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We're finally doing it. We've talked and talked and talked about doing it, but the timing just never felt right. Until now. And we are so excited!

We have been sharing our lives, our family, and our faith online for a long time. Between the blog, our family vlog, and social media posts, our hope as always been to be an encouragement to other families. And over the years, many have reached out to us to ask questions or get advice. (Something that has been both humbling and exciting.)

But as we come into a new season of life and ministry, we have begun thinking and praying about how we might get a little more serious and take things to the next level. We are thrilled to announce, we are launching a podcast!

Watch the video below for more...

As you heard in the vlog, we are hoping to begin recording a little later this summer, with our first season going live the early Fall. Right now we are focused on planning, recruiting guests, and getting ready to launch some formal promotion spots later this summer.

In the meantime, help us dream. What topics would you be interested in hearing? Are there any questions you'd like to ask? You can leave comments below, or email us at [email protected].

We're truly looking forward to the start of something new and exciting.

- jay & amy

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Last week we officially entered the summer season. That means, if we were on the farm, we would be well on our way with the garden, our layers, and the ducks. But we are not on the farm. No, since the move, we are still in search of our future farm-stead. But while we search, we decided, we're still going to grow something. It's not the farm, but we're trying.

The housing market, at present, is a tough market. In our current area, housing are posted and under contract  within hours. No kidding. So, it's a bit difficult finding a house, much less a house with space to actually have a garden and in an area where chickens, ducks, and other farm animals are allowed. There is not much land available. And while we could look in slightly more rural communities , we do have jobs and want to stay relatively close to where we work.

No worries, we have decided to do a couple of things. First, we're going to be patient and trust that God will show us the right house with the right space in the right location at the right time. Second, we're going to be flexible. While we dream of the 10 to 20 acre farm/homestead with space for the kids to visit and stay, a barn, pond, and grazing pastures, we might end up with 1 acre and shed where we have to create our own water feature. In the meantime, however, it is growing season and we're going to give it a shot.

We've decided to keep it simple this season. Because we are renting, and the yard is very small, we've chosen to plant just a few of our favorite and easy to grow vegetables and herbs. And because we do not own the property that we are renting, we're growing everything in buckets or pots, so to eliminate having to dig and refill holes or fill raised bed only to have move dirt when we move out. And because we are planting in buckets and pots, the variety of plants we growing is limited.

So what are we growing this season?  Great question. Let's take a look.

TOMATOES
Tomatoes is an easy choice for us. We have been growing tomatoes for years, both in the ground and in buckets. They are relatively easy to care for, don't take up a lot of space, and Amy enjoys garden fresh tomatoes.

​We have chosen to grow BetterBoys, Grape Cherry, Yellow Cherry, and a simple Cherry Tomato.

PEPPERS
Peppers is another favorite and a plant that we grow every year. Like the tomatoes, we have grown peppers in both buckets and in the ground. They too are fairly easy to mange, can grow quite bushy, and still be somewhat space saving when grown in buckets.

These summer we are growing Red and Yellow Bell Peppers, and Sweet Yellow Banana Peppers.

CUCUMBERS
Last year we grew our first Straight Cucumbers. These were great cucumbers. So this year we picked up three Straight Eight plants for this season. But unlike last year, our cucumbers are in a large planter pot instead of being in the ground. In fact, I have never grown cucumbers in pots. I've always planted in the ground. So this year will be a bit of an experiment as we try growing in pots.

PICKLES
We also picked up a couple pickling cucumber plants for this summer. Over the last couple of years, we have really enjoyed pickling and canning our cucumbers. The hope is that we will be able to grow enough pickles to actually can a few this year. Although, because our housing situation is smaller, I'm not really sure how it will all work out. But we'll see.

HERBS
And of course, we have herbs. We have really enjoyed having fresh herbs for cooking. Each year we grow our staples; basil, parsley, cilantro, and rosemary. This year we've added dill (which we always struggle with), oregano, purple leaf basil, thyme, and a chocolate mint. We have already started clipping and using the basil, parsley and cilantro.

This growing season will be a drastic change from last years garden. But we're trusting that this season is only temporary and next year we'll be able to get back to building our farm-stead. We will just keep improving  upon what we know and learning what we don't know, and of course, sharing it all with you. And, when the time is right, we'll get back to having our laying hens, ducks, bunnies, meat birds, turkeys, and all the other wonderful creatures and plants with dream of growing and caring for. Until then, it might not be the farm, but we're still trying.

