Grounded in the Middle.
By Danielle Foulk
Tune in now for a quick pick-me-up as I share stories and lessons I've learned through living in the middle (of nowhere) where we are restoring our home 1837 home and stepping into new homesteading experiences which have revealed and contributed to a more purposeful life.
New episodes available every Monday on Anchor, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Grounded in the Middle.Mar 20, 2023
Unapologetically You: Embracing Authenticity and Showing Up in the World-Stories of Confidence and Self-Acceptance Part 3
This week I'm sharing a few stories of confidence and self-acceptance of people who show up big in this world as well as a handful of studies that show the benefits of having self-acceptance and confidence.
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Join me out here in the middle (of nowhere) on IG @farmhousestoryteller
Want to join me on the podcast? Email me at danielle@farmhousestoryteller.com
Unapologetically You: Embracing Authenticity and Showing Up in the World- Navigating Societal Pressures and Expectations Part 2
This week's topic on the podcast: "Navigating External Expectations and Societal Pressures."
Even as adults we are subjected to societal pressures to conform to what society tells us we should be and if we mold ourselves by what the world is putting out there, we're subjecting ourselves to losing ourselves and becoming less of who the world needs us to be-our own unique self. Show Notes:
Ralph Waldo Emerson-To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Maggie Smith | Award-winning poet, author, essayist, and freelance editor (maggiesmithpoet.com) Gratitude Grams - Rachel DesRochers FARMHOUSE STORYTELLER JOURNAL – Where we meet in the middle.
Let's Collaborate! Email me @ danielle@farmhousestoryteller.com
Let's Hang on Social
@farmhousestoryteller
Unapologetically You: Embracing Authenticity and Showing Up in the World
Unapologetically You: Embracing Authenticity and Showing Up in the World is an 8-week series that will dig into how you can become more authentic and reveal the positive impacts it will have in your life. I mean, who doesn't want a transformative journey that leads to a more meaningful and empowered life?! Show Notes:
How to be yourself and why it matters Stephen Joseph suggests asking yourself the following questions:
Do you feel free to make your own choices?
Do you feel free to express your own views and opinions?
Do you feel you can be yourself ona day-to-day basis?
If you answer “no” to any of the questions, reflect on one further question:
Could it be that you are not being true to who you are?
Authentic: How to be yourself and why it matters by Stephen Joseph | Goodreads
Authentic Living: How to Be Real According to Psychology (positivepsychology.com)
Brown, B. (2010). The Gifts of Imperfection: Letting Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to be and Embrace Who You Are. Centre City: MN, Hazelden
Revision-Digging into a more vulnerable space within
Revising our lives from time to time can have numerous benefits, including:
Clarity: Revising our lives helps us gain clarity about our goals, aspirations, and priorities. We can evaluate whether we are on the right track, and if not, we can make adjustments to align our lives with our values and aspirations.
Growth: By revising our lives, we can identify areas where we need to grow and develop. This can help us become more self-aware, learn new skills, and acquire new knowledge. In turn, this can lead to personal and professional growth.
Renewal: Revising our lives allows us to let go of things that no longer serve us and start fresh. It can help us break free from habits, relationships, and situations that are holding us back, and create space for new opportunities and experiences.
Health and well-being: Revising our lives can improve our physical and mental health. By eliminating stressors, cultivating healthy habits, and creating a more balanced and fulfilling life, we can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and improve our overall well-being.
Increased productivity: When we revise our lives, we can eliminate distractions and focus on what is most important to us. This can help us become more productive, efficient, and effective in achieving our goals and objectives.
In short, revising our lives from time to time can help us gain clarity, grow and develop, renew our energy, improve our health and well-being, and increase our productivity.
Follow me on IG @FarmhouseStoryteller
Email me- Danielle@FarmhouseStoryteller.com
See more at www.FarmhouseStoryteller.com
Growth Mindset Part 6- Your Support System
A support system is a network of people or facilities that provide practical or emotional support to an individual and can help a person cope with challenges or achieve goals. Who is in your support system? How often do you lean on them when you need to decompress or make a big decision? So often we run in a self-sufficient mode that doesn't allow us to move towards a growth mindset and today I'm sharing why it's important to take time to connect with those in our circle and the benefits that can come with opening up.
Connect with me on IG @farmhousestoryteller
Drop me a line at danielle@farmhousestoryteller.com
Growth Mindset Part 5- The Importance of Positive Self-Talk
Do you ever feel like you're your worst critic? In this episode I'll be sharing why it's important to ditch the negative self-talk and ways you can incorporate more positive self-talk that will benefit you mentally, emotionally, and propell you forward towards your goals, dreams, and a growth mindset.
Connect with me on IG @farmhousestoryteller
Drop me a line through email: danielle@farmhousestoryteller.com
See more of what life is like in the middle at www.farmhousestoryteller.com
Growth Mindset Part 4-Cultivating a love of learning
Cultivating a love of learning isn't always as easy for adults but is one of the key factors of being able to develop a growth mindset. On this episode you'll learn how to find small ways to interrupt your day with moments of growth.
