I laughed. Really hard...
LETTER FROM A FARM KID,
(NOW AT San Diego MARINE CORPS RECRUIT TRAINING.)
Dear Ma and Pa,
I am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the Marine Corps beats working for old man Minch by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before all of the places are filled. I was restless at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 A.M. but I am getting so I like to sleep late. Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot, and shine some things. No hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay. Practically nothing. Men got to shave but it is not so bad, there's warm water. Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie and other regular food, but tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit by the two city boys that live on coffee. Their food plus yours holds you till noon when you get fed again. It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much. We go on "route marches," which the platoon sergeant says are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it's not my place to tell him different. A "route march" is about as far as to our mailbox at home. Then the city guys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks. The country is nice but awful flat The sergeant is like a school teacher. He nags a lot. The Captain is like the school board. Majors and colonels just ride around and frown. They don't bother you none. This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for shooting. I don't know why. The bulls-eye is near as big as a chipmunk head and don't move, and it ain't shooting at you like the Higgett boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it. You don't even load your own cartridges. They come in boxes.
Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combat training. You get to wrestle with them city boys. I have to be real careful though, they break real easy. It ain