If you’ve ever had one of those weeks where it feels like your homestead is being held together by duct tape, prayer, and well, more prayer… welcome. Pull up a chair because that has been us lately.
To put it lightly, life around here has been a lot.
It started with my husband’s truck, which he uses for commuting to and from work, breaking down for several days. When the vehicle that keeps your entire routine moving suddenly quits, it throws everything into chaos. Between trying to diagnose the problem, figure out transportation, and still keep life running here at home, it felt like one more heavy thing piled onto an already exhausting week.
Thankfully, after several long days and plenty of determination, he was able to get it fixed. Praise the Lord for hardworking men with capable hands who refuse to quit, even when life throws problems at them.
As if that wasn’t enough excitement for one week, our refrigerator decided it no longer wanted to participate in family life either.
So currently, we are officially living out of ice chests like some kind of off-grid pioneers… except less glamorous and with more melted ice water constantly having to be dumped outside.
We’re waiting on a part to come in, and my husband is hoping he can repair it himself. Honestly, at this point, I’m half expecting another appliance to stand up dramatically and announce it’s quitting too. Knock on wood.
But in the middle of all the chaos, there have also been good things happening here.
We had more garden soil delivered this week so we can add another raised garden bed, which feels exciting this time of year. There’s something hopeful about fresh soil piled high in the driveway. It reminds me that growth is still happening, even during hard seasons.
And we’re also in the beginning stages of having the exterior of our house painted. It’s finally time to freshen things up a bit. It feels messy and inconvenient right now, but we’re trying to focus on the finished result instead of the temporary chaos.
The hardest part of this week, though, was saying goodbye to our sweet dog, Daisy.
For 11 years, she was part of our family and part of this homestead story. She was there through moves, young kids, garden seasons, winter snow, and quiet mornings. There’s an emptiness here now that only dog owners truly understand.
Losing a dog is a special kind of heartbreak because they love so faithfully and ask for so little in return.
We miss her deeply.
When I think about the week we’ve had, I keep coming back to gratitude for my husband. He works long, hard days and still comes home ready to tackle broken trucks, refrigerators, garden projects, and everything else waiting for him here. I honestly don’t know how he keeps going sometimes.
This life isn’t always easy. Homesteading sounds dreamy on social media until your fridge dies, your truck breaks down, and you’re crying over your dog while trying to save groceries in a cooler. Honestly, we might as well be a country song.
But even in the middle of the hard weeks, God is faithful.
He gives strength for the work in front of us. He provides solutions when things feel impossible. He carries us through grief and exhaustion and reminds us that hard seasons do not last forever.
This weekend, we’re looking forward to spending time in the garden, getting things ready for the house painting, and hopefully catching our breath a little.
There’s still plenty to do. There always is around a homestead.
But for now, we’re choosing gratitude over discouragement, laughter over frustration, and faith over fear.
Even if the kitchen currently looks like we’re camping indoors.
God, give us strength for the work ahead, and maybe let the next appliance survive the summer.
Amen.
From our homestead to yours,
Eliza
