I just got back from a week in on a farm on the side of a mountain in West Virginia.
Giant garden, chicken coop, animal barn, and compost. My own personal hippie mothership.
You know that feeling when your actions match your values? When you are inspired and full of joy? When you are with like-minded people who instantly make you feel comfortable?
That’s how I felt the entire week. My life has undoubtedly been changed, once again.
I came back and made a long list of ways I’m going to change our household to be more intentional and simple. I am buzzing with ideas and inspiration, like finally getting a worm compost started.
I am quite a crunchy girl, and it was nice to be able to let my hippie flag fly without fear of being judged or freaking anyone out (aside from the high school students: “I am going to use real diapers when I have kids! Gross.”)
The other part of my week was a bit relaxation. I spent every free minute I had during the day right here:
With this as my view:
I don’t get much time to read and relax at home with Gabe around and a business to run, so I soaked up every ray of sunshine, even minute of hammock time, every page of a book read in peace. I even took a hammock nap. Pure bliss.
I went as a chaperone for a group of high school students, which meant leaving Gabe and Mike behind for a week.
And taking a bucket shower outside:
But back to leaving Gabe.
It was by far the hardest part of the trip. More difficult than being a chaperone or driving on curvy West Virginia roads in a crazy storm or ripping up floorboards or learning to use a circular saw or dealing with other people’s vomit.
For the first few days, I couldn’t talk about him without tearing up. I felt like a pathetic fool, but I missed him so very, very much. In November, I left him for the first time for a few days, but it wasn’t very hard. Seven days is just too long for me to be away from him when he’s this little.
Our reunion was pretty great, though. I pulled up to the school in the big van, got out, and walked toward Gabe and Mike who were across the parking lot. Once Gabe realized it was me, a huge smile spread across his face and he ran across the parking lot and hugged me. It was incredibly sweet.
I’ll be honest, adjusting back to our normal groove took a day or two, and I was a little crushed when he asked for Mike to put him to bed instead of me that first night. “He doesn’t need me anymore,” I whined to Mike.
I can be silly sometimes.
He’s back to his kiss-giving ways and seems to love me as much as ever.
And he stole my Chipotle burrito last night.
I just realized he’s wearing the same outfit as he was in my last blog post. What can I say? He likes hipster monkey.
I’ve only left Topher overnight twice and both times we dropped him off at his grandparents’ house at bedtime and picked him up right after breakfast. He was fine – it was ME that missed HIM!
That sunset is beautiful! Besides the missing your lil man and big man, that sounds like such a much needed relaxing trip! Oh, and now I am salivating over your Chipotle burrito!
I am envious of your hippie week and can’t wait to hear about your changes! Granola girls forever.
LOL!!! As I was looking at the last picture I thought to myself, “I feel like I’ve seen this before” and then you explained why. You are awesome :)
I’m so glad you were able to connect with your West Virginia mountain, hillbilly, I mean granola roots. =) Sounds like a seriously amazing week. I don’t know how you went without your boys for that long – I’d definitely cry, too. But, I sort of *get* the “baby doesn’t need me anymore” sentiment. I’ve been unable to lift Gavin for almost a week now … and I can tell he’s gravitating more towards Sweets, rather than me. It’s amazing how fast the tides can turn … guess we just have to remember that when we’re more available, our little boys will come back to us just as fast as we left them.
AHHHH Bethlehem Farm?!?! I was just there this spring during the college spring break trips. It was such a wonderful trip, and I had so many of the same experiences and feelings you did! Relaxation, power tools, and the simple lifestyle. What more could you want? I’ve read your blog for awhile, but never commented. This was such a coincidence, though, that I felt commenting was necessary! :) Small world.
YES!!! Bethlehem Farm! It is so fantastic. I actually went to Nazareth Farm in college and fell in love with the place! <3
Thanks for the kind words, Ashley! We hope you’ll be back.
As I read this post, I face a similar opportunity to live out one of my dreams by traveling to Haiti with a nonprofit organization I’m currently working/volunteering with. I’d be gone from late Thursday night (red-eye flight) to the following Saturday night…a long time in my opinion, especially when I have a 20-month old son. How did you bring yourself to leave for a week? I am having such a hard time with my decision and constantly go back and forth with all the “what ifs”. Traveling in a developing country comes with a lot of risks, so of course my mind imagines the worst. I want to go because it’s a great opportunity and could be a big career move, but I’m so close to my son and I’m a SAHM about 90% of the time–I can’t even imagine what it will be like to be gone from him for that many days and nights. How did you get through it???! Thanks for the advice. Love your blog!