Onions and Consequences

I don't like to nag. It makes me tired to nag. I'm sure many of you know exactly how I feel. I do tend to hand out earned consequences pretty good. We have a ticket system going that helps. Each child started with 22 tickets. They are each a different color card stock, cut into a ticket. DH can cut 22 from a sheet. They are responsible for keeping up with them. Tickets are worth .50 each on pay day, which was today. But, you only get paid on the tickets in your possession. If you loose some or all of yours oh well so sad, so sorry. MJ has lost all of his once, cost him that weeks earnings to get more, then he washed them once, he only has about 17 left. If they can't keep up with these then how will they keep up with $$$. They are to be kept in a ziplock.

Today I decided I wasn't going to nag. I REFUSE to nag. They all know what is expected of them. School and chores are required daily. They played over breakfast. I didn't say any thing. Now my tongue might have been bleeding. They chatted in the school room over chex party mix. I did say, "Lots of talking going on." Lunch was a drawn out afair. Chores were done off and on throughout the day, with lots of looking busy as they "worked". Tongue bled a bit more.

At 5 pm I ask for a count of how many lessons, including redo's they each had. T was finished, and lacked putting stuff back in the bathroom for chores. The rest well S had 15, MJ had 17, and MN had 10 including chores. They don't even have that many to START the day out. They seemed to have failed one or more quiz's today. That means they have to redo everything from the quiz before, and it all counts towards tickets.

Until about 4 pm I had no idea what I would do if they ran out of tickets before the week was over. About 4 I tripped over the sack of onions in the freezer. I bought 50#, have used oh maybe 10. These are nice LARGE strong onions. I planned on working on them daily and chop them all then put them in the freezer one onion per ziplock. PERFECT!!!! One finely chopped onion equal one ticket! MJ got to experience it since he needed one more ticket than he had.

S has about 6 tickets left, MN about 12, T about 18, and MJ is totally out. I wonder how the rest of the week will go? Some how I feel they will be much more motivated to do well in school and chores the rest of the week. If not...... well I have LOTS of onions and can buy more. I did mention in their hearing that we could do this for our friends and they could keep them in their freezer too.

MJ does a really good job of chopping them. I will suggest he fiddle around tomorrow so he can do more for me. I know all the others can't wait to join in on the fun. They can have a contest to see who can chop them the best! I may suggest that :)

Interesting Encounter

Yesterday MN had a very interesting encounter at Walmart. Let me give you the background on why it was interesting.

She has been struggling with the fact her bio's didn't love her. If they didn't love her how can an adoptive mom and dad love her? They were suppose to love her! They didn't so how can anyone else love her the way they should have? I isn't fair. She wants them to love her, but they never will! As you can see this is a very painful tail chasing that doesn't have an answer that makes since to even an adult, much less an 11 yo. She had been crying and acting up, and getting called for bad attitude night before last.

Yesterday we were leaving wal-mart. We always use the garden center. As we were leaving I was pushing the basket ahead of my chicks. They were scattered behind me. I went down the slope for the basket. There was an old stooped man coming up. I nodded and kept going. I glanced back to see MN take his arm and steady him and help him up the slope at the curb. I smiled to myself and thanked God for children that can show older people they aren't all wild and crazy. It took her longer than I expected but I went on to the car keeping an eye on them.

She came to the car and said, "Mommy that man gave me a message." ???? OK what? "He said, "Your mom and dad love you very much." She went on to explain that he looked like he was about to fall is why she took his arm and helped him up the incline. As they were going up he stopped and looked directly in her eyes and told her that. This was about half way up the incline. Then she helped him the rest of the way to the garden center and came back to us. She said, "He didn't know you or me or our family, yet he told me exactly what I was struggling with."

We all agree she had an encounter with an angel. She said she felt funny when he said that sorta shaky in side and just, Wow! It left all of us feeling touched. I pray it helps her deal with the fact that we do love her.

Oh and her idea of "love" isn't the warm fuzzies. I ask her yesterday after this happened. She said to be loved is to not be abandoned or left. To be taken care of. Basically to have her basic needs met.

Cure for Lying?

Kids that have been abused come into your home master liers. It is part of surviving in the situation they were in. It is also the LAST thing they turn loose of. Of my 4 I have one that speaks truth 99% of the time, or with in the "normal" area of kid behavior. I have 2 that are over the top but not totally so. Then I have one that will tell you what ever she thinks you want to hear to "fit it". This behavior drives MN nuts. It has probably been the biggest stumbling block to them having a good relationship.

A couple of days ago S came in the house. They were doing chores. She was livid! "MOM, tell MN to stop calling me satan." Hummm think their might be more to this story than the side I am hearing? I pointed that out, went right on playing with grandson and waited while she spitted and sputtered and stomped around. Once MN came in I sat both of them on the swing. Seems S had told one of her really stupid lies. The day before she had said she liked milking one goat, didn't another. That day she had switched goats she liked goat A and didn't like goat B now, just the opposite of the day before. Instead of arguing MN just looked at her and said, "In the name of Jesus, satan leave the barn.!" Seems she might have said this enough times to drive S from the barn.

