History

I went to an antique's store yesterday to sell the lights from our house. The owner was at first a bit put out with me. So I didn't like the lights, wanted to put up something more modern, huh? I had to explain that actually I did like the lights, but with an addition to the house we thought that fans would be a better use of our money. I was able to win him over. We had a nice conversation about local homes, the recession, radio shows, politics in the area, and a lot more. He said until March the recession really hadn't been noticed by him, but March has been horrible. He also has had people trying to get him to buy things so that they can pay some bills. Sad. I enjoy walking through his shop. There are so many interesting furniture pieces as well as fun things. I found some comic books and got 2 for the boys. I also found a bookcase from the 1880's that I think Hubby would like. I will have to wait until all of the remodeling is done though. Things are stacked everywhere right now and I can't imagine bringing something else into the house. Yesterday the guy came to work on the sub-flooring for the upstairs. He said he had been lying awake thinking about it, and decided that it would be a whole lot easier if he just went ahead and cut the hole where the stairwell will be. So now we have a huge hole in the hallway ceiling. Actually two holes because the pull down stairs had to be removed. Thank goodness the weather is warm for the next while. Although the same weather brought a tornado to town yesterday, so maybe some are not happy about the warmer weather. These are some pictures from the pottery session. The boys were able to use the wheel. We go Tuesday to glaze them.

A couple of weeks ago we went to JAKES Day, and the boys got to shoot several types of guns. They enjoy shooting and are hoping to get to when they are in WV this summer. Hint, hint, Pap! #1 was proud of his abilities and is showing his target.

--------- Heading out to get the dog's rabies shot at a clinic. She likes to go riding in the car. This might change her mind about that.

Strange Visitors

Every school has visitors. There is a sign at the door that tells the visitors to report to the Principal's office before going anywhere else. We have visitors as well, but seldom do they report to our principal. We often have chickens and roosters come peek into the schoolroom while we are working. They stand on this fence outside the window. Then they come a little closer until they are right up on the windowsill. I guess that gives new meaning to "bird brains." Luke likes to look in on us too as the day goes by. He will even climb up the screen to get to the next window. I guess he thinks he can get in that way.

Somtimes the students allow the visitor to enter. The principal doesn't care too much as long as it doesn't happen often.

The school mascot prefers to lie by the fire. She reports to the others what is going on in the classroom. Perhaps that is why we have so many visitors. If only the teacher/principal and students wanted to be in school as badly as the visitors! Soon we can go out to them.

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Yesterday was quite scattered. We were working on school and tearing out the hall closet (call it wood shop). The guy who is doing the flooring for us upstairs dropped by, and all of a sudden we were into planning that and he started working that afternoon. The "extra kids" got out of school at noon, so I had 5 instead of my usual number. A friend (with 4 kids in tow) was visiting in the afternoon to see the baby goats and buy some eggs. So in all of the hustle and bustle, we forgot the last guitar lesson! The teacher called to make sure we were ok, and I apologized. She is going to let us finish next week. What a nice lady. Hopefully I can keep next Thursday under control. Doubt it.

One Week Later

Here is the cause of my lack of posts lately. Well part of the cause anyway. I was knitting a baby blanket for a friend at church. I actually started it at the first of the year, but I knit really slowly. Then of course there are the days that I can't find time to knit. Anyway, the last week or so I MADE time to knit so that I could get it done before the baby came. I was successful! The pattern was easy- 36 squares sewn together after knitting.It is a tight knit so the blanket ought to be very warm. The yarn was made from recycled plastic bottles and is very soft. These are #2's play pants. They are currently in the trash. I washed them in yesterday's laundry, and then decided they looked pathetic. I know some people buy their pants in this shape already, but we try to go against fashion statements of that kind. We look poor just by being so, not by buying so.

The good thing about homeschool is that you can go to school in your play pants and no one cares. #2 really enjoyed these pants.

Well now that the knitting is finished and the taxes are done what will we do to occupy our time? We start on the stairwell Monday. That means the hall closet has to come out this week. Hubby started on it yesterday. You can see him in the corner. He does a little at a time between study sessions. I think he is working out sermon stress this way.

The electricity was completely finished for the downstairs on Tuesday afternoon. Now we start the upstairs, which means the electrician as well as carpenters! The house is always busy.

#1 has been practicing his part for the play. He told me a few days ago that before he tries out for the next play he is going to check his schedule first. I asked why. "I just have so much to do! Guitar, art, 4-H, school..." Then last night I asked the boys what they think I expect from them. #1 said I seem to expect him to do more the more he does. I guess I need to be more aware of his stress levels. He is like his father and needs lots of down time.

