How Big Life Is

I'm suppose to be sitting here doing my computer work.  The kids call it my "glass time" since it is the only time I wear my glasses.  :)  They are too cute for their own good.  Love them to pieces.

I have been working on cattle, personal & business budgets and schedules for the last 2 hours.  WOW how time flies.  I look at the "mess" on our desk and am so very blessed that I had to share my thoughts.

God has been working on Harry and I's journey farming for the last 10 years.  Seems like sometimes it is baby steps.  Sometimes it feels like we go backwards.  Sometimes it is leaps.  But in it all God has this amazing plan ready for us...in His time for us to go forward.  Never backwards with Him, only in our minds do we go backwards.  There have been many obstacles to go around.  Many emotions but through it all God has had our backs.  We have been faithful.  God will bless us through this.  God has already blessed us through our family and He continues to do so each and every day.

Sometimes we forget to look at all the good.  We forget to praise Him for it all.  Even the bad or the doors that have closed and we think why.  But at the end of the day He knows what He is doing.  He sees the whole picture, we don't.  We only see a little bit of it.  So we trust, have faith and wait on His time.

Oh how I love teaching and showing my kids these little bits of life.  God is so good!

Ok now back to work!

A Day On The Farm…Or A Week!

I am writing this mostly for our scrapbook for years to come but also thought some of you might get a kick out of what should have been a day project is still going on a week later.  That is called Farming!

Wednesday

Last Wednesday Harry, Little Harry and I went to the sale barn near home in hopes to purchase some bread cows and/or heifers.  We had went down the night before to look at some.  The girls were sad they would be in school but we promised we would wait for them to take up to the farm if we purchased any.  There was 7 total that we had our eyes on. 1 was a little wilder then we would like so we figured we would not bid on that one.  We were able to purchase only 2 out of that batch but also purchased another out of another batch.  We were very happy with this.  I ran to school and picked the girls up right after school let out and the Harry's loaded the cows.  We met back up at the sale barn and headed for the farm. 

Here is where life gets interesting.  When we got up to the farm we back up to the corral and was set to go. 

I was at the end of the corral with the kids and ready to take pictures of these nice beautiful cows walking off the trailer into the corral with not a care in the world. 

Unfortunately that is not how life happened.  The cows were so riled up from the sale barn that they were not happy with being confined any longer. 

They jumped the corral cattle panels and headed for the other end of the pasture. 

Harry and I booked it as fast as we could down the pasture to cut them off.  I felt like I was running a 5K - and I don't run! There they stood at the end just looking scared as could be.  We let them be and headed up to the corral to finish things up.  

After we did some things we went back down to where we saw the cows last and just put our eyes on them one last time for the night.  No cows!  We looked and looked but could not find them.  We finally found 1 in the thicket and staring off in the direction we believe the other 2 cows had went.  Then we found fur on one of the fences and the fence was stretched, then we knew they had gone through the fence.  We started looking in our other pasture and wooded areas.  That’s when I got the phone call from Papa Harry that a neighbor had stopped and they saw the cows running cross country – tails in the air and just running to beat the band. 

Harry and I jumped in the truck and started driving and looking, looking and driving.  We finally had to give up and come back to pick up the kids.  Once the action started the kids stayed with Papa Harry & Nonie and Harry & I started looking.  What a defeated feeling having to leave that night. 

Thursday

Thursday afternoon Harry & Little Harry went back over to the farm to look for the cows.  The cows had been spotted and they were a good 4-5 miles away.  Harry talked with all the neighbors and explained to them what had happened and what the cows looked like.  But again came home with no cows. 

Harry didn’t see the 3^rd cow that was in the thicket and wondered if she got lonely and had went through the fence also looking for the other two.

Ten O’clock that night Harry got a phone call that the cows had been spotted and plans were made for the following day to come over and hopefully capture the cows.

Friday

Harry and I took off after he got done with the bread route and I got home from work, around 2 we were over and looking once again for the cows.  But we were getting closer since we at least had a location.  We parked in a hay field and started walking thinking the truck might spook them once again.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw something move in the brush and sure enough there was 2 cows.  We headed that way nice and slow.  The cows took off up the hill but we stayed still and just let them know we were there.  Once again out of the corner of my eye I spotted a brown spot in the grass. 