MN looked at me and told me, "I wasn't telling S to leave, just satan." So I then ask S about it. Did she lie to MN? "Yes." ah, so since you were lying and satan is the father of lies, was MN within her right to tell satan to leave? S did not like it! MN had a perfect solution. I had to agree. If she doesn't want MN to tell satan to leave while looking at her, then, "DON'T LIE" How much more simple can it get?

Yesterday morning it happened again. This time the "lie" was directed at me. Again at the barn. S assured me she was "going to help" with chores. Her actions spoke something totally different. She was standing and talking while the other girls were milking their goats and I had gotten my cow feed and had the calf on to nurse. From under a goat across the barn again I heard, "I the name of Jesus, satan leave this barn!" Oh S was totally bent out of shape. All I could do was point out her actions spoke volumes and she was lying since her actions said she wasn't helping and her words said she was going to. If she had been "going to" she would have gotten the feed and such since she beat the other two out there. Instead she went with me to find my cow and then stood and watched as I got her started while she could see the others were milking. She stormed out of the barn to the house. In a few minutes she returned with a jar to milk into. :)

On another note MJ is at least giving lip service to his choices and consequences. He owned it with the therapist yesterday. He is talking about choices and how he doesn't want to have the life his bio family had, yet that is where his choices are leading. Today we were talking about what type environment he wants to raise his children in? He agreed not like the one he had for 8 years. Then we talked about what is required to have a "good" life. As he looks around at the people he wants to be like what are their responsibility? How will he handle those things? What changes does he need to do now so that he will be a Godly man raising Godly children? We will see. He will be setting until Sunday. Then he will get to participate in a discussion with dad and I on what he wants.

We have all been battling a stomach bug/headache around here. At this point grandson has it a tad, potty training has been suspended for now. He is a bit fussy, but just explosive so mommy says. We are pushing liquids and praying healing over him. I would ask for prayers for his daddy as he is on the road in the truck and has been battling a terrible headache since night before last and started with a fever last night. He has two plus FULL days more on the road before he will be home. Join us in standing in agreement that this "bug" will leave him now in the name of Jesus! His head will no longer hurt and he will be fever free, with restored energy and clarity. Thanks all for praying with us and thank you God for being a God that heals!

I am off to get stuff accomplished! Kids all have test I have to oversee and I need to make a trip to town for vacation stuff. Not sure if it will happen today, or my list will grow for a few more days.

Have a blessed day everyone!

Barn

The barn is filled with lots of fun things. There are chickens to pet and love on.



I couldn't get one of him "rocking" or bouncing the chicken. That part just didn't show up. Maybe mommy needs to let him take a chicken home to "baby" while she baby's the new baby. His cow granny had a pet chicken one time.


If you run out of chicken energy you can always pet er pull the goats ears.

If that isn't enough then join in Goat milking 101!

MN is teaching a friend K to milk goats.

Last I heard K had it down great! They are happily milking goats and chattering and ....... I guess they will come in some time to eat.

Life lesson

LOL Life lessons from the farm! MJ doesn't "like" to milk. So he told the girls today. He wasn't going to help. They turned to me and I totally agreed with MJ! There is no reason for him to help milk! He will just not enjoy anything that has milk in it. No gravy, no smoothies, no glasses of milk, no cake or pudding or the zillion other things I put milk in since we have LOTS of it. He revised his statement! He is more than willing to help! Sorry Charlie! You can do without milk a while. Then we will see if you are more willing to help and do it RIGHT.

He isn't a happy camper!

We just had a LONG talk again last night about doing your part. That we all have responsibilities and it puts extra work on others when we don't do our part. We talked about in the Bible it says if you don't work you don't eat. So this little statement was not very thought out or wise on his part. I would say there isn't a meal around here that doesn't include milk. Either in foods or to drink, usually both.

Wed. Morning of Waiting...

"I must take time to come into God's Presents,

to feel my weakness and my need'

and to renew my fellowship with Him."

I bought a new book called "199 Treasures of Wisdom on Talking with God". I am going to start sharing one almost every day. It was a .99 book. Just filled with short one or two liners that make you go Wow!

Yesterday was a wonderful day. We had a friend and her kids over. It was great. I told the kids last night it was a sample of life to come IF we get the kids. We had 12 under 18 around here. I do have to say that the difference is she has VERY well behaved children and I'm sure for a while our new ones will be lacking in that area. Kids all had a good time playing and visiting and exploring. I had a wonderful time just fellowshipping and hanging out with a like minded mom.

I have made a little more progress on the garage. One more ranger load of trash ready for the dump and a small stack of give away stuff. I told kids if they would work today who ever finishes school gets to drive the ranger. Motivation! I hope! I did explain to DH what I want to do with the "computer" area. I told him he was in charge of lights.

