Fall from Grace

Remember that nice little calf that belonged to our neighbors and was going to share our pasture with Molly to help keep the grass down this summer? In the beginning, we had such fun watching the two animals meet and get to know each other, and we wondered how they would influence each other. We were thrilled with the arrangement! Well...things have changed...

Sweetie Pie, the calf, is no longer a sweetie pie. In fact, "Stupid Calf" is the name that most readily comes to my mind when I think of her. I know, I know, it's not nice to call anyone "stupid," even a dumb calf. But for goodness' sake, she's not normal!!!

The first indication of her lack of intelligence was her love for a brush pile in the pasture. Even though she would get stuck in it and would need to be rescued, she returned to it over and over. What's that proverb about a dog returning to its vomit?...

But the real problem is this: she loves dog food. She goes crazy over it! Hello, calf, you're a COW. You've got plenty of grass, hay, grain, etc. You don't need to eat dog food. In fact, when you eat it, you're probably eating some of your distant relatives since the dog food we give Molly is not exactly vegetarian dog food.

Obviously, Sweetie Pie doesn't listen to reason.

After a while of feeding Sweetie Pie's addiction, we decided enough was enough; and we were going to try to stop it. So Plan A was to start putting Molly's food in her dog house so she could get to it, but the calf couldn't. Only...well...the calf could...if she tore the dog house into two pieces...which she did. (The dog house is hard, sturdy plastic, with a top piece and a bottom piece that fit together. Usually, it fits very snugly, but not after the calf got through with it.)

Plan B was for Jeff to build a triangular enclosure big enough for Molly's house, food bowl, and water bowl with boards low enough that Molly could get under them to reach her stuff, but the calf couldn't. Only...well...the calf could. Now we figure she's training for the circus as a limbo calf or something cuz she's seeing "how low she can go"!

Plan C was to reinforce the above structure with chicken wire, big stumps, and the big water trough so that, once again, Molly could get through, but the calf couldn't. Only...well...you guessed it. She could, she can, and she does. Jump a stump while ducking under a board--no problem for this calf! Tromp through a water trough--not a big deal! Bend the chicken wire--sure! Just as long as she can eat dog food! Whatever you do, don't get between her and her beloved dog food.

The last straw--and the prompt for this post--was that when I went up to the pasture just a little while ago to feed Molly, I discovered Sweetie Pie hanging around, just waiting for her precious meal of dog food. And Molly's water bowl was all muddied up from Sweetie Pie's clumsy hooves. And I discovered a great big cow patty (that's poop for you non-country folks) in Molly's food bowl. It was disgusting. I may be a country girl, but I'm also a pregnant country girl...and having to clean a cow patty out of my dog's food bowl is not high on my list of desirable activities. Plus, because of the enclosure Jeff made, it is difficult for me to get in to reach the bowls (normally not a problem because we can pour the water and food over the top of the fence). Unlike that silly calf, I'd rather not do the limbo at this stage of life, so the alternative is to go over. But for a pregnant lady to straddle a thin wooden board to get into a small enclosure with a dog and a calf to get a poop-filled bowl...well, it's just not pretty.

The real last straw is that as I was walking away to clean the bowl, fill it, and return it to the ungrateful beast, Sweetie Pie had the nerve to kick at me with her back leg. Now, I'm not an animal psychologist; but to me it seemed very deliberate. Maybe she can sense my growing dislike of her. You think??? Fortunately, Sweetie Pie is still small enough that I'm not scared of her; but a well-placed kick to my abdomen could definitely make me see red and probably try to strangle her with my bare hands.

To be fair, we haven't talked with our neighbors about this; but in the past, they have assured us several times that if the calf got to be a problem, they would take her out of the pasture. I have no doubt that we'll figure out a solution, and our neighbors would bend over backwards to make sure Sweetie Pie wasn't causing problems for us. Jeff and I had thought with his little building project, everything would be fine, so that's why we didn't bring it up to them yet. But obviously, things are not fine.

