Calm in the midst of the storm

Picture taken by Jill Frey of the tornado that went through Decker, IN

As many of you saw on Sunday, the Midwest was hit hard by severe weather.  Knox County, where we live, had quite the storm blow through.  My sister-in-law even captured a tornado as it plowed through farm fields just two miles north of our family farm.  Thankfully, everyone was alright and damage was minimal. When you see a tornado for the first time, fear isn't always the first thing that comes to mind.  It is this creepy, weird, mesmerizing feeling where you can't seem to walk away or turn your head (of course, this only holds true if you know that the tornado is not heading your way).  Harvest is over for most farmers so the fields are bare again and you can see for miles and miles. Let me just say that that tornado had quite the "hay" day in those fields.

When unexplained and uncontrolled events like a tornado happen, it serves as a reminder to me of God's great and almighty power and the constant lessons and gifts he gives us.  We really don't control much and what will happen, will happen.  We can stress and fret over things but what good does it really do but rob of us of another day that we are blessed to have on this earth.  I have said this before, but will say it again.

We are guaranteed only two things in life.  We are born and then we die.  

What we do in between is up to us.

Now, the above sentences I have said over and over in my head more times than I care to admit so please don't think that I don't worry or stress.  In fact, I do it everyday and too much.  I am getting better about taking pauses and deep breathes.  Living in Vincennes has helped my stress level greatly and forced me to slow down.  My personal storms are thankfully fewer than most.  Like right now, I have this awesome boot on my right foot because I thought I was superwoman and could run through throbbing pain in my heel and everything would be alright.  Nope, not a good choice.  I am not actually sure what is wrong but it has something to do with a possible stress fracture/planter fascias/bone spur/some crazy lady running all over the place knowing perfectly well that she should stay off her feet.  My storm was navigating a major life change. Having successfully made it through harvest, my storm is over for now (my foot pretty much guarantees no more running around and crazy multitasking).

We all have storms and while it rages through our lives, it is hard to see the sunshine or rainbow on the other side till you get there.  We just have to remember to hold on tight and know that God's plan is greater than any plan we have for ourselves.  His path may not be the path that we would choose but there is a reason. Now, if we can only hold on, keep our chins up and have the faith needed to see that rainbow on the other side.

Picture Perfect Harvest

Corn, glorious corn

The boys are winding down Hinkle Heritage Farms harvest for the year.  It has taken just 2 1/2 months (seems like a long time to me but what do I know).  We started in short sleeves and ended with a thermal layer plus a jacket.  It has been a good year.  Good enough that the guys will be able to buy some much needed equipment for planting and harvest next year.  We are very thankful to God for this blessing and hoping we can get the very best price for our corn, soy beans and milo.  Words really can't describe our harvest so I thought I would share it through pictures.  Enjoy!

Start of harvest at the end of September

Soy beans

Getting ready to head to the fields in the Yochum "buggy."

Dumping beans

Soy beans ready to be cut.

So happy to see daddy and ride the combine.

Harrison driving.

Mac riding

Time to store the beans in the grain bin.

Off loading beans into the grain bin.

Our wonderful herd of grassfed cattle

Quite Simply Simple

With the long hours that Tony is putting in harvesting, one would think that I had all this free time on my hands to scrapbook, clean, organize, craft with the kids, etc.  Umm...no none of that friends.  You would think my house would be organized, the floors so clean that you could eat off of them...you know a home right out of the Pottery Barn catalog.  Well, I am not cleaning and wish I was organizing more.

We have lived here since May and I have finally had ENOUGH and am going through the rest of the boxes that have not been unpacked.  I have set a goal to go through and find "homes" for stuff in 2 boxes a week. Not unreasonable but up to this point, I just haven't been able to make myself do it.  The transition was a little more overwhelming than I had planned but I am over it and ready to get settled and move toward a more simple life. 

Yes, my hope is to move my family to a simpler life.  

My definition of simpler is to get rid of and weed out that which we don't need.  

If it doesn't serve a purpose, then it is gone.

Easier said than done I am finding.  We moved to Vincennes for a simpler more stripped down version of our city life.  Surrounded by family and living our lives for today, not what can happen in the future or what has already taken place in the past...embracing the here and now is where my heart is trying to go.  I am learning to love that I don't have 4 things on my calender each day to do or go to (I am a girl who thrives on multitasking. The more on my calender the better) I have time, yes time, to watch my children play. To watch the boys throw leaves at each other, to play in the mud and then eat it. To watch Emily ready to her brothers and then ask them what the story was about (she hasn't quite grasped the idea that they are just not at her level of reading yet).  To watch as all three kids break out into tickle fights for no reason and then crawl around on all 4s playing puppy dog.  We don't have anywhere to be or nothing pressing to do.  Yes, Emily is doing swim team, piano and Daisy's but it doesn't occupy every waking minute of our lives.

The joy on Harrison's face

Sweetness in Mac's eyes

My fierce daughter

The big question I find myself asking is how long can I keep up this simple life?  Time will tell but my kids and husband are loving that we don't have places to go or things to do.  We play games, read books and watch Amazing Race.  What I am learning is that we are less stressed and more happy.  I used to be so overwhelmed by everything to a point that it was crippling me. I think that we may be on to something... Does it mean that I won't want more?  Nope, I am having to talk myself down from buying everything in the Athleta and Title 9 catalogs as we speak.  I am human, not perfect, but I will try to hold on to that question of "do we need that?  Will it make our lives better?"