By the way, my top three expectations are that they go to Heaven, enjoy their life, and always give their best effort. #2 got most of them right.

Posts

I have been noticing that my posts are getting farther between times. I will think of something to tell everyone, and then something happens on my way to the computer. Lately I haven't even made it to the computer until evening. I am so very ready for summer vacation. We have about 4 weeks of school left. Whew. The kids are feeling it too. #2 is grounded because he hasn't been doing his school work. #1 has done his, but it is mostly wrong. He will be unhappy today when we review the past work. I planted some grapes yesterday. I also have some berries to plant today. I am glad to be able to get outside now. It has been very rainy here lately. The kids have a canoe that they play in, and yesterday we dumped out about a foot of water from it! I wanted to be able to post some pictures of Manly, but I haven't taken any yet. Yesterday he was out in the field for the first time. He still has something wrong with his legs, but he is walking and trying to run. He falls on his face sometimes though. It has been encouraging to see the other kids playing with him and curling up with him. It is always easier to recover when someone is nearby. Speaking of recovering...Polly is still mending from the surgery. She had the scan on Tuesday and we are still waiting word from the doctor. Joyous News!!! The house passed the electricity inspection on Tuesday. The service was switched over to the new meter yesterday. The new smoke alarm system is in, most of the wiring is complete, and we are starting to think about the next stage. I really want to clean house first though. I know it will only get dirty again, but having it dust free for a few days will be so encouraging to me. I also wanted to have pictures of Guys' Night Out this past week, but didn't manage to take any. Hubby and the boys went to a friend's house and had Poker Night. They had cigars and beer (pretzel rods and IBC rootbeer in the bottle) and gambled the night away(with Jolly Ranchers, bubble gum, and AirHeads). #2 thanked his dad yesterday for the fun night. One last funny...I was walking through the house singing "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" the other day when #2 asked just how teeny is an "Itsy, Bitsy, Teeny ..." I showed him with my hands and his eyes got really big. "Do you have a problem with bikinis?" I asked. "No," he answered. "I don't think you should wear one though Mom. You shouldn't wear a bikini when fat rolls off you (insert hand motions and facial expressions). Not that you are fat, but some people really don't look good in bikinis." Thanks son.

Rainy Monday

The afternoon is looking more dreary than the morning. Too bad there won't be time for a nap. I have been trying to finish knitting a baby blanket for a friend's shower this weekend. I think I may actually finish it. I got quite a bit done yesterday since it was so rainy outside. Polly is recovering nicely, except for the leg cramps that grab her while asleep. Tomorrow is the scan that will tell us what else we may be dealing with. Pray that there is NOTHING else to deal with. I took the boys to JAKES Day on Saturday. They get to shoot guns, bows and arrows, and learn about safety. We went last year too, and the boys really like it. They are planning a time to be at their grandpa's house so that they can shoot some more. #2 would like to hunt. I may let him go this fall with all of the uncles and cousins. #1 is going to interview the mayor!! He and another kid from our 4-H club are working on a documentary about former 4-H members and how 4-H helped them to be better citizens. We were thrilled to learn the mayor of our town was a 4-Her, and she has agreed to do an interview with the kids. Neat, huh? Now for the bad news. The inspection of the house that was to be today has been moved to tomorrow. I guess when you have waited nearly 6 months another day isn't that bad. I am ready to get my house back though.

Gloom, Despair, and Haggedy on Me

It is amazing how quickly one can go from worshipful praise to a free fall off the cliff. Tuesday was such a wonderful experience to praise God for his healing of Manly. Then Wednesday afternoon Manly took a turn for the worse. He started nearly all over again with the same symptoms. The only strength I had in me was to ask the Healer to do his thing again. It was frustrating and stressful. On Thursday I talked with my sister-in-law and found out that the oncologist had contacted her...cancer, aggressive. Two HORRIBLE words. Polly is being very brave and optimistic. She had surgery yesterday to remove the tumor on her leg, and she is home resting now. Scans will happen next week, and then we will know more. Radiation is being recommended at this point. After that news I went into the eye doctor for a check up and discovered I have a cataract. Yes I am TOO YOUNG for such a thing, but it is here anyway. I have an appointment next month to see a different doctor and discuss options. Thankfully, Friday Manly started improving again, and today he is standing once more. Walking seems to be more difficult than before, but he is getting stronger. Of course all of this occurs with kids, school, play practice, church, dinners, electricians, taxes, etc. Somehow Satan knows that busyness can throw me for a loop. Add bad news to it, and I can trip over many things. But one thing Satan didn't count on, cuddling a baby goat can melt the tension and stress into a flowing river of praise and relief. Everyone should have a baby goat.

