THE DAIRY

Well I have been home since late Sunday afternoon,  and this is the first chance I have had to post.  There were soo many things that were wonderful about the trip I am not sure if I will ever remember them all, and I am very sure you do not want to here "every" little detail, haha, so I will try and list at least some of the highlights.

In every way the trip was just what I was looking for.  Not just the being able to help Mel get ready for the baby, or meet her doc., or attend the second shower, or go to their church, or just see for myself what they have done with their house in the last couple of years, but really just ALL the time we had to just "hang out".  It was just soo wonderful.  Her life as all of us seasoned veterans know is about to change forever more.  I felt like this was just the last little bit of time left to enjoy the very tail end of her "life before kids" life, haha.  We spent just countless hours talking, laughing, planning, eating, shopping, and yes cleaning and working side by side.  I am just soo grateful to have gotten this time.

Her life is VERY VERY different from anything I have ever lived, and I find it all just fascinating for some reason.  Mike is a VERY busy guy.  He did take the time however to show his MIL around and explain how things worked as best he could to a total city girl.  I LOVED the tours.  Everyone in their little area outside of town is either a dairyman or a farmer, or like in their case, both.  They actually own 3 different farms in which they grow ALL of the feed that they need for their cows.  Corn, cotton seed and alfalfa.  I got to both see and hear how this works, and it really was quite interesting.  I'd love to take my little grandsons there someday, as I just know they would LOVE all of this.  I will NEVER be able to explain the process to you as well as Mike did, and I have no idea if anyone would find it as interesting as I did.  Soo many tractors and trucks and farm machinery was also fun to see.  I will just tell you a couple of quick things I learned, which some (or all of you) may already know, but I sure didn't, haha.  Let's see....the corn.  The corn when it is gotten ready for the cows is chopped in it's entirety.   There is this HUGE chopping machine that comes through and chops it all down at the same time and shoots it into a truck which then dumps it into a pile where it is mushed together to make silage.  You can actually see the corn in it.  It smelled pretty good too.  And then the alfalfa is what is used to make hay.  Again there is a fairly lengthy process to get it to what it looks like after it is dried and done, and then it too is shot into a machine where it comes out like a hay bale.  I don't know what I thought these things came from, but this was all BIG news to me, lol.  Whatever the process, the cows LOVE it.  I actually saw them come running when they would hear the feed truck where it is all mixed together coming.  The cows are fed (I think ~ sorry Mike if I am wrong) at least twice a day, and they are milked twice a day as well.  The cows LOVE to be milked as well and also came running to fight and push their selves into the barn.  I saw the calves too, including one who was only about an hour old.  Soo cute.  I loved sitting on their porch (when it was cool enough) and listening to the cows move around and moo.  I have taken (or really I guess Mike took most of them for me as I was too busy making sure where I was stepping and trying not to fall or something dumb, haha).  Anyway, I've put together a little slideshow to show you.  Hope you enjoy it.

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I will confess that I have never really given much thought, until my daughter married  a dairyman that is, of how the milk, cream, butter, yogurt, cheese or ice-cream actually was made before it made it's way into my refrigerator.  It is a MUCH more complicated process and business than I ever really realized.  Now of course I KNEW it all came from cows, but that is honestly where my knowledge ended.  I have learned sooo much since Mel met Mike many years ago.  Two gigantic milk trucks come to their dairy every day to collect the milk.  I never did get a picture of one of the trucks, which is unfortunate as they were quite neat.  The milk is inspected and tested down to the millionth of a part.  If one tiny little drop is found contaminated in any way, the entire truck load is dumped.  This hasn't happened at their dairy in years and years and years which is also quite fortunate as it would cost them thousand and thousands of dollars of course.   Milk after it is inspected is then graded for quality with the highest quality milk going directly to be drank, and the lower qualities going for butter, cheese, ice-cream etc.  Their milk is used exclusively for drinking, and supplies a great deal of Texas and New Mexico.  All soo interesting.  Well, I guess that is about all for now.  Mel has about 5 or 6 weeks to go if she makes it to the very end, and so it is close no matter what.  I will also say that even though I LOVED every minute of my trip, there really is no place like home.  I was soo happy to be back in my own bed etc.  I have missed my other kids and grand kids and look forward to seeing them all this week-end.  Sooo glad it is a long one.  My mom is REALLY struggling and things there have become hard.  I will post about that later though.  Hope you all enjoy your holiday week-end!

