Christmas Party

This year I was asked to plan the church Christmas party for our ward. I got it stuck in my mind that I wanted lots of Christmas trees and a live nativity. Miraculously I came across a guy with a room full of new artificial trees that had been returned for one reason or another. He gave me several and sold me some. I ended up with about 24 trees for $40. I also came across a lady who gave us a donkey and a man who sold us two dairy goats. I really felt like the desires of my heart were heard in heaven and granted in an amazing way. The party was a great success. It did take us two hours to get the donkey in the trailer. Then, it was determined to point its rear end at the camera. LaMonte and another man at church gave it all they had to get that donkey to move. It was awfully funny watching them. I'm curious to see how some of our nativity pictures turned out with half of the picture featuring our donkey's rear end. We could probably come up with a pretty funny caption...but that may be a little sacreligious...

Donkey and Goats

We've added three members to the clan...a donkey and two dairy goats. I was thinking we would wait before getting more animals, but then I got asked to plan the Christmas party at church. I couldn't resist the idea of a live nativity. The details have all seemed to be falling in place. Let me just say how much we are loving the new animals! They are so cute. It is especially fun watching the interactions of the kids and all the animals. Keith was the first one to figure out how to milk the goats. Everyone was excited to try, so usually two kids will milk at the same time. Aim is difficult when you are learning to milk, so milk is shooting in every direction, the cats and dog are trying to catch the flyaway milk and someone is yelling "Hey, stop squirting me!" Meanwhile the poor goats are a little skittish and let out a kick here or there, occassionally stepping in the milk or kicking the bucket over. This is especially disheartening for our little milkers who have to start over again with a clean container. Earlier today Keith and I were playing a game. We looked out the front door, and there were our goats coming up on our front porch. They were so cute standing there as if they had come for a visit. One tried to get in the house. It was pretty funny.

Thanksgiving

We went to St Louis over Thanksgiving. It was the perfect environment to reflect on the many blessings that fill my life. How I love the time with family! Could there be anything more wonderful than spending time with people you love. Truly, we have been blessed in our lives with many people to love and many who love us. I spent some time visiting a widow in St Louis who is dying from cancer. She was still so happy, so at peace, and so determined to do all the good she can do with the time she has left. I admire her attitude and determination.
We are also hard at work drafting plans for our new home. I really have enjoyed the process. Well, I'm off to bed. It's a cold night, but we've got a hot fire in the woodstove and I've got a hot hubby waiting for me. (I think cold nights are my favorites;-)

Laundry

Our washer and dryer are in our basement. Our basement is actually more of a cave than a basement...really. In fact I have seriously considered building son concrete stalactites just so people think we intended for our basement to look like a cave. So...during the day when I do laundry, I often leave Jake and Sarah upstairs. The interesting thing about the door to the basement is that it has a little doggy door built into it. So, while I am loading the laundry, Jacob will watch and "talk" to me from the doggy door at the top of the stairs. Today while he was watching, he started crying. "Sarah, what happened to Jacob?" I asked. "He was in my way so I pushed his head down," she truthfully replied. "Don't push him again or you will need to sit on time out," I warned. A few seconds later he was crying again. "Sarah, did you push Jacob's head?" I asked. (Silence.) "No," she carefully replied. "I was just...uh...fixing Jacob's hair."

In the Country

Living in the country is pretty different. Every now and then I see or hear things that just make me smile. Yesterday I drove past a church. Their sign outside said, "(Jesus said) Be fishers of men. You catch 'em he'll clean 'em." Last time I had to get gas the station did not have a card reader on the pump. I went inside and asked if I needed to prepay. She responded "You do unless I know ya."

Jacob

Jacob, almost 16 months old now, was in my arms a few days ago when Keith asked if I could jump up and touch the ceiling. Knowing that Jake would cry if I put him down, I jumped while holding him. He started giggling. He has such a cute laugh, so I did it again a couple of times. Keith also tried it with him. When Jake came back to me, I started llifting him up to touch the ceiling on his own. He loved it but I must have bounced him a little too much because while I was lifting him up, he threw up...all over both of us. Jason and Keith, of course, thought it was hilarious.

Great Day

I'm not sure why, but I have just felt so happy today. I have felt close to God and my family in amazing ways. My heart seems so full it feels like it might burst. I almost feel guilty feeling this happy when there are so many who are suffering. I know without a doubt that there is a God in heaven and that he loves me. How grateful I am to feel his love for me so strongly.