Something's gotta give!

One More Snip of the Apron Strings

Today was a momentous day for Josiah--his first day of class at a local community college, taking a course in British Literature!


Oh, did I mention it was a course in British Children's Literature (classics like Winnie the Pooh, Peter Rabbit, etc.)? And did I mention Josiah is still only 5 and not, in fact, 17? :)


This community college has a fantastic summer program for kids of all ages, with a wide range of topics covered. When I first looked through the booklet for it, I easily found about a half dozen classes that I thought Josiah would enjoy; but we narrowed it down to this one.


It really was a momentous day today, but I think it was probably more significant in my mind than Josiah's. It was the first time that I've left him somewhere for a class...taken him to class, said goodbye, and then...just left! We've done lots of activities together: storytime at the library, soccer games, tennis lessons, music class, etc. And Josiah has been babysat by various people since the early days of his life, and he has also gone to children's ministry classes in various settings. But somehow, today was different from all of that.


Remember the glee I wrote about back in June because I didn't have to send my boy off to school? And remember my absence of tears then? Well, today, I didn't actually shed any tears; but there were some in my heart as I drove away from the college campus. I'm just so proud of that boy! Just so in awe of who he is and how's he developing. So amazed that he came out of my body! How can it be???


Josiah did great, by the way, in his class and was not emotional at all when we said goodbye. This morning when he first woke up, I was in the living room reading my Bible on the couch; and Josiah came over to snuggle a bit as soon as he came downstairs. I asked him how he was feeling, and he said he was a little bit scared. But we talked through that, and I reassured him that it is natural to feel nervous when doing something for the first time. On the way to his class, we prayed in the car; and consequently, it all went very smoothly. Thanks, God; what a blessing!


Jeff wanted to come along to pick up Josiah, so David and I went by the barbershop and got Jeff, then went down to get Josiah. Then to celebrate, we went out for a pizza buffet lunch--delicious!

How Can It Be Summer without a Sprinkler?

Is there anyone out there who, as a child, never ran through a sprinkler on a hot summer day? Anyone at all??? I don't think it's legal to grow up without this experience! :)

I have great memories of doing this with my brother David...well, all the memories are great except for the one time when I actually stepped on the sprinkler as I ran through the water and cut my foot on a sharp piece of metal. But other than that, it's all good!

Jeff revived those memories tonight when he got out the sprinkler for our boys. David loved the "rain"--or "wain, wain!" as he called it. And Josiah, after his initial hesitation, got very good at running through it.

Ah, sweet summertime!

Boot Boy

David had fun doing the boot scoot boogie last night, using his daddy's boots. Actually, it was more like the boot-shuffle-and-I-hope-I-don't-fall-down boogie. David can say both "boot" and "cowboy," and he was excited to imitate his daddy in this way!

Week 12

As promised, here is the official notification of the first "Wearing of Maternity Clothes"! Wednesday, the 4th, I wore a maternity t-shirt with the word "BABY" on it--in part, because it was red and white (and with my blue jean capris, looked patriotic)--and also because I knew I would be seeing some old friends that may not have heard about my pregnancy and it was an easy way to announce it. Plus, I admit that at this stage of pregnancy, I'd like to wear a sign around my neck saying, "I'm pregnant, not fat"--just in case anyone wonders. :)

For the record, the outfit in the above picture is also maternity. :)

It is a good feeling to have gotten to 12 weeks and supposedly be out of the "danger zone"--although I know there's always "danger," and my friend Ashley who had a recent stillbirth at 20 weeks shows how fragile life is...and how beautiful faith is.

Reading, the New Contact Sport

Long before I had children, I anticipated the day when I would snuggle with them and read books together. This was one of the joys of my childhood, and I looked forward to passing that on to my own offspring.

I did not, however, realize how tightly my boys would like to snuggle with me. With me in the middle, and one of them on each side, I often feel like the jelly must feel in Josiah's sandwich when he picks it up and squeezes it in his sticky hand--quite squished! I can't even imagine how I'll feel when my littlest one grows big enough to take up the space currently occupied by my lungs; I'm not at all sure how I'll even manage to breath then!

