She sows seeds

Headed Home

by

You and Me | She Sows Seeds

It started as a little whisper, that small voice in the back of our minds, the quiet tug at our hearts.

When we went home to Gippsland in November for a very rushed and unexpected visit, it was our first time we had been home since moving to South Australia in April. We stayed with our parents, we walked on the beach at Inverloch, we met friends for coffee, we helped our nieces with their horse and motorbike, we sat on my mum’s front patio and marveled at our beloved rolling green hills. The rich soil of my childhood, where we thought we would raise our family, God’s country. We drove back west across the border with heavy hearts, part of us still firmly planted back east.

Christmas came, we shared our baby joy with our family at home again in Gippsland. Again, the little voice, the whisper. Our baby would be born in South Australia, far from our loved ones, hundreds of kilometres from our friends who were also starting their families. We were fine with this, life went on in our farmhouse we do love, we talked about our baby, what we would name him or her, what sort of parents we would be. Again, the little voice, the whisper.

Matt went back to work. Work. Work. Work. I continued growing a baby. We went back to life. Matt would work 80 hours + a week, I began to plan our baby’s nursery in our limestone farmhouse. Life went on. Like always, we questioned, we wondered – like we have done before – about the agricultural industry, about our future, about farming, about where it all sat and what it all meant.

Then the voice, the whisper, became louder. And stronger.

And then the phone rang.

My clever husband, so clever and so humble he doesn’t know it, has been offered an amazing opportunity – for him, for us. An opportunity which might, just maybe, allow us to own our own land, our own stock, our dream, one day. Closer. An opportunity which would mean an off-farm job, still in agriculture, but he would no longer be a farmer, I no longer a farmer’s wife. How did that sit with us? A big step. The next step? We thought, we talked, I prayed. A lot. I tend to do that. The pros, the cons, the boxes ticked, the phone calls, the advice, the gut feelings, the sleeplessness, the listening to that voice, the whisper which grew to a roar. Then, a decision made. The voice quietened while we made our choice.

In a few weeks, we will pack up our limestone farmhouse, we will wave goodbye to this chapter in our life, our time on the Limestone Coast. We will go home. We will be happy and content, my husband will be home with his wife and baby more, he will soar in his new role. I am so, so, so proud of him. I know his potential, I want others to see it too. I will be close to family and friends, the village who will raise our baby. Everything happens for a reason.

We’re hopeful. We’re happy. We’re headed home.

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The words above are a little note I wrote to Matt in 2011, when things were hard, really hard, and we didn’t know which direction to turn or path to take. You and me, you and me.

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Comments

  2. Congratulations on the move back to family and friends. So important to be surrounded by the ones you love, especially when raising a family. And Traralgon! A stone’s throw away from me! Good luck with the move 🙂

  3. such a beautiful post. from another living away from their family I can understand the joy of being back to share your baby with them. enjoy and good luck.

  4. Once we took the chance and moved away from family and friends and had some land, veggies and a lovely big house that we could never afford in Sydney. One day my husband said “you know, this house is lovely but there’s only the 4 of us in it”.
    Not long after we moved back to Sydney to a suburban block where my kids can walk to their grandparents, see their cousins and we’re back with friends. Best thing we did.
    Wherever you go you’ll both be fine as you have each other, a strong relationship and you’re both “on the same page”, working for the same things. That’s all the counts.
    Good luck with the next stage, of many in your lives!

  5. Good luck with planning for moving and new experiences and Matt’s new job. I know what you mean about the pull of family and I am glad things just fell into place for you on that count even though it took some time and thinking. Enjoy being closer to family and friends, enjoy getting ready for your growing family. I am so happy for you and wish you well with the coming changes.