Some one ask if I was planning a younger kids area. Yes, I may have forgotten to include that. I want to have a section for the littles to play. and then I have 2 or 3 small desk for them. I have a cubical that is three foot high and maybe 12 foot long. I want to use that as room divider or section divider. The cubicles are full of craft stuff, so if I turn it where the babies area is the back then I can put the chalk board on their side and have the stuff on a side that is easier for me to monitor. I wish I had more of those cubicles, but this was bought many years ago at a school sale. I have 2 or 3 small desk for them. That way they can do school too. Anytime they want they will have colors and paper and such like they can set at their desk and work. The 6 yo will have to set and do some, but not the hours and hours of structure that they have in PS. He is a reluctant learner at this point. I hope to change that with less structured learning and more fun learning. Doing is ABC's in chalk on the floor and lots of fun things that teach. I have a 24 yo reluctant learner! I have walked that road before.

We are still car shopping. We have looked at 15 passenger vans and since I do like to think out of the box we have looked at shuttle buses. We are really leaning that direction. I would love to drive one. I have driven a 1 ton dually pick-up. Since the buses we like are built on the 1 1/2 ton dually chassis I have a feeling they will drive about the same. I have also driven the ambulance a few times and it is also built the same way. That was stressful driving. I tended to be on the radio going we are headed where ever GET ME A DRIVER! So we are just praying and researching and asking questions and waiting.

I love Spring!

Spring helps me get out of my rut of consequences and struggling to find ways to be creative with them. S has spent the week learning science. The Science of if you don't pull all the weeds right, and then procrastinate, you have to again pull weeds in ALL the garden beds!



S, T and MJ have also learned that when mom and dad say quiet time starts at 9:30 it is wise to shut your mouth then. They had to clean the yard of all the winter collection of trash, bones, rocks, broken toys and assorted other junk. Mom is so mean, she gave MJ the back yard while T and S got the pleasure of the side, front and pool area. Why did I give the girls an area together and MJ his own? Because MJ WORKS and the other two compete to see who wins the lazy contest! I figure they deserve working together! MJ got his done in one afternoon, with a little exception while mom ask him to help her. While the girls were very busy for two days. They may NOW be finished. Dad hasn't checked!

What was so funny with S and the garden is that when she did it right she came in excited and so happy. She felt wonderful inside. She was glad she was made do it right. She could hardly express all the "bubbly feelings" inside, her words. As she pulled weeds she came to understand that it wasn't a punishment, but a life lesson about caring for a garden and being responsible. We then talked again about being tomato staked. Even at 17 she needs it. I have a tree out near the swing we were on and I used it. When it was young the wind broke it over. I took a metal rod and put it in the ground right beside the tree set it up and then taped it tightly to the rod. It grew like this for a couple of years, until the tape rotted away. Now the rod is pushed aside while the tree stands firm and tall. This I showed S is her. She needs to be taped to me, not forever, but until she is strong enough to withstand the world and make good choices. I think she could see that. Now does that mean next time she tugs at the tape she will like it, no probably not.

Since everyone else was in trouble MN had to get into it a bit. She had picked up a "dumb" attitude from somewhere. I finally lost it last night and told her she wasn't welcome down stairs except for meals until she came up with the reason. She finally did. Took her half of today. She was "fitting in" with some kids she had saw. She didn't want to be different and since they acted that way..... She was denying who she was. A powerful, smart young woman of God. She admitted it and I hope learned a lesson. While she was upstairs thinking she made me this:

As you read that remember that I had read her the riot act both last night and this morning about attitude and acting stupid! Those that know me know that I don't mince words and tend to be very blunt about what I think. Yet maybe that is what she needs.

New Project

My plate wasn't full enough. I almost never am attracted to "free" dogs at the flea market. This Sat. I was. I finally broke. This is a sheltie. He was timid up there but owner "assured" me it was the crowd. Wrong. This dog has had NO socialization with humans. Wasn't leash trained.... you name it. Upside he hasn't ever snapped. He is beautiful and smart.

MN decided he was going to be her dog. She has spent HOURS working with him and just hanging out with him. Timing was really good since we loaded her "buddies" on the trailer Sunday afternoon for the sale. She needed some thing to hang with, that wasn't human, didn't talk back and was enjoyable to be around.

Dog, who got named Bugger Bear is leading for MN wonderfully. She can catch him without to much work if he isn't on the leash. He eats out of a bowl with her right next to the bowl. He has even started eating out of her hand. Not mine, I offered him a piece of flat bread earlier and he sniffed but didn't take.

It really is good for MN. She was fussing about how much she wished he would just trust her. I couldn't resist. I ask her how long it took her to trust me? She got the connection! She said a long time. There are so many correlations between an abused dog and an abused child. :) This pup seems to be doing good at learning to at least sorta trust MN.

He is calm and spends most of his time asleep under her feet as she does school or on a rug some where in the living room until she comes to get him for a potty walk. He is allowing everyone to touch most of the time without flinching. We can all walk around now with him sleeping stretched out instead of in watch mode.

As I have said before life is never dull around here.

Storms and kids....