Follow me on IG- @FarmhouseStoryteller
Email me @ danielle@farmhousestoryteller.com
Growth Mindset: Fear of Failing
Be sure to check out Bog Goff's podcast below.
open.spotify.com/episode/2cr7JzkenkyrxPQBcVr88H?si=pjlGwoZaT2y3KT76OJ9viw
open.spotify.com/show/2DBAxWYgJwKmOV4rbcuLBy?si=3sdGjV0FRjKxQpUgfW9G3g
WEBSITE:
www.FarmhouseStoryteller.com
SOCIAL:
@Farmhousestoryteller
EMAIL:
danielle@farmhousestoryteller.co
Growth Mindset Part 2-Fixed Mindset
This week on the podcast it's all about fixed mindset and how it can keep you from reaching your full potential. Tune in to learn more!
www.petratools.com
WEBSITE:
www.FarmhouseStoryteller.com
SOCIAL:
@Farmhousestoryteller
EMAIL:
danielle@farmhousestoryteller.com
Growth Mindset Part 1: When It Rains It Pours
Growth Mindset. So often we find ourselves making an effort to get in that workout but have you ever considered a possible workout for your mind that could lead to an even better life? In today's episode on growth mindset I'm sharing a quick update from out here in the middle and then I'm going to introduce you to growth mindset and give you a few things to consider for the week before we dive into how we build or retrain our thinking so it will move us forward in a more positive way in the days to come.
Farmer's Defense- Check out these incredible products that will protect you this growing season!
https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=2095068&u=3570376&m=127562&urllink=&afftrack=
Connect with me on Social Media- @farmhousestoryteller.com
Join the Farmhouse Storyteller Journal by visiting www.farmhousestoryteller.com
What's Your Story with Amy Sullivan
Today we're chatting with Amy Sullivan, singer-songwriter based in Ontario, Canada.
Shared from Amy, "I’m a pop singer-songwriter based in Ontario, Canada. Storytelling, speaking, and advocating for the special needs community, I draw on my own personal journey as a mother of two children with special needs to bring hope and encouragement to others through music.⠀After leaving life as an artist behind for many years to start my family, the journey of processing my son’s diagnosis eventually drew me back to writing. In 2021 I released a 5-song EP based on my experiences of learning to trust God through this new struggle in my life.⠀I have known loneliness, isolation, and grief after seeing my life unfold differently than I had planned. It’s become my mission to offer hope to the mom who feels the same. I think of YOU when I write songs. The hidden moments of worry. The lack of sleep. Another day without a shower and another messy bun. The incredible love and sacrifices you make every day. Every mom has the right to be seen and heard, no matter where she finds life takes her.⠀So, to the mom who may feel her dreams have to be set aside: take courage! God isn’t finished with you yet! It’s never too late for a second chance at a dream. Your own story may be just what someone else needs to hear.⠀I pray that my little corner of the internet will remind you of who you are and that on the tough days, you’ll find a song here to encourage you to keep going."
Connect with Amy online at: AMY SULLIVAN
Instagram- @amysullivanmusic
Facebook- amy sullivan canada - Search Results | Facebook
Learning From Others.
We not only can learn from our own personal story, but we can also learn by listening to someone else's story. Get ready to be inspired by Oliver Asher, author of Invincible Joy! Listen in today to learn more about how over time he was transformed by the Lord. "I spent my childhood in poverty, my house burned down (twice), I've spent days wondering where my next meal would come from. I once dreamed that I was going to lose my job, then found out the next day that dream was coming true. In the midst of it all, God was there with me. Through those experiences I learned the secret to joy that doesn’t fade and doesn’t depend on circumstances. That’s Invincible Joy." -Oliver Asher
Ways to connect with Oliver + purchase Invisible Joy:
https://www.oliverasher.com
www.advancingnativemissions.com
@OliverAsherOfficial
What's Your Story Part 4
Have you recently thought about what your life would be like if you leaned into things that stir you? In this episode, I recap where we started, and how to move forward into leaning into things in your life that will not only serve you better in the future, but in the end help you to feel a purpose you maybe haven't experienced before.
Find me on IG @farmhousestoryteller
Email me @ danielle@farmhousestoryteller.com
What's Your Story? Part 3
This is part 3 in the 4 part series, What's Your Story? This week I'm sharing how a find at the antique store got me to thinking about how when thinking about our own personal story is similar to a scrap book. It's made up of several pieces that account for us as the whole we are today. I'm asking for you to consider over the week what matters to you, evaluate your commitments and what might have to be eliminated to make room for something you are feeling called towards, decided on what you, yourself, believe in-not what the world has shaped you into believing and lastly consider taking time to pray/meditate on all of these things. This allows an opportunity to reflect, rethink, and consider who we are and who we want to be in the days to come.
Find me on IG @FARMHOUSESTORYTELLER
Email me at danielle@farmhousestoryteller.com
What's Your Story? Part 2
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
Email Danielle Foulk at danielle@farmhousestoryteller.com
---
Support this podcast: anchor.fm/danielle-foulk/support
What's Your Story? Part 1
This past week was the first episode of season 3. It was the first in the "What's Your Story?" series where the focus is on YOU and your personal story. I'll share a bit of what I have learned about why it's important we take time to reflect on how we've been shaped over the years and how to move forward with or without some of the anchors that have been holding us in place.
