family
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Look what’s new on the farm…
There’s a lot happening around here. Not long after the flood waters dropped, the flood of new critters began.
This little guy is the only boy we have so far this year. He’s also the darkest and maybe even the cutest.
Here’s my oldest daughter taking a newborn lamb into the barn.
A couple of the earlier lambs playing in the field. These guys are so fun to watch.
This is another new arrival. My oldest son and oldest daughter are raising steers for 4H. They’re attention hogs but oh-so-cute.
Standing in the mud, like every other Oregonian.
Stay tuned. Little piggies will be here next.
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Christmas past
This will be the last Christmas with all of my kiddos considered children. Next year my oldest will be eighteen and will already have made his first vote in a presidential election. I don’t know where the time went. Sometimes he walks in the room, and I have to do a double take. My 21 inch baby has turned into a 6′ 3″ man.
It’s always the oldest and the youngest that make me feel nostalgic.
A couple of days ago I was wrestling with the fact that my littlest baby will soon be entering the middle school years and will be on her first mission trip this coming summer. It’s too soon!
Step back in time with me and see a few of our earliest Christmas cards.
1999
2000
2002
2003
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That’s just how it is
My husband recently bought me a fun, Christmas-themed blanket for our bed. You wouldn’t believe how soft this thing is. Well, Hank (our aging yellow lab) and Azalea (our geriatric, balding cat) discovered the comfort of the new blanket and proceeded to spend every moment they could manage sleeping on our bed.
It didn’t take long for the new cover to be littered with critter hair. YUCK!
I pulled the blanket from the bed to wash and dry it. Now that may sound simple, but we’re having trouble with our dryer, which makes each load a test of my questionable patience.
That night we slept cozy with the fresh scent of dryer sheets filling our room. Awww.
The next morning my youngest daughter drug herself down the stairs. The fact that she had gotten herself up was a miracle in itself. Mornings are not her thing. I asked her why she was up already. Oh, how I wished I hadn’t even asked.
Apparently the sounds of the cat puking had disturbed her dreams. Yep, right there on my freshly washed blanket. Not only that, but it had gone all the way through to the sheets. I keep plenty of blankets on the bed so that was an accomplishment for the puker.
So I started and ended my day washing blankets and fighting the dryer. How fast things change.
That got me thinking, and you know when a puking cat gets you thinking, it’s probably not a good thing.
Last December everything looked perfect in my life. My career seemed to be swaying in a positive direction. We were all healthy. My relationships were strong. I was happy.
This December feels a bit like finding the cat has vomited on my fresh bedding.
But there will likely be another December in twelve months and maybe that one will find us in a easier time. I’ve been through enough to know that life goes on and good time show up again.
So we’ll enjoy Christmas regardless of the mess, and I pray you will have a sweet time this year too.
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Christmas movies
I love this time of year. It’s cold outside, but there are Christmas movies to be watched and family to be cherished. Come January I’ll be a wreck. The cold will still be here and the mud will be our constant companion, but Christmastime make those inconveniences fade.
During December, we get the Hallmark Movie Channel on free preview. They play Christmas movie after Christmas movie. Each one as sappy as the next, and I love them. I could curl up on the couch with my girls and watch all day.
The boys aren’t fond of this holiday pass time. Apparently there aren’t enough “action and car chases” on Hallmark. There are a few movies we can watch together though. I mean, who doesn’t like A Christmas Story, or A Charlie Brown Christmas?
Oh, and It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol and all those oldies like Rudolph, The Year Without a Santa, and Frosty the Snowman. I could go on about this all day.
I hear a lot of people talking about the movie, Elf. Am I the only person in this country that can’t stand that flick?
I almost forgot to mention, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and The Little Drummer Boy.
So here’s to hot cocoa, warm blankets, and family movie nights.
What will you be watching this Christmas season?
