cRaZy SePtEmBeR!!

This month has went by crazy fast. 

•  My car is still in the shop-hopefully it will be done today or tomorrow
• I am still behind in my online class
• We now have 5 bottle calves (2 heifers and 3 bulls)

We are so broke now, I don't know if I will be able to drive to class next month.-Spending $350 a month in diesel with just me going to class. and our bills will be around $800 next month...Chris only makes $1200...doesn't leave much does it?  I am considering trying to get rid of the escape.  When we decided to get the Escape, we knew it was going to be tight-but our insurance was cheaper and I was bringing in $60 a month in babysitting.  Now our insurance is as high as it has ever been and I am not babysitting anymore. sigh.  I don't know what to do.  I told Chris last night, it might be best to try to sell the Escape and just get a little car for him and I to drive (him to work, and me to school)

Earlier in the month (before we were totally broke...) we bought a camper.  I kinda wish we had the money now...but oh well I guess.  It was a great deal and we only ended up paying $800.

Some other pics that I have taken this month...

Ricky and Lucy

Moe

Leroy and Ethel

and.....



Oh and I guess I should add that Jake started living with Mom and Dad this month.  He is now going to school at Half Way, and is having a terrible time with school-he refuses to do anything and won't listen to the teacher.  Mom and Dad are about to go nuts with it.  Otherwise he says he really like living with grandma and papa.

Thursday...

What a hell of a week. seriously pure hell.  My sister, Liz, has created so much drama for my family and it has been a rough week.  All I know how to do now is to pray.  Pray and know that life must go on.

Well Craig gave us 2 more calves this week, a bull and a heifer.  They are so cute!  I am going to try and take some pics this evening of them.  All three of them are solid chocolate/black color.  Chris owes him a bit of work and Chris told him that he would like about 2-3 more calves if possible.  Craig said he might find something for him to do.  I told Chris this all reminds me of Doc Baker in the Little House on The Prairie--- he accepts chickens as payments and I think one episode he got a hog!  We really don't mind being paid in calves though!

I wish there was something I could do for my parents to help them out.  They are both very stressed right now and I don't know what to do.  This week more has been revealed about Liz than it should have ever been.  It is just too much I am afraid.  I hope my mom keeps her sanity.

School has been tough.  I had to drop my economics class.  My document processing class takes up so much of my time.  I think I am doing alright in my other 3 classes though.

Oh but GOOD NEWS!! It rained!! A TON! Yesterday last night we got somewhere between 4-6 inches I think.  We don't have a gauge up, but that was the average in Half Way.  It rained some last night and we are suppossed to get a good rain tonight.  It makes me so happy; I was really getting worried.

Monday...

Well I didn't get all of my homework finished last night.  But hopefully it will be alright and I get it done before tonight.  In my typing class- we have like 50 assignements a week! holy crap I took this class because I thought it would be simple-and it is, but just a ton of work.

About 11pm last night my allergies hit.  It was horrible and I still feel like crap.  Maybe I shouldn't have taken all 4 benadryl last night... I am so sleepy. 

I wish it would rain.  We haven't had a decent rain in over a month! Our "grass" is crispy and everywhere you look it is so dusty!  So not helping my allergies!

At least the days have been a bit cooler and the nights are becoming longer.  Fall is on its way.

Finally-

Monday morning I opened up my computer to only find out that I had a virus. Great. First day of school and my computer doesn't work!  $130 and 6 days later I get it back.  So glad to have it back! But what a week!

I think my classes will be alright.  I actually feel smart in my math class.  My Business Communications class is going really fast- We covered chapters 1 and 2 on the first day of class and now have a test on Tuesday (the 2nd day of class).  My English class seems really laid back but we do have a paper due tomorrow.

Friday night Jommy Summers stopped by and told us that one of the bigger holsteins was running up and down H hwy. great.  Got him back in and Chris moved the bigger holsteins to the back hog lot.  Saturday I went to Springfield and picked up the computer, on my way home Chris called and said they were going to Wuertly's tractor pull in Ozark.  I decided to go with them.  We got home last night around 7pm or so.  While feeding we realized that the big holsteins had gotten in with the little ones and the heifer and T-Bone. Oh well-not a big deal.  We came in and got ready for bed.  Ended up talking until 10:30 or so.  Chris' cell phone rings at 11:13pm.  It is dad.  All of our calves had been out.  The holsteins were in the barn and in our yard- he had already gotten them in.  T-Bone and the Heifer was missing.   Chris and dad finally found them over by the Swaeringin place.  So now they are grazing with Swearingin's cows.  If it ain't one thing it is another!

