tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10595779349555729922024-03-13T05:38:56.847-07:00laughsandclucksThe life and times of the Webb family and their assortment of chickens, guineas and other pets.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-68667968174858443922010-08-17T14:28:00.000-07:002010-08-17T14:31:20.510-07:00This blog is moving locationsStarting today, I will only be blogging on TheMamaHen.blogspot..com. I feel like the name fits me better, as my life lately has had few laughs and is majorly centered around my kids.... hope to see you there!<br />JulieWebbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-37811709963194633062010-07-04T15:12:00.000-07:002010-07-04T15:55:20.856-07:00Thinking of others<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEsXesg5AZ-p6QfJqkhfDBGq7AkD1dEAC1hdIXUQbJ79K3iV5asg9Wpp5fv3HJLjFVD0DR6uSwut88ebA5-TCAWYSZ2TJsQ0MpVTG2MiKy5lvjAX0lXE_4GSeY919djjr-Qb6j4JQb5w/s1600/IMG_2253.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEsXesg5AZ-p6QfJqkhfDBGq7AkD1dEAC1hdIXUQbJ79K3iV5asg9Wpp5fv3HJLjFVD0DR6uSwut88ebA5-TCAWYSZ2TJsQ0MpVTG2MiKy5lvjAX0lXE_4GSeY919djjr-Qb6j4JQb5w/s320/IMG_2253.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490188149568514834" /></a><br />I hate to admit it, but I have been severely worn out this month. I'm sure everyone feels that way sometimes. Just finishing school up was a major chore. Emily got sick and I wonder if maybe she wasn't stressed as well. Life has been pretty good, just busy.<br />Today, we finally kept a social obligation I had set up a month ago. I regularly visit a Vietnamese family near the airport and they asked about a month ago if they could return the visit and come to our house. So I said that we would set it up for the first weekend we had free.<br />Well, ended up being almost a month after a trip to Florida to celebrate my Mom's birthday and help her prepare for knee replacement surgery.<br /><br />So, I went to pick up the family at around 11 AM and what fun we ended up having. They had a video of a church service that the father had performed some music in- and did traditional Montegnard (their ethnic group) dances celebrating harvest. It was amazing to see both the dancing and the amount of people in our area that support this community of immigrants. <br /><br />Once we were done with the video, we all went outside and I showed them the chickens and the figs, peaches and blackberries that are all ripening. We nibbled on ripe fruit and they told me the word for fig in J'rai (their language). Then I collected eggs while they got ready to swim.<br />I was so glad I decided to put my swimsuit on and join the fun! The little boys, Thai and Henry, wanted nothing to do with the water and were screaming about being in the pool when I came out. We had them in floatie suits that were a bit big for them and I think the newness of the water and the discomfort of the suits was just too much. Their parents were having so much fun, they didn't seem to mind the crying and kept encouraging the boys to enjoy themselves, dunking and splashing them. I was able to convince the little one, Henry, to come to me and I cuddled him on my hip and bounced up and down playing horsie until he calmed down and was giggling. Before too long, I had them both on my hips and was galloping side to side in the pool, hanging on tightly so they were sure they were safe. It sure brought back memories of playing with Allen and Emily when they were that age. Emily even took several turns with them so that my arms wouldn't get worn out. We were in the pool for an hour or more and by the end, I was able to sit with the boys while they stood on the steps and splashed merrily. It was such a fun time!<br /><br />Driving them back, all but one adult and one child fell sound asleep. I suspect we all had enormous fun and burned a lot of energy. I haven't lost a whole carful of people to sleep in a long, long time. (Probably since going to the NJ Shore when the kids were really small.)<br /><br />And now, as I look back on the day, I am thankful that I got to get out of my rut of chores and self-indulgence and actually be refreshed! Hoping your weekend refreshes you as well!!Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-17250242540087161052010-06-12T00:00:00.000-07:002010-06-12T00:02:34.521-07:00Toby the predatorBrian had been home for about half an hour when he heard the distress cry from our Llasa Apso, Toby. Apparently the bait in the varmit trap looked good and Toby went in after it. No harm came to him and I'm sure he is not the one stalking chickens, but at least we know the trap works.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-431276942792838932010-06-11T09:50:00.000-07:002010-06-11T09:53:34.416-07:00SorrowThere is a predator attacking our chickens. It has killed three bird over the last two nights. One of which was the broody hen. I put her eggs in the incubator right away and so far, two of them have hatched. She was so close to completing her task! It really makes me sad. The baby chicks are as cute as can be. So far we have 12 in the brooding house and at least 15 more in the incubator. So maybe we'll have a lot more joy by the end of the week.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-14160758041463619082010-06-08T13:49:00.000-07:002010-06-08T13:57:20.990-07:00So many changes.It has been a week of changes. The incubator burst into life on Saturday morning as I headed out to market. 8 lovely baby chicks! Woke up to an indignant peeping this morning- another addition to the flock! Still 7 eggs that we are waiting on. The broody hen in the chicken house is still sitting and waiting.<br />The biggest surprise was a mamma guinea hen coming out of the woods with 15 baby guineas following her. She has a group of 4 other guineas helping to protect and monitor the babies and the noise level around here has increased tremendously as they all try to distract us from their proteges. It makes my day perfect to see them running around. We've never had a successful wild hatch with the guineas before, so we've never seen the babies' behavior when they are raised by a parent. SO much quicker and coordinated than in a brooder.<br />The sad event was our beloved bearded dragon dying. She was completely alert and entertaining the night before, then was cold and still in the morning. <br /><br />I am getting the impression that God blesses us with new life to help put salve on our wounds as we grieve those who die.<br /><br />Praying each day that the broody hen gets her chicks soon--she's been working so hard and I feel she deserves her reward.