I wrote this post many times in my head… Truth be told, we were go for launch this past May 2011 to get electricity to the farm house after my serious residual effects from my months with the severe H1N1 this last April. After the flu, a hospitalization, coming home with a walker with partial paralysis of my right lower leg and left lower arm, then blood clots in my lungs from resting due to chronic pericarditis from the H1N1 and another hospital stay, the decision was made that I needed much rest the spring and summer of 2011. However, when the sun came out, the perennials came back, and the animals gave birth to spring time babies I threw a large fit to “STOP the PRESS” on hooking up to the electric company… After all, it was now summer and everything just seems easier on a farm in the beautiful summers of Michigan…
I took a much needed rest from the farm. Gardening only for our family, putting some canning to the wayside, closing the CSA, slowing down beef sales, stopped the classes and farm tours plus more… It was tough to see some of the fruits of our labours go to the wayside. As you already know, I really do not have a lot of sit in me. But, per doc’s serious orders, I needed to really take it easy. It still really did not seem enough for the chronic pericarditis to wane and waves of extreme leg weakness to subside… Even a couple week vacation didn’t really do the trick. All was partially fine until I came back to the farm and started lifting large kettles of water and doing wringer laundry again for all 8 of us… I was a fairly permanent fixture on Tuesdays at our local Laundromat, just ask Robin whom has become a friend of mine as she helped me fold quite a bit of laundry this past summer and into this current winter.
So, after almost 3 and ½ years without any electricity, (read that again if you think we threw in the towel to quick) 6 children, 1 born since the move, laundry for 8 on a farm and more, the family literally drug me kicking and screaming to today… Truth be told, this off-gird life rocks, it really does, when you are in 100% good health. I always said this, it works great until you are not 100% up to par. I still am not 100% up to par but I am gaining lots of ground.
I do not want to be the one that was the cause for us to go “on the grid”. I would be the last one of all 8 of us to have made this decision. However, I know God is still driving this thing and I am along for the ride, I am not the driver, He is…
Currently, we have a washer and dryer and 3 outlets and 1 light bulb hanging from the ceiling. We do not have plumbing yet, as I type this I am sitting under a leacock pressure lamp but our daughter is trying to curl her hair from a wand she saved . I was extremely ornery today, over joyed and very heart broken of today’s events as the waves of all of these emotions came over me. I am truly in shock as I write this as I am sure some of you loyal readers are as well. I couldn’t do this tough decision without a strong faith in a Lord and Saviour that leads my life, leads our life to where He knows we should be…
