Well now that I have successfully stuck THAT song in your head for the next few hours... rest in the knowledge that it is equally as stuck in my head right now.... lol
I was looking over my feedjit roll yesterday, and I was rather surprised at all the people who seem to have stopped by recently. I routinely have moments of awe when I see that someone from Australia or the UK googled or yahoo'ed something and my little ole blog popped up in their search.... even more awe inspiring is that they clicked on it and read it....
I am especially intrigued when a reader has chosen to land on a post that is more spiritual or biblical in its nature. I wonder if they leave feeling blessed and informed or thinking that I am a crackpot freak of nature.
That being said....... if you are reading this....... and you aren't one of the 2 people I pay to read what I write so I feel better about myself.... please leave a note.... say hi, share what made you stop by for a moment and read.... Don't leave me hanging and wondering who you are!!!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Sister and Mom Visit day 2 and 3 ( pigs, poo and penicillin)
Well day two started out innocent enough. Daebo ( our family word for grandma) went out for a leisurely coffee break with her granddaughter. They talked about all sorts of things, and had a wonderful time.
Later in the evening, and by evening I mean total darkness of about 8:30 pm, we all went out to the Farm to help load the hogs for slaughter the next morning. We had to get 2- 300 lb hogs cut from a herd of 3 out of the pen, then into a chute, up a ramp, over a gaping chasim, and into the bed of a pick up truck with a stock rack on it. Yeah... It all works perfectly in the mind.... and you pray you can execute your plan without killin a hog or worse hurting one of the humans in the operation.
We got there and Mr. Antos had the truck backed up to the chute, rack on and a couple of boards to block the gap between the chute and the tailgate of the truck. Tayler is poised and ready to jump in the pen with the hogs and get 'em up the ramp.... Mr. Antos is still thinking.... I am sure he had variables of death and dismemberment on his mind. All the little kids, of which there were 7, plus my sister, are perched on top of the rails of the hog pen, waiting to cheer everyone on... it conjures up images of gladiators being cheered on in the Roman Coliseums.... I took up residence against the board that was on the passenger side of the truck to keep it from being knocked down, as if I was going to stop a 300 lb pig....
Mom, who had been passively watching down on the ground on my side of the truck, pipes up as a volunteer when Mr. Antos asks for one.... she climbed up on the truck to hold the other wooden panel... and a teeny, tiny keychain light so the hog could see where to go. As she is climbing up onto the truck, you hear a bit of worry in Mr. Antos' voice, as he cautions her not to do anything that is gonna break her.... Tayler is working the chute door... and she an Mr. A have their pig code worked out.... ok goes up the chute.... NO NO NO, gets let back into the pen....
Let the games begin..............
Now that we are all at our posts.... He goes in to shoo a pig into the chute.... easier said than done.... Mrs. A goes in too, after a bit of butt slapping ( the pigs butt ) and yee hawin'.... the pig is cut from her friends and up the chute she goes....into the truck, and we slam the rack down so she doesn't get out.
Now comes the fun part.... get hog two in while not letting hog one OUT!... have I mentioned we are talking about pissed off 300 lb pigs?
Mr. A, climbs into the stock rack, and closes the door.... not sure which inspired that move.... desperation or insanity... and tries to "block" the hog off with a little ole' piece of MDF board. Let's just say it didn't work. and he climbed back out, before the hog got MORE pissed.
So we are back trying to get hog two..... This one is more illusive. Tay gets down from her job at the chute door, and is replaced by Steven.... She is now in the pen with Mr and Mrs A..... chasing down a hog. There is now a hush over the crowd, as they watch to see what will happen with three humans vs 2 hogs..... they get the one they want cornered.... by the way, a cornered 300 lb hog isn't a happy hog.... and she tries to bolt. Tayler had a feed bucket in her hand, and she wrangled that thing holding it's head in the feed bucket.... she actually held her own with that hog for a good minute... it was a sight to see your fourteen year old wrastlin' a pig, and winning, even if it was for just a minute. So after 3 more tries we get the right pig in the chute, and loaded up.... my mom hanging on for dear life as the hog makes the truck dip.... valiantly holding her little pen light on so we could see. I think the best thing overall was the sound mom and sis made when the hog turned to POO upon all who had placed it in this contraption.... and then Kelly trying to keep someone from inadvertantly touching it.... (never mind the fact they had been walking in goat poo, and chicken poo for the last 45 min.....) was hilarious!
