Updates in our not-so-quiet lives!

~ My animal visitors aren't going to work out for camp this summer.. disappointed but We make our plans but God really guides us!  I'm feeling anxious tonight about it all.  I know I have nothing to worry about, I should have faith in God's plans but my flesh screams and lies are whispers in my ear like You can't pull this together.   Those fiery darts need to be repelled by my shield of faith.  My problem?  I stayed up too late watching the olympics and wake up later than usual ~ don't get to open my bible because of chaos control and my soul suffers!  This too shall pass.  Tomorrow I may feel differently just my moment of ..well.....can't place the perfect word.  Resist the devil (maybe its temptation) and draw near to the Lord so he will draw near to you.  (might not be exact it's from memory) ;-)

Baby Ryder has had another burst of understanding!  He is just the cutest thing you've ever seen.  5 more days and he'll be 4 months old!  He wants to sit up desperately on his own and when he tries he scissors - but stays in a sort of sitting position.  He basically folds in half, (nose towards his toes but looking forward)  maintains that for several moments and then tips over to one side.  He is going to have great abs! Ha   Loves his activity center, has learned to 'bounce' up and down in it, chews on everything and loves to roll this ball with a bell in it around his high chair table!  He throws it off and I pick it up, etc.......

Kaya is relentless about wanting a chiuahua.  I told her when she's 10 she can have one.  Tonight says can I buy it bones too when I'm 10?   She says she'll take a guinea pig then when it dies she'll be ready for her dog.  She worked so hard today shoveling dirt!  She is absolutely certain that she will be in the Olympics one day; she just has to decide what she wants to do.  I think she can do it!

Ella claimed Eddie (the horse) as her own pet today.  She truly has a gift with animals, she's so natural and relaxed around them.  They all adore her.  Eddie just kissed the top of her head as she rubbed his legs and neck.  She adorns herself in jewelry every day...her new favorite is pearls.  (fake ones)  She wants a princess birthday.

Poor Bowen just hurts himself every day.  He goes so fast and just doesn't pay attention to things around him.  Loves to do 'fun stuff' in school!  Wants to sleep in the pack n' play in my room every night (and gets to a lot).  Very independent and shows his love by doing helpful and nice things all day.  Wants to be like his big brother.  Loves to play with GI Joes.

Dylan will be 8 in 13 days (he informed me of this today).  He wears army clothes everyday with a back pack full of food and extra jackets for anyone who gets cold.  He wants posters of African animals for his birthday and is always trying to act goofy and get everyone to laugh at him and give him attention.  Wants to go snowboarding and dog sledding for his birthday.  He is a full fledged boy!  Will be playing little league for his first time and is excited about it!

~ Warning ranch stuff that might bore you ~

(if you weren't bored already)

*  Uncle Gary and Willie came up last weekend to help get some work done.  All the tractors had been inspected and there were several unfortunate discoveries.  Heard the song "I'm gona take you for a ride in my big green tractor!" So, the big green tractor's oil just drains right out, the seals were all shot and a hydraulic hose or pump (something) needed replacing.  The Red Tractor for the hay has always (or long before we were here anyway) popped out of drive.  When the mechanic came to fix the problem today he said the transmission is shot; it will be between 5 and 10 thousand to fix it :-(

*  The fields have all been drug and they are pristine, what a simple thing that made such a difference.  No more cow patties or gopher mounds decorating the fields.

* The Fernandos finally moved out.  Bobby is very calculated in observing people and noticed that they had taken 20 or so gopher traps and several other things.  When confronted about it he got angry and said they were all broken and he threw them away.  Two days later he brought them back and threw then on the ground saying he had to dig them all out of the trash.  They are not broken by the way!  Bobby also went over to their house to see if they were all moved out (that day he confronted him about the gopher trap) and looking in their window saw his fishing nets that had gone missing months ago.  It makes me sad to know there are so  many dishonest and malicious people in the world.  And obviously that is on the low scale of evil displayed in today's world.

~  2 baby cows were born this month.  And lots more to come!!!!!!

~ Mopsy got kicked and stepped on by a cow and didn't even get hurt!  The guys all thought she was going to be dead.  Don't know what to do about her.  Give her to a home where she won't get trampled or just let her be the cattle dog that she thinks she is in her heart.