The Life of A Small Town FarmHer

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are reward from him.  Psalm 127:3 Well we are entering a new stage of life here at the farm and this mama just is not ready! I mean let’s face it are we as parents ever ready for that next stage?  Our kids are babies and we want that phase to end because of the sleepless nights, then they are toddlers and we deal with tantrums, and so forth. Then we have the farm kids. I think our seasons of life are different and by that I mean... you get to drive on an adults lap, you get to drive with the truck in low and barely touch peddles, you get to drive on your own, you get to drive the tractor, and it moves on. Well Garrett has entered in to the drive the tractor phase of life.   Now if I am being honest, I didn't see that for my kids! I am almost 35 years old and my parents didn't really let me drive the tractors much growing up.  In all fairness we didn't have the newer equipment that is here today, but even then I was never ...

  A family farm is where the entire family works together, plays together, and makes a life together.  -Unknown The other day, Logan and I were in a store and people were commenting on how they feel bad for the farmers.  They feel bad for the rising costs, the hard work, and really the struggle to make ends meet,  Logan of course commented how he farms everyday and left it at that, but the conversation really got me thinking about the farm kids of the future.  How do these kids see their future?   Am I as their mother showing them that there is much to love about the farming world?   These kids are the future of farming. I relate them to military families.   You know only 2% of the population goes into the military and another 2% farm.   Will my kids follow in the footsteps of my grandfather, their grandfather, and myself?   Those people were right, farming is hard, in fact it’s nothing short of easy, and I think with the rising cost...

 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.  Revelation 21: 4 I always try to be strong when it comes the end for our animals.  I always remind my kids that this is part of the circle of life and that we all live and we all die, but it is what happens in the middle that we leave our impact.  However, when things come unexpected sometimes the strong is no longer there.   I love my horses, sometimes I think I am an overbearing horse mom.  I want to make sure they have time to be horses, yet are ready to help those who we work with, have proper health care, foot care, and everything in between.  I knew that I was looking at a year where our two ponies would need to be retired at the end.  I knew next season was going to be some adjusting with new faces but I never expected it to be as soon as it came.   ...

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13  One thing I love about farming is it can be so diverse, And ultimately anymore you have to be diverse in your business so that you can appeal to many different people.  Well as a generational farm, there is often chances for the next generation to want to change things and that is exactly what is happening to my parents.  I feel bad some days because I am typically getting them into things that we have no idea how we are going to accomplish ALL THE THINGS, but we manage.   One thing that I felt strongly about and was very passionate about was the ability to help people.  God laid it on my heart many years ago and I wanted to see it through and that is something I am very thankful that my family, husband, and kids support.  Big Maple Farm's Natural Therapies, Inc. is a place where I enjoy spending a few hours a day being involved with horses, riders, and volunteers helping them...