In the summer of 2013 my younger son, Konnor, went to go live with his dad in Arkansas. At the time I was a struggling single mother to two boys, self employed and doing everything I could to provide for my children. But Konnor, unfortunately had a lot of asthma issues and the dry desert wasn't doing him any favors. He had his dad and step mom and both of their entire families back in Arkansas (where all of my family is). So he went to his dad's for the summer as a trial to see if his asthma would be better there and in fact, it was. And soon after he got a new baby sister and he loved living there, in the country, with 2 parents and pets and grandparents that had horses. One summer turned into 4 years. For many reasons that time was wonderful for Konnor because he wasn't plagued by illnesses like he had been earlier in life.
Now the seasons have changed and his dad is going through a divorce and life is rocky there so I got a call asking if I could take back full custody of Konnor because his dad was going through a tough transition that was causing undue stress on our son. I SAID OF COURSE!!! I made plans within a week to head back to Arkansas to pick him up. The last time we had seen him had just been 3 mths before, because over the years we have made it a point to go to Arkansas 2-4 times a year to see him because his dad would never bring him to Arizona or meet us half way.
So in June Riley and I set out for Arkansas and that is what this blog post is about...me getting back the other part of my heart, that I had been missing ever since the day he left! <3
Beautiful clouds somewhere over southern New Mexico!
Just east of Dallas, Tx there is beautiful rural country and I imagine my future homestead to look a lot like this one! Or at least I hope!
It is a LONG drive!
Finally back on the roads I grew up on, in north central Arkansas not too far from the Missouri line!
Heading to Konnor's grandmother's house to pick him up.
This is Konnor's grama's (on his father's side) hobby farm! It is absolutely splendid and until I walked around there I hadn't realized JUST how much I had missed MY farm since we moved to the city 3 mths prior...
This is Konnor's grama's (on his father's side) hobby farm!
She has a glorious, magnificent wood stove! #lifegoals #homesteadgoals
This is Konnor's grama's (on his father's side) hobby farm!
All of my family is together again!
A few days later we headed down to "the bottoms" where my dad and the rest of the Huskey gang farm land that has been in our family for generations. As far back as 4-5 generations ago this land was homesteaded by my great, great, great, great grandfather!
Farmer's daughter all the way!
There's my dad!!! It took us 45 mins of driving around to find which tractor he was on, haha!
Yay! My dad was so happy to see us that he almost cried! He said "nobody ever visits me in the bottoms, I can't believe you came so far out of your way for me". Well of course, I wasn't going to come all the way to Arkansas and not get to see my dad just because it's planting season!
The next day we went to visit my Mamaw and Papaw (my dad's parents) who have been on THIS piece of land ever since they were newlyweds. This very house my Papaw built and they raised 5 kids in it and are still there to this day. This place was where I always spent time in the summer when my dad was farming and I have some of the fondest childhood memories from right here!
I love and admire this woman almost more than anyone in my life, I say she's 2nd only to my Mom.
My Mamaw's garden!
I didn't realize until this trip just how much my soul was needing a good re-charging! It felt amazing to reconnect with family that is dear to me and land that has soothed my soul for so long!
Turns out, we're twins! haha! <3
More vacation fun!
We ended up staying so long in Arkansas (totally unplanned) that we just stayed for and through the 4th of July!!!
They sure have grown! Riley is not even 13 yet and he's already taller than me!
Over the next few weeks I hope to work on catching you guys up on the biggest highlights of the last 2 years so that you might understand everything that has brought us to where we are now in our journey. And getting back custody of my youngest son was the BIGGEST thing that has happened to me in all of 2017!
xoxo,
Elizabeth
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