This year, my gardening plans were made to be simple. My family’s life plans were neither here nor there so it’s all it could be. With Gabe working away from the home for what seemed unending and the kids and I scurrying behind him to different locations to fill the void, I found that life was just happening.
For days I cried out to God for stability, routine, a plan; instead, He kept me on my knees. I’m not sharing this for you to feel sorry for me. No, actually, even while drowning in my tears, I learned to find joy.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Rom 5:3-5 (NIV)
You know, I haven’t shared much about my personal life this past year. Goodness, for much of it, its felt like riding a wooden raft, split and tied together with cords of reed, trying to stay afloat in the middle of the ocean. It hasn’t been all bad, mind you, there have been days where the waters have been still, calm, and we’ve been able to take in the sun setting in majestic colors of orange, purple, and yellow sparkling over a deep blue sea. Of course, we’ve also found ourselves struggling to stay afloat as waves of unimaginable proportion have come capsizing down upon our tiny raft … our only hope to live.
Oh, the depths of despair! (Ok, sorry, too much Anne of Green Gables there!)
Like, I said, we found ourselves just living for the moment, for the day. I know, these trials of mine are definitely first world trials but they’re mine nonetheless and in them God has shown me to seek Him first. Over swollen eyes, I’ve learned to trust and persevere.
I’m not sure how much I’ve shared with you all, but Gabe and I have 10 acres of land where we are going to build a new home and start a homestead from the ground up! Can you believe it, our homesteading journey is about to start!
We had plans to sell our home this past spring so in between Gabe being here and there we did a lot of cleaning up on our urban homestead. We pulled out the backyard gardens, tilled, and reseeded with grass. We made some kitchen improvements along with a few other odds and ends around our home. In order to keep things looking nice and simple, I had decided to just grow vegetables in my front yard garden beds and the one on the side of our home.
You know what God showed me through my simple garden plan this year? He showed me that in the simplicity, true simplicity, peace and joy can be found.
I went into this garden year with no expectations. I didn’t know what I would be harvesting since I didn’t know how long I would be in our current home for. I planted things that I thought would be simple enough to tend to if I weren’t living here and I made sure to include many flowering annuals and herbs to bring beauty and joy.
I just don’t remember the last time I found so much peace and relaxation in my gardening.
I found myself praising my God in the crisp morning dew, singing while pulling weeds, and dreaming again of things I’d like to pursue in this life. It’s been a joy.
I simplified by planting fewer things so that I wasn’t tied down to the garden. I decided to cut down on my canning and preserving so that I only put up small quantities and only things my family truly enjoys. (sorry peaches, this year you have no space in my cupboards.) I gave myself breathing room and found peace.
After this simple year in gardening, I want a simple life in homeschooling and in homemaking. I want true simplicity in all aspects of my life so that I can be consumed in peace. To me, that has meant trusting God, truly taking Philippians 4:4-10 to heart and being ok with just being ok. I’ve found that life is much more fun when it can be lived without worry.
It takes work though. Work to overcome the mind. To choose to not worry when anxiety creeps in. To choose to pray, immediately, ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit, and trust that God has everything in control.
Below, are images from this past gardening year that I had posted to Instagram. Feel free to follow me along on my choice to live a true life in simplicity on Instagram here.
