I'm going to try to keep this from being too long...It's a long story but can be summed up quickly, I think. We tried so hard to do the homesteading in the country life, driven both by a longing for a more peaceful and natural life for our children, and by a desire to be more self-sufficient in these times of pandemics and political unrest. But through a series of unfortunate events and the realization that my husband does not share my love for a life of constant outdoor work (especially when he has to commute 1.5 hours to work in the city), we've come to realize that this is not where we belong. We truly believe God allowed this whole journey to unfold exactly the way it did for a reason. There was A LOT of suffering and growth involved, and while that happened, so many amazing changes happened in our family around us: My dad came back to the Church and goes to Mass and prays My brother discerned a call to the priesthood One of my sisters finally got married in the Church My other sister finally got her marriage convalidated My brother-in-law converted to Catholicism and was received into the Church We are so grateful for what God has done during this very trying time. But we have discerned through a lot of prayer and tears that we are being called back to the city, for the sake of our marriage, being much closer to our FSSP parish and my husband's job, and to eliminate all the busywork of homesteading that takes time from prayer and fruitful rest. There's also a sense of returning to be among the people we were trying to get away from....that we are called to be salt and light, not hide away where it's safe. Prayers for this transition to happen as smoothly as possible would be very mucb appreciated. I'm no longer looking for my dream home, my haven where I will spend the rest of my life. I'm looking for a humble place where God can use our family best for His purposes. We're using a wonderfully prayerful Catholic realtor from our FSSP parish, so we're in good hands. Our financial situation is such that we need to be able to sell our home for a decent price, so prayers to St. Joseph for this would also be very much appreciated!
Eric Sammons has a video on his channel where he interviews someone who wrote a book about the pros and cons of homesteading. He made it clear that it's not for everyone. No matter where you are, you will be given the grace to raise your family in the faith. I will pray that it all works out for you.
Oh, PurpleFlower, what a journey you have been on-with many fruits to show for it. Prayers to St. Joseph to guide you on your journey as he guided the Holy family. May God bless you and keep you and let His Face shine upon you
Prayers to St Joseph and mass the next few days . I really admire your acceptance and discernment in all this, it must have taken a lot of prayer to come to this level of acceptance and peace . Who really knows what the future holds for any of us really? The times are so very, very uncertain. We were even taught as children..'If I die before I wake, I pray that God my soul will take ' We are like little boats swept out on the High Seas of life. But I don't think God expects us to be perfect in a human sense in our choices just to pray and do our best . I hope to move to Spain next year. I want to go but I am not quite sure if God wants this. Life is often like this in choices. All we can do is pray and make the best choices we can
One example of the strangeness of the way things happen is in the death of young priests These young men study for many years for ordination and then sometimes die within a year or two of ordination. This seems so crazy. Why would God permit this? Priests are needed so very, very badly. They could do so much good if they were allowed to live long lives. Life can be such a mystery. All we can do is hold Our Ladys hand and totter onwards
The very first house we went to look at, at the beginning of this long journey, had a plaque up on the wall, right over my head as I stood there thinking, and I've kept the verse with me all this time: "Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. For I will be with you, wherever you go." Sometimes I feel like my whole life is one big mess that Jesus has to sweep up behind me as I go. But He does, and He never leaves me. If I've learned anything, it's that God isn't afraid of my mistakes. He's still in control.
Yes God writes straight in crooked lines Jesus Himself died , tortured on a Cross a total failure. Even His Apostles were all killed . They killed the first Pope's and Bishops. Slaughtered the first Christian's Failure after failure after failure. I think in failure God does His best work
I walked through a forest a few weeks ago were there had been a huge fire a couple of summers ago. Acres and acres of burnt trees many of them just young, a blackened holocaust But because there were no trees the flowers ran rampant. A great beauty against the black. If the trees had lived the flowers would never have had a chance Life is so like that
Thank you, and I completely agree! It's a life that appeals to many, but I think much more important is if God is calling us to it or not. We never could seem to get a clear answer from God on whether He was calling, or we were just wanting it. So He let us give it a try and find out for ourselves. We have a precedent for this in our marriage...My husband left me 2.5 years into dating so he could try the religious life (Dominican order). It took him 5 months to realize he was meant to marry me instead.
Its very hard to know all the time what the right thing is to do. I remember a line from a poem by Auden ( I think) " we learn by going where we have to go" I think that sums it up. And being close to your parish and taking stress off your husband is huge. I believe you are submitting to His Will and He will take you where you need to go. Prayets to St Joseph for a speedy sale.
Thank you, Sam! Your profile name reminds me that at the beginning of this journey, I had a dream that was a little bit LOTR-influenced. At one end of my house, I walked into a room and a demon was there, coming in the window. He said, "I'm here to kill you." He held up some kind of gun but was unable to shoot it. I walked across the rest of my house and was joined by my husband and children as a horde of demons pelted our house with stuff they were throwing. We prayed, "Jesus Christ is Lord" over and over, and they slowly backed up. I arrived at the last room of my house, and it was very dark, so I couldn't see. I was alone in there, and then a woman's voice said, "Pray to become very small." Then she handed me a rosary and said, "May this be a light for you when all other lights go out." I replied, "I wish I had a Sam to accompany on my journey." And she said, "You have your guardian angel." And then I woke up. I've been praying at the Consecration of every Mass since then that I will become very small. And I tell you what, this has been the most humbling experience of my life.
I will be praying for you and your husband and for God’s plans to keep unfolding. Your experience sounds similar to my daughters. She was living near us (15 miles northwest of NYC). She and her husband were strugglining financially which exacerbated existing issues in their marriage. I’m biased… but he is a tough person in many ways. They decided to move about an hour north in NYS, which gets you into farmland. They were able to sell their house here, and bought an estate sale with 100 acres. It’s an olde fix me up place. They have a whole bunch of farm animals now. Kids go to local Catholic school. Debt is much lower now. It’s not led to Bliss but they are working through. I firmly believe God allows us to experience hardships and disappointment so that we turn our face to Him. I know for me, when all is going well, it’s when I can begin to take my gaze from God. I pray this experience strengthens your marriage. During the Eucharistic Revivalibwas at this eeek, the priest said that a marriage ceremony in a sense should be a bit like a funeral… because when you marry, you have to be wiilling to let yourself die. You have to become a Christ to your spouse… willing to suffer , to turn the other cheek, and to love to the dimension of the Cross. I know this to be true being married now for 38 years. I love my wife and am blessed by her. But, we know also that we are each other’s “Cross” and I mean that in a very good way. Because it is in that cross where we learn and grow to love not just as husband and wife but brother and sister in Christ. I think the most important aspect of marriage…. Help each other to get to Heaven. And yes, even here on earth we can experience heaven even in our struggles. God Bless. Prayers for you. Please pray for my family too. Peace
Wow, that was a powerful dream, the rosary will be your light on your journey! This Sam and the army of Sams in the MOG forum are here to help you on your journey! What would we do without our army of Sams! God bless you and your family!
The twists and turns of life! The beautiful fact is that you have sought to do the Lord's Will during your journey. Jesus asks us to take up our crosses and follow him. It is obvious your family seeks to do the Father's Will. It reminds me of the children's rhyme...There was a crooked man who walked a crooked mile Think of the up-and-down experiences of St. Paul in his missionary journeys: Acts 16:6 And they went through the region of Phry′gia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come opposite My′sia, they attempted to go into Bithyn′ia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; 8 so, passing by My′sia, they went down to Tro′as. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedo′nia was standing beseeching him and saying, “Come over to Macedo′nia and help us.” 10 And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedo′nia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
