As a Pennsylvania girl who grew up daydreaming about horses and farm life while living in the Philadelphia suburbs, I began this blog while living on a horse farm with my soul mate and two little boys.
Our humble beginnings were spent exploring Philadelphia and then up to Hoboken, NJ. Shortly after 911, I decided it was time to come back home to PA. I began collecting horses, and my future husband and I decided to look for a place to keep them. We packed up our dog, horses, and a boat load of optimism, and we settled on a historic country home that needed a little work. As our family grew to two little boys, 3 horses and a our beloved dog, Boomer, serious renovations to our circa 1790 farmhouse were underway.
I begin this blog with the story of how we renovated the rustic barn to accommodate our rehearsal dinner (which, I must say, was more fun than our wedding reception– although my new husband looked so dapper in his tux!)
Sharing memories of being warmly greeted by neighbors who wondered “Who are these stupid young people,” and “What are they doing?” allowed me to create the full picture of our renovation stories. I want to write essays that honor those who took pity and helped us as we stumbled through our historic farmhouse renovations. This is a living testament to all of the people who touched our lives by sacrificing their time to pitch in to complete our vision of restoring this little farm house.
But one cannot fully describe this home without breathing in the essence of its surrounding area. I began to post essays about the country side in our corner of Pennsylvania and additional reflections. I quickly realized this blog began to take on a life of its own.
As I scraped old wallpaper and lead paint from the thick plaster, my faith in God also grew. I began to reach deeper. My eyes became clearer to my purpose here. The fact that in the mid 1800’s this old farm house was once a women’s seminary does not escape me.
It’s as if the walls continue to speak from the bible into my heart as God has been leading me on a journey of enlightenment. I have come here to not only restore these stone walls, but also to restore my soul.
Its a reinvention of sorts. We had a vision of taking this old stone home and bringing it into the 21st century. But God had bigger plans.
As each plaster and stone wall was removed from home, walls were also being tore down within me. The Light began to shine into the deepest recesses, literally and figuratively. Our historic farm house journey has become a metaphor for my life, and that is just how God works.
So be encouraged, my friend. For God is alive and well. He is just waiting for the opportunity to guide you into the path of enlightenment.
On a lighter note, spending time with my boys around our horses is one of the greatest joys in life. I am so blessed for all of the gifts God has given me.
Hopefully my stories will inspire you to try something new, bake a sweet treat or maybe even recycle an old home. But most of all, I hope you will be blessed, find joy in the little things and live out your dreams, no matter how crazy they seem.
Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. Psalms 136:26
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