Farming and Failing

If you haven't failed at enough things in life, then you should take up farming.  We learn more lessons around here than you can find in any textbook.

"Country folks know a lot of stuff that ain't wrote down nowhere."  And, this is why I like raising my kids in the country!

We have some really funny books by Judge Roy English and I'll use some of his quotes here!

We went horseback riding and had a great time.  Later that night we were resting when we heard a loud mooing sound. They were all happily grazing many acres away as we rode, but the ONE GATE on the opposite end of the farm that we left open--they FOUND-- and then ended up in my front yard only an hour later.  When I flipped on the front porch lights is was like a seen from the show Mobbed.  The bushes that I spent the summer "saving" were trampled and eaten, but hey, the yard is greener than ever.

We go down to pick up 8 eggs with kids and then we make it home with 4.  Oh well, the dogs enjoy them.

We planted blueberry bushes near our pastures....well, the goats break out and have enjoyed those blueberries and I think I have had one.

I was standing on some soaking wet ground once and let a metal chain in my hang swing into the electric fence BY THE CHARGER.  I was shocked so bad that I got out my cell to call my neighbor and tell her in case I did not make it home...funny now...but not then.

"A rooster does the crowing while a hen does the work."  Isn't that the truth-ha!

We bought some young "hens" from someone despite that we said, "they sure do have a big comb, are you sure they are hens?"  Well, Henny and Penny became Lenny and Denny quickly and then ...J ate them.

"Don't ever name a pig you plan to eat."  Well, we did and Barbie is delicious about  twice a week!

We found a cat in our freezer--alive--after 4 hours of enjoying snacks.

Donkeys make great guardian animals...well, that rarely works out.  Ours tore up fences, fought with the horses, and stole calves she was supposed to be protecting.

We built four nice laying boxes for our chickens, only to find out that they prefer laying in the goats' hay (where eggs get trampled), and all 14 of them prefer to use the same box (must be like ladies always wanting to go to the restroom together--must be instinct).

"Stuff tends to break when it's loaned or borrowed."   We have repaired quite a few things that are not our over they years and we have never gotten back and gotten back damaged farm goods from quite a few folks!

Then, there is the garden.  So that we won't feel bad about all the stuff that coons get and that we let rot, we got a pig last year and that was a good remedy for that "failure."   It never rains enough here for good melons really, but we still keep trying and our cantaloupes really made us proud a few years.

Our lawn mower takes so much time to repair that I am seriously considering bringing the goats up to visit this summer.  "If it ain't broke, chances are it will be."  This is the mantra of my hubby!

We had some new friends over recently and the next morning I went out in the yard with the kids to find something really welcoming.  There was an enormous cow femur that was next to our sidewalk!  I suppose from the looks of it that a coyote had enjoyed it and then our dogs brought it home.  I am surprised our new friends did not go straight home.

"If at first you don't succeed, try raising rabbits..."  Maybe that is a thought for next year.

Winter...the blogging blues

I have been so busy with #3 that I have not been blogging for publishing.  I do have some drafts written as I have been journaling  through our adoption journey each month and all the fun things I am learning to love about our new little one.  It is also hard to find pictures that she is not in as I just don't have peace about putting her mug on the world wide web quite yet!  Still, the boys have been busy playing around the farm and in their new sandbox, so I thought I would add some shots of them growing up!

Redneck Tennis player

Valentino born on Valentine's Day

Fun in January!

The boys are starting to ride alone more these days!

Is this not a hoot?

Classic.

Farm finger painting while the boys ride..yes, that is mud. 

Jeb is getting a good taste of what being a teacher is like.  He is attempting to read his library book to these jokers in the box.

Small group bowling action!  We took about 15 kids to the bowling alley and it was CHAOS...but fun.

Random Family rumblings...second month adoption reflection

A natural cheerleader! 

We had a fun bowling outing with our small group and friends! 

First trip to the zoo! You loved it.  The Gibbons were really putting on a show and you loved all their funny noises.  You had so much fun on the big playground with your brothers. You think you can do everything they can.

Fun at the zoo!

Silly kids

This girl .loves to get eggs! 

Classic!

Farm Finger Painting in the mud.

Little J is getting really opinionated about his clothes...ugghhh...so now I am hoping to say each weekend, "you pick 3 and I pick 2" so that he can wear all his clothes instead of just a few.

Cay and I are setting a lot of traps in the woods these days for animals.

Little Miss is really noticeably better at some physical things like two-feet jumping, running over rough terrain without falling, and climbing up fences, walls, and banks with great gusto!  She has also learned to master the forward flip!

