Full

How can someone so tiny make my heart feel so full?

The ABC's of Me

My friend Heather invited me to play along--so I did! :)

A.  Attached or Single?  I am very much attached--to one husband and 10 children.

B.  Best Friend?  I know I'm supposed to say Dennis, but that's sort of a given.  My best friend growing up was Bridget.  My best friend now that I'm an adult is a toss-up between my programmable coffee-maker, my dishwasher, or my washing machine.  I spend a lot of time with each of them.

C.  Cake or Pie?  Pie--strawberry.  Or pumpkin.  But not that runny, grainy kind that sometimes befalls an unsuspecting pot-luck attendee.  I mean smooth, firm pumpkin pie.

D.  Day of the Week?  Being a housewife, at-home, homeschooling mom, married to a dairy farmer means all the days of the week are pretty much the same since there are no days off, no vacations, and no change of venue or location.  I do look forward to Monday evenings, though, because once a month I have a meeting that I really enjoy, and it's also the day I can watch Call the Midwife online.

E.  Essential Item?  Hmmmmm.  In a broader sense, I'd say my essential oils (no pun intended).  I do so much with them.  In a very simple sense, I don't go anywhere without my water bottle and my book.

F.  Favorite Colors?  I like a lot of colors....I'm drawn to earthy colors, I guess.  Brown, green, blue, deep reds and purples.

G.  Gummy Bears or Worms?  Definitely bears.  No---worms.  Or maybe bears.

H.  Hometown?  I grew up on a dairy farm outside of Ashby, a town of about 500 people.  My parents still live on that farm.

I.  Favorite Indulgence?  Having a second helping of something and saying it's "for the baby".  Since I'm nearly always pregnant or nursing, the kids buy it.  Ooh!  And honeycrisp apples in the fall.
            But if I could really, really indulge?  I'd get a massage.  I had one once and it was heavenly.  Or if I could really, really, really indulge?  I'd have my own bathroom.  And if I could really, really, really, reeeaaaaallllly indulge?  I'd go somewhere or do something without explaining why, how long it would take, or when I'd be back.  I wouldn't take add-on requests on my way out the door such as, "can you stop by the library?" or "can you pick up a part?" or "can you bring in this paperwork?"   While I was gone, the people who live here would discover the location of their own items, they would handle their own disagreements, and would know at what temperature the oven should be set and how to tell if the meal should come out of the oven.

J.  January or July?  January.  I live in MN and by golly, I like winter.

K.  Kids?  Yes. Ten so far.

L.  Life isn't complete without?  Jesus
.
M.  Marriage date?  September 28, 1996

N.  Number of brother/sisters? I have two older brothers and a younger sister.

O.  Oranges or Apples?  I like me a really good orange, but can't seem to ever pick good ones at the store.  So I stay safe and just get apples, honeycrisp in the fall when they're cheapest, otherwise Pink Lady.

P.  Phobias?  I am very claustrophobic.  Very.  Like VERY.

Q.  Favorite Quote?   "I know why God made moms soft and squishy.  It's so you don't get hurt if you run into them."  Isaiah, 4

R.  Reason to Smile?  My dad says, "Smile...it makes people wonder what you're up to."  I smile for lots of other reasons, too, though.

S.  Season of Choice?  I love fall.  Apples, pumpkin, spices, sweatshirts, harvest, the smell of corn silage.

T.  Tag 5 people?  Sheepers....I don't know.  If you want to join in, leave me a comment and let me know.  I'll come read it!

U.  Unknown Fact about Me?  You know that song "There's a Bad Moon on the Rise"?  I used to think the words were "There's a Bathroom on the Right".
     This information is not likely to ever be part of any trivia game, but it's good for you to be prepared.

V.  Favorite Vegetable?  Broccoli, steamed, with cheese on top.

W.  Worst Habit?  Biting my nails.

X.  X-Ray or Ultrasound?  NEITHER. But thanks for asking.

Y.  Your Favorite Foods?  Like real food?  Like food food?  I'd say roasted chicken, baked potatoes, broccoli.  If pizza counts, then the Gourmet Vegetarian from Papa Murphy's would top the list, too.  My favorite non-food food would be peanut M&Ms.

Z.  Zodiac sign?  Cancer.  This is weird stuff.

Dirty Jobs

"Hey Mom--I was standing behind a cow in the barn this morning and she started to poop. Some got on my arm and I was like, that feels..........warm." ~Christopher (7)

Of all the words he could have chosen, "warm" was not one I'd have guessed.

SCORE!

Ruby just told me, "Mama, do you know what I was thinking would be a good idea? I think it would be a good idea if every time Abram needs a diaper change, you tell me, and then I will change his diaper, every time he needs one. Because I am a GOOD diaper changer!!" 

I think I have a favorite child.

FLY Convention

 Our oldest three children had the opportunity to attend our church body's national youth convention in Estes Park, Colorado.

They left last Sunday evening and came back on Saturday late afternoon.

It was hard having so many capable hands missing from our daily routines, but we are so glad that they got to have some time away.  They had a GREAT time!!

Taken moments before they departed,

Grandpa (standing behind me) actually got Isaiah to smile!!

They had hurriedly done the milking and other chores, zipped through the shower and arrived at church with hair still wet---which is just like how we arrive at church on Sunday mornings. :)

The crew ready to head out on the road for their 14 hour bus ride.

The convention is held every other year.

This was Nathaniel's third time attending, Isaiah's second, and Linnea's first time.

Wordless Wednesday--Goat!

Love--In a Picture

Getting Ready

Christopher has had his little calf out, teaching her to lead with a halter

as we prepare for our county's fair next week.

The calf is thrilled.

Elizabeth is delighted to have them on the yard where she can get up close and personal.

Like this, see?

A little "meet and greet" you might say.

She "talked" with this calf for several minutes.

Until she, y'know, lost her balance and fell over and Linnea captured it happening.

Because that is life on our farm.

This Picture Makes Me Laugh

Abram

I just love this little boy so much.

Pardon the off-centeredness...he was sitting with Ivy next to me on the couch.  I was taking a picture of Elizabeth when Ruby said, "Mom!  Look at that cute smile!" so I turned quickly and snapped this one. 

Those baby blues are stunning, aren't they?

Fridays on the Farm--Happy Cows Make Good Milk

Take It--Quick!!

If you want to take a picture of Elizabeth, you have to be ready to take it as soon as she looks your way.

Like, really----as. soon. as. she. looks. at you.

Like so.

Because if you think you want to wait so she can "smile",

you'll get this:

over. and over. and over again.

She Loves Him

She loves her new baby.