In the transient, ever-changing, unstable life of a military family, it is refreshing to return to some kind of summer place that is constant. A home, though not our own, that feels natural, secure, and comforting.

For my family, that place to which everyone congregates is a farm in Michigan. 

My sister, her husband, their growing children and their extended family own and operate this wondrous place. All additional family members and friends tend to come here for the big family gatherings, special events, and good ‘ol summer hangouts.

It’s a modest farm that sits solo on a mile-long dirt road, surrounded by lush, green pastures and cornfields. It’s quiet and peaceful besides the dogs’ occasional barking, the cattle lowing, or some farm equipment running.

At night, the constellations are clear, the lightening bugs sparkle as far as you can see, and the crickets’ chirping can almost lull one to sleep. 

The main farmhouse is cozy and old, but full of character and stories.

It’s where everyone gathers for meals, games, relaxing, and lively conversation. One of the first indoor archways walked through, shares stats of growing children who visit often, measured annually and documented on the frame in permanent marker.

The front deck is the perfect place for morning porch swinging and drinking coffee while watching the kittens play, or the children running by, still in their pajamas.

The backyard is the spot for older cousins’ and uncles’ wild football games or making s’mores at the campfire pit near the big tree. 

Almost every summer (sometimes fall, which is also a gorgeous time), I take my children back to the farm.

Most times my husband has joined us, but there have been occasions where his work has not allowed and I’ve had to grit down and make the long journey on my own.

The children absolutely hate the van or plane rides that never seem to end, but they excitedly anticipate the farm life fun with their cousins and extended family. 

We just came back from two weeks of good old-fashioned, carefree, summer fun.

The children spent full days with their cousins running barefoot around on the farm, catching tractor and combine rides, hopping on hay rides to visit the cattle, the sheep, and to see how the crops were doing, pushing each other on the large saucer tree swing, digging in the sandbox and filling it with spicket water to make mudpies and castles with moats.

Lots of stealing all the kitty snuggles they could, soaking in lazy moments petting the dogs and chatting to them, collecting chicken eggs, running the ducks out of their play areas, making cornhusk dolls, and catching lightening bugs.

At the end of every day, they were so dirty!

But after cousin, aunt, and uncle hugs, grandparent kisses, and a bath, they were out the second their heads hit their pillows.

They were happy. They were at peace. And they couldn’t wait to wake up and begin it all over again. 

Summers on the farm have provided my military brats a place of normalcy where they can let down their guard, be welcomed by familiar people who love them dearly, and simply feel free.

Sometimes it’s nice to have a place to go to where you don’t have to worry about transitions or work to make new friends; you can just be. 

What’s your “summer on the farm?”

Perhaps it’s a cabin in the woods, a lake house, maybe even a grandparents’ home? Whatever it is, I hope you will discover your place of solace amidst our ever-changing military world and be intentional about visiting often.

It’ll provide you all with peace, and memories to outlast the fuzzy transitions of military life. Summers on the farm…it just makes us smile!

*For more from LaVaughn, check out her M:M Author Page.