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-89656033401839815372010-05-31T23:32:00.001-07:002010-05-31T23:41:05.369-07:00BroodinessIt hits hens and humans alike. The urge to find a dark, quiet corner and just brood over their progeny for a couple of weeks. I am feeling the most intense need to brood over my two children in our home and not have any distractions. My hens are attempting to do the same. Two became so broody( for you non-chicken familiar- this means all fluffed up to twice their size over a group of eggs which they will defend with their lives, to the point of drawing blood) that I got them their own pet carriers to complete the task in. Unfortunately both became damp and unsuitable and the eggs rotted and the broodies abandoned their quest. Two others took up the challenge in opposite corners of the hen house. One was killed by a night marauder, and her eggs are now in an incubator to finish her work. The other hen bravely faces each day, only rarely leaving the nest for food or water. She should have about a week until the eggs hatch. Then the JOY as she leads them around the chicken yard teaching them how to be chickens. How to eat, drink, scratch. A grown chicken raised by a mother hen is always the smartest bird in the flock.<br /><br />I have to say that my feelings over my defenseless Vietnamese friends matched closely to the ferocity of a broody hen. Like I would physically die if anything happened to them. I am praying that when Yabsira and Enat arrive I will attach with that strong a bond to them as well.<br /><br />Pray for all of us, birds and humans alike!Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-13764637725518367102010-05-31T23:22:00.000-07:002010-05-31T23:45:01.924-07:00So Angry I Can't Sleep NightsI am trying to learn the lesson that vengeance belongs to the Lord. But I am so ANGRY. A friend and I (the one with the burned toddler) went to his followup appointment at the hospital and were detained for 5 hours because they mistook his Mongolian spots for bruising. If we wished to leave, we were told DSS would be called. They did not listen to me, no matter how I told them that the marks had been there for weeks. They only asked my friend how long they were there after 4 hours and only believed her after calling her primary physician.<br />I wrote the most perfect letter of complaint. Described the whole situation in detail. Looked up the appropriate administrators to send it to. And then felt caution hit.<br />What is my true motive? Vengeance, surely. I want the nurse who first described the marks on Henry's backs as bruises to get a serious lecture. An apology, perhaps.<br />Mostly, though, I don't EVER want to have to return to that facility again. So the caution creeps in my soul that perhaps complaining to the correct people might cause a hornet's nest and that would require another visit to the hospital. Which I swear to you I just cannot contemplate. I was in TERROR for 4 hours that they were going to take my friend's little boy away from her and nothing I did helped.<br /><br />So I think I will stash the perfect letters in a drawer and speak with her regular doctor and see if he is ok managing Henry on his own with my assistance. I SURE don't want to have to go back to the Chapel Hill "jail" they call a clinic.<br /><br />By the way, Henry is healing nicely and even let me kiss all over his cute little face today while I did his bandage change and let me feed him grapes once we were done. Him mom said"Henry loves you!" and I felt my soul soar. Honestly, if mom and Henry are happy, I would be insane to mess that up.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-85902164872155125882010-05-23T09:54:00.000-07:002010-05-23T10:22:13.851-07:00I'm NO Angel (And this week has been proof to me!)This has been a long and difficult week. I have been struggling with my own selfish and sinful nature and keeping many awful comments to myself. But since I know what I have been thinking, I just am amazed that God even remotely puts up with me. On Friday night, a dear friend's toddler pulled a bottle of boiling water down onto himself. She called me Saturday and at least 6 times on Sunday. I didn't pick up the phone on Saturday, thought she was just lonely and I was wrapped up in my life and baseball games. Good grief do I regret that. We had a huge pool party for Emily's class on Sunday afternoon, so my entire Sunday was occupied getting the house ready and entertaining guests. When I finally picked up the phone on Sunday, Em sounded sad. And tired. She has 3 little ones, one only 8 weeks old, so I assumed that life was just hard for the moment. I asked if she was ok. She has limited English, so she told me "Henry sick. Henry live- how you say? We take Henry doctor night." I'm like HuH? Henry <span style="font-style:italic;">LIVE</span>What on earth do you mean? So I assured her I would come by on Monday morning and see how they were doing. I thought maybe they all had a bad cold. When I arrived on Monday, she showed me with her hands how and where Henry was hurt and told me "hot water". I was like, "Was he burned?!" Another word she didn't know. Then she took me to the kitchen and showed me what had happened. I was like, "Where is he NOW?!" And she pulled out a paper with the name and address of the burn unit in Chapel Hill on it. <br />To make a long story short, Henry had been burned on one cheek, his neck and his entire chest and top part of his abdomen. His dad had ridden the helicopter with him to the burn unit and had been staying with him for two and a half days by the time I figured out what had happened. I loaded Em, the 4 year old and the infant up and we took off for Chapel Hill. Henry had just gotten out of surgery from his skin grafts when we arrived. His dad looked as awful as I have ever seen him. No sleep. Little food- certainly not the type of food he was used to eating( Rice and fresh vegetables, very few carbs or meats). By the end of the day, I had them safely tucked into the Ronald McDonald house for a good meal and a good night's sleep. Far too late in my opinion. Should have happened Saturday. But I was too wrapped up in my life. <br />And my attitude needed serious work. I felt like the loser in a game of musical chairs. The family has no car, no one in their circle of friends who can navigate the medical world, or even the English language. I HATED returning to the intensive care world. but I understand it. Someone was needed to learn how to change the bandages. I am good at bandages. Even on squirming, kicking toddlers. The nurses were so grateful to have someone who spoke English and understood the environment. So on Friday I finally got them back to their home. And have been traveling up to their home every day to change his bandages. <br />And my internal dialogue continues to trouble me. Why this poor little boy has never had the word NO enforced? He has pulled stuff off tables for a very long time. Groceries, dinner plates, toys. Usually is spoken to sternly, but is never removed from the room or spanked. Each time I think of that bottle coming down on his head, I think a spanking would be so much more merciful. <br />Each time I have to dodge his kicking feet while changing his bandages, I think that a structure of authority would make this so much easier. Someone to let him know that he is not going to be hurt, that he just needs to let the bandages be changed so he can get better. He calms immediately once he gets his way. He is NOT in pain, jut really angry. <br />And I feel like Atilla the Hun for forcing him through 10 minutes of screaming each morning. I want him to know he will be ok. <br />Not being able to tell him that in his language really stinks.