Wednesday, January 12, 2011

My flock

 My Man grew up on a sheep farm in central Utah.



Did you know that?

Every time we go to my in-laws, I fall in love with him again. I like seeing him in his natural environment. He may act like a big-whig city guy in the business world, but he's quite comfortable moving sprinkler pipes and hauling hay in coveralls.

I want my kids to be comfortable, too. 

Pretty much every time we visit, I want to move there.








My Man doesn't understand why farm life seems so idyllic to me.

I know what it's like - the long hours, the pay, the every-single-day-no-benefits-no-vacation-up-to-your-knees-in-dung part.  I've even helped mark sheep. (Of course, I interpret "help" in the loosest manner possible ....)

I really don't know how to explain it. It's the back to basic-ness of it. The simplicity. The connectedness. The grass-roots-spirituality. The living by the sweat of your brow. A farm is the best way to learn about the world and compassion and responsibility and gratitude and work and life - and death. (My kids were appalled one night when they were told the "mutton" they ate for dinner used to live in the backyard.)

I know the chances of us packing up and shipping out to Sanpete are slim to nil. Still - I know that farm life made My Man the person he is.

And I want very much for my kids to follow in his footsteps.



9 comments:

Rachel Sue said...

I totally get it. About a year ago we spent one night at a house in Filmore as a way station. (A friend's "cabin".)

I fell in love. I walked outside that night in the below freezing temperature and I couldn't hear anything but the wind. The air smelled incredible and I could breathe it. I spent the night dreaming of what it would be like to live somewhere with a general store and not much else. And I was enthralled. I still want to move there (or somewhere like it) but like you my husband is too involved in big business. Maybe someday I'll get my wish. Although, you have better chances I think. My husband grew up in Long Beach, CA and has no love for small town life!

Jenny P. said...

That last picture is priceless. And I totally understand what you mean. I always get a little emotional when my kids work out in the garden with me in the summer time. I mean, it's vegetables... what gives? But it's more than vegetables. It's earth goodness.

Unknown said...

Beautiful pictures, Beck. And I think humans are drawn to this kind of living, even if their 2nd and 3rd thoughts say, "Oh, no way." Isn't it interesting how much of what the Savior taught had to do with planting seeds, harvesting crops, tending to lambs and sheep, and the differences between good soil and rocky, and the 'hireling' and the Shepherd?

Jocelyn Christensen said...

I'm sure they WILL!!! I can see that there is much to love in your man!!!

lesa said...

I love the last picture too! I totally get what you are saying. Mine grew up in WY on a dairy farm. My teenage boys still love to go there and do boy-farm-4-wheeling-things with Dad. Farm life is a good thing!

HeatherKitts said...

Those mountains in the background of that last pic? A-maz-ing! And thank GOODNESS you are back haha! LOVE the home date night idea...we're moving to Houston in a few months and won't know a soul. We'll have to institute date night, FOR SURE.

Qait said...

I agree with DeNae--she said it well, as usual. :)

I'm grateful though that since we often convince ourselves NOT to live on farms, we can hope our kids will grow up to be good men and women anyway.
But yes...I at least want a garden. We have to have a little bit of that earthy hard work.

janel said...

Arizona's very own pioneer woman. I'd subscribe. Oh, wait..I already do. (Awesome blogging in the new year, by the way. You are on a roll, and I anxiously await the next one.)

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

How awesome is that last picture? Seriously. Love what it means.

And love this post...gives me a serious case of the warm fuzzies and makes me, you know, want to go teach my kids stuff. You rock like that.