  6. What a big decision to make, but it sounds like it was meant to be. You and your husband had an adventure starting your own life, but being close to your roots and family has a strong pull. On our honeymoon, my husband and I drove all over the country trying to find a new place to live, but where did we end up? In the same town where we went to college, only 1 1/2 hours from both parents! And 9 years later we still love it.
    Since there is all this baby talk around here, I thought I would share the give-a-way contest that I am holding today. It is for an adorable pair of baby booties or set of bibs, made by a mom of three little girls.
    http://lifewiththecrew.typepad.com/my-blog/2014/01/special-sponsor-give-a-way-contest.html

  7. I can completely understand with the baby coming that you want to be around family and friends and have your baby grow up with grandparents and cousins and aunties and not just a once a year visit. Having your first baby is a real shock to the system with sometimes little or no sleep and a little bundle of joy that sometimes may not stop crying and you have no idea how. These days you can end up in tears and a grandparent can take them from your arms and nurse them for half an hour to give you a little break. The fact that Matt is gone so much of the day you will be home alone with the little one and those normal days of 8.30-6.00 and in your case more can be long and hard. I’m thrilled for you that you may have your own land and you will be closer to family and friends and hat your hat and settle down. It will be good for Matt too, not working those extended long hours so he can spend time with his lovely wife and daughter/son. Very happy for you both and I know it will be a wonderful beginning. Great news all around for you, Matt and for your family and friends getting you back as well. All the Best. PS…don’t lift anything even boxes…have to protect that little baby. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia

  8. wonderful days ahead….wishing you all the very best for everything! It’s amazing how things turn out…we can worry so much about things and then all of a sudden everything works out for the best. Your blog post has made me happy too, so thanks for sharing your happy news! xx

  9. First time commenter – But I just wanted to say hi and congrats on the news!

    I read every post and have always hoped that some day your path would lead back to Vic as it seemed you were both so very much meant to be here and with family.

    It is so lovely when you hear of good people having good things happen to them. I’m sure there happens to be a lot of things going on in the background to ensure these things actually ‘do happen’ but either way, it’s just nice to see it all coming together for you and Matt & at such an exciting time in both your lives.

    Oh and your little note to Matt reminds me of the note I wrote to my Matt in 2013. Tough times, but honestly, when you stick together and know that the other values you immensely, you really do feel much more equipped to get through each day.

  11. Wow (and you just lugged all of that baby stuff over the border!) Excitung times. Seize the day and all that. Have fun packing (AGAIN!)

  12. What exciting news for you all!! It’s funny that the universe can deliver things to you that you weren’t even sure you wanted but once presented seem perfect…..good luck with it all xx

  13. So so happy for you guys. I know how hard you have been working for this. For your own little piece of home, close to family. Best wishes to Matt on his new job and both of you on your new adventure!!

  14. I can’t imagine how exciting this must be for you. I’m from Adelaide, my husband’s from NZ, and we live in Perth. We have a great group of friends here of course but home to me will always be where family is.

    You are so LUCKY xxx

  15. Still doing my happy dance for this news. Beautiful words, Em. Can’t wait to get you guys back here. Much much love. xx

  16. What wonderful news!! Congratulations – it will be fantastic to be closer to your family and friends with your little one on the way. I hope the move goes smoothly – all the best for your new adventures.

  18. I am so happy for you. Your husband will do well because you believe in him. Every man needs that more than anything. Bonita xx

  19. How wonderful. It seems you tried valiantly to make SA work, but I got the feeling through your posts that it was never quite right. So happy to hear you’re heading home to start life anew with your new baby. All the best with the move and beyond.

  21. You have to be where your hearts are happy and content – it will be a new chapter, new beginning with the folds of family and friends – it is where your roots are. Good luck and enjoy every moment your road brings you!!

  23. Well that made me cry! Im cooking my second babe and can’t imagine doing it without my village. A huge move, but you’ll never regret it x

  24. Wow, Em! BIG news! I am so happy you both get to be closer to loved ones while you start your family. Do you know where exactly you are headed? Back to Gippsland? You will both be in my thoughts and prayers xo