The joy of finding community

Over the last couple of months we have enjoyed the company of a handful of other homeschool families.  Though we may vary in our personal philosophies and backgrounds it is the desire to teach our children sustainable life skills that brings us together each week.  We have taken turns hosting work projects and crafts and built comfortable friendships along the way.  I am especially grateful for the shared wisdom and collaboration that is so generously passed around the adult circle.

Here is a report of what has kept us busy:

Potato digging.  I was told this was more fun than an Easter egg hunt.     

Fire roasting tomatoes.  The kids collected wood for the fire and assisted in washing and sorting the tomatoes.  

Dried apples.  We experimented with hanging them in the sun, by the fire and in a dehydrator.  

Compost building.  The kids helped with the garden clean up and learned about layering browns and greens.  The best part was dancing on it! 

 Seed paper.  The kids spent a couple weeks collecting seeds from their gardens and added it to a paper pulp mix.  After the pulp dried they buried them in flower beds and also gave some away as gifts.

Halloween play.  This was my favorite activity because it was completely inspired and directed by the children.  It was the vision and writing of an eleven year old girl and the enthusiasm of the other children that made this event happen.  The script, costumes, and stage were all assembled without the help of any adult.  They performed it in the tube of our barn on Halloween night and are already working on a spring sequel.

Meanwhile the older crowd spent most of the evening pressing apple cider.  With a nourishing pot luck and so much activity no one missed the candy and we all agreed it was one of our favorite Halloweens ever! 

Harvest lanterns.  Throughout the fall the kids have been collecting and pressing flowers and leaves.  We also gathered feathers and used beeswax and modge podge to stick them to the glass jars.

In celebration of Martinmas we had a warm potluck at the park and listened to the story of St. Martin.  When the sun had set we walked through the woods guided by our lanterns and quietly singing songs along the way.  Little George all stuffed in his snow suit insisted that we sing "lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way".  In contrast Maryanna was running yards ahead belting out the song "This little light of mine".  This was another evening to remember and hopefully repeat.     

  Everyone brings something unique to this group and what a blessing this has been to all involved.  I hope to report of many more great activities throughout this next season.

15 full years!

Today is our 15th wedding anniversary, it has been a full 15 years!

I stayed up way too late last night putting this slide show together and woke up feeling abundantly blessed.  Our chosen path has certainly not been one of leisure, we have been stretched (literally). And in leaping beyond our own rational minds exercised trust in a higher call to create a family.  It has not been easy and I recognize the hand of many angels both unseen and here on earth that have supported us along the way.  It has changed us in all the best ways.

As I sorted through photos I found the ones that moved me the most were the real moments of our life, joy is not something that can be staged or fabricated, it can surprise you at 6:00 am when you wake up and find half the family piled on top of you asleep.

I admit the dreams and visions we had for ourselves when we first got married are far from where we are today, there are days I can barely recognize myself from who I once was. And I am so grateful the illusion of successful living has gradually faded, that by working hand and hand with each other and with our Heavenly Father we've allowed prosperity to be redefined.  I feel so rich in ways that can not be measured here on earth.

Thank you Paul for sharing and creating this beautiful life together!

medium from Freden Farm on Vimeo.

THE FAMILY

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A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

WE DECLARE the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.