Day 333

I already do plenty of running. Just not the type of running I'd prefer. No sneakers needed for this type of running. Having three kids, plenty of volunteer gigs, a few jobs, and a farm make my schedule a bit crazy at times. When I am not running my kids to an activity, I am usually running down to the barn to take care of chickens, running to  a store to get supplies for a project, or if I’m lucky running to a natural area or library.
A great deal of our ruining is directly related to the farm. 

We are officially a 4-H family. Though there is only one official meeting a month, we also attend project meetings, participate in occasional volunteer opportunities, and attend offered educational gatherings. Being in 4-H has forged new relationships with other families with similar interests. It has also deepened our understanding of our chickens and given us chances to connect with those much more informed and experienced in poultry. While 4-H is a year-round commitment, preparing and participating in the county fair involves a great deal of running.  

We are also running to the barn multiple times a day. Feed the chickens. Collect the eggs. Bring fresh water. Clean the coops. Repeat. Depending on the time of year, we are also grabbing supplies for the garden, maintaining the trail, working on various projects, and taking obligatory jumps on our trampoline.

Of course not all running is directly related to the farm. And it’s also not stress-inducing. The kids run to their tae kwon do classes a few times a week. There are occasional runs to Kwik Trip, Pizza Crafters, or Piggly Wiggly. There is at least a weekly run to the library. Being nature lovers, we don't run as much as we can to our favorite nature spots, but we do try to get to them as much as possible.

We know that there will continue to be running around. Our kids will have more interests and outings. Our chicken will still need us. Our love of nature will still be strong.

And if we ever get a break from running, you'll find me on an actual run.