TRIP COMING TO AN END, AND SAM'S NURSERY

Well it is Friday afternoon and the mama to be is catching a quick nap,  and my visit is almost over.  Mel and I have put in quite the week.  We have officially finished the nursery, and we have spent the last couple of days washing all her windows inside and out (WHO knew that "nesting" can strike Grandma's too, haha).  Now washing windows is a chore WHEREVER you live, but trust me, living ON a dairy presents a whole new set of challenges.  Can we say flies?  And dirt?  And wind?  And we certainly can't forget 104 degree heat...and oh let's add in a 8 month pregnant lady and my arthretic knees, haha...we were a sight.  Oh my goodness I am not going to lie, it was QUITE the chore; but well worth the effort as they are now GLISTENING in the sunlight.  We have also been giving the rest of the house a deeper then usual cleaning in preparation.  I have soooo enjoyed my week (in spite of the chores ~ I always have to whine a little, lol).  I was able to meet her doc on Monday and I REALLY liked him.  He seems to be the perfect combination of laid back, yet totally "on it" if you know what I mean.  We got some 3-D pics of little Sam but I don't have a scanner so I can't show you.  WOW is all I can say on how well you can see what he looks like.  From what I can tell at this point, he is a mini Mike, lol.  He is measuring at 4 pounds 10 oz. which shocked both Mel & I as she just doesn't seem all that big, and she has got 5 to 7 weeks to go yet.  I have been told they are not always accurate in these scans, so maybe he won't be HUGE after all, haha.  But then again there are LOTS of giant genes on both sides so who knows.   We also were able to go to their new church (not really new I guess as they have been attending over a year now) and again I was sooo pleased.  Such a nice group of people and the minister seemed quite good, and preached straight out of the Bible.  I honestly don't remember the last time I have gotten this good of visit and I am soo grateful I was able to come and spend this time with her.  We are having NO idea of course if I will make it back here in time for the birth, but we are all praying it happens.  But either way I will be coming again shortly to spend the first week or so with her to show her the ropes of caring for her new son.  Soo excited.  It is getting close now.  Jeff & I will leave for home tomorrow and I am NOT looking forward to that LONG drive again.  But I will keep these big lips shut as I am nothing but grateful for this time.  I have put together a little slide show of the nursery.  It doesn't really do it justice as it is just sooo cute; all ready and waiting for the arrival of Sam.  I will put together another one after we get home to show you some other happenings around the dairy.  I have visited as best I have been able to, and have done a lot more reading than commenting.  I am looking forward to (kind of ) getting back to my usual schedule.  Thank you soo much for all the prayers and good wishes...I am most grateful for them all.
ENJOY!

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HELLO FROM NEW MEXICO

Well we are on day 6 of our vacation and this is the first chance I have had to post a quick update.  Time sure does fly when you are having fun.  The trip has been just WONDERFUL in spite of the LONG drive to get here, haha.  Oh my goodness, SUCH a journey...good thing the company and conversation were wonderful.  We hit a MAJOR storm in Tucson which was really quite spectacular.  Lightening lit the sky up in several places at the same time and the thunder roared, the wind whipped and the hail came down.  This California girl doesn't see many of those.  But finally 975 miles later we were here.  It was good to see her house and her new things and the conversation hasn't stopped.  : )  We enjoyed a nice dinner out Friday night and on Sat. morning (early) Mel & I headed out for Texas for her second baby shower.  This one was given to her by her best friends from high school.  One of her friends, Joanna, parents live in Lubbock which is about an hour and half from Mike & Mel's.  She still lives in California, but visits often (which means they get to get together when she does) and thought it would be a good opportunity to give her another shower closer to their home so that her new friends out here could be included.  Her other friend Amanda decided to jump onto the plan too even though she too still lives in California.  Her other friend, Nichole, is married to Mike's first cousin and lives in Hereford, TX which is about 3 hours from Mike & Mel.  They all get together often.  How grateful I have been for Mel that she had such a good friend who not only lives close enough for occasional get togethers now, but has also become family.   I have known all of these girls since they went to high school together, and a nicer group of girls would be hard to find.   The shower was just BEAUTIFUL.  Such a pleasant, wonderful day.  She got LOTS of darling little things including favorite storybooks that all the guest brought for Samuel's future collection.  The whole theme of the shower was storybooks, and it soo suited all these girls.  Such avid readers every one of them is.  Anyway, I put together a little slide show of the event for you to see.  We have been working on the nursery ever since.  It is coming along REALLY well.  I will post pictures later when it is all finished, and in the meantime ENJOY the video.  Don't forget to hit "full screen" and escape to exit.  Hope everyone is doing GREAT.  I haven't had much time for visiting and I have missed you all!