PRAISE THE LORD, HEALER OF GOATS!!!

Some of you may find this entry offensive or trite, but I KNOW that the Lord had a large hand in the healing of Manly. I went out to milk Faye and feed Manly just a bit ago. She didn't have much milk, but I took what I could get. Then I tried the old eyedropper. Manly wasn't a bit interested. So I kept Faye in the stanchion and put Manly under her. He went to town trying to get to her. I let her out of the stanchion, put the feed out for her, and held the little man while he tried to nurse. God Bless Him! He nursed for about 10 minutes. Faye let him keep trying while she contentedly ate. There were a few times that I hardly supported Manly; he was basically standing on his own. I then put him out in the field and let Faye out as well. She went over to him and nuzzled him to clean him up. Get this...HE STOOD UP AND NURSED!! I cried tears of joy as I shouted and sang praises to THE LORD, HEALER OF GOATS!! I'm sure the neighbors thought I had lost my mind, but there is no doubt that the Lord who healed the blind, deaf, and lame has healed Manly. I can't wait to see how well he is doing tomorrow.

Looking At Yourself

I taught a class today about Time Management. Our 4-H club is doing a club project on entrepreneurship. The lesson today was to look at why you may procrastinate, and what kind of personality you have. Teaching something often makes you look harder at it than if you are the student. I have to say I had to look pretty deep today. My priorities, and what I actually seem to get done, appear to be two different things. Am I really telling the truth about my priorities, or am I just a "Yes Man" who can't say no to others and do the things I want to do instead? I think I am a little of both. I have high ideals and aspirations, but I also have a lot of ordinary things that have to get accomplished. Sometimes I need to recognize the ordinary, and then move on. The ordinary will be there for many more days than the extraordinary. ------- My sister-in-law is waiting to hear an oncology report. She will have surgery on Friday to remove a tumor on her leg. Please pray for Polly and her family. ------- Thank you to all who have asked about my goat. Manly is still improving. Today he tries to stand while I feed him. I hold him up and he puts weight on his legs. I have left him out in the field too so that he can eat some grass. He has also tried to eat some straw. I told the family about my thought that God was telling me to mind my own business. The boys thought maybe God was just answering their prayers. They had been praying for Manly to live. How differently the world looks through the eyes of a child. I only saw pain and misery in Manly's future. They saw a goat who needed a chance.

Manly has pulled through what seems to have been the worst of it. I was sure many times that he was on the brink of death. I prayed over and over that God would just take him so he would be out of his misery. I think God was telling me to mind my own business! Every time I go out to check on him, Manly seems to be a little better. He is taking baby steps on the road to health. I was planning to have him put down today, and now I am not. He still won't suck. I am feeding him every couple of hours with a dropper. Ugh. I am definitely out of the "Mommy" stage. It takes a lot of time, and stopping what I am in the middle of, to go care for him. I tried making a sling to hang him in so he can start exercising his legs. He has been able to get to his knees sometimes, but his muscles have atrophied, and he never really used them much anyway. Manly is a week old today. -------------- The time change doesn't make any of this look better...taxes, a filthy house, a kid who needs to go to play practice, dinner, laundry, school papers to grade...a nap in the sun looks pretty good though.

The Goat Saga

So yesterday when I updated everything seemed right with the world. By afternoon it had turned dark again. Manly was found limp in the feed bucket. Soon his neck twisted and wouldn't come back where it belonged. I gave him 3 cc of vitamin B, since that was what we did a couple of years ago with a goat with a similiar symptom. He only continued to go downhill. I honestly expected him to be dead in a matter of minutes. After about an hour I put him with his mother and went on about my day. I checked on him several times, always expecting death. By dinnertime, he was very hot and panting hard. He had lost fluids and his neck was terribly turned. When we returned at about 8:30 p.m., he was still not doing well at all. I went outside this morning to bury goats. I only buried 3; I should have buried 4. Manly was looking much better and hardly panting. I milked Faye, and thought I would give it a try. So I dropper fed him 2 ounces! He has never taken that much, nor has he licked his lips when he did take some. This morning he nearly licked his face off trying to get to the milk!! So I don't know what is in store for the little guy, but I will keep feeding him every two hours and see what happens.

