FARMHOUSE 654
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Disclosures

muskmelon & key overalls.

4/27/2018

1 Comment

 
I can be going through life just fine and in one quick moment, the memories flood my mind.

​It can be a pile of muskmelon or cantaloupe.

Having to pull over on the highway to let a John Deere tractor through.

Or seeing an old man in Key overalls.

Today would have been my Grandpa's 90th birthday.

We lost him in March of 2010.

In some ways, it seems like forever ago.

​And in some ways, it seems like yesterday.
Picture
Ever since I can remember, I was Grandpa's sweetheart.

I was the first and only granddaughter for several years.

I spent many of my preschool days at Grandpa & Grandma's house, while my parents worked.
When Gerold came along, we played many-a-tennis-ball-baseball game in the back yard.

We took tractor rides during planting and combine rides during harvest.

We went upstairs to get board games out of the small corner storage room and spent many evenings watching MASH from cots on the living room when we spent the night.

We fished with Grandpa and my cousin Brad and when the cousins came from Tennessee, we had picnics in the back of Grandpa's S-10 out in the driveway.

I can still feel his tshirts that I used as a nightgown when I stayed the night.
I can still feel his sloppy wet kisses on the cheek.

I can see the sweet, precious face he made later in life when he got choked up over something and was trying not to cry.

I can hear his tender voice when he was talking to or about Grandma.  He loved her so very much.

I can smell his cologne and see his favorite bow tie on the days he got dressed up for church.
Picture
Picture
Some people don't ever get to know their grandparents and that is heartbreaking to me.

My life wouldn't be the same without mine.

Happy, happy heavenly birthday, Grandpa Stephens.

​❤️🏡❤️
Picture
Picture
Picture
1 Comment

on ugly-crying.

1/24/2018

6 Comments

 
Something has happened to me since I delivered our third daughter three years ago.

I get a bit emotional.

I cry when I'm happy...
When I'm sad...
When I'm angry...
When I don't sleep enough...
When I sleep too much...
When I see an old man in overalls.

I cry when one of my daughters says something sweet to her sister...

When a student masters a concept he or she has been struggling with...

When a first-year player on one of the girls' sports teams makes a basket in a basketball game or gets the ball over the net in volleyball...

When one of the girls shows understanding of the blessing that their great-grandparents are...

I cry.

Usually, this consists of a lump in my throat and my eyes filled with tears with just a few escaping down my cheek.

But not always.

Sometimes, my little "choked-up, tear-running-down-my-face" crying turns into a big ol' ugly-cry.

Anyone else?

I can specifically remember a day when our second daughter was just under a year old.

She hadn't been sleeping well and I was having "one of those days".

You know what I'm talking about...right, moms?

One of those days where I was barely holding it together through the school day. 

I hadn't slept a full night in several weeks, my students were enjoying the last week before spring break as if it were already spring break, and I felt like I was living in a fog with a toddler and an infant.

My teaching partner casually made a comment in the teacher's lounge full of our colleagues giving me a hard time about the fact that I had mentioned taking a nap before I went home after school.

He meant NOTHING by his comment.

On a normal day, I would have just laughed.

But bless his poor heart...this wasn't a normal day...

I laughed at first and said, "I know..." and then the tears started coming, "...isn't it ridiculous?"

All the other women in the room immediately started trying to make me feel better and my poor teaching partner apologized.

But it wasn't his comment at all.  He felt bad that he was the one that tipped the emotions from laughter to tears.  But at some point or another, we've all been there.

I think sometimes you just need a good cry.

There is something about it that's cleansing to the soul and spirit.

In fact, that afternoon, after my ugly-cry, I was already laughing about the whole situation.

One morning, shortly after my grandpa had passed away, I walked into Casey's to find all of his coffee-drinking buddies there.  

I said my "hellos" and went about my business. 

As I walked out the door, an older man I didn't know met me there...in his Key overalls...just like Grandpa's.

And as I walked to my car (and all the way to work), I ugly-cried.

Sometimes, it's just necessary.

So this is your permission.

If you need to ugly-cry...just let it out.

Whether it's because of grief,
stress,
excitement,
anger,
or pure joy.