We started walking and sure enough it was a baby calf.  Harry took a picture right away, had me call the insurance and he went for the calf.  He was able to check and see that it was a heifer.  Our first baby heifer!  Praise God!  But just like that the calf got up and ran up the hill.  The 2 cows started running in the opposite direction!  A neighbor came to help with his ranger.  As we were trying to get the cows into this guy’s pasture so that the cows would be with other cows and hopefully calm down.  Harry almost had them turned around when the cow that had not calved yet turned on him and started to charge him.  I was in the ranger with the neighbor and we darted up the field to rescue Harry.  I don’t know how much the tires actually were on the ground as fast as we were going.  But we got Harry in the back of the ranger before any danger was had.  But unfortunately that meant the cows went running again into the woods.

Now we had 3 cows and a calf lost.  More searching by foot but again left defeated.  Every day, every moment of searching I was praying.  God was listening. 

We finally decided we needed to call it quits for the day. A good friend had grabbed the kids off the bus and we needed to get home to them. 

As you can see they were not missing us much!

I just have to say how thankful I am for all friends and family that helped out with the kids as they were well taken care of but also safe during this all.  I did not have to worry about them once but focus on helping Harry.  Just think if Harry had to try and do this all on his own.  God is good to put people in our lives that help us so much.  Never ask questions, never expect anything in return but always there to help us. 

I told Harry that I truly believed that that 3^rd cow was still in the pasture.  If it had gotten out one of the neighbors would have seen her.  We went to look in the pasture and sure enough I found her in a different area but in a very thick part of brush.  Had she not turned her head at just the time I was looking I would have walked right on by her.  We were sure excited to know that 1 of our cows stayed in.  

We went to pick up the kids feeling like things were finally turning around…slowly but turning around. 

Saturday

We knew that if we were going to get these cows back in the pasture and/or buy any more that we needed to strengthen and rebuild the corral and fence.  My dad graciously volunteered to help and we also asked a high school boy to come out and help us.  He’s helped before and a good hard worker for only 15.  Grabbed the kids and off we went for a day of fencing.  We all put in a good 10 hour day of fencing but it was sturdier and ready for the cows to come home. 

It was all work and no play ;)

I took the kids home and Harry and the hired help went down the hill to see if the calf might have possibly came back to the same spot where she was born.  Also to see if they could lay eyes on the cows.  No cows but sure enough the calf was in the same spot.  This time there was no messing around and Harry was able to capture the calf! 

Harry brought the calf home and we started to bottle feed it. 

The kids were super excited.  Ellaree & Lil Harry want to call it Miracle as Ellaree says “It’s a Miracle from God that she made it through the night without getting hungry or a coyote eating it”.  Yes she is right!  Lorelai wanted to call it Chocolate.  So it is our Little Chocolate Miracle!

Sunday

Kids and I were getting ready for church while Harry did his bread merchandising.  He was headed home when he got a phone call from a neighbor explaining the cows had been spotted and it looked like one was not able to get up.  Plans went into action.  My parents came to get the kids and took them to church.  We headed over to the farm with another friend who was going to try and tranquilize the one that had calved.  We couldn’t the other as the tranquilizer will slow the heart rate down on the cow and it could kill the calf.  We didn’t know if one was hurt or maybe the cow was not getting up because it was calving. We were hoping for the latter. 

We found the cows right were the neighbor had said they were.  Sure enough the pregnant cow was hurt bad.  She had broken both back legs. The other cow was standing right next to her.  The interesting part was that the injured cow was still trying to protect the other cow (this would be the same cow that tried to charge Harry) and if you got too close to her she would try and get up and come after you. 

So thankfully the one that had calved we could tranquilize and get her on the trailer nice and calm.  That was supposed to be the way it happened.  It didn’t happen that way.  First the gun wouldn’t fire the tranquilizer shot.  It took us, I would say about 30-45 minutes to get the gun to fire.  Then the cow ran off but only a little ways before she laid down and started to sleep. 

Harry wanted the injured cow on the trailer first so we started to try and load her.  We could not get close to her so we finally had to put up gates around her and back the trailer up to her and literally shove her in with the door.  She did not want to be in there. 

Next was the other cow that was now sleeping. Did I forget to mention we had brought the calf along to help entice the momma.  It didn’t matter.  She was not interested.  We brought the truck and trailer up by her and she got up and started to take off on a dead run.  We shot her with another tranquilizer and she kept on running.  She went up and around the woods and laid down and was snoring!  Half went after her and got her down while the other half of us went after the truck and trailer and brought it around.  She basically lunged into the trailer half asleep, we shut the door and the way we went.

We got the momma & calf up to the corral and let them out.  Haha poor momma was staggering around good.  Thankfully the baby came right up to her momma and started sucking like she never missed a meal with her.  Praise God!