After an eventful close to day two, we woke up to an equally climatic day 3....
We got a call from Mrs Antos at 7 in the morning that Taylers goat was going down. She had delivered two kids two days before, and now she was weak and not wanting to eat much. So we were told to bring pop bottles for feeding, pepto bismol for bloating, and the milk concoction for the babies if we couldn't save mama. I am sure the woman at Winco thought we were plum crazy with Milk, Buttermilk, two 20 oz pops and Pepto on the belt.... but to her credit she didn't even show a glimmer of humor as she scaned our items.
We got to the Farm about 8:30 am, and Tay went to work. They drew penicillin shots for her, mixed an emergency paste for her to eat to keep her stomach working right, and encourage her to eat. They went out to tend to the goats, I stayed in with the human kids in the house. I love the farm life, but I am NOT so good with the animals, like Mrs. Antos. So I do what I can and keep the little kids out of everyone's hair so they can do the hard work. It is all farm work, I just know my place is in the farmHOUSE. They worked until about 11 with the sick goat the babies and then the regular chores. I left Tayler there to help give more meds to her goat... and went home to mom and Kelly who were home with all the kids here.
We decided to go to Chuck E Cheese, to get out of the house, and becuase it was too windy to go to the park. The place was really empty, except for us, and I can actually say a trip to Chuck E Cheese was relaxing.
We finished off the day with some mother daughter bonding over a tub of depilatory wax. It was good times for sure!
Can't wait to see what is gonna happen today.
Later in the evening, and by evening I mean total darkness of about 8:30 pm, we all went out to the Farm to help load the hogs for slaughter the next morning. We had to get 2- 300 lb hogs cut from a herd of 3 out of the pen, then into a chute, up a ramp, over a gaping chasim, and into the bed of a pick up truck with a stock rack on it. Yeah... It all works perfectly in the mind.... and you pray you can execute your plan without killin a hog or worse hurting one of the humans in the operation.
We got there and Mr. Antos had the truck backed up to the chute, rack on and a couple of boards to block the gap between the chute and the tailgate of the truck. Tayler is poised and ready to jump in the pen with the hogs and get 'em up the ramp.... Mr. Antos is still thinking.... I am sure he had variables of death and dismemberment on his mind. All the little kids, of which there were 7, plus my sister, are perched on top of the rails of the hog pen, waiting to cheer everyone on... it conjures up images of gladiators being cheered on in the Roman Coliseums.... I took up residence against the board that was on the passenger side of the truck to keep it from being knocked down, as if I was going to stop a 300 lb pig....
Mom, who had been passively watching down on the ground on my side of the truck, pipes up as a volunteer when Mr. Antos asks for one.... she climbed up on the truck to hold the other wooden panel... and a teeny, tiny keychain light so the hog could see where to go. As she is climbing up onto the truck, you hear a bit of worry in Mr. Antos' voice, as he cautions her not to do anything that is gonna break her.... Tayler is working the chute door... and she an Mr. A have their pig code worked out.... ok goes up the chute.... NO NO NO, gets let back into the pen....
Let the games begin..............
Now that we are all at our posts.... He goes in to shoo a pig into the chute.... easier said than done.... Mrs. A goes in too, after a bit of butt slapping ( the pigs butt ) and yee hawin'.... the pig is cut from her friends and up the chute she goes....into the truck, and we slam the rack down so she doesn't get out.
Now comes the fun part.... get hog two in while not letting hog one OUT!... have I mentioned we are talking about pissed off 300 lb pigs?
Mr. A, climbs into the stock rack, and closes the door.... not sure which inspired that move.... desperation or insanity... and tries to "block" the hog off with a little ole' piece of MDF board. Let's just say it didn't work. and he climbed back out, before the hog got MORE pissed.
