Category: Faith & Family

The Right Road

Let me tell you a story.

A few years ago, our family took a road trip to from our home here in Indiana to Virgina. We visited a church camp there and had a wonderful time. But the story I want to tell you happened on the way home.

Now, when this family takes a road trip, we do something different from probably most people. We go into our GPS settings and turn on the “Avoid Interstates” option. There is just something about getting off the main roads and taking the roads where less people are. Everyone enjoys it and it makes the whole trip more fun. You get to see things and places that most people don’t get to when they’re flying down the interstate.

So that’s what we did on the way home from Virginia. Coming through West Virginia, we took the highway that runs through the New River Gorge. We had visited the bridge the previous year on our way to or from that church camp, so we changed things up. Decided to see some new scenery.

After enjoying the beautiful waterfalls and views, we decided we’d better keep moving towards home. We loaded everyone back in the vehicle, a Suburban at that time, and kept following the GPS.

Not too much later, the GPS told us to turn on to WV Highway 26. Ok, not a problem. Except the road didn’t stay a road for long. Soon, we were driving on a mountain path that consisted of more mountain than path. And the only thing high about it was how far up we had to climb.

I took this picture before the road got super crazy. Before it was all said and done the “road” was dirt. At least, it was dirt between the rocks and tree roots. We were very thankful for a Suburban. Otherwise, I’m sure we would have ended up stranded with no cell phone service until the cows came home. And then some.

I have to admit, I thought we must have taken the wrong turn. How on earth could this be the road we were supposed to be on? There must have been a mistake somewhere. Either I had misread the map, or the GPS must be wrong. There were no other options, right?

Well, turning around wasn’t doable so we had to follow this crazy “highway” clear to the end, wherever that turned out to be. Finally, we came back down the mountain. Finally, the road turned back to gravel. And, finally, we came to the next road we needed to take.

I still remember rolling my window down, twisting clear around, craning my neck, and finding the road sign to see just what road we had actually been on.

It said, “Highway 26”.

That whole time, we had been right where we needed to be. There was no mistake. I didn’t read the map wrong and the GPS didn’t give us the wrong directions. It was the right road.

So why tell you this story? Well, life is like this sometimes. Sometimes, even when we try our best to follow God’s directions and make the right choices, we end up in places where we are positive we messed up somewhere.

We find ourselves thinking, “There’s no way God meant for me to end up here. I must have blown it.” We tend to send ourselves into panic mode trying to figure out how we took the wrong turn, what we can do to “fix it”, and on and on.

But someone said something in church Sunday that is so simple and still so true. The co-pastor was preaching and in his message, he made this statement, “Stop trying to figure out the path, and get to know the Guide”.

That’s all it takes. The better we know Jesus, the better we can follow and trust His leadership. Even when the road looks like West Virginia Highway 26.

July 22, 2025
And Then There Were Nine!

Sunday, July 6th, at 11:36 PM, our new addition made their long-awaited arrival. While we had a girl’s name picked out for a good while, we only settled on a boy’s name we liked a few days before. It’s a good thing we did!

In the not-even two days he has been here, Judah Andrew has won the hearts of everyone in the family. Though I guess that’s pretty normal, isn’t it?

Elsie is still having a bit of a time remembering his name, so she often calls him “Our family’s baby boy”. But we all know who she means. 🙂

With choosing to have Judah at home, there has been none of the hassle of hauling children back and forth to the hospital or Tim in one place while I’m in another. It is also so much easier to recoup in my own house and my own bed. Obviously, it’s each to their own, but the pros of home births far outweigh any hospital birth experience I’ve had.

Since Tim has stepped in and taken over cooking, among other things, for the time being, he has been using this as an opportunity to work on his sous chef-in-training, Alayna. She enjoys cooking and baking and is always thrilled to get to expand her skills. She already can make bread and tortillas as well as I can, and is working on getting to the point she can take over breakfasts some days.