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
Email Danielle Foulk at danielle@farmhousestoryteller.com
Johnny + Christina Cison-What it's like to go against the grain.
Connect with me on social media @farmhousestoryteller
Have a question or want to be on the show? Email me at thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
Being a Light in the World
Friends, isn’t it nice in these shorter days to see all the beautiful Christmas lights lit up? They add a sense of beauty rather compared to when they are taken down at the beginning of the year. Have you ever thought about how you can be like those shining Christmas lights to others in a world that seems dark to many? Today I’m sharing how people in our community have been the light to us this season and how they have given us the gift of Christmas spirit to carry with us into the year ahead.
Let's Connect
@thefederalfarmhouse
thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
Invincible Joy with Author Oliver Asher
Get ready to be inspired by Oliver Asher, author of Invincible Joy! Listen in today to learn more about how over time he was transformed by the Lord. "I spent my childhood in poverty, my house burned down (twice), I've spent days wondering where my next meal would come from. I once dreamed that I was going to lose my job, then found out the next day that dream was coming true. In the midst of it all, God was there with me. Through those experiences I learned the secret to joy that doesn’t fade and doesn’t depend on circumstances. That’s Invincible Joy." -Oliver Asher
Ways to connect with Oliver + purchase Invisible Joy:
https://www.oliverasher.com
www.advancingnativemissions.com
Restoration: Becoming who you need to be today so you can be who you need to be for tomorrow.
Hello there! Thank you for joining me today out here in the middle!
This morning I asked my children in carline what I should share about on the podcast and my son belted out from the back seat, “why don’t you write about all the unfinished projects around the house, like the bathroom upstairs. “He then went on to list the other things that need to be addressed around our 184-year-old house. I’ll be honest with you. I was a little peeved that he brought up the to-do-list that early in the morning and the way he said it felt like it was jab at the season of life we are in- trying to raise three young children as well as restore an old house that at times declares major attention sometimes. I took my son’s suggestion as a challenge and began to reflect on who we were when we first stepped into this old house and how this house has been restoring us into who we needed to be for today.
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.FarmhouseStoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Have you ever accounted for the guideposts in your life?
I know the holidays are branded as the happiest time of the year, but for many people, it’s one of the most difficult. For some, holidays serve as permeant place cards within their year found on every wall calendar to phone calendar making it nearly impossible to completely avoid. Not to mention how stores these days seem to have the next holiday retail items up for sale before the current holiday has even arrived. These written and visual benchmarks of where we are within the year can be bittersweet, but what if we started taking note of the guideposts that have occurred and how they have propelled us through the year?
Today, I’ll be discussing how it has taken the last five years to see how the guideposts which have helped us find our "fortune" today.
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.FarmhouseStoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Author Rose Ann Forte: The Plans He Has For me
Rose Ann was a successful C-Suite executive and ministry leader in the church. She was a working mom
of four and a social drinker. Over the years, life’s stresses and a difficult marriage created an
environment where her alcohol usage increased significantly. After the collapse of her marriage, her
drinking further escalated and she felt like a fraud with God and the Church. AA was not an option in her
mind. She had already submitted to God and didn’t want to call herself an alcoholic. When COVID-19
hit, she enrolled in a coaching program to put alcohol to the side for three months. Her experience was
extremely transformational, and she recognized God’s instruction embedded in the entire process. She
became free of the psychological slavery of this habit through this process. She identified what alcohol
had stolen from her life and understood that God had a better plan for her. Rose Ann felt called to
document what she learned with a daily devotional so others can experience God’s promises through
scriptural instruction with hope and a better plan for the future.
Rose Ann is an Alcohol-Free Coach, a Positive Intelligence Coach and Best-Selling author of a book called
The Plans He Has For Me, A 12-week Daily Devotional for Freedom From Alcohol.
Visit www.theplanshehasforme.com and you can download for Free Rose Ann's Kickstart Method for Alcohol Freedom.
You can purchase the book on the website or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Plans-He-Has-Me-Devotional/dp/B0BBJRJDWG/
Say hello and follow Rose Ann Forte on Instagram and Tiktok @roseannforteplans
The Power of Positivity + How You Can Improve Your Thinking
Would you consider yourself a pretty positive person? Or do you feel like there is room for some improvement? In today's episode, I'm going to be sharing the benefits of being positive and things you can incorporate into your day that may just lead you to more positive thinking each day!
{Let's Connect} Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com {Let's collaborate} Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com "While the middle is not always the most comfortable place to linger in, it can sometimes create the most memorable pivot in life. The pivot that had to happen for everything else to fall in place." Danielle Foulk
When your world seems heavy, count your blessings.
Do you feel like you're carrying a weight around? Are you waiting for the "shoe to drop?" I'll be honest, we've been carrying a weight with us this entire year and the shoe finally dropped. While we are still feeling a bit anxious about the restoration of this old house, I've found a way to not sink into the hole of despair and want to share with you what has kept me going through the year in hopes it may be helpful to you.
