intentional living, little by little
Thank you so much for everyone who entered the Mission Coffee giveaway! Without further ado…
Good morning, mammas. I had a nice post planned for today, full of sunshine and rainbows…but honestly, that’s not how I’m feeling this week. I am weary.
I don’t know if it’s the same for you, but it seems like my life is a bunch of hills and valleys. We can go so long on the top of that hill – happy well-rested boys, few discipline problems, a clean home and full bellies. Life seems so simple then, almost easy.
And then come the valleys. And boy do they come hard, every single time. Extended family issues, a lot of potential changes for my little family, challenges with my boys and oh yeah – pregnancy! – has just compounded this week. I am tired and my heart is heavy.
I used to live my life thinking that no one needed to know I was struggling. Pull up my big girl pants, plaster that smile on my face and act like everything is fine. No one asks and I suffer in silence. Has anyone else done that or was I the only fool to think it was okay to live life wearing a mask? With a little maturity, I’ve realized that I don’t want to be that person. I want to help and encourage others during my hills so that when the valleys come, hopefully someone will reach out to me.
So that’s where I’m at right now. Sorry you came to Big White Farmhouse for such a downer post. I’ll be back tomorrow to announce the winner of the coffee giveaway. Entries are SUPER low so please feel free to enter (my pride thanks you!). Giveaway post is here.
Sometimes life gets so
busy that I forget to notice and appreciate the little things. Here are some of
the things I am loving lately:
I WANT TO REMEMBER… that life isn’t about the accumulation of “stuff” but of memories. Lots of purging and organizing around here and the boys don’t even know the difference. I’m trying to remember that even though the world tells you that kids “need” all kinds of things…experience tells me otherwise.
I WANT TO REMEMBER… J’s sweet hand on my cheek when I get the opportunity to rock him to sleep. These moments are quickly passing with that big boy…I’m going to savor them while I can.
I WANT TO REMEMBER… how much fun two big boys can have with a new pool. Last week (when it was too cold to swim) the pool became a ship, a fort and even a place to sit and read books. Now they are so excited for 90 degree days and using it for its intended purpose!
I WANT TO REMEMBER… what a selfless man I married. Even though the pollen is out of control and his allergies are practically debilitating, he’s still out there playing soccer in the backyard with the kids. I am blessed.
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P.S. Don’t forget to enter the Honduran coffee giveaway! Enjoy a good cuppa Joe while supporting a farmer at the same time! You can find more info here.
Ready for a great “It’s a Small World” story? So late one night months ago, I was browsing Facebook when I noticed one of my friends had liked an organization called The Shepherd’s Cafe. In true nosey fashion, I clicked through and fell in love with what I read: a Catholic coffee house created with young adults in mind, used to help the community grow in faith with speakers and music. How awesome, right? I was bummed I lived so far away from Texas!
If you watched the video, you may have noticed the Cafe’s secondary ministry, Mission Coffee. This ministry is amazing! Their goal is to help impoverished coffee farmers in third-world countries, right now in Honduras and Nicaragua. Here’s the “It’s a Small World” part: I have close friends who have served on mission trips to these same small Honduran towns. I have a friend who is a long-term missionary in Honduras (she’s even pictured in the video!). These connections drew me to this organization even more. And now I want to share it with you!
Whether you are Catholic or not, I think everyone can stand behind an organization that goes out of their way to support farmers and provide them with a fair wage. Something so simple can change a person’s life, change a family’s life. And we can help!
If you are interested in purchasing, please contact Yong here to order. There is a three bag minimum for shipment.
So now onto the fun part: I’m hosting my first GIVEAWAY on the Big White Farmhouse! To help spread the word about this great organization, I want to give one of you a bag of Honduran coffee to try!
For an entry, all you need to do is comment at the end of this post! If you’re extra ambitious, here a few ways you can earn extra entries:
The giveaway will run until next Thursday night, April 19th, at 9PM EST. I will announce the winner Friday, April 20! Good luck!
