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Big breath in. Big breath out. Let it begin: The New Farm Countdown!!!
I can’t believe I’m writing this post but I promised myself I would hold off until I was at the “less than a year point”. And here I am.
When we moved here to this little rental farm we did it with a big dream. Like huge. And there was a plan… a method to our madness if you will. I mean, who moves from their perfectly decorated home and fully planted gardens to a crappy, mangy farm? Who leaves clean fingernails and floors for goat manure and more house flies than you can count???
Well, we did… cause we have a dream.
We moved here to “learn to homestead”. For years, before we moved I read every book and website I could get my hands on about the subject. And then we arrived here and it was on-the- job-training time. We’ve spent these last four years making this place as pretty as we could (cause I need that!), learning as much as we could, (butchering, pigs, bees, goats, preserving and more) and saving as much as we could. All with our dream in mind.
Door County.
For twenty years Joel and I have been visiting Door County just about every summer. It’s beckoned us since day one. It is truly the Martha’s Vineyard of the Midwest. Fertile dairy land, vineyards and orchards dotted with a handful of little towns, decked out in white buildings, churches with white steeples… and did I mention sailboats? That’s right. On the west side you have the teal waters of Green Bay and on the East side, you have the Carribean blue waters of Lake Michigan. And you know, Lake Michigan runs thru my veins.
Door Country features everything we love. Culture and farmland. Low… LOW crime (people leave their keys on their dashboard), NO CHAIN ANYTHING (I mean, seriously.. No MacDonalds, Walmart, Starbucks, etc. past Sturgeon Bay….) And basically, there is one stoplight.
Yes, people. ONE.
I’ve got goosebumps. Don’t you?
So, even though we had this dream and this plan, it was still pretty far fetched. Let’s be real. A single income family with a herd of children (that eat a TON of food) actually SAVING money for a down payment? Whoever heard of such a thing!??
Enter: doTERRA.
I had been telling Joel for some time that I was looking for a network marketing company again. I sold cosmetics back in the day and I was trying to find something I could really sink my teeth into. You see, I’m from Grand Rapids, Michigan and that’s Amway country. I grew up with network marketing and it never held that stigma to me like it does for some people. And for a couple years, I investigated different companies… Cabi, Rodan and Fields, the now-defunct Votre Vu… I even thought about starting up with BeautiControl again. (I sold BeautiControl right out of high school I loved their stuff so much).
But none were ever right. Either their buy-in was too high or their compensation plan left me cold. And then one day I got a Facebook message from my BFF, I’ve found this company. I know you want some “mom money”, I know you use oils…I think this is right up your alley.
So we talked on the phone. She seemed nervous, but I told her, Tell me everything. Go for it. You can’t scare me off.
AND.
SHE.
DID.
I was FLAT broke at the time. Joel had just quit his job we hated at PeaPod to go back to our painting business thanks to the uptick in the economy. I had to sort of convince him to let me give doTERRA a whirl. So I went the super cheap route… I ordered three dinky little bottles of oil and got my wholesale membership. I spent $55.
It makes me laugh just thinking about it. I started this business with fifty-five bucks. But I got my oils. FELL IN LOVE with them.
I had some major health breakthroughs within a weeks period of time and that was enough for me. I wanted to help everyone. And so I shared with anyone who would listen. That was two years ago. I just chat oils when appropriate, when someone’s complaining of aches and pains or bills that need to be paid. I know I mention them here on the blog now and again but that’s not where my primary business comes from by any means. They are so awesome it’s just pretty natural for me to share them at this point.
And now… here I am. Planning 2017.
The new farm countdown has started! We are looking at the distinct possibility of him retiring to join me in doTERRA before we even move up there next summer! We now allow ourselves to wonder when we will start to pack, how big to plant next year’s garden, will we be around to harvest it… ’cause baby unless the Good Lord tells us otherwise WE ARE MOVING TO DOOR COUNTY! I can’t believe it. I mean, WHO DOES THAT? Who moves to their favourite, domestic vacation destination????
It’s so exciting sometimes I can’t sleep! The dream continues as we need to find JUST the right place. A charming but half-way affordable farm with buildings for our animals and… are you ready for this?
A guest cottage.
YES! That’s right. I’m going to get my bed and breakfast gun OFF and I am going to have the prettiest, most French provincial guest cottage in the whole peninsula and YOU are going to be able to come and vacation with us! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
OK – I’ll try to calm down but, COME ON! You know you want to!!!
Again – THANK YOU doTERRA! I’ve always been a big dreamer. Dreaming is how I get it done baby! I dream hard and then implement like hell. But now… now we have finally found a vehicle to make our earthly dreams come true. We have the courage to dream big and we are willing to work hard and now… now… it looks like this is really happening. So many people go thru life without even allowing their minds to stretch that far. They are resigned to the day in and day out grind. It makes me sad.
So I would say to you – change your life. Dream big.
