The Big White Farmhouse

Like I mentioned last week, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this little blog of mine.  One of my goals for May was to actively support my blogging friends and I guess that in turn has led me to question my own space on the web.  I’ve been assessing everything from blog design to monetization, but the one factor that I keep coming back to:  Am I being authentic?


I struggle with the answer.  I use this blog as a way to journal the little moments of our everyday life.  While I could (and sometimes do!) record the hard times with fussy babies and bickering brothers, I choose instead to focus on the good: the sweet compliment, the success in school, the delicious dinner, the goal checked off the list.  


Does this not make me authentic?  Does this make me look fake or shallow?


My hope for anyone stumbling upon this space is that they would be inspired to see beauty in the mundane and joy in the monotony.  I would hope they would be inspired to push themselves to try something new.  This blog portrays just a snippet of my life and while it is far from perfect, it is good.  


So with that said, let me re-introduce myself, both for long-time readers and those who may be new around here!  An honest look at the writer behind the Big White Farmhouse:


I’m Ashley, a devoted wife to my best friend and a mother to five great children.  I know without a doubt that this is the vocation I’ve been made for, but gosh, it is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.


I’ve always loved learning new things.  For my third birthday, I even received a backpack full of books and pencils…and I was thrilled!  However, until a few years ago, I was a little bit of a stick in the mud who let fear get in the way of trying new things.  Reading about something was one thing, but actually doing something new and scary?  I’ve been on a personal mission to be brave and get out of my comfort zone since.  It’s difficult, but I rarely regret it.


I don’t feel particularly gifted in any one area and will never come to this blog attempting to teach you something.  I do put a lot of passion into my attempts, though, and I hope that’s what comes across to you as a reader.


I am an introvert and a homebody.  If I’m home for the day, you’ll most likely find me in running clothes.  Gift giving is my love language.  I am passionate about my small business, but terrified of failing.  My baby is almost eight months old and I still have 15 pounds of baby weight to lose.  I love setting goals for myself, but sometimes they totally stress me out.  I could eat cheeseburgers every single day.  


My hope is that if you met me in person, you’d say, “Yep.  She’s just as I pictured her from her blog.”  And if you know me in real life, you’d say, “Yep.  That’s the Ashley I know.”  If I can pass that litmus test, I think I’m doing something right.  Here’s to living a more authentic life, both on and off of the computer!   


P.S. To my readers: Thank you so much for stopping by.  You have no idea how much I appreciate you.  I’d love to know your thoughts on authenticity.  And if you’ve never left a comment before, please introduce yourself!  I’d love to get to know you.

A collection of our ordinary days, recorded every week.  At the end of the year, I’ll publish them into a keepsake to treasure.

Around here, I have been:


recovering from last weekend’s festivities and preparing for another big one ahead! My world seems so busy and I’m so ready for it to slow down a bit.  


thinking about priorities, making good use of my free time, blogging and how the three of them relate.  I think it’s easy to get caught up in page views and Pinterest-worthy posts, but that’s not really why I started this blog.  I’m not an expert or a teacher; I’m just a mom in love with her family and her home.  Ultimately, I want to create a virtual scrapbook of our days and share a little about how I’m growing/changing.  It may not make me lots of money, but it’s enough.              

watching a mama bird in one of our hanging baskets!  After some research, we think she (and the daddy) are mourning doves.  It has been so fascinating to watch them work together to make a nest.  We even peeked and saw two eggs!  A few more amazing facts, courtesy of this website: 

Mourning Doves raise three or more broods in a single breeding season. Both parents build a flimsy platform nest of twigs located from 5 to 25 feet up in a tree or bush. Two white eggs hatch in about 14 – 16 days. One egg is laid in the evening, and the second on the next morning. The male usually incubates the egg during the day, and the female incubates at night. Nestlings, cared for by both parents, fledge in about 12-14 days. The parents continue to care for the fledglings until they are 25 to 27 days old.

This also probably seals the deal that I am indeed an elderly lady trapped in a 30-year-old body. 

purchasing an Ergo after a week of a teething baby who doesn’t want to be put down.  I really should have purchased one two babies ago, but am biting the bullet now.  I need him on my back so I can get things done!


loving Sophie’s sweet heart.  No matter what I make, she is so complimentary and will say, “Oh mama, ‘licious cookies!” or “‘Licious pancakes, mama!”

reading very little, only a few pages in Beyond the Birds and the Bees.  I need to get back in my groove.

celebrating the end of our school year!  With our big head start last summer, we are weeks ahead of the local public schools.  We’ll still be doing history throughout the summer (at M’s request!) and D will still have his reading lessons, but I’m ready for the break.

packaging up a fun donation for the ladies at the Catholic Women’s Blogging Network Conference in Ohio next weekend.  I am so happy to have Big White Farmhouse included in their raffle!

feeling nervous and excited for Sunday.  It’s so surreal to finally be at this point after training for 14 weeks and I’m anxious to see how I do.  Ready to get ‘er done!  

A collection of our ordinary days, recorded every week.  At the end of the year, I’ll publish them into a keepsake to treasure.

Around here, I have been:

preparing for our big First Communion weekend.  We have lots of family coming, so I am cleaning, putting together a guest room and making a big delicious menu!  I truly am in disbelief that M is old enough for this big occasion.  I am fairly certain that I may cry on Saturday, so let’s pray I stay at happy tears and not veer into the ugly cry, hah!  

sticking close to home as we’ve had workers in and out all week fixing our basement from the flood damage.  They are doing great work, but many of our things have been displaced around the house and with our big weekend coming up, it’s left me a little stressed.  Trying to remember that some things are out of my control and that’s okay. 

dying at the cute things Sophie says.  When TJ had a blowout, she ran upstairs and got him a new outfit.  I said, “Thank you for helping me!” and she replied, “Problem!” (meaning no problem).

reading Beyond the Birds and the Bees.

loving the ferns I picked up at Lowes last weekend.  It might quite possibly make me an 80 year old grandma, but they really do make me happy.  Now if I can keep them alive…

finishing (finally!) a project that’s been on my to-do list for over a year: we turned the cross-stitched superheroes into throw pillows for the boys’ beds.  The boys were in charge of the colors and design and they are all so proud.  Sophie was a little jealous, so I am quickly getting to work on a princess version.  


testing M.  It was pretty painless and I think he did well.  We just sent it off to Seton and hope to receive the results soon!

participating in a new site called Shopping with Blessed Zelie.  Their mission is to support small Catholic businesses and shop-owners and I am so lucky to be able to share Big White Farmhouse through them.  Each week, a new business will take over the blog to share about what they sell and do.  Big White Farmhouse’s turn will be sometime in July!  

running less as I taper in preparation for the half.  Just one more week until the race!  I am feeling all the emotions (which sort-of feel like preparing for childbirth): excitement, fear of the unknown, pride for what I’ve accomplished…so ready to knock this goal from my life list!