Last night when I came home from my mom's night my living room was empty. This morning when I got up it was filled to overflowing. I wanted to get pictures, but was afraid of waking some of them up. How many you wonder? Three adults, 2 older children, and my grandbaby. Why? Storms! The weren't bad, but we did get a LOT of wonderful rain. Over 2 inches!

Once everyone was awake I cooked breakfast 3 lbs sausage and a huge stack of blue berry pancakes. We even had pancakes left over!

I did laugh to myself. A friend on the adoption board was fussing because her case worker ask her where she would set more kids if she adopted and even ask the kids what they would think of sharing their food. She has 5 kids now. What a mindset! This morning is a prime example of how large families work. MJ was asking where he could set, I told him to either find a place or wait until everyone else ate and then figure out where to set. Amazing he found a seat and ate with everyone. It was all about going and FINDING a chair.

Some of the kids have ventured out to wonder around in the mud. Others seem to be stuck on school work. No one has ask to ride bikes yet. I did have to run MN out of the mud doing chores, she was seeing how muddy she could get her shoes.

I should have taken the camera when I went to check things, it is nice to see mud and full ponds. I did put the ranger in 4wd. I don't think I would have gotten stuck without it, but I don't like walking in the mud, so decided to be safe.

With my living room full of bodies I didn't get my Bible done, so I think I will take my Bible and go find a nice quite place.... maybe my bed to read and study a while. :) Not sure there IS a quite place here. My house is still running over with awake bodies. They are busy playing chess and chatting and annoying each other. How sad it would be to miss all of this with having a small family!

Strong will? My Will....

I had such a good laugh this morning. S did something spiteful to MN. I called her on it. She did the deny. That flew about as far as lead balloons. Since that didn't work she decided to ignore me. :) Oh the pouty face. She is on one side of the table arms crossed looking like she just had a bite of a lemon. I am relaxed feet propped in a chair on the other side of the table. I am speaking truths, in a quite relaxed voice. She refuses to even LOOK at me. I continue to speak truths off and on. I laugh and chat with others and enjoy the "game". With in 30 minutes game is over! She can't continue her stance of "mad". Before I finish eating the grapefruit I am eating she is laughing. She owns what she did and why. Life goes on.

For some setting and maintaining a calm composure and allowing her to stew while mom enjoyed it for 30 minutes might see a long time. I couldn't help pointing out that when her older brother was about 12 he sat at the bar for 7 HOURS not doing 15 math problems. I even sold one of his goats while he sat. Then there is MN who I usually have to push over the top in mad to get it done with. Or T who can stand on the steps and SCREAM for 3 hours straight. Poor S doesn't have a chance against my training.

Life is never dull!

School Update.....

T finished her school on Tue. She spend 1/2 the day being bored as others had to work. On Wed. she and I went and got a ton of feed and unloaded it. She would drag the sacks to the back of the truck I would empty them into barrels and using a dolly move them where I wanted them. It was slow but we got it done.

After unloading the feed I started loading her 4th grade school work on her new computer. She bounced around like a rubber ball and helped install everything. School is set to start on Monday the 6th. As of this morning she has finished all of Monday's school and is working on Tue. She turned 8 in Dec. She finished 3rd grade with just below a 90 average across the board. Not bad!

I think MN will finish her school today. She is down to a few in math. MJ well ??? maybe by tomorrow night. He has some in Science and Math.

S......... hummmm she will be taking some subjects over instead of going to the next grade. She just pouted about having to do it to long, cheated to much and flat doesn't work well if she isn't cheating. I really think she has spent her life cheating on everything and now is having to learn that her brain is useful and smart and can learn. She will study and pass and be so excited. It is sad and funny. She has been cleaning mental closets this week a lot. We have pushed to tears and as I gather her in my arms the sobs come and the disclosures of rejection, abuse and fear come. Each time is a cleansing for her. She feels less weight and less dirt attached to her afterwards. It is just so hard to make those confessions. Each time I see healing and growth after we spend time fighting then cuddling. Last night she was so angry at us, standing there alone and defiant about some little something that shouldn't have even been a big deal, but she had made it into one. As we talked I hit a nerve and the tears slowly fell, yet her face or stance never changed. I let her stew in her defiance a few more minutes as we talked then walked over to her gathered her in my arms and started whispering, "I love you S!" "I love YOU!" The dam broke. After holding her a few minutes standing we sat on the couch and cuddled as I pushed and prodded for what her greatest fears were. We took them and looked at them with Jesus. As He guided her into truth about what she feared the devil lost his power to put fear on her in those areas. This morning she cleaned closets, only this time the closets upstairs, getting rid of most/all of her clothes from AR. I really don't understand the reason she needed them gone, but she did. I don't know exactly what memories are attached to these material possessions but she needed them gone.

As always life is never dull around here. Busy yes, dull.... never!

Praying that today will be a very blessed day for all who read this.

Pantry Cleaning....

Yesterday Dh and I spent the day cleaning and re arranging the pantry. My pantry is 8 ft wide and 32 foot long. At the end of it is our new walk in frig/freezer. Yesterday we took out the milk frig, the chest freezer and the upright freezer from there. To do this we had to take the washer and dryer out first.

I am not sure what I will do with all the new and extra space. I am sure I will come up with something. I now have one upright freezer in the pantry that doesn't work. I use it to store milk jars. We talked about taking it out, but it works so well, they stay clean and dust free while being able to put them in wet and they will dry on the wire racks.

We tore up the torn and old flooring. We had talked about putting new down, but I am happy with the plywood. It looks much better than the torn lounium that was in there.

It is amazing how much trash collects, and unusable things. I think we tossed about 4 or 5 bags of trash and stuff.

For now I have some more shelves that we weren't using set up in there. I am not sure if this is the way I want it to stay or not. I am thinking about making a family closet out of part of it, but haven't gotten that figured out yet with the space I have. That may depend on if we get more kids or not. :)

That is still a prayer at this point. I think the last day to submit was Friday so they should be making a decision soon. I know several things will have to happen if we are to get them. I am trusting God for those provisions.

Other news kids are still working on re-doing test and units from their choices of cheating. I gave them until next Friday to be done. Any subject that does not have passing test and passing averages will be redone for next year. I am through arguing and fighting. They can do it or re-do the year, their choice. Our next school year will start April 6th.

I gave the kids permission to join the world of the Internet. They can earn the privilege by memorizing Proverbs. Proverbs 1 will get you a month of Internet. By then they are required to know Proverbs 2...... We will see just how bad they want on the net. I am betting I have ONE child that will do it. The others just won't be willing to work at it enough.

Hope everyone has a blessed Sunday! I am off to get lunch made to take to Church.

Finishing off my Christmas Eve.....

In Pictures!

Grand kids playing together!






























Big sister blanket! I told her this was because she is going to be a big sister! I guess she liked it since she told mommy and daddy about it as soon as she saw them.

Her new hat from her Great Aunt Roxie!
















Mommy and Daddy and a few grand kids at our "2nd annual Christmas Eve Dinner" last night.












Mmmmm Grand daddy's soup! so good!













S's first time to a Japanese Steak house. The chef decided to tease her.














DIL and Son....














More waiting for our food pictures. Can you tell I didn't have the camera?













Bored? or patiently waiting for food? More like excitedly waiting! They love the food here. in fact out of all the kids we took home 2 to go boxes and they weren't full!

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

May the New Year overflow with blessings from God!

Friday!

Yesterday was a great day, for me any way. I think I may have finally gotten my point across on getting up in a timely manor. I have children that don't think being up and dressed by 8 AM is important. We have ask and ask and talked and talked about how learning to be responsible is important as they get older. Still can they make it down stairs ready for the day by 8, HA!

Yesterday was no exception. So instead of getting mad/frustrated/crazy I smiled. Did their part of the chores and as they strung out to the barn to "help" I questioned each one on what time they needed to be ready for the day. They all knew the correct time. So then I pointed out they were making a choice to not do that. When you make choices you have to be willing to accept the consequences of that choice. Nuff said! I finished what I was doing. Wouldn't to further in discussing it. When I get back to the house they all want to "do their consequences now." Not happening!

I baked bread, showered and got read to go ............ somewhere. Part of them finished school, part didn't. Part did their chores, part didn't. They knew mom had plans, but not what those plans were. DIL knows but like me is mum. We all load up and off we go. They are still in the dark.

When we get about 5 miles from my friends I ask them what does the Bible say about how much a thief should pay back with they steal? After a moment some one says 7 times. :) So I then ask them if they "stole" my free time by making me do their part of chores? Hummmm seems they could see that. So I ask how late they were coming down? Answers ranged from 15-30 minutes. So I had them take the 15 minutes times 7 and see how long they each needed to set. By then we had pulled up in the drive of our friends house.

I did have one child foot loose and fancy free. She had gotten up and helped. So she scampered off to play. I had to laugh as I placed the other three around my friends table. She had three setting at the bar finishing school work so they too could play.

I didn't make them set the whole 105 minutes, but I am sure it seemed like HOURS to them. MN did earn the right to set the whole time since her school work wasn't done.

I guess it did make an impression on them. That or the fact that mom announced if they want to continue playing the push mom on getting up game she is now ready to play! The consequences will only get more creative! Bring it on! I had two girls up before 6 this morning and dressed!

Now the down side of that is that they want to chat during my time of a morning. But I am sure we will find a balance if it continues for many days.

After our great afternoon of visiting we came home and I checked sheep, separated my cows and fixed supper. I cooked the last two packages of steak I could find. :( I did announce to everyone no more steak until the beef is done. He is ready to go to the processor. I just need the trailer unloaded (DIL and son's garage sale rejects.) and backed up to the pen so I can feed him in it a few days and make loading him much easier and less stressful on me.

Today is produce! Yea! I really need to up my produce order somehow. I can't seem to order enough fruit. We have been out almost a week again. I did cook the last of the potatoes night before last. Last of the squash last night. I need to print out what I order and double it in some areas I guess. Apples go first around here, then the oranges. If I get soft fruit they are gone over the weekend. Strawberries or any kind of berry for sure. I keep adding to the apple order, but they still eat them all! Each two week period I hear from a week to 4 days worth of "We're out of fruit. I wish we had some fruit." We are going to do produce back to back for Thanksgiving so I will get to order two weeks in a row.