We live in America for crying out loud! Our options are plenty and don’t you dare believe the lie that they aren’t. Don’t let life box you in. Moving to this little farm was huge for us and moving to our forever farm is going to be even bigger.
Life is hard enough! It throws you curve balls and stormy weather, so you have to fight for what you want. And for heaven’s sake…. be afraid. Be very afraid. Be afraid of NOT pursuing your life as hard as you can, be afraid of NOT trying, be afraid of stagnicity and apathy.
But don’t be afraid to create and work for the life that you want.
Get it, girl.
Photo credits: Google Search “Door County”
Good for you! What an exciting prospect. Door County looks to be idyllic. We’ll come visit! 🙂
So thrilled for you! Thanks for sharing. Very inspiring…..
Whoot Whoot. .. awesome! !!!.. and thanks for the encouraging “kick” in the arse. ..
how super exciting… the move.. the oils… the whole shebang!
congratulations – i look forward to following on – on your adventures right here in africa.
Wow!! I can’t wait!! I’ll make reservations as soon as you are ready. Very excited for you and your family!!
CARPE Diem Angela!! May all your wonderful dreams come true! We’ll definitely come to stay at what is sure to be the best B&B around….but we must stop for Bloody Mary’s in Fish Creek first.
We had a place in Ephraim with a main house, a 2 bedroom cottage and a real one room log cabin, plus several acres of land. It was our 2nd home and we had it for 10 years. As the kids got older and wanted to spend less time there we ended up renting out the main house and the other buildings. Finally, we decided to sell . . . We spent a single night there the last 5 years we owned it.
Now, with adult kids and grandkids, who wish we still had it for the family to use, I miss it. Door County is beautiful, clean and yes, very safe. Our doors were never locked.
Her’e’s hoping that dream comes true for you.
BIG.
Congratulations !
XOT
Wow that sounds great, what an inspiration you are. My dream is selling our home, I have been trying 5 years to make that come true. What’s the secret?
Ugh… Well, I’ve alluded to quite a bit of stress in pursuing this dream in post like my debt-free one but we took a huge loss on our house. We tried for two years, could hardly give it away and then decided to just give up any chance of making a profit. It sucked. 🙂 But it was worth it in the long run.
How awesome is that!! I am a fairly new follower and love that motivation you got! The world needs more of you who not only dream but make it happen no matter how long it takes. I have been interested in doTerra but I don’t have a blog and was wondering really how you start without having a pretty wide base of people from the internet? Help me out if ya could! 🙂
As I mentioned, I really don’t do much business if any via my blog. I sort of have it on here, “just in case”. You know, to maintain a presence. The first thing I did was get those couple oils I mentioned, then I started learning more and I got my hands on some more, that’s when I had my health breakthrough and that was it – I went right to my friends and family. I didn’t care what they thought cause I knew I could help them. If you are interested in building a doTERRA business I’d be happy to help you and mentor you. That’s the primary focus of what I do right now, business mentorship. I’d love to have you on my team. Let’s talk!
Soooo excited for you!!!! I wish I were your age and know what I’ve learned from you then.
How exciting! I grew up in Green Bay and loved our summer and fall trips to Door County. I can still smell the clean fresh air of the beaches and taste the crisp apples from the orchards. Oh my! You are going to love it! Maybe next time I visit family in WI, I’ll make a special trip to see your homestead.
I have been a follower for many years although this may be the first time commenting. I am a fan of your large family and your natural life. Today you mentioned, “aches and pains”. Are there any oils you recommend to ease the pain of arthritis?
I’m emailing you dear!
I never doubted you’d get here…praying for just the right place!
I am so so happy for you. I can feel your excitement, every bit of it. It is going to be a wonderful next stage of your life. Moving with a young baby – been there and done that, nothing is impossible and you are building a dream for them. Can’t wait to see more photos, read more, and follow along with the move. Once again so HAPPY for you. Big kisses from France xxx
Congrats to you! Have a lovely day ♥
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Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God. Psalm 146:5
You are blessed!
That is amazing! I figured you for a west coast girl for some reason!!! I live on the other side of the state and have been bugging my Husband to take me to Door County for years now. Just haven’t made it yet!
I have never heard of Door County. It looks and sounds amazing. So happy for you guys. It does take sacrifice and perseverance. We live in a beautiful home on a 2.5 acre farm as a single mom. It has taken a lot of dedication and sometimes tears and A LOT of God. Thanks for the encouragement to stay focused and keep going!
Lori (lissilulu)
I am just so geeked that you’re from Grand Rapid! I knew we had a kindred spirit link somewhere! Funnier, I grew up in the Chicago area! So happy for you and your family. My dream would be the rural area along Lake Michigan’s west coast. That beautiful lake — calls you like a siren’s song to a sailor! Again, so happy for you!!!
Yahoo!!! I can’t wait to be a guest there! And really excited to see what you do with your own farm!