Recently David has decided that after a while of sitting next to me and looking at the pictures, he likes to recline. Yep, stretch his legs out, put his feet up, the whole nine yards. He takes up quite a bit of room on the couch when he does that, and yesterday I discovered he was using my shoulder for a footrest. "David, my boy, this is not going to work. Your feet on my shoulder is dangerously close to the feet-in-the-face territory which is not a great idea anytime, but especially when I'm trying to listen to Josiah sound out 'rat' and 'see,' etc. Nope, this isn't flying. Something's gotta give. I can't even get my arm free to turn the page!"

As much as I love to cuddle with them, I will admit to having times when I'd like to move them each about 2 feet away from me. Physical touch is not my primary love language, but I sure get blessed with a lot of it from my boys! (Don't get me wrong--I am crazy about them and their wet kisses and fierce bear hugs--and I already dread the day when they're too big to sit on my lap. But once in a while, I'd just like some space. Is that too much to ask???) :)

Fun Fourth

Our 4th of July celebration began with breakfast out--a rare treat for us, but obviously not a really original thought on this holiday, judging by the number of other people we encountered in the two restaurants we visited (first one was too crowded, so we left). Then we dropped Jeff off to give plasma while the boys and I ran some errands. When we returned, we discovered that it hadn't worked out for him to give plasma after all, so he had been waiting (a long time!) for us to return. It did, however, give him time to read a paper for a university course he's taking! There's no great loss without some small gain!

In the evening, we had the pleasure and privilege of going to the home of some friends of ours for a potluck, outdoor recreation, and a fabulous fireworks display. Edwin's fireworks are legendary; I've literally never seen a private display as fantastic as his! And Mary is the epitome of hospitality. Our family has known theirs for years, and Jeff and I have reaped the benefits of that friendship in some very practical ways. For example, before we got married, Mary hosted a bridal shower for me during which I was LAVISHED with gifts. And Mary, along with a few other friends, was in charge of the reception after our wedding. We are certainly grateful for all their acts of service on our behalf!!!

During the fireworks this year, David sat calmly in my lap and only jerked in fright a few times--a significant improvement over last year when the sight and sound of the fireworks were so terrifying for him that he cried and cried and we had to take refuge in the house! This year, he delighted in telling us what color the fireworks were...or how big they were...or just saying, "Wow!" He was so relaxed as he reclined sideways against my arm that I thought surely if it had been less noisy, he might have fallen asleep. He was definitely a tired boy that night, but what a treat to stay up WAY past his bedtime for such a special celebration!

One thing is for sure--it's much more fun to be in the USA on the 4th of July, rather than in another country!

At our local book fair this past week (which attracts people from all over the East Coast), I bought a book for the boys called Happy Birthday, America; and as we read that together yesterday, I found myself fighting back tears. I am not at all a gung-ho "America-is-always-right" kind of a person. I am, however, extremely grateful to be an American. I am also equally as grateful to have had the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time outside of the U.S. and, consequently, have a broader view of the world than some who never escape the boundaries of this fair land. But, oh, reading that book to my boys sure brought out the emotional side of me. :) I do love my country.

~ the BEST bubble blowers can always be found in this backyard...the sword bubble blower was a big hit this year
~ "wow...fire!...this is cool!...hope I don't get burned" says Mr. Cautious

Another Tragedy, Another Wake-up Call

Once again, after reading this story, I am filled with unspeakable sadness. It seems that every so often, some tragedy happens that knocks me off my feet for a while. Of course, tragedies happen every day, every hour, every second. But only occasionally do they come so close as to cast noticeable ripples into the smooth pool of my life. This story did that.


I did not know the Showalter family personally, but my dad has been the long-time family doctor (which, in this kind of town, usually equals "friend") of Scott Showalter's parents. In fact, Dad delivered Scott 34 years ago.

