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It was discovered a few weeks ago that the same Sa

It was discovered a few weeks ago that the same Saturday Alden turned 7 was the same Saturday we were butchering 90 chickens. Obviously a chicken birthday party was coming our way. 🎉🐓🎉 I blogged about the whole thing: family-scale butchering and this epic hen cake. www.thegrovestead.com

My very favorite part of our Gather and Grow Farm

My very favorite part of our Gather and Grow Farm dinner fundraiser was my dad praying before the meal. Which is saying a lot because the night was without a hitch, the kids played beautiful music, the people gathered were salt of the earth and the food was fantastic. Rory and I gave a presentation telling stories and sharing pictures. But man, when my dad prayed I could feel a peace fall on the room. He was asked in the moment, mostly to get him to stop talking to the caterer…but then he started to pray and you know, I grew up hearing him pray every Sunday at church, each time we ate, and every night when he tucked me in. But it had been a while. And it was so special to have his blessing over the whole night. I just don’t want to ever forget that.

Tonight we have our annual fundraising dinner for

Tonight we have our annual fundraising dinner for Gather & Grow, and I thought I’d extend the invitation to give and support this two-year-old ministry. The Lord is doing a mighty work, turning the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. We are going toe to toe with the some@pretty huge cultural giants saying the trade of relationships and intact families for material wealth and consumption was a poor trade. It has left us yearning for community, friendship and meaning. Which is where the family economy comes in. I could write a book right here- but Rory already has! 😅 So just know that we need partners in this work. You will be joining an effort that is just beginning. It’s exciting! Go to gatherandgrow.us and on the Give page you can join as a Giving Partner. (And I’ll send you a copy of that book!)

I did a project that I have wanted to do for ELEVE

I did a project that I have wanted to do for ELEVEN years!!! 🎉 Since we moved into this house I always wanted a picture wall here, but it seemed overwhelming. I just want you to know it took me six weeks from start to finish. To find frames at the thrift shop, to remember to charge the impact driver, to hang them one at a time (sometimes just one picture a day…) to print the right pics and right sizes. I just wanted to tell that timeline because I think we’re really conditioned to insta, and 30-minute room reveals and a quick scroll for before and afters. But this here took a while- like eleven years. But I literally smile when I walk by. These are all my fav’s with a story and memory behind each one (the one of me and Rory is when I had just told him we were pregnant with the our forth child. Which means Alden is actually in that shot!) So be encouraged! Just start! Do the home project you have been thinking of for eleven years. I did not map my frames out on craft paper, it is totally imperfect, and I love it. Elsie said, “it’s the best thing you’ve done in a long time.” 😂😅 Ha. Should probably go do another picture wall then…

The Farm and Family Fair was a joy and I just blog

The Farm and Family Fair was a joy and I just blogged all about it. About the blacksmith, the potter, the animals, the productive playground, the music and pie. And the twelve families that came to show how their family is working towards a family economy. I invite you to read all about it at theGrovestead.com for more words and the glorious photography of @jennifer.sanders.photography 😊

We had an incredible weekend at the Illinois Homes

We had an incredible weekend at the Illinois Homeschool Convention. Rory taught three sessions on the family economy and we all took turns manning the booth while making so many new friends. Our hearts are full and so grateful.

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