1st Quarter Finish Line

...is fast approaching.  Do you realize that 1/4 of 2015 is nearly over?  It still feels like we've just begun!

How are those new year's resolutions holding up?  Just asking....you know God gives you a new start each day.  If you lacked a little bit this first quarter, you can start over today. Now. 

It is rainy today. The kids are quietly going about their schoolwork, the littles playing contently.  Its a good time to look back and see where we're at...are we on track?  Are we going in the right direction?

Personally, I set a goal of running 500 miles this year.  That equates to 41.6 miles per month.  January was half over when I decided on this, so I started behind as it was.  Currently I'm at 113.3...meaning I would have to put in another 9.7 this week.  This is going to be challenging during calving season, and you know what? I might not make it....but I'm going to give it my best.  Isn't that all God requires?

I've also been working on being more "available" to the kids.  This means I stop and help them more, instead of saying "in a minute" or "after I (do this)."  Stopping and helping them first, actually helps me get more done. Imagine that.

We're not as far as I would have liked in school.  It looks like we will be doing school until the end of May.  When I think about the time we took off, for different reasons, I see that it was not wasted.  We made the right choice to include those other learning or serving opportunities.  I have listened intently to the children...their reading skills, their knowledge level...and I'm trying to relax a tad.  They are learning, a lot more than I realize. Its going to be okay!

From the big picture point of view, the farm is doing well.  With dwindling milk prices and a huge tax bill, we buckled down and have been careful with our spending, and still have some left for April (win!) before we ship milk again.  The price of beef is still high, so we look forward to selling bull calves this year.  We're doing as much prep for calving and planting season as we can, and our team members have been a great help in this.  We look forward to reaping the benefits of the improvements that we made last year, including the new cow lane (which has not been used yet) and the new calf pens.  Being able to put calves into groups more promptly is going to be a huge help.  Rick also reminds me that we will have more help this Spring than last.  The outlook is good.

We have had some major challenges however.  One of our main tractors went in to get a clutch replaced.  One of the parts they need is not available anywhere in the U.S.  It is in Japan, and they will not get it until late May.  This is crippling for us-we are currently renting a friend's tractor, but spring will come and they will need it.  Please pray that we either come up the part quickly, or an idea to fix the one that is broken for the time being.  We need use of the tractor. 

Our tractor waits at the dealership....in pieces.

We are also on the horizon of making some changes this fall.  On paper the plan cash flows well and is good for the farm and our family, but it will stretch us a bit as managers and take us a step out of the comfort zone we're in now.  However, the business will not grow if we don't ever take any risks.  One promenate business owner that we know well, said yesterday on Family Life Radio that when most people look back to the 30-40yr age range, they wished they had "taken more risks and spent more time with the kids."  So it will be, then.  Please pray for continued guidance and direction.

If you have been following us on facebook, you have shared with us the joy of new life on the farm.  We have had 3 new lambs born from the ewes that Rick bought last year.  What fun!  The boys have also bought their calves for 4-H, and now have them home and are taking good care of them.  We don't pay for the input costs of their projects, and since they have a couple years' under their belts, they were able to pay for the calves with their own money (win!) and not take a loan from Mom.  Yes, we are getting somewhere!  Slow and steady wins the race.  While 4-H has more to offer than the money, it is an integral part.  Our boys enjoy 4-H for many reasons other than the money, but we are teaching them to not let their projects/hobbies financially drain them.

I encourage you to take a minute and reflect on the last quarter.  Are you where you thought you would be?  Do you need to make a change of direction?  Spring is a time of new life and beginnings, it is not too late!  Happy Spring!

The Homeschooler's "vacation"

....is more like an extended school field trip.

We can't help it.  We love to learn!

This might be our vacation, and we may not be doing bookwork, but we never stop learning.

Myrtle Beach State Park...a little lesson in southern nature.

Hershey Chocolate World...apparently, they get milk from cows that all swing their tails in unison.  The tour showed how their chocolate bars are made.

Up close and personal with a sting ray at the Huntington State Park, South Carolina.

Pennsylvania Railroad Museum



Guided tour of the Heritage Trail, Mammoth Cave State Park

Historic Tour of Mammoth Cave.  We made it through Fat Man's Misery...wearing the two year old!

Outside the entrance of Mammoth Cave

Cooter's....a ton of historic artifacts from one of our favorite shows!

The kids didn't think I could do it.

Well, I showed them!

Flips and all!

The lesson here...don't say that Mama can't!

We also walked 7 miles of trails...not at one time.  Wow, Kid # 5 is a climber!

Abraham Lincoln's birthplace

Rick and the two older boys also toured the corvette plant, then we all toured the national corvette museum.  So the boys watched how they made $80,000.00 cars then we toured where a handful fell into the sinkhole.  Most of them were donated or on display, compliments of other people.

