What happened to the country girl?

So summer ended, school started, harvest came to a close, fall is about done and Christmas is just around the corner.  So much time has passed and I haven't blogged at all.  To my loyal followers, I am so sorry!  I have no excuse except that time got the best of me and so did my life.  I have been spending the last 4 months trying to figure things out.  What things you ask?  Well I really don't know...but there is that unsettled feeling still in the pit of my stomach that just won't go away.  As many of you recall, those feelings brought me and my family to Vincennes.  We gave up the city life to be with family and to work the family farm.  We had no idea what we were really getting ourselves into.  We just packed up, prayed and moved.

A year and a half has past and so much has changed, yet so much is still the same.  Tony just finished his second season farming with his family.  The harvest was good, but not good enough.  With the prices of grain going down, making a good solid living on farming alone is very difficult, especially if you have to divide the profits three ways (between Tony and his brothers).  Taking that into account, plus the cost of renting the land and expenses, we realized that we were actually losing money farming.  You can't support a family of 5 on negative income so we have been spending the last month or so trying to figure out what to do.  Do I go back to work full time, does Tony look for an IT job, do we move back to Indy?  While all of this was going on, we broke ground on house.

Talk about timing, but we knew that we would be ok.  We just needed a new plan and direction. Thankfully, God already had a plan for us (he always does, doesn't he?  We just needed to listen.) Tony is beginning a new job with Springleaf Financial Services in Evansville in a few weeks.  He is really looking forward to getting back into the IT world.  He is so, so good at what he does and I am so grateful that this company recognized his talents and gifts.  This is one proud country wife. A huge weight has been lifted for us but it is still hard for me to believe that we aren't farming full time anymore.  Tony will still help out when needed but he will be busy commuting to the "big city" south of us and doing whatever techi people do.

I am still a country girl and feel more country now than ever.  We are really focusing on our beef business and adding to our herd of Murray Gray cows.  We have been overwhelmed by the support of our friends and family and love that we are providing premium, healthy beef to so many.  I am spending my time focusing on expansion and excited to launch our website in the new year to not only provide more people the opportunity to purchase our beef but also to educate the public on the important health benefits of grassfed vs. commercial beef.

What I continue to be reminded while being down here is that you are only given today.  Tomorrow is no guarantee so you better live your best life now with those who matter most.  I have struggled to find my place in Vincennes and to share who I truly am, to share the gifts that God has given to me and only me. What I realized is that I somehow lost myself along the way and that it isn't about fitting in but being you, simply you. I love life, love people and believe that we are all fighting our own battles so you can't give enough hugs and high fives.

I believe that exercising daily and eating well keeps me sane and has renewed a passion inside of me that I thought was gone forever (becoming a BeachBody coach.  More on that later).  I believe that living a simple life in a small town is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children and your family.  I believe that being kind, smiling and respectful is simply that and that we should all remember that as we go out into the world.  I believe that my family is right where it is suppose to be, living the life that we are suppose to live.  Does that change the unsettled feeling in my belly? Nope, but it does remind me just how important it is to give all that you got to the man upstairs.  His plan is greater than any plan that I have.  I can't wait to continue to share more of my country girl adventures with all of you.  This country girl's life is a journey...not a destination.