Hot summer crops are getting bigger homes today! They’re getting big ??? #organicgardening #gardening #urbanhomesteading #homesteading #vegetables #realfood A photo posted by My Humble Kitchen/Diana Bauman (@dianabauman) on
It’s pea picking time. The peas are loaded and growing much too tall for their support system. #organicgardening #gardening #vegetables #urbanhomesteading A photo posted by My Humble Kitchen/Diana Bauman (@dianabauman) on
A bit of broccoli and cabbages from the garden. It looks like a cabbage salad is on our menu for the week. ?? #urbanhomesteading #organicgardening #vegetables A photo posted by My Humble Kitchen/Diana Bauman (@dianabauman) on
Slowly but surely, as I harvest my spring crops, I’m replacing them with hot loving veggies. Today I seeded beans and zucchini. #gardening #urbanhomesteading #organicgardening #vegetables A photo posted by My Humble Kitchen/Diana Bauman (@dianabauman) on
The beginning of a chocolate raspberry tart. It’s been a prolific raspberry season! Praise the Lord for his harvest. #raspberries #urbanhomesteading #organicgardening #dessert #naturescandy A photo posted by My Humble Kitchen/Diana Bauman (@dianabauman) on
I think this has to be the largest red cabbage I’ve grown yet. I’m in love! #urbanhomesteading #organicgardening #vegetables #cabbage #kidsinthegarden #charlottemasonliving A photo posted by My Humble Kitchen/Diana Bauman (@dianabauman) on
My mom’s weekly CSA box from my #urbanhomestead gardens minus the eggs and tomatoes I delivered yesterday. ? I think we’re both excited for my expanded gardens I’ll have next year!! #organicgardening #csa #vegetables #mama #family A photo posted by My Humble Kitchen/Diana Bauman (@dianabauman) on
Cleaned, prepped, and I’m ready to sow some fall goodies. I usually like to get my fall crop in mid July but with being in Colorado I wasn’t able to. I still have one bed on the side of my house that needs tending to, but all in all it’s been such a relaxing gardening year for me. I kept it small, without any expectations, which allowed me to enjoy it more. So, now I need to plan on what I’m going to plant before the cold weather hits! How has your gardening season been? #urbanhomesteading #organicgardening #fallgardening #fall #vegetables A photo posted by My Humble Kitchen/Diana Bauman (@dianabauman) on
I loved reading this update Diana! The hard times have a way of bringing us back to what’s most important, don’t they? That’s something I’ve admired about you from afar – your commitment to the Lord and your family, even when it means going against the grain, or taking breaks from blogging, or passing up opportunities to achieve a personal goal when you don’t feel a clear “yes” in your spirit. Keep pressing into Him…and keep reminding the rest of us to do the same!
Thanks for the encouragement, Dena! Love you!! XoXo!!
Good Morning!
Thank you for this post. I too am all at sea and need to focus on the Holy Spirit’s help and encouragement. Not to let worry take over. Thank you so much for the reminder of where we truly are; in His hands.
Praise God that you were encouraged, sister. God bless you!
So happy for the update!
When we went through a similar hard time relocating from Arizona to central Texas with 2 babies, we left behind a brand new home at the foot of the mountains with promises of plenty of work at really good wages from well meaning people. However, we were met with a 75% pay cut, so we lived with with my inlaws for a year and a half while struggling so hard. We were young and dumb and already had $12,000 in debt plus a car payment. We couldn’t find steady work so ended up starting a business, it immediately got way over our head so had to quit. 2 months before I was due to have our 3rd baby and I thought I was going to die if we didn’t get a place of our own, the Lord laid it on someone’s heart to sell their 9 acres and 20 year old tired mobile home to my inlaws and us for below market value. We were all so happy we didn’t care about the obvious needs the place had! We always look back at that with any hard time now. If we hadn’t had that struggle, we wouldn’t have been so ready for what God brought us to, both the house and land have taken every ounce of perseverance we could beg God for. We were able to get and stay out of debt within 6 years on one very meager income while adding 3 more children to our family. My husband started his business again 2 years ago, and we are the only company in the area that is completely debt free, and though I feel precisely like you about your husband being gone so much, I remind myself that this struggle is to prepare us for what’s ahead. God is tempering us through the trials. So down on our knees to rise puffy faced is certainly a way of life right now! So, so thankful for your honesty, I NEEDED this reminder right now.
Btw. Have you ever read “Evidence Not Seen” by Darlene Rose Diebler? Her attitude in trials has changed my life more than any book.
Blessings to your family, you are salt and light….
Lea, what a beautiful testimony to God’s love and provision. Thank you for sharing your journey. It definitely brings perspective that life is never in our control but God is faithful. God bless you!
Thanks for sharing so much of your personal story and for including so much of your faith in it! When God is the only thing that truly matters in the end, it’s kind of silly to focus so much of our lives on anything else. 🙂 I know how you’re feeling about moving, though I have never had a chance to do much gardening myself and make that connection to the land. We just moved this summer as well from a smallish house in a small farming town in CO to a bigger house out of town with 16 acres (14 of which are currently being farmed in wheat)! 12 years is a long time to live in a house and I can understand your feelings of bittersweet joy at the prospect of change. We were only in our house for 6 years but in that amount of time birthed three babies there and made so many memories. Love the house we moved into, though, and excited for the chance to plant and grow and use the land God has blessed us with.
Praying for your family as you begin this transition and follow God in all the paths He has for you in this life!
Valerie
Thanks for sharing, Valerie. God bless you on your new land and homesteading journey!