<br />So. Difficult times. And believe me. I'm NO angel, no matter what people say.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-78912446682108847202010-05-04T13:47:00.000-07:002010-05-04T14:05:41.749-07:00Sunny and the bunnyI have spent the week dealing with the needs of Sunny Boy, my geriatric rooster, and Winston, my escapee angora bunny. Brian started off one morning with an alarmed "HEY, Isn't that Winston out there?!" Sure enough, the bunny was galivanting around the backyard and under the deck behind the house. We managed to lure him with some fresh greens and get him safely back inside, but I knew I wouldn't be able to postpone building his rabbit run much longer. Actually got the supplies today and should complete it tomorrow.<br />My patriarch rooster has been another concern. Once I got the baby chick area completed, I caught him and put him with them so I could reconstruct his retirement area. He submitted to the treatment, but was not to be found that evening when I tucked the babies in for the night. I finally located him in his old retirement area, buried under a pile of the 6 month old hens who have grown up in his company. Apparently, all of them are devoted to each other and fencing is no deterrent when it comes time to settle in for the night. Sunny had to fly over 2 sets of fencing tto get back to his girls! I separated them, but the next night was the same story, so I let them stay together and accelerated building a secure coop for them to all stay in together. One little hen couldn't figure out how to get over the fence and was FRANTICALLY trying to get in. I opened the gate and shooed her in. She promptly hlopped up on top of the crate where the huddle was and burrowed her way under Sunny's left wing. She is full grown and so big she almost flipped him over sideways, but he just adjusted his wing and settled down over the top of her. Now THAT. Is why I like a good rooster. What a tender hearted boy.<br /><br /><br />Got his coop built and all are settling in nicely.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-63661031502529238682010-04-30T06:09:00.000-07:002010-04-30T06:17:25.417-07:00Feeling like Julie AndrewsSpringtime is my favorite time of year: just makes me want to burst into song with its delights. The weather is finally warm enough to get outside and do all the fall chores I put off until winter weather made them impossible. The ground is bursting into life, surprising me with reminders of flowers I had forgotten were planted there. This spring the flowers have gone insane. Things that have NEVER bloomed are covered with blossoms. All the rain in the winter must have done wonders for their root systems. Allergy sufferers everywhere in the city are miserable. I'm SO thankful my family has been spared.<br />I also love watching baby chickens hatch. Three of my hens have "gone broody"- meaning that they stay in a nesting box and try to defend the eggs they have laid with their life. If they manage to stay on the eggs for 3 weeks, then they are rewarded with babies and they will only return to laying eggs once the chicks are functioning well on their own. I have been taking the eggs from two of them, but one that I know was an attentive mama from last year, I have allowed to keep about 6 eggs. Should hatch in the next week or so. I plan on building her a nice private broody house to raise them in sometime this week.<br />Then it will be on to building a rabbit run so that the bunny can get outside too!Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-47186573118396873622010-04-29T18:00:00.001-07:002010-04-29T18:00:57.455-07:00No, no news yet!Yes, I am aware that it has been a long time since we started this process. I've actually been reminding God of this fact a lot recently. "Have you forgotten us?" "Have you forgotten there are children involved here?!" I finally felt the answer in my heart yesterday...."did I say this would be easy?" Um, well no. "Did you sign up for this knowing it could take a while, and still be worth it?" Um, yes. Gulp. The agony and pain of the wait disolved as the veil dropped and revealed root cause: my selfishness. I want what I want when I want it. I don't like having to wait. Buti DO trust God's timing and know that we are in the homestretch while God builds myknowledge base on the needs of adoptive kids. So hang in there, dear friends. I anticipate good news soon.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-55902957218858628312010-04-29T17:59:00.000-07:002010-04-29T18:00:16.922-07:00Parenting tips from my petsMy mom tried so hard. She begged, she reminded, she instructed and demonstrated. Guess who finally taught me to make my bed? My border collie. If I neglect to make my bed, I return to find it filled with dirt. She LOVES to sleep in my bed and she doesn't wipe her feet when she comes in. If the bedspread is not pulled tight and secured,she will paW it into a lovely nest to curl up in, depositing most of the dirt from her paws in the process. What an AWFUL feeling to climb into a sandbox of a bed at night. So moms of the world, take heart, you now have a secret instructional tool at your disposal- just sprinkle dirt in unmade beds you encounter and blame it on the dog! Your kids will be making their bed in no time flat!<br />And guess who taught me to pick up my clothes off the floor? My cats. (Yes,you guessed how...they pee on them, hide poop in them,etc.) I DON'T reccomend peeing on your kids' clothes, but recycling poops from the litter box might be effective. Just be sure to let your spouse in on the plan or you could come home one day to find that your pets have been taken to the pound.<br />Best wishes!<br />More later on what my chickens have taught me....Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-77581933395492344842010-03-26T15:33:00.001-07:002010-03-26T15:44:46.636-07:00Spring is Here!The trees are flowering, a riot of pink and white blossoms with yellow forsythias and daffodils adding their accents from the ground. But what REALLY shouts spring to me is the incubator full of baby chicks I just brought home from the elementary school. A customer of mine is a kindergarten teacher and I loaned her an incubator and plenty of eggs to fill it with. They had a successful hatch on Monday and I just picked up the brooder with all the baby chicks in it. They had a pure white chick! The first one I've ever seen.... usually a pure white chicken is bright yellow as a chick. About 10 dark black chicks, probably Marans. Several grey ones, likely Aracaunas and several golden ones, also likely to be Aracaunas. With no set breeding pens, they are all technically mixed breeds, but I like to guess at their parentage based on how the purebreds look when I get them.<br /><br />Emily and I stared fascinated for about half an hour as they ran riot in their little brooder, chasing each other and fighting over bits of leaf or straw. Watching chicks play tug of war is fun! My last batch of chicks was in November and it was FREEZING then, so not so nice to just hang out and watch them play. Suddenly, one chick's head just drooped and it fell asleep standing up. Then another. They are SO like human babies. Play hard, then crash hard. Emily suggested we should go and let them sleep, so we came inside. They are likely now in a tight huddle, all sleeping together with an occasional restless one on the outside of the heap keeping watch.