Oh How I Dream... and Wait

I am physically here, but my mind and heart are so far away. Where are they? Maybe somewhere like this.

Or even better like this...

I dream of the country. I dream of buying a farm. I dream of working at home with my husband, either farming or some other occupation that we could do at home together. I dream of picking fresh fruits and veggies and making meals from scratch with ingredients picked only minutes before. I dream of having more children and homeschooling them. I dream of living a life full of peace, without the distraction of this hustle and bustle life we are currently living. I dream of us being a family that lives, works and prays together in the beauty and comfort of our own home. I dream of looking outside my window and seeing sights like these...

I want a red barn something like this.

and a road that leads to my home that looks like this.

 

Hopes of my peaceful existence on a farm permeate my mind almost constantly now. The reality is my husband and I don't really have the money to move out of state and purchase a farm. We don't really know the first thing about farming. We don't know how to milk a cow or raise chickens. Yet someway, somehow, I believe it's possible that one day this dream will become a reality. I have no idea how this would come about. All I know is that if it is God's will, He will make it happen and it will be an absolute miracle.

I've been looking at farm land for sale in various states. I've looked up what kind of weather they have in those states. I've read about other "homesteaders" and how they are making their dreams come true. I've begun reading this amazing blog about the "Catholic Homesteading Movement" - as he calls it - and it absolutely fascinates me how God is calling others to this life. I've read blogs in which some very resourceful people have actually built their own houses with the own hands. (I must admit I don't think we could ever do something like that, but God bless those that do) I've read about maple syrup trees and raising chickens. I've read about small farms and how they survive. Some small farmers have some very innovative ideas. My days are consumed with studying all there is to learn about such an endeavor.

We have begun to do the small things that we can do while still living in the city. My husband and I have planted some vegetables in our very small back yard. We rent the 2nd floor in a two family house. Last year, our neighbors downstairs actually gave us half of the planting area so we could plant some tomatos. This year I don't think they are planting anything. Today we will confirm that with them and if it's true, we will ask if we can use the rest of the space and plant some more. It's such a mess because the weeds have grown like crazy and the landlord has dumped all of his grass clippings there. It sounds insane, but the fact that it's so messy excites me more. I want some hard labor out in the sun. I want to at least pretend I am on my farm. We've already had the joy of eating salad with fresh lettuce grown by our own hands.

A few months back, I began cooking from scratch. I never thought that was for me, but it seems it is. I enjoy it and I'm actually pretty good at it. This weekend, I plan to bake some homemade bread. I've been saying this forever, but never have enough time. This weekend, I've put a whole day aside to bake bread and make a chocolate cheesecake. (Not too healthy, but we must treat ourselves every now and then)

My husband and I would also like to learn some carpentry skills, so I've emailed Habitat for Humanity to see if we could volunteer. I'm sure some of those skills would come in handy when living on our farm.

These are the little steps I've taken to begin this life that I pray we are called to. I asked God that if this life isn't for us, to please remove this desire from our hearts. The desire has increased. The more I search online, the more I see that we aren't the only ones who God seems to be calling to this way of life. This encourages me and leads me to believe that through this "homesteading movement", God is working to restore families and bring them closer to Himself. God is leading families to holiness and unity. It is His counterattack to the breakdown of the family that has been occuring for who knows how long.

This morning I offered my Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph and John Paul II. I ask for them to intercede for us about this strong desire. Our Blessed Mother was home raising her Son and no doubt taught him so much about God and family. St. Joseph worked at home as a carpenter and as soon as Jesus was old enough, he must've taken him to his workshop and passed on these skills to his little apprentice. John Paul II knew so much about God's plan for marriage and family. He also knew the struggles modern day families face. I think I have a pretty powerful group of intercessors praying on my behalf.

So now, I pray... I learn.... I pray some more..... and I wait.

My people perish for lack of knowledge

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, 'If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people, then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. 'He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have delivered his life. 'But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman's hand.' "Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them warning from Me. (Ezekiel 33:1-7)

When the government monetizes the debt (prints money)

which was done in March 2009

Inflation can occur as it did in the Weimar Republic.

When inflation occurs, prices go up

but your dollar is worth less.

In the Weimar Republic, they needed tons of money to purchase food.
Is this where we are headed?

Are we headed for another depression?

In the US, during the Great Depression,

people waited on line for hours for the government to feed them.

They lost their homes.

People did whatever they could to earn income.

Families went hungry.

No one expected that this was coming, so they weren't prepared.

The world is on fire right now. Civil unrest and economic collapse threatens everyone. If you want to see what's coming to the U.S., watch Europe. They are further ahead than we are with socialist programs and big government bailouts. When you have a "nanny state" - (a government that tries to provide everything for its citizens) eventually they run out of money and can't afford everything promised to the people. Universal healthcare is a great concept... in theory only. Next we will be hearing the government talk about universal housing, universal employment and universal food. It will all be called "a right". They will say you have a right to a job, a right to a home, and it is the governments job to provide it for you. But where will the government get all the money to pay for it? Government handouts such as extended unemployment and welfare programs may sound great, but who is going to pay for it? Who will pay for these huge pensions? That's when taxes begin to increase. The government has to get the money from somewhere. When citizens are taxed too much, they don't have money to pay for everyday items. The economy slows down because no one is buying and no one is selling. Companies close down due to lack of sales, lay people off and unemployment skyrockets. We're already at 10%. Eventually the economy comes to a hault. When economic collapse threatens (as it is doing so worldwide) civil unrest begins.

The riots in Greece have already begun.

It's only a matter of time before we see these images taking place in the U.S. 

Europe has been socialist for so long and now we are seeing where this road leads. We are already on our way to collapse with bailouts of companies deemed 'too big to fail'. The passing of healthcare was another nail in the coffin. Our government doesn't seem to understand the concept of fiscal responsibility. They refuse to stop spending. The taxes are coming and if we continue on this road, economic collapse is inevitable. Prepare yourselves for a crash landing. Share with others and prepare them.

As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They ate and drank, they took husbands and wives, right up to the day Noah entered the ark… It was much the same in the days of Lot: they ate and drank, they bought and sold, they built and planted… It will be like that on the day the son of Man is revealed. (Luke 17:26-33)