The 2nd cow is the one that stayed in the pasture the whole time.  She finally came out of hiding.

Now what to do with the injured cow.  Anymore you can’t take a cow like that to a locker if she can’t walk off.  She lunges but would they take her and on a Sunday.  No we couldn’t find anyone, we didn’t like seeing her suffer but we also didn’t want to just shoot her as we had to think about the baby.  We found a guy who would come out and do the butchering right there and he also would do a C-section on her.  Yes he was certified.

Monday

This butcherer came out with his rig and set everything up.  It was amazing.  I explained to him and his daughter that I was not afraid of getting dirty and actually would love to help with the c-section.  They were happy for the help as well and we started in.  Ellaree was the only one of the kids that wanted to watch.  The two lils went to the neighbors until it was all over.  Ellaree took I believe about 500 pictures...just took them off my phone.  628 photos to be exact!  She might get this from me.  ;)

Cutting cow open

This guy is actually doing CPR on the calf

towels

cleaning calf off

Bathing in the sunshine

Very cool in Harry's sweatshirt

Under the heat lamp

The c-section was a success and we had another baby heifer.  It looks to be about 3 weeks premature.  But a cute little bugger.  We are bottle feeding it and right now she’s in our garage.  Kids helped make a bed for her and they had to go out and see her before going to bed.

Tuesday

We also just bought 3 pairs.  Are we crazy after a week we just had? For those of you that don’t know what pairs means it’s when there’s a momma and a calf.  We will be bringing them home to the rest of them later this week.  All 3 of these calves are heifers as well. 

Have I ever mentioned that our place is never a dull moment.  I guess anymore I think of how bored we would be if it was dull. Oh God is blessing us and showing us an overabundance right now.  I cannot praise His name enough this week with all of His provisions and safety.

Toys

The other day I got the chance to spend time with Harry on our bathroom project.  Unfortunately I don't always get this one-on-one time with him.  The kids were all in school and we were both home from work early.

This was my choice of toy for the afternoon.

If ya all know me well then you know my choice of cleaning or working with my hands - the choice will always be working with my hands and most definitely working with my husband.  That's probably why my house is never in a clean order.  I always say you are welcome in my house but please do not look at my house.  I cherish these moments with Harry so much whether working on house projects, in the yard or working the cattle.  I love it.  I thank God for these moments.  Harry knows how important these times are to me and he works hard to help make these happen.  Yes I'm gushing but just for a moment.  

 

Projects

We have been busy lately remodeling the house.  Um yeah we are always remodeling.  It seems like a never ending project with us.  Anyway, we got the upstairs bathroom finished except the trim...that I'm suppose to find time to stain and then we will put up.  Where will those extra hours come from?

Upstairs Bathroom

Before

After

We dug right into the downstairs bathroom once this one was done.  Harry new there was some plumbing to be done.  What we didn't know was the nightmare it would cause.  We are going on day 4 of no water.  Well lets clarify...we have no water for like 19 hours and then it comes back on for enough time to get a load of laundry done and showers then it goes back off.  There has been 1 leak up to 4 leaks spraying across the room at times.  We started with redoing all the plumbing in copper and then tore it all out and put in PVC pipes and are still having issues.  Harry is getting there but so frustrating.  One morning (the morning of the spraying across the room) he woke up at 3:30 with Lil Harry.  When he went into the bathroom and saw this he started working once again.  All of a sudden I hear the saw going.  Seriously! Last night it was 12:30 before he came to bed.  Ugh it has been hard.  Then you wonder how they use to do it before indoor plumbing.  How does the Amish do it?  The first night I went down to my parents to be rescued with supper and showers.  We are managing and we will get this but so frustrating when you do it all the right way and it is still not working.  

Before

This is just my shower that I have used for 4 years.  You can barely turn around in it.  

After

This is the base of my new shower and he's pushed the wall back and made more room.  This is also before all the pumbing was finished the first time around.  

You can also tell that Spring time is here.  Harry's phone has been ringing off the wall for his mechanic expertise.  Which is wonderful but not when you are in the middle of a mess!  Oh and we are going to a cattle sale this afternoon.  Kids are so excited to get cattle again.  We are hoping there is something there but if not we will wait and be patient.  God has this all under control.  We take our comfort in knowing he will guide us the right direction.  

Seeing Clearly

This weekend was a great weekend with family and friends.  Oh how I love to fellowship.  Come invited or uninvited - I love company and I love being in people's company.  Hmm I guess that is where my kids get their "social butterfly" wings from.