Show notes
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Hauntings at the Homestead
{Let's Connect} Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com {Let's collaborate} Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: anchor.fm/danielle-foulk/support --- Support this podcast: anchor.fm/danielle-foulk/support --- Support this podcast: anchor.fm/danielle-foulk/support
Giving Thanks + Making it More of a Habit
What is your reputation and does it match the legacy you hope to leave behind?
What October was like at the Homestead in the early 1800’s when it was a tavern stop for hog drivers
Making the most of the season ahead
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
Part 3: “ Did you know your home was a part of the Underground Railroad?“
Listen in to the last part of this 3-part series, "Did you know your home was a part of the Underground Railroad." In celebration of International Underground Railroad month, I thought it would be an appropriate time to share about our 185-year-old-house and the rumor of our home helping slaves to reaching freedom.
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
Part 2: "Did you know your home was a stop on the Underground Railroad?"
There is more to be shared on the lives of those who came before us and how this small farming community played a role in the Underground Railroad. Today you'll learn about Rev. Thomas Craven, a staunch abolitionist, and how his connection to the Wehr family that will make you question what roll they played in the Underground Railroad!
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Part 1:"Did you know your home was part of the Underground Railroad?" Join me and learn about the history of our 185-year-old home.
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
The Fortitude We Gain By Letting Go
Letting go can at times can feel easy while at other times shakes us to our core. In the season of our lives where we are overcome with emotions and are resistant to turning the last page in a chapter that we know is complete, know that when letting go the chapters that came before this new one has prepared you. Give yourself permission to grow, even if there are some bumps and bruises along the way. For it’s in these moments in the marathon of our lives where we gain the fortitude necessary in the journey that lies ahead.
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
How the Sprints in Life Prepare us for the Marathon We’re Running
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
How do you define your "Status?"
Have you ever thought about your status in life? Maybe you are working towards a particular status, but do you perhaps have blinders on that might keep you from seeing what you may be leaving behind? Tune in to hear some thoughts around what I've learned about "status" over the past 20 years and how sometimes we have good intentions that when we eventually get to where we once used to be, it isn't a good fit anymore.
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Consistency at Home + in Your Life
Summer break is over for some and nearing the end for others which means a transistion back to school. Consistency can not only be a really helpful thing to lean into when you have children in school, but also in general. Listen in for 4 take aways focused around adding consistency back into your routine that will help you reflect, rethink, and become rooted in a better life.
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
Life is short. Take the trip. Buy the shoes. Eat the Cake!
From today's podcast:
Be sure to follow Amanda on Instagram @farmhousenewengland and visit her website www.farmhousenewengland.com
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Building Endurance and Becoming Who You Are Meant to Be.
I would comment on how maybe we should be using weed killer, which we still don’t, or that maybe we need to change our approach to taming the weeds so that we weren’t having to be out there twice a week tidying it up.
You see. There are no short cuts in life that will ever make the fruit taste as good as it does when you've put in the work.
Today, I'm going to share how sometimes we focus on areas of our lives that are easier for us while we neglect areas that would make us work a bit harder. But like the garden, if we don't tend to the entire plant and water the entire root system, we can't grow into the people we were made to be.
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Treasures Found From Around the Homestead
I hope this finds you well! Last week I mentioned in my podcast that I had been doing a little metal detecting and I ran out of time to share with you what I have found here around the homestead both below and above the ground. Have you ever wondered what people did with their garbage before trash collecting became a thing? Listen in to learn what I have found out on the property, in our attic, in the cemetery, and in the barn and just outside our dining room door!
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Not By Chance.
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Have you heard of the Farm Effect?
Hey there friends! Are you feeling a little weighted down? Tune in to learn about the Farm Effect and how it just may be something you need to try to eliminate the stress you're carrying!
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
“You’re old self is dying right now.” 🤣
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Identifying our Identities
Connect and learn more about Dawn through the links below.
· Email: Dawn@TheGoodStuffFamily.com
· Website: TheGoodStuffFamily.com
· Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/News—Media-Website/The-Good-Stuff-by-Dawn-Kendrick-1552207838239653/ https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/News—-Media-Website/The-Good-Stuff-by-Dawn-Kendrick-1552207838239653/
· Twitter: @dawnkendricktv3
· Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCLiYS-jQLLizKGDJpg0R1pw?view_as=subscriber
Read more -Conversations with Dawn Kendrick - Voyage Ohio Magazine
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Falling short
Remembering a Hometown Hero and the Meaning of Memorial Day
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Feels Like Summer!
How do you make the most out of the longer summer days? Do you feel a change in rhythm when school is out or when we reach June 21st on the calendar? Are there other signals that notify you or give you permission to live differently in that season? No matter your official work hours, we are all given the opportunity to switch things up during these longer days to dive into things we often feel we must put on hold.
While summer doesn’t officially begin until June, the end of the school year is when summer officially begins for us. With the anticipation of a shift in our routine, longer days, and later nights I found myself last week preparing me for the shift in our routine. While in years past I did not have any hard commitments that others were counting on me for, this summer is one in which I do. And not only for others, but also for myself making this a summer where a balance of fun and work will need to coexist together.
Be sure to tell me know what your word is for this summer?
