When Life Gets Crazy... Savor It

Over the last week we've had over 300 guests at the farm. It really seems insane, but we love it.
I LOVE having people here.
We hosted our student ministry family kick-off. Have I mentioned how much fun those teens are?

Families building a sense of community in a large church is so important

Human foosball was a big hit

Ultimate frisbee and flag football for the big kids.

Volleyball, bouncy houses, and food for everyone

We are finally figuring out the large-crowd thing and it actually runs pretty smoothly. We've learned that baked potatoes on the grill feed a hungry crowd. My farmer is a grill master.  Seriously, he cooked enough chicken and hotdogs to feed 200+ last Saturday like a champ.
We are also big fans of the good old fashioned covered-dish. But we've learned the hard way that people really do need to sign up for specific dishes. We've had a party with one side dish and 7 different salsa/bean dips and another party with meat and dessert.  I love dessert, but it doesn't fill up the kids like mac-n-cheese or green beans.
Do you know about Sign-Up Genius? It is the best kept secret for party/sports/covered dish functions.

Aside from hosting large group gatherings, late August and most of September sweep me away.  Not to a tropical location, but into my car, who we affectionately call Ruby. I can easily put 100 miles on my car just traveling to practices and school within 3 days.
The start of school for our oldest has been good. She loves her teachers and feels right at home. So thankful.

Volleyball season has started for our younger daughter and that means practice or games 4 days a week. It is a crazy couple of months, but it sure is fun. I love the girls on her team and the healthy friendships being established.

I can't maintain this pace, but when I know this is only a season, I press on and truly try to savor it.  My sweet mom said the other day, "I know you are overwhelmed and life feels crazy, but enjoy it.  It really is one of the most fun seasons of life. The quiet season will come and you will look back and realize how great it really was." Such sage advice. I realized I don't want to savor it when it is over. I want to savor it now. Some days I long for solitude and quiet ... and not being in the car. But I need to live life now. I want to eat up every moment God has given me with my kids. I want to enjoy it to the fullest.

Parenting Teens ... And Enjoying the Ride

 When our kids were little I was afraid of teenagers.  Most of them were bigger than me, and I thought they were just a bunch o' hoodlums with bad attitudes and filled with sarcasm.   I never imagined having teens would be this much fun...

As kids hit the teen years, it is natural for them to begin to pull away, but they still need to know that they are an important part of our family makeup.  They don't need us to hold their hands to cross the road, but they do need us to hold their hearts when the world begins to crowd in.  Parenting doesn't end when they turn 13.  It just looks different.

A couple of years ago, we made a conscious decision to be actively involved in our kids' teen years.  It is no easy task, but so worth the time and effort.  

Here's how it looks for us:

1. We want to know our kids' friends.  This is not the time to check out.  Friends are the greatest influence at this stage, so we want to encourage healthy friendships.  If their friends know us, it adds another layer of accountability.  

2. We try to teach our kids how to have healthy friendships with both sexes.  In the next phase of life, many of these kids will be finding their future mate.  Now is the time to help them develop friendship skills that will extend into adulthood and, hopefully, encourage strong marriages.  

3. We try to open our home as much as possible to these crazy kids.  Sometimes a quiet corner with a good book beckons... but I'll have the rest of my life to sit in a quiet corner. In this season of life, we are choosing to be "yes" parents.  There are a multitude of things we have to say "no" to, so it is important to look for the "yes" opportunities.  If the kids want to come, we make every effort to say yes. 

*Disclaimer: I fully believe in boundaries and having a day of rest.    

4. We are involved in the youth ministry at church.  As I type, my husband is on a youth trip with the middle school. Bless his heart.  I just got back from a 12 hour bus ride from high school camp. Sleep is overrated.  Our roles in the youth ministry ebb and flow, but we want these kids to know that we are connected and that we care.

5. We choose to invest in these kids.  Even good kids have baggage, tough home situations, and the need for healthy adult influence.  They may act like they know everything about everything, but they are still learning how to process the world.  We want our home to be a safe place for our kids' friends.  They need to know we are FOR them.

6. We fully believe in the power of fun.  It is our desire to demonstrate that good, clean fun is better than what the world has to offer.  

Good, not-so-clean, clean fun

Put into Action

When our kids say, "let's have a party," we try to come up with something that makes the guests want to come back.  Sometimes it is just pizza and a bonfire.

  

Other times we pull out the stops and get a little crazy.

Water balloons and summer just go hand in hand.

Shaving cream fights are the best!

Food is always a must.  If you can't afford to supply it every time, ask the kids to bring their favorite snack.  Host a Mexican fiesta and ask the kids to bring a taco topping.