​- jay & amy

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One of the things we love about the backyard farm is all that we are learning as we grow our own vegetables and raise our laying hens and ducks. The planting, the growing, the harvesting, the canning and freezing. Then there's the chickens and ducks; caring for the chicks and duckling, feeding cleaning, egg laying. We have learned so much.

One of the things we have been wanting to add to the farm is bees. For years we've heard about the benefits of locally harvested honey, especially for allergies. We're also aware of the benefits to flowers, vegetable gardens, and surrounding plant life. So naturally we've wanted to see bees on the farm-stead to help with our pollination and future honey production.

Last summer, we picked up a starter hive kit, with plans to start our first hive. We did a bunch of research, started following some beekeepers, and began looking for or first queen. As we shopped around, we learned that we needed to do a little more research before making our purchase.

Then, unexpectedly, we were preparing to relocate. That put the bees on hold. We moved. We packed up the backyard farm, and moved. And to be honesty, we weren't really sure what this season of growing would look like. I mean, we knew we wanted to plant a few of our favorite vegetables, we just weren't sure how. Then an exciting opportunity came our way.

A number of months ago I was introduced to family who had a farm. As we talked, he shared how he had attempted to raise bees on the farm, but was unsuccessful. He had planned to try again this summer, and asked if I wanted to join him with my own hive and together we learn how to keep bees.

Last Friday, we welcomed our new bees to the farm. 

Through a connection made at church, I met a woman who raises bees. Over the last number of years, what started as a hobby has turned into a small business. She raises, breeds, gathers honey, and helps future beekeepers start their own hives. She came over with two brand new hives (nucs) to get us started.

Along with some tutoring, she helped us set up our two hives. It was fascinating. While the hives are up and running, there is still a lot that we have to learn about keeping bees. But that partly what the farm is all about, trying something new, learning, and sharing what we're doing to encourage someone else.

So come along with us as we start this new adventure with bees!

Be sure to join us for more from LIfe in the Higham House and Just Ducky Farm.

​- the higham family

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It's done. The move of 2025 is complete. We have officially left West Virginia. We are no longer Mountaineers. From October 2019 to May 31, 2025, West Virginia was home. We embraced the rolling hills, windy roads, beautiful views, adventurous travels, and chilly winters. We tried to take advantage of the resources that were near us. We made some amazing new friends, and some of the best neighbors we've ever had.

It was in this home that we weathered the Covid lock-downs. Everything stopped, all the kids came home. And we enjoyed a year of being together. This home was also were we learned of Amy's breast cancer, where we mourned the loss of both our fathers, and journeyed through one of the tough two years of our marriage. It was in this home where we had to make some tough decisions, step out in faith, and trust God.

It was also in this home that our family grew. We welcomed our first daughter-in-law and our first two grandkids. It was in this home where we celebrated a second engagement leading to another daughter-in-law coming in August. It was this home where we celebrated the best holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and family milestones. In this home we got serious with backyard homesteading. And it was this home where we decided to start a brand new chapter.

Looking back at the last 5 years, we can't help but be moved by God's faithfulness. Through Covid, cancer, deaths, job changes, graduation, kids moving out, and kids moving on, He never failed us. He would just keep showing up over and over again.

At the end of May we closed on the house. Paperwork was signed and we said our farewells to the house and West Virginia. As we walked through the house, we were sad. It was a great house. We made it ours. From the updates inside to the gorgeous landscaping and gardens outside, it was ours. It was us. It was a sweet place to live and raise our family. And while we're sad to say goodbye, the only thing we're really leaving behind are the empty rooms. The celebrations and memories, they're all coming with us.

But life is a story. And as one chapter ends, another begins. And that's what this post is all about. It's not the end of our story, just the end of a chapter. We're turning the page. A new chapter, filled with new friends, new adventures, new memories to make.

As we begin this new chapter, we're excited about what God has in store for us, for our family, and for the ministries He has called us to serve in this season. No doubt we will continue to share what God is teaching us as we continue to live for His glory.

Thanks for being a faith reader and supporter of Life in the Higham House. We're glad you are joining us for this adventure!

​- the higham family

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Last week we found ourselves back in West Virginia. Our house is under contract, so it's time to get everything we left behind packed up and cleaned out. This means tearing down our backyard mini-farm. That's right; the garden beds, growing buckets, chicken run, duck pen, greenhouse and pots, and all the tools and supplies we've collected over the last 6 years years.

