C is for Corbin

 I received my first flower of the season yesterday. It was hand picked and delivered by a special little man.

 He came to me with his hands behind his back and said, "Mom, I have a surprise for you! Pick a hand!" I go weak in the knees for a shirtless little boy with sun-kissed cheeks! (The weather was an amazing 85 degrees!) This little guy has grown so much over the last few months. My last bouquet from him was just as sweet!

This picture makes me smile! He pedaled his little 3 wheeler to the ditch and picked Tiger Lilies for me. His sweet little grin, cocked head and shoes on the wrong feet are icing on the cake. He no longer needs 3 wheels  to cruise Bitting Lane. His new ride is a racing 2-wheeler.

 After learning to look straight ahead and not down at his feet, this boy can sail! The boundaries consist of the apple tree and a rope we placed across the drive. And, believe me, this boy needs boundaries! And not just for biking but that is a whole 'nother story!

 Mr. C may just be one of the orneriest four year olds around.

                                              
But he can sure melt his mommy's heart!

Baby Mine

She's one. She's ONE! Never has a year gone by so quickly! I say this every year, but this year it's true. One year ago tonight, after the most amazing labor and delivery, I was holding this precious babe. She was perfect, all 9 lbs 4oz of her; from her dark head of hair, angel-kissed forehead, blonde eyebrows, button nose, dainty lips, and recessed chin to her tiny fingers, smooth tushy and 10 little piggies. I was in love! Again. She was exactly what I had been missing. Though I didn't know I was missing anything at all. She was God's gift to me. How could we not name her Faith?

This blessed little lady was born to a family where she will never know lonely (or privacy). She has many admirers who all vie for her time. She has center stage. Don't let her innocent look fool you, she likes it that way.

She is as pure and sweet as honey and as spicy and flavorful as pepper. She threw my mental parenting books out the window. Who was I to compare her with others? She is a girl all her own.

  I tried to take pictures of her today... good pictures. But my house has the worst lighting and outside there is no capturing little F's attention. She is captivated by all of the sights and sounds our farm has to offer.

Oh well! I'll get you, my pretty!  

We are so blessed God has placed you in our family and I'm so excited to watch you grow. There's just one thing.... let's keep this next year at a slower pace! Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby Mine!

 Momma loves you!

 

Happy April Fool's Day!

I had good intentions for today. We were going to "celebrate" this silly, man-made holiday. I had some funny jokes up my sleeve along with dessert for supper. Here it is after supper (which we had a regular, boring meal) and I have not played one prank. But I have bore the brunt of several jokes.

My morning started earlier than I would have liked because someone woke up screaming for momma's milk. Day 5 of weaning is only a little easier than days 1-4.

I dropped the big kiddos off at Friday School. I decided since I was already out I might as well pick up a few groceries. Not sure why I thought I could run in and run out. I can't even do that when I am by myself. Of course, on the rare occasion I am by myself I have no desire to hurry.

first day of Friday school

At the store with the big W a kind, elderly gentleman handed me a cart. The kind of cart that has enough room for 3 little people. This cart had seen better days. It shouldn't have been in the line-up. I didn't want to seem ungrateful to the blue-vested man who went out of his way to get me a bigger cart, so I thanked him, buckled my precious cargo and strolled away. Or wobbled away. Or screeched away. Corbin noted that everyone could hear our wheels. We were the center of attention in every aisle. Not the way I want to feel when I'm having a bad hair day. My few items turn into 2 hours of shopping. Some jokester looked at my heaping cart and said, "Maybe I should listen to the weather report, looks like you are shopping for a snow storm." I shopped the wheels right off that cart. Literally. I made it to check out but you can safely bet that jalopy-of-a-cart was pushed into retirement. It drained me pushing around a 150 lb dilapidated cart with 3 hungry hippos wanting every prepackaged goody within reach. Not to mention momma hippo was shopping on a empty stomach. But I still saw the humor. 

I dug through the grocery bags and found some snacks for the road. Theirs consisted of cheese and crackers, mine consisted of chocolate. On the way home I thought something smelled kinda funky, like hot rubber. I slowed down just in case it was my tires. Because surely I could handle a blow-out at 45 mph. :-) I made it home! After I parked I noticed some steam coming from the hood. But, praise God I was home! After further inspection from Hubby and my favorite mechanic brother Josh (not to be confused with my other favorite mechanic brother Travis) it turns out there is a hole in a hose. A hose that won't be replaced until Monday at the earliest. The red van is parked until then. I still see the humor. Not as clearly though.

The sun was shining most of the day. That was a plus! Sunshine and fresh air is like gold in these parts. We used our time wisely! None of that cleaning or laundry for me. But alas! it was supper time and all my cute Fool's Day ideas were drained out of me. The creativity flew out of my noggin with the water that sprayed from the van's water pump hose. So, sloppy joes it was! You're not going to believe this but......I burnt the joe. Seriously! That made me see the humor again! I mean, how hard is it to brown ground beef?! Apparently, creativity wasn't the only thing that left my brain.

Then it rained. This is our pasture. Not our pond. I'm not opposed to a pond, but  not in this location. Everything else seemed funny to me tonight.  I was waiting for the next little joke. And a joke I did receive! I'll just tell you it involved a curious little one and an old diaper! (YUCK!)

So, tell me, how did you spend your April Fool's Day? And raise your hand if you have an extra vehicle lying around that seats eight.

Tangled

Have you ever found yourself in a situation that seemed hopeless? No matter how hard you tried to work it out, it was to no avail?

We found ourselves there tonight. However minor it may seem there was a lesson to be learned. Obedience brings blessings. Disobedience brings....trouble. Miss E was told to go to bed. Big sister B was playing with her new haircut (her first cut with BANGS). E was a little sad not to get her hair cut so she thought she would curl it. With a comb. My special comb. I know, I know. A special comb? Someone whom I loved and is no longer here on earth gave me that comb. It already had a tooth missing because the bratty owner of that special comb was having a bad hair day and took out her frustrations on the poor comb. (Think of whack-a-mole.) So, E hesitantly came to me and said,  "Mom, I'm sorry. I can't get it out." Two things: She knows she is suppose to be asleep and she knows that is my favorite comb. I look into those remorseful chocolate eyes and I see myself. I see how God pours out His grace on me when I get into a tangled situation  because of disobedience. 

  He lovingly untangles the damage and uses it for His glory. Untangling isn't always pretty. Sometimes there are consequences that are not easy to welcome. Consequences that we would never have to deal with if we would choose to obey. 

There were only two options for E's situation, cut her hair or break the comb. She offered the sacrifice of her hair. It would NOT have been the haircut she had in mind. She knew that and still offered which made my heart melt for this girl all the more. I told her it really was ok that I had to break the comb. She cried. I held my tears and broke a material link to my beloved friend. My tears were for my child's sympathetic heart. I gave her the smaller piece of broken comb and said, "It's yours." I kissed her and sent her to bed. I will keep my broken comb. It will not only remind me of my friend but of God's grace to me in my tangledness.

my girls

These girls sure know how to enjoy life! They make life enjoyable too! They can be girlie girls full of giggles and girlishness.

They can also do a mean Poop Scoopin' Boogie.

They are dog lovers 

and horse lovers.

They love all things music.

They have a curiosity for life.

They are sisters and they are friends. I'm so blessed they are mine! 

A is for Austin

I just love this boy! That is what he is, a boy not a man. He's MY boy. Please don't call him a man for two more years. And then, we'll talk.

He may not yet be a man but this boy sure works like one. He is responsible with a capital R. He started working at a veal barn in December. He is in charge of  250-500 calves, the number depends on new calves coming in and older calves being shipped out. He feeds them, making sure the temperature of their milk is just right; gives shots to the ones looking sick, and rounds up the strays that are looking for freedom. It isn't a glamorous job. And when he comes home...stink-a-roni!! The clothes come off before he enters. The most surprising thing about this job for a teenager is the hours! He has to be there at 4:30 in the morn! There are chores in the evening too but those are done with his dad.

Measuring the amount of milk replacer.

Emmaly watching him adjusting the water temperature.

Giving some vitamins to a punier calf.

I just loved the perfect heart on his head.

The smile I get when I ask for one.

He turned 16 last month! Sixteen!! The years just crept up on me. In my mind this boy should be about 12. He is a sophomore. 10th grade!! Huh?! Just last year he was in 6th grade. The year before that we started kindergarten. Ok, a little exaggeration but still.....grade 10, with the end in sight too. His harder subjects this year are Algebra II and Physics. Harder for me that is. I never hear one complaint on those subjects from him. Let's not talk about Speech and Term paper. He does great in school and if there is anything he wants to learn he dives in and learns it!

Making his mom happy by giving a real smile.



  

Austin is on a basketball team at Friday School (an enrichment school for homeschoolers). This is his first year in basketball. He's doing well and liking it. He wishes it was more than once a week though. (Basketball not school. haha)

Playing his guitar at Gram and Poppy's

His favorite past time would be playing his guitar. I love hearing the music he makes. Even if it is mostly that teenage sound...ya know, rock and roll. This boy has been a joy to me for SIXTEEN years and our family is blessed to have him. I know God has wonderful things planned for his future and I pray Austin keeps seeking His will for his life.