After running a small family farm for nearly a decade, I have had the opportunity to experience what few have: milking goats, making cheese, preserving a bountiful harvest, breeding waterfowl, goats, hogs, and poultry; all while home educating my children.

I am probably one of the few who can say she would rather be shoveling manure, bringing baby animals into the world, and nursing them back to health when sickness or injury occurs, rather than sitting at my warm, comfortable desk working.

When you play an integral role in the raising of the food that graces your table the level of appreciation is one that only experience can bring.

The knowledge and experience attained remains a vivid memory. These are the lessons and loves which guide me today and tomorrow as I continue to learn to live each day to the fullest.

As much as I love to write, hard work done with your own hands along with facing the daily challenges of raising livestock is what makes me feel alive and thankful. While I had to give up that life for various reasons, I managed to keep a small flock of endangered waterfowl which I continue to breed. They are my little reminder that I will once again have a small piece of land to cultivate with at least a few dairy goats and some waterfowl in the future. You can visit my waterfowl site here.

Since 2009 I have relished the journey of being a home educator. Teaching my children to read, write, critically think, and learn life skills has been and continues to be the greatest challenge and reward I have had the pleasure of knowing. Using a Latin based, Classical Christian curriculum alongside my diverse life experiences has provided a foundation for my children that I never had the privilege of receiving and one that I do not take for granted. Learning Latin, reading the classics, and relearning history is something I never imagined I would do at this stage in my life.

By the way, my most treasured belongings are these four beautiful children. Being their mother has been the most blessed journey and continues to challenge and change me for the better.