The Busy Bee Mama

  My home in the mountains is located in Pennsylvania near the Ohio border.  Our old farmhouse sits atop a hill on sixteen acres.  It's pretty awesome how we can see all the homes below but they cannot see us.  Our home has tan siding that camoulflages us in the woods.  It is really beautiful during Christmas when all the homes are lit up.  We moved in here last May. 

 What a lot of work we undertook.  The house though newly roofed and sided needed major work on the inside.  Old carpet had to be removed and every room painted and thoroughly cleaned.  I have every confidence I could go into the dirtiest home in America and clean it after dealing with this one.  This home has four big bedrooms which gives the children their own rooms.  It even has a finished attic.  I imagine if we stay here Brooke will want that as her suite some day.  You enter our home into my kitchen, next the living room, then the den, then the dining room.  Also on the first floor are a small pantry/bathroom and laundry room.  What a treat it is to have first floor laundry! 

God really provided this home for us.  You may think why would God provide a home that needs so many renovations and a driveway that is unmanageable.  I have had my doubts as well.  Just yesterday though I realized that we were provided a home that is affordable, secluded so that my children can play safely, it is a beautiful piece of land in all seasons, and has been a retreat for friends and family.  To my surprise people find it comfortable and welcoming here.  This summer after only a month being here we hosted a family reunion.  By God's grace we pulled it off and in the end family from Michigan asked if they could come back.  That was my reward for all my hard work.  When winter hit we were not prepared I hate to admit.  We underestimated the driveway with snow on it.  Even though we both have four wheel drive vehicles we have been snowed in more than once this winter.  Just last week I didn't leave for four days.  You know what though I enjoyed it.  We had a stocked pantry and I was able to spend sweet time with my baby girls.  Jason stayed home on Valentine's Day and we had such a special day together.  What a great family I was blessed with.  Life does get hard but God equips us to perceiver.  Just when you think you can't do it He provides you with strength you never knew you had.  

"I can do all these through Christ Jesus who strengthens me"

 What a unique plan God has created for my life!

Blessings,  Jess