YES, they called us with a girl but she is a rough and tumble little two-year-old tomboy!  Really, she is a wild woman with lots of personality but a really strong will.  I am so tired.   She is a lot of fun, but she is also testing us at every turn to see what we are going to allow.  She is just more into things than any of my kids EVER were.  She's like a little tornado!  She loves to do all the things the boys do, play with balls, wrestle, run, chase chickens,  jump on the trampoline, drive the Powerwheels (and she is an amazingly good driver to have very little to no experience), play outdoors, etc., and she has really just fit here likes she's always been here! 

We are going to remain close to her foster family (elderly folks with 7 kids and 3 adopted ones)...they are such godly people.  We took them dinner last Sat and visited with them and had a great time. She was so excited to have both worlds there and left happily with us.    2 of their kids came to see her and so we got to meet some of their extended family who have loved her so well these past two years.

I am hoping to raise a very strong girl. I think I have just the candidate in this little one b/c she rises to every challenge so far!

This is supposed to be for dolls?! 

 We took Little Miss back to where she lived starting her 2nd month with us and we had a wonderful visit with their family and extended family who came to see her! They are such inspiring people and we are so blessed to be in their world these days.

Some folks keep asking how nervous I am about all this "working out" and I just keep saying that I trusted God with her for 2 years and I will keep trusting HIS best for her life. I have my palms open saying still I trust you God...use me...whatever that means for us.

Little Miss you never forget a name.  You can see someone that you have not seen in a long time and still call him/her by name...maybe you'll be a little politician.  You do love people.  You are totally energized by having people visiting us and going out and seeing folks.  You often say hi to strangers and give them high fives.

You reminded us how fun Red Rover and Ring ARound the Rosie can be!

I never eat a full plate of food anymore without your little hands grabbing bites.  You are such a good eater...of all things..broccoli, edamame, peas, and anything you can spoon!

Little Miss loves some Vanilla Ice Baby!  First of all, I don't know how I discovered this love one morning or WHY I remember every word from seventh grade--so sad.  Still, she loves my rapping.

We are learning "this is not a toy."   She wants to play with all things non-toy like pens/pencils, toilet bowl cleaners, kitchen stuff, etc.

We got all the paperwork for her court date today.  Thank you Lord we are on the month countdown to the termination of parental rights hearing.
  This is the song I am singing...


Thomas Chisholm is  the author of the hymn "Living for Jesus," and I like this one...(in case you didn't know I really love hymns despite that I can't play the piano..or sing...only pray them...)


"He leads us on by paths we did not know;
Upward He leads us, though our steps be slow,
Though oft we faint and falter on the way,
Though storms and darkness oft obscure the day;
Yet when the clouds are gone,
We know He leads us on.
"He leads us on through all the unquiet years;
Past all our dreamland hopes, and doubts and fears,
He guides our steps, through all the tangled maze
Of losses, sorrows, and o'erclouded days;
We know His will is done;
And still He leads us on."

Sweet things I noticed lately:  She asks me in exact words to sing "Jesus Loves Me."  She loves to make up songs (that sound like parts of other songs all mixed together) and sings back to me!
If  I say I like purple, she adds, "I like purple too Mommy!"  If I want a red Popsicle she'll say, " I like red too!"  My boys really never had this stage.

When we were going to church the other morning I was relaying the events to get her ready, "We are going to play with Pam and then Mommy will pick you up and then we'll get Cay."  She adds, "and then Daddy will come home and go to pool."  (She has been asking to go to the pool often b/c I think it is another new world there she wants to conquer.)  Anyway, she then added, "Daddy come home ...I KISS him." She loves to rush Daddy when he gets home and they trade many kisses. He says she's the only welcoming committee he's ever had...yes, I know I should do better.

She loves to sing Jesus Loves Me, Skinny Ma-Rink, and I've got the JOY, joy, joy..where????

The funny thing about taking kids to get eggs is that you find 8 but make it home with 4.

Little Miss you are not much of a girlie girl, but you love nail polish, chap-stick, bracelets and you even let me read all of Pinkalicious to you today!

You rode Jack and the pony for the first time!  You, of course, were not afraid and got on and said, "yee haw!"

Some people have a lot of reservations about adopting "older" children (those not considered newborns or over a year old), but I can tell you that there are some beautiful things about it!  For starters, she can talk and tell us what she wants and what she likes AND dislikes!!  We can explain changes in schedules and dropping off at places like church and she "gets it."  She might not like it, but she gets it.  She can express love and affection and say funny things!  She is already potty-training!  We can play with her and interact and bond by having fun together.  We can teach her lots of fun things and take her most anywhere with us.  It has really been a blessing that she can run along with us and jump right in with the boys!