The others, down to Niel, are eager to help too. They line up to get their chance to do something, even if it’s “just” holding Judah for a while. 🙂 While our schedule is still somewhat askew, with helpers like I have, life is still moving along without too much upheaval. I definitely have a lot to be thankful for.

I am sorry (somewhat) that this post is shorter than normal, and it is definitely late. But I think I have a legitimate reason this time, don’t you? 🙂 Thank you to all who kept us in your prayers. It meant a lot to Tim and I. Until next time!

July 8, 2025
This Isn’t the Garden I Imagined

I had big dreams for this year’s garden. Rows of thriving vegetables, plenty to can and freeze, a handful of Instagram-worthy harvest baskets, and maybe even one of those adorable pictures of a toddler holding a sunflower twice their height.

Instead, I have crabgrass that’s warring with horseweed over prime acreage, tomatoes that can’t decide if they’re dying or just being dramatic, and pea plants that look like they got in a fight with a thunderstorm.

Things started off so well. Tim and I were finally going to be able to work on the garden every day without spending 20 minutes loading kids in the van for a 7 minute drive. We had planned the work in detail and were all set to work the plan.

And the plan took off beautifully. We got our seeds, starter trays, and starter soil mix ordered in plenty of time, and were ready to go. In one day, we planted 80 tomato seeds and when it came time for the first transplant, a whopping 75 tomato starts were healthy enough to move into something bigger.

Things were looking so hopeful. We had a plant shelf set up with heat mats and grow lights and our peppers, tomatoes, and basil seemed to be taking off.

That’s when things started to change. First it was too much water so I cut it back. Then things started wilting from drying out. To start hardening the stems off, I would carry all the trays outside to sit on the deck. Then one of my helpers tripped on the stairs and spilled a tray of tomatoes and the cat dug up our starter sweet potato.

Meanwhile, out in the garden, radishes, turnips, and beets were popping up like weeds. That alone was enough to keep us going. If we could just get these plants in the ground, surely that would fix a lot of the problems.

Only nature had other plans. Rain set in like you wouldn’t believe, and before we knew it, the river had moved from a quarter of a mile away into our backyard. A new record for flood levels here. We literally had ducks swimming in our garden. Only they were wild ones, not ours.

Finally, everything dried out enough to put plants in the ground outside. Our dirt here is terrible with high clay content, but we mixed in fertilizer and shredded cardboard. Things were looking hopeful.

Sadly, there weren’t 75 tomato plants to put outside by that point, but we planted what we had. Over the next several days, we planted 3 kinds of tomatoes and 5 kinds of peppers. We also slowly gave up on any kind of harvest from our beets, radishes, and turnips. I think the heat was too much for them this year.

The cucumbers seem to be thriving, but I haven’t even planted beans yet, and if weeds could run, I’d probably see some doing victory laps around the garden. It’s been humbling, honestly — all the things that didn’t go according to plan. The truth is…this isn’t the garden I imagined. But maybe that’s okay.

Some things are growing. Some things are struggling. And so am I. At 40 weeks pregnant and counting, some days I feel wider than I am tall. (Thankfully, feelings can be deceiving.) But buried in the weeds and bug bites and lopsided rows, I’m starting to find a few quiet lessons — ones I didn’t plan to plant but probably needed anyway.

I’m learning that just like in life, we don’t always get the season we planned for. Sometimes we plant in faith, water with tears, and wait — not sure what will come of it. But God isn’t just after straight rows and full baskets. Sometimes He’s growing patience, trust, and perseverance where we only see crabgrass and chaos.

Maybe the real harvest this year won’t be measured in jars or baskets, but in grace — grace for the process, for the setbacks, for myself. Every weed I pull and every crooked row reminds me that growth isn’t always pretty, but it’s still progress. This garden might not be picture-perfect, but it’s real, it’s ours, and it’s still doing its work — in the soil and in me.

And thankfully, there’s always a fall garden — and next year.

June 26, 2025
Nature Reset

Good day!

Where do you go for your relaxation? When the day seems too long or the work seems too hard, what do you do to reset yourself and your family?

