Kelly has spent the last hour or so barking, so here I am bright and early. Now of course, she is lying on the front porch, content to lick the dew off of her legs. The next time we get a dog, it will be one with a small yappy voice so as not to wake a person through the night. Actually, I am glad for her since she can scare away most varmints that might want a bite of chicken for dinner. My dad lost his whole flock of chickens to a coon this past week. He trapped it and now it is no more. #2 is out in the tent. He wanted to sleep out by the pond, and then spend the whole day outside and sleep out again tonight. He likely will achieve that goal. When I saw him on Tuesday after camp, I asked how it was. "The usual, except they kept us cooped up inside the whole time." My friend who had picked him up said she knew they had been outside for at least half an hour, and they were only there for 4 hours, so he definitely needs to get outside. I need to remember that when school starts. We are reading On the Banks of Plum Creek now before bed. Last night's reading had Laura saying she would rather catch fish than go to school. I thought that is my boy's attitude. Yesterday was Father's Day. My own father spent it in the hay field. My father-in-law travelled to see his other son. My husband got to go to a nice lunch at the Mongolian Grill, and then come home and lie around. Actually, I don't think he enjoyed it as much as he would have liked. I had a fever and aches and so I was a bit of a downer on his special day. I did start to feel a bit better by evening and managed to make his present-- a blackberry pie. #2 wanted to know why I didn't make a pumpkin pie instead. "Daddy doesn't like pumpkin." "Well, then, could you make both? I don't like blackberry." Then he suggested that is what I can do for Brother's Day. --------- I spent Saturday in the garden weeding and hoeing. Then Saturday evening I started not feeling well. It seems that every time I spend a lot of time in the garden, I get sick. It feels like my strep flares up. Does any one know if I could be picking up strep from the soil? --------- Saturday also found us back in the milk business. Millie had twins; a boy and a girl. The boy is dark brown with a black stripe down his back, and the girl is gray and white spotted with a few small brown spots. Elvis seems to be proud of them and isn't bothering them as I had feared. Some friends came to visit them and were confused as to how Elvis could be a brother to his children!

The boys are back. #2 came back yesterday morning and #1 in the afternoon. They both had a good time, and I think they did some of the same activities. #1 went to Space Camp with 4-H and #2 went to Astronomy Camp with a museum. I noticed #1 came back with a shirt that had NASA on it, so perhaps it is a curriculum developed by NASA. My father-in-law jokingly asked what makes the boys think they are on vacation. That sounded like school to him. I guess we tricked them into learning something. I did manage to get one room painted, and some other places nearly done. Today I am working on the garden. The weeds have been thriving now that I am watering the garden a few times a week. We really need rain, watering just doesn't seem to give the same nutrition that rain does. The melon type products are doing well; they seem to thrive in the soil here...pumpkin, cucumber, watermelon, squash. I even have some coming up from last year! I might get green beans this year too. It has always been too wet for them, but we raised the soil level and we are having a drought, so they are doing ok. I need to spray them for bugs though. I read about using a garlic solution to deter bugs organically and plan to try that. --------- I talked with a friend yesterday about a mutual friend. We just don't understand the thought processes there. She is willing to let her children suffer in order to appease the husband. The daughter has spoken of suicide because she knows no one would miss her, and it appears to be true. I have never been mistreated by my husband, nor my father, so I don't know what goes through the heads of women who are, but getting out of it would be high on my priority list I am pretty sure.

My sweetie and I went out yesterday. A friend had the kids for the afternoon and night, so we went to the movies. We went to the new theater and watched 2 movies. I enjoyed both of them; Ocean's 13 and Pirates of the Caribbean 3. We bought the refillable popcorn and drink and had that for our dinner. I like the new place because you can put your own butter on---I like LOTS of butter at the movies. Next date is Thursday evening. I have #2 and his buddy tonight. #1 leaves this morning for sleep-away camp. I started painting trim again yesterday. I really want to get that job finished this summer. We will be here 3 years this fall and I don't want to go into the third year still needing to finish the painting. I have a second coat left on a door and window sill, and 2 half rooms around the house. I don't know why 2 half rooms, but that is how it worked out. I guess it was because I had other people helping to paint. --------- Reading from Ignatius Loyola this week, I was struck by several of his thoughts: Those who go from one mortal sin to another are usually influenced in this way: the enemy proposes certain illusory delights, causing them to imagine sensual pleasures and enjoyments, the more effectively to keep them under the sway of their vicious and sinful course. The good spirit deals with these same people in the opposing way, working on their consciences by reason to induce compunction and remorse. The contrary prevails with those who are making earnest progress in self-purification, rising from good to better in the service of God our Lord. In these cases it is typical of the evil spirit to cause regret and sadness, using fallacious arguments to disturb them and impede their progress. On the other hand, the role of the good spirit is to provide courage and strength, to console and inspire, to move to tears, all in a spirit of peace. Everything is made easy, all obstacles are removed, to enable the soul to continue in virtue.

I am having trouble sleeping again. I came out to the front room to read a bit and try to get a little nap in before the day must begin, but no luck. I did enjoy watching the dawn come. This room is on the west side of the house, so I didn't see the sun actually rise, but the light changed so slowly. At first it was a pale gray dimness. Then it was a little less gray and a little more blue. The shadows dispersed and what had been outlines of things to be were suddenly made visible in the morning light. It was so slow and yet so sudden. I thought this is how children are. Just like a dawning morning or the changing of one season to the next, children grow imperceptibly and all at once. You can't see the changes occuring until you close your eyes for a minute. Then when you look again you see how much they have progressed. I close my eyes and see my babies, see the looks on their faces, remember their funny words. And then I open my eyes and they are children about to embrace puberty. Especially in the ten year old, I see how he wants to be older, more in charge of his life and others, and I detect the clinging to his childhood, how he sometimes says "mommy" instead of "mom", the way he leans into me for a hug, the fight within himself to sit on my lap. Such subtle changes that you don't see them unless you close your eyes and then look again. A new day is dawning. Perhaps it has already.

I just dropped #2 off for the start of his camp. He is going to a museum for Astronomy day camp with a friend. He and his friend will be taking turns staying at friends' houses so that it will feel like a sleep away camp. They will be here tonight and Weds. night. They spend Thursday night at the planetarium and he is very excited about that. They are going to do some "real" astronaut training in a pool then. You should have seen his face light up at that news. #1 starts camp on Weds. and his is sleep-away camp. So hubby and I get Tuesday and Thursday evenings for dates!! YeeHaw!! I still have my "extra" chuildren M/W/Th so it isn't a lot of time off, but a date sure sounds good. We went to Sunday in the Park last evening. We didn't get to go last week because of the weather. Yesteday was a "Big Band" type of sound. The weather was actually quite cool, and it was nicce to sit and visit. The kids had fun finding a couple of friends to run around with, too. I love Sunday in the Park.

If I sneezed any harder I would be mistaken for a jet. I woke up at 4:30 with allergy problems and it just keeps going. I get a reprieve now and then, and then I try to get a nap in to energze for the next round of sneezing. The house was so clean on Friday, and now with not feeling well, it looks nearly as badly as it did! How quickly things fall apart around here. I did get a good bit of yard work done yesterday. We were supposed to have a day at the beach, but #2 woke up vomiting, so we stayed home for the day. I guess it was better since I did get a few things done that way. But the lawn mower broke, just as I had a few more swipes around the barn to do. The blades won't engage, so now there is something else to fix. We turned on the air conditioning yesterday. It was supposed to be 100 with the heat index. 5 of the baby rabbits died from the heat. I brought the mother and 3 babies in when we realized, but I think one of those babies is not going to make it. I took them back out for the night and I will bring them in again this afternoon. I feel so badly about it. They were precious little bunnies. Christa had lots of gray ones this time. I just picked a bowl of strawberries this morning. I am still getting a bowl a week I guess. I forget the name of the strawberries, but they are supposed to be everbearing. They will quit soon when the heat gets intense, but this fall they will bear again. The rest of the garden is coming along slowly this summer. We are not getting nearly enough rain.

Still reading Romans. Chapter 7 is very interesting. You don't sin until there is a law that says something is sin, and you don't necessarily want what the sin is until it is declared sin. If you tell me eating spinach and strawberry salad is bad for me, then I will want to have it all of the time. As it is, it is not sinful and so I desire it in small amounts. That is the way of sin. But not having a law doesn't make something ok either. If it is no longer illegal to kill someone, we still know by our emotions that it is wrong to kill. How many "laws" have we tried to change in our society, so that something that was illegal will now be ok. It used to be illegal to live with someone before marriage, but now it is accepted as the right thing to do, the obvious way to make sure a relationship is worth having. Yet, people aren't staying together as long as they did when there was the law. Children are scarred by ruined relationships of parents. Sexually transmitted diseases are rampant. Even without the law, we know it is wrong. The reading I was discussing with friends last night was about losing your own desires and taking on a relationship with God. This is so very un-American, that it can hardly be stated. The Prayer of Jabez says that you can pray for whatever earthly riches you want and God will provide. That is very American; people will listen to that. But most scripture tells us not to store up riches on earth, but in Heaven. Perhaps that is why hearing scripture at our church is not necessarily working. But I would rather have assurance of life after death than death after life.

Currently, a favorite place of mine is sitting on the daybed with the windows open. The front yard trees provide a shady area, the front porch swing looks charming, and the mixture of all of the shades of green out front is calming. I like the breeze that blows in there. The room here stays fairly cool. BUT, the traffic passing by is so fast and so loud, that the experience is dulled. I have thought about putting up a fence to help get rid of the noise, but that is one of the things I hate about many communities, privacy fences. So I close the windows during morning rush hour, and think of the more peaceful times. I met a couple of friends last night to visit and have some dessert. It was fun to have a night out. I often use my night off to catch up on things without having to talk to anyone. It was refreshing to get out.