So we are back trying to get hog two..... This one is more illusive. Tay gets down from her job at the chute door, and is replaced by Steven.... She is now in the pen with Mr and Mrs A..... chasing down a hog. There is now a hush over the crowd, as they watch to see what will happen with three humans vs 2 hogs..... they get the one they want cornered.... by the way, a cornered 300 lb hog isn't a happy hog.... and she tries to bolt. Tayler had a feed bucket in her hand, and she wrangled that thing holding it's head in the feed bucket.... she actually held her own with that hog for a good minute... it was a sight to see your fourteen year old wrastlin' a pig, and winning, even if it was for just a minute. So after 3 more tries we get the right pig in the chute, and loaded up.... my mom hanging on for dear life as the hog makes the truck dip.... valiantly holding her little pen light on so we could see. I think the best thing overall was the sound mom and sis made when the hog turned to POO upon all who had placed it in this contraption.... and then Kelly trying to keep someone from inadvertantly touching it.... (never mind the fact they had been walking in goat poo, and chicken poo for the last 45 min.....) was hilarious!
After an eventful close to day two, we woke up to an equally climatic day 3....
We got a call from Mrs Antos at 7 in the morning that Taylers goat was going down. She had delivered two kids two days before, and now she was weak and not wanting to eat much. So we were told to bring pop bottles for feeding, pepto bismol for bloating, and the milk concoction for the babies if we couldn't save mama. I am sure the woman at Winco thought we were plum crazy with Milk, Buttermilk, two 20 oz pops and Pepto on the belt.... but to her credit she didn't even show a glimmer of humor as she scaned our items.
We got to the Farm about 8:30 am, and Tay went to work. They drew penicillin shots for her, mixed an emergency paste for her to eat to keep her stomach working right, and encourage her to eat. They went out to tend to the goats, I stayed in with the human kids in the house. I love the farm life, but I am NOT so good with the animals, like Mrs. Antos. So I do what I can and keep the little kids out of everyone's hair so they can do the hard work. It is all farm work, I just know my place is in the farmHOUSE. They worked until about 11 with the sick goat the babies and then the regular chores. I left Tayler there to help give more meds to her goat... and went home to mom and Kelly who were home with all the kids here.
We decided to go to Chuck E Cheese, to get out of the house, and becuase it was too windy to go to the park. The place was really empty, except for us, and I can actually say a trip to Chuck E Cheese was relaxing.
We finished off the day with some mother daughter bonding over a tub of depilatory wax. It was good times for sure!
Can't wait to see what is gonna happen today.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Sister and Mom visit.....day 1
So today I almost earned the bad auntie of the year award....
I made breakfast.... potato pancakes, farm fresh eggs with some veg and cheese.... served it to all the kids.... and about 10 minutes in... Hunter comes and finds me down the hall....
" Um... mom?..... "
"yea"
"Um... Angelo is allergic to eggs."
and then he spins on his heel and walks down the hall back to the kitchen....
HMMMMM
not good. I had forgotten the poor guy was allergic.... Good thing HE remembered...
Later in the day Mom, Sis, Tayler and I went to DUTCH BROTHERS.... ( I get it all the time now.... but for them it is a special treat.... there are no DB's in the Bay Area.... and it is a travisty) and then to Kohl's.... under the guise of mom wanting a pair of earrings.... we left with two pairs of earrings, some shoes and two rings later..... we were victims of great marketing.... or maybe it was just the word SALE....
After the retail therapy.... I moved from worst aunt to BEST mom... Tayler got to get her hair "styled" she got about 8 inches cut off, and she LOVES it!.... She is floating around the house, in the midst of pure bliss and FREEDOM that comes with shorter hair....she looks beautiful ( but I am HIGHLY biased)
I think tomorrow is going to be Spudnuts.... hopefully I don't try to kill anyone again....
I made breakfast.... potato pancakes, farm fresh eggs with some veg and cheese.... served it to all the kids.... and about 10 minutes in... Hunter comes and finds me down the hall....
" Um... mom?..... "
"yea"
"Um... Angelo is allergic to eggs."
and then he spins on his heel and walks down the hall back to the kitchen....
HMMMMM
not good. I had forgotten the poor guy was allergic.... Good thing HE remembered...
Later in the day Mom, Sis, Tayler and I went to DUTCH BROTHERS.... ( I get it all the time now.... but for them it is a special treat.... there are no DB's in the Bay Area.... and it is a travisty) and then to Kohl's.... under the guise of mom wanting a pair of earrings.... we left with two pairs of earrings, some shoes and two rings later..... we were victims of great marketing.... or maybe it was just the word SALE....
