Basket Time.

Sometimes I get so busy moving THROUGH my day that I unintentionally miss out on the beauty IN it. As I was cleaning up and doing laundry I took a minute to actually pause and watch Virginia lie in her basket.

She embodies contentment. So fresh into the world and so free!

It seems like kids just know who they are and live life to the fullest in their own little way.

I used to lie in that basket. Somewhere along the way I got out. With it being a new year, no time is better than now to find my basket and climb back in.

May 2015 be a year of simplicity and contentment. Let us find pleasure in the small things, joy in our relationships, and courage to trust those around us.

Happy New Year!

Discovering Yoga.

    This past January in my fourth month of pregnancy I started yoga teacher training at Yogafly studio in Auburn, AL. It was an incredible experience. Since completing my training, I have received many questions, so I thought I would share a few of my discoveries with you. I hope you enjoy!

     You want me to define her? Well, she is not simple. She is a way of life. She is a teacher of breath, movement, love and the art of letting go. She finds the edge and is bold enough to go there but does not exceed the body's limits. She creates an environment for God to remove veils from our eyes in order to see what is truly within us. She is content with what has been given to the body, soul and spirit each day. She accepts outward circumstances that cannot be changed and invites them with peace. She is mindful. She is strong yet sweet. She does not look to the past nor the future, but dwells in the present. She is never distracted, always moving with a purpose. She is intentional and authentic in every aspect of life. Every person has his or her own way of relating to her. She cannot be concretely defined or figured out. Who is this beautiful woman? She is yoga.

    I have not always known yoga as the woman described here. When I first began practicing, yoga was simply a way for me to move my body, enjoying exercise and stretching in the same "work out." I never understood why people felt the need to call themselves "yogis" if it was just another class option on the gym schedule. Over the past few months I have realized that yoga is not just an exercise class, yoga is a way of life and those who truly practice are dedicated to much more than a work out. 

    It seems like there are so many misunderstandings of what yoga is, so having the opportunity to study the history of yoga was eye opening for me. Many people believe yoga is religious, and I have struggled with how to take this myself. Some people especially here in the south believe that to practice or teach yoga you must be a hippy or a Hindu. Reading through The Heart of Yoga by Desikachar shed some light on this for me. He says " Just because yoga originated in India, does not mean that we must become a Hindu in order to practice it. On the contrary, it is not even expected of a Hindu that he or she practice yoga. Yoga does not require a particular belief system and, if we already have one, it is not challenged by yoga. Everyone can begin, and the point at which we start is very personal and individual,  depending on where we are at the time." The way a person defines and practices yoga is very personal! I have taken parts of my yoga practice as a way of practicing the presence of God, learning deeper aspects of life and calling on the name of Jesus. While in other parts of yoga my focus is on the breath and the body.

FAQ:

    " I am thinking about going to a yoga class for the first time but am worried I will be uncomfortable with the "vibe."

    Well you may be. I have been a few times for sure. So much of your experience really does depend on your teacher. If you are uncomfortable try asking yourself " why am I uncomfortable?" Is it just because of a different experience or are you truly uneasy? Then if needed talk with the teacher about it after class. Maybe you just need to smile to yourself and hey try something new! But if you get REALLY weird " vibes " try another class or studio. Everyones expression of yoga is different.

    "I am too inflexible to do yoga." 

    You have to start somewhere! I used to not be able to touch my toes. seriously. You start just  how you are then through practice and consistency you will see growth.

"How did you decide where to do your training?  and how did you decide what type of yoga you wanted to teach?" 

   I fell in love with yoga after taking classes from Peach Dumas as a college student in Auburn. So that is who I wanted to train under. She teaches vinyasa yoga which links breath with movement. Her classes are deep and intentional. This is the kind of teacher I want to be. So you find what expression of yoga you love and someone who is well seasoned in it to learn from! 

Photography by my sweet friend Claire Sullivan

Breaking Ground

We have officially broken ground on the farm! Taylor is preparing about 2 acres of land from which our first harvest will come. My friend Debbie, Moose, and I drove out to capture this beautiful beginning on camera. Here are some of her shots.

This field has been planted in bermuda grass for years and once bermuda is established it is very difficult to get rid of. Taylor has planted buckwheat as a cover crop in hopes to kill the grass. For the record, (because I would not have known if this wasn't pounded into my brain in college) a cover crop is basically a way of naturally getting nutrients into depleted soil. By incorporating specific grasses or other herbaceous plants into the soil you increase organic matter and manage weeds, pests, and diseases all at the same time! 