Besides socializing this weekend we got to enjoy Ellaree's 2nd piano recital that her piano teacher puts on once a year.  So many talented kids in her group.  Here is her piece.

We are so proud of her.  She gets up there and you would never know that she's nervous.  She's amazing!

Time to turn the table.  I might get a little sermonie (is that a word? I tend to make up words...just ask Harry) on you.  Anyway, for the past year we have been seeking God's will for our farming.  Where, what, how, who, when, how-well we figured that one out.  But all these questions...we have the dream & goal now how do we implement it and do it in God's way and God's timing.  All this is for His kingdom.  So we have been reading a lot

and learning a lot.  Daily we consult the bible, a great book by Joel Osteen called Break Out! and of course this one for parenting.  Yes I do get more done then just reading even though it would seem otherwise.  

What struck me last night and this morning as I was struggling and reading (seems to be a constant battle between the two) were these two things...

The enemy would not be fighting so hard if he didn't know God had something great in store.  

Don't focus on the size of the problem, focus on the size of your God. 

These two statements have helped me more over the last 24 hours.  It was like when you don't have your glasses on and everything is flubbery (as Lorelai calls it), then you put your glasses back on and everything is clear.  Oh thank you Jesus for showing me this insight.  God does have a plan for us.  He is already orchestrating it all out.  He has been for years.  Now we need to sit back and watch.  Now don't get me wrong, I don't think God will give us everything on a silver platter.  I don't think that we should sit at home drinking our coffee waiting for the mail to be delivered with a letter from God telling us our next move.  I believe we have to get out there and do His work but we also need to stop, listen, watch, look around and be observant to His plan.  The plan that He's created for us.  

I'm so thankful that I have His word, His promise to fall back upon.  I know that there are times when it is not easy.  I know that there are times when I just fall to the floor crying, begging God to help us see His will.  He hears me, He feels my pain, He knows my struggles with patience.  But if he speeds up His plan to meet my needs then it would not be in His perfect timing, it would be in mine.  And therefore I need to learn to sit back and drink my coffee slower and enjoy the lessons He is teaching me.  Enjoy what He has given me right now and let Him take care of the rest.  

God is so good...all the time...All the time...God is good!

Updating the Past

Well I'm making myself sit down and write.  I have a million and one things I should be doing right now.  The days when there are no kids at home I try to get as much accomplished as possible.  I guess this would be one of those things that would be on my list as I won't be interrupted.  So I figured I would highlight the big stuff since Oct. to bring you all up to speed.

October

In October we had our annual 5K Walk/Run for Angels of Hope.  This amazing ministry is for those who have lost a child in any way - miscarriage, still birth, or death after life.  I am so very blessed to be apart of this amazing ministry where God shows us how to live after such a hardship.  This pictures shows us all lighting a candle for our loved ones and praying.  Oh how God was with us!

Thankful for my parents who had the kids so that I could help.  Harry was out in South Dakota at a church missionary trip building cabins for a bible camp.

Can you believe that these kiddos are this big already!?!?

3rd Grade

Kindergarten

Preschool

November

The kids got to try out what hockey was all about.  Oh the falls but they both got back up and kept on going.  They had lots of fun.  They both look so big and tough in these pictures.  

December

Harry was Student of the Month!

Christmas so much fun and fun as we watch the kids each year reflect on Christ's birth.  Oh how they continue to grow in His love and faith.  I'm in awe most days.

This guy turned 5!

All he wanted was cheesecake made by Mommy!

He also lost his very first tooth that morning!  It was a good day!

January

We are getting a lot of remodeling done in our house.  This is our foreman.  He keeps us on our toes and most days does pitch in to help.  

February

And this one is 6!

And all we wanted was Mommy's cheesecake with cherries on top in this design.  She's very specific and knows exactly what she wants.  Love her spunkiness.

Yes we have another foreman!

Who meditates!

The business owners decided that it was time for an upgrade.  It is a used furniture delivery truck so barely used on milage.  This is a gift from God as during the deal you could see his hand in it all.  Thank you Jesus!

Sock Hop at school! I love these days when I can make things for the girls.

March

We are so very blessed and thankful to celebrate my Dad's birthday this year after his scare last summer with this heart attack.  Oh how God's hand was in it all.  So glad to have these special moments to share with him.  As you can tell the kids love their Grapa...Grama too!

Lor got reading glasses.  She looks so sophisticated. 

Well that's it for now!  Back to cleaning in the quietness.  Thank you Jesus for these precious gifts of life.