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Building Your Mental Strength
Have you ever trained for a 5k or another physically demanding task? It takes a lot of intention and planning from paying for a gym membership, making it to the gym, planning your menus of meals for the week, and grocery shopping. Now let me ask you this. When is the last time you spent some time strengthening your mind? In today's podcast I'm going to be sharing an event I went to that got me thinking about our mindset and how it just might be time to spend some time on building mental strength.
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.farmhousestoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
What's weighing you down?
Have you ever had something from your past come into view out of the blue? This past week, a memory was triggered while watching a show and it got me thinking about how I had completely forgotten about it yet I was still weighed down by it like a rock in my pocket. Today I’m sharing something I have kept close to myself over the past 12 years in hopes to rid myself of something I’ve been lugging around all this time and to encourage you to do the same.
*Book mentioned in today's episode- A More Beautiful Life by Whitney English.
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Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Being open to advice
Have you ever had someone share some advice to you that you hadn’t solicited? It’s not always easy having others point things out to us as adults but if we take the time to listen rather than respond immediately on the we can really learn something about ourselves and maybe even slightly change. On today’s podcast I’m gonna share with you how a couple simple Thomas Rhett song shifted my perspective.
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Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
GRACE
Can you think of a time when you have shown someone grace? How about a time when someone else has shown you grace? It isn’t always easy to give grace, however, I think we find it a bit easier to receive it and I think that is because we are unaware of other’s intentions but fully aware of our own.
Choose to Live Now
While things may seem smooth sailing out here in the middle (of nowhere) I want to be transparent with you always in sharing that we more or less function by finding a balance between limping and thriving at the same time.
There is hardly anything at all perfect-It's messy, but wouldn't you know that we wouldn't be where we are today had we not had a really big interruption 10 years ago when I was unexpectantly placed on full time bedrest at the hospital because I was having contractions at just 24 weeks. Today I share a little bit of the back story of how my 20-year-old self, at the time, was able to learn, see and absorb so many life lessons from those who came and went each day to my hospital room.
I hope in today's podcast you will find a way to learn from your life experiences but not stay grounded where you are but rather allow the experiences, both big and small, to catapult you into living a full live today. 💙 🎙
Danielle
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Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
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Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
What Makes You Country- Doing Your Own Thing!
Well let me be one of the first to those who celebrate, Happy Easter! I feel like I say this a lot, but I honestly feel like time is flying by quickly this year. Where is it going? How do you celebrate the holiday? We are going to be going to church and enjoying a breakfast afterwards as a congregation and then we will be spending time with our family at a restaurant we’ve been going to since we were little. It’s in an old schoolhouse and they use the main classroom space as the dining room, and it’s filled with large round tables and red and white checked tablecloths and in the middle is a large lazy Susan to put food since the sides are all served family style. It is some good home cooking too! Fried chicken, fritters, mashed potatoes you name it, and they have it.
We typically only make it to the schoolhouse once a year, and that really needs to change, but one thing I love about it is there are still familiar faces from when I was young. They make you feel so welcomed and they’re happy to be there all while being away from their own family on Easter.
Don’t you love feeling welcomed? Often, we find ourselves being forced to enter into something new such as a classroom where the class we signed up for is held, a new place of employment, or possibly a new group of teammates. Stepping into new situations where you aren’t sure how you’ll fit in or who you will talk to can be really intimidating.
When we moved out here to the middle, I was very aware that we were entering into a well-established community. I wasn’t sure how we would be received or if anyone would even really acknowledge us. It’s somewhat of a perception I carried out here and probably spend too much of my time thinking about but unfortunately, I think that perception will be staying with me for a little bit longer all because of what someone said to me a couple of weeks ago.
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Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Accepting you aren't who you used to be.
Have you ever found yourself in a position where you feel a bit idle? You aren’t sure if you are soaking up the here and now but you’re also not thinking ahead of what’s to come? In today’s podcast, I’m going to sharing some thoughts about the quieter seasons that sometimes feel less productive but serve us in a more subtle way in our own season of growth.
Podcast Refrence:
Katie's Podcast: Faith In Her podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-for-her-with-katie-nguyen/id1611096092
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Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Hockey, houses projects and it’s all unscripted this week!
What's New Around the Homestead
Have you ever had one of those weeks when you had your schedule planned out just to have it derailed within the first part of your Monday? Two Sundays ago, I had finally taken the time to plan out everything that needed accomplished all to have it pushed to the back burner when I woke up sick on Monday. I have to admit I wasn’t completely surprised because I swear every time, I try to get myself together, something disrupts what I have planned leaving me to feel behind and a bit overwhelmed.
One thing I did a little differently this time while being sick is I actually took the break. I got a lot of good sleep in-to the point I feel like I have nearly caught up from 10 years ago when we first had our twins and I can’t help but think, maybe getting sick had to happen in order for me rest for the busy days of spring that lie ahead.
Have any of you thought about how you’re going to be spending the next few months of Spring? In today’s podcast, I’m going to be sharing what we have been busy doing around the Homestead in effort to prepare of the busy season ahead.
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Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Don't Wish You Would Have!