<br /><br />It is awesome to have chicks in the workshop again.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-61082002341915958832010-03-16T08:20:00.000-07:002010-03-16T08:33:46.232-07:00I am running an infirmarySeems like every time I turn around, I am finding an animal in need of care. Our oldest rooster started the trend about 6 months ago. The other roosters started picking on him and left him wobbly, with one wing that won't flap the same way as the other. So I kept him with the baby chicks while they brooded in the workshop and now have built a little pen for him to live in by himself. His "retirement villa". Then I discovered that one of the hens has developed a cataract in one eye that has essentially left her blind. I moved her into the pen with Sonny. Then our rabbit fell ill, and his fur started falling out in huge clumps. He got moved into his hutch and brought into the living room to keep warm. I bought a Snuggie for him (it was designed for a dog). He looks ridiculous, but his ears are now warm and it relieves me to think he won't be using calories to stay warm. I am closely monitoring his food and water and giving him lots of fresh kale as a treat. He is slowly putting on weight and I think he might just make it. My job for today is to catch the rooster who is hopping around on one leg, dragging his other one behind him. I want to put him in with Sonny so he won't get eaten by a predator. I know that he can't get off the ground at night and have no idea where he's been sleeping lately. I also know in my heart that I should probably just put him down, but he is such a beautiful rooster that I just can't seem to do it. I think that all of this combined has been truly reminding me that nature and my critters are truly out of my control and in God's hands. I can feed and water, but it is God who decides who lives and dies. It is hard to feel out of control. It would be so much nicer to know that if I put the effort into curing an animal, then it would be cured. Just doesn't happen that way. Helps me accept the process of waiting on our adoption process. Nothing I do will make a difference. Praying helps advance my relationship with God and prepare me for the end result. So I'll keep praying for everything. Oh, that's right. That's what we're supposed to be doing after all. Better go feed the rabbit. And send a quick prayer of thanksgiving up for my many blessings.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-7508991175095277922010-01-14T14:44:00.000-08:002010-01-14T14:50:49.654-08:00There Ought to be a law.There ought to be a law that says mothers should never have to leave the house at 7:30AM and run errands solid until 5 PM. It's just too much to bear. None of it individually amounts to very much, but cumulatively, it's enough to stop a steam engine.<br /><br />I just had one of those days. Got home ready to collapse. Sat down to supermarket rotisserie chicken and paused to give thanks. My weary body thankful for someone else's labor. Grateful Brian won't have to share the meal (he's working late- he HATES rotisserie chicken and the likely expiration date of the meat that went into it.) And grateful for a roof over my head and a warm house to enjoy it in.<br /><br />Especially in this day post-earthquake in Haiti. Cannot imagine being in their shoes. In a country where the poor routinely eat a mixture of mud, oil and sugar to fill their empty bellies. So many suffering, in my thoughts and prayers tonight.<br /><br />So this little bird seems a Thanksgiving Feast and I am grateful. Despite errands and fatigue. I think I'll curl up in my armchair and knit.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-46626793606943347932009-12-30T15:00:00.000-08:002009-12-30T15:23:46.546-08:00Two days on the farmGot a belated Christmas present: an invitation for a visit from a friend who was traveling until Christmas Eve. Never dreamed we'd be able to connect after she had driven for almost 2 weeks solid. But she invited us, so we loaded up the car and off we went!<br />She lives on a lovely farm in Virginia and it is always a retreat setting for me. And a reminder to count my blessings. Every piece of life there is a challenge. Want to be warm? Have to convince strong boys to split firewood, have to carry said firewood in, have to make sure that the wood stove doesn't go out. Want to eat? Must plan ahead. With 7 people in their family and 3 visitors, a single box of Mac and Cheese won't do. And Believe me- it takes at least an hour to cook a meal for the crowd. Mealtimes are wonderful. No matter what you fix, not a scrap is wasted. Leftovers from one plate are quickly shuttled to another. Cleanup also takes a while. Best to pour a cup of tea as you wrap up the kitchen. Want to entertain oneself? Must have good book or knitting or good DVD- TV is not an option. As a result, good conversations are had and minds are enriched. Children play imaginative games like dolls or Monopoly or Scrabble. Then run riot in the snow, tramping all over the property. Allen only fell in the creek twice: once he broke through the ice and fell in a puddle up to his knees. Then he slipped off a bridge and fell in the creek up to his armpits. No serious damage done and a memorable boyhood experience obtained. I threw him in a hot shower and fresh clothes and he was back to playing in no time.<br /><br />Because my friend was just back from traveling, barn chores had fallen behind. We were able to pitch in and help clean it out in preparation for the birth of two calves. My kids NEVER face such work at home and it was a tremendous reminder to them that their lives in the "country" are extremely easy. We mucked manure and straw for well on two hours before we retired in for hot showers and Motrin. Got the best night's sleep that night that I've had in 6 months. I lay in bed, listening to the wind howl through the valley and shove at the old farmhouse's seams. My friend had blankets hung over all the doors to repel the unwelcome visitor and the house was cozy and snug as I fell asleep. I was thankful for day-long playtime for my kids and glad for friendship that includes you in all the aspects of regular life. I would feel so much worse dropping in for a lightning visit if my presence would mean freshly waxed floors and freshly starched sheets. I got a tremendous amount of knitting accomplished and was even able to teach her girls a few starting pointers. Such camaraderie sitting in front of the fire, passing knitting back and forth as they figured out the basics and asked where a stitch had gone wrong. <br /><br />I'm back to my lovely warm home now, catching up on laundry, grateful for a functional washer and dryer. (Did I mention she's been managing without a dryer since June?!) I miss the smell of the fireplace, miss the cheerful bustle of the home. Only the knowledge that we'll aim our trusty van that way again soon keeps me from being sad. It was truly a lovely visit.