June 2, 2009

Tonight around sunset, we were out on the deck. We could hear the rain coming through the forest in the distance, moving closer and closer.


Until it finally let loose on us. It was a very cool thing, to actually hear the rain coming to you through the trees. Not something you experience just any old day . . . a gift from above.

June 1, 2009

This little guy is tough. I found him on the ground beside our entrance, where his mommy and daddy worked so hard to build their nest. I quickly made the decision to pick him up and put him back in the nest, since the outside cats were roaming around close by. Luckily the mommy and daddy bird didn't abandon him, after I'd messed with him.

They've fed him and watched over him diligently. And I've picked him back up and put him in the nest a total of four times now. Somewhere in his trial flights, he has ended up breaking one of his little legs badly. And I know that the end for him is probably very close. I'm not sure how much longer his mommy and daddy will take care of him, and sometime soon, I may not be around to pick him up and put him back in his nest, before the cats find him.

It breaks my heart. And yet, watching this little family of birds grow and take care of each other, has reminded me of one very important lesson . . .

Ultimately, my responsibility is to God and my family. Not to community events, or my friends near and far in blog land, or even my own selfish desires.

Without God and the support of family, we would never be able to spread our wings and fly. Even if it's only for a few trial flights. To just get off the ground, is a miracle in and amongst itself, and at least this little guy got to experience the feeling of soaring, if only for a few short moments in time . . . Godspeed my little friend.

*I believe this little bird is a Phoebe. I'm not 100% sure though.

May 31, 2009

I've decided that June will be my month to get an exercise routine going. I'm going to start out small this time, and move my way up.



The running shoes are ready to run!

May 30, 2009

I'm so glad the kids play so well together . . . at least for the most part. Today Bayleigh wanted to fix me a double fudge carmel sundae. And who am I to pass up such a great treat . . .



Eli ended up with the "eggs" . . .


tried to take a bite . . .



and promptly decided the eggs weren't for him!



I guess every Iron Chef has to start somewhere . . .

May 29, 2009

My sister-in-law has started raising baby deer for someone. This was her first,



and it's name is Happy. It's such a sweet and loveable little thing!

May 28, 2009

We had us a burnin' today! I don't know how many old construction boards and misc. JUNK we pitched on the burn pile today, but I CAN tell you the yard looks almost habitable now. Of course we need to move the chicken coop to a little more appropriate location . . .



but we'll save it for another day.




Eli actually braved his fear of riding the tractor and daddy let him operate the bucket . . .

I don't think he wanted to get off. I'm glad he's back in the saddle (so to speak) again.

May 27, 2009

On Monday, we officially moved Eli into his big boy bed, I disassembled his toddler bed, and I moved back in with Dave. This has been a learning process for us all. To make a long story short, when Bayleigh was born, she was three weeks early and oh, so tiny! We made the decision, after we came home with her to let her sleep between us. At five, she's now sleeping on her own, but only since we finished up the kid's new rooms downstairs. As for Eli, he's always slept separately in his own bed, but in the same room as Bayleigh and I. So Monday was a big step for us all! I snapped this picture before the sun came up . . . of him in his big boy bed.



We also had a trip for Branson planned today, but decided to leave later than initially planned, due to the satellite tech coming to repair our internet/modem problems. We ended up hitting the road around noon, and I took a little something to occupy me during the 2.5 hour drive . . .


Gotta get my LOAD project done for the day, you know . . .



Silver Dollar City was a blast for us all. It was a PERFECT day to be out and about, with the temperature in the low 70's. Unfortunately the first ride Bayleigh conned me into riding was a water ride. A VERY WET WATER RIDE. I was the lucky gal in the front seat, and therefore got the water canon to the chest right before the end of the ride. I was SOAKED clean through! Fortunately both the kids liked to ride the roller coasters, and by the end of the day, I was ALMOST dry.



Eli JUST made the height requirements to ride the rides, and he rode them ALL! I was afraid he might not like them, but I think from the look on his face here, that he was on cloud 9. On the way home, Dave mentioned that he'd read the itty bitty writing on the ride rules and regs, of one of the last rides, and Eli also needed to be three. OOPS! I know we'll be going back before he turns three, so now I'm facing the dilemma of either following the rules and not letting him ride, or just go against my conscience and let him enjoy himself . . . ACK!




Toward the end of the afternoon, I finally let Bayleigh go on a few of the small kiddie rides by herself. She's going through an independent streak. I'm not so sure I like it, though . . . I really don't want her to grow up so quickly!

It was a pretty full day for us all, and we made it back home in time to stop by my mom and dad's to visit with my great-uncle and aunt, who were passing through. Wish I'd have thought to take some pictures while they were here. I must have been zapped of all strength . . .