Hello Friends!
t’s hard to slow down sometimes. Between teaching, meeting the kids’ needs, and keeping up with chores around the homestead, most days feel like a blur of motion. By the time evening comes, I’m often more focused on finishing the next task than pausing to be thankful for the moment I’m in.
Yet this time of year always nudges me to try. The air turns crisp, the garden quiets, and the shorter days seem to whisper, “slow down.” Gratitude doesn’t always come naturally when life feels full or heavy—but it’s often in those busy, ordinary moments that God’s grace is most present.
On the homestead, I’ve learned that gratitude isn’t just a feeling; it’s a choice—a rhythm we return to even when life feels messy and unpredictable. It’s found in the small, simple things: collecting eggs before breakfast, folding clean laundry by the fire, or sharing soup around the table after a long day.
Here are a few simple ways we’re learning to practice gratitude on the homestead this season.
There’s something deeply humbling about tending to the land and animals. Some days it feels like endless work—feeding, weeding, cleaning, fixing—but each task is also a reminder that we’ve been entrusted with something meaningful.
When I stop long enough to notice, I see God’s fingerprints in it all—the seedlings that somehow grow, the animals that depend on our care, and the lessons that come from both success and failure. Gratitude begins when we recognize that even hard work is a gift.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” – Colossians 3:23
Homesteading can feel lonely at times, especially when the days are full and the to-do list never ends. But every season reminds me that we were never meant to do life alone.
Whether it’s swapping extra produce with a neighbor, worshiping with our church family, or sitting down to a simple meal together, these connections bring so much joy. Even gathering my kids for morning chores or evening cleanup becomes a moment to slow down and laugh together.
If you’d like more encouragement about living intentionally with your family, I shared more in this post:
👉 Homestead Living as a Family: How We Involve Our Kids with Purpose
Gratitude grows best when it’s shared—around the table, through a kind word, or in a helping hand.
This past year has stretched our faith in ways we didn’t expect. Between the move, the changes that came with it, and the loss our family walked through, there were moments when gratitude didn’t come easily. Some days, it felt like we were simply putting one foot in front of the other—trusting that God was still working even when we couldn’t see how.
But the homestead has a way of reminding me of His faithfulness. The garden doesn’t grow overnight. Seeds sit hidden in the dark before they ever sprout. The same is true for our hearts—God often does His deepest work in quiet seasons, in the waiting, and in the places that feel bare.
I’ve learned that provision isn’t always abundance. Sometimes it’s just enough strength for today, just enough peace to keep moving forward, and just enough light to take the next step.
Gratitude grows when we look back and realize that even in the hardest seasons, He never left us. He was there in the packing and the leaving, in the tears and the rebuilding, and in every small mercy that carried us through.
“The Lord will provide.” – Genesis 22:14
Practicing gratitude doesn’t require a perfect homestead, a stocked pantry, or a smooth season. It begins right where we are—in the mess, the ordinary, and the grace of daily life.
As we move closer to Thanksgiving, my hope is that we’ll carry this spirit of gratitude beyond the holidays—into our homes, our families, and the quiet corners of everyday living. Because when we pause long enough to notice God’s goodness, we find that gratitude truly changes everything.
If this post encouraged you, I’d love for you to share it with a friend who could use a reminder to slow down and be thankful this season. You can also follow the ASW Homestead for more stories, recipes, and Frugal Living Friday reflections—all rooted in simple living, faith, and gratitude.
And before you click away, take a few quiet moments to write down three things you’re thankful for today. You’ll be amazed how quickly that simple act can soften your heart and steady your steps.
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” – Psalm 100:4
I’m here to share recipes and ideas to help others make their home a simple homemade homestead.
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