Setbacks in reality: Sappy post alert!

As many of you may have noticed, it's been a little quiet on the blog for a while.  Life.  Sometimes life begins to fly by so fast that we occasionally need to slow down and take a reality check.  I am one of those 'straight forward' communicators that doesn't like to beat around the bush.  In short-I like to call-it-like-it-is. So here's the deal: I began to lose priorities in my life.  This past year, my work stresses began to consume me both professionally and personally.  Not good.  I had all kinds of goals and excitement for my writing and where I wanted to take the blog-but even that began to feel like a burden.  My garden was planned beautifully-with succession plantings and lots of food that would be canned to store and have to feed the family throughout the winter. 

I can tell you I have nothing in my pantry from the garden except a bag of frozen shredded zucchini and some cherry tomatoes.  There was a lot of waste in my garden this year.  You know there needs to be a reality check when the things that bring you joy are only another stressor. 

THE POINT-I am here to remind you that there are a lot of things that we plan and would like to accomplish at certain times in life, but God will always remind you of where your focus should lie; and I can tell you its not on stuff-and-things, or even work.  I still have a lot of the same goals-but they are no longer self-centered.  They involve my family and, perhaps more importantly, helping others.  God has a way of humbling us right when we need it; and for that I am thankful.  I am grateful for hardships and suffering that bring about perspective and humility.  We pick ourselves back up and begin again-with a fresh mindset. 

So-onward we go.  I am refreshed and renewed and excited to continue sharing our path of learning about homesteading with you!  I have no doubt that many of you have experienced frustration, set backs or motivation struggles while learning to homestead where you are.  I'm here to tell you that it's normal-and that you aren't the only one who goes there; I guess I'm just willing to tell it all-the hilarious, the growth and even the ugly.  This stuff isn't glamorous folks-we get down and dirty in this game of life!  Come on now-what has been the biggest obstacle for YOU in homesteading and how have you overcome it?  Let's inspire each other to keep-on-keepin' on!  What are you working on right now?

Until next time,

Shanyn