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-63209745257808489342009-12-18T21:15:00.000-08:002009-12-20T08:28:45.136-08:00The Reluctant Rooster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMS9sI_XQI2plMk1MIacdktCIJCSzmwVGnwmhwTKJ5a4y3YUaAo1kCLcealWsaafFPWgFDKaVwwvvMmAzkqHIJG18f3z_RQNgu3ubbvHyr3EH6bYfJJuGhjImUMNB2RYna0BGbskNub38/s1600-h/IMG_1550.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMS9sI_XQI2plMk1MIacdktCIJCSzmwVGnwmhwTKJ5a4y3YUaAo1kCLcealWsaafFPWgFDKaVwwvvMmAzkqHIJG18f3z_RQNgu3ubbvHyr3EH6bYfJJuGhjImUMNB2RYna0BGbskNub38/s200/IMG_1550.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417356134148453506" /></a><br />It is pouring rain outside. Has been all day. Hovering at 34 degrees, trying not to snow. The chickens have huddled, miserable, anywhere they can find shelter. Only gave me 14 eggs, instead of their usual 30. <br /><br />So as I dashed through the dark cold to tuck the birds in for the night, I decided that to check that there were no birds trying to spend the night in the fig tree. (A group of 3 birds had taken that up as a habit.) Surely in this weather, they would have more sense. Nope, no sense. One rooster. High up in the leafless fig tree. So I stashed my flashlight in my pocket and grabbed him by the feet. (What else could I do?) "HELP!! MURDER!!! ABDUCTION!!! BODILY ASSAULT!!", he screamed. (Actually, more like SCRREEEK!! SCREEEEK!!) Wish I could have let him know I had kindly intentions. He flapped violently, making it hard to pull him down through the branches and I was terrified that he would dislocate his hips or knees. Eventually I got him contained in a firm football grip under my arm and we slipped and slid to the chicken house, where I gently tossed him in. He finally ceased screeching and walked up to a nearby roost as if that were his plan all along. <br /><br />I hope in the morning all will be forgiven. I just honestly couldn't face losing a bird to stupidity and exposure.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-71948101974162456392009-12-17T02:30:00.000-08:002009-12-17T02:46:47.544-08:00Mom, WHAT are we doing?I walked into my chicken house the other day to find a very confused guinea looking out at me from a nesting box. Which confused ME. Guineas don't use nesting boxes to lay eggs. They find a nice secluded spot on the ground, usually in the woods. Then I noticed the hen in the nesting box next to the guinea and it all made sense. It was the guinea's momma hen. You see, when I got the guinea at the beginning of the summer, it had been hatched and raised by a mother guinea. So when I got it home, I gave it to a hen who had just hatched out about 4 baby chicks of her own. She didn't bat an eye at the newcomer, just tucked it under with the rest of the babies and they have been inseparable ever since. The rest of the baby chicks have grown and are now leading independent chicken lives in the flock, but not this guinea. She follows her mom around everywhere, even though she's bigger, softly trilling to her, commenting on food or the day, or whatever. I love watching them. So I guess it should not have surprised me to see them together in the chicken house. Momma hen has moved on with her life and resumed laying. (Mother hens I have learned do not lay eggs while hatching out a nest, while brooding baby chicks or while raising the young into adults- they just don't have the extra time and energy I assume). Usually at this point, I was expecting the guinea to notice that there were other guineas around and that she looked and acted a lot more like them, causing her to join their group. But no, devotion dictates to this guinea that mom must be followed. I hope one of my brood ends up remaining devoted to me in such a fashion. <br />By the way, the other time this guinea had me in stitches was when it started scratching at the ground before it ate just like a chicken does. One of the reason guineas are so good around the home is that they just peck at the bugs and seeds they eat, but this one picked up on it's mother's scratching behavior and continues it to this day.<br />And it seems like the other guineas might be a bit jealous. When I tucked the birds in to bed the other night, there were five guineas inside the hen house instead of just one. Seems some of the guinea flock have followed this girl inside (from the tree tops), which will certainly keep them all a lot safer.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-15903696784434904022009-07-31T16:37:00.000-07:002009-07-31T17:02:36.352-07:00To Love is to risk Loss<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV7Ax_txGn1br4U_3dG_8VHsjMAm8LS_niD3UUxGR_d4AJnK1shffPGuqW3l7oLS_UgvXX4ZIRkGOmY4zd-T40sgb2j8m72bkhJUPqUIsk0k72THaR9lxyV3BKX9mpebWO9jQbmN_D-4/s1600-h/IMG_1096.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV7Ax_txGn1br4U_3dG_8VHsjMAm8LS_niD3UUxGR_d4AJnK1shffPGuqW3l7oLS_UgvXX4ZIRkGOmY4zd-T40sgb2j8m72bkhJUPqUIsk0k72THaR9lxyV3BKX9mpebWO9jQbmN_D-4/s320/IMG_1096.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364778659789451330" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Well, the house is so much quieter today. Except for frequent bursts of tears from Emily. "I MISS the boys SO MUCH!", "I know, honey, I do too..." Saying goodbye was horrible. A long drawn-out protracted affair, punctuated by shrieks and wails as the bus finally pulled away. <br />Emily was by far the loudest. I was grateful someone else was expressing my inner heart's agony without me having to get slobbery and headachy. The boys did pretty good until it was time to load up. They kept wiping away Emily's tears- "NO Emily, DON"T cry!, NO Emily." I cannot do justice to the accent as they say her name with tenderness, but it was heartwrenching to see them all trying to comfort one another with no real assurance that everything will be o.k.<br />Took the kids to a movie. Cleaned the kitchen. Stared at the leftover injera and shurro and sighed. Threw it to the chickens. Missed the companionship in the kitchen as I prepared dinner. Found one of the boys' hairbrushes and sighed again. <br />WHY!? Emily wants to know. Why did they have to go back so soon! I try to explain that a month is a long time to ask a family to host a child and that no matter how long we had them, it was going to be horrible to say goodbye. Then WHY did you sign us up for this?! She wants to know. I tell her that I was glad to get to know them and that it was good practice for when our permanent children come home from Ethiopia. She glares at me "Good practice to say good-bye?!" Nope, baby. When we get them, it will be forever. It was great practice for sharing a seat with Allen in the car, and practice for our language and my cooking. But really, I so understand how she feels. To love is to open oneself to pain. I don't regret a minute of it.<br />I would do it again in an instant. It completely changed how my kids think of Ethiopian children. Even how my husband thinks of Ethiopian children. What an enormous blessing.<br />Even if my heart still aches a bit.