Vacation. What we didn't say on the Podcast

In case you didn’t know, the theme of our podcast this season is “Avoiding Burnout,” and recently we did an episode on getting away from the homestead. We really needed this vacation. However, here is what we didn’t share on the podcast.

This was the first time that we had been away from our kids in their lives. Yep, 5 years since we have been on a vacation with just the two of us. It was wonderful! We realized the need to reconnect as a couple. For my husband and I, we take our marriage vows VERY seriously. Divorce is not an option. This is by our choice and based on how we read Scripture. I think as new parents, we just don’t want to miss out on any part of their developing lives. Every moment seems to be a new journey, and missing out on one piece feels like we would be missing out on so much more than words can ever express.

However, we want our marriage, family, and homestead to last for long time. This is why it’s important to get off the homestead and reconnect as couple. We don’t want to reach those teenager years and years when the boys leave home and not know each other anymore. That is not what we want our marriage and lives to become. This is not to say we don’t vacation as a family, because we do this often. We want our kids to love to travel just like us.

Prior to becoming homesteaders and parents, my husband and I traveled.  We have been to cool places like Japan, Belize, South America and the like. Our passports are happily filled with many countries. Traveling gives you a different perspective on cultures and peoples’ lives. In fact, the more we traveled, the more I have realized how we are all the same. Good food, good people, good lives. All of this makes the heart and face shine with happiness.

When my husband and I would travel, we would always go to the countryside of any country we were visiting, and this is where I came to that realization of good food, good people, good lives makes the heart and face shine. It’s the simplicity of living that makes life good. Even when times are tough.

Like all of our trips, we stayed true to who we are and saw the PNW countryside. This we have seen so many times, but this time was different. To see how others homestead, and to see the tranquility of the countryside, and the rolling green and sometimes brown patchwork of orchards and hay fields was exhilarating to say the least. The weather was perfect, the trees were incredible as they whistled in the light breeze of the rainforest of the PNW, (Pacific Northwest for short). Then we got a chance to see the mighty Pacific Ocean, an ocean I grew up with and was molded by early in life. Unlike the warm consistent Atlantic, the Pacific is fickle, cold, and unpredictable, and yet. I love it. We had a running joke with our friends that the PNW is called “God’s Country” because of the majesty of the beauty there. But in so many ways it really felt like Gods County. What a wonderful time we had.

We landed back in Arizona with a renewed spirit and fresh air in our lungs. We are awaiting the kidding season on our homestead. Buttercup, one of our goats is very pregnant. In fact, this morning as I was doing morning chores, her udder looks quite full and her ligaments are little loose. So, we are getting our goat birthing kit, and birthing stall ready for the momentous day.  We also are getting her used to be back in the milking stantion so that we can transition to milking again with ease. Also, we will be shaving her udders within the next day or so. In our birthing kit we are keeping the following things:

1.     phone number to a local vet

2.     puppy training pads

3.     paper towels

4.     flashlight

5.     garbage bags

6.     warm water

7.     iodine

8.     gloves

9.     dental floss

10.  scissors

11.  bottle and nipples

12.  drench

13.  towels

14.  hay and water for momma

I can’t explain how excited we are to be in milk on our homestead. Our other doe, Luna, is starting to look pregnant. I can’t seem to catch her urine to do a pregnancy check, but I’m pretty sure she’s on her way, too. We are currently deciding if we want to keep using goats for dairy, or if we want to move to using a dairy cow. What do you think? Our family can easily go through 3 to 4 gallons a week. So, we shall see. This is a topic that needs its own post, so keep on the lookout for that post in the near future.

Well, that’s all from our homestead. Until next time,

Stay safe out there.

Lisa M.

The Two Acre Homestead