Just as setting a foundation for a building is absolutely necessary so is the condition of the soil necessary to produce life! So, even though this cover crop's purpose is not to provide food, it is monumental in getting the habitat ready for what is to come. So as we are beginning this process we would love for you to join us in prayer:

• For the buckwheat to continue to grow and the grass to be shaded out and die.
• That the soil would be filled with nutrients and ready to support what will be planted next.
• For strength and energy in Taylor as he works to prepare this land for our family and many others.

P A T I E N C E.

V I R T U E :  a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person.

They say that patience is a virtue. I am experiencing that patience is without a doubt a fruit of the Holy Spirit and only possible in and through God.

Taylor and I are in a season of waiting. Being patient is most difficult when you are waiting on something beautiful to come to pass. For us it is waiting on a baby to be born into the world, waiting to be in our own home, and waiting to begin growing food for families. Waiting for the cold winter days to pass and the springtime to burst forth in all her glory.

It is comforting to know that there is a reason for the waiting… The early buds of spring portray this beautifully. We cannot rip open a bud and force it to bloom. This will only bring death. The flower stays closed until the last freeze has passed and the environment is conducive to life! A new season does not come over night. There are many gradual changes that take place for the full transformation into a new season. Patience. Keeping the fragile flower in mind I am reminded that I too am fragile. I am not the Keeper of time or the Changer of seasons. So I will wait… allowing God to work the virtue of patience into me. 

As we patiently await springtime; thoughts of planting, sunshine, water, shorts, picnics, long walks and cool nights come to mind. In honor of anticipating spring, I wanted to share one of our picnic recipes with you. CHICKEN SALAD. This is Taylor's all time favorite! Not as heavy as some chicken salads, this dish is filling yet light. I hope you enjoy! 

Morgans Chicken Salad

• 1 Ib chicken thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup of Slivered Almonds
• 1/2 cup plus shredded mozzarella 
• 1/4 cup of chopped spring onions (about 2 from top to bottom)
• 1/2 cup of Mayonnaise ( we use mayo made with olive oil, vegenaise or homemade mayo)
• 1/2 cup of grapes cut in half or fourths

Grease your skillet (we use coconut oil, grape seed oil, or ghee) and pan fry the chicken until it is cooked all the way through. (This adds much more flavor than boiling or baking the chicken.) Then toast the almonds. Next, tear the chicken into bite size pieces and place in a medium sized bowl. Add the almonds, green onions,  mozzarella, mayo, and grapes. Toss until everything is evenly distributed. After placing the chicken salad in the fridge for 20 minutes or so, pack your picnic basket and enjoy in the sunshine!

Back in Bama.

       Well, fall and half of winter have passed by without a single blog post. I am starting to think (what am I saying, I KNOW) I have consistency and commitment issues when it comes to hobbies that take a steady pace. I hear admitting you have a problem is the first step. So step one…check! Step two, WRITE! 

      Many areas of our life have progressed over the past few months. We have left our farming internship in Fort Jones, California and are back in Alabama. What was only supposed to be a visit for the holidays has turned into a permanent transition. Much to both of our families surprise we are having our first baby in June! So we have decided to settle in Huntsville, Al. I never thought I would be back so soon and yet here we are! 

What have we been doing back in Alabama?

• We have started spending time at a one of a kind school in Huntsville, Lincoln Academy. They have a garden area that they would like to see incorporated into the students weekly schedule. Taylor and I have been given the opportunity to help cultivate and dream with them on what this may look like.
• I have been traveling to Auburn for yoga teacher training at Yogafly!
• Reading and going to bed early :) 
• Meeting with our midwife and going to birthing classes in order to figure out how a new life comes into this world!
• Looking for land. Taylor has been antsy, as you can imagine any farmer without a field would be. In the past week we have settled on a specific farm. Many many details are still falling into place, however we are at peace.
• dreaming, dreaming, dreaming. It seems like everyday God gives us a little more clarity on what feeding people physically and spiritually is going to look like for our family. I'm learning it takes being graced by the Lord to continue dreaming, when what you currently have looks nothing like what you envision. Lord, grace us to continue dreaming through the process...