Life has a way of being difficult. Some would say that life is a challenge, and I would agree. Others would say that life is a test, and I would agree with that too. But mostly, I think that life is an opportunity and that there is a guide line that you should follow to attain the objectives that you wish to set your opportunity to work for. Focus on your goals, stay persistent, and don't compromise on the end result.

For example, I used to own a burgundy Toyota Camry. It was a great car, though I think that it was finally killed by the person that I passed the car along too... but that is another story. Then I owned another car... same year, make and model, but white in color. That car lasted a while, but died a hard death one day as a power steering fluid leak ate through the timing belt while the car was driving. This is a good way to destroy the inside of your engine.

So, I was without a car. But I decided that I was not going to settle for the next car that just came along. I focused my mind on a specific vehicle, a green pick-up truck with a manual transmission. Then I lost my job. That, too, is another story. But I kept my mind on the vehicle... praying that God grant me the vehicle that I wanted. And wouldn't you know it that my next employer just happened to be selling a manual trans, green Ford F150? And cheap too!

So, as we have navigated the travesty that has been this move to Elliston, a town which I love, by the way, it may well be a stepping stone to take me and my family to the place that I have truly envisioned all this time. At the top of the Blueridge Mountain Range, just off of skyline drive, we are likely moving to Floyd County within the month. Our landlord will be our neighbor. He is an organic farmer, has Jersey Dairy Cows, owns and operates a dairy share, from which we can access real dairy products, and is a seemingly very nice fellow. He stands to be the guide that we have been looking for to make our way to self sufficiency.

I think that it may be time to take down the potters peak homestead site and simply focus on this site, so I will be merging relevant blog entries from there to here over this Thanksgiving Holiday.