Well now I gotta start on all the homework I missed this week on my online classes!

Cooper's Birthday Part II

This morning I went early and picked up the Pictures at Walmart- I found a cute skirt and bought a new shower curtain...ended up spending $40!  Ah I hate that place.  I wasn't going to buy anything but it just sucks you in. grrr.  Anyway I needed to stop and get Chris a can of Chew- so I bought a scratcher ticket (I know how awful it being Sunday and all, but...) I won $40!  Thought I did pretty well.  Got home and Chris had tried to dress Sophia (he had her dress on backwards!) He thought buttons should go in the front lol! It was cute.  We went to church and the kids were really good. 

After church we went over to Mom and Dad's house for dinner.  Karen and Dallas were there and so was Granny.  Liz didn't show up.  I don't know why.  Mom and dad got Cooper this really cool Little Tykes picnic Table that folds up for storage and some clothes.  Karen and Dallas got him some Catapillar tractors and a tractor and sprayer. 

Sophia and Cooper played hard all day long-without naps!  Sophia started walking FINALLY - she is 15 months and 3 weeks, 1 day old!  I am so proud of her!

School Starts tomorrow night.  I am looking forward to it!  I can't wait.  I go Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights!

Cooper's Birthday

Three years ago today I delivered a 9lb 10oz baby boy at 7:31pm.  Now my 3 year old weighs around 48 pounds lol.  Where did the time go?  It seems everything goes so fast with him-at least when he decides he wants to do something.  It took forever for him to crawl-but once he started he soon started walking and then running in just a few short weeks.  He potty trained at the start of May- in about 3 weeks I can say we were accident free and he has never had an accident at night.  He is talking up a storm and has a great imagination and memory.  He amazes me more every day.

Today we got around pretty early.  We went to Rogersville so Chris could look at a baler and then we went back to Springfield and went to the Dickerson Park Zoo. http://www.dickersonparkzoo.org/ I think Cooper really enjoyed himself.  It was so nice to have a family day-we never get those anymore.  Chris had never been to the Dickerson Park Zoo either so we all had lots of fun.  Plus the highlight of the day they have a little train that we rode-Cooper screamed when it was time to get off!  We saw lots of animals: monkeys, birds, ducks, fish, elephants, bears, foxes, tigers, lions, giraffes, zebras, snakes, alligators, deer, wolves, cheetahs, otters, emu, ostrich, flamingos, and many more!  Sophia did really well as well-hardly ever fussed and seemed to enjoy herself.

a short video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7jUvRk-Znw



Now to talk about yesterday...

I was t-boned at the Corner Store...while driving the Escape.  Luckily no one was hurt, but my car is not driveable.  ugh not exactly what I had planned.  The tow truck came and got it today to take it to Bill Grant Ford to assess the damage. sigh.  I was hit by a 1/2 ton Chevy truck right in the driver's side door.  My door won't shut and the tire is all screwed up.  I hope they don't want to total it.  I have decided that the Escape is cursed. First the transmission and now this.  But thankfully we have the dodge truck :)

What a Beautiful Morning

Wow. So sweet and Peaceful.  There was a heavy fog over the land.  The roosters were crowing, and I hadn't even let them out yet.  The sun was coming up over the tree line, birds chirping and there was even a deer munching on some grass behind the house.  beautiful.  The calf sucked about 1 p and a half this morning, so that was good. 

I can't help but thank God this morning for giving me this life.  I sometimes don't appreciate everything that the good Lord has provided for me and my family.  I have 2 beautiful kids, healthy and happy kids.  A wonderful husband who works hard everyday to provide for our family.  God has provided me with wonder friends and a great community.  I know it seems that every month we scrape by- but that is just it- we get by.  We can always pay our bills one way or another.  Sometimes we have to sell scrap and work a bit harder to get that insurance payment- but we always get it. 

I thank God for my salvation and a great church family.  I wish we were more active in the church though.  I wish I knew about Chris' soul.  My heart aches for him.  I know he is bothered, but I don't know where he stands, only he and God knows that.  In a few years I know my children will have to be put under conviction and be saved.  I pray that they won't linger and hold back, but that is not up to me.  I went way too long before I was saved-5 years is a long time to be in the altar. 

I have so many people on my heart this morning.  Chris, Sue and Leonard, are the main ones though.

All I can say is : It Is Well With My Soul