We arrived at the WV home Thursday night. That left us all day Friday and about 10 hours on Saturday to get as much done as possible. We had three goals. 1. Clean up the back yard and pack as much of the backyard farm as possible. 2. Organize the garage so we could stage boxes and  furnishings for our final move. And, 3. finish a few of the small projects around the house. We had a lot to do, so we got to work.

We'll make a few more trips back to the old house over the next couple of weekends to finish cleaning up, packing up , and moving everything into storage as we wait for our new house. It's an adventure, and one that we are looking forward to experiencing and sharing with you!

- jay

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The 2024 garden was a success. We started the garden in late April, planting seeds with our Jiffy Seed Starting Greenhouse Kits. Peas, snap peas, green beans, a variety of lettuces, Brussel sprouts, cucumbers, pickles, a variety of tomatoes, pumpkins, and sunflowers. We had great luck with some of our starters, and not so much luck with other of our starters.

It didn't take long for things to take root and begin growing. By mid-June we were already harvesting some of the red Romaine lettuce, the curly kale, and a few early green beans and peas.

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By the end of the growing season, we had harvested countless cucumbers, pickles, tomatoes, peas and beans, our largest selection of pumpkins, lettuce, raspberries, blueberries, herbs, and cabbage. We were super excited to have been able to grow and eat such a variety vegetables.

It's going to feel a little weird not having our regular set up, but it's a good opportunity to take some time to reset. Until we find our next home, we can't really plan for our garden. So instead, we'll work with what we got.

- jay

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The popular new year comment goes, "New Year, New You." We say this when venturing out to improve ones self; attitude, activity, physical appearance, etc. But what do you say when everything around you changes, and you stay the same? New Year, New___________."

This past weekend  everything changed. Everything. In last weeks blog post, we took a minute to recap some of the highlights from 2024. We also took the opportunity to share a little of what God has been doing in our lives the past couple of months. (If you missed Monday's post, you can read it here, Happy 2025.)

Last Thursday, we loaded up a 26' U-Haul, and hit the road heading west. Friday morning, a small, yet mighty, army met us at our new cottage apartment, and in 30 minutes, the truck was empty. The apartment, however, was filled with boxes and furnisher and narrow walk way navigating from room to room. The sight was overwhelming. But by Sunday evening, we were unpacked and sitting in our new living room. This sweet little cottage is home, for now.

Change isn't new to our family. Change comes often. We familiar with change. We're not afraid of change. But change is still change. New address. New jobs. New church. New school. New group of friends. New routines. We've been down this road...a couple of times. And yet, change is still hard.

In some ways, things feel familiar. We have been here before. We've navigated these waters once (or ten times) before. Yet, in many ways, we're starting over. It's a blank slate. And, it's in this 'new' that we find the unknown.

But over the years, we have continued to see God's faithfulness in our lives and in the circumstances and places He has called us to live and serve. From the very beginning of our marriage, we've said, 'God, we'll go anywhere you send us, just make the way.' And He has sent us. And every time, He has made a way.

Once again we have seen God open doors, provide a way, and show us that He is in control. It's Monday morning. Currently, I am sitting on the love seat in our new living room. It's between 5 & 6 AM. And, as I think about this new chapter and all that might come to be, I can only think about how grateful I am. I am grateful for His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness. I am grateful to know that our story isn't over; that there is still ministry left to do. I am grateful that I get to do what I love with the people I love. I am grateful that, as a family, we have chosen to put God first and to obediently go when He says go. 

Yesterday, (Sunday) a new chapter of our story began. We worshipped with our new faith family. I stood in the entry way, welcoming those who walked through the doors. Breya and I attended the student ministry for the first time. And we met a bunch of students, parents, church members, and staff.

I don't know what will happen tomorrow, but I know who holds tomorrow. And I trust Him. He is a good, good Father who wants good for His children.

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Happy New Year! 2025 is here. Are you ready? 

2024 was an amazing year. God has been moving in some pretty major ways. Looking back, it's crazy to see all that has happened. 

Here are just a few family highlights from 2024.