After the retail therapy.... I moved from worst aunt to BEST mom... Tayler got to get her hair "styled" she got about 8 inches cut off, and she LOVES it!.... She is floating around the house, in the midst of pure bliss and FREEDOM that comes with shorter hair....she looks beautiful ( but I am HIGHLY biased)
I think tomorrow is going to be Spudnuts.... hopefully I don't try to kill anyone again....
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Implements of torture
I will apologize now if this post seems a bit irreverent, especially on the heels of yesterdays more serious post... but sometimes life is like that... salty and sweet, serious and hysterical, all at the same time.
Today I decided to do battle. Oh, I have been "playing war" for a while now.... hiding in the bushes, and shooting pot shots at the enemy.... but today, I invested in the big guns..... I bought a wax pot. I am tired of "Nad"-ing the face, and watching it all scury back.... I have tried wax before, in those Sally Hansen microwave mini cups..... not only does the stuff not melt right.... it ends up looking like a cross between an alien blob trying to climb out of the jar, and a freeze dried sea anemone.... not to mention you can NEVER get the top back on! We won't even talk about the amount in that little tiny jar being INSUFFICIENT for the job...........I could pluck.... but really who has the time to be married to a mirror? I don't. I don't even LIKE mirrors most days. So I went to the local beauty supply store and bought the preverbial cannon. I need this cannon, because the BB gun aint cuttin' it. Unlike most of the rest of feminine creation, I am NOT hair free. I have hair on my lips, my chin, my forehead, my neck.... if it grows somewhere on a guy's face... I got it there too!.... so now you better understand my direct decendence from Sasquatch.... you understand the need for a higher fire power.
Now, I have had experience with these things.... at the hair salon, or nail shop.... I have had the side burns waxed... or the eyebrows done, but somehow, somewhere, you get the impression that waxing "like a professional" is one of those things that if it were on TV would be preceeded by the disclaimer.... "now kids, don't ever try this at home" .... I am here to tell you....... I lived. The hair is gone. And a legal team did not materialize in my shower............ in fact, I actually recommend it. It was fast, it got all the hair the FIRST time ( unlike Nad's) and I didn't have to run to the microwave 60 times (like with Sally). Albeit, it is easier to "hold one's skin taut" when you have two hands to do it, and one of them is not poised to RIP the hair from your flesh.... but it can be done.... and would have been rather humorous to watch, I'm sure, had I not locked myself in the bathroom.
Things worth noting:
1. the wax is STICKY.... when you peel off the lid to start warming it.... don't get it on your fingers!
2. less is more.... you use an incredibly minute amount of product to produce desired results.
3. there is a reason that they use a stick once per application. Did I mention that it is STICKY, and one stick per swipe keeps your fingers clean. Go to Walmart and buy a gross of wide popsicle/craft sticks it will be cheaper than the ones at the supply house.
4. get the wax removal substance they sell. I didn't, and I wish I did. ( this does not mean I walking around with globs on my face.... a little baby oil will take it off too....)
5. do the deed, at least a DAY before you need to go ANYWERE!.... while I am currently hair free ( insert the joyus strains of the hallelujah chorus here) my face is red, mildly numb, and blotchy.... not exactly "hey sexy.... wanna go on a date?" material.
6. get the little pot rings they sell....an item I debated on purchasing.....it is worth it to keep your pot from looking like a dried sea anemone.
7. it didn't hurt as bad as I thought... and actually less than Nad's did... maybe it is the warm of the wax opening the pores a bit before the ripping.... who knows, but I certianly wasn't jumping around the bathroom cursing Eve after each rip.........
I will let ya know how long it takes to grow back................
