Great Sorrow

It is with great sorrow that I write about our beautiful grandson, Elijah, who was stillborn on Saturday. His Momma and Daddy had so much grace through her labor and delivery and the ordeal afterward. Even now, when you walk in their home, as she is recovering, you can feel the grace of God on them both. There is too much to write and too much sorrow in my heart to write it. Our family has been given only good from the Lord up until now. How can I complain? We've raised our seven children without even a broken bone. To have our first sorrow happen to our children breaks our hearts. And yet, I am fully confident that if God had chosen to do it, he could have breathed life in to little Elijah at any moment. My sorrow does not overwhelm the confidence I have that God is the author of even this. As I stood and testified in church on Sunday, I have so much to be thankful to God for. His mercy has been to me since the day I was born again almost 30 years ago. I know his mercy will continue and he will be the Gentle Healer that our family needs.

Beautiful Song... From One of my Favorite Singers!

The Girls Step Out of the Coop

My chickens, AKA "The Girls", make me happy. Here is a picture of a big fatty hen. We haven't named her except to call her "Fatty". She doesn't seem to mind this rather rude nickname. She happily struts around the yard whenever we let her out of the coop.


Here is "Fearless". She's the natural leader of the clutch. She's the first out of the coop and seems to lead all the adventures. Isn't she a beautiful blue color?

Here is the whole assemblage. I threw out some old tortilla chips and they went cuckoo. The problem is, since they know when the door opens we might be giving them a treat...the whole flock makes a mad dash for the patio!



Here's a pretty picture of a dandy duo. They don't have names, poor ladies. There just here to make eggs and walk around the backyard for heaven's sake!

I'll leave with this final note... we have six girls...we had seven. But one died as she got run over by the coop. Yes, it was Granddaughter #1's first brush with the dreaded word..."dead". She was very sober about it...and talked with Poppa about it every time she saw him for a few weeks after that. Only one confusing thing about this was, it was about the time we thought that Tecumseh, our dog had gotten lost and we told her that he died. Then he showed up the next week. Mmm...kinda gives her an interesting view on death, don't you think?

Over the Back Fence...

As I meander to my computer...ok, for real... I run in here to my computer every morning to steal a few minutes to check up on "my" blogs...I can't help but wonder what is the pull? Why am I so drawn to check up on what my bloggie sisters are writing? Is this a good thing?

I came up with a few thoughts and I'll share them with you. First of all, I absolutely love being a part of all of your worlds. I feel like an old time housewife chatting with you girls over the back fence when I read your blogs. I am humbled to be included when you write back to me on what I've commented on your postings, I am elated to hear what you write on your blogs and I search diligently for edifying words to write as posts. Girls, what's most important is that on our blogs we can feel each others joys, sorrows, worries, cares and laughter...together. We ask for prayers from our God for one another and we've seen Him hear and answer us. We've cried with each other and posted heartfelt comments to each other to lift each other's hands up. I've gotten to see the silly side of all of you too...you've made me laugh and giggle and it's lifted me up when I've been down. Most of us live across the country from each other...some of us have never met face to face. But, it doesn't seem to matter! We all seem to be drawn to each other on our blogs... So, think of me each morning as I make my coffee and see The Dad out the door with his lunch and a smooch, because you can bet I'll be hightailing it in here to my computer to meet with you all...over the back fence!