Guess that is along enough ramble for today. All be blessed!

Joyful Spirit and other Child ramblings...

My daughter in love is working hard to teach grand son to have a joyful spirit. He falls in a heap because he doesn't get his way and quickly and sweetly finds himself setting in a chair until he finds his joyful spirit. It seldom takes him very long to find his joyful spirit. He is a delight to be around. I laugh because he ha

s started appealing to a higher court. If he gets in trouble with me then he goes quickly to mama crying the whole way. The other day he was in grand dad's stuff. He knows that is off limits. I happened to be the one that found him. After a pop on the hand and removing him from UNDER the desk off he went to tattle on me. Mommy was most sympathetic..... not! She and his other grand mother did get a good laugh at his appeal since she was talking to her mom.

This is the latest picture of him. He is doing the fussy baby bit. Not wanting to be held, not wanting to play. He does seem to take great pleasure in being passed between all that tote him around today. I have a feeling he is cutting more teeth the way he keeps holding his mouth. At the moment he is being ergoed around by mommy. He is happy as a clam for the moment.

Since the ergo had such a wonderful effect on him do you think it would help this less than joyful spirit?

I don't send children to their rooms for long term. I don't ground to their rooms. Face it there are just to many "fun" things in them. I ground to the chair in the center of the living room. Yes, this child who really isn't named "Mark" as her shirt implies, (garage sale special) has lost her joyful spirit and is indeed searching for it, or should be anyway. If anyone finds it please ship it to me ASAP. She and I would both appreciate it.

She seems to have lost it yesterday and hasn't recovered it yet. She decided to start the day off being tacky to J. Didn't fly with mom. She and MJ both had to spend some time upstairs. They assured me they had lost the ugly spirit. Maybe MJ has. MN then decided to draw goat pictures instead of work on her school work. My thinking is if she isn't going to WORK on school she doesn't need to be setting at the computer, where she was using her school time to draw. As the picture shows she isn't happy.

Can she go back to working on school? Sure! She is going to have to speak truth to me about what is going on. We are going to have to have a nice long talk, probably in the swing. She did try earlier, but she forgot the main ingredient, speaking truth. Setting on the porch swinging is much more fun than growing roots in the middle of the living room floor. She tried to skirt the issues and enjoy swinging and not answer. Didn't fly well with mom.

To top off this bad attitude tomorrow we are going to spend the afternoon at a friends. No, they don't know. I see no reason to use carrots to finish school work. It needs to be done because it is their responsibility. Those that have it done will play. Those that don't won't. I may even copy off LOTS of pages of basic review for anyone that needs to keep their hands and mind busy. I am pretty sure that MN won't be playing. She didn't finish yesterdays school because of attitude and hasn't done much/any of it or today's. Oh well, her choice.

I did bake a batch of granola bars for tomorrow. Instead of adding chocolate chips I added craisins, raisins and almonds. They look really good. I will have much less trouble staying out of them with the raisins than chocolate chips. I am thinking about making some no bake oat meal cookies, but may talk me out of it. I would like to take more than one pan of granola bars. Way to many kids for that. Maybe I will do bread in the morning. I will add cinnamon and butter and sugar to it and roll it to cook. That is always a treat and would be easy.

Mainly a barn ramble

First I want to share this grand baby picture! See the shiner?

It really wasn't a shiner. It is chalk! Some how he managed to get it on that one area of his eye. The kids spend hours playing with sidewalk chalk on the porch. I am sure he some how put his face in a chalk picture as he went scooting off the porch. That is his new thing. He doesn't go to the steps. He lays down and scoots off. The problem is our porch is tall so he has about a foot drop after he scoots as far as he can before gravity takes over.

I sorted my sheep and brought them to the front side this weekend because I knew the were close to lambing. I just didn't know how close.

This is one of a set of twins. The other one and mama didn't want their picture taken. :)

Here is what happens when I ring the dinner bell.

This is a close up of my assorted sheep and goats. They are waiting on me to pour feed out for them. I have every color and just about every assorted breed you can buy here in W. Texas. None are "quality" or pure bred stock. They are gentle and hardy.

All of these but two should be expecting. They are the daddies to all the new babies. You can see the billy in the center of this picture. He is the red blob.

Today I am making bread. I haven't found the time or energy to do it in a week or two. I know that everyone will be thrilled to have fresh bread instead of crackers with meals.

Monday night when we came in from Junction I really didn't want to fix a meal so I cheated. I fixed biscuits and gravy and called it supper. Kids thought they had gotten a treat beyond words. It was quick and easy!

Yesterday I made stroganoff out of left overs. I had potato soup that needed using, the rest of the gravy and some mushrooms. I cooked some parsley and garlic noodles added the warm gravy mixture. Tossed a couple of table spoons of sour cream in and called it lunch. It was a hit! I guess I need to find something to really cook for supper tonight. I have avoided cooking all week it seems. :) We are getting low of freezer food, mainly beef so I am having to be more creative.