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HERE WE GO....

WOW!!  And this was a whole week ago!  Can't wait to see it in person...

WOW....Can it be that we are almost out the door? What a busy 3 days it has been! Soo many things to remember, but I think I have got it covered. You'd think it was a WHOLE family that was leaving for 10 days and not just the two of us, haha....My hubby is busy loading the car and giving the final instructions to our house sitter and dog watcher. We are soo grateful that this worked out and we didn't have to board Elvis while we are gone. He DOES NOT LIKE strange places or people. I guess he is getting on in years and little dogs are usually nervous and he is no exception. This means too that our mail is handled and so are my plants. Not that there are many that don't have automatic sprinklers, but there are a few on my front porch, and it has been quite warm recently. I am trying to quiet my mind as of course being the "worry wart" that I am there are a few things I am anxious about. I am praying that my mom and step dad do OK while we are away. My mom I know is not exactly a happy camper that I will be gone...NOT that she is not happy I am getting to go, but she has become somewhat clingy and dependent recently. There is just soo much going on in their lives these days, it IS somewhat overwhelming. I am praying that neither mine or my hubby's back's act up on the LONG drive that lies ahead. I am praying for traveling mercies in general of course as well. I will admit that I am NOT a good traveler. I really don't like being away from my home. I am just NOT very adventureous...I like the familiar, the routine, and feeling somewhat in control. It has always seemed somewhat boring to me to be like this, or even somewhat un-trusting. I am soo glad that none of my children seemed to have picked up this trait, haha...My hubby couldn't be more my opposite. But I have learned to live with this over the years. It just does seem to be who I am. So what I am grateful for is a God who knows me. Who is there for me. Who walks me through the unfamiliar and out of the ordinary. Who gives me His peace when I can't seem to find my own. Who loves me UNCONDITIONALLY always. I am excited to see my girl....to get this time with her. Knowing she is waiting for me on the other end of this journey of 1000 miles makes my heart happy and my smile BIG. But knowing my God is with me wherever I go is just the icing on the cake.

Exd. 33:14  And He said, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Deu 31:6  "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."


I am bringing my laptop so I will be checking in as time allows...Hope you all have a wonderful week!!

ANOTHER WEEK...

WOW!! It is already Friday. This week has flown by. I have been soo busy with so many little things. I got to make some REALLY darling little girl things for a baby shower I am going to tomorrow. I would give you a peek but I am pretty sure the new grandma to be reads this blog occasionally and I want her to be surprised too so I will wait till later. It was fun though working with "pink" this time. : ) I also made one of the new tops, and I am happy to report it fit REALLY well. A tiny bit on the big side, but that is OK. I like things loose and comfy. I am hoping to get to the others today. AND!! On Wed. I went to run an errand at the Mall (more surprises!) and decided as long as I was there I would check out Sears. Not a place I usually shop anymore, but I am sooooo glad I did. They had rack after rack of clearance items, and I found 4, repeat 4 pair of capri pants in my size that I loved!! And here is the really good part....they were only 8.50!!! Can ya stand it? I was giddy. So now I am all set for capri pants and hopefully I will get those other new tops done quickly. I guess it is really kind of dumb that I am making a trip to Mel's when she is as close to having the baby as she is, but I have a few reasons why I really want to. First of all I guess because I know in my heart just how much her life will change (only forever more) after the baby is born, and I want this last little piece of time with her. Whenever she comes to California I have to share her with soo many it seems. Now I am not complaining mind you as I am grateful she gets to come as often as she does, but there are just soo many others she has to see too. But when I go there, I get her all to myself. And it has been 2 and half years since I have been there. Plus, she has made soo many changes to her home since the last time I was there that I am anxious to see. I want to go to her other shower. She has a doc appointment scheduled too while I am there, and I would like to meet him and get a "feel" for him, and he is going to a 3-D ultra sound for me as well. Plus then we are going to put the nursery together....arrange furniture, hang pictures, wash and put clothes away etc. All that fun stuff. She has already gotten everything I guess. Well actually the rocking chair is supposed to arrive today. I am soo anxious to SEE how the bedding and everything looks in person. By the time I leave she will be a good 33 weeks, and she should be all ready to go. Now hopefully she will carry him all the way to term so I am not turning right around and coming back, haha. We are hoping it is at least 5 or 6 weeks later. But even if it's not I am coming back for the birth and to hang out for a week or so to get her all settled in. The chances of me missing the actual birth are pretty big of course depending how fast everything goes, but I am already praying first of all that everything goes well, but also that just maybe this grandma can be there for the actual event.


