Family Farm or Farm Family?

Are you a family farm or a farm family? To some, this may seem like the same thing, but for me there is a difference between where your priorities lie.

We're raising kids who raise livestock

Our kids watching the sheep and goat livestock auction

It has become a rite of passage in our family that when you turn five you get to raise your first animal on our farm. You get to pick it out, you get to feed it, you get to clean up after it in the barn, you take care of it, you bond with it and eventually, like today for our kids, you get to sell it.

What it Means to Grow Up on the Farm: An Interview with my Kids

Raising our kids on the farm is one of my favorite parts of our livelihood.  I am proud to be raising the 6th generation of farmers in my family.  My husband and I work hard everyday so our farm is sustainable for our children to continue on our family's farming legacy.  In honor of National Ag Day, I thought it'd be fun to interview the next generation (aka our kids), about what it means to grow up on the farm.  Enjoy!

We couldn't have asked for a better dog

We came to the end of an era on our farm.  Bailey, our old faithful dog, passed away after over 12 1/2 years of companionship.  We got her as a wedding gift from one of my sisters and she has been a special part of our family and farm ever since.

When Life Gets Busy? Refocus Priorities

It's been awhile since I've blogged.  In the last month I've ran in the Cupid's Undie Run, celebrated Mr. K's 6th birthday and lead a couple activities through some of my volunteer commitments, not to mention being a mom to four kids, wife to a farmer, and have dealt with a couple rounds of "crud" going through our household.

Needless to say, life's been busy.

In fact, I've been doing a lot of thinking and praying lately about my busy life, because it has seemed like I've just been busy and not really productive.  I realized that this was not good for me, and not good for my family.  I needed to refocus and really think about what my priorities are.

So what are my priorities?  

My top priority is obviously my family.  My relationship with My Farmer and taking care of my kids is #1.  I never want to get so busy that I miss out being there for my family.

I am so lucky that I get to be Mom to these four 💗

My next priority ties in with supporting my husband and that is the farm.  Anything I can do to help My Farmer and help our farm is a priority.  Farming isn't only the way we make a living, it is also both of our dream and the way we want to raise our family.  Spring time is around the corner and then this role and priority in my life will become greater.

Spring planting will be here before we know it for My Farmer and I

My final priority is being a positive role model and a supportive influence for others.  I feel like I can do this through my volunteer efforts.  But I will admit, this is an area where I've been taking a lot of time to think and pray on refocusing where my time would be best spent.  I am a loyal person and that can make it hard to step away.  But as my family and farm both grow, I know I need to give a little in this area.  It's not that my volunteer commitments don't align with my goals and priorities, it is just that I realistically don't have time to fulfill all of these commitments properly and on time.  That is something I recognize and I don't like to give less than all.

So what does this all mean?  What changes am I making?

I'm not positive yet, but it is something that My Farmer and I have been talking through together.  Serving is an important thing to me and it will always be apart of my life, but at this time I know I need to decrease my commitments.  I will add though, that this blog has and is something that I enjoy.  It not only is a personal outlet for me, I know it is supportive tool for our farm too.  Thank you for catching up with me today and I look forward to bringing my blog back into my focus and priorities.

Have you ever had to just stop yourself and refocus when life seems too busy?  What steps have you taken to refocus your priorities?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

Wordless Wednesday

LP showing off his tractor driving skills.