I come from a large extended family. On both sides, actually. My mom is one of five girls and my dad is one of six children, five boys and one girl. There are nine grandchildren on my mom's side and thirteen on my dad's side. There are 16 great-grandchildren on my mom's side and and 17 on my dad's side. I want to talk about my dad's side today.
We just had a family reunion this past weekend. Not everyone could make it, but we had a really good turn out. We had folks from all over Texas, Oklahoma and even Montana and Maryland. It was a really good day. Even though our family is spread out and we don't see each other as often as we would like, we are still pretty close. So, we had a really good time on Saturday. When we get together, we are always scheming for the next time/occasion when we can be together again. The next will be at my cousin's wedding in June 2011. Already, we can't wait.
Something that I think is amazing about our family in this day and age is this: my grandparents were married 59 years before my grandfather passed away. Their six children are all still living, ranging in age from 57 to 72 years old and these six children are all still married to their one and only spouses.
I feel so fortunate to belong to a family where love, devotion and friendship/fellowship is so important. I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Animals
We live out in the country. Well, it used to be a whole lot more "country" than it is now. When we bought our four acres, there was hardly anyone else living on our road. Now, neighbors on both sides. Closer than we would like, but that is a subject for another post. Anyway, we do live outside of the city limits (for now anyway, again another post).
Over the years we have had our fair share of animal sightings. Among the list are: deer, a baby fawn nestled right next to the front passenger wheel of my car, snakes, frogs, lizards, squirrels, cotton tail rabbits, opossums, raccoons, armadillos, foxes, bobcats, coyotes and wild hogs. All of these animals have been spotted from our yard one time or another. In addition, we have had visits from cows, horses, donkeys, neighbors' dogs (another post), stray cats, a huge Charolais bull (funny story) and numerous dogs passing by.
Living out where we do, there is also the problem of people dumping unwanted pets. I'm sure that the stray cats were dumped. After a month or two of them trying to beat our cat up and take her food, they disappeared. I'm sure they became coyote or bobcat food. We've had a couple of dogs show up, but when they didn't get a warm reception, they moved on. Obviously, the people who dump their unwanted pets are heartless idiots. However, we folks that choose to live out in the outlying areas cannot be expected, just because we may have the room, to harbor everyone's castoff pets.
This brings me to my story. It's not terribly surprising to discover a dog or a cat that has been dumped. But, what about a goat? Two goats to be exact. Two male goats. They are dirty and destructive and smelly and have very bad behavior. They showed up around our place almost a month ago and they don't seem to belong to anyone around us. I spotted them behind our backyard fence and at first, I thought they were funny. I called my beloved outside and he thought they were funny too. But not for long. Like I said, bad behavior. My beloved chased them off and they left, very much against their will. However, they have shown up periodically over the last month. Don't know where they came from, don't know where they go. It is looking more and more like they were dumped.
But, really? Who dumps a goat?
More on abandoned animals on a future post.
Over the years we have had our fair share of animal sightings. Among the list are: deer, a baby fawn nestled right next to the front passenger wheel of my car, snakes, frogs, lizards, squirrels, cotton tail rabbits, opossums, raccoons, armadillos, foxes, bobcats, coyotes and wild hogs. All of these animals have been spotted from our yard one time or another. In addition, we have had visits from cows, horses, donkeys, neighbors' dogs (another post), stray cats, a huge Charolais bull (funny story) and numerous dogs passing by.
Living out where we do, there is also the problem of people dumping unwanted pets. I'm sure that the stray cats were dumped. After a month or two of them trying to beat our cat up and take her food, they disappeared. I'm sure they became coyote or bobcat food. We've had a couple of dogs show up, but when they didn't get a warm reception, they moved on. Obviously, the people who dump their unwanted pets are heartless idiots. However, we folks that choose to live out in the outlying areas cannot be expected, just because we may have the room, to harbor everyone's castoff pets.
This brings me to my story. It's not terribly surprising to discover a dog or a cat that has been dumped. But, what about a goat? Two goats to be exact. Two male goats. They are dirty and destructive and smelly and have very bad behavior. They showed up around our place almost a month ago and they don't seem to belong to anyone around us. I spotted them behind our backyard fence and at first, I thought they were funny. I called my beloved outside and he thought they were funny too. But not for long. Like I said, bad behavior. My beloved chased them off and they left, very much against their will. However, they have shown up periodically over the last month. Don't know where they came from, don't know where they go. It is looking more and more like they were dumped.
But, really? Who dumps a goat?
More on abandoned animals on a future post.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
21!?!?
My baby boy turned 21 earlier this week. Wait a minute . . . 21?!?! That can't be right. Let's see . . . born in 1989 . . . yep, 21. Where did the time go? It doesn't really feel like "just yesterday" that he was born, I mean after all, there has been lot of water under the bridge since then. However, I really can't believe that it has been 21 years. You know, they say that time flies when you are having fun and it really does. And, we have had fun.
I have enjoyed each and every stage/age. From newborn -- snuggling on the sofa for hours - how I loved that. To toddler -- falling in love even more with every new "trick" and accomplishment. Then school and sports, becoming more and more independent each day.
One day, when my boy was 3 0r 4 years old I was thinking of how fast he was growing and how much he could already do for himself without my help. It broke me heart! I started crying just thinking about how one day in the future, he wouldn't need me anymore. And, perish the thought, would move out and away from me. My beloved asked me what was wrong and I blubbered my sad tale. He laughed and tried to cheer me up by reminding me that that day was in the far, distant future.
Well, I hate to tell him that that day has arrived. And, it didn't take very long for it to get here, either. No, my boy isn't moving away just yet, but he is a grown man now. The funny thing is . . . he still seems to need my beloved and me. Certainly not in the same ways he did when he was a baby or a boy. But, then again, I still need my parents. I guess you never really outgrow them.
I have enjoyed each and every stage/age. From newborn -- snuggling on the sofa for hours - how I loved that. To toddler -- falling in love even more with every new "trick" and accomplishment. Then school and sports, becoming more and more independent each day.
One day, when my boy was 3 0r 4 years old I was thinking of how fast he was growing and how much he could already do for himself without my help. It broke me heart! I started crying just thinking about how one day in the future, he wouldn't need me anymore. And, perish the thought, would move out and away from me. My beloved asked me what was wrong and I blubbered my sad tale. He laughed and tried to cheer me up by reminding me that that day was in the far, distant future.
Well, I hate to tell him that that day has arrived. And, it didn't take very long for it to get here, either. No, my boy isn't moving away just yet, but he is a grown man now. The funny thing is . . . he still seems to need my beloved and me. Certainly not in the same ways he did when he was a baby or a boy. But, then again, I still need my parents. I guess you never really outgrow them.
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