Snakes. So far we have seen three this spring. Yesterday, a friend was visiting and as she got in her car she saw a snake beside her. The awful thing kept going under her car and then under my van, back and forth. Finally, my husband killed it. We didn't kill the others we have seen, but this one just wasn't giving in. We are fairly certain it wasn't venomous, but we don't know what type it was. I HATE snakes, so this is not a good part of the backyard habitat that we have been developing. I worked outside a bit yesterday too. The island in the pond is looking good, but one side isn't growing anything. So I planted some coneflower seeds. They were from a conservation event I went to when we lived in TX, so I don't know if they will still grow. Besides the snakes, I have seen rabbits, lots of insects, and lots of birds. I know there are crawfish, and I have also seen toads. So I guess we are doing our part for the environment. I have been reading Romans lately. It is so full of thought-provoking ideas. Today it is the idea that if you are a sinner (not a Christian) you have no resistance to sin. You can't help yourself. It seems that you sin, whether you want to or not. You are a slave to sin. If people could see that they are slaves I think they would change their lives. Who wants to have no control over their own selves?

It was a good weekend and a bad weekend. The weather was nice for our church Family Fun Fest, and everyone had a great time. It was a bad weekend because I was in a depressed state of mind. I am the boys' Sunday School teacher this summer and yesterday was my first day. They are the only children who attend the class, and it would be so much better if other kids would come. The boys thought friends were coming and they stood looking out the window and running to the window whenever a person walked by. It was sad; I thought #1 was close to tears. I don't know why we have such trouble getting people. I think the church is friendly and open. They are very Bible-based and scripture oriented. I have been praying for 45 children to be a part of our church by August this year. I have been praying that for 2 years. We aren't anywhere near that, and it is frustrating. I look at other kids who have gone through a large youth group, and I don't see the commitment to Christ that I want for my children. I know that my children enjoy going to church, and they like adults and aren't bothered by being part of an adult crowd. They volunteer to read and pray at group gatherings, and they talk to others about Christ. But it still hurts that they are alone. I know that God will do what is best for my boys, but it is hard to remember that when you see them looking for a friend.

I was out early this morning. The moon was so full and bright last night that I thought perhaps Millie would have dropped the kids during the night. She didn't. She was having some trouble yesterday morning getting up and down, but nothing there either. It has to be soon or she will explode! The windows and door were finished up yesterday, and they look nice. There is a screen on the door and that may be my favorite part. Now we can leave it open and let a breeze flow through the house. It will be interesting to see how the Low E helps in the sunroom too; it can really get hot in there. Of course in the winter I liked that it could get hot, but in the summer didn't. I guess I can be fickle. I had a visit with a friend yesterday, too, and was saddened by some of her news. A mutual friend has stopped talking to her. She hasn't stopped completely, but she doesn't confide in her anymore. We think there might be physical abuse; we know there is verbal abuse going on. It must be so sad to think that this is the way you are supposed to be treated. Her father was abusive too, so she has known nothing else. She is nearly 50 years old. What a life. Tomorrow is our church's Family Fun Fest. There are inflatable toys like a slide and bounce house, carnival type games, and a cook-out. We have invited several families as our guests and I think they are all coming. The boys are very excited. I am in charge of the games, so today I will be blowing up ballons.

We had a discussion about Martin Luther King, Jr. and civil rights last evening. He was a very eloquent writer and speaker. He also seemed to have a lot of self-control. I noticed that his work took place during the time that the Black Panthers were also going about their business. They were at different extremes of the continuum though. It must have been so frustrating to feel like you not only have to fight against civil injustice, but you also have to fight against those who are fighting it in their own way. I have been reminded lately that a gentle word turns away wrath, but it doesn't seem to always work. The proverbs are situational ethics, not absolute truths. Our neighbor is mad at us for putting a drain across the road. I am trying to be calm and speak gently to him, but he just seems to think that I am not upset or doing anything about the problem. I guess I am a pacifist and he is a panther. -------- The new sliding door and the rest of the new windows come today. Soon we will have a brand new house!

I have been busy outside lately. We have a sidewalk in the front of our house, though it isn't needed and nobody uses it. It had become overgrown with grass. So I started digging it out and yesteday finished that. It looks much nicer now, though no one is still going to use it. Now if I could just get some mulch around the beds int he front it might look like a suburban home. The subdivision owners next to us are probably happy. Looks like the chickens are too. They are out there now scratching and pecking where I dug around the sidewalk. So maybe the subdivision people won't be happy. ___________ I found a nice house at the beach for us to use when hubby turns 40 in the fall. It has 5 bedrooms and we are staying a week. It sounds like family will be coming and going that week. My mother would have to take time off without pay for part of it, and my sister-in-law isn't sure about her daughter missing all of that time in school. But the four of us, and maybe the in-laws, will stay the whole week. It is definitely something to look forward to. I just hope no one gets sick like at our last family gathering. Monday was the first time I felt like myself again. That was more than a week later.

My men folk made it back safely on Friday. The boys had spent a week with their grandparents and hubby had gone to a seminar in Michigan. He stopped back in WV to pick up the boys and visit a while with his parents. We met at Cracker Barrel for dinner and then the boys rode home with me. They had me in stitches and never knew it. #1 was telling me about a lesson they had had in class at church about horrible truths. I asked for an example and he said smoking. The horrible truth is that it makes your breath stink and your teeth look bad. Once that happens, he continued, you can't find a good wife, so you settle for a bad tempered woman. She refuses to go to church with you and when you have children then they are bad tempered like their mother. The kids won't go to church either and then their kids won't, and before you know it all of those generations of people are bad tempered and don't go to church and it's all your fault. "Wow," remarked #2, "all of that from 1 cigarette?" "Well, something like that." Then they started playing with the whoopie cushion #2 bought at Cracker Barrel. #2, sitting behind #1, would make a fart noise and #1 would guess how he made it--whoopie cushion, mouth, arm pit-- then #1 says you didn't do anything. #2 laughs and says yes he did, "Silent, but deadly." Thank goodness we were nearly home by then! _____ While they were gone, the really pretty rooster turned mean on me. He would stalk me and attack. I kept Kelly with me when I fed so that she could keep after him. So yesterday we killed the rooster. #2 and I butchered him. It was such a shame; he was a beautiful bird. Then when I went to bed I started reading another of the books of Laura Ingalls Wilder's works. The editor was talking about how life has changed and that people just go to the store now for food. Then, if you wanted fried chicken, you killed the chicken, scalded it, plucked it, butchered it, etc. He spoke of the smell that goes along with that, and said people today have no idea about all of that. Well, not all people! ------- Today is Memorial Day. In my hometown there will be a big parade and school children will place flowers on graves in the National Cemetary. I was able to go to the celebration last year. Thank you, God, for a free country to live in. And thank you to all of the veterans who made it possible.

I moved here because God told us to. I enjoyed moving here for many reasons, but there are reasons that I moved here that I didn't know about when I moved here. Here are my top 10 reasons for moving here that I never knew ( not in any particular order). 1.Spring lasts a really long time here. The weather is nice, lots of things flower and bloom; it just looks pretty longer than what I am used to. 2.Strawberries grow great around here. I have picked fresh strawberries and made jam every spring now. I made jam yesterday and it is the best I have ever made. I am even picking strawberries out of my own garden this year. 3.Cucumbers do very well, too. 4.People look at you when you walk by- even in the face! And, they often say hi. 5.You can see the stars at night. 6.There is a wonderful home school support group. 7.There are NO cottonwood trees! 8.The university has a great after-school art program. Maybe I should just say the university in general. I have enjoyed many benefits from it. 9.Sunday in the Park is fabulous. Every Sunday evening in June and July people gather in the Town Commons for a concert. It is very Rockwellian. 10.It is the only place that I felt like was "home" right away. Thank you God for reasons I never knew.

I bought a series of books while we were on vacation. They are compiled writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder's magazine articles. She wrote for a few journals before she wrote her children's series. I read one while I was sick in bed last week, and I was surprised by how much the topics were things I still hear today. She spoke of taking care of the Earth and cleaning up litter, being a good friend, being a hard worker and honest, the busy-ness of life and how there just never seems to be enough time to get things done (even though there is just as much time to get things done as there was when you used to get things done), and that parents should be disciplining their children and not leaving it up to the state or the schools. I was really very surprised by how relevant and insightful her thoughts were. I plan to have my boys read the books when they get a little older. The problem is that I will have to black out the title: Writings for Young Women. There wasn't much that was only for young women in them, but I don't know if young men could get past the title.

It took a lot of traveling around town, but I finally got the pictures printed that I wanted for the kids' yearbook scrapbook of school. I finished making it last night and then had the awesome job of organizing all of my paraphernalia this morning. I was struck, yet again!, at how much my boys do in a year. They really are getting a very good education. Here is a sample: Geography co-op for a semester, ECU art for 2 semesters, 2 co-ops, 4-H (lots here), trip to PA, NY, Canada, DC, Old Salem, fire fighting clowns, dental health nurse visit, Blackbeard's visit, cooking and sewing lessons, Greek lessons, writing contests, the fair exhibits, Cultural Fair, plays attended, astronomy lecture, storyteller, and on and on it goes. They also read voraciously, have math, history, and science lessons, and now are starting piano. No wonder we are ready for summer vacation when it comes. Besides organizing this morning I also mowed most of the yard. I left a good bit around the pond area and some other higher grass in a section of the back. It is suppposed to be a wild area, but I don't want the neighbors too mad at me. I did see a lot of bees, so hopefully our little section of the world is helping their population.

I was talking with a friend yesterday who spoke of having small children. She feels that perhaps she didn't enjoy the young time as much as she would have if she would have had family nearby to help. She felt suffocated by the constant attention and clinging of the children. I said yes it helps a lot. We lived with family while the boys were very small, and having that extra attention and help was very good for all of us. But as for enjoying the stage at the time, I don't know how much has to do with family nearby. I feel like I missed a lot of the very young years because I was distracted by our situation; no job, living with family, feelings of depression. So even in the presence of family, you can still miss what you should notice. The answer is to be in the present and realize it doesn't last long. The future is only a day away and then this time is past.

Here I am. I have been a bit lost for a while, but I have returned. We had a nice holiday in the Smokies with family. This year we tried the Ripley's Aquarium. It was nice at the home school rate; I don't think we would have enjoyed it at the regular price. There is a moving walkway through a glass tunnel and the fish swim all around you. I was most amazed by the sawfish. I think that was the best for my 5 year old niece as well. We went to Cade's Cove, of course, and enjoyed a nice picnic and afternoon hiking and playing in the creek. We did manage to see a bear but it was quite distant. The show, The Miracle, that we purchased for the in-laws' Christmas present was good- the kids liked the live animals and the flying, battling angels- and we went to another dinner show where #2 got to be a participant in the show. He was the "understudy" for Paul Bunyan and he was to chop the bad guy. He did a great job- very funny. Then the stomach bug hit! Everyone from the other 2 families dropped like flies. My family stayed intact, and so we enjoyed a quiet lunch out at a nice little restaurant and took the kids gem mining. Later we played mini-golf under black lights and had a good time. The kids went back to WV with their grandparents, which turned out well because the stomach thing hit me on Friday during the ride home. By the time we got here, I was very sick. I was out of commission all day Saturday, and not much better on Sunday. I feel great now though. I hope hubby doesn't get it because he is in Michigan at a conference. It would be bad to get it there. On top of all of that, when we got back we discovered they had come to begin the french drain around the house and had cut the phone line. So we had no phone service and no internet. I went yesterday to check on the email at Panera and discovered I am the recipient of a grant. BUT the paperwork has to be notarized and in today! So I had to do some quick work and borrowed a friend's computer and DSL and printer and time and ... But we got it all in and I hope to hear soon about all of the details. I will keep you posted. So here I am with nearly a week to myself and finally the stress of everything is quieting. I plan to work on the boys' yearbook/scrapbook this week. Look out pocketbook- I haven't printed pictures in quite a while.

Last night lead to an interesting discussion about people who are targeted for church. We were reading a hymn by Charles Wesley and he wrote of harlots, thieves, murderers, and a hellish crew. We certainly don't sing of such things anymore, but we don't think that those people are expected to be interested in church or Christ. In looking at our congregation, it would seem that we aren't quite as hung up on only inviting the "clean" people. But, it makes for a lot of burden carrying, which is what family is supposed to do I guess. I also heard about some things that are being said at public school and I am glad my children are not being exposed to those things. I may be accused of sheltering my children, but what I shelter them from is not going to turn them into strange people. They are learning how to help society, not be a liability to society. Except of course for #2. Yesterday the boys went to feed and #1 came back in to say that #2 had his head caught in the fence. Dad went out to check and sure enough, he had put the goats in the pen and then stuck his head through the bars of the pen and got caught. Elvis was trying to eat his hair. Thank goodness he didn't butt #2 in the head. He is already disturbed enough without a goat head butt.

We are about 3 weeks into summer vacation and I can tell we need a change in routine. The kids are getting on each other's nerves. (Which in turn gets on my nerves.) Vacation next week can't come soon enough! I plan to fill out summer camp and day camp forms today. The boys have been using some of their free time to build bike ramps and jump off of them. I told Hubby it is better not to look out the window sometimes. I put them in God's hands. Although yesterday I did go off on them about being brainless. Perhaps they get that from their mother. I told my husband a week ago that his family drinks a lot and I do weed. Of course I was talking about being at a restaurant with his whole family and that the waiter just brings a pitcher of water for them. Then I was discussing my day and that I did weed the garden. Funny how context matters.

The boys went to pick out Mother's Day cards last night. Today #2 told me about one they had wanted to get. It had a daughter thanking the mother for teaching her how to cook. The mother said get some money, buy some fast food, put it in a dish, turn on the oven, and he will think you cooked it! This is certainly not the way I cook. When we were in WV last week, my mother forgot to buy some cookies that she was giving to someone for their birthday. #2 said, "You know what that means. Make them from scratch." Oh no it doesn't was my mother's reply! "Hard work has its own reward you know, Grandma," replied #2. What a hoot. I much prefer the taste of fresh food. Today we picked strawberries with the 4-H. A friend told me they won't be good for jam though, because we have had rain recently. I hope there are some good ones left after our vacation so I can have some real jam. ____ Boys have no brain. Today they were "playing" judo by actually kicking each other. Of course #4 got hurt. He actually had a footprint on his rib cage! Then they stood out in the rain talking to each other. It was not a gentle mist, but a downpour. I guess since boys have no brain is why they think with their pants when they get a little older. Can't wait for that stage!

I cleaned out the attic this weekend to prepare for the used curriculum sale this coming weekend. There are several nice things, that I feel a bit badly about getting rid of, but I know that we won't use them. They aren't things I will use, but they sure do look good. That little pack rat shows his head now and then. I am planning on reducing prices Saturday as the morning progresses. We are getting excited about our yearly trip to the Smokie Mountains. #2 has packed his (my) tape measure so that he can measure the fish they catch. Both boys are looking forward to buying Harry Potter candy at one of the stores...Bertie Botts All Flavor Jelly Beans, Cockroach Clusters, Ice Mice. Sounds great, huh? I made cookie dough yesterday and froze it. We will go swimming in the evening and then have warm cookies before bed. I spoke to my sis-in-law and her daughter is looking forward to painting herself like an indian in the creek. #2 did that last year at Cade's Cove. This year we will be trying the aquarium and a new show, The Miracle. Shopping is for everyone, book stores for our family, and clothing outlets for the others. But mostly we look forward to being together, watching the cousins play together, resting and relaxing. Can't wait.

Grief comes in different ways to different people. It seems to me that the longer it is prolonged the less intense it will be. A grandparent that lingers for a long time is easier to send on than one that is suddenly lost. And a goat that is watched over ends up being begged of God to take. Our friendliest goat, Buttercup, became ill on Thursday. I called in the Extension Agent to see what could be done. We looked on the internet, contacted people who may know, and decided she had Pregnancy Toxemia. Really there wasn't much that could be done, and what we did seemed to only delay the inevitable. She died yesterday morning. The whole family is stressed and depressed by it. Buttercup was #1's goat officially. He chose to ignore her plight and play with friends that came to visit, or even just to play by himself. I thought it was probably for the best because Buttercup was in a lot of pain and I didn't think the child needed to see that. But last night when it sunk into his brain that she was gone, he had a lot of guilt to deal with. He felt like he should have done something and not just play with his friends. The other issue is what to do with the body. If I were at home I would put it on the tractor and haul it over the hill. That isn't an option here. So I plan to contact the Animal Shelter and see if she can be cremated. #1 is NOT happy with this option, but I think we are going to have to take the lead and do it. If he is scarred for life, it will be my fault I suppose. He says he will dig the grave himself, but I know how long that would last. Being a parent is not always fun. ________________ An hour of hard work and sweat has Buttercup buried in the field. My father assured me that all I needed to cover her with is 12-18 inches of dirt, so I did away with the mother guilt by burying the goat. The other animals have been noticibly human in this ordeal. Darkie is #2's goat and she is the quiet, timid one. She always has to eat last and gets butted quite a bit, seemingly just for being alive. Darkie came to us at the same time Buttercup did, and Buttercup would sometimes look after Darkie. While Buttercup was lying in the pen dying, Darkie kept wanting in to check on her. She would lie down beside her or lie out by the gate to her pen as if she was guarding it. When I would check on Buttercup through the night, Darkie would look at me every time I left as if to say, "Aren't you going to do something?" It was as hard on her as any of us, I think. As I dug the hole today the other nannies mostly ignored me. Elvis had to be in the middle of everything, even falling in once! He seemed to be supervising. Then when I pulled Buttercup into the grave, all of the goats came to watch. I felt like I was at a funeral. After she was mostly covered, the nannies left. Elvis remained to see the job done. He peed on her grave a couple of times and that was that. Now that may not sound romantic to you, but that is how a billy attracts a nanny. I like to think he was kissing her good-bye.

1 John 3:18-22 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and we will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. I read an excerpt from Adolfo Quezada that helped me understand this better. If you have a lot of guilt, and you don't allow yourself to accept God's forgiveness, then you don't allow God the freedom to work within you. When our hearts are free of guilt then we can go before God and enjoy the relationship of a father and child. Very simple it would seem, but many of us hold on to the guilt and don't allow our hearts to believe in true forgiveness. One of my friends wondered if this is why we have so many people with mental disorders now. They have allowed counselors to take the place of God and so they don't have true forgiveness. The guilt eats away at them until they have a mental disorder. Sounded like a good point to me. Not that a counselor isn't helpful, but it takes God to forgive deeply.

Summer is here for a few days. Cold front coming soon. WV was just getting into spring and in MD the red bud was just blooming. They must be a good 6 weeks behind us. Summer vacation has begun for us and so of course we are busy working. The yard and garden are starting to come together. The tool shed is nearly cleaned out and we will be making several trips to the garbage dump this week. Now there is just the barn, painting, attic, etc. I think the summer will be gone before I know it! ________ I watched a CNN clip while I was at my parents. It was about pornography. There was a group passing out booklets to people at a conference or some such thing. It was called Jesus Loves Pornography Stars. I was taken aback at first, but then I realized what they meant. Jesus hurts for their souls and wants them to come to him. He loves them. There was a minister from Michigan that is reaching out to those addicted to porn, and a rehab place in Kentucky that helps people who are addicted to it. The next clip I saw was the DC Madam. They said they got hold of her books and there were over 10,000 names! Though they claim it is sex free- just escort services, massage, etc.- I had to think that Jesus loves these men and women too. In a very sexualized country and culture, it is hard to turn to Jesus completely. That must be what it was like for the first century church. There is nothing new under the sun.

I read a book called Real Citizenship this week. The boys and I are going to a government workshop next week and our homework was to read this book. I read it and will discuss it with the boys. Some of it isn't appropriate for their ages, but it did give some good ideas about how to be involved in government. One chapter was about the power of one and what just one person can do. Last night we were discussing dress codes of schools for class and for proms. There is evidently a prom dress code this year. I heard the code and it seems very reasonable. If you are wearing less than what it requires, then you should have a sheet over you anyway. I also was reading an article this week about small businesses starting up modest clothing lines because women are tired of having to dress like Britney Spears. There was also some mention of young girls not having much choice in clothing because of the immodest looks. I have heard friends mention that as well. Then there was the article yesterday about Bratz dolls and the sexy body image that they are trying to promote to very young girls. Not that the dolls are curvy, but that it is all about the clothes that you wear, and many of them are skimpy. So in light of all of the things I have been reading lately, I have a plan. I am going to write to the local mall and ask that the shop window of Victoria's Secret be a little more modest. I don't go to the mall because #1 I hate to shop, and #2 I can't stand to walk past that store. It isn't that I have a problem with what they sell. I have been known to wear some of it. BUT I don't want to walk past it with my young boys and have to explain it. They look at it and know it isn't something they want to see. So I will see what happens with the power of one. Anyone else want to join me?

Hoeing lasted about half an hour. #1 helped me, and we got a good bit done, but I could tell that I needed to stop. I had another adjustment today, and now my neck and head ache a little. The neck adjustments are helping my TMJ, which is not why I went, but a nice bonus. I have gone long enough now that I got a free certificate for my husband to go. He gets his first visit tomorrow. We have entered a new stage with our children. They have had friends over for the night before, and they actually sleep fairly well. Last night we had 3 boys over for a backyard campout, and there was precious little sleeping going on! #1 and his friend came in at 12:30 to use the bathroom, and they were all up by 6:00, some earlier. They had a great time, and I love having all the kids over. They slept in tents and played outside in the dark. It was great weather for it. I remember sleepovers when I was a kid. Lots of fun.

I now have permission to hoe! I just got back from the chiropractor's office and he said I am looking good enough for hoeing, no shoveling yet, though. Everything seems to be moving much better. It is good to feel good again. Aging is starting to enter my mind a little more. I realized that my brother-in-law's family is going to start ruining everyone's life soon. His older daughter will be starting school in the fall! I can't believe she is going to be old enough for that. She is excited that the boys will have to consider her a big girl now that she will be five. Anyway, I think they are going to have to homeschool so that we can keep on having the visits that we have enjoyed in the past. It really makes a big difference when you have to worry about school calendars. The boys and I are going to WV this weekend for a visit. I told my mother last night that school is out for us now. She was shocked that NC could be out of school already. I told her no, our school is out. The boys have put in their 180 days now. She seemed stunned. Starting school in July can do that to you. Better move along and get some hoeing done.

Except for running to the chiropractor early yesterday, we stayed home all day. I have to say it wasn't much fun, but I got a lot done and my life will be better today because of it. I have noticed that my older son can't stand to be home and have no one to go see or nothing to go do. I am afraid he gets that from me. I don't like to stay put. BUT after I am "put" for a while and see how much more I can accomplish, I don't want to go anywhere. This I also see in my son. I hope he doesn't pick up any BAD habits from his dear old mom. Spring lasts a long time in Eastern Carolina. Trees have been getting buds and leaves for a month or more, and some are still bare. Flowering trees start with red bud, then Bradford pear, then peach, dogwood, cherry, and azalea. Spring can last for a couple of months here, along with the pollen, but in Texas it lasted about 2 weeks, tops. I like this much better.

Last night we were discussing social change and flaws in society. Funny that it happened to be this week with the VT massacre. Mostly we decided that we aren't hopeful, but realistic. There isn't much you can do to change the world when sin is in the world. But what you CAN do is change the place you are in in the world. I am trying to change society by the way I treat others, by what I teach my children, by the kind of friend I am. I suppose this life would be very hopeless if not for the hope of a better life to come. Speaking of a better life...I went back to the chiropractor today. I think I like the philosophy there. You heal the spine, which encompasses the nervous system, and then the rest of the body heals because the nervous system is healed. Yesterday my back hurt worse than when I went to the chiropractor, but by evening it was doing better. It was the headache that was killing me in the evening. So I told the doc today and he adjusted my neck. I wasn't expecting it, which is probably good, but I think it is really going to help. It seems to have helped my TMJ that I have been suffering with for years. We'll see how I feel by tonight. Just a couple more days of school and the boys are counting down!

Just finished my first trip to the chiropractor. They took X-rays and I certainly saw the problem. I am leaning to one side in my lower back. He did an adjustment and it popped like I have been longing for it to pop. Of course, now the other side feels strained and I still don't walk with much pep in my step. I had told my husband I would come back walking like a 23 year old. He watched me get out of the van and said that didn't look like any 23 year old he had ever seen. I go back tomorrow morning for another adjustment and hopefully that will put it all back in place. In the meantime, I have to suffer through sitting on a cold pack to lessen the swelling. I turned the heat up first thing! Yesterday was the aquarium's visit for our 4-Hers and homeschool friends. The kids had a good time and I am sure we will do it again. #2 loved everything, but especially dissecting the squid. He came home with the pen from inside the squid. #1 of course can't admit that he had a good time--that's his personality. In a couple of days he will tell me what all he liked and enjoyed. But he did help during one of the shows. The leader had a snake crawl inside her shirt and she needed someone to hold the back end of the snake while she got it out. #1 volunteered to hold the back end. I was surprised by that and later found out that he was trying to ask a question, not volunteer! One more funny thing: We are reading Little House on the Prairie at night now. Ma was so excited to have a wooden floor and a real bed, even a table cloth on the table. "Now we can live like civilized people." #2 asked, "Why do you want to live like civilized people? They live 40 miles from a town. Who cares if you are civilized?" That's a male for you--let's all fart and burp now.

We put the piano in the dining room. It took 3 young men and my husband to move it. Very heavy from what I gathered. There really wasn't much of an option of where to put it. The hall was a viable option, but the lighting is very poor in there. The living room perhaps could have worked, but the dining room seemed best to me. The kids see it all of the time, walk past it, etc. so I think it will help to improve practice time. The piano I had as a child was in the spare room and didn't promote practice. #2 is thrilled because now he can play music at his cafe when he serves his "customers." My husband sees the piano and its placement as my continuing plot to get rid of him. Guess I better start being more subtle. ________ You know, when a woman is in her early twenties and she says to her husband that she is going to take a shower, somehow, he gets to the shower before her. When a woman is in her late-middle thirties and she tells her husband that she is taking a shower, she is asked to wait until the show is over. You know the world has headed south at that point. (Maybe that is why I got the piano!!)

I bought a piano yesterday. I have wanted one for a while now. The first time I wanted one was in Texas. The Salvation Army and the Thrift Store both would get them in and they would be $100. But I never got around to getting one. A friend here works in the Habitat ReSale Shop and I told him if a good piano comes in to let me know. "Too bad," he said. One had just come in that was really nice, still in tune, had a professional look over, etc, but it sold. Well on Wednesday he told me the lady never came to pick it up. So it was my good fortune, and it is being picked up and delivered today. The boys aren't thrilled. They want to play guitar, flute, violin, recorder, anything but the piano. I have told them if they play piano then they can have other lessons too. We will see how committed they are on piano first! _______ Pollen is still in abundance in Eastern Carolina! I tried to work outside a bit yesterday and came inside with blisters on my eyes. This morning it hurt to open them. I still don't have the garden out! It is bothering me, but not enough to make me do it I guess. Of course, the crunching in my back doesn't motivate me either.

I took the boys to hear an Appalachian story teller last night at the university. He was dressed in bib overalls and had a beard and farmer baseball cap. He looked the part. It was especially interesting to hear him, since he is from western NC and some of the language he used was used in the book I just finished, The Man Who Moved a Mountain. He told stories about life growing up, and stories about Jack, tales handed down for hundreds of years in his family. His family has been recognized as a national treasure of storytelling. Watching Orville tell his stories last night reminded me of home. My Uncle Dan likes to tell stories too. You never know if he is is serious or joking, so you listen to the whole story and then laugh. His stories are very often real ones. It was good to think about home for a while.

I love to tell the story for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest. And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song 'Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long. Easter is still with me. I was mildly surprised to have this realization on Easter Sunday: I like to hear the Gospel story the best. I have been a Christian all of my life, born and bred. I have heard the story all of my life. I used to think my Grandmother was a fanatic, a Jesus Freak, because it was all she wanted to talk about. But I am starting to see that that is all there is to life. It is the story that makes me happy, gives me purpose, lifts me up, encourages me. God loved me so much that He sent his Son to live on this earth and show me his love. Then, he gave the ultimate example of love by sacrificing himself on my behalf. Then, He overcame Satan and came back to life. I love to tell the story "twill be my theme in Glory to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

I have a friend who may have attempted suicide this week, at least she has seriously considered it. I once considered this option when I was in high school. I was in a situation that seemed hopeless, and I didn't know what to do. I wanted out of it, but couldn't see the light. I really wasn't even sure of what I wanted. That is where this friend is. She knows what she is dealing with is wrong, but she doesn't know how to change it or even if she should change it. How sad to see no hope. That, combined with an article I read this week about how poor people in America live, made me think how truly blessed my children are. They may have a father with a bad temper, and a mother who is scatter-brained and flies off the handle at times, but they have never been abused, nor do they question our love for them. They are healthy, and if they weren't we would go to the doctor. They eat good food every day; not once have they gone without eating. They have a warm, dry home without snakes or other critters coming through the floor. Their parents don't smoke, drink, gamble, fight, run-around, neglect, or abuse them. My children know nothing but love. Dear Lord, please bless all the children living in your world this night with love, healing, food, comfort, and hope. Even if just for this one night, let them know You care.

Got some spring cleaning done yesterday. I bought a chest of drawers for the boys' room a few weeks ago, but hadn't gotten it into their room yet. So we cleaned and moved furniture around all day. All of the bedding was washed, the baseboards cleaned, things dusted, papers thrown out...a good day in my opinion! I was also able to clean some of the rest of the house since it was my "night off." I know, I know, but I feel more relaxed at times if I know the house is clean. The point of a night off is to be more relaxed, so sometimes work is relaxing! We are heading to Kinston this afternoon for a little field trip. They have a nice nature center and a health/science museum that is great for small children, and it is free!! I have to lighten up a little this week since the other kids are on spring break.

I do not think like my husband. Last night he tried to give me some tips to a Sudoku puzzle that #2 had received for Easter. I tried to follow where he was leading, but it gave me a headache. I think "what fits?"; he thinks, "what doesn't fit?". I look at one box at a time, maybe a row; he looks at three boxes and columns at once. This isn't a new problem. He reads lots of books at one time; I focus on one. This sounds like he is a man who can multi-task and I am a woman who cannot. That is not true. I keep many balls in the air; he collapses from stress when too much is going on. He is a different thinker than I am, that is all. But last night's "teaching session" helped me remember that I need to try different ways to teach the boys. They may not be as normal as their mother! ;>)

Well, here I am back again. A bit of hit and miss lately, sorry. I was feeling much better by Weds. and Thursday didn't even take the medicines. So Friday I had sat still long enough and went outside to work. I trimmed the goats' hooves, spread fertilizer and helped fix the chicken coop. By Friday evening I was miserable again. So back to the meds I went. I guess I have a problem knowing when to slow down. The kids did well on their standardized tests, at least they think. But I looked at the test booklets when they were done and the material looked easy for them. They keep asking me why home-schooled kids are smarter than other kids. I keep assuring them that they aren't, but that they are privileged to get more attention and so can thrive more easily. I think they like thinking they are smarter though. Today is Easter. This is a great holiday for me. There isn't much in the way of preparation, shopping, decorating, etc. Boil some eggs and pass along some chocolates. The boys like to color eggs- and if they are beautiful enough the Easter Bunny hides them!- and they enjoy making the Ressurection cookies that we do each year. They are getting to the point now that they know what is coming next in the recipe/story. I enjoy the flowers and bursts of spring that occur during the holiday. This part of the country has the most beautiful spring scenery. But maybe the best part of Easter is the memory each year of my hubby asking me to marry him. He filled an Easter basket with plastic eggs. Each egg had a note in it about how much he loved me and wanted to spend his life with me. Then he had me open an egg that had a wonderful letter in it. Then came the final egg that had the ring. He got down on one knee and begged me to marry him- well that is how I remember it anyway. He is a good husband and I have never regretted my answer. Happy Anniversary Honey!

You're probably wondering what happened to the daily blogger. Well, I hurt my back and couldn't stand to be in the chair for long. Monday a week ago, I was lifting a load of wet laundry and felt something pop. By that afternoon I knew I was hurt. I figured it would heal after a couple of days, but instead it continued to worsen. Finally Sunday night I was having waves of nausea from the pain, so I thought it was time to go to the doctor. He gave me 3 different meds and I am finally starting to improve. I know I am improving because I finally tried to clean some house today. Boy, one week off and this place is a disaster!! The boys are testing this week with our homeschool group. The state requires standardized tests each year. My kids actually look forward to it because we test as a group. The moms bring snacks and there is play time involved as well. It means no book work too, always a plus. They feel confident about the tests, and so far say they have been taught everything on the test, so hopefully they are doing well. At least there aren't any races between the boys and girls this year! Last year, #1's group was racing to see who would finish first, boys or girls.

Becky has always been a bit spoiled, well, ok, really spoiled. Surprisingly, it hasn't made her arrogant or snobbish. She has a sweet, flirtacious manner about her. She often is described as "giddy." Becky met a great guy and fell in love. Her father threw a lavish wedding for her, $50,000! It was a great party. There was a string quartet, dancing, lots of fine wine and toasting. The bride was beautiful. She danced with her father first and you could see the joy in her face as she looked up at him. She stopped the quartet halfway through teh song to tell everyone how much she loved her dad and thanked him for this fabulous day. She was nearly jumping out of her skin with pleasure and happiness. George had to have a kidney transplant last year. He was close to death several times. The medications weren't working and he started to reject the donor kidney. Agonizing is the only word to describe his life. The medical bills piled up and he lost his job. The stress of being unable to provide for his family put him in depression. Last week he received a notice that he is losing his house. Shelly, his wife, couldn't take any more and left him 2 days ago. George hated what he had to do, but he had no choice. He went to his father last night and asked for some help. His dad gladly gave him everything he had in his life savings, $50,000. George wept and wept at the enormity of what his father was willing to give for him. Practical Sally, that's what we call her. Don't buy the expensive shampoo, Suave works just as well. Why stay at the Hampton when Motel 6 is right beside it? Sally has had good and bad experiences through her life. She had a nice childhood, some would say the American dream. She went to college, met a nice guy, has a family now. Some things have happened along the way, but Practical Sally always gets through it. Today there was a surprise in the mailbox. Her father had sold his home and made a little profit. He wanted to share it with his children, so here is $50,000. Sally called her dad right away and thanked him properly. She was shocked by the gift, but certainly pleased. After she hung up the phone, she also sat down to write her dad a note. It was the right thing to do. Eric is known as a druggie. He was rebellious as a teen, did what he wanted, wouldn't listen to anyone, left home at 17. He hated what his father stood for and the hatred grew in him for years. He hasn't spoken to his father in a really long time, though he does think of him now and then. Eric has never held a job, everyone was always against him. He tried to get what he deserved by gambling, but somehow the big bucks were always just out of reach. He had borrowed a lot of money from the wrong people, and now he was afraid and hopeless. He is constantly running. His father heard through a friend that Eric was in big trouble. He sent $50,000 to Eric's bookie. Eric was stunned that his father would do such a thing. He didn't think his dad was that kind of guy. He quietly went to his father and asked forgiveness. He spent time in rehab for a while, but the biggest change has come from shadowing his father. Eric is changing; he is gentle, softer. He works hard and earnestly wants to please his dad. Each person was given the same gift by the same person. An exorbitant gift from a father to his child. Each child responded differently based on his personality, situation, and understanding. Each child showed gratitude; the father was thanked and appreciated. The same is true of all of us. We have all been given the same gift by our father. We all come to thank him, but because our personalities, situations, and understandings are all different our thankfulness is expressed differently. Some of us are giddy with celebration, some weep with gratitude, others are practical and proper in their thanksgiving, and still others are earnest and hardworking. Only the Father knows if the worship is from the heart. Go today and worship Him who is deserving of your praise, however that praise may manifest itself.

A thin yellow blanket covers our cars this time of year. The long-leaf Eastern Pine is, I suppose, the equivalent of the West Coast Redwood. It is a tall, stately tree with very long needles and huge pine cones. They are great to look at and provide the area with all of the "pine straw" any landscaper coould desire. BUT every spring the pollen fills the air. Many suffer from allergies to the pollen. Thankfully our family doesn't suffer too badly, burning eyes and some wheezing. The real question is who is going to wash the car?! Hubby decided to dig yesterday while I was in Spanish class. He took out 18 wheelbarrows full of dirt. The pond is getting lower and the garden is getting higher, just what we need to happen. The dirt from the pond is being put on the garden because of a flooding problem that has cost me my harvest every year. Hopefully, this year will yield more for our labor.

I watched Man of the Year with my husband last night. It was a little raunchier than I prefer, but the premise was good. Really there are 2 stories going on at once: A woman has detected an error in voting tabulations and tried to report it. Now the company is coming after her because that kind of info will make them lose a lot of money. The other is that a political comedian is elected President and the repercussions of that. It has some interesting thoughts; how much can we rely on the voting process to be correct, and when will politicians stop their rhetoric and paybacks and just help our country? All of the talk about this current election being more people driven because of the internet and devices like youtube, makes the movie a little more believable. ___________ Still working on the garden and pond. I sure hope the backyard wildlife appreciates it.

Today is another co-op day. Before co-op there is a fire safety program, then lunch, then co-op; a very full day, I would say. I recently offered to homeschool the children that I care for, thinking it would be easier all the way around, for the parents and myself. They thought about it for a few days but came to the conclusion that they really want their kids to be with their peers. I am fine with that, I had started to wonder about schooling all of them and how tired would I be, but the funny thing is that the kids are in Montessori. That means they are with kids of various ages, just like homeschool. This week the kids went to art class at the university, attended a county council meeting for 4-H, had their 4-H, and now today's program and co-op. My children are not lacking being with their peers! One mother I was talking with recently put it this way, "When we started homeschooling last year, people asked me about socialization. My kids get more socialization now than they did when they were in school. They always had too much homework to socialize before." Homework. Even the first grader that I care for is having homework and the parents are having trouble keeping up. I really don't remember having homework until high school. I never gave homework as a professional teacher. I guess the corporate world has leaked into school: work all day and then take some home to work all night. Where is the rest and joy of life?

I just read a sad story on msn. It seems that Americans over-react to marital affairs. They should be expected. Just get over it and move on; the change will make your marriage more exciting. The author cited examples from other countries where the "fall-out" from affairs is not as bad as in America. At least he did quote a therapist as saying women have little rights in the other countries and they deal with it by using suicide. Affairs may happen, God can forgive; but expecting an affair is just plain wrong. _________ When I was a child we played cowboys and indians. On Sunday afternoons, my dad and I would lie on the couch and watch westerns together. My kids lived with their grandparents for a year when they were young, so they also had the experience of watching westerns and playing cowboys and indians. But it seems the new generation has a new frontier. My children's friends, and my children, are enamoured with Star Wars. They watch the movies, talk about Star Wars at every chance meeting, and they play Star Wars battles. The boys went out with their dad the other night and #1 had to buy ANOTHER light saber...because they don't have a red one! It doesn't matter that there are already 6 light sabers out in the yard and only 2 children living here; you have to have a red one. May the force be with you. __________ Ok, husband's weird humor: Last night a commercial was on for a vacuum cleaner. They were talking about how all of the other vacuums need bags and filters. But this one doesn't. It has a strong wind tunnel and can suck up anything. Buy a Dyson. My husband quietly says, "So I guess Dyson really sucks." Maybe they weren't thinking it through when they wrote the commercial.

The kids attend an after school art class on Mondays at the local university. This week they were to listen to music and draw the way the music made them feel. One of the songs was "I fought the Law". #2 thought it was a great song, but he misunderstood it to say, "I fought the dog and the dog won." I imagine that could be a good song too. _______________ I went to see Amazing Grace yesterday. It is a very good movie about the politics behind the abolition of slavery in Britain. It is like unto a documentary, so not something you want to go to on the only date you get every year, but a good, thought provoking movie if you get out more often. I will say again, my study of slavery amazes me. The faith in God that the slaves had, a faith given by their masters, is unreal. I do not think I would serve a God that says the evil I am experiencing is ok. Which brings me to women in the Middle East. I would have a hard time serving the God of the Koran. I love the Lord of the Bible who says all people are equal and special. None are to be treated poorly because they are weaker, but are to be treated better for their weakness. May the Lord bring peace and justice to the world soon.

I watched the sun come up this morning. What a thrill to see its red sphere seemingly float between the clouds, waving like a banner that a new day is here. It was a warm morning, and I stood on the deck and stretched while the birds sang. I love a good spring morning! The weather is saying 70 and 80 degree weather is upon us and I still don't have the garden out. I just don't seem to have the time to get the cool weather vegetables planted. Always I say, "Next year." I wonder if it will ever really happen? The strawberries are in full bloom. That is one of the best parts of living in Eastern Carolina-- fresh strawberries. _______ So yesterday I gave you my conclusions, but didn't tell you what I was questioning. I want to know why people don't see a need for a close relationship with God. Why is it ok to have a "good enough" relationship? This is from Meister Eckhart: "Three things caused Mary to sit at our Lord's feet. The first was that God's goodness had embraced her soul. The second was a great, unspeakable longing: she yearned without knowing what it was she yearned after, and she desired without knowing what she desired! The third was the sweet consolation and bliss that she derived from the eternal words that came from Christ's mouth." It would seem from this that we need to let peole know what it is that they desire, because based on what I said yesterday, they are mistaken about their own yearnings.

I've been doing some thinking lately and have come to a few conclusions. Right or wrong, here is what I have decided (for now at least). When I was young people wanted to get ahead in life. But that didn't mean being the richest person around. It meant providing well for your family; no hunger or pain, a few pleasures, maybe a vacation every year or so. Being with family and friends was important because they helped make your life complete; they made you who you were. There was time for what was important, God. The difference now is that it isn't good enough to provide well. You need to provide very well, and your level of comparison is not just people in the town where you live, but people from all over the world. Providing well has little to do with hunger and pain, but more to do with electronics and private schools. The few pleasures fill the house and overflow into storage sheds, and vacations are world travels. This leaves very little time for what used to be considered important. There is little time for family, less for friends (when is the last time you played cards with friends?), and though God may get a cursory glimpse on Sundays, He really isn't given much importance. Your wealth is what makes you who you are now, not family, not friends, and not God. Those are my conclusions. I don't have solutions yet.

I am making Irish Soda Bread Scones for breakfast. Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone. We plan to go to the park this afternoon for a cookout with church friends. We got some new kites and will be trying those out. The weather changed yesterday, so no 75 degree balmy weather, but it is March, you know. We started the taxes last night. This is how poor hubby gets to spend his spring break. At least it doesn't look like we have to pay any extra. That could really ruin his break!

I was thinking yesterday about how rich I am. I have a wonderful husband who makes comments like, "I can't afford the wife I have." (He told me this means that I am worth a lot more than he can afford. I'm still not sure that was the intent, but it was his explanation.) I have great kids that I get to homeschool and be with a lot. I get to have more kids several times a week and I get payed for it. I have good friends who come to help me. I have a great home and place to live. I am able to spend time outside....on and on it went. I am RICH!!! _________ We have been working on digging a pond for our backyard habitat. It is supposed to be 2-3 feet deep so that amphibians can hibernate in the winter. Yesterday we hit the water table. A lot of learning went into that--where did the water come from, where will it go? But I suppose the most learning was the mud wrestling. 4 of the boys were out there, knee high in mud, declaring dragon nests, jumping in puddles, etc. I was digging and enjoying their play, when I heard #4 yelling at something under the van to get out. I thought it was the dog or cat and I went on with my digging. A short while later, he yelled for #3 to come and see. #3 came running back to me to say #4 had caught a mouse. Indeed he had. He was holding a live, wild mouse by the tail. Thankfully it didn't bite him, and I sent him to wash right away. We fed the mouse to the dog and had a little biology lesson. That was what made me start thinking about how rich I am. It was a fun afternoon that will be a memory to keep forever. I have riches you can not steal.

Yesterday several of the 4H families came over to help us with our Backyard Habitat. It was an old-fashioned work party. We dug on the pond, moved dirt to flowerbeds and the garden, planted seeds, and transplanted flowers. We talked, visited, played, and had a great time. I made lunch for the workers, and that was about it. So many of them thanked me for all I had done. Thank you for inviting us. Thank you, this was fun. Thank you, when can we do it again? It is certainly true that many hands make light work, but I think it is also true that many hands make light hearts. ___________ It is surprising how much a chair can change a room. My husband's new chair has transformed his room into a little haven. I am afraid he doesn't get to enjoy it enough--the rest of us keep taking over. Perhaps this weekend he will enjoy it; the college is on spring break.

My reading this week is one I have enjoyed by Hadewijch of Antwerp. She says, "Be on your guard, therefore, and let nothing disturb your peace. Do good under all circumstances, but with no care for any profit, or any blessedness, or any damnation, or any salvation, or any martyrdom; but all you do or omit should be for the honor of Love (God). If you behave like this, you will soon rise up again. And let people take you for a fool; there is much truth in that. ...You are still young, and you must grow a good deal, and it is much better for you, if you wish to walk the way of Love, that you seek difficulty and that you suffer for the honor of Love, rather than wish to feel love." I don't think this world is ready to hear do all for another because of the other. It is hard to serve God only for God's sake. I want something out of it. But I like the way Hadewijch puts it better than Brother Lawrence. I struggled with his teachings last fall. This seems to make more sense to me, even though it is saying the same thing. Serve God because he is God.

I went to Wal-Mart yesterday evening for a couple of hours. I go there about every 6-8 weeks; whenever we run out of things that will cost too much elsewhere. I had a great time looking at seeds. I think I am addicted. I like the idea of planting something and watching it grow. I suppose it is the bit of God that sits inside of my soul that makes me want to create. I found some seeds for the vegetable garden, but mostly I was looking for the backyard habitat. We are supposed to attract birds and butterflies. I hope they all grow, the pictures looked so pretty. Anyway, while I was there, I heard good-humored swearing on the aisle over from mine. I know people talk like that, but it made me wonder when did that start happening? No one talked like that in public when I was a child. Now I can't protect my children's ears. It is on the radio, commercials, movies that are for children, and in the grocery store. I don't know why it has happened or how, but 30 years (less if I think it was not this way when I was in high school) is not much time for a culture to change.

We got through the weekend. Now #1 has a bad cough, but is up running around like nothing ever happened. Gotta love those mystery fevers. The in-laws only stayed a day, and we were sad. They just had too much to do back home. We love spending time with our family. __________ I have been discussing things with my husband and some other friends. We are perplexed as to why people don't study the Bible. If a class is offered to study the Bible, and your friends are going to be there, then why would you not go? I think it comes down to people not being readers and not seeing the relevance of the Bible to their lives. Very sad. Your father is talking to you, and you hang up the phone.

The retreat went well, I think. I had a good time visiting with the ladies and so, I guess, did everyone else. I was able to take the boys with me for about 40 minutes last night and leave them in the van to watch a movie until their dad could be there to get them. Then today they stayed with a friend for the morning and just watched tv. #1 is tired, but seems to be doing better. The in-laws will be here in a couple of hours. I am always surprised by people's reactions to our families visiting. I think it is a WV "thing" that families and friends stay together and have a good time. We all work together, play together, and just have a great time together. I remember the governor making a comment once during a flood that the aid centers were not full. He said West Virginians usually take care of their own family and neighbors. I have to say that is the experience I have had.

I went out with a friend last night to see a movie. The projector broke, and so we had plenty of time to visit. It was nice to just sit still and catch up with each other. The projector never did get fixed. #1 started feeling poorly yesterday morning and by afternoon had a fever of 102.5. Last night he woke at midnight with the same. This morning I went in check on him and he said, "I feel great!" This is the response you expect from a kid who wants to go to co-op. We all look forward to it. Tonight and tomorrow is a women's retreat and I have to figure out what to do with the sickie now. This is something I so seldom have to work around that it is making me think of those mothers who work outside the home. What a rough life children of single parent homes must have.

Yesterday a friend was telling me of her son seeing a topless woman on the beach. He of course stopped and took it all in. I was wondering, other than the obvious pride in being worth looking at, what did the girl get out of that? She became an object, no longer a person. I am so much hoping my sons don't fall into the American trap of choosing a girl for her body. Now, I know that my husband was lured by more than my intelligence and quick wit, but at least there was something more to be offered than a body. I was listening to a piece on NPR the other day about American actors vs. British actors. It seems that the Brits outdo Americans by a long-shot when it comes to acting ability. The comment was made though, that American actors are a lot better to look at. What does that say about Americans, except that they are shallow and accept anything wrapped in a pretty package.

I went shopping last evening. I know some of you just fell out of your seats!! I was looking for a chest of drawers for the boys and possibly some end tables. I came away with a chest of drawers, 2 end tables, a cocktail table/chest, and a chair and ottoman. Hubby is going to put a limit to my nights off, I do believe! The chair is for his room and is an early birthday present. I wasn't sure I could find a good deal later, so he gets it early. Today is 4H, one of our favorite days. #1 is showing everyone his baby rabbits and #2 is showing a Power Point presentation he made about space. School is fast approaching its end for us, and I think we are all glad. Next year may bring some changes for us. We are looking more and more at unschooling. We aren't to the point of letting it all ride with the children, but it is getting more that way. The boys already do so much more in their play than we do in school, for instance, #2 made this presentation of his own initiative and in his own time. #1 is quick witted and makes me laugh. The other day I heard this conversation: #1 said something and #2 copied. #1 "Copy cat!" #2 "I'm not a copy cat. I'm a vampire!" #1 "Ok, Copy Bat!!"

I tried to have a "real Sabbath" yesterday. I'm not sure how well it went. We worked hard on Saturday to get things done, so I wouldn't feel pressured on Sunday to clean things up or work outside. I put meat in the crock pot so I wouldn't have to cook for the luncheon at church. So the day included: go to Bible class, worship, lunch at church, then home to make bread for the evening's communion fellowship, back to church for Spanish class, back home for a nap, look through papers for the retreat next weekend, and then off to church again for communion. We got out of that so late that we did eat out for dinner, come home and check on the animals, and then read to the boys.Now looking at that I would say I didn't too well, except if I hadn't tried to finish things on Saturday, I guess I would have felt like I couldn't take a nap yesterday. I will try again next week.

The novel that I just finished has had me thinking about Texas. There is so much involved in my memories of Texas, that it is hard to say if it was good or bad. I know for a fact that God sent us there, and had a purpose for our being there, but it was not an enjoyable reason. It was hard work against Satan and we were tired when we left. It has been such a blessing to be in NC. The congregation here is filled with good, Christian people, and so far our fights with Satan have not been overwhelming. I enjoy going to church and have no fears on Sunday of what might happen. My husband is not in constant defense of his job. We have good friends, good jobs, a great place to live, and are closer to family. Truly God has rewarded us. So while I was thinking about this last night, I wasted some time on the computer and looked up people from Texas to see how they are doing. One thing led to another and I found myself looking up information on my brother-in-law. I found out all of his former addresses, close relatives, and even whom one of his roommates was. There is little you can't find out on the internet. It was amazing, exciting, curious, and scary all at once.

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. ... The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. James 1 and 3 I struggle with the sin of lying. I don't tell big ones, just ones to get me out of spots. I have taken control of it as I have gotten older, but yesterday I fell off of the wagon. I had a phone call from a telemarketer, and I didn't want to take it. So I said my usual, "No there is no one by the name of STEED here." (Wrong pronunciation.) But this guy kept going, "Is this 555-5555?" "Yes." And then he asked spellings and continued to question facts. I finally gave the phone to my husband and asked him to get me out of this. The amazing thing is that a few hours later, on another phone call, I lied again. It had been so long since I had struggled with this, that I was shocked by how quickly I turned back. There was a woman who had emailed me and I didn't want to deal with her- she is the type of person who is needy and I wasn't wanting to get involved- and so I didn't respond. When she called on the phone she asked if I had received the email and I lied and said, "No." As simple and quick as that. So this morning I headed back to James to get myself back on the straight and narrow. The tongue certainly is a world of evil.

I just thought some of my Northern Readers would like a glimpse into the warmer clime of the South. Yesterday the boys and I worked on the backyard habitat. We are digging a pond for a water source for the habitat. The boys rolled up their pant legs and waded in the water left from recent rains. They played in the water and mud for a couple of hours. (I guess I was the one working on the habitat.) Last night #2 slept outside in his tent- all by himself, all night. Very brave in my opinion. I think the funniest thing about yesterday was this conversation with #2: "I'm going to sell buckets of this mud to men for their wives. It will be like a day spa. They can put zucchini on their eyes and cover up with mud. I'll charge 10 cents a bucket." So anyone want to be the first customer? Perhaps he was his own advertising, as he said this with his face plastered in mud.

I had a thought yesterday that was new to me. I was thinking about places that stop everything if they find a spotted snowy owl, or some other rare species. My thought had always been, "That is ridiculous for one owl. What really does it matter?" Yesterday the thought came to me, "What if someone said that about a person?" I know people are more important in the scheme of things than animals, but didn't the same God create the owl that created me? Should I berate the craftsmanship He put into the one, just to advance the other? ____________ I had a great day yesterday. All 5 children were here all day, and I still got a good bit done. It was helpful that I could send them outside too. Love that Spring-like weather!! Anyway, my Mountain heritage was coming out and I was cleaning and working up a storm. I finished my Man Who Moved a Mountain a couple of days ago. It was a very good book about a culture becoming exposed to the love of Jesus. I most definitely recommend it.

Yesterday on MSN I read an article about paving your yard. After having just read Last Child in the Woods, it was very disturbing to read MSN. Some guy in CA had paid $90,000 to clear his back yard of any living plants and install a grill, sink, patio, etc. Others are doing the same, even to the point of spending $2,000 on fake plants that will look real for 2-3 years. Why not buy a real plant and get another every year to replace it? Much cheaper and better on the environment. I have to say I was stunned. One statement was that people want everything to look perfect, even if it isn't in season. Some people live in a dreamland. Then I went out and started digging a pond with the boys. We're working on a backyard habitat.

"Much of their language remained unchanged. Some words were straight out of Shakespeare: sallet for salad, sech for such, and afeard- a word Lady Macbeth used. They rhymed yet with wit, and changed it to hit for emphasis- just as Chaucer did. They used double words for clarity's sake- biscuit-bread, ham-meat, ham-bacon, toad-frog, tooth-dentist, church-house, and granny-woman (midwife). An irritable man was techous, and a spotted horse was piedy. A lazy man piddlediddled his life away; an energetic one worked from kin-see to cain't-see. Some picturesque expressions evolved: morn-gloam, dusty-dark, a nothin'-doin' sort of day. A man given to boasting about his travels was journey-proud. And since Scots seldom made generalities, they would qualify: "Least I've heared it that way all my life," or "I never knowed it to happen out that way." I have started reading a book called The Man Who Moved a Mountain, about the life of Bob Childress. It is the biography of a mountain man of the Blue Ridge who turns preacher. So much in the book has had me reflecting on my own life. Many of the words just shared are ones from my childhood. Many of the traits and characteristics of people I can find in my own family and self. Much has changed in the last generation- I believe because of better roads and television- so that those growing up now would probably not know these things. My own husband- city-raised - doesn't remember many of them. But he has been on mission trips to Appalachia, Deep Appalachia, and he has seen so much with his own eyes. People waste their lives with drugs and alcohol because they don't see any future, and know nothing else from the past. My family escaped that; none were given to drink and education was esteemed. But just down the road, in any direction, you could find the characters of this book. I am sure I will write more about it. ___________________ I have #1 in my drama class in co-op. Yesterday was our first class, and he is really quite good. He knows how to make an entrance, how to add a little drama, can provide direction to others. I was impressed. He also has been doing well in our poetry unit we started this week. He has a way with words, and knows how to paint a feeling with words.

We have been reading Mark in school lately. I noticed yesterday that I had underlined parts in the past. I underlined phrases that showed people's response to Christ. The people pressed him, pushed him, ran to him, crowded him. I have been missing that drive for a while now. I haven't felt the need to read scripture as often or as deeply. My mind has been consumed with other thoughts and projects. I have been tired, preoccupied... I have not been the Lover that He deserves. I have not stopped praising him and thanking him for all that he has done for me, but like a selfish child, I have thanked him and expected more for nothing. I am confident that I have disappointed my Lord. This is my public announcement to do better. Out of the mouth comes the overflow of the heart. May my speech be full of God.

Well the kids are back. I got them on Friday and we made it back for #1's first martial arts class. He said he remembered a lot of it from when he took lessons years ago in TX. He will also be taking martial arts on Fridays for the next 6 weeks in co-op so he ought to be good at it. The kids had a cotton day on Saturday with 4-H. They each had sewn a knapsack. #2 won first place in his age category. #1 somehow missed that he was supposed to put his article in to be judged. But perhaps that is better since he won't have any hurt feelings. So by Saturday evening the kids had meltdown from too much vacation and a long 4-H day. We spent it quietly trying not to kill anyone, though Daddy said they were about to head to Military School. Sunday we went to see Bridge to Terabithia. It is very, very sad. It wasn't really what my kids would normally watch, but I think it was ok for #1. Probably 4 grade and up would be best. There is a little swearing, be warned. ______________ I found out that a friend keeps a Sunday "Sabbath" and I plan to ask about it. Hopefully I will learn something.