How many of you are noticing signs of spring? Ove the past five years of living out here in the middle, I’ve tuned in a bit more each year to the change of seasons and over the past week and a half, I have noticed the earliest signs of spring. We’ve woke to geese on the pond, many squirrels bounding through the yard and up our walnut and maple trees, we’ve heard the woodpeckers and seen our front yard dotted with robins, but my most favorite sign of all are the bright green tips of our flowers peeking through the mulch in the flower beds.
But this year, Spring is a bit more special to me and I still feel a deep gratitude towards those who let us return to suburbia to collect something I had left behind. Tune in to learn what that something is!
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Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Family Ties
How many times have you taken a family photo? I’m guessing many of you have. Now how many of you have taken a family photo and when you look at it, you think of how many times it took to get everyone looking and smiling at the same time? Or maybe there were other circumstances and hurdles that stood in your way and by golly you were determined that family photo was going to happen because of the hours spent coordinating outfits, styling hair, polishing nails, all the while trying not to break a sweat and ruin your makeup.
While many of us can relate to the hustle that happens before a family photo, can you imagine what it was like in the 1800’s? Granted they may have not had to worry about matching clothes or makeup, but trying to get everyone to sit still long enough for the shutter to open and close?
While in today’s culture family has become a more diverse image, there are still times when I think many of us have found ourselves trying to strike a balance between reality and family perfection whether it is for a family photo or in something we had scripted out in our mind.
In today’s podcast I’m going to be sharing with you how over the years my perception of family has evolved through the loss of extended family and how unexpectedly we have received the gift of friends who have turned into family.
Unscripted
Hi there! Thank you for joining me today in the middle. Today's podcast is a bit unique as I'm unscripted and sharing openly with you the latest hurdle of this old house and how I'm trying to reach a point of understanding through it all.
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Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Changing the Narrative
Have you ever gone to a chain restaurant before and it wasn’t very good? Maybe you tried it a second time and went to a different location, but it wasn’t any better? I’m guessing, unless you’re really forgiving and optimistic, you likely never returned to the chain restaurant again.
So often we take our experiences we have in life and let it dictate their place in our lives in the future. Bad restaurant= you’ll never eat there again. Relationship with someone goes sour= we distance ourselves with the intent of severing the relationship. Or maybe there is a sports team you used to love just hasn’t been able to get it together for decades and you’ve labeled them as a lost cause.
In today’s podcast, I’m going to share with you some experiences and thoughts around bringing awareness to the things we may have labeled earlier on in our life or maybe even yesterday, and how while some of the things we have labeled may be true, there is a good chance there has been a change and you could just be missing out on something good.
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It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Delighting in the Unexpected
Have any of you made any goals for cleaning out the basement or maybe that pesky linen closet where more than linens are crammed and is likely where that missing birthday present you hid was swallowed up. Or maybe it’s time to purge and organize the dreaded Tupperware cupboard that has turned into a daily game of Jenga? While I have tried to become more cognizant about what I hold on to and what I buy, I’m still no Marie Condo and likely never will because I have a thing for collecting what I call “roadside finds.” However, I have found over the past 15 years that I have a limit when it comes to clutter and knowing I need to purge some things from the basement is weighs on me and is overwhelming. Matter of fact, I haven’t been able to clear any head space to write this podcast because our house has been a mess because of taking down Christmas decorations which always seems to move a glacial speed. But maybe a full closet or a cupboard full of shuffled Tupperware containers don’t bother you. I have to say I’m a bit envy and wish I leaned more into your camp. But one thing I can’t get my mind wrapped around and is a bit more extreme than that overflowing linen closet, is why so many people are paying monthly to house their belongings in storage units. This past week I was on the phone with my mom and told her that I was going to talk about storage units on the podcast. Storage units? She asked. I said yeah, they are popping up everywhere and I want to know what people are holding on to that is so important they need a storage unit. I know, I know, this sounds a bit “out there” and you’re probably thinking we must have storage units to have shows like Storage Wars, which I must admit are entertaining to me as I like when they find the good stuff buried in a box that hasn’t been opened for decades. But when a huge storage facility is built on land where I used to watch cows graze when I was younger, and where the furniture store where Aaron and I bought our furniture for our first house is turned into a storage unit, and a small car dealership by our last house that was previously a house and now a storage facility too, I can’t help but wonder why storage units are shall we say, “trending.”
In today’s episode, I’m going to share how I have taken these unexpected storage units and have found a way to find delight that serve as a reminder for me today.
Article referenced in today's podcast: Benefits of Positive Thinking for Body and Mind (verywellmind.com)
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Email: Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Betty White
Hi there! And welcome back to another episode of grounded in the middle. Today I have a confession to make. When I was about 13 years old, I became a Golden Girls fan and I believe it’s when I figured out I was in fact a bit of an old soul. I still remember waking up in a hotel room while vacationing with my family on my birthday and turning on the Golden Girls in the morning. My dad gave me the hardest time about watching the show and I really couldn’t ever explain why I liked it. I just did. And apparently many others did as it was on air for 7 seasons and was nominated for 68 Emmy awards and won 11 Emmy’s including outstanding comedy series twice. 23 years later I admit that I have watched every single episode multiple times as I have the DVD’s and they are my go-to shows when I don’t feel well, need a lift, or just want something fun to listen to. While I am a long-time fan of the Golden Girls, I have to admit when Betty White passed away in December, I didn’t know all that she had accomplished until I began reading about her and the legacy she left behind.