Today I decided to do battle. Oh, I have been "playing war" for a while now.... hiding in the bushes, and shooting pot shots at the enemy.... but today, I invested in the big guns..... I bought a wax pot. I am tired of "Nad"-ing the face, and watching it all scury back.... I have tried wax before, in those Sally Hansen microwave mini cups..... not only does the stuff not melt right.... it ends up looking like a cross between an alien blob trying to climb out of the jar, and a freeze dried sea anemone.... not to mention you can NEVER get the top back on! We won't even talk about the amount in that little tiny jar being INSUFFICIENT for the job...........I could pluck.... but really who has the time to be married to a mirror? I don't. I don't even LIKE mirrors most days. So I went to the local beauty supply store and bought the preverbial cannon. I need this cannon, because the BB gun aint cuttin' it. Unlike most of the rest of feminine creation, I am NOT hair free. I have hair on my lips, my chin, my forehead, my neck.... if it grows somewhere on a guy's face... I got it there too!.... so now you better understand my direct decendence from Sasquatch.... you understand the need for a higher fire power.
Now, I have had experience with these things.... at the hair salon, or nail shop.... I have had the side burns waxed... or the eyebrows done, but somehow, somewhere, you get the impression that waxing "like a professional" is one of those things that if it were on TV would be preceeded by the disclaimer.... "now kids, don't ever try this at home" .... I am here to tell you....... I lived. The hair is gone. And a legal team did not materialize in my shower............ in fact, I actually recommend it. It was fast, it got all the hair the FIRST time ( unlike Nad's) and I didn't have to run to the microwave 60 times (like with Sally). Albeit, it is easier to "hold one's skin taut" when you have two hands to do it, and one of them is not poised to RIP the hair from your flesh.... but it can be done.... and would have been rather humorous to watch, I'm sure, had I not locked myself in the bathroom.
Things worth noting:
1. the wax is STICKY.... when you peel off the lid to start warming it.... don't get it on your fingers!
2. less is more.... you use an incredibly minute amount of product to produce desired results.
3. there is a reason that they use a stick once per application. Did I mention that it is STICKY, and one stick per swipe keeps your fingers clean. Go to Walmart and buy a gross of wide popsicle/craft sticks it will be cheaper than the ones at the supply house.
4. get the wax removal substance they sell. I didn't, and I wish I did. ( this does not mean I walking around with globs on my face.... a little baby oil will take it off too....)
5. do the deed, at least a DAY before you need to go ANYWERE!.... while I am currently hair free ( insert the joyus strains of the hallelujah chorus here) my face is red, mildly numb, and blotchy.... not exactly "hey sexy.... wanna go on a date?" material.
6. get the little pot rings they sell....an item I debated on purchasing.....it is worth it to keep your pot from looking like a dried sea anemone.
7. it didn't hurt as bad as I thought... and actually less than Nad's did... maybe it is the warm of the wax opening the pores a bit before the ripping.... who knows, but I certianly wasn't jumping around the bathroom cursing Eve after each rip.........
I will let ya know how long it takes to grow back................
Friday, April 2, 2010
Is the Cross the attraction?
Why is it we do all we do? Our lives are busy, sometimes to the point of distraction.......... But I ask you, what is all the busyness for?
I have been reading a book about Amy Charmichael. This book is written through the lens of Elizabeth Elliot, and equally gifted woman of God. To Amy, everything was God's work. Changing a diaper, or sweeping a floor, was equally as important as leading a person to Christ. It was BECAUSE of her passion for Christ that she did the cleaning and caring. I wonder how many times we make these things mutually exclusive, instead of all encompassing?
Here is a list of questions that she asked prospective recruits to the mission field.
1. Do you truly desire to live a crucified life? ( this may mean doing very humble things joyfully for His Name's sake.)
2. Does the thought of hardness draw you or repel you?
3. Do you realize that we are a family, not an institution? Are you willing to do whatever helps most?
4. Apart from the Bible, can you name three or four books which have been of vital help to you? Apart from books, what refreshes you most when tired?
5. Have you ever learned any classical or continental language?
6. Have you ever had opportunity to prove our Lord's promise to supply temporal as well as spiritual needs?
7. Can you mention any experience you have passed through in your Christian life which brought you into a new discovery of your union with the crucified, risen, and enthroned Lord?
How well would you have scored? What would your answers have been?
After this list was compiled, it was said she would sum theses questions up with one statement: Do not come unless you can say to your Lord and to us, The Cross is the attraction.