My mother's birthday was a nice day and I was glad to be able to be there on Tues. We are going to go there tonight to play cards as we won't see them for the following two week-ends as we will be gone. I am sure praying all is well with her while I am gone too.

I know I haven't been around as much as usual, but I will bringing my computer along and keep up while I am away as much as I can. I do covet your prayers that all goes well. We are leaving early Thursday morning so I don't think I will be posting again before we leave. I am soo excited!! In the meantime know that I missing all of you, but am FINALLY visiting my girl!

TUESDAY'S TIBITS

I want to start by wishing my mother a VERY happy birthday tomorrow. She wiil be 79 years old and I am soo grateful. I will be heading over there tomorrow with some of her favorite fresh flowers, and her very favorite Oatmeal Cake and then take her out to lunch and spend the day with her. She is still doing pretty good, and my stepdad is still having good and bad days.

I have A LOT I need to do this week. I am trying to get myself ready to go to Mel's. Doesn't seem like it would be that difficult huh? haha....But let me tell you about just one of my dilemmas. For anyone whose ever REALLY battled weight, you know that there are usually a few sizes of items in your closet. I am no different. BUT!! last summer when we were packing me up to move I went ruthlessly through my closet and got rid of (OH NO!) ALL (but 2) of my larger and largest size capri pants. Now most of them NEEDED to be gotten rid of anyway let me tell you, but have I ever regretted that this summer. Now remember shortly after my surgery last June I put on the 55 pounds that I had lost. That means that NONE of the capri pants I was wearing last summer fit me now even though I have lost 38 of those pounds once again. They are close..~ .. I can get them on..~ .. I just can't breathe very long after they are, haha...Sooo, at the beginning of this summer, I bought just a couple of pairs. I didn't want to invest too much money in a size I am hoping to be way out of by next summer. This means I have 4 pairs of capri's (shorts are out of the question btw) 2 of which are WAY too big, and 3 of which are white. And that 4th pair is a very dark navy blue which SHOULD be good, but aren't, as they pick up lint way too easily. So I decided after I made the decision to go, that I would just have to break down and buy a couple more pairs. I figured I could probably get them on clearance now as well. Well, I have not been able to find a single pair....Is that just ridiculous?? I have tried at least 5 different stores, and gone on-line, and no one seems to have the size, color or style that I want. Sooo, I decided, well, I would just make myself a pair. There was a time I made practically everything I wore so it shouldn't be too difficult, right? Wrong....this brings me to today. I spent yesterday afternoon finding the pattern and fabric that I wanted. Not too difficult except I really had no idea what size I really was anymore as it has been years since I made anything for myself. Sewing pattern sizes are VERY different from store sizes. Anyway, I thought I made a good guess. While I was at it, I got the patterns (simplicity has theirs right not for a buck at Hancock Fabric) and the material to make 4 different tops too. I was giddy at the prospect. Well, I remember now why I had stopped sewing for myself. It is just soo hard to get something to really fit right, and there are times that even if it does, I just didn't like it. Just like you see something in the store that looks wonderful that you love, and then you try it on and decide no, it just won't do. Except there is no bringing it back, or just not buying it in the first place. You are pretty much stuck. The pants fit me....kind of....They are a little snug. Not unlike the other 5 pairs that sit in my closet waiting for me to lose more weight. Sooo, my money has been spent, the time has been put in to sew them, and I STILL don't have a decent pair of jean capri's. Now my question is, do I attempt to make the tops anyway? Will I be as off as I was with the capri's in picking out patterns that are going to work? I guess all I have really done is expose how I am really not that good of a seamstress, as a REALLY good seamstress could MAKE them fit. I am exhausted just thinking about it. I am not sure what I am going to do. I will sleep on it for now, and see how I feel about it tomorrow....,sigh....