Just let it out.

An ugly-cry every once in a while can be a beautiful thing.

And if you're still a bit unsure of letting the waterworks loose, I'm not just an ugly-crier...I'm a contagious-crier, too.

So if you need an ugly-cry partner...I'm your girl.

❤️🏡❤️
6 Comments

a rough patch.

10/30/2017

0 Comments

 
We've all gone through one, right?

A rough patch?

I remember getting lots of advice in the beginning of our marriage.

"Don't ever go to bed mad..."
"Keep an open line of communication..."
"Put your spouse's needs before yourself..."
"Keep going on dates, even after you have kids..."
"Take time to do the things you love on your own, so you don't lose 'who you are'..."
"Talk about all things money..."

But what about those times where you've been trying to do those things?
When you've had conversation after conversation, trying to feel better about life?
Those times in life where you just feel like you don't even have it in you to fight anymore?

Trust me.  

We've been there.

We have had moments in our marriage where we felt like we didn't even know each other.

I pray that we never get to that place again, but I know it's likely that we'll struggle through certain seasons of life.

And even when we aren't in a "rough patch", there's almost always a time that somebody we know is feeling the strain of keeping a relationship alive.  

This subject is one that I feel like God has put on my heart lately, so just in case you're going through "a rough patch"...in life in general or specifically in marriage...I thought I would share with you a few of the things I've learned about getting through these times.

​1. Serving each other is always a good option.

There are days that I am cranky or Mr. Farmhouse is cranky and I truly don't even want to talk to him. 

I just want to slide through the day and do my own thing. 

I have found that with one day of no interaction, two days with no interaction becomes easier. 

Then three. 

And four.

Anybody else ever feel this way? 

Like you're two people living in the same house who hardly know each other?

I have found that when we get to this point (during harvest time, for example!), the best thing I can possibly do is to ask myself what I could do to serve Mr. Farmhouse.

What could I do to make his day easier?

Some days, it's as simple as finding him a pair of socks in the morning.

Other times, it's making one of his favorite meals even when I don't feel like it.

It becomes easier and easier to serve each other when you take that first step.

2. Choose to love.

Sometimes Mr. Farmhouse and I don't like each other much.

I get frustrated with him and I'm sure I annoy him.

But even when it's hard to like each other, we have committed to loving each other.

Circumstances can affect our attitude, our words, and even our actions...but we cannot let circumstances affect our choice to love one another.

3. Look back.

In the day-to-day junk of life, I feel like some days it's hard to look back.

It's hard to remember what life was like back when we were dating.

Back when we first got married.

Back when we were eating Hamburger Helper every night and Always Save ice cream for a fancy dessert.

Before the stress of money and parenting and careers took over.

We must look back.

Go back to those things that made you fall in love with your spouse.

Look at pictures.  Reminisce.  Tell stories of your favorite memories of days past.

We have to look back.

4. Find a healthy couple, a dear friend, or a therapist to walk through this season with.

I do not know what I would do in life without "my people".

There have been many times that I have had good friends who said the hard things to me.  

Friends who had to be a voice of reason for me when I was being irrational.

Friends to pray for me. 

To pray with me.

To help us fight through the hard days.

And I'd like to think that I have been that person for someone, too.

5. Take it one day at a time.

Marriages, friendships, and any relationships do not become strained in one day.

It can take weeks, months, and sometimes years to rebuild what has fallen apart.

Make a plan to serve each other.

To love each other.

To recommit to each other.

To do the best you can every day.

To be the best you can every day.

To put one foot in front of the other and to take it one day at a time.

❤️🏡❤️
0 Comments

wedding spotlight: gabe & allison

9/23/2017

0 Comments

 
Gabe & Allison Davis.  

It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

When Gabe texted me a few months before his wedding to ask if I would be available to photograph his wedding to his love, Allison, I said "absolutely" and put it on my calendar.

I have known Gabe for basically my whole life.  

We share a hometown, a lot of the same friends, and a love for all things black and gold.

I hadn't met Allison until we visited at the wedding venue a few weeks before the ceremony, but I was immediately drawn to her kind smile, and her and Gabe's respect for each other and partnership in making decisions during our conversation that day.