These things make this particular tragedy hit my heart deeply:
~ personally knowing dairy farmers and thinking, "It could have happened to any of them"
~ our neighbors and good friends Douglas and Wilma being in the Mennonite community and knowing the Showalters (and their families) personally
~ visualizing the little country lane where Scott's wife's parents live, and imagining their grief at losing a daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchild at the same time
~ having children close in age to the two surviving children in the family, and thinking about how my boys would respond if something were to happen to Jeff and I...the thought of the 6 year-old daughter having to live life with this experience permanently embedded in her mind and heart makes me want to cry

I KNOW that God brings healing...and I know He works all things for good...and I know His ways are higher than our ways...and I know the deep faith and trust of the Mennonites. But seen from our earthly vantage point, it still is so sad.

Last night as I knelt between Josiah and David's beds as I tucked them in for the night, I once again could not believe how overwhelmingly blessed I am. As we named our family members in prayer, the awareness of how quickly life can change and loved ones can be taken made my routine "thank You, God, for Daddy...thank You for Josiah...thank You for David...thank You for our baby...thank You for..." amazingly fervent.

As I continue to remember and pray for the families and friends involved in this situation, I see my gratefulness for the blessings in my life increase. I need wake-up calls like this every so often, but I sure wish it didn't take such a horrible accident to remind me of this.

First Blossom

Remember the magnolia trees Jeff gave me for my birthday this year? Well, wonder of wonders, they didn't die! In fact, all four of them are doing well; and even after a quite severe pruning job a week or so ago by a novice and her mother (consisting of conversations like: "Do you think I should cut this branch off?" "I don't know; what do you think?" "Yeah, I think I should." and thwack, there goes another branch), they seem to be thriving. My dad called me from his office today to let me know that from the window of the office bathroom, there was a fine view of the one magnolia blossom we got this year! I'm sure he's very grateful that the bathroom view was beautified! Anyway, after supper, the boys and I had to take a trip down the hill to see the blossom and take pictures...and then it was off to the fringe trees (my birthday gift from Jeff in 2006) to prune them. After all, if my magnolias didn't die after I pruned them, I must be kind of an expert now, right? With the faithful guidance of my resident gardening expert (my mother, in case anyone needs to be reminded of this) and a little research on the internet, I was all set. At the end of our labor tonight, my mother and I thought the fringe trees looked a lot better. If they survive their surgery and live another year, I'll be grateful!!! :)

Hold My Hand

This morning, my mother graciously agreed to keep the boys for about an hour so I could continue my work of organizing, etc. in their room. This was the scene as Josiah and David walked down the hill together. What could be sweeter?

All about Maternity Clothes

OK, here's the deal...

I love maternity clothes.

It seems to be quite the thing nowadays for pregnant women to bash maternity clothes, complaining about how they can't find anything to wear, there are no fashionable maternity clothes, makers of maternity clothes think all pregnant women should wear big bows and voluminous tents of fabric, etc. I see this all over the place: pregnancy books, magazines, websites, etc. I don't get it. Personally, I think these writers are building up an imaginary enemy so they can shoot them down harder. Know what I mean?

Anyway...!

In my opinion, there are TONS of options as far as maternity stuff goes. Just look on the internet. Now whether anyone can actually afford a wardrobe of such maternity clothes is another issue completely! But it seems like no matter what the personal style of the preggo woman, she should be able to find something to fit her tastes. As for me, I'm basically the khakis-and-knit-shirts kind of a woman, so I've got it made.

I was VERY fortunate that I got pregnant for the first time shortly after my niece gave birth, and she was kind enough to give me all her maternity clothes. What a huge gift! Other formerly pregnant friends gave me a few items of clothes, so I really only needed to buy a small number of things. That was fantastic!