So,in honor of the late Betty White, known for her character Rose on the Golden Girls, I’m sharing 25 fun facts you may not have known about the actress and animal lover and to be honest I think you may just be surprised by a few of them.
Have patience and water your own seeds.
Does any part of that quote resonate with you? Have you ever wondered when you will have put in enough time at work to get that promotion? Or have you ever been involved in an organization where you hope you are helping enough and making an impact on the community? Maybe you have a side job that you hope grows into your full-time job and are anxious to grow it but it seems like it’s taking forever.
I must admit I have started many things over the past 36 years of my life and have often quit because I didn’t think it was going anywhere or maybe it wasn’t having the impact, I hoped it would. In other words, I was too busy spending my time digging up my seeds and staying the course and watering them. Which ultimately led to me quitting whatever I had been passionate about at that time and then feeling like a failure because I didn’t stick with it.
This podcast was one of those things I decided to commit to last summer, but in the back of mind knew that it was likely it would just be another failed attempt at something I thought at one time was a good idea. When beginning I wasn’t sure if I would have something new to share every week and while I’m used to it a little more now, I still find it a little silly that I sit alone talking into a microphone with no one to banter back and forth with. But here I am, a new year, and a new season of Grounded in the Middle and it’s all because of a shift in my thinking.
Today I’ll be sharing how it was revealed to me over the holiday break that while we can’t always see the impact of the things we do, however, if you tune in a bit more, there are small observations or clues around you that exists and can help you see how you are important in this world in even the smallest of ways.
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{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Christmas traditions and where they came from + popular toys in the 1900's!
It’s hard to believe we are at the top of Christmas week, and I am sure most of us have a list of some kind that is made of all the things that need to be accomplished before this Friday.
I hope that today’s podcast will be a way in which you are able to keep the Christmas spirit by learning about why we engage in certain Christmas traditions each year as well as learn about some of the most popular gifts for boys and girls in the 1900’s.
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Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
"It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life." -Danielle Foulk
Christmas Tradidions- How they came to be.
Can you believe we are already to the middle of December and only about two weeks out from Christmas day? I don’t always say it every year, but this month has gone by considerably faster than years past. Maybe it’s because with every year that passes our lives are different than the previous or that our Calendars are a little more or less full. I’m not sure, but I’m to the point where there are a few more special holiday traditions I’d like to squeeze in before Christmas day.
Do you have any traditions for this holiday season that you consider a must or it just doesn’t feel like Christmas to you? And have you ever thought about where the tradition of filling stockings or where candy canes came from or why we put lights on our trees? Today, I’ll be sharing how some of the early traditions of Christmas came to be.
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @thefederalfarmhouse
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{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Restoration: Becoming who you need to be today so you can be who you need to be for tomorrow.
This morning I asked my children in carline what I should share about on the podcast and my son belted out from the back seat, “why don’t you write about all the unfinished projects around the house, like the bathroom upstairs. “He then went on to list the other things that need to be addressed around our 184-year-old house. I’ll be honest with you. I was a little peeved that he brought up the to-do-list that early in the morning and the way he said it felt like it was jab at the season of life we are in- trying to raise three young children as well as restore an old house that at times declares major attention sometimes. I took my son’s suggestion as a challenge and began to reflect on who we were when we first stepped into this old house and how this house has been restoring us into who we needed to be for today.
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
Visit my website www.FarmhouseStoryteller.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
The Guideposts in Our Lives
Today, I’ll be discussing how it has taken the last five years to see how the guideposts which have helped us find our fortune today.
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Find me on Instagram @farmhousestoryteller
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{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Thanksgiving: What have you sowed in this past year?
While I may be guilty of putting my Christmas décor up before Thanksgiving, which I’ve never done before, I have found that it hasn’t interrupted my train of thoughts when it comes to all thing’s turkey. For a matter of fact, I have found that with the excitement to pull out the red and green I have a felt more of a shift in my focus on our family. From reminiscing of those warm summer days together, to taking inventory of what our children have grown out of so quickly and what they will need for the colder days ahead and discussing around the dinner table what they would like to have for Thanksgiving dinner this year. Do anyone else’s kids request ocean spray cranberry sauce from the can? I hope today or later this week, you will have a chance to reminisce of Thanksgiving’s in the past as well as find some time to reflect on this year to see what you are reaping from what you have sowed.
Planning for your future self + leaving the falsities behind
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Find me on Instagram @thefederalfarmhouse
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{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Finding Thanksgiving Within this Year
With November here and Thanksgiving only week’s away I have began to reflect and take inventory on all the fun we’ve had this summer but also how much we have to be thankful for this year being able to kind of get back to some normalcy. One thing that stands out to me from this summer is our family vacation to the outer banks now this trip was extra special because we were able to make a stop at a historic home. Which is owned by my friends Johnny and Christina from the account @ourcornerofcurrituck. I had only spoke to Christina through Instagram and messenger and I was excited to meet her and johnny in person and at their home to see another family living in an old house while also preserving it. Today I’ll be sharing their story how Johnny and Christian found their old house and what it has meant to them.