I was excited to meet Allison's sweet son, Hudson, the day of the wedding and capture their wedding day memories alongside them!
The wedding was held at the historical Longview Mansion, in Lee's Summit, Missouri, on one of the hottest days of the year...July 15th.  

The beautiful setting of the mansion was just magnified by the personalized touches that Gabe & Allison added to their storybook wedding.
Picture
Gabe is a talented woodworker and the vision he and Allison had for the ceremony location was just perfect.

From the sign welcoming guests to their "beginning" to the beautiful arbor he built for them to get married under.
Picture
The colors were just beautiful.

Of course, there was a nice shade of gold (Go Tigers!), complemented by greens & pinks.  The decor was simple and elegant.

Allison's sister stood up with her and Hudson stood up with Gabe.

Gabe's nieces were the guest book girls and Allison's nieces were the flower girls.

Allison's brothers & Gabe's sister read scripture and Gabe's aunt sang.

Not only Gabe & Allison's love for each other was evident through the whole afternoon, but also their love for their families.
Picture
Picture
Two of my favorite moments in every wedding are when the bride's father walks her down the aisle and "the kiss".  Gabe & Allison's wedding was no different.  

This  moment where Allison's dad said something and they both smiled before they started their journey to Gabe was just precious.

And equally precious was when Hudson had to get a closer look at the kiss!  Simply adorable!
Picture
Picture
I was so thankful to be a part of this beautiful day and pray for God's blessing on you as you continue to serve each other in marriage, Mr. & Mrs. Davis.  

Congratulations to you both...and Hudson, too!  ❤️
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

654.

7/28/2017

1 Comment

 
June 5, 2004.

06-05-04.

654.

Many people have asked me or made guesses about where the "654" on Farmhouse654 came from.

It's not our house number.
It's not our street number.
It's not the number of dollars we have spent on the farmhouse, so far...I wish it was only $654!

It's our wedding anniversary.

Mr. Farmhouse and I went on our first date in September of 2000, to the Homecoming bonfire.

As a junior cheerleader, I needed a football jersey to wear and as a freshman football player, he had one.
Picture
From that point on, we were pretty much inseparable.

I married my high school sweetheart two short weeks after his high school graduation.

People thought we were crazy.
Too young.
Immature.
Settling for each other before really "seeing the world".

But while people thought we were crazy...we KNEW we were crazy.

Crazy for each other.
Committed to each other.
Excited to grow up together and grow old together.

We got married on June 5th, 2004.

And we just celebrated our 13th anniversary.

654 is the day our married life begun.

We've had ups and downs.

Good days and bad days.

New jobs, new homes, and three beautiful daughters added to the family.

654 was the start of everything we know and love.

And that's what I think of every time I write for Farmhouse654.

​❤️🏡❤️
1 Comment

wedding spotlight: cody & crystal

7/19/2017

0 Comments

 
Several months ago, Crystal contacted me about wedding photos for her big day.

I was excited to have the opportunity to photograph this couple, as I have known Crystal practically her whole life, and worked with Cody's mom during my first teaching job.  

In fact, his sister's wedding was one of the first that I photographed.

The day of the wedding, every detail was taken care of.  

From the glittery gold icing on the cake baked by the bride's mom, to the letters the bride and groom had written to each other.  

From the amazing wooden backdrop for the wedding ceremony that used to stand in the bride's grandfather's house, to the aisle filled with pictures of the bride & groom growing up.

From the groom checking his watch before the ceremony, to the laughter the couple shared at the alter.

It was beautiful.  Every single detail.

I'm thankful that I got to be a part of it.
I am always blessed to see young people following through with the commitment of marriage and pray nothing but joy and contentment for this couple, as they grow together and serve one another.

Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Dodds. ❤️

0 Comments
    Never miss a post...
    ​click the image below to subscribe to the Farmhouse654 mailing list.
    Picture

    Archives

    June 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017

    Picture
    Picture
    Shop Hannah's Amazon Wish List

    Categories

    All
    12-Week Challenge
    2018
    2019
    About Me
    ACC
    Anxiety
    Assessment
    Autumn
    Babysteps
    Back To School
    Balance
    Bedroom Decor
    Before And After
    Bible
    Bible School
    Bible Study
    Biggest Loser
    Birthday
    Birthdays
    Blogging
    Blues
    Budgeting
    Calendar
    Camo
    Career
    Car Purchase
    Celebrations
    Challenges
    Change Of Plans
    Changes
    Children
    Children's Bedroom
    Children's Organization
    Chores With Kids
    Christmas
    Christmas Cards
    Christmas Countdown
    Christmas Tree
    Church
    Church Camp
    Church Ladies
    Cleaning
    Cleaning House
    Clearance
    Clothes
    Clutter
    Commitment
    Contentment
    Control
    Country
    Country Living
    Cows
    Creativity
    Crocs
    Crying
    Dave Car
    Dave Ramsey
    Debt
    Debt Snowball
    Decision-Making
    Declutter
    Decor
    Decorating
    Decorations
    Dedication
    Delta Airlines
    Depression
    Devotion
    Difference-Maker
    Digital
    Disagreements
    Diy
    Dreams
    Duke
    Education
    Emotions
    End Of The School Year
    Every Dollar
    Faith
    Family
    Farm
    Farmhouse
    Farmhouse654
    Farmhouse Decor
    Farmhouse-front-porch
    Farmhouse-kitchen
    Farmhouse-office
    Farmhouse Organization
    Farmhouse-playroom
    Farmhousestyle
    Farmhouse-style
    Farmhouse-table
    Farm Life
    Finances
    Fine
    Flooding
    Food-freedom
    Friendship
    Frustration
    Funny
    Furniture
    Gallery-wall
    Giftgiving
    Gifts
    Goals
    Goal-Setting
    Good-enough
    Google
    Grandparent
    Grandparents
    Grateful
    Gratitude
    Grief
    Growing Up
    Growth
    Habits
    Harlee
    Health
    Heaven
    History
    Holidays
    Home
    Home Decor
    Home Management
    Home-management
    Home Manager
    Home-renovation
    Home-studio
    Hospitality
    House
    House-purchase
    Humor
    Ideas
    Impulse-purchases
    Influence
    Inspire
    Intentional
    Interior Design
    Keto
    Kids
    Kindness
    Kingdom Kids
    Kitchen
    Konmari
    Last 56 Days
    Laundry
    Leadership
    Legacy
    Life
    Loss
    Love
    Love Languages
    Marriage
    Memories
    Mentor
    Minimalist Lifestyle
    Mizzou
    Money
    Mood Elevator
    Morning
    Motherhood
    Moving
    Music
    Newkirk Photography
    New Year
    Office
    On A Budget
    One Word
    Online Shopping
    Opinions
    Organization
    Organizing
    Outdoors
    Paint
    Parenting
    Past
    Patience
    Photography
    Physical Wellness
    Planning
    Playroom
    Porch Swing
    Positive Attitude
    Prayer
    Preparation
    Projects
    Quiet Time
    Quilting
    Ramsey
    Real Estate
    Relax
    Relaxation
    Reset
    Resolutions
    Rest
    Resting State
    Role Model
    Room Reveal
    Routine
    Routines
    Savings
    School
    School Administration
    School Year
    Seasonal
    Seasons
    Senior Pictures
    Shoes
    Shop Local
    Sick
    Simple Living
    Simplify
    Sisters
    Small Business
    Snow
    Snow Day
    Special Education
    Special Education Director
    Spiritual Growth
    Spring
    Stop Day
    Storage
    Stress
    Struggle
    Struggles
    Student Engagement
    Summer
    Survival Mode
    Target
    Task Cards
    Teaching
    Technology
    Thankful
    Thanksgiving
    Third Grade
    Tradition
    Traditions
    Transformation
    Transitions
    Travel
    Truth
    Twelve Weeks
    Vacation
    Valentine's Day
    Vision
    Vision Board
    Walmart
    Wedding
    Wedding Photography
    Weekly Home Blessing
    Weight
    Wellness
    Whole30
    Window Shopping
    Winter
    Word Of The Year
    Work
    Workspace
    Zones
    Zone Work

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Disclosures