Here's the thing ....

here we are .... waiting.

waiting to exchange on the land.  waiting because we have city slicker brokers and solicitors who want to make this as painful a process as possible.  i know there job is to make sure that all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed .... but you know what????

ALL I WANT TO DO IS PLANT SOME VEGGIES ON MY LAND!!!!!

sorry ... just had to say that.  we live in a world that is so paranoid of this that and the other that it stops us from enjoying the world around us.  liability and lawsuits and screwing your neighbor or business associate reign supreme.  

but guess what?  not in my world.  the thing is ... i don't think that way -- we don't live that way.

one of the things that hits you big when you move rural is that people don't think that way.  people in the country are more genuine and more gentle than you could imagine.  we have certainly found that.  and add on top of that networking in the sustainable ag / permaculture network, where working as a community and helping each other is a guiding principle .... well ... you can't help but have the best of both worlds.

don't get me wrong .... we certainly do give things the once over and check stuff out.  however ...we trust the folks that we deal with.  when it comes to designing our property .... well, i'm thrilled to have Terrasancta Permaculture on board.  i know and trust where he is coming from.  and the same holds true with potential builders ... knowing that they have a sustainable bent means that we are coming from the same perspective and it's about helping .... sure they have to earn a living.  but they aren't out to screw us and get what they can.

it's where permaculture and sustainability is about so much more than growing things.  it's about a lifestyle.  and next to my dear brothers and sisters in the christian community .... i reckon the permie's have a good thing going. i suppose that is why i call myself a creation care activist .... it marries both of them in the best of ways.

permaculture is about people care and fair share, along with creation care.  it means that we help each other.

here's the thing .... trust me when i say that getting engaged in creation care and understanding what being wise stewards of this amazing world is all about ... well ... it will bloody change you .... completely.  

utterly and completely.

Content or Malcontent???

i have just returned from a week in the Philippines, working at Rehoboth Children's Home, the orphanage our kids come from.  

every time i leave that country i leave a little part of my heart behind

for the children who deserve a home

for a land that has natural beauty beyond compare

and a people who have learned to be content

and i return to a country where

what we have is never enough

the competition to be better is always driving us

and family life is fit around our personal commitments and not what is best for our children.

i have been challenged yet again to simplify my life .... too much junk in my head, heart and life!

and it runs even deeper .... with each step we take on our path and journey that is "this life" we should be becoming better people, truer to the goals and ideals that we have.  i know my ideals are not selfishness, waste and disrespect for this amazing world .... and yet, it is easy to slip into that selfish mindset.

far too easy.

a dear filipino friend shared with me about their people, "see ... we do not have much, and yet we are a content people."  they have learned to live life each day and embrace that and not worry about tomorrow.

i am envious of that.  in all my faith and belief in our Creator God, my sinful human side knows that i do not live my life that way often enough.  that i let the selfishness of each day wrap me up in its claws ... the tentacles of wanting more and having excess shroud me heavily.  

i would love to have that stripped away.  to truly live a simple life that embraces each moment.

are you content with what you have or malcontent in wanting more than you need?

i am honest enough to admit that more often than not i am malcontent .... but, by the grace of our Creator God, i learn each day to be a bit more content .... because HE is sufficient for me.

... for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need,
and i know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,

whether well fed or hungry,

whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11-13

Selah.

it's done!

it's late ... i've just finished packing for my trek to the Philippines .... should go to bed ... but i am buzzing!  we put an offer in on some land and after a few days of negotiations .... it is ours!

[drum roll] ............. introducing ..... 

JustEarth

it's not huge ... 6 acres ... and perfect for us.  it needs lots of trees ... which we will happily plant!  and, if you haven't read up on why the name .... you can read all about that here.

Then take a look at these amazing shots.

  

 ok ... off to bed to catch a plane in the morning!  see 'ya on the flip side!

I have been remiss ...

my blogging capabilities seem to be a bit stifled of late.

i have a blog post on the go entitled "excuse the french but sh*t" .... which everyone should read
i have books and idea's coming out my ears
i have three adorable children who seem to be in a huge growth arena right now (read: emotional!)
i have a wonderful husband who is working hard and enjoying work

we seem to be on the "verge" of buying the bit of paradise that will be JustEarth .... but are trying to iron out the final details.  planning and pragmatics!

and on top of all of that .... i am heading off to the Philippines in a few days.  i am very excited.  a week at the orphanage that our children call our first home ... working with them, enjoying their company, ministering with them and ... helping them in their beginning journey towards sustainability!  it is an exciting thing and i can't wait to report on it when i return .... doing sustainable stuff in the equatorial tropics!  how cool is that!

but that is then and this is now

my brain is addled.  i'm trying to get things ready to go.  cooking meals for the family while i am gone.  ensuring kids are taken care of while daddy is at work ... shirts ironed, all of it.  and then i have to get me ready to go!

perhaps an arduous apology and justification.

sorry.  but my head is swimming.  i promise i'll be better on my return.

see 'ya on the flip side!