One of our favorite games is Snowball Mountain.

The kids don a disposable shower cap (Dollar Tree).  Split the group into pairs. One team member gets a smothered dollop of CoolWhip on his head.  The other team member has to toss mini marshmallows onto the "snow mountain."  Once they have 10 marshmallows attached,  they must run over and eat the marshmallows off of the snowy mountain.  

Let them play.

 Life gets serious fast.  We want our kids to enjoy this last season of freedom.  Sometimes the kids just want to play in the pond.  Other times they want to play Ultimate Frisbee.  Their favorite group game is Manhunt. Basically hide-n-seek in the dark.  The basketball goal rarely gets ignored.  

It doesn't have to be a big production.  Just let them play.  Our job is to provide hydration, safety, and to encourage them to include everyone.  Sometimes we have to suggest games to get the ball rolling, but usually they figure it out on their own.

I never thought I'd say it, but I really do love having teens over to our house.  They make me laugh, give me a fresh perspective on life, and remind me that every season of parenting can be a blast.  Besides, they don't judge my dirty toilet and remind me that clean floors are  totally overrated.

I'm linking up with Imparting Grace. Come join the party!

What We Did with the Salvaged Barnwood

 When we laid out the plans for the property, we had a necessary structure list: a barn, henhouse, and our home.  Then we had a "maybe one day" list.  One of those things was a picnic pavilion.  We envisioned string lights, tables laden with food, some live bluegrass music... you get the picture.  Our "one day" became a reality a lot sooner than we expected.  (click here to read about how another "one day" became our life on the farm) 

Seriously, we can't make this stuff up:
Word got out about how we have been using our farm to bless large crowds and some people wanted to be a part of it...without us asking!  We got a call that a local lumber company wanted to donate the wood for a pavilion.  Then a local framer sent his crew to frame the structure (with our help, too).  Next, a painter offered to stain the raw wood.  A friend donated the shingles and a roofer donated his labor to put it on.  A local lighting store joined in the fun and donated two outdoor ceiling fans; and you guessed it, an electrician donated his time to wire it up.

We chose a location close to the barn so that power could be easily run to the pavilion.

 As with all projects on the farm, it was a family project.  We worked hard to lay the decking.

 Sometimes trying to beat the rain...

 A friend was remodeling her kitchen and this brass chandelier was in the trash pile.  I snatched it up, added a coat of black spray paint, and fell in love.

This 40" granite step came from the grandparent's farm.  Pretty sure it weighs more than my car. I love reusing things with sentimental value.

We purchased three things for this project.  1. Nails. 2. Lattice to keep out cats and other animals that might want to make their homes under the deck.
3. String lights.

We looked in the big box hardware stores and online, but our budget was super tight.  Then one day I happened to be at Big Lots and found these in the garden section.  We didn't want anything that would be too bright (no bugs invited).  These are actually small christmas tree lights with plastic clear ball coverings. They look like the glass ones but will be much more durable.  The price was perfect too!

Remember the barn from the previous post?  This is what we did with the salvaged barnwood:

We wanted our new pavilion to have rustic, old charm.

 The pavilion is 16x30' and I love every square inch.

Eventually we will stain the floor and support beams to match the rafters, but for now it is time to enjoy.

It is the perfect length for three long banquet tables for a serving buffet, or we can double that side by side for a sit down dinner.  If it rains, we can keep a lot of friends dry.

 Over the last month we've had two large birthday parties, a couple of family gatherings, the youth group, a father-son event, and our Life class family picnic.

 Yes, it has been well used already.

We still have some finishing touches, but that's for another day.  We hope to bless many people with this gift of space.  Who knows, one day, there might even be a wedding here.  One day...

I'm linking up with It's Overflowing today

Welcome Summer

 The grass beckons to be cut, the birds awaken us at dawn and the warm weather calls to my kids.  They took their first dip in the pond over the weekend.  Friends always make it more fun.

Do you eat later in the summer than in the winter?  I love summer meals, gathered around the table as dusk settles. Freshly showered kids in pajamas, grill marks on the food, and fresh fruit at 8pm.  Yes, it must be summer!

This is the easiest  crowd-pleasing summer dessert:

1 tub cool whip

1 angel food cake

1 tub strawberry glaze

fresh, sliced strawberries

Mix the glaze and fresh berries.  Layer in a glass bowl.  Wait for the oohs and aahs.

Celebrating Memorial Day with a few friends and a bunch of food.

Shrimp boil! 

We call it Frogmore Stew.  Why?  Why is it called that??

I have such talented friends!  So patriotic!

Even though I dread the heat, I am looking forward to all that summer has to offer.

I think we're off to a great start!