Sixty is the new thirty! NOT!!!!! Oh. My. Word. When Dave & I first met, we were 19 years old and attended the same big church and also a college-age youth group. It met at an old house where all the kids would gather, eat pizza, pray, sing and someone would give a devotional. Well, during the singing, future hubby came over and asked me out! (Me, a shy, introverted kinda girl!) Oh, well. I said yes anyhow. That was the beginning of a long friendship, still going on today! We both loved the outdoors and old abandoned farms back then.
Fast forward to recent times: Twenty two years ago we started an 80 acre farm, with custom-built 3000 sq ft home, barn, shop, greenhouses, outbuildings, fenced pastures, orchard...And now, at age 60 we've suddenly become shadows of our younger selves and we're going back to an old abandoned farm to start over.
Some days we wonder if we've totally lost it, but we also know that it's right. We've prayed about it and stepped out in faith and God will be with us all the way. Of course, that's not to say it's a piece-of-cake, so to speak. This is HARD!
People keep asking WHY? Why would you leave this beautiful place? It's because family is more important that stuff or places. My two younger kid are adults still living at home with health problems. Living 45 minutes from everything is hard for them. They've got virtually no life outside this farm. And now their sister (with my grandbabies) is 2 1/2 hours away and wishes we were there. THAT, my friend, is why we are leaving this beautiful farm.
Today is the last day of owning the farm. At 4pm this afternoon, other people will continue on what we started there. May God bless them and give them as much happiness and joy there as we had!
These quick pics are all before and after/in process pictures of the 'new' place...mostly outdoors. We're basically camping until improvements are made in the lil house. After a couple days of rest, we shall continue the 'great remodel' at our new-to-us farm and begin making all new memories in an all new to us adventure! Fasten your seatbelts, it could be a bumpy ride!
I have decided that 80 is the new 50, but that may be pushing the envelope a bit. I'm glad you folks are getting settled in (if that is the right phrase) at your new digs. Congratulations on the successful move and I wish you strength and wisdom for all the days ahead as you convert another house into a home. I'm wondering if the previous owners might be Chinese because of the red door (which is stunning against the dark green). In Chinese culture, red represents happiness (Chinese brides wear red, not white) and gold represents prosperity (more obvious connection).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it's good to see you posting again.
I had been wondering what you were up to and if you'd taken possession of your "new" place. I can't imagine doing all of that now! I'm 72 and it's definitely NOT the new 50! I feel 72! And things get harder as time goes by, and gravity pulls things DOWN (plus our energy). My hubby and started our 9 acre "farm" in Washougal, WA back in 1976 and spent 17 years there building our house, barn, storage shed, gardens, chicken coupe, wishing well and fencing. It was a wonderful life and I still miss it alot.. but the work, oh the work.. plus working in town full-time, and then raising two boys. But I do miss the feeling of belonging to the land and living off the land as much as possible. So I can see why you're doing it again! I would if I had the funds to afford another place, with even a small amount of land.. just to have it and enjoy nature and the quiet and peace of it all. I live in central Oregon now, and I REALLY miss the green and lushness of where I lived in Washougal.. the mountains, forests, trees, rivers and all that. My current hubby and I would, in a minute, if we could afford it, buy a small piece of property and live on it, even if in a trailer that we towed onto it on wheels! I'm so envious of you.. and look forward to watching your new journey and adventure! Marilyn
ReplyDeleteOops! I'll comment again. I did find in your June 1st post where you have moved to! Beautiful area for sure and some some more pix of your property. Reminds me of where I lived in Washougal, WA! Again.. take care of yourself. Hugs.. Marilyn
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