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-53017642985773113152009-07-27T21:03:00.000-07:002009-07-27T21:35:42.080-07:00Ethiopia and Virginia collideI figured that since the foster boys were fitting in well at our house that it probably would be o.k. to take them on a short trip to visit my friend in Virginia for my birthday. Well, it was immensely more than o.k.<br />We all had such a wonderful time. This is a hard-working family (5 loads of dishes a DAY when company is around!), willing to include others in their lives and laughter. We slept in a tent in the front yard (a BRAND new experience for the boys) and all four kids: Allen, Emily, Tsegaw and Eyayu spent all day chasing after the Hillery children from one adventure to another and helping as they could with farm chores.<br />The whole family is good with languages and we all took turns practicing our Amharic. Allen pointed out:"I'm TIRED of speaking another language all the time!" (It really wasn't all the time, but I guess to a kid who studies Mandarin and French in school, asking him to study Amharic during summer break kinda is rough...) The boys' English improved daily. Ginger was a good sport at how unused to American food they still are and whipped up at least three Ethiopian dishes that were greeted with enthusiasm and empty plates. The rest of the time, they ate the injera we brought from the Ethiopian grocery and the shurro they made for themselves. (And a few bananas, oranges and freshly made french fries to fill in the gap!)<br />The high points of the trip for me were:<br />-Gazing up at the stars during a 4AM potty run to the house. Almost forgot I had to go. Magnificent. And I get LOVELY stars where I live, just not so many, and not framed so beautifully by the mountains.<br />-Tasting homemade custard Ice cream I had made with just cream, sugar, egg yolks and vanilla.<br />-Eating vegetable curry and blackberry pound cake birthday cake.<br />-Watching the Ethiopian boys blow bubbles endlessly on the front porch.<br />-The entire group of us howling in laughter as Ginger accidentally dumped a cup of sugar in Tsegaw's coffee, after I had just said they really like their coffee sweet in Ethiopia. Thus far, the boys had NOT had any coffee and were just agreeing to try some. The jar of sugar she was pouring from just went Trickle, trickle, GOOSH and suddenly we had coffee syrup. We started over with fresh cups of coffee and used the first one for sweetener for the new ones. But I have honestly never seen the boys laugh so hard. There was absolutely no language needed for the absurdity of the moment. And the coffee ended up being greatly enjoyed by all.<br />-Lying in the tent, listening to my kids complain, "Mom, the boys won't quit talking!" I was able to inform them that their first times in a tent they actually talked for HOURS. The boys barely lasted 10 minutes each night before completely passing out. (After first verifying that their flashlight batteries were still fresh and could reach every corner of the tent.....)<br />-I loved introducing my kids to tent camping and I loved introducing these boys to tent camping.<br />-Lying in the tent, listening to the thunder roar and the rain pour down. Praising God for dry tents and warm sleeping bags.<br />-Sitting in the full hayloft, smelling the sweet hay and watching the barn swallow feeding her young.<br />-Gawking at the amazing froth on the top of the milking bucket as Ginger milked Cocoa.<br />-Listening to Cocoa graze the yard around our tent early in the morning.<br />-Watching the boys fly down the hill on bicycles.<br />-Sitting in the corner of the kitchen and watching Ginger work her magic.<br />-Being Ginger's sous-chef on a day when she worked herself half to death weeding the garden and harvesting potatoes.<br />-Just being loved for who I am by people who really know who I am.<br /><br />The worst part was knowing that parting comes much sooner than desired. I absolutely don't know what I'll do as I miss these sweet boys' faces with their ready smiles and tender hearts. Keep praying, I suppose. God brought them this way for a reason and I am trusting in Him to make his purpose known. Until then, I'll just keep loving, praying and working on my Amharic.<br /><br />Ciao! (Amharic for good-bye)Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-74797732668177966122009-07-13T20:23:00.000-07:002009-07-13T20:41:35.363-07:00Shrieks and Giggles GaloreWell, it's been a week since the Ethiopian boys arrived and they have finally relaxed and started being themselves. It doesn't seem to bother them that they don't always know what is going on, although they do have an awful lot of English. I have noticed how much English they have when they start trying to teach me words in Amharic. I've been learning a LOT of nouns in Amharic! They are otherwise very quiet and respectful around me, although are quick to return those brilliant smiles whenever I grin at them. Allen and Emily have truly blown me away. They are willing to be the interpreters, acting out whatever they think the boys need to know. But they haven't been shy towards the lack of English coming back at them and truly chatter at them as though it is a regular day playing with best friends. As a result, I frequently cheer silently to hear the sound of four sets of feet running pell-mell upstairs, voices raised in laughter, English and Amharic. Tickling, pirate swords, pretend monsters- you name it.... kids are indeed kids the world over and I am blessed to be getting to know these two(and discovering sides to my own two that I otherwise wouldn't see). <br />The boys cooked a lovely Ethiopian sauce for dinner tonight. We were at the Ethiopian grocery and Eyayu picked a bag of powder off the shelf and named it "Sharro!" I told him we could get it, as he was obviously delighted to find it, but I confessed to the store owner that I had no idea what to do with it. "Oh, he can cook it for you! He knows how to make it! All you need is tomatoes and onions and a little oil." Well, honey. Let me tell you. Those boys can both COOK. I chopped up an onion and they had to reject my efforts because my pieces were too big. So I just handed over the knife and cutting board, and boy did they ever show me how it was done. That onion was the consistency of rice when they were finished. And the tomato looked like puree. It actually made me a little sad that at age 10, they both have had to be self-sufficient enough that they can fix a meal beautifully without the slightest bit of help. <br />We gorged ourselves on injera and Sharro along with baked chicken and fresh potato salad for dinner. It was lovely to see the look on Eyayu's face as I gobbled up my food and praised his cooking. Allen plans to make spaghetti with meat sauce tomorrow. I really need to use up the huge onion pieces from today.....<br />Tomorrow should be fun. More bike riding, swimming, exploring Charlotte. It's neat to experience where you live through the eyes of a child old enough to really participate in what your family likes to do.<br /><br />If you ever get the chance to host an orphan, Jump at it. Your heart stretches until you feel like it might burst.