Yesterday was a good day.

This summer has been filled with tragedy followed by a seemingly never ending line of frustration, disappointment, and failure. It seems like everyday something breaks, dies, or doesn't work as planned. A week or so ago Tim told me that we just have to go with the flow. My response was, "I don't like this flow. It is too fast and rough for me." (Where is my calm lazy river and inner tube?)

It is hard not to feel buried by it all. But what choice do we have but to go with the flow? We can only take each day as it comes. We can only work so many hours in the day, and only get accomplished what those hours allow. We can only relish in the moments when things go right, and remember that a van (or two or three) breaking down, though utterly frustrating in the moment, really doesn't make a lot of difference in the long run or in the big picture. We can only let go of the wants and needs of this world, and feel the peace that is ours in Christ. Easier said than done, but really, do we have a choice? Be buried under the weight of this world, or embrace the life of Christ? Hmmmm let me think about that.....

Besides, not everything has gone wrong. Yesterday, was a good day. The weather was perfect. We ran errands at a leisurely pace, enjoyed lunch in the park, and had a movie night. The kids were helpful and co-operative for the most part, and I thoroughly enjoyed our day together. We didn't do anything special, but it was a good day.

Even when things do go wrong, there are things that are right. Saturday the work truck broke down on my way to get feed. This left me stranded, forty minutes from home, in a very bad spot on a heavily traveled two lane road with the truck and a trailer. Semis and cars were whizzing by me on one side while the vehicles on my side of the road were very impatient to get around me. After about ten minutes of this, a young father with a pickup truck stopped hooked on to my truck and pulled me to a spot where I could get off the road better.  I can't tell you how grateful I am to him for that act of kindness.

There I waited for Tim to come and try to get the truck going again. He tried several things, and finally we had to call a tow truck. Tim and I spent the hour waiting in the shade and chatting. I can't remember the last time we've been able to sit and relax together like that in the middle of the day. I thoroughly enjoyed it in the midst of our messed up day and broken down vehicle.

Life is full of ups and downs. Lately, the downs have been intense. I can't hide from them. I can't run away from them. All I can do is roll with them, enjoy the ups when they come, and allow the truth and life of Christ to reign in me. Yesterday was a good day. Today, so far, has not. I am going with the flow.

What is that noise?

So today I'm out milking the goats, and I keep thinking I hear chicks. Of course, right now we do have a lot of chicks, but I milk on one side of the house and all the chicks are completely on the other end of the house. There is no way I could hear them where I was.

So, I kept milking. Every now and then I thought I heard peeping. When Tim came out the door I told him I thought I heard chicks. He looked under the porch near me, and found the source of the noise.

Twelve Muscovy ducklings. Aren't they cute?!

This Never Gets Old

There has been plenty that has been difficult around here. There is a lot that has been frustrating, not to mention exhausting. It is often hard not to wallow there.

But there are also things to celebrate and to smile about.

Last Saturday two friends arranged a work party here on the farm. About 30 people (including kids) showed up to work. We beat this current heat wave, and were blessed with a beautiful late summer day for the event. The main task involved cutting logs, and clearing brush from the hillside that was cleared for electric lines last winter. We also dug potatoes, stacked tires, and shoveled manure to mulch the asparagus bed. It is amazing how much work got done that day. I wish I would have taken some pictures.

The summer garden has been a little disappointing, but we are now starting on the fall garden. There is something magical about seeing seeds sprout. The broccoli and cabbage are started inside.

New chicks arrived today. No matter how many times we buy or hatch chicks it is always exciting. Today we got 100 Cornish Rocks, and 50 hatchery choice which ended up being Golden Comets.

Enjoying simple pleasures like these never gets old.

Nolan makes me smile.

Nolan always manages to do something that makes me smile. He also often does things that infuriate me, but today I'll share a sweet and a funny thing he said recently.

Sweet Nolan
We were in the car, on the way to Nolan's favorite store, Global Liquidators, when Nolan starts asking me about Papaw's accident. Nolan wants to know about the accident, and why Papaw looked different at the funeral home. The questions weren't exactly comfortable to answer, but I know Nolan is trying to understand something none of us really do. I tried to answer his questions with just enough information to satisfy him without giving him too much.

There was a pause in the conversation, and I was just about to turn the radio back on when Nolan says, "I'm happy that Papaw died, and I'm not happy that Papaw died." The statement took me by surprise. I paused for a moment and asked, "Why are you happy that Papaw died?" Nolan's answer, "Because now he gets to be with God." And the logical next question from me, "Why are you not happy that Papaw died?" Nolan's whole face dropped, and he told me, "Because I miss him."

Funny Nolan
A puppy showed up at the neighbors barn last week. He is adorable, and looks to be some sort of Sheppard. The neighbors think we should take him, but we have plenty of dogs here now as it is. The kids love to go play with the dog while we are doing chores, or I am working in the garden.

Thursday, Nolan and Vivian walked up there to give something to the neighbor. They weren't home, but the puppy was. Somehow, the puppy followed them back here. I asked the kids if they called the dog to follow them. Vivian told me it was an accident. She didn't call him on purpose. Uh huh.....

I told them they could play with the puppy some back here, and then we would take him back to the neighbor's. A little while later Nolan comes storming in the house to tell me that the puppy is chasing chickens. Of course my first thought is that this dog is going to catch and kill chickens so I start ask Nolan where the dog is now, and telling him he has to get the dog away from the chickens. Nolan interrupts my questions and lecture with a stern look on his face, and says, "Don't worry mom. I told the puppy he better leave those chickens alone because my dad has a .22."

And would you believe that puppy was no longer chasing chickens, but was actually sitting quietly at the front window?