• Logan (26) is living in Florida and works for JP Morgan. He loves fishing, visiting the beach, and enjoying the warmer weather of the south.
• Nate (25) and his wife, Amaris, are living in New York with their two kids, Ace and Worthy Jae. Nate is a certified wildlife technician.
• Aiden (21) is in full-time construction and splits his work time between Florida and West Virginia. When not working, he loves fishing and hanging out with his Goldendoodle, Rex.
• Asher (18) has graduated from high school and is now a freshman at West Liberty University where he is majoring in finance. Asher enjoys fishing, a round of golf, and a game of basketball.
• Breya (16) transferred from The Linsly School to Park High School for her Sophomore year. She set aside her volleyball sneakers this year to help with the swim team.
• Amy has been working at the high school in a transitional classroom that helps learn-at-home students return to in-class academics. She is also crushing it as the Ohio Valley Young Life Capernaum director.
• Jay started with National Network of Youth Ministries, a ministry organization that supports youth leaders with encouragement, training, and spiritual strengthening.

We also had the opportunity to spend time together as a family.

• In February, Amy and Jay visited Logan for a couple days in Florida.
• In April, Jay was offered a position with NNYM.
• In May, everyone came home for Asher's graduation weekend.
• In June, we spent a week in Ocean City, NJ for vacation.
• In July, Breya spent a week at camp, while Jay and Amy focused in support raising.
• In August, Breya started a new school and Amy started a new role at the high school.
• In November, we all gathered in Philadelphia for Thanksgiving with Jay's mom and siblings.
• In December, everyone gathered for Christmas and New Years!

But maybe one of the most exciting changes in 2024 comes with this joyful announcement. The Higham family is growing! Asher has proposed to his girlfriend, and she said, YES! We are so excited to welcome Alaina into the family! Asher and Alaina are planning for a 2025, summer wedding! 

So, what will 2025 look like? Who knows, but there are a number of things that we are looking forward to in the new year.

It all starts with a move and the start of a new job. That's right, we're moving to Ohio. At the end of 2024, Jay was offered a position with a church in the Cleveland area. Starting in January, Jay will be working with students and parents at a dynamic church doing amazing things in their community. And because of the nature of Jay's new role, he will be able to continue serving with NNYM in the Cleveland area.

Amy will also start a new role, helping with the disability ministry at the church. We're waiting to see if she will continue to serve with Young Life Capernaum. We're also hoping that she might be able to work at the high school in some capacity. We just have to wait and see.

Family life will look a little different in 2025. Now that all four boys are adults, they are doing their own things. Logan in Florida. Nate and his family in New York. And, Aiden and Asher in West Virginia. Aiden is working full-time, and Asher is in school. This move to Ohio will only include Breya. Over the last 5 years we've gone from a household of seven, to six, to five, to three. It's going to be an adjustment.

2025 will also bring a few changes to some of our favorite hobbies and activities. 

JUST DUCKY FARM UPDATE:
We're saying goodbye to the chickens and ducks. Yes, it's unfortunate, but this move means no more chickens and ducks. But they will be well cared for as they go to live with some friends who have a small homestead.

As for the garden, we will scale down this year and only grow a few of our most favorite veggies. Our hope is that once we are settled, we'll be able to start again with our garden beds.

LIFE IN THE HIGHAM HOUSE VLOG:
The vlog will continue. New state, new city means, new adventures. There will be some many new places to visit and explore. So many new adventures to go on. And so many new things to share.

Moving also means new places to live with new spaces to decorate. Yes, we will be decorating and living into our new apartment. And what will make this space special is that we will be experimenting with a new style of decor; Rustic Lake House. Stay tuned for that.

LIFE IN THE HIGHAM HOUSE BLOG:
We've got new blog content coming, too. Paired with the vlog, we will share more about life in a new community, family-life updates, parenting and marriage resources, and home decor, organizing and DIY projects. And, we'll continue to share matters of faith as we seek God in these coming seasons of life. We're excited to see how all of these life-changes might encourage you and your family in the new year.

It's here. A brand new year. 2025. We can't wait to see all that God is going to do. And, we look forward to sharing it with you!

Happy New Year, friends! We're so glad you're here with us.

- jay and amy

We want to hear from you.

• What are you looking forward to in 2025?
• What goals are you setting in for yourself or your family in the new year?
• How are you planning to maximize family time in 2025?

We would love to hear from you. Share you responses to one or more of the above questions in the comment section below.

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Hello Monday!

Actually, it's the Monday of Thanksgiving weeK! And, it's going to be an amazing week.

We in full-on holiday mode. Amy and Breya, only have a couple days of school. Asher is already on his break. The other kids are al coming home, and we're going to spend the majority of this week with family.

It's going to be a good week. Turkey. Stuffing. Mashed potatoes. Cranberries. Dinner rolls. Pumpkin pie. Yep, we'll have the whole spread. But there will also be a parade, a visit to dad's graveside, maybe some holiday shopping, and plenty of time story telling, laughing, and reminiscing. We really do have so much to be thankful for this year.