The Life Lesson of Giving

Yesterday we "skipped" school. I think what each child learned yesterday will take them a lot further than not missing that day of school. The talk and the thought put into giving the goat. The understanding that the money raised will go to help those that need help. Not just kids, but people hurt and in need of physical therapy. While they don't really "get it". They saw many people giving from their heart yesterday to help a good cause.

When they started the Rehab auction on a cake J nearly fell over. They started it at $50 and it went up from there! As she watched cakes, pies and cookies sell for $50 to over $100 each she was in shock. I looked at her and said W. Texans have giving hearts. She nodded. One cake sold 5 times. They would sell it for about $100 then the new owner would say "Sell it again!" I don't think they fully grasp how much money was made for Rehab during that 30-45 minutes. My son said about $6000.

Each child saw giving at its best. Each child saw and felt the respect and the feelings of good that come from sharing what you have. They were touched in ways that they will carry with them the rest of their lives I hope.

They came home talking about all they saw. I pray this was a life lesson that will help each of them develop a giving heart. I am sure they will have a soft spot for rehab their whole life now. My soft spot came from growing up watching the Rehab telethon with Rex Allen and other stars. Calling in our pledge and feeling apart. My older boys did the same. Then as they started with livestock they started donating a goat or sheep to them like this. What a wonderful tradition it is.

Monday

Here are the promised pictures of the goat getting ready for her big day!

First the goat, Angle gets a touch up coat of nail polish on her horns and toes.


It is 6:30 AM and about 40 degrees.

Ribbon time! This was a labor of love for sure! Each bow is held on with a rubber band.

Sale time!

This is the lady from Rehab learning about MN and the fact she wanted to do this.

Here she is showing off her goat in the auction ring. There were lots of laughter and smiles at her goat. Junction at one time was the Angora goat capital of the World. This sale barn has sold a lot of angoras, but seriously doubt one as fancy as this.
MN has such a serious face here. She told me later that when she came out and everyone was making a big deal and taking pictures it made her uncomfortable. "Mom, that's not why I gave them Angel. I wanted to help people."

This is MN showing the goat to her new owners. In front of the lady in blue are two cute little girls about 2 and 4. They are the new owners of Angel. Angel brought in $95 for Rehab. This is a maybe $20 goat.

I Guess I'll Post...

It hasn't been a bad week, but it sure hasn't been a good one. Sam is still hanging in there. He looks terrible and I feel bad for him. He has a spot draining up high on his good hip. I am glad it is draining, but wish it wasn't infected. Funny I prayed over him for the infection to leave his body and next time I checked this spot that I didn't even know was there had bust open. I just thank God it is draining now. He has eaten some. I go out and make him stand up along. He is trying to sit some now which I see as an encouragement instead of just flopping down.

The kids have been less than helpful this week. Monday I spent at least 4 hours on the swing with kids. It was productive and tiring. No huge issues, just little things and in part not wanting to do school :). Of course when mom is swinging the other three seem to forget they need to do school. Monday not every one even finished school. Chores getting done?? HA!

Tuesday was a bit better at least 1/2 of them got school and chores done. The fact that it cost them a ticket for each chore not done MIGHT have played a part in some of the motivation to get through.

Today I have 3 still doing school. MJ did his today's yesterday to avoid dishes. He has dish duty until further notice. Dad was less than happy when he discovered MJ was avoiding dishes again/some more. T is having LOTS of redo's in school. Why? The reason is very simple. "I don't like reading the lessons." Oh wow! What a reason! When she takes the TIME to read the lesson she seldom has re-do's. Today she was asking me how to round 367 to the nearest hundred. I started to help her. Stopped and ask if she had read the lesson? Silence! "Did you read the lesson? That is a yes or no question." Anyone want to guess what her final answer was? :) Lets just say I didn't help!

They are all 4 tippy toeing around me today. I told them to start the week off if they didn't help and if it was a bad week there would be no camping. I was tired and about 1/2 sick when I got home. They have not been model children this week to say the least. Mom resigned this morning. As of this morning I have no plan to go camping. Maybe dad will take them. I don't even care! I will send the food for Sat. breakfast with older son and DIL. If dad doesn't go and they want they can take the camper. That will give them a warm place and a frig. and two cook stoves. I don't know what will happen. I know I feel better no longer worrying about trying to get it all done.

I have granola cooking to take. Part of it is without almonds as I forgot to dump them in after I chopped them up. Oh well! I made a double batch.

Tomorrow I need to go help unload wheat. Our wheat order will be to a friends house about 7 AM. We will have 5000 lbs of wheat to off load. Some is buckets, some 50 lb sacks. Being early morning of a weekday it may be hard to find enough strong male backs.