SLEEP

I slept in my own bed last night for 10 hours!! The only goat anywhere near me was the old one I married. I looked out on Manly this morning and he was sleeping in the sunshine with a full belly. Hallelujah! Tonight #2 and a bunch of guys are going camping. #1 is being left alone, though I am still trying to talk him into camping, and Hubby and I are going on a date. I walked into the room last evening, evidently smiling. Hubby asked why I looked so happy. "I am taking a hot shower, putting on jammies, and going absolutely nowhere. I am not even seeing anyone, other than the kids." After such a long month, it sounded heavenly. ----- Ok. The refrigerator has been freezing things lately. I have fooled with the adjustors and it still freezes. So I called the repairman today. He came out, moved the knobs, and said that should do it. If it does I will kick him! I told him that was where the knobs were when all of the trouble started, but he said see how it goes and call him tomorrow. Ugh.

Joy

Another fitful night. I am definitely thinking I am past the "I want another baby" stage. I went out to check on Manly every hour starting at 6:00 last night. At 11:00 I tried to get him to nurse, no luck, and then brought him inside. I put him in a box with a towel by the furnace. I slept in the next room.

About 4:00 he woke up and didn't want to settle down, so at 4:30 I took him out to his momma. HE NURSED!! Bless his heart, his little tail was wagging and I could hear him slurping it down. So I turned on the heat lamp and left him out there at 5:00.

This morning he is still seeming to have trouble figuring out the suckling, but I guess he will get it if he was able to earlier. I almost think he is farsighted or something.

But the really good news, that titles this Joy, is that Madison had a baby!! NO PROBLEMS!!! She had been crying all morning yesterday, but was still out wandering the field. When I left at 2:30 to pick up kids, I didn't see her and thought I better run and check first. All of the goats were under the barn roof. The one I thought was Mary in the field with her kids was actually Madison with her new kid. She evidently had her out in the field while standing up. She only had one, and she is large, but I am fine with that as long as we don't have complications.

These are the kids playing in the morning sun. They are getting to the extremely cute time. They run, scamper, jump, explore, and knock each other down.

This is Manly meeting Joy. They are half siblings. Joy is the big one on the right. She is less than a day old and Manly is about 3 days old. He was the runt of the litter.

This is Aunt Madison checking out Manly. I guess she gave her approval because they nuzzled each other after that, and the mothers walked away.

Two mothers and their kids. Madison seems to be a good mother, never letting Joy get too far away. I already knew Faye was a good mother, but she still should get some recognition.

Farming

My dad has been a farmer, at least part time, all of my life. I always knew it was difficult. I remember him going out in storms and cold when we weren't allowed to go out. Temperatures that weren't safe for us to be out in still had to be endured so that the animals could be cared for. I remember lambs sleeping in the livingroom behind the wood stove so that they wouldn't freeze. Well, we have entered "real farming" here.

Saturday Hubby and my uncle delivered a stillborn, humungous kid. He evidently had what is called twin to twin transference. There were actually triplets, but only one received the mother's nutrients. So that one ended up too big to deliver and the others never fully formed. The poor mother that this happened to is my smallest doe. She is finally starting to show some improvement, and she ventured out of the barn for the first time yesterday.

Then Monday night Faye went into labor. She wasn't progressing as I felt she should, so I kept a closer eye on her. After about 2 hours I saw she was having the baby breech...bottom first. The dear sweet mother pushed it out that way and then delivered two more the same way! They are supposed to come out two front hooves and head first. So I had to break the sacks and help them through it to be able to breathe. Then the mother wouldn't get up. I was afraid that she was having more kids because she kept contracting, but it was just the afterbirth and shock I suppose. It was a cold night and Faye kept shaking, so I put a heat lamp out in the barn. That seemed to help her. The first baby had died, but the other two were cleaned up and doing well. So I left them with the mother and came inside. That was about 11:00 p.m.

At 4:30 a.m. I went outside to check on them, and though they weren't under the heat lamp anymore, everyone seemed to be doing fine.

I made another check about 8:00 a.m. and found one of the twins lying under the manger nearly dead. So I brought her in and did my best to work on her, but we lost her too.

So yesterday I spent the day watching the last one and trying to make sure he got through the day alive. He nursed a few times, he peed, he seemed to be doing well and enjoying the sunshine. Then I brought him inside for the night about 9:00 p.m.

I put him in the sunroom thinking that I didn't want him to get too used to the warmth of the house, and covered him with a towel in a box. The dog slipped in there about an hour later and stole the towel! So he cried and cried. I covered him up again, but again in about an hour he was crying. I thught he must be hungry, so sometime after midnight I took the little guy out to nurse. He wouldn't nurse, and started to look like his sister had looked when I lost her. So I milked the mother a little bit, and brought the kid inside to feed by the fire. He wouldn't take any of it from a dropper or my finger, but I managed to get a little down his throat.