To help get this week started, we wanted to share a song with you, and we hope it encourages you as you prepare for Thanksgiving day. In 2022, David Crowder, released a holiday album called, Milk and Cookies. The first single, Thanks Giver, was an immediate favorite. We absolutely love it.

With everything going on in this world, in our lives, this songs spoke right to our hearts. God is still God, and he loves us. He is providing for us. Showing us every day that he is moving in our lives.

The chorus lyrics read..

We want to encourage you, as you get ready for your Thanksgiving celebrations, to listen to this song and take a few minutes to think about the simple things that bring joy into your life. Reflect on how God has been moving in your life, and take the time to be a Thanks Giver.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Thanksgiving is a season for giving thanks. Saying thank you. Being thankful. We celebrate with a table of food, family, friends, and a parade or two, maybe some football, definitely a lot of food. And depending on your traditions, there might be a few minutes of sharing at the dinner table. We go around and everyone shares something they're thankful for this past year.

In the Higham house, we do all of that; the food, family, and sharing. A number of years Amy started the tradition of having all of us share the things we were thankful for. She wrote those items down in the back of our, Thanksgiving, A Time To Remember book, by Barbara Rainey. Every year we go around sharing things we thankful for like our family, food, a house, etc. Sometimes the sharing is deep and spiritual, most of the time it feels pretty generic. maybe you've experienced something similar. 

And maybe there's nothing wrong with generic, but is there more that we can be thankful for? Can we teach them to be thankful for more that food on the table and a roof over their heads. Again, not that these are bad.

Is there a way to take our thankfulness to the next level? Can we stir their hearts to reflect on things that are deeper, more substantial? Is there a way to teach and live a life of thankfulness?

As I think about this, I am forced to consider my own habits and how I think and express gratefulness in my life. After all, if I want my kids, my family, to be grateful, I must live with a heart full of gratefulness. So here's what I'm thinking.

Sometime we get into the habit of seeing thankfulness as a holiday. I include myself in this. It's easy to walk through a day, a week, a month, and not really reflect or think about the things we are thankful for. We get caught up in our careers, our schedules, our To Do Lists, our lives, and/or the lives and schedules of our kids. Even worse, we get all caught up in our stress, frustrations, disappointments, and our complaining and we don't think about the things we are thankful for. That is until we're sitting around the table and someone all of a sudden asks what we're thankful for. Then we stumble to find the words to express how or why we should be thankful on this sacred day of thanks.

But what if we saw thankfulness as more than a holiday. What if we developed the habit of being thankful every day? What if a few awkward moments of stammering, we learned how to express gratefulness on a daily basis?

To do this I think it takes both a change of heart and a change of mind. Let me ask, do move through your day looking for things to be thankful for? When you do find something to be thankful for, do you express gratefulness? To do so requires that we change how we think and how we process what's happening around us. If you were to pause, open your eyes, and ask God to show you what's around you I believe you would find plenty to be grateful for.

Let thankfulness be a daily practice. Develop the habit of being and expressing thankfulness every day.

How often do you say that you are thankful? No, not saying, Thank You. I mean, being truly thankful for something or someone in your life, and expressing it.

I think it's easy to say, thank you. It's polite. It's what we do. But do we express gratefulness, and do we do it enough so that we are passing gratefulness along to our children? We need to say we're thankful. And we need to do it more than at Thanksgiving.

Start this week. When you are moved by gratefulness, say it. Share it with your kids. And make it more than just saying, you're grateful. Explain the why. Why are you thankful? Take the time to explain why you are grateful. Doing so takes it to the next level. It also helps you learn how to communicate and express your gratefulness. By doing so, you will become more aware and better at recognizing your own gratefulness and why you're grateful.

You're thankful. Say, you're thankful.

Live in the light, right? You're kids are watching you. They're always watching you. And, as they watch you, they are learning from you. As parents of five, four of them now young adults, Amy and I can see ourselves in our kids. In things they say, how they think, interests, likes, even in their ideologies, theology, and faith; we see ourselves. For the last 26 years, they have been watching us, learning from us, even when we didn't think they were.

You're kids are watching you. Learning from you. The question than is, what are they seeing and what are they learning? Are they seeing gratefulness in your life, your marriage, your family?

Make gratefulness part of your family values. Make a point to discuss, share and live thankfulness.

​- jay