When reading this list of questions, asked of those who felt called to a life of missionary work, I was compelled to examine my own life and heart for God. I have often said that raising my children is my mission field. He has given me four precious gifts, to teach, train and admonish in His ways.... but is the cross the attraction to my work? Do I care for a sick child because I just do... or do I care for them with Christ's love? ( I will confess to you that at 3 a.m., when there is a cranky baby up for the 3rd night in a row, I am surely not feeling Christ's love for that child!.... I am selfishly wanting my sleep!)
I was ashamed, that as I searched and examined my motives behind the countless little things that are done each day...........Christ is not my attraction, I am not as selfless as I would like to think. I needed to be reminded that unless Christ is first, I will become selfish and bitter in the work he has given me to do.
Today happens to be Good Friday. Back in the day, when they were writing the Bible, the word we have translated into English as Good.... started at HOLY........ how poorly our English understanding of the word "Good" is in this instance. Today, my Savior, hung on a cross. A cross that he carried, after being beaten until his flesh hung from his body, having a crown of thorns crammed onto his very skull. He was nailed to that cross, hoisted into the air, and left to die. The world accomplished their goal of killing him this day..... But His triumph is coming. The triumph over death, we will celebrate on Sunday..... The triumph forever, is yet to come.
In pausing to think about what we remember today... I know that is the level of sacrifice that is called for from me........... I need to be THAT selfless, that humble. Through the humility that was displayed on the cross, I am saved. Through the humility displayed through me...... others will see the cross......
Is the Cross YOUR attraction?
I have been reading a book about Amy Charmichael. This book is written through the lens of Elizabeth Elliot, and equally gifted woman of God. To Amy, everything was God's work. Changing a diaper, or sweeping a floor, was equally as important as leading a person to Christ. It was BECAUSE of her passion for Christ that she did the cleaning and caring. I wonder how many times we make these things mutually exclusive, instead of all encompassing?
Here is a list of questions that she asked prospective recruits to the mission field.
1. Do you truly desire to live a crucified life? ( this may mean doing very humble things joyfully for His Name's sake.)
2. Does the thought of hardness draw you or repel you?
3. Do you realize that we are a family, not an institution? Are you willing to do whatever helps most?
4. Apart from the Bible, can you name three or four books which have been of vital help to you? Apart from books, what refreshes you most when tired?
5. Have you ever learned any classical or continental language?
6. Have you ever had opportunity to prove our Lord's promise to supply temporal as well as spiritual needs?
7. Can you mention any experience you have passed through in your Christian life which brought you into a new discovery of your union with the crucified, risen, and enthroned Lord?
How well would you have scored? What would your answers have been?
After this list was compiled, it was said she would sum theses questions up with one statement: Do not come unless you can say to your Lord and to us, The Cross is the attraction.
When reading this list of questions, asked of those who felt called to a life of missionary work, I was compelled to examine my own life and heart for God. I have often said that raising my children is my mission field. He has given me four precious gifts, to teach, train and admonish in His ways.... but is the cross the attraction to my work? Do I care for a sick child because I just do... or do I care for them with Christ's love? ( I will confess to you that at 3 a.m., when there is a cranky baby up for the 3rd night in a row, I am surely not feeling Christ's love for that child!.... I am selfishly wanting my sleep!)
I was ashamed, that as I searched and examined my motives behind the countless little things that are done each day...........Christ is not my attraction, I am not as selfless as I would like to think. I needed to be reminded that unless Christ is first, I will become selfish and bitter in the work he has given me to do.
Today happens to be Good Friday. Back in the day, when they were writing the Bible, the word we have translated into English as Good.... started at HOLY........ how poorly our English understanding of the word "Good" is in this instance. Today, my Savior, hung on a cross. A cross that he carried, after being beaten until his flesh hung from his body, having a crown of thorns crammed onto his very skull. He was nailed to that cross, hoisted into the air, and left to die. The world accomplished their goal of killing him this day..... But His triumph is coming. The triumph over death, we will celebrate on Sunday..... The triumph forever, is yet to come.
In pausing to think about what we remember today... I know that is the level of sacrifice that is called for from me........... I need to be THAT selfless, that humble. Through the humility that was displayed on the cross, I am saved. Through the humility displayed through me...... others will see the cross......
Is the Cross YOUR attraction?
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