Then he went to sleep. I think even the sunroom was too cold for him, so I got out a sleeping bag and put myself on the floor in front of the fire with him. I curled him up beside me and he settled down to sleep.

I did move to the bed in the next room after about half an hour because that floor is hard! Sometime around 3:30 he cried and I went out to check on him. I patted and whispered and he went back to sleep.

He woke about 7:00 this morning! Thank goodness he has made it through the night. I took him outside to try and nurse again, and this time he got a little bit. He has diarhea, which is not too uncommon in newborns, but kind of messy in the house. I will go out and check him every half hour incase he needs to come back in.

Madison is acting like she is going into labor. Thankfully she didn't kid last night. It was very frigid here. So we may have to spend several nights with "kids" in the house.

This kind of farming is tiring.

This is Manly; I am hoping that the name will get him through this dangerous time. He slept wrapped in a towel on the sleeping bag.

Blessings

The following list is my attempt to show God's blessings in my life. I do not make the list to brag about what I have been given, but to praise my Father in Heaven. For each of the following remarks I know a person or people who have not received that blessing. I don't know why they haven't. I only know this is an imperfect world, and each person is asked to live within the boundaries he or she has been placed. I can grow hair. I can move, walk, write, talk, and use my body in many ways. I have been blessed with children. Healthy, smart, beautiful, good children whom I had been told I likely wouldn't have. I was raised by loving, sober parents who taught me about Jesus and God. I was never harmed by my parents. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins were important, positive people in my life. My husband enjoyed the same relationship with his family. Our marriage has greatly benefited from this. My husband has never harmed me nor called me horrible things. My husband has treated me with respect and love, always. My husband refuses to leave me, and is still in this world to help me and encourage me. I live in a house. A house that has heat, electricity, indoor plumbing, and running water. My house has a bed for me, many modern devices, and is in a safe neighborhood. I can pay for my house. Both my husband and I have jobs that are steady. I have all of the clothes I need. When it is cold outside I can still be comfortable. I own a vehicle. It works...really well. I was born healthy and capable of learning. I excelled in school. I received a high school and college education. I am able to continue my studies. No one in my family has tried to take advantage of me financially. No one in my family practices witchcraft. No one is a drunk or has placed my children in harm's way. There are so many blessings that I don't even recognize because I have no idea that others don't live this way. I don't know why God has blessed me these ways. I don't understand why others aren't blessed. I do know that more is required of me because of my blessings. Thank you Father for trusting me with these blessings and with the responsibility to be you to those around me. I ask for sight to see those in need of your blessing and for a heart that gives your love.

Exhaustion

I have been on full steam for all of February it seems, and now I am exhausted. This weekend didn't help me be rested either. I worked at the domestic violence shelter on Friday evening. I enjoy helping there and praying for the women, but it is always emotionally tiring. #1 played in a basketball tournament Thursday evening. The team hadn't won a game all season, so I expected it to be quick and painless. No. They won. So we advanced to the Saturday games. We ended up only having to do one of those, but it was close. We weren't "Parents of the Year" because we really weren't rooting for them to win. Yes, it would have been great for the team, and our son, but we were tired. I went to the store 3 times over the weekend. I haven't done a real grocery store run since before Christmas, so we were really low. I had found some good coupon deals, and I just ran with it. That meant shopping at 10:00 pm though, and then the next morning at 7:00. As I left for the store, I looked in on one of the goats and thought she might be going into labor. I went to the store, ran home to unload, and headed out to the game. Then we went to lunch and another store run. Then my aunt and uncle came from Charlotte to visit, and I spent a few hours with them. I went out to feed the animals only to discover that the goat was in labor and the kid was stuck. I got my hand inside her and hooked the second hoof. I could feel the mouth and knew it wasn't breach, so we tried to pull. Finally Hubby and my uncle pulled from both ends of her and yanked the kid from her body. It was physically and emotionally exhausting. The baby was stillborn, and the mother is having trouble standing. I gave her penicillin and a vacination today. Then I came inside after the birth, and read that a friend had given birth in Winston-Salem, and the baby has a genetic defect that is horrible. This after they lost another baby last spring. Please pray for Jonah Williams and his parents, Matt and Patrice. We visited a couple of people from church this afternoon. One is pregnant and on complete bedrest. The other is in his nineties and can't get around well. Tomorrow our prayer group meets for a prayer of adoration. Tomorrow I will praise my Father, but today I lament the pain and despair that so many are feeling.