Meanwhile, Mel did get a good report today from her doc. The placenta has moved and is no longer a threat to her having to have a c-section. Praise God! And thank you for your prayers about this. He again told her if she can just make it 3 more weeks, he will sigh a big sigh of relief. That will only make her 34 weeks, but he feels very safe and good about that should it be as far as she can get. He still thinks there is a chance she will go further, even maybe all the way to term, so I will just continue to pray. And finally, our poor little dog Elvis got himself sprayed by a skunk last night. My hubby had taken him out in the middle of the night only to find a skunk in our driveway. Guess it all happened pretty quickly. What a smell!!! We have tried spraying him with some spray that is suppose to work miracles, only he really doesn't of course. Poor Elvis can't believe he is still in our back yard. Hopefully by tomorrow he will be fit to come back in. He will spend the night in the utility room though as don't think he is safe outside. He is just a little Chihuahua. I hope by leaving all the windows open and one last spray of our miracle spray will help him from making our utility room unbearable.

Guess that's all my news for now. Hope you all have a good week

 

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Psalm 84:12  O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Well it's the first Thursday in August already and time I have decided to do a "thankful" post as it has been a while since I have done so. There are as always soo many things to be thankful for. Here are just a few that have been on my mind.


I am thankful for the fact that my mother is home and is really doing pretty well. She gets tired easy, and seems a little anxious, but otherwise she is moving right along like she was. She will be 79 years old next Tuesday, and we are all glad to be celebrating with her.

I am thankful that my stepdad got a good report on his last test and seems to be having more good days this week than bad, and certainly better than the week before.

I am soo thankful that I am getting to go to see Melody in a couple of weeks. She too is doing WONDERFULLY and so far there have been no more bleeding episodes. I am grateful for each week that she makes it through, and can hardly believe she has reached week 30 today. She can be considered term at 37, and her doc has said he will be thrilled if she makes it until at least week 35...only 5 more to get there. She is busy "nesting" haha, getting everything together that she needs to finish up the nursery; sooo many cute little things. She has discovered Etsy, and is having such a good time with it. I am also grateful that she covets my opinion, and is waiting for me to put it all up. : )

I got Mel to shoot me a pic this morning of her at 30 weeks.  I am thinking she doesn't look much bigger than she did at 26 weeks when she was here.  She assures me she is though, haha...guess I will see for myself in another couple of weeks.

I am grateful that I have been given another 6 months before I have to check back in with my oncologist. I saw her yesterday and all is PERFECT as she said. Praise God. I will admit I DON'T like going there. I DON'T like even thinking about it all. I began dreading it a few days ago and am soo happy it is behind me for another 6 months. I don't know if I will ever be able to properly express my gratitude that the Lord has seen me through this journey, and that everything turned out the way it did. Like I said before there are times where I find myself feeling a little guilty that it was all as "easy" as something like this can be.

I am grateful that the Lord seems to have soo many exciting plans for my son's church and that all is going so well there. Some pretty big changes are going to take place within the next month or so, and I am anxious to see it all fall into place.

I am grateful for my DIL Larissa, as I have decided we are such kindred spirits. How wonderful it is to have her close by.

I am grateful for my home, the food in the refrigerator, and our air conditioner, haha. It has been quite hot recently!

I am grateful for the patterns that I found yesterday for some things I want to make for myself before we leave for Mel's. I am hoping that they fit as well as I think they are going to.

I am grateful that my sweet granddaughter Annabel should be able to spend some time here with me next week.

I am as always forever grateful for my wonderful husband. He works soo hard to provide for us, and in today’s economy it has become such a chore. He never complains, and still does soo much for me after he gets home. He is my biggest cheer leader, encourager, and friend.

I am also VERY grateful for all of your prayers, comments, notes, and e-mails for my parents and Melody. How I appreciate it can never be expressed enough!

I guess that is it for now. The summer is flying by. I am happy about that on one hand as it means that baby Sam is getting closer and closer and fall is around the corner. How I LOVE the Fall. But on the other hand it seems sometimes as though the time races by and I don't do as much as I would like to for the Lord. I want soo much to focus on what matters and counts for eternity, and not just what it takes to get through each day and week here. I am praying about what He might have me do come Fall, and look forward to some interesting possibilities. Hope you are all having a WONDERFUL week!

Col 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.


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