Hope Farm Co.

Originally I was writing this post to tell everyone to go to Moxie Craft Fest at 2:15 but its 4:58 and.....

So, how bout a story? Last year, at Moxie craft fest 2017 we were vendors, had record sales and sold out of our most popular items. BUT, that's not what I remember. I was (quietly) 8 weeks pregnant. While ringing up sale after sale, many mother-daughter duos came by, shopping together and buying mangers, planters and signs while talking about Christmas decor. Hormonal and exhausted, some tears formed when they walked away. Today, one year later I remember the wondering thoughts about the little one inside and a whispered prayer.

Today, one year later, I took that answered prayer, my daughter, to Moxie and remembered all the mothers and daughters shopping.
Except this time I was one of them.
I had my daughter with me napping in the baby wrap. What a year it has been.

And, if you don't know about Moxie Craft Fest follow their page and make plans to attend the next one. I am so proud of the minds behind this event!

And yes I know she’s not positioned exactly right in that last photo, the wrap needed to be tightened - she fell asleep and I wanted to keep her asleep.

Happy Anniversary to my husband! In true four-kid parenting fashion, I am ten days late. I'll call year fourteen the year GENTLENESS came. It’s my greatest gift to see him as a girl daddy! Reflection: What I appreciate most about Shannon are the small daily consistencies that have become rituals. He has set it up so that when he’s gone IT'S REALLY NOTICEABLE. For instance; (read to the end for the BIGGIE)
He gets my water bottle and fills it up every single night with cold water before I go to bed.
He cleans out the diffuser and puts lavender oil in it every single night before I go to bed.
He plugs my phone up to charge every single night.
He gets my earplugs and hands them to me before I go to sleep every single night.
He makes my coffee most mornings, complete with frothing the creamer.
He gets the coffee maker ready to go so I just have to push a button when I get up.
He texts me every time I am gone and says “just checking in, how’s it going?” or "how are you?”
And a MIRACLE: For most of our marriage, I have fussed about how loud he talks to me or anyone when he is excited or really believes in something it often sounds like he’s arguing or shouting! He isn't - it's just the timbre of his voice and something we agree to disagree about. He TOLD SOMEONE the other night that Hope is most responsive when he is calm and gentle and he’s had to change his voice to be calm and quiet so she will smile and respond. I told him that could go for all the women in the house! Haha, but for real, Hope has brought out a gentleness in him that WAS NOT around due to having all boys. IT IS A TRUE MIRACLE.
The little things are anchors that serve to support commitments. I am thankful for all the little things he does. Photos by
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