Finding {Joy} in the Small Things

I began this blog a couple of years ago not realizing that it would help guide and shape my life and the way I live my everyday the way that it has.

I simply wanted a place to showcase a few of my favorite photos from the hundreds I seemed to be taking every single day.

Instead, this project has become so much more, it's a place for me to share celebrations, trials, fears, dreams, reality, or simply put...

My Everyday.

My family and I are living a great life and I want to remember, savor, and cherish every last bit of it...

This blog is helping me do just that.

I know that we (the five of us) are some of the most faithful blog readers I have.

We want to look back and relive momets that were special to us and we often look back at the photos and read the stories and do just that.

It's helping me find joy in small moments like these...

 

We even ended our awesome day with 'Rise of the Guardians' and a rip roaring great game of Fibber!

 

We are pretty lucky to have this time together!

 

 

 

Summer Projects

We moved into our new home in March of 2010 and I remember feeling so very excited!

It felt like we were bursting at the seams of our trailer house, especially after baby numero three came in 2008 .

Having a very tight budget to follow meant no extra's back then...we were just overjoyed to be building!

So, little by little we are getting those 'extras' done when we have the time and our budget allows.

I am honestly appreciating those extra's a lot more than if we would have had them done right away...and I also wouldn't get the sense of accomplishment that comes from doing a project like this...

I am not quite finished, but I'm pretty confident after a trip to Home Depot to get more mulch and a few more plants my little helpers and I will have one big summer project under our belts!

The landscaping blocks aren't perfectly straight or level but thats ok with me because the point is that I did it..WOOHOO!!

And besides, the grunge look is in right?!

The Very Best Place

Every once in awhile I am lucky enough to listen in on one of my childrens conversations with eachother.

The other morning while I was attempting to tackle that never ending pile of laundry I heard a little voice outside the window...

'Madi?'

'Yes, Tyson?'

'I like living here.'

{Slight pause} 'Oh, me too.'

'Madi, I really like living on a farm. Do you like living on a farm?'

'Yes Tyson,  I really like living on a farm.'

'I always want to live here'

Be still my heart.

I am so blessed and continue to thank God that I found that farmer I was so adamantly against marrying all those years ago.

Taking a glimpse through these photos from the past few days, I completely 'get' where my little man was going with that sweet conversation to his big sis.

My little cowgirl

I'm going to let you in on a little secret...

my little cowgirl Madi, is in love...

with her calves.

I knew the moment she flashed that great big toothless smile of hers at a newborn baby calf when she had just turned one, that I had a true farm girl on my hands.

Every year, she seems to grow that much more in love with her 'cows'.

I am in awe of this strong little girl of mine who loves her animals so much,

and always has...

She has known more about them than I, her 'city' girl mama from about the time that first photo was taken!

The photos on the bottom of this post are of her and her new fair calf, Squiggles.

She is pretty adorable, and I think she loves Madi just as much as Madi loves her.

I am so thankful I get to call her mine!

Love you, my sweet girl!

Growing Up Before My Eyes

I remember going to this basketball tournament called Shada and watching a certain Tollerud guy (who had stolen my heart) play ages and ages ago!

A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to watch another Tollerud 'guy' (albeit a little smaller in stature) who has captured my heart as well, play in this awesome, small town tourney.

His dad and I have just started this journey of going to his sporting events and cheering him on and I have to say that so far we are having a blast!

We {LOVE} watching him play!

When Travis made it to Tanner's first tournament in January, only 3 weeks after his accident we realized just how lucky we were.

Because of the seriousness of his accident, we came pretty close to not being able to enjoy this wonderful part of being a parent.

I am so very thankful that we get to enjoy this wild ride together!

Tanner and his team played their little hearts out and even won their last game!

Way to go Pelican Heat!

Coach Travis even promised them ice cream if they got more rebounds than the last team they were playing and they ended up clinching the win! Pretty exciting!

A day we won't soon forget...

Today was media day with Farm Rescue.

In order for them to continue to do what they do, they need the media to hear our story and why we need their help.

It was a little stressful but kind of fun to know that they were here to see our farm and to hear about us.

I am going to let the photos tell the story of our day, and then it is off to basketball.

Tanner is playing in his very first 3 on 3 tournament and he is all sorts of excited!

I will post more on that later.

Here is a glimpse at our memorable day!

If you know of someone in need of some help please contact them, these guys are amazing!

A tremendous amount of {gratitude}

We have had some very special visitors at our place the past few days and I couldn't let this opportunity to blog about them pass me by.

Before January 7th of this year, Travis and I knew very little about the amazing operation and people who would come to help us finish spring planting.

Life threw us a horrific curveball that bitterly cold winter morning when Travis was involved in a terrible farm accident.

Before I became his wife, I knew that I would forever have that worry in the back of my mind....a worry and burden that every farm wife carries....

'What if something goes wrong?'

And then, for us, that horrible something happened and those feelings that before had only been minor worries, became all too real.

The rate of farming accidents is very high, in fact, I have heard that it is one of the most dangerous professions there is.

Honestly, for me, the statistics are extremely overwhelming and I would go crazy if I spent every day thinking about just how many dangerous jobs my husband (and every other farmer) gets himself into to take care of our family.

Luckily, for us, our family was extremely fortunate and although Travis' accident was very serious, he is recovering quickly and should make a full recovery within a year.

He isn't completely back to normal yet and can't work or move as much as he would like.

So today, we are counting our blessings and thanking God that there are such GOOD people in this world to help at a time when we really need it....

Farm Rescue is here...

This wonderful group of people called us shortly after the accident and asked if we would be interested in applying for help with spring planting.

We questioned whether we were the right applicants (we thought there had to be others out there who needed help much worse then we did, and also Travis was really hoping to be back to normal by spring and work as much and as hard as he always had in the past.).

After Travis watched some videos of other farmers who had received help, and he listened to their stories, he decided it was worth it to apply and see what happened.

Thankfully, we were accepted and these wonderful people are now here.

All of us are anxiously awaiting some drier weather and when we finally get some, they are going to help finish planting the soybeans.

Although I don't help on the farm, I am extremely grateful for the help of these awesome people.

Farm Rescue is helping to ease Travis' burden as well his families, who have been working around the clock since the accident to keep the farm going in his absence.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you are doing for our family!

We hope to pay it forward someday and help others the way you are so graciously helping us!