For us, it often means loading all eight of us in the van and driving off into the wild.

Tim and I feel the pull of nature pretty strongly and it didn’t stop with us. Each of the kids, from Micah to little Niel, love to be outside.

Tim has recently gotten a camera to develop his nature photography skills which means we get to enjoy the beauty of God’s nature both while we are out in it and after we come home.

There is nothing so relaxing as sitting or walking through wildflowers and trees with no sounds but singing birds, buzzing bees, and running water. Oh, and chattering children. 🙂

Every time I’m out foraging or exploring or picnicking, I’m reminded again about how much care God has put into this world of ours.

Every bird has so much attention to detail from how its bones are formed to how its beak and feet are made for the life it leads.

And then the flowers, like this little oxeye daisy, bloom with exquisite beauty even though they are often passed over in favor of flowers that are larger or more flashy. But God took the time to make each little part of this daisy to not only look lovely, but to be great for herbal medicine as well.

At the end of the day, spending time with God in His beautiful world is our favorite way to relax and recenter ourselves to Him and His purpose for our lives.

All pictures in this post were taken by Tim Kinnaman.

June 12, 2025
More Than A Handful

“Yes, we’ve been very blessed.”

We were in Walmart, using one of those “family-sized” carts that proudly claims to seat three kids—as if that’s going to cut it. The baby was tucked in their car seat inside the main basket. The next youngest rode up front. Two more filled the big blue seats, and the oldest walked alongside the cart.

A woman coming toward us looked up from her groceries and did a double take. You could almost see the numbers adding up in her head as her eyes darted from child to child—visibly counting. Then her gaze swung to me. For some reason, dads tend to vanish in moments like these, so Tim might as well have been invisible.

Her eyes widened and she gasped, “Are all these yours? You must have your hands full!”

I smiled and gave my usual reply: “Yes, we’ve been very blessed.”

She went on her way and we went on ours, but the moment stayed with me. Honestly, they all do. Over the years, we’ve heard that phrase more times than I can count. Sometimes it’s said with curiosity, sometimes with judgment, sometimes with awe.

People often don’t know what to say. Some offer a polite smile. Others let out a low whistle. Sometimes it’s a joke. Sometimes it’s a jab. And more often than not, it’s that old standby:

“You’ve got your hands full.”

They’re not wrong. I do. But what they usually miss is that my heart is full too—and that’s not an accident. It’s a choice. Tim and I didn’t stumble into having a large family by accident or ignorance. We walked into it hand in hand, prayerfully, one child at a time, saying yes to the life God gave us.

Choosing a large family wasn’t about collecting kids or chasing chaos. It was about obedience. About trust. About believing that when God said children are a blessing, He meant it. We knew the world might not always understand, and we knew it wouldn’t be easy—but we believed it would be worth it.

Before Micah, our oldest, was ever born, Tim and I felt God laying it on us to raise our children to be able to be used by Him. Early on, we realized that these children, who wake up at full volume and leave toys in their wake, aren’t really ours. They are entrusted to us to be raised as worthwhile people who are equipped, mentally, emotionally, and physically, to step up and fill the place God designed them for.

That’s not to say it’s always picture-perfect. There are tears—mine and theirs. There’s clutter and noise and more laundry than I care to calculate. Some days I cry in the closet. Some days we eat a hodge-podge of leftovers for dinner. But even on the hard days, there’s beauty. There’s deep, meaningful, soul-stretching joy in this calling.

I get the joy of sitting down to a meal and telling Alayna she did a good job on the bread and watching her face light up. Tim is able to compliment Micah on his hard work and willingness to tackle the tough jobs. We get to be interrupted time and again by small arms wrapping around us in hugs or little voices lisping, “I love you, you’re the best Mommy (or Daddy)”. We get the enjoyment of dishing up thirds for these bottomless pits other people think are our children and hearing the delight as they wolf it down. Tim and I have the joy of being “pestered”, no matter the job we’re doing, by children itching for a way to help.