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @thefederalfarmhouse
Visit my website www.thefederalfarmhouse.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Gathering Year Around
Hey there everyone! With the holidays quickly approaching, gathering with friends and family is an innate thing to do but what if we were more intentional about gathering throughout the year and not just at the holiday? And what if you even gathered with people whom you’ve never met before? Today I’ll be sharing some stories of how I have observed others gathering unexpectedly as well as times I have found myself stepping out of my comfort zone and gathering around the table with people whom I had never met in person before.
{Let's Connect}
Find me on Instagram @thefederalfarmhouse
Visit my website www.thefederalfarmhouse.com
{Let's collaborate}
Email Danielle Foulk at Thefederalfarmhouse@gmail.com
It's my hope to inspire others to discover their pursuit to happiness and live a more authentic and enriched life.
Where We Meet in the Middle
Ripple Effects
Engaging in meaningful conversations
Living Intentionally
Hi there everybody and welcome back to another episode of Grounded in the Middle. For those of you who have been tuning in since the beginning thank you for your listenership and for the encouraging messages and review. For those who may be new to Grounded in the middle, welcome! I am thrilled to have you listen in to todays podcast that focuses on being intentional as we move into a new season and move forward into the last part of the calendar year. I hope that today you will be able to find ways where you can be more intentional whether it is at work, home, with family or friends, and even with yourself.
Digging up Roots from the Past
Well hello there! Thank you for stopping by and listening in!
Do you ever find yourself getting lost in the simplicity of the past? You know the “good old days” before responsibility came into view or how about all those TV shows you watched repeatedly and could probably still recite lines from today? While it’s often difficult to find simplicity in our present lives as adults, the nostalgia of yesteryear can be somewhat of a gift that will always be there to take us back in time to moments cherished the most if we’re willing to take the time to be still, take the pause, and reflect.
Today I’ll be sharing with you how some unexpected pieces of the past from our home’s previous owners have literally popped up on our property and led me down a daisy trail of thought and realizations that some of my past took deeply rooted itself within me and it’s time to let it go and move on with who I am today.
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Episode 7: Living in the Moment
Hey there everyone!
How often do you find yourself thinking about what’s ahead of you just as much as what’s right in front of you? Sure most of us hold a calendar of some kind, but have you ever found yourself so over scheduled that life has just become a series of boxes that you’re just check marking? And what happens when the busy in life doesn’t stop. When you have gotten so used to being over scheduled and your priorities have gotten to be a bit out of sorts?
Today I’ll be sharing how a simple walk out our side door keeps me grounded when life gets a little too hectic.
What Are Your Dreams
Hey there!
Do you ever find yourself day dreaming? Is it a reoccurring daydream or is it something new every time? Today, I’m going to share with you some of the dreams I’ve dreamt up since moving out here to the middle and some of the surprises I have received that I could have never seen coming.
Episode 5:Living Outside of the Equation
Hey there friend! Thank you for joining me again out here in the middle!
Over the past month, I have ran into an acquaintances, an old friend from high school, and a gal I met at the soccer field at our kid’s game and they all had one thing in common, they were willing to do something different when it came to their careers but they all had their own approach. Today I’ll be sharing what I’ve learned from them and how being open to doing things differently can lead to not only success, but a life filled with happiness.
When the journey isn't smooth
With these hot summer days lingering in the Ohio Valley, I’ve found my thoughts drifting into the memories of winter which led to me reminiscing of the snowiest winters we had when we first moved into our farmhouse in January of 2018 which was full of many unexpected events. Today I'm going to be chatting about what it was like our first month in our fixer upper farmhouse and how the journey wasn't smooth but how even in the most difficult times, we did find moments worth making note of which have in turn helped us to appreciate where we are today.
Living More Grounded Through Moments in the Middle
Hello from out here in the middle (of nowhere)! Have you ever stepped back and reflected on your past and noticed how a series of events lead you to where you are today? Or maybe you made a decision that changed your trajectory? Today I’m going to sharing a few stories of experiences I’ve had out here in the middle and how I’ve not only discovered a bit more about myself, but also some stories of how I’ve become a little more grounded.
If you enjoy this podcast, I'd greatly appreciate it if you would rate, review, subscribe, and share with those you know! Many thanks for sharing these stories from out here in the middle!
How We Ended Up in the Middle
Have you ever had a gut feeling you couldn't ignore? In 2017, I no longer could ignore this feeling that it was time for us to move. But where? After a summer of aimlessly driving around, my gut feeling led us to our new adventure which left our newbuild home in suburbia behind and set us out to explore life in an old farmhouse in the country. In this episode, I'll share the events that led us out here to the middle (of nowhere) where we have gained a renewed sense of self and a life well lived.
So Long, Normal
Hi there! Thank you for joining me today. This podcast is a brief story of how I said good-bye to "normal" three years ago and how author Laura Story's new book, So Long, Normal, has been helpful in navigating the past and helpful in how I can move forward in the days grounded out here in the middle.
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://thefederalfarmhouse.com/2021/08/25/so-long-normal/