Some Pictures From Our Trip to Georgia...

These are the pictures off my camera from Adam's graduation.  It made for some wonderful memories!

We had live music at one place where we ate dinner.  The kids weren't too impressed but I loved it!

How Do You Prepare for Something Like This?

I've spent the last few days since I got home from Adam's graduation thinking.  As with Jake, I'm proud that my son wanted to join the military.

I think Adam has realized what it really means to have taken such a dangerous job with the Army.  I knew all along that it wasn't what I wanted for him, but I had to allow him to make his own decision.  With Jake, I know he's as safe as he can be in a war zone.  On a base, in a building working intelligence.  

With Adam, I don't know how I'm going to cope.  I feel like I'm a strong woman but I can't imagine when he is deployed how I'm going to survive every day.  I know I will, thousands of other mothers do. I just can't imagine trying to go through every day knowing that my son is on the front lines, being the first to break down doors looking for the enemy.  How do you get through something like that?

I suppose I'll have to try and find a support group, I don't think I can do it alone.  I know I can't curl up in the fetal position and wait until he comes home - although that's what my mind tells me I want to do. Hopefully he won't be deployed soon.  I need time to get my mind in the right place if that's possible.

Meanwhile, I've spent a lot of time this weekend remembering our soldiers and being thankful that there are so many who are willing to volunteer for such dangerous duty.  I'm terrified and proud at the same time.

If you have any words of wisdom, I'd love to hear from you.

Interesting Observation...

We were waiting for our flight from Atlanta and there was no place to sit.  The flight before us left so Lorry grabbed a seat and put her bag in the one next to it for me (I was a few feet behind her).  A nice looking, athletic, young, black man jumped over and started to take the seat.  " I'm saving this for her," she said, and pointed to me - standing a foot behind him.  

"What?  You can't save seats!  What the hell?"  

"She's right there!" Lorry said.

"Awwww, COME ON!"  He was very unhappy.

Loud enough for everyone to hear, I looked at him and said.  " you go ahead and take that seat.  I'm a lady and I'll let you have it."

I turned around and walked to an available stool and sat down.  He walked away.

What?  We would never have done that to an old lady!  Then, on the flight to Boise, a couple my age were some of the last ones on the plane.  A nice, peaceful, Rastafarian-type, young, white, hippy dude was taking a seat when the lady asked him if he would let she and her husband sit together and he could take the single seat.

Again, in that whiny-ass voice, he too did the "what!?" thing.  He did not take the single seat.

Rotten-ass, spoiled young people who have no respect for us elders.  KARMA you little turds.  It's going to get you.

Girls With Guns, and one Gnarly Dude...

Today Brenda provided us with a concealed weapons class.  It was awesome!  Brenda, you were a great instructor and we all had a wonderful time.  Now to go gun shopping!

Look out, the girls from Hidden Springs are packin'!

Donkey Delivery!

Their previous owners...

Kathy, their new mama...

Into the new pen!

Taking a break to color with Lorry...

The girls seem quite content...

and it looks like we have a big storm coming!  

It was a great day.

Our New Additions, Donkeys!

We went out to see the 2 mini donkeys that will be coming to live with us the end of April.  They are just adorable!

I've always loved miniature horses but they bite and kick.  These little girls absolutely LOVE people, even kids.  The kids were all over them and the donkeys followed them everywhere.  You couldn't ask for better friends for our grandkids.

Our friends Rod and Kathy wanted to get some to pull a cart for events in Hidden Springs and we told them that we'd love to keep them here.  So, Monday we start building the fence and the oldest of the 2 they're buying is currently 'getting lucky' so we'll have a baby next spring which Rod and Kathy are giving to us.

I can't wait to get them here and show all the grandkids how to brush them, feed them, and take care of them.  The current owners told us we can let them out of the corral when we're outside and they'll follow us all around just like dogs.  How fun will that be!

I'm excited!

The Saddle...

Well, here it is.  It's pretty rough, needs the sheepskin underneath replaced and a little bit of stitching re-done.  It also needs some oil.  I can't find a maker's mark on it anywhere.  The name of the people mom sold it to is stamped underneath and I can see the word HULE tooled into the leather but other than that, I can't find anything.

I'm going to see if one of dad's old friends can look at it and see if he remembers it.  I'm not sure why, but I have a feeling this was dad's saddle.  I guess I'm going to have to do some sleuthing!  It's very plain and basic, kind of what I remember and I can't imagine dad having anything different.

I ended up payiing $300.  My friend Schanen went with us and said that was a fair price.

Thanks Schanen, for going with us and for helping me.  It was great to have you along for this rather emotional experience.

A Random Act of Kindness, For a Soldier He Never Met...

Today something happened to me that I can hardly believe.  Small, in it's own way, yet it meant more to me than I can ever say.

We have a gentleman about my age that comes in to the Merc every once in a while.  A nice enough man, yet rather quiet and a bit grumpy looking most often.  Today he came in and went into the back room and sat down.  I took him his water and asked if he wanted some lunch.  He said he wouldn't be eating and sat and read.  I went back a bit later and noticed a box he had laying on the table.  In it was a brand new motorized helicopter.  I said, "You bought a new toy!" and he responded saying that he thought he could work it since it only required that you be 14+ to run it.

We started talking about it and I told him that I watch a show called "Inside Combat Rescue" on the National Geographic channel.  It's one of the shows I can't bring myself to watch yet because Adam and I always watched it together.  I told him about the medics on the show and how they fly those remote controlled helicopters in the building where they work when they have down time.  I mentioned that I have a son in Afghanistan and that I had thought, while watching that show, about sending one to him for HIS down time.

He looked and me and scooted the box across the table.  "Send him this one."

I about died.  First off, that hadn't crossed my mind.  "Oh no!  I can't do that."

"Really, send him this one."

I told him how nice that was, but that I could buy one and send it to Jake.

He picked up the box and handed it to me.  "Really, I want you to have this one to send to your son.  Tell him Thank You."

Wow.  I took the box and told him how much I appreciated it.  I walked away thinking what that had done for me.  I've never had anyone do something like that.  He didn't really know me.  He doesn't know my son. Yet he touched me in a way I will always remember.

As he got ready to leave, I walked up to him and said, "I want you to know that I will never forget what you did today."

He smiled and again said, "Just tell him thank you."

I paid for his coffee and muffin, it was the least I could do.  I will send the helicopter and a letter explaining how this all happened to Jake this week.  I know Jake, he'll leave this act of kindness for other soldiers to enjoy when he comes home in October.

This wonderful man will never know how he affected me today.  A random act of kindness, for a soldier he has never met.  Thank you.  Thank you for letting me know that my son and the other soldiers, mean as much to you as they do to me.

Coming Along!

So we're making progress on the barn, in fact, it should be done this week!  We can't wait to get the remainder of our things our of storage and have all of our stuff in one place again.

We have a rooster pheasant that has found us.  He's beautiful and not at all afraid.  He's also looking for a girlfriend but I think we'll have to go buy him one or two.  He lives down in the big bush in one of our fields and comes every morning to eat the seed that has dropped out of the feeders.

Linda, Nancy and I went "junking" on the 40 acres Linda used to live on.  It literally "littered" with old stuff.  Mostly rusty old stuff but we've had fun and added a bunch of things we'll sell during our first annual farm sale later this spring.  Old WWII ammo boxes, the complete fan off of an old windmill, old tool boxes that will be wonderful planted with flowers, an old wheelbarrow, and other misc. things that we hauled home.

I just couldn't resist this picture of Linda with the title in the background.  Sorry sister!  I love you!