“Go somewhere where you won't hear the sound of cars! Let the moonlight see you; let the silent hedgehogs pass you by; let the scent of honeysuckle meet your nose; hear the owl's hoot; greet a shooting star; if you see flickering candles instead of electric lights in the windows of stone houses, look, my friend, you are truly in a beautiful place, drink in that beauty to your heart's content, let your soul revive!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan
― Mehmet Murat ildan
Hey friends! It’s been a while since I ‘ve updated you as to what is going on with my life. In a nutshell, I decided to take some much-needed time off from writing, blogging, and social media, to heal after the passing of my mother, and while navigating my divorce, and culmination of our discipleship program. While writing my book, Chasing Life: Lessons on Suffering Well, and my second book, The Journal, I decided to spend some time traveling Asia and trying to figure out what to do next…Many ideas kept flooding my mind, but the necessity for peace and relaxation was always at the forefront. Therefore, I decided to purchase a property in the countryside and move away from it all, to figure out my purpose in this current season of my life.
The process has not been easy, and it has not been a quick fix, but here we are. First, let me remind those of you who have followed my journey for some time, as you know, I grew up on an island, surrounded by sun and beach, and in a warm culture. I was familiar with the countryside there, However, the countryside in America and the countryside in the Caribbean are very different. When I saw the property, I now own, I didn’t mind that it was in the ‘boonies”, or that it was further away from family, or that it was a place unfamiliar to me. Even in my prayers, I only had one requisite: the feeling of a peaceful home. As soon as I walked in the house, and then walked around the property, I knew I had found it; “home”. I immediately put an offer, and a month later, my oldest son and I moved in.
We soon began to work on a vegetable garden somewhere in my extensive backyard, and I began to plant flowers and herbs around my front porch (things I had never done before). Then I started buying fresh eggs, bread, and vegetables from a nearby farmer’s market. I went exploring and found a peach orchard not even a mile from my property, and now I go buy fresh peaches regularly. I found a local butcher as well. To be honest, I have been making our meals from our own home-grown vegetables, or fresh produce from local farms and have not visited a supermarket in a while. I bought a dehydrator, and have been dehydrating fruit, veggies and herbs daily. My favorite snacks are fruit and veggie chips I dehydrate myself! I keep asking myself, who are you? and What is happening to you?!? I feel like I am becoming a farm girl, and in all honesty, I am contempt with my new life.
For a Caribbean girl who is used to talking to strangers, and being an extrovert, the change of pace here has been an adjustment, however, country folks are friendly and helpful. I have met some of the sweetest people around town, and my neighbors (who are but a handful) are wonderful and caring. We are constantly sharing goods. Is it strange that I have not been at my place but for a few months but already feel like a local? Just the other night I was having a cup of coffee and looking at our crops from my kitchen window. Thoughts of my mother came to my mind (as they often do). She used to tell my sisters and I that she wished one of us would marry a farmer, so she could enjoy the fruit of our land. “Look Mami,” I said, as if she was standing next to me. “I didn’t marry a farmer, but I am growing my own crops.” I wish she could see and taste my new life…I know she would be proud.
So, there you have it. That is what I’m up to these days. Stick around for more of my new adventures as we chase life together!