A Life Of Contentment: Putting up the tree

Who says the good old days are gone forever? For centuries our relatives have depended on their land, their family and their faith in God to get through this thing called life. Today we rely on big box stores, modern technology and cheap overseas labor for everything we need. But are we really living the good life?

My name is Barb, and in June of 2006 I quit my job to become a stay-at-home mom. My husband and I and our children decided to change our entire lifestyle – to live simply, naturally, and frugally like our grandparents did. And so began our homestead. We raised chickens and grew our own vegetables, fruits and herbs on our 1/3 of an acre "farm" in the middle of (a 40,000 population) city in North Carolina. We made many of our own cleaning products, outbuildings and even some toys
for the kids. We tried to live in an environmentally friendly way in order to be good stewards of what God had given us. Life was great and we were happy.

But life is full of twists and turns and ours was no exception. In early 2010, we experienced misfortune and heartbreak. The kids and I ended up moving in with friends in a beautiful, tiny, country town (population 1,300 in South Carolina). Today we are starting over and working towards building a new homestead – from the ground up. My first step is to get a job, then to get a piece of land, then to make our new place into a brand new homestead.

In order to move on with my life, I felt I had to make a conscious choice. Instead of dwelling on life’s twists and turns, I have chosen to be content with my life. I believe that contentment isn’t something that either comes to us or doesn’t. It’s a decision - a commitment I must make and act upon. Although I don’t yet know God’s plans for me, I know I have a destiny to fulfill. Recent events are but a stumbling block on the path I have to follow. I have faith that God will continue leading me. And as He does, I will lead “A Life of Contentment.”

As the apostle Paul told the people of Philippi, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13

New life, new blog

*This is a static post that will remain at the top of the blog for the next several weeks. Regular posts are below. Thanks for your patience!

My life looks completely different today than it did six months ago. Life has a way of doing that to us sometimes, doesn't it? I went back and forth with what to do this blog, considering the turn in my life. And I finally decided to start blogging on a regular basis again. Even though my life isn't currently all about homesteading, that is still my ultimate goal. So I will continue my blog with the same look, the same categories and the same viewpoints on God, politics and life in general.

But some things have changed. Perhaps the biggest change is the name. The blog name and the domain have changed. Our homestead, “Victoria Hill Farm,” no longer exists, and so the name no longer seemed appropriate. Instead, I have decided the name should reflect how I intend to live my life – contented.

If you read my sidebar, you will discover a little more about why I choose this particular title. Inspired by the fourth chapter of Philippians, I have made a decision – a choice – to be content with what God has given me.

I’m not yet sure how the content of the blog may change, or if it even will. I will be starting from scratch to build a new homestead from the ground up, and I hope you continue to support me during this time of rebuilding in my life.

If you currently follow the “Victoria Hill Farm” blog through an e-mail subscription or a blog reader, you will need to subscribe to the new feed. Just check the upper right sidebar to subscribe. I currently have the old blog set to redirect to the new domain but it won’t remain that way forever. Be sure to shoot me an e-mail and let me if any of the links don’t work or if anything else is wrong with the new blog. I appreciate all my readers, and feel like I have made a lot of friends in the “bloggy world” since I started blogging in 2007. I hope you’ll continue with me!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Putting up the tree

Last year Hubby spent time teaching Justin, now 14, to put up the tree himself. And this year, Justin did it. Hubby still supervised and helped once or twice when Justin had a question. Justin started by sorting all the branches by size.