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-4792218656724966832009-07-12T17:35:00.000-07:002009-07-12T17:44:50.987-07:00Spa Day with EmilyI just fulfilled a pinkie promise to my daughter-- we indulged ourselves with a "Spa Day". Her teachers at school kept receiving spa gift certificates as thank you's and for birthday gifts, so she wanted to know what one was like. We picked up a cucumber at the store, I dug out an old sample of a face mask and we climbed in the bath, with bubbles up to our chin. Sliced the cucumber thin and placed on our eyes and relaxed. Pumiced our feet when we were tired of cucumbers on our eyes and had washed our faces sparkling clean. Once out, we applied face lotion, gently trimmed toenails and freshened up Emily's nail polish. The best part: didn't cost what a regular spa does. Oh, and the sense of closeness I felt with my spunky little girl. We have had two precious visitors in our house for almost a week now and she has been nothing but wonderful with them. I looked up at her after doing her toes and reminded her how I said that I knew life with more kids would be different, but that I would always still love her the same. Somehow, after a leisurely soak together, I felt like she could really tell I meant it. What a precious gift from my girl, to request that I pause from my endless merry-go-round to just enjoy her.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-61194982104204551922009-03-21T16:24:00.000-07:002009-03-21T19:41:44.908-07:00Changes, changes everywhere<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVRP_SzsVIG_WXfwgZ5B4ktZzrONQlmV48EMpXBQ8maUMB62dDX0N6g0x3KxyIKuKBfj1rs9uuxS-4M7Gmf758mr4_zLvmi0Atik8V4Ozg9-H4A8ih2cmcdzLe9NyLp0sfT5gOVNh1xI/s1600-h/IMG_0443.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVRP_SzsVIG_WXfwgZ5B4ktZzrONQlmV48EMpXBQ8maUMB62dDX0N6g0x3KxyIKuKBfj1rs9uuxS-4M7Gmf758mr4_zLvmi0Atik8V4Ozg9-H4A8ih2cmcdzLe9NyLp0sfT5gOVNh1xI/s200/IMG_0443.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315836735205975826" /></a><br />Wow, what a lot is going on. I feel like I've been dropped into one of the teacups in Disney's Magic Teacup ride. Nothing to complain about....<div>Another trip to Ethiopia happened the first week of February. It was amazing. My Dad got to go with me this time and that added a dimension of fun and relationship to an otherwise miraculous trip. Our team was so special, everyone really came looking for God to speak to their hearts and were SO much fun to be around. I personally felt so much more at ease this trip and was able to focus more on interacting with the people we met. It touched me powerfully to be able to just dive in and hug the kids and shake hands with the adults. Seeing the same believers felt like meeting friends I've known my whole life. </div><div>We got to meet the children we sponsor through World Vision as well as some others who were sponsored by church members. One boy I sponsor was SO shy! He is an orphan who is being raised by his uncle and grandmother. He has three older brothers. It was heartbreaking to think that this family has lost three adults to the AIDS crisis. As we walked up, they were threshing grain on an absolutely beautiful farm and the grandmother had prepared a coffee ceremony to honor my visit. In Ethiopia, when you have visitors, fresh grass is cut and thrown on the floor of the home. Coffee beans are roasted over the fire, ground and brewed directly before serving (with lots of sugar). It is absolutely the most awesome coffee you will ever drink. Traditionally, corn or grain is also roasted to offer with the coffee and a minimum of three drinks are shared while the neighbors visit. We had to leave after one cup due to the number of children we were trying to see that day, but my delight at the grandmother's hospitality was conveyed and it had to be enough. I wish I could say how much I love these people. Their warmth is indescribable to Westerners. They were obviously busy with the chores of harvest and daily life and had never met us before, but they were ready to give a hug and sit down for a visit with someone who didn't speak their language well at all. All of their lives revolve around relationships and they would never dream of getting to business without first finding out how you and all of your family are doing. </div><div>In the lives of the Christians, this was reflected by families actually praying together instead of just gathering around a TV to be entertained. Miracles there are not at all uncommon. One pastor who seeks to reach all religions in Ethiopia for Christ has seen God use physical healing as a means to open hearts to the gospel. </div><div>While we were there, a member of our team fell and seriously hurt an ankle she had had surgery on previously. The pastor prayed for her on the spot, while we were running for ice and immediately she was able to walk on it. The next day it was a bit swollen and tender, but she was fully recovered within a day or two. It was amazing how their first instinct was to pray, while we were focused on the first aid we could provide.</div><div>On a sidenote, over the past few months, Brian and I have decided to apply to adopt two Ethiopian children. It really started being urgent for me after my first trip, and God has opened quite a few doors that made it clear that it is the path we are to follow as a family. We are hoping to adopt a boy and a girl, maybe siblings, around the same age as Allen and Emily. The paperwork is just about done, and we'll just have to wait for it to go through the various government agencies. We are hopeful that the adoption agency will have a match for us sometime this month. </div><div>I am tremendously excited by the whole process. Everyone says the paperwork is exhausting, but each time I work on it I get so thrilled at what the end result will be that I have to be careful not to get insomnia thinking about it all night. The kids are excited, too, but they complain that it is taking so long. I think, Hey! we had to wait 9 MONTHS for each of YOU ragamuffins!! So somehow the process seems about right for me.</div><div>To completely shift gears, We got our spring shipment of baby chicks and I am again in love with baby birds. The baby geese that came with them didn't survive the journey, so we will try another shipment next week before we give up for the year. The baby turkeys also keeled over from causes unknown, so I am praying that Martha will try again before spring is over. If not, well, I still give her high marks for keeping them alive for almost a full month in terrible snowy weather.</div><div>Pilgrim (the goose) has decided that "You are my Lady!- and i am your Man!" and has been fondly courting my tennis shoes before trying to climb onto my leg. (Did I mention he only has one wing, weighs at least 60 pounds and is not the most graceful bird we have!) We REALLY need an adult female goose, but he's going to have to wait until next year. I've looked everywhere. I just pray the geese babies arrive alive and we manage to raise them successfully. I know I'll only be able to fend off his advances for so long......