I also need to go vote. I like to vote absentee since life has a way of happening to me. I need to go get a ton of goat feed to start feeding my sheep and goats some. I need to give MJ a hair cut before we have to come up with a female name instead of MJ. Tomorrow is therapy so I have to be in town by 3 for that. Add the fact that I have a nice long Sam's list and I don't see it all happening. I can go do the voting and feed on Friday since I won't be camping. :) I can't do those things today because school work isn't done. Tomorrow they shouldn't have school work. If they do then they will be staying home with me on Friday to finish. They will have all weekend to do it!

As I sort out what I can do when I am feeling less overwhelmed. I will just be the bad guy and they can adjust! It was their choice to not do school and chores in a timely manor.

I do have supper cooking. I started out making potato soup for supper. Sounded OK, but not great. I really wanted something with more spice. Like.... green chili stew! Mmmmmm I gave in to the thought. I don't make good green chili stew. That has to come from New Mexico. Mine is a poor imitation. Even at that it sure smells good. I can't wait to try it!

I have been multi tasking for a while with this post. While I have been working on it Sam has gotten off the porch and used the bathroom. He has moved around the yard a good bit. He is now laying out in the yard. I am very pleased! I did have to laugh as my windows were all filled with children excitedly watching him do his business! MN said he still looks beautiful to her! One of the others had said he looks funny with out his leg. :) Everyone keep praying!


If you read this whole post sorry for the whine. Guess today is just a whiny day for me.

Amazing Day!

Today was to be our field trip. I had found out Monday that J lied about being caught up on school to go to the Retreat. Ooops! Not a good move. I had checked with DIL to see if she would take the other three. J had worked hard, well sorta hard to get caught up in the hopes of swaying me. (I hear some of you chuckling.) Then yesterday MJ yet again didn't do dishes on his day. It isn't manly. I let dad talk to him. I just put him on dish duty until further notice. T decided to play games with the other two girls. She got busted on it. They are both mad at her still. Then I discover that MN lied about getting her school finished yesterday evening. This after I point blank ask her.

I REALLY wanted to go! REALLY REALLY! But, I couldn't allow this type behaviour to be rewarded. We stayed home. I was expecting a rough day filled with attitudes. What I got was an amazing day of peace!

J and MN worked on catching up on school. I had the CD's playing praise and worship music low. They sang along off and on all day with the CDs. They worked and laughed and generally were joyful to be around as they did school. T volunteered to go clean the camper. MJ did his dishes then his laundry and generally was fun to be around. He and T spend HOURS playing upstairs without fighting.

There was lots of teasing with the two girls down here. I am seeing a much more calm, content J. She laughs easy, but not a forced type laugh. She is starting to take teasing and give without getting bent out of shape.

After they finished school the two girls went for a walk. T wasn't invited. I am hoping some peer pressure will change her bossy, game playing attitude with the other two girls. They are mad at her over some lies. They "Love" her but don't trust her right now. I keep pointing out that they to have had their turn at lying and if Dad and I hadn't gave consequences and forgave them where would they be. I think the shunning consequence is quite appropriate. I don't think it will last long. J just can't shun well. MN on the other hand.... well she will finally get happy. I just don't understand how a child not of my womb can be mine in so many ways!

J is excited as she is loosing a LOT of weight. She probably has lost a full clothing size in her hips and waist. I am happy for her. She isn't dieting at all. She just doesn't have access to the junk food she use to eat. She was also talking about how well the acne treatment I bought her works. I don't think that has as much to do with it as the diet changes. Another change in her is her focusing ability. She was so proud yesterday because she stayed focused on school all day! Now my idea of being focused and hers aren't quite the same, but she is learning to handle her time and responsibilities better every day. She is taking pleasure in that.

Her mix and match way behind school is going good. I really feel we have about the right grade levels of school. She has ask me to install Bible, but I couldn't get the 3rd grade to install, so will dig out the 4th or 5th and let her do it. I am judging her abilities by the number of redos she has each day. Usually less than one per subject but 1-3 a day total. Some days a few more. Some days she is very excited and has NONE! Fractions seem to be one of her hardest areas of math. She will be done with the grade levels we are doing Jan. 1. Ready to jump to the next grade level. Her self-esteem is also rising as she succeeds in her school work and other areas.

Tomorrow we are having the CPS worker "visit" again for her monthly visit to see if J is still breathing. J laughed today about meeting her at the door doing deep breathing to show she was breathing and telling her bye! She is to be here about 9:30. I hope I get the cow milked and breakfast done before then. My light speed morning around here the past week or two don't reflect that happening.

I also need to decide if we are having Pizza for Friday night camping or hamburgers. Then either make Pizza dough and freeze it, flat bread for personal pizza's or hamburger buns for hamburgers. I am leaning toward the flat bread pizzas. It is easy and we can all decorate them to suit ourselves. Sat. night we are having dinner as a group with the other Outbackers. I am hoping it is fun not a drunk fest. :) If it is to wild we will just take our Taco Salad back to our RV and pig out! I made granola today so we will have that to take for breakfast. I have also been ask to make pancake batter. Toss in some eggs and maybe peppers and onions and we will be set!

All have a blessed tomorrow!