What people often don’t see when they count heads in the grocery aisle is the joy behind the numbers. They don’t see the sibling giggles during bedtime stories, or the way the older ones help tie shoes and fill thermoses. They don’t see the baby smiles, the spontaneous hugs, or the shared victories of a big family learning to do life together. It’s not always glamorous, and it rarely fits in a shopping cart—but in the noise and the ordinary, joy keeps showing up.

So yes, my hands are full. But so is my heart. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Not for a quieter house, or cheaper grocery bills, or less laundry, or more sleep. This is the life God gave us, and we are honored to live it.

Homestead Hilarity

Micah’s Dilemma:
More siblings meant we wouldn’t be able to drive his favorite vehicle—a pickup truck.

Micah’s Solution:
“I guess we’ll just have to get a bus, then!”

June 3, 2025
Choosing Joy

Hey There!

Welcome to one of my musings—thanks for stopping by!

Ever have one of those days where you can’t quite decide if it’s a good day or a bad one? When the pendulum swings wildly between frustration and happiness without warning? Well, I had one of those days.

One of the best things about a wood stove? On cold mornings, you get to start a nice, blazing fire and make everything toasty. One of the worst things? On cold mornings, you have to start a fire just to get things toasty. The latest cold snap made for plenty of chilly fingers and toes while waiting for the warmth to catch up.

Then there’s running water. Don’t get me wrong—I’ve lived with and without it, and I definitely prefer with. But when temperatures drop, pipes can freeze. Thankfully, we installed PEX piping in our new house, so they expand without breaking. Still, waking up to no water is… well, waking up to no water. Not exactly the best start to the day, even if it was confined to the upstairs and not our living area.

To make matters more interesting, my washing machine must’ve taken offense to the cold and flat-out refused to run. And when you’re cloth diapering, laundry isn’t just a nice thing—it’s a must. But today? Nope. Not happening.

And as if that weren’t enough, most of the kids must have secretly conspired to wake up on the wrong side of the bed at the same time.

So I did what any mom of six kids does in a crisis. I kicked it into SuperMom Gear, ready to conquer the chaos with lightning speed. In my mind, I was about to whip up gourmet breakfasts, negotiate peace among the grumpy troops, fix the laundry situation with a single touch, and maybe even defrost the pipes using sheer willpower. It was going to be legendary!

Only… not exactly.

I did manage to get breakfasts made for all concerned and that did help out childish dispositions. But there was one more issue—a truly dire one. Coffee. Or rather, the lack of it. In a well-intentioned attempt to save money and cut back on caffeine, Tim and I had decided to limit coffee to Saturdays and special occasions. This decision, unfortunately, affected not just us but also Micah and Alayna.

So there we were, facing a morning of freezing temperatures, broken appliances, grumpy kids, and—perhaps worst of all—no coffee. The realization hit me like a cruel joke: This was a special occasion if I’d ever seen one.

Well, I looked around and surveyed things and decided something had to change. No day goes well when everyone is feeling depressed and discouraged.

Somehow the conversation got onto nutmeg and I decided to see if there was a way to make nutmeg tea. So I whipped out my phone and sure enough, a delicious-sounding nutmeg tea recipe!

Out came the mugs, the tea kettle, the grater, and the fresh nutmeg. Soon all four mugs had a quarter of amazing-smelling grated nutmeg and the tea kettle was whistling on the wood stove. We all crowded around the stove to watch impatiently as the tea steeped. Then, after adding a little cream, we each had a steaming mug of liquid joy. Finally!

It honestly didn’t take very long for the mood-boosting qualities of nutmeg to kick in, and we all started feeling like we might actually make it through the day. All too soon we finished our mugs, with even the kids drinking the dregs so as not to waste a single drop. As I was cleaning up the mess, I read the rest of the recipe article and down at the end, you know, where everyone puts the disclaimers, it said that nutmeg tea is not to be drunk by pregnant women.