This spoke to my heart as well. God has taught me a lot about “daily bread”. He provides daily. Keep it simple, keep my eyes open, and continue to walk in faith.
Amen, Elissa! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for sharing this inspiring post. I loved your line about life being more fun when you’re not living in worry. I found it so freeing once I learned to relax and have faith in myself and my family and know that we can handle and do anything.
That’s so good, Jennifer! It’s true that relaxing is something some of us have to learn. I’ve found that very true for myself.
Hello Diana, it’s amazing how change can alter our perspective, especially when taxing our reserves as you describe. Good to hear you’re coming through Ok, and nice to know people share their vulnerabilities, this helps us all normalise bigger issues in our lives. This year I too have simplified my vegetable garden as it was becoming a chore and anxiety rather than a pleasure. I still have plenty for me and my lovely husband and enough to give away too, but if my lettuces decide to go to seed, well the hens get them and after a very wet July here in Wales, my black currants are plump but too soft to pick, so the blackbirds are having a vitamin rich feast. I tend to be more Druidic in beliefs and thank my goddesses of Mother Earth for all the abundance. Gratitude is paramount. Whatever or whoever you believe in. Thanks for sharing. I enjoy your blog.
What a great way to look at things, Augustine! Yes, I’ve been doing that too. My hens have been getting lovely feasts now and then as I’ve chosen to step back a bit. Many blessings to you 😀
Thanks for your sharing your story, and a welcome reminder of what’s important.
Last month I moved from a CA condo with 2 patios, to a darling house in IA with a small backyard. I would love to jump right in with my garden dreams, but am almost wiped out health-wise from the move (and all the prep that went onto it), and realized I have to give myself grace to recover. I’ve been dealing with adrenal fatigue issues for years, and have to remind myself that God’s yoke is easy, and I should not try to take on an even heavier one of my devising, but trust Him. I tend to over-complicate when I forget to rest in His strength!
Isn’t that the truth, Leanne! I do that too, overcomplicate things! Blessings to you and yes, relax! By the way, where in Iowa are you at?
How good it is to share the journey with family! Thanks for your transparency. I recently moved from a 10 acre hobby farm back into town. My husband took a new job so we were able to move back toward family. The area of MN we were in allowed us to have land. Now that we are closer to the cities, housing costs forced us into a new life venture. Although I miss the goats, chickens and guinea hens, I will still be able to garden, just on a smaller scale. I am sure I will meet someone who needs a hand milking goats so that I can still make cheese:). Our Father always provides what we need! And He loves to give good gifts to His children! Continue to enjoy the simplicity. Acreage is a lot of hard work, especially if you choose to add animals to all your daily duties. May God bless you on your journey!
Thanks for sharing this, Roberta. Yes, I’m sure a homestead is a lot of work. I think about that often. Right now, I have the leisure of a small urban homestead. It’s work but not too much and I still get to reap some of the benefits that you’d find in the country. It’s definitely something I toss back and forth. I love my little urban homestead. In prayer we’ll add things to our homestead one small step at a time and see what we can handle within the seasons in life. Have a great day!
The encouragement I am blessed with each time I read your posts fills me with such joy that God has crossed our paths. I am so glad that God put it on my heart to come to your site today and catch up on what I’ve missed. My heart has been so restless and your wise words of faith are exactly what God knew I needed. Thank you for being such a blessing! Love you, sweet sister! xoxo
I love you too, Kelly! xoxo
It sounds like you are headed towards minimalism, Diana!!! A quest for simplicity, true beauty, balance, God’s wisdom, the Spirits leading. Having only what you really need, really use and find to be beautiful. Less to care for so you can live more. I look forward to hearing more about your personal life. That is why I periodically come back to read because it is inspiring and I love to hear how you and your family not just survive but thrive in Jesus. Blessings to you, Diana!!
Thanks, Allie! I will be posting more in this new year and will for sure share about our new house plans! We’re planning a smaller home because I’d much rather spend my time outdoors than in ;D xoxo!!
Moving is an excellent opportunity to go through everything and edit everything you own. I highly recomnend the books “Simplify” and “Clutter-Free With Kids” by Joshua Becker. (I’m not suggesting you live with clutter. Hehe!)
I do hope you will share a detailed tour once your new home is complete. You do such a fabulous job decorating inside and outside, which radiates warmth, tradition and serves as evidence of a united balanced secure joyful peaceful loving family! (: