off your butt sandy

Not the exact house we will have in Florida, but one similar. Hoping the sun shines like that though.
whole day of not doing much of anything...tomorrow will be different. Needed today I think, at least that is what dear friends and family kept telling me, as I sat around and did nothing rather well. I think I have even let my fire go out in the wood burner.
Tomorrow I have to plan, pack, pray...not in that order necessarily. I have began to get a few details lined up, but time to ramp up and put 'er in gear. Weather has been fair in the Sunshine state, not amazing. But, I do promise ahead of time not to complain about the cool 50* temps or whine about the cloudy weather. I am sure I will be blessed for that be grateful...

winter in the barn

Bundled up and ready for anything. It was chilly but our guys are real troopers. Even after playing, fighting, and chasing the cat, they were still willing, sorta, to pose for these pictures. Getting the two of them together looking happy and still can be a task. Good thing for digital photography cause I deleted quite a few. Course they were from my phone camera. Notice the muddy boots. Gotta love dirty farm boys. I have decided that toddlers are like puppies; one is a blast, a great deal of work, but fun to watch, to enjoy playtime, and the silly antics of the small and cute. BUT TWO, oh my...they are over the top. What a weighty gift. The responsibility, the laundry, the poopie butts, the endless serving of mac n cheese. Yes, they may make a mess, or many messes, pee on the new carpet, but what the heck the Stanley Steamer guy needs the work. The smiles are endless and joy immeasurable. No mom, no Grammy, no Grandma, would ever trade jobs with anyone. Thanks dear baby boys for keeping my life adventure exciting and oh so blessed.

Kimmel' s to the Core

love to eat

Love to drink

Very appropriate captions for the boys two favorite activities. Yes, Kaleb's shirt is a bit on the small side; shows off those baby muscles nicely though don't ya think? DA always has to have a spoon or a fork, but always eats with his other empty hand. So does that make him left-handed or right-handed? Do we judge by his fork hand or his food hand? Either way he knows how to get it into his mouth. He can even eat yogurt with his fist. Messy, but efficient.
Bev and I spent some time talking today. We are definitely in agreement on the "this is sure stressful" part of the "what to do with a baby girl" conversation. those quotation marks are kinda senseless, sorry. It is past ten. should have written instead of watching Law n Order.
My anxiety level has been elevated. I should make up a color coded level chart like the terror alert to give the family a heads up before they enter the house. I could hang a banner over the back door so they knew how much armor do don before coming inside. I am not sure if it is something physical from my thyroid issues, regular old anxiety disorder, or perhaps a bit situational. Or perhaps a mix of all three. I considered calling a doctor today but wasn't sure which one, so I decided to wait on a sign from God. Picked up the phone and it was a recorded message from the shrinks office reminding me of an appointment I had forgotten, tomorrow morning....Guess we will start there. God's mercy abounds and He is a present help in time of need.

Kimmel

Growning

Spose we all gotta grow up sometime. Baby horses, baby boys, grammies, sons and daughters.
Winter seems to have set in kinda serious like. The view from where I am sitting is white and gray with a few brown undertones. More snow is foretold to be on its way into the area; soon.
I have missed writing and felt the push to get back at it. My time and brain function do not seem to follow the same schedule. Even now nap time is calling loudly. But the house is quiet, even the dogs are not make annoying dog noises, licking, chewing, snorting, scratching. Two large dogs can produce a symphony of annoyances. I cannot believe I spelled that correctly the first time. Spellchecked twice and no apparent glitches. Thoughts are a bit random. Yep they are.
Another Allen and Stacey baby is on the way; a baby girl is to be born mid to late April. The blessed parents are incarcerated, again. History thought to be a great teacher, supposing the student is attentive, seems to be repeating itself. Perhaps one would be tempted to inquire of this writer what the plans are. We are waiting for God to reveal that in a blaze of fire in the sky. Cause at this point no one here has a clue. I am confident there is a Plan, and it will be revealed; but my feeble selfish mind and heart cannot see past their own brick wall of denial. Groaning prayers are offered up knowing God's Glory will be revealed in my weakness.
Alas, I love using that word in literary works, potty and bed are winning this battle. But I did write, albeit, weakly.

I don't think I like goats on my porch

Teenagers, Toddlers, and One Woman's Sanity

I like to title something I write before I begin plucking away. I suppose I believe it gives me direction, like a goal to shoot for or some such notion. Besides it is easy to be quick witted and creative with a mere sentence; the challenge is to be able to produce a longer piece of work that holds up to the title teaser. So if I fall short of my preset goal the delete tab frees me from feelings of failure and self depreciation.

From the baby room, I hear a tractor engine and the chatter of the little farmer at work. The younger brother already asleep is oblivious to all the plowing and harvesting happening in the next crib. Both boys step into turbo drive just before bed, as if trying to squeeze every ounce of activity out of the day. Or, they simply want me to step over the edge.

Shucks, I had wanted to pen so much more; but alas, the lids are droopy and the brain is numb. Evening included an extended discussion on grades, homework, true honesty, and losing television privileges. Tentative conclusions were reached and a glimpse of humility spotted just over the horizon. Tomorrow holds the Hope of new adventures, larger victories, and a riding lesson at 10 AM.

The vet did come last night and administer the usual gallon of mineral oil to three gallons of warm water through a tube and into the belly of the over fed filly. Mia's diet for the next two days consists of banamine paste, and a few fistfuls of hay, no grain. She is most unhappy watching her two barn mates much down sweet feed and a heap of hay. Oh the pain of consequences.

OK, its like this...I am in the barn hanging out with my three year old filly, Mia, who very recently ingested way more goat feed than a horse is supposed to. Have a call into my vet, who is on the way. Just grooming, brushing her; more to calm me than her. Her barn neighbor the not so friendly Zulu, named accurately for the African warrior, stretches her long black neck around the corner to snap out a not so friendly nip at my soon to be ailing friend. Defending my rightful sovereignty as Queen of the Barn, I take a swing at the nasty mare. I miss of course. The rubber curry comb clutched in the defending arm is lost in the momentum and swirls across the yard. My ever-faithful dog Howard, who was nowhere to be seen only moments ago sweeps into view making off with the blue treasure almost before I realize I have lost it...Of course.
And I wait for the vet.

Oh where O where have I been. Wish I knew. This summer has flown/crawled by, flown mostly. Jen started back to school today with classes beginning on Monday. Jer goes back September 1. Oh nuts.

quite the summer...yep

yep

Baby Brio

Monday morning past, we welcomed Zippo's Cool Brio Bar into our barn family. The little filly was born just after 3:00 AM, as predicted by good friend Barry Beatty. After checking new mother Summer at 1:30 with nothing exciting going on, Jer looked out the observation window just after 3:00 to discover the wee one just kicking her way out of the birth sac. Rushing to call me on the cell phone we kept missing each other as I was trying to call him to see what was going on. Jer was sleeping in the barn and I was at home with daddy-no-arms. Ha...We have a bed and a day bed in the barn office. I will have to continue later as my patient needs a pill and I need to go to bed. Just wanted to post these pics...God is so good to continue to bestow such precious gifts on one so unworthy...

more wedding pics

Jer's First Jump Show

Time Passing

What a beautiful wedding. So much time has passed, and so much has happened. Our lives are full of God's goodness and love. My family is growing and I am loving it. Having daughters, in-law or otherwise, is the best. My sons are happy and blessed by these incredible women that God has blessed them with. I know, never end a sentence with a preposition. Oh well, least of my worries. Our lives are enriched by Jen and Hannah. It's like coloring in the circles that are our lives.
I miss writing. I can't seem to stretch my hours to include the time needed to consider my thoughts and weave them into words. Every day is an adventure; be it with babies, boys, men, or equine. Of course I still have Howard the Wonder Dog, and Lucy, and Lucy the Cat. Each human or animal keeps my life full of laughter wonder. I am filled to the overflow.

the last few

Funny, the last few pictures I have posted are some of my very favorites. Those two boys are such a delight...in pictures anyways. In real life they are a whole lot of work. Just pure simple, backbreaking, neck-stretching, bend and reach and chase, and spank; work. And, a sweet delight, even in real life. Just bring on the motrin and the heating pad. Ha.
I also like the view from my front porch. In the weeks and months prior to moving up here I did not know if I would be able to leave the home of half my lifetime. I had cried a hundred million tears and relived a bazillion memories; happy and sad. So much of who and what I am came from that old house. But God is so good about getting us through those situations for which we can hold no hope of our own. As excited as I was about the new house, deep roots grew around the house and were bound into the heart flesh of my soul. Yet never once since the first night we slept in this house on the hill have I ever looked back. My California Colonial ranch became home from moment one. And I am forever grateful. I could not ask for anything more. My God is more than faithful; he is generous and kind. I am blessed. And I am home.

Front Porch View & Kitchen Floor Fun

Big enough

a sink large enough to bath two babies and still have room for fun. They were not "Home Alone"
Bruises from playing like country boys, not abusive grandparents. Though the one on DrewAllen's forehead was inflicted by his older brother and a door. Today Kaleb came around the back of the Gator and hit his head on the tailgate. Jer told him he was OK and not to worry about it. After only a very few tears he was not worrying. Later though, I did note a little bump and some broken skin. He could have gotten away with a few more tears, if Grammy had paid more attention. While his little brother sat discontentedly in the stroller, Kaleb helped carry manure and give grain and water to the horses. He even called for "Mia" in the field. Any language for him is a great blessing to a grandma's ears.

Below, this morning's second baby arrived with a little help from Grandpa Drew. Still sticky from its bumpy arrival, after only a few minutes of rolling around in the hay it was up walking and eating. A day in the life....

Resting in His Care

So much has happened in the last weeks and months, I am at a loss as to how to describe or denote all of the excitement, crazy emotions, weary toiling, or Grace of God. That Grace has been the overriding factor and evidence of all that has transpired. Our new home is like a palace, not in size but in majesty and beauty. All details come together to create a warm and comfy environment that is a blessing to me and all my chicks, large and small. I still do not have any photos, not downloaded to my computer anyway, maybe this weekend. I want to be able to write, that is one of my passions and also I believe by confirmation from several other persons, unknown to each other, a call on my life. Yet my weariness overtakes my fingers and my brain. Please God, show me how to use the hours of each day in a way that brings glory to you and peace to me soul.

Moving

Its as close to official as I can hope for. We are moving on Saturday. So many thoughts, fears, hopes, worries, excitements, WORK, things to think about, to plan, people to feed, babies to care for. Please pray for our stamina, peace of mind, peace of mouth (for me). My biggest fear is that we (I) will not be ready on Saturday. I do not want to frustrate those who have graciously agreed to help. Again, I walk in Faith in a God Bigger than me....