its unoffically official

Images from my "Country Living" Pinterest board.  Follow me at Krista@behindthemoon

So it's finally "kinda-sorta-unofficially" official.  Gotta sign on the dotted line buuutttt....

After 6 awful long months, Hubsy, the rowdies, and I will finally be moving to the country!  I am so completely relieved to get this process over and start a new chapter in our lives.  Back in this post I talked about my frustration with knowing if this was going to be God's plan for us or not.  Well, He's kept us guessing until the very end ;)
Not gonna lie, it was a pretty difficult process and only a few people really know all the twists and turns we had along the way but you want to know the best part?  Not only is God gifting us with this dream come true but He also made my sister an instrumental piece of the puzzle.  How cool is that?!

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Living in the country is something we have always wanted but considered more of a retirement-type of thing until about a year-and-a-half ago.  I think my mid-life crisis actually started at about 35 because what I used to consider "someday" things have turned into "gotta do it now" things.  Right now.  Like now, ya hear.

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The more we thought about it the more we wanted this for our kids so they could have the time to enjoy it before girls friends became more important and their focus shifts to their own budding adulthood. Not to mention, we just need more space.  More space for Hubsy's business equipment, a large garden, and hopefully one day...chickens. Eeek, I love the thought of having chickens!  The whole idea of living a little more self-sufficeintly and naturally really resonates with me. And so while we will be gaining land, we will be downsizing house.  This is a little daunting but also very exciting!  Living with a little less "stuff"....I can almost hear myself taking a nice deep cleansing breathe and feeling the freedom of it :)

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 And so....these are the things I am looking forward to, all of which will be surrounding our new home.

open fields

dirt roads

farms

quiet

livestock

rolling hills

four-wheel riding

wildflowers

barns

playing in the creek

fences

fresh local honey

cleaner air

views upon views upon views

So much to be thankful for.
Wishing you and your families a blessed and very Happy Thanksgiving!

am I ever really there?

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Have you ever had an idea/concept/truth all the sudden sink in... even though you've heard it over and over again?

It's a God thing.  Sometimes He needs to open your heart to "hear" the message and that can take time.

I'm a Barenaked Ladies fan.  Have been since Hubsy and I met back in 1995, he took me to see them in concert and I was hooked.  So needless to say I've been listening to them for a long time.  "For you" is one of my favorites and there are these lyrics in there that just hit me one day about a year ago.

"If I hide myself wherever I go 

Am I ever really there?"

--Lyrics from "For You" by Barenaked Ladies

I never considered myself as having low self-esteem, but maybe I did?  I do care what people think of me.  Problem is it seems I spent most of my life caring to the point that I would try and alter people's perception of me or I would just clam up and not share much of myself.  I would rather someone not have much of any opinion of me than really know me and dislike me.
I was not living authentically.  I was not practicing true self-acceptance.  The day those lyrics finally hit me, I pondered if I am hiding portions of myself, am I really truly living?  Am I having authentic experiences?  Um...no.  

Self acceptance is the only way to true happiness.  It's an extension of how God sees you.  As a unique and irreplaceable treasure, flaws and all.  I'm learning to embrace the things I once thought of as flaws.  Changing the way you think and act is not easy.  It takes time, not like flipping a switch or anything.  But I am truly so much happier and feel at peace more often having begun to put this into practice.

Sadly I have to admit that I was even hiding parts of myself from friends and family.  I would often just stay quiet and not share much.  Lately I've been sharing more and more about my opinion, my faith, and my thoughts with those I once would not have.  Authentic relationships is what I crave now.

How about you?  Do you hide yourself?

what is it about cable?

Seriously...what is it about cable knit sweaters that makes you just feel oh so cozy and secure?
I think the secret's in the structure the roping detail provides.  Any way you braid it, it's a timeless beauty.

Now wouldn't you just love to wrap up in some of these cozies?  And maybe join me for a lovely cup o' coffee?  We could chat about our vulnerabilities because our cable knit sweaters would make us feel more secure in doing so ;)

Which is your fav?  I can't decide!  However I'm really loving the pairing of a lace detail with #3.

1.  Fold Collar Sweater
2.  Green Heather Sweater Dress
3.  Cream Cable Sweater Twin Set
4.  Blue Cable Cardigan
5.  Cream Button Up Cardigan

 Happy Friday my dear friends...stay cozy!