This is my last day without the kids. It is amazing how much more I get done when I don't have to teach school. I guess it is like having another full-time job. The kids have had a good time, but are ready to come home. I got my husband a card and donuts for Valeantine's Day. He got me a can of mace. Doesn't sound good, I know, but it was a sweet thought. The goat keeps attacking me and he was trying to protect me. I guess Elvis will get maced today. Poor thing.

Something happened yesterday that surprised me. My dad told me a few weeks ago that he wants to sell the farm, but wondered if I am planning on coming back to it. I laughingly told him to let me know when he has an offer and then I will decide. He often makes statements for the joy of a response, so I wasn't really worried about it. Then yesterday I had a conversation with my mother-in-law and she asked what I thought of my parents selling the family farm. Evidently dad told her that they won't sell it soon, but after mom retires in a few years, then they will sell it and travel. That wasn't really what surprised me. I didn't like hearing it from someone else, but still consider it blowing hot air. I started thinking about my childhood there, about not having a "family farm" anymore, where would my children and grandchildren consider me to be from if they don't know my farm... on and on the thoughts came. But as to what surprised me, in the afternoon I had this thought, "I have no idea what will happen between now and then, why am I worrying about this? God has always provided what is best, and why would it be any different now? God this is all yours. You solve it however you want and I won't worry about it anymore." I have given things over to God before, but it was the swiftness with which I gave it to him that surprised me. Normally I would think about it, solve the problem, think of all possible scenarios, and then, when I am wiped out, then I will give it to God. What a joy to only hang onto this for an hour or so.

The rain has held off here, so I am working outside still. I am trying to have a good attitude about it, but I am struggling. We had to replace the chicken coop wire because the goats have torn it up and the chickens keep getting out. Well, Elvis stuck his horns into the wire again and nearly ripped the new wire. I put him in the goat pen and he broke down the gate to try and get back to me. So then I had to fix the gate as well. The chickens can get out under the field fence and with the french drain work starting soon, I need those chickens to stay in the field. The goats keep eating staples and cardboard and getting in my way, the chickens are digging in all of the things I am digging and planting, and the cats and dog just can't get enough attention. I feel like my kids are still here!! It would be ahumorous movie, but living it is not that great. The kids are having fun. They have played in the snow enough to last all year. They also have that Big Grandma tied around their pinkies. They asked her for a bell and a menu for breakfast, and she provided BOTH!! Everyone needs some spoiling I suppose.

My husband passed out yesterday. He got up from bed to walk to another room and just passed out. It was a full-body fall, with no idea it was coming, so he is sore today from the fall. He seems to have a cold today, but otherwise is fine. It was disconcerting, but we seem to be ok now. The boys are enjoying lots of snow. They got to snowboard and sled. Today they go to the other grandparents. If all goes well I will get them this Friday, but it is supposed to snow 12 inches in the next day or so. So I am hoping to get lots done! Today is the only nice weather we are to have so it will be spent outside.

I drove half-way to WV yesterday and met my in-laws. We all had lunch, and then they took the boys on home with them. The boys are staying with my parents for the weekend, since my mother still works. Then they will spend the week with my in-laws, and we will meet again on Friday to return the children home. The boys hope to enjoy some sledding and snowball fights. Hopefully the temperature will warm up enough for them to do that. On the way back yesterday, I saw a flock of swans. At least that is what it looked like to my imperfect eyes. They were too big to be ducks or gulls, and they were white. So I think they were swans. I have never seen anything like that, except for in the movie The Ugly Duckling. I have made a list of things I owuld like to accomplish while the boys are gone. Some will need the weather to cooperate in order to complete, but it looks like today will be a lovely day. So much for my talk about resting! _____ I had a chicken die yesteray while I was gone. No idea why, just dead. I also listened to a talk show while driving back. It was discussing poultry and the Avian Flu. There seems to be a lot of disagreement about what to do.

I was talking with some friends last night and found that I am not the only one who has a problem with the idea of Sabbath. How can we find an entire day to rest? If we give up a whole day to "holy leisure" then the rest of the week is very stressful trying to catch up. Learning to say "No" to other events seems to make a difference through the week. But still we deal with the issue of getting our kids to other functions, giving them opportunities, filling our lives. One statement we read was that Modern Man's life is no longer lived by days, but by events. _______ Tonight is Achievement Night for the County 4-H Program. Our club hopes to sweep the house! The boys go to WV tomorrow to enjoy some winter weather for a week. They had 7 inches of snow fall just a few days ago.

I started reading a novel by Francine Rivers this week. I have had to take a break, because of my schedule and because I am tired from staying up late to read. The book is about a man who is told to marry a prostitute during the California Gold Rush. It is a parody of Hosea. There are many thoughts that have intrigued me, but the most impressive has been that Satan's voice is the voice of Reason. It is not God's voice that tells you what seems to make sense, but Satan's. He tells her this man can't really want to love her. As soon as other, more appropriate women, come to CA then he will leave her. On and on...and it seems to be what you would expect. It is God who is saying give it a chance, trust me, it will work out. How often in life we must hear the voice of Satan, and it seems reasonable. God's voice is a small whisper, that seems to make no sense, but eventually leads to a better life. No wonder it takes faith to be a Christian.

OK, this does not surpass getting chickens and a duck from a wedding, but here is what happened yesterday. I was trying to take a Sunday afternoon nap when the doorbell rang. As I rushed to dress, #2 answered the door and then yelled for me. As quickly as I could, I got to the door. There stood a hispanic man and around the corner of the house came another man and a boy about 10 years old. The man at the door asked me in very broken English if I had any chickens for sale. No I didn't. He said "Oh." and then hung his head and kicked his foot, like a sad little schoolboy. So I asked him if it was ok if they were young- 4 months- and how many did he want. He wanted 2 and yes it was fine if they were young. I got little else out of him because of the language barrier. Every question I asked was answered with yes. Do you want it to eat or do you want a layer? Yes. Do you want it to eat? Yes. Do you want a layer? Yes. Do you have something to put them in? Yes. So I stopped talking and just got him two of the wedding chickens. He was excited to see the goats and asked if I would sell one of them. I told him no, I need them still, but in a couple of months I might sell Elvis and some rabbits. I caught the chickens and they climbed in their van- I never saw them put into something; I can't imagine what the van looks like! So they left 2 chickens richer and $10 poorer. I wonder how many more people will show up on my doorstep now. ____________ #1 won the chili cook-off in his category last night. He entered the Burning Bush category. His competition was the best cook in the church, so he should be very proud to win. #2 and I were 2 of the judges. I won't do that again next year- I am paying a high price for it today!

5 Baby rabbits entered the world yesterday afternoon. There are 4 black and white spotted and 1 black. Christa made a great nest and they are very warm and comfy despite the cold weather. I figured out hte January bills last night and discovered that I made $28 on the farm this past month. Of course, I spent more than that on the animals, but at least it is a little more balanced. Plus we get great milk and eggs! ________________ I took the boys to the community building last evening to register for martial arts classes. No one showed up to register the kids. There were about 40 children there, mostly very young, and one of the parents started organizing games with them to keep the kids occupied while we waited. It was such a good thing to do. At the same time, another parent was moaning and complaining about all of it, and then felt her child had been called out when he wasn't. (I didn't see the play so I don't know.) She continued to complain during the 45 minutes we were there. Then at the end of the time, we signed a paper saying we were there and they will call us about the class. I passed the sign-up sheet to the complaining woman and gave her the pen too. She said she had a pen. I said well it wasn't mine and maybe it would be good to pass it on with the sheet for those who may not have a pen. "Whatever Lady," was her remark. I walked off mumbling to myself about what a pleasant person she was, but when I got to the car, I realized I should have responded with sympathy for someone who must have been having a rough day. Christian responses are not instinctual.

It snowed yesterday in East Carolina! We had about 1/2 an inch, but heard that Kinston had 2 inches. I needed to go to a store in Kinston, so I loaded the kids in the van and we took off. We played in the snow at the Nature Center, and had a great snowball fight. The rain started around 10:00, so it was short lived, but I was reminded of how beautiful the snow is. The most wonderful thing was seeing a flock of robins land in our yard and field when the snow started. I didn't know robins travel in flocks, but we counted 16 and there were many more. _________ Right now Christa is making a nest, so we should have baby rabbits today! At least it isn't freezing, raining still though. _________ I have had a week of friends this week. I watched the children of a friend on Weds. while she went to a job interview, and then we got to visit when she returned. I went to a friend's house on Tuesday evening to help her with something. A friend invited me to dinner on Weds. to celebrate my birthday, and on Thursday evening I went to a movie pre-screening with another friend. It is good to be surrounded by friends. _________ The boys finished their sewing projects yesterday, knapsacks. They did a good job for a first project. It is for a celebration of cotton. The National Wildlife Federation has an interesting cotton article. Did you know that only 35% of cotton is used for cloth? Nearly 60% is used for oil and meal. Cottonseed oil shows up in cookies, potato chips, marinades, salad dressings, and many other processed foods. Cotton meal is given to dairy and beef cattle as a high-protein feed supplement. Seven of the fifteen pesiticides commonly used on cotton in the USA are listed as "possible", "likely", "probable", or "known" human carcinogens by the EPA. Who would have thought organic cotton was important?