Earlier in the week we visited the parents of some old-order Mennonite friends of ours.  They happen to be hosting a "work bee" and many men were there to cut wood.  The horses walked on a treadmill that turned a series of belts that ran the saw. The men moved the wood through the saw to make small pieces for the wood stove.  One of the kids said "wow mom-that was VERY educational!".  Obviously, I didn't ask if I could take pictures.  But we did bring home their best wishes for their son and his family.

My dad said once he thought kids learned just as much from visiting historic places and landmarks as they did from history class at school.  Once again Dad.....you're right.

Join Team Grazeway!

Dig those shoes out of the closet!

We are happy to announce our plan to sponsor runners and walkers again this year in 5ks throughout the surrounding area.  We had a great time last year coming together to support and encourage one another as we strive to meet our personal goals.  Some of us are seasoned runners/walkers and some of us are beginners-everyone is welcome!

Our intentions in sponsoring participants is to help people get or stay healthy and active, while honoring God and using the abilities that He gave us to serve and be present in our community.

Here's the plan:

1.  If we sponsored you last year, we will sponsor you one time at 1/2 price this year!  If you need a different shirt, we can order one for you (at your cost) or you can trade/borrow from another team member.

2. If you would like to join us for the first time this year, we will sponsor you (pay your registration fee) for one 5k and provide you with a team shirt to wear during the race!  We are initially sponsoring up to 20 new team members.

3.  Anytime you wear your shirt for a 5k other than the runs specified below, we will donate $5.00 to our local county 4-H program.  Like all organizations, funding for 4-H has been cut drastically.  Children, from many diverse backgrounds learn important life skills from 4-H, and we want to see the program continue.

4.  Many teammates get together to do other 5ks throughout the year-this is a very supportive team!  Just having another teammate to run/walk with makes it twice the fun!

5.  We would like to only place one order for the shirts.  This makes it much easier for our printer, and is more cost effective than multiple small orders.  You can view the shirts on the farm's FB page from the link in the upper right hand corner of this page. Some notes on shirts:

*Women's sleeveless runs small and is very fitted. Order one or two sizes up.  This is a moisture-wicking performance material.
*Women's with sleeves runs small also, but is not quite as fitted through the stomach area, although not as baggy as a t-shirt.
*Men's performance shirts fit like a normal t-shirt.
*Men's regular 100% cotton t-shirts are also available for anyone who does not want a performance fabric type shirt.

Please have your shirt order in by June 1st (style and size).

Sponsored 5ks
All runs can be found at playmakers.com from the events/calendar tab.

1. Elsie Dairy Dash-We're right back where we started!  This is a flat, fast accurate 5k-great for a beginner and those striving for their PR.  Come back out again this year to see if you can improve last year's time!  July 11th 2015 7:30am. If you interested in this run, go to playmakers.com and click on the events tab. Next, click on the calendar tab. Find the Elsie Dairy Dash under July, and open the race info. Print off the paper registration, fill out, and send to me no later than June 15th.  I will then send in all forms and payment at one time.

2. Farm to Fork 5k-Will you run for food?  Try your foot at a trail run through Agro-Culture Liquid's research farm north of St. Johns.  Proceeds from this run go to the Greater Lansing Area food bank and FFA Scholarships.  This is a great local race for a great cause. August 29th 8am. If you are interested in this run, please go to playmakers website, click on the events tab, and than the calendar tab.  Choose August, and then the Farm to Fork run.  Print off the paper registration and send to me no later than July 31st.  I will then send all forms and payment.

We may add a third race as our budget allows.

There are many great 5k events happening right now!  Looking ahead, some that we may sign up for and other Team Grazeway members are excited about include:

Saturday, April 25th: Superhero Run, Walk or Fly! St. Johns. benefits court appointed special advocates for children.

Saturday April 25th: Memorial Healthcare's Steps For Courage, Owosso. benefits a local cancer support group.  This has both a timed 5k run and 5k walk.

Saturday May 9th: Heart of the Trail 5k, St. Johns. Benefits local organizations.

Saturday May 16th: Miles for Smiles 5k run and timed 5k walk, Lansing.  Benefits children who need help with the cost of dental care.

Monday May 25th:  Hubbardston Memorial Day 5k, Hubbardston. An old favorite of ours, and only $15.00!  Benefits the Hubbardston community center.

2014 Farm to Fork

2014 Dairy Dash

You CAN afford a vacation!

It is important to rest.  In the Bible it says:

Mark 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Hebrews 4:9-11 9So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.


When you live where you work, it is difficult to truly rest and find separation from work and life.  We find that to fully be out of the work mind set we have to leave the premise.  To get re-charged, rested, refreshed, and rejuvenated, we cannot be looking out the windows at all the work that needs to be done.