To be completely honest, I got a little miffed at that. I mean, who were they to tell me I couldn’t drink this wonderful, mood-saving potion? I had just discovered a cheaper, tastier alternative to coffee—a rare thing in the world of budget-friendly life hacks—and now, apparently, it was a forbidden elixir of doom because I was pregnant. Of all the nerve!

So I started researching to see if nutmeg was harmful to pregnant women. The first five or so articles all said that nutmeg in excess was indeed harmful but didn’t give any reasons why or even explain what they meant by excess. Finally, I found an article that said nutmeg contains something called “myristicin,” which can cause nausea, hallucinations, and in the worst cases, miscarriage. Well, there went that excellent idea. Now the day felt worse than ever. I stared at my empty mug, mourning the loss of what could have been my new morning ritual. With a sigh, I determined not to let the day completely unravel and decided I needed to find something—anything—to lift the mood again.

That’s when I noticed them. Not one, not even two, but three little bursts of unexpected joy.

The day before, while shopping, we found that the cut flower arrangements were all one dollar. So I grabbed three and put them in vases around the office area. When I say vases, I mean my style of vases. One beautiful bouquet was in a glass pitcher, and the others looked stunning in two vintage silver-plated ornate footed teapots. They might have seemed inconsequential to some, but I love flowers and beautiful things and even knowing I had managed to arrange them so nicely helped. I made sure I noticed them every time I walked past my desk for the rest of the day.

And just like that, the day took a turn for the better. Did the washer magically fix itself? No. Was everyone else in a more encouraged mood? Again, no. But I realized that having a “good” day or a “bad” day was not based on circumstances but on my choices. How I reacted to frustrating things made the difference in how the day went.

That was honestly pretty eye-opening. I knew it in my head, but knowing a thing and putting the thing into action are two very different things. Intentionally choosing to have a good day regardless seems to go a long way toward making any day work smoothly.

Two verses from my devotions that morning really stood out and helped me keep my focus where it should be as well. I had just started the book of Psalms and the fifth chapter ends with these two beautiful verses.

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.

For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover him with favor as with a shield. –Psalms 5:11, 12

By taking these verses to heart, I found joy in God’s loving care—even when circumstances offered little else to be thankful for. And God’s blessings are an awful lot to be grateful for. Tim and I often try to run through every blessing we can think of. In just the ten years we’ve been married the number is staggering.

At the end of the day, nothing about my circumstances had really changed. The pipes were still frozen, the washer still wasn’t working, and we were still coffee-less. But my perspective had shifted. Instead of focusing on the inconveniences, I had chosen to focus on the little joys—flowers on my desk, a warm wood stove, and the simple fact that despite the chaos, we were making it through.

Life on the homestead (and life in general) isn’t always smooth sailing. But I’m learning that joy isn’t found in perfect circumstances—it’s found in gratitude, in choosing to see God’s goodness even when things don’t go as planned. And hey, if nothing else, at least I got a great story out of it.

May 8, 2025
Meeting The Family

Hello, dear readers and new friends!

Welcome to my blog—a little part of my life where I’ll be sharing everything from funny stories and family adventures to the lessons we’re learning along the way. Along with my husband and our ever-growing crew of six kids (soon to be seven come July!), we’ve got lots to share! I’ve always loved storytelling. As our family grows and we embrace homesteading, I felt called to document our journey—not just for us, but for anyone who might find encouragement, inspiration, or even just a good laugh along the way.

Here, you can expect a blend of heartwarming recipes, honest reflections on biblically raising a big family, and stories from our day-to-day journey. Some posts will be lighthearted and fun, while others might get a little deeper. But my hope is that something here will resonate with you—whether it sparks a smile, inspires you to try something new, or simply makes you feel a little more connected to the crazy, beautiful journey we’re all on.

I’m so honored to have you along for the trip. Let’s dive into life’s joys, challenges, and flavors together!

I’d love for you to meet the people who make this homestead feel like home. I’m not sure if there’s a correct or best way to do this, so I’ll just start.

Tim

At the head of the family is Tim. He’s 29 years old and runs an eBay business from his basement office. What started as a fun side hobby quickly became our family’s livelihood when sickness suddenly changed everything.

