I haven't posted on this blog for so long. I have been waiting for the little blogger elves to come and post but they haven't, so I guess I will. This journey of mortality has given me many highs and lows these past few months. Our cow, Sippy (short for Sipper Cup)had her calf early in the morning of December 21st. What a fun experience that was being out there with my kids while Sippy provided us with entertainment and a calf. It was a cold, cold night and several of my kids slept out in the barn with Sippy and kept watch over her. Layne had made her a lovely soft bed of straw to labor on but she must have decided that she wanted a more natural birth because when it came right down to the last half hour or so, she decided to move out of the barn (and the semi-warmth) out to the pasture right in the muddiest place. As we all watched and did our Lamaze breathing with her Layne had to help her out and do some calf pulling. He did a right good job! Out he slipped in all his slimy glory! It was just getting light so we were able to watch the miracle of birth! I myself think that Sippy would have been more comfortable in the barn as she delivered Leroy the calf but I guess that she might have been just out of her mind with pain seeing that she was delivering a 100 lb. baby boy! We put some new straw down for the calf to lie on while momma licked him clean. He was so nice and warm that you could see the steam rising from him! Now right after this little calf was born I again reminded my boys that they need to remember that Leroy is not going to be a pet but that we were going to eat him. I had been telling them that for months. My little Banner who was 6 at that time was sitting on the fence watching little Leroy right after the birth and he says to me, "Momma" and I said, "What" and he said, "Are we going to eat him today or tomorrow?" I just laughed and explained that Leroy would have to get really big before we eat him and that would take a long time. It was so precious, his little innocent question, and made me think about how our little ones take our words as literal truth. I just hugged my little guy and apologized for not being more clear with my instructions. We had two cows but our brown cow, Buttercup, did not get pregnant even after we had provided her with many great opportunities! So, about three weeks ago she made a one way trip to the butcher. We are enjoying her ever so much now that she is in our freezer! Our Sippy is producing lots of milk and our family is getting to have the wonderful experience of milking! Dan milks in the mornings and Layne usually milks in the evenings. The younger boys and Emily help as needed. Emily has the job of washing up the evening milking pails and strainer. Layne has made two batches of cheese and the first batch was yummy. He forgot to put salt in the second batch so it isn't as good. I think that if we salt the cheese when we fry it it will be yummy. Yes, I did say fry it. Yummy! It is squeeky cheese and even squeeks when it is hot. I am grateful to have plenty of milk and a freezer full of meat.
Dan lost his job the first of February. Mixed blessings. I love having him around since he had been so busy for so long. He is bishop of our ward so he is gone many hours from our family. He has been able to do some projects that he has been wanting to do for quite a while. He built a cheese press and it works wonderful! He used pavers that he had gotten from his job site (they were throwing them away) and put a nice floor in the milking barn. He is looking hard for a job and I know that Heavenly Father is aware of our family and will provide what is needed.
Danya and Sam have moved in with us for a while so they can save up a little and get stable in this economy. They are good kids and I am glad to have them here.
Layne is such a great young man. He received a letter from BYU Football expressing interest in him. They said that they are going to be watching him closely this next year. He will be a senior in the fall. He also received a letter from NAU expressing their interest in him for their football program. Layne has been going out with the missionaries and loving it. That boy has something great to do in this life!
Emily tried out for cheerleader for next year and made the JV squad. They don't have a varsity squad because our new high school will be opening in August and there won't be juniors or seniors. Emily will be in 10th grade. She is such a darling girl and I love to be her mother.
Riley turned 12 in February and received the aaronic priesthood. He is so tall and handsome! Not a little boy anymore. When he was 5 his kindergarten teacher said he was the ladies man of kindergarten. I think that I will be having to give the "girls are not going to be calling you in 6th grade" speech soon.
Ammon will be 10 next month. The long awaited double digit!! Ammon is a natural when it comes to performing. He cracks me up with his spontaneous accents and performances! He made himself a hat out of tin foil today to keep the aliens from reading his brain! He was watching the movies "Signs" and decided that a tin foil hat was needed.
Banner is reading like no other! I can't believe how well that boy reads. He can read the scriptures with ease pronouncing just about every word correctly. He is still my cuddle boy and I love it.
We had another baby pass away in our ward last thursday. He was 8 months old. The autopsy didn't find anything wrong with him so they are calling it Sudden Infant Death syndrom. Because Dan is bishop we were called immediately and he and I were there soon after the paramedics. My heart broke for this sweet mother and father who have lost their little baby. But even through the sorrow you could feel the spirit of our Heavenly Father so strong in that home. I again am grateful to know that my Savior lives and that all is well. If you want to read this sweet mothers blog it is http://spencer-crystal5.blogspot.com/
My sweet Katie has filed for divorce from her husband. My heart and soul aches for her. Her story is sad and I so wish that things could have been different for her. But God grants free agency to all his children and because of this, there must be innocent victims. She has been true to her covenants and loyal to her marriage in every way and I know that she will be blessed.
My Bonnie has opened her own salon in her home. She has her own website for it and I am excited for her. She is so talented and can make even me gorgeous! Her website is:
1 comment:
Kathy, I loved reading this. I visited the Eldridge Family blog. What a heart wrenching thing to endure. It's still so fresh for the other families in your ward. I'll bet they are a strength to each other. I am so sad for them. The picture on the blog is so sweet. I can't stop thinking about it. I'll pray for them.
I've love reading about your kids and cows. I can't believe you just tossed Buttercup to the Butcher! Gosh, you've gotta be blood related or produce goods to be safe in that home, and even then it's risky. Love you.
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