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November 2021 and it is final, we have handed over the keys. We have somehow managed to fit a 2800 sq ft home, 3 outbuildings and all the “stuff” from our farm in one storage unit, one storage shed, one trailer and a one acre pasture for the animals. Our family of 6 + 2 dogs and 1 cat is now living in our travel trailer for 5.5 months at my brothers house! Chad has officially given his 6 month notice and our departure date for Montana is April 11, 2022! Wow is all I have to say. This by no means happened seamlessly, but we did it and it is happening.

We have signed contracts for our shop to be built in February (this is where we will live, while building our home) and electricity to go in, in early spring. We are still in the process of getting final approval for our well and septic to go in and still waiting to hear from a well driller to sign a contract there. There is a significant back log of work in this area as there is in the whole country. I know in my heart it will happen and we just keep going on. The reality is not there yet, we are just focused on the transition of living in the trailer, homeschooling in the trailer and everything else it takes on a daily basis as a family. We are so very blessed to be at my brother’s house as we have access to our full size refrigerator and freezer and a washer and dryer. We lasted about one month of trying to home school from the trailer. My Sister in Law graciously opened her home to us each morning, so that we could spread all the “stuff” out and get work done. This was a life saver, and made everything seem so very possible.

In my morning readings, I read this recently and this really stuck with me so I am going to share with you.

“If we read on in Genesis 11, we learn that “Terah lived 205 years and Terah died in Haran: He died where he settled. I think many people just settle somewhere and die in that place. They may not die physically, but their dream dies; their vision dies; their passion dies; their zeal dies. Their enthusiasm for life dies. Why? Because they gave up and did not press into the best God had for them. You will face different types of pain and encounter difficulties as you go through life. You simply have to choose which kind of pain you want – the pain of pressing through or the pain of giving up. Only the pain of pressing through brings reward.”

What do your dreams look like? Are your dreams and passions so big or do they seem simple? No matter what they are, they are YOUR dreams and that is something amazing. How can you begin the process of making your dreams come to life? Maybe this is a gathering of people that get together to do the same thing, start developing a plan. Maybe this is a dream of helping a specific group of people, start looking at the need, the plan and the business side of it. Recently it was shared with me how an individual who had so much trauma in his life, had decided he wanted to open a recovery center. This individual had suffered trauma and then masked that trauma with drug use. He was able to receive help and recover and wanted to be able to give others that same joy. This individual had no degree, no business experience, but he had a dream. He went online and started taking some online business classes and began the process. To point he has a business plan, he has professionals lined up, he has begun the process of raising money! The point is, he had a dream and he began. Just begin, take one baby step towards that goal/dream that you have, don’t EVER stop living! Sometimes our vision changes, that is ok. Sometimes “living” looks different than it did before, that is ok. Refuse to ever stop living, refuse to ever stop dreaming. There is always a way what are you willing to give up, what are you willing to do in order to make that happen is the question.

Progress here continues. It has been at a much slower pace as we are still waiting…. We have lots of family visiting or coming to visit in the coming weeks, and it is so fun to share our little piece of paradise with them. Chad started the process of fencing the property this last week. That will continue this week and maybe into the following. Chad and my brother (who is here visiting with his family) begun the process of building a front porch cover on the apartment. It will be so great once that is finished later in the week (waiting on metal). Materials for the barn (just the skeleton) will be ordered today and that process will begin in the next couple weeks too. Trusses for said barn will take some time, so that will be a little longer process. Our well is still not in, but they are right around the corner now! At least we get to see them making progress. Each time they move the truck, they are one more house to getting to us. Foundation is still not poured on house again concrete is still being allotted to companies and thus delaying that. Our contractors hope was next week he would be able to get enough trucks to pour, but we will see.

We are throughly enjoying summer, mixing work with play and exploring the area. We love having the river and reservoir so close. We make many visits each week down to cool off and play in the water.

Again, thank you for taking the time to follow our journey, until next time.

In the summer of 2020 we visited a very small town in Western Montana and fell in love. We decided then and there that we would someday retire there and start looking for our piece of land. In January of 2021 we traveled back to the area to look at some properties and quickly discovered that this was going to be more of a 10 year plan vs. retirement plan. We just could not overcome the feeling and belonging of being there. A since of calm and peace that was missing in our lives. We know no one, but yet every person you meet feels like you have known them forever.