After I gave birth to Josiah, I lent my maternity clothes to my sister-in-law who gave birth to her first son 4 months after Josiah was born. She then kindly stored the clothes in her attic while we moved to Israel. On one of our trips to California to visit family, I reclaimed those clothes and took them back with us to Israel, hoping to get pregnant soon. Unbeknownst to me, I was already pregnant (found out a day after we got back to Israel)! So that worked out nicely, to say the least. :)

Now I have all of those clothes, plus a few others that my mom keeps buying for me! If you know my mom, you know that she LOVES thrift stores...and every so often, she'll come in my door, beaming at her good fortune of finding great maternity clothes for very cheap. She loves it; I love it; it's a win-win situation!

I haven't worn any real maternity clothes yet with this pregnancy--I've had the desire to!--but haven't justifiably had the need. I'm actually finding it a whole lot easier this go-around to dress during this time period of there's-no-way-I-can-zip-my-old-jeans-but-my-tummy-doesn't-come-close-to-filling-the-pouch-in-these-maternity-pants phase. This can be quite an awkward phase, and I definitely had those times of "I have nothing to wear!" during my first two pregnancies. But now several factors have helped me out. First of all, when we returned from Israel, we left a lot of our clothes there (couldn't fit them all in the suitcase!), knowing that we would have to buy some here. At that point in time, I had not lost all my baby weight from David's pregnancy so I had to buy some larger things that eventually got too big for me (that's fun!), so I laid them aside "for such a time as this." They are really coming in handy now! Also, I have more pants that have a lower waist, so I can let my baby bump pooch out over the top of the pants and still be reasonably comfortable. Another huge factor is that I'm going through this stage of pregnancy in the summer--that's never happened to me before!--and I'm finding that summer knit dresses are the absolute easiest thing to wear now. I'm especially conscious of the joy of summer dresses because I know that, if all goes as planned, I won't be wearing them very much next summer. Why? Well... Ever tried to nurse a baby when wearing a dress? Yeah. Doesn't work very well. So maybe in two summers from now, I'll be able to wear my dresses again. In the meantime, I'll be very grateful for them and enjoy them now! :)

One more thing about maternity clothes...Israel's fashion for maternity clothes is WAY different than here. Tel Aviv, in particular, is a very modern city with very modern (immodest) fashion--shockingly so--literally. Even after having lived in Southern California, a place not known for it's modesty, we were often appalled by the dress of people in Tel Aviv. That style/fashion/immodesty is reflected in their maternity clothes, too, of course. With my wholesome, country girl style of maternity dress, I stuck out like a sore thumb. And it's not that I really cared what people thought...but I have to admit that I am enjoying the fact that my clothes seem more "normal" here. Take overalls, for example. What pregnant woman doesn't enjoy the comfort that overalls gives? (OK, don't tell me...probably the really stylish ones...but obviously, that's not me.) At our local lawn party recently, I saw a very cute pregnant lady wearing a very cute pair of overalls; she looked adorable! I don't remember ever seeing an Israeli pregnant lady wearing overalls.

To each his own. To each woman, her own style. To each country, its own culture. But I'm glad I'm me, and I'm glad I live here now. (Not that I don't miss Israel, of course...I do in many, many ways. But in this particular aspect, I'm glad to be here.)

When I do wear an item that qualifies as real maternity clothing, I'll be sure to mention it here. I like to keep this blog updated on all the big milestones...you know, positive pregnancy test, first ultrasound, hearing the baby's heartbeat, wearing maternity clothes for the first time...all the major stuff! :)

Week 11

First of all, did I catch you off guard with my new blog look??? I was experimenting with different layouts and thought it would be fun to try something new; after all, it's been 6 whole months of the old template. Yeah, I'm really spontaneous that way. You just never know what radical changes I might make!!! :)

So--obviously--this is a picture of the growing baby bump. I knew that this black dress showed off my bump, but I really had no idea it showed it off this much until I saw this picture. I remember that the wind was blowing from my back when Jeff took this shot...maybe it actually blew my dress out in front, and that's why I look so big???

About an hour before this picture was taken, a lady in the church with which we were fellowshipping that morning actually told me that I wasn't showing at all! Hmm, maybe she needs her eyes checked.