From the beginning of our days together , farmer Jerry and I have always aspired to raise our children in the country. Our reasoning stems from our upbringings. He was the Southern Boy, raised below Atlanta in South GA . My own (Yankee) raising in Mid-state WI during the days of our youth. A blended family (yours, mine and ours)over the early years of our marriage,with a simulation of 8 children (and in some cases their children) made its way to the foothills of N. GA.
Victory's Gait @ Sweet Dreams farm is a small farm homestead situated on a picture perfect ridge viewing the beautiful N GA mountains..It was here that we pursued the task of returning to the land from living the suburban life in our former years. So then, we began the laborious task to transform the farm from a rugged abandoned mountain field stone home with acreage into a fenced and cross-fenced, useable piece of property.Bush-hog and tilling the fields, we found ourselves rescuing and raising chickens, goats, horses, dogs, cats, birds, the family had a unique opportunity to incorporate animal husbandry of various species into our home school curriculum. In those days, the farm was the best of the perfect classrooms as the land and the animals taught us all the more about the Creator!
The farm housed many events over the years, often many of them taking place in the larger back yard area, where easy access to a canning kitchen for food set up and the eventual erecting of an arbor was completed.As the years went on and we learned more about the Creator's plan for His Biblical calendar to be restored to His church (that is US!), we began to host The Feasts of the Lord (Leviticus 23). Open invitation was made to "who-so-ever-will" and as promised, the Lord met us; lives were changed, renewed and refreshed..as we celebrate His appointed times.
In my pursuit of seeking the Lord's perfect will for my life on the farm,He's provided many an opportunity for His miracles to be witnessed by and through the land, the animals and the people He's sent here. Years ago a Christian counselor ministered to me prophetically, saying ,"that the Lord will provide our farm as a safe haven..a place of refuge and retreat, for people to come to receive refreshment and renewal before they went back out". Over the years, I've heard Him speak many things, one of which is, "The people He sends think they are coming for the horse events..however, it is Him they meet while here". If I could have a nickel for every person who offered this affirmation in one phrase or another..I would have a very large jar of nickels..!
Header Image: One of the many painted signs done by the team around the farm