</div><div>We have daffodils in our front yard and I've decided that in future all my landscaping money will be spent on spring bulbs. There is NOTHING more welcome that the lovely sight of bright flowers at the end of winter. It is truly the sign of balmy days spent outdoors, enjoying all of my loony animals.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div>Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-52820328649995866262009-01-31T17:58:00.000-08:002009-01-31T18:12:54.444-08:00AmazementGod gave me an amazing gift today. As I pulled into our driveway this afternoon, our female turkey Martha was hanging out in our front yard. I sat quietly in the car, grateful that the dogs were locked inside so that they wouldn't chase her off with enthusiastic greetings. It has been almost two weeks since I last saw her. My emotions ranged from hope that she was just in a safe hiding spot nearby and despair that she had found a better place to live. I watched her for a couple of minutes, enjoying the quiet little sounds she makes. Then, suddenly, I noticed a tiny yellow fluff ball at her feet. TWO little fluff balls at her feet! She successfully hatched out babies without me ever finding her nest or giving her assistance. I watched as the little family stretched out, enjoying a sunny patch. (I can't BELIEVE she hatched them in the dead of winter with temperatures well below freezing at night all this week.) Wait a minute! There's another one!<br />She has THREE little ones!!!... George is just strutting around doing his best tail dance, gobbling his delight to the world. Whether at the sight of his children, or at the company of Martha, I don't know. He was certainly happy. I quietly tiptoed into the house, took a few pictures, tiptoed out to give her some food and water and just stayed glued to the window most of the afternoon. She is a good mother, keeping an eye out for dangers, fluffing out her feathers and squatting on the ground to allow them to nestle in next to her. The little ones alternated stretching out in the sun with pecking at grass and chasing after Martha each time she moved. By the time the sun was setting, she was gone. I had hoped maybe she would return to the chicken yard, but I have faith that she'll be o.k. She is probably in the crawlspace under the house and I know if she's made it thus far, she'll be fine until the babies are old enough to freely wander the yard. The wonder of baby birds struck my heart anew with the miracle of creation. They are so fragile and beautiful and make my heart sing praise to the God who thought to make the whole process possible.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1059577934955572992.post-56275077924189204512008-12-29T22:02:00.000-08:002008-12-29T22:34:46.859-08:00Best Christmas EverSo much to be thankful for this year. Mostly for the reduction of expectations before Christmas. With the economy in shambles, it made our family glad to have a home, a job and each other. The kids reduced their "gimme" lists to one important item, so when I was able to expand their gifts a little, it felt like a LOT instead of a letdown. We spent the day quietly, just the four of us. I cooked a turkey, the kids helped with the mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. We pigged out at lunch, then played with toys or crashed with a book for a quick nap.<br />The leadup to Christmas was less stressful. We were able to do Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes and the kids' school participated in a Police Department Santa Connection for needy kids in the area. We had a ball shopping at the Dollar store and Walmart for the kids assigned to each of their classes. Allen kept piping up from the backseat: "Christmas is really about giving instead of getting, right Mom?!" We also helped serve lunch at the soup kitchen where I volunteer. The kids were blown away by the numbers of people in need this Christmas. (It was the usual end of the month packed house, lots of moms and kids as well.) I managed to push aside all activities for a Saturday to bake cookies and Emily and I ran a plate to the Police station and volunteer fire station in Waxhaw to thank them for being on duty over the holidays.<br />The kids' classes also went to see the Nutcracker ballet and I got to go along as chaperone. It really helped put me in the Christmas spirit. Temperatures have been so mild, it just doesn't seem time yet.<br />On Christmas Eve, we were invited to go ice skating at an open-air rink downtown with some close friends from Emily's class. We skated around until I got exhausted, then met Brian for a quiet dinner at a restaurant.<br />Brian was able to take the weekend off, so we headed off to fulfill Allen's only Christmas activity wish: "I REALLY want to go skiing!" There is a small slope about two hours away, so we got a house-sitter and hotel reservations and off we went. It was not the nicest snow we've ever skiied on, but we all improved tremendously. The temperatures have been too mild for them to make any fresh snow, so it really got a bit icy/slushy on the second day. Emily took lessons and went from barely able to stay up to traversing a challenging slope independently, leading her Mom in graceful S turns. "Look, Mom, this is how you stop if you get going too fast!" She and Julie are officially the same skill skiier now, so in future will take lessons together. Allen just took off and never looked back. He was on the challenging slope to start and progressed up through two levels of difficulty by the end of the two days. Brian had his work cut out for him as he followed Allen down the slopes. Allen was extremely patient, waiting at the bottom for whoever he was with to get down the mountain. There was just no way for me to keep up with him.<br />The second day we got a strong lesson in not letting a situation get you down. We awoke to a steady rain in our hotel room and fog so thick you couldn't see the adjacent road. We had paid for the day's lift tickets in advance and had our rental equipment stowed in a locker at the lodge. But it looked doomed. At the parking lot of the slope, you could barely see the other row of cars through the fog. But at least up there it wasn't raining. Brian went in to see if we could at least get a raincheck and if they were running the lifts. Allen listened carefully to the plan, then plaintively said,"I don't care if I can't see, I just want to ski the radical slope again!" So in we trudged to let Dad know how Allen felt. Brian was skeptical but kind enough to indulge his son's wish and it turned out to be an awesome day. True, the slopes were icy and slushy. But the rain down in town kept the lines at the lifts short and the fog lifted by noon so you could actually see where you were going. Never got sunshine, but had a great time. We all skiied to the limits of our physical endurance. There was such a lesson on not giving up and not letting a situation ruin your day.<br />Got back to find the goose had pulled a huge chunk of hair out of Chloe's back. Oh well. None of the animals died, so all in all a successful family vacation.Webbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10641307654556399483noreply@blogger.com0