, we took them to their big sis Kayla’s for awhile!

We took a little rest and ate there too!

The guys kept working, but we took them some plates full of food when we left!

It’s always fun to be at River’s Place!

Sunday morning we were back at it, and we spent the morning moving the fridges and freezers and all of the food.

It was a BIG job!

Over at Twin Oaks things were a little….well….crazy.

Believe it or not, it was an organized crazy!

Twin Oaks was not ready for us to be able to sleep there yet, so we headed back to the farm late Sunday night and slept on mattresses on the floor.

We had our get ready stuff, some clothes, enough food, and a place to lay our heads – so it was good!

I even had a spot for my morning quiet time…thanks to my loving-always-thinking-of-others hubby!

Everyone woke up on Monday morning and had to go back to their jobs at work – except for the four youngest and I!

We made one run to Twin Oaks to check on things, and then went to the Coop and had ice cream for lunch!

Because sometimes life just calls for ice cream for lunch!

Then we went back to the farm and worked around there – packing up more stuff, cleaning and even weeding.

I wanted the farm to look beautiful for the new owners!

This was one bag of weeds of about five I filled from the front landscape!

It was right here that I quit taking photos.

Because then Monday night and Tuesday and Tuesday night and Wednesday morning happened.

Oh my.

It took all we had…everyone of us….and till 1 a.m. Monday and Tuesday night to get us completely out of the farm, to get the farm cleaned, mowed, and ready for the new owners.

We met the new owners on Tuesday morning when they came over to learn about the farm and all of the animals – because they kept the cats, chickens and horses.

It did our hearts SO good to know the animals would be staying there – and we really loved the new owners in just that short meeting!

Wednesday at 1 p.m. Blake and I headed to the title company to close on the farm…and just like that, the amazing blessing of the last 8 1/2 years ended and our new season began.

Blake and I sat in the parking lot of that title company after the closing and let the tears flow.

SO, so, so many blessings in the sale of the farm and our new home Twin Oaks.

A story that ONLY God could have written.

A story that I hope to share one day…but Blake and I believe the Lord has and will continue to receive all of the Glory even if it is never fully told.

Our realtor took us out for a celebratory coffee after the closing….and then I headed HOME.

Our new home.

The last few weeks at Twin Oaks has been a whirlwind of busy, wonderful, challenging, and blessed times.

More posts to follow about all that has been happening these last few weeks!

First, we need to get internet service in our new home…or I will have to visit River’s coffee shop again..which is where I am now!

Until then – have a blessed rest of your week everyone!

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