When I talk about vacations, sometimes I get the response of "must be nice!" or "wish we could go!" and the truth of the matter is this-you can!  Our vacations are not thousands of dollars, and they are always paid for before we come home.

Here's some tips to plan affordable, fun vacations.  Remember we're a family of 7.  Think how much cheaper you could do it for a family of 4?

1.  Travel off-season. This is easily the most important aspect of affording vacation.   One of the reasons we love homeschooling is that we can vacation in the off-season and avoid all the spring-breakers, and the competition for overnight lodging.

2.  Ditch the hotel.  We can no longer stay in a hotel unless we rent 2 rooms each night.  This costs us more than $200.00..a night!  Now, we either purchase unused time shares from skyauction.com,, or we rent a vacation rental from www.vrbo.com.  Skyauction often has travel certificates for sale.  This year, for $250, we got 7 nights in a 5 star condo/resort that sleeps 8 in February (off-season, remember) and 7 nights in a 4 star condo/resort for $450 in March (closer to spring break=more money).  Either way our per night cost are $35.71 and $64.28, for a 2 bedroom condo with a full kitchen!

3. Use that full kitchen!  We save a ton of money by having a kitchen and cooking most of our own food.  I have handled this is many ways-from precooking meat at home and assembling crock-pot meals, to bringing just the meat and milk from home and going to the grocery store as soon as we arrive and get settled.  We laugh a lot because I am a rewards member at the Kroger family of stores, the Jubilee family of stores, Food Lion...you name it, I have the card.  This also allows you to use your eating out money for a place that may be a little more special or unique than McDonald's.  When you eat out, remember the lunch menu is always cheaper than the supper menu, drinks are way overpriced (water for everyone) and its often cheaper for little kids to split an adult meal instead of ordering off the kids' menu.

4.  Do your homework!  Before you leave, check the area's travel websites for free activities, coupons, and always ask if there is a family pass to any attraction that you go to.  We are members at our local science center.  With this membership, we also receive reduced or free admission to other science centers across the country.  We also look for State parks, historic monuments, etc.

5. Pack light!  Most vacation rentals have a laundry room available, many of them with starter packs of soap.  One year, when we went to Memphis, we took a Car-Pak on top of the van, full of stuff.  This really decreased our gas mileage, and it was noisy.  Now, I make a list of the absolute essentials, starting with the baby items: Stroller, play pen, baby gate, etc.  Only bring enough diapers and wipes for the travel day.  They have plenty at the store.  Clothes are later on down the line.  We often only bring 1 pair of pajamas and 2 outfits each, and use the washer & dryer daily.

Clothes for 5 kids in ONE suitcase!

6. Entertain In!  We don't have cable television at home, and most of the time (unless noted) the vacation rentals do.  We'll throw a pizza (okay, 2-3) in the oven, or pop popcorn, and watch a movie or old TV shows (like the Duggars) that we don't get to see at home.  For Rick and I, getting to sit and laugh with the kids is great. At home, there is always something to work on-even in the house!

7. Bring Cash...or be VERY good at setting your limit.  Decide ahead of time how much you are going to spend on eating out and attractions.  You will know how much everything is going to cost because you did your homework.  Use cash.  If you stick to your plan, you will not bring home extra debt on the credit or debit card.  We put any money needed for highway tolls in a separate envelope, because we think it's nice to be able to get home (LOL).  On travel days, if we eat at fast food restaurant (often I pack sandwiches and fruit), I give each of the older kids $5, and the little kids $3.  If they want anything more than that, they have to pay for it themselves.  Often, on the way home we eat leftover snack type items.  Cash also allows you to say to them "We only brought enough money for (attraction). If you would like to do (other thing) you will have to pay for it yourself."

There are some downfalls to this plan. 

1.  When you travel in the off-season, not all attractions will be open.  The weather might not be what you dreamed of.  I think that's what retirement is for.

2.  You may have to take the kids out of school. Before you quit reading, consider this-3 or 4 days of missed school is not going to ruin your child's adult life.  Sure, the schools do not like it.  Try not to be gone on count day.  My parents took all 4 of us out for a week to go to California with the National Farm Bureau group.  Were the schools happy? No.  Did we make up the work? Yes.   Did we all turn out fine? Yes.  Were we in the running for an attendance award? No. Disneyland was SO worth it!!

Many people also tell me that they cannot afford to take any time off of work. Unless you have already been absent because of illness or family tragedy, you really can't afford to not take time off.  Without proper time to rest, your quality of work will be mediocre at best.  Remember, when we go on vacation, we have to pay extra people to do our work...but we still go.  It is a non-negotiable expense.

With some small changes and an investment of time into planning, you can afford to take a vacation! 

We hope you have a great trip!