In a matter of days, Tim went from being completely independent to needing a wheelchair, unable to button his shirts or cut his food. The shift was overwhelming, but in the middle of it all, we watched God move in miraculous ways to provide for us. What started as a side project on eBay was soon our only source of income. We are incredibly thankful for his complete healing last February.

Now, his shop focuses on ceramic slip molds, keeping him busy all week (and sometimes even on Saturdays!).

Tim enjoys reading, gardening, researching things that spark his curiosity, cooking, working with his hands, and teaching the older children. He may seem like the quiet, serious type at first, but don’t be fooled—his sense of humor keeps the kids rolling their eyes as they try to hide their smiles.

Rachel (Me!)

Older than Tim by nine months, I like to think of myself as the voice of maturity in the family. Or not.

I’m the second of four girls and somehow ended up with a slightly sarcastic personality that thrives on making people laugh. A born storyteller, my imagination has a mind of its own, which isn’t always helpful when you’re a full-time stay-at-home mom. Let your mind wander for too long, and—boom!—chaos unfolds in a blink!

According to my family, I have a knack for cooking and baking, and judging by the lack of leftovers, I’d say they’re right.

I’m also passionate about foraging and using herbs for natural remedies. There’s still so much to learn, but I get a thrill every time I can use “weeds” from the yard or essential oils to care for our physical ailments instead of relying on medicine. It’s incredible to discover all the healing plants God has provided for us!

My next big adventure? Helping Tim get our homestead off the ground.

Micah (9 years old)

Micah’s mind and mouth rarely stop running, and he devours books the way some kids do candy. He loves helping and working with Tim, is fascinated by taking things apart, and—thankfully—is learning how to put them back together, too! It’s hard to pin down Micah’s exact interests because he wants to learn about everything. His zest for life is both inspiring to watch and exhausting to keep up with.

Alayna (8 years old)

Our blue-eyed bundle of energy, Alayna, has a warm, bubbly personality and is always looking for ways to help—whether in the kitchen or with her younger siblings. Her love for gardening runs deep, and she jumps at any chance to tend to the plants. She also seems to have inherited her daddy’s quick wit and she’s learning to dish it back just as well as she gets it!

Micah and Alayna seem to be locked in a never-ending contest to see who can read the most. At this point, there’s no clear winner!

Kaitlynn (6 years old)

Kaitlynn is our go-getter with a face full of freckles and a giggle always at the ready. She does her best to keep up with the older two and is determined to be big, taking on tasks that often require a little ingenuity to finish. If I need something cleaned, Kaitlynn is the first to roll up her sleeves and dive in—no hesitation, just pure enthusiasm. She has a huge love for animals and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of our rabbits, ducks, and chickens.

Harold (5 years old)

Harold could hardly wait for March when he could turn that “measly” 4 into a great big 5. As the self-proclaimed clown of the family, Harold keeps life interesting! Lately, he’s been testing the waters with some bigger-kid jobs, like helping with dishes and hauling wood. Though he may not move as fast as Micah, Harold is his own person through and through, always holding his own opinions. He is far more likely to do his own thing rather than simply follow the crowd.

Elsie (3 years old)

Elsie proudly announces to everyone that she’s “free” now (she means three). With a head full of bouncy blonde curls, she throws herself enthusiastically into everything—including eating and teaming up with Harold to make plenty of noise. She loves snuggling, coloring, and “helping” the others with their chores. She’s also working on learning her letters and numbers and already enjoys “reading” alongside her older siblings.

Niel (2 years old)

For now, Niel is the baby of the family—at least until July! He’s a happy little guy, always eager for new adventures. With his growing vocabulary and deep love for playing with his siblings, he’s quickly finding his place in our lively family dynamic.

Thank you for taking the time to meet our family! I hope you stick around as we share more about our homesteading journey, the projects we take on, and the lessons we learn along the way. If you’d like, drop a comment and introduce yourself—I’d love to hear from you!

April 28, 2025