Four.

Max came over today to help us cut down and pull out multiple large trees on the property. We’d never met Max before today, but we’d heard he was a hard, competent worker, who was in need of a job. And we were in need of help. So, Max was our man! 

He arrived early, chainsaw in hand. Colton couldn’t wait to spend the day in the yard helping and Max gladly let Colton tag along. The way Max used a chainsaw was downright impressive. He made large Palms look like butter as he effortlessly cut through them. Colton worked alongside, digging, loading, hauling. Preston even joined in...wearing a tutu, of course! Living here has given us the opportunity to show our kids what a day of hard work looks like. It’s shown them that getting dirty and sore, while working with your hands to accomplish a task, feels so fulfilling.

I grew up watching my Dad work hard, fix anything, build what we needed, and provide above and beyond for our family. His time in a classroom was limited, but his work ethic, common sense, and resourcefulness always made me respect hard work over diplomas on the wall. Still, my dad is the same as he was 20 years ago. Now, I get to watch my husband and children learning these skills you can’t learn at a desk. I get to watch my son learn about angles, depth, and physics from a man named Max who shows him where to cut a tree properly so it falls exactly where you want it.

Living here has given us the amazing opportunity to learn so much that we haven’t been exposed to prior to this. Above that, it’s given us the chance to learn from people like Max. People who have worked hard, physical labor their whole lives, but who are often looked at as unintelligent. If my children don’t have a diploma on their wall, but grow up and have the self drive to fight through physical pain to get a job done, the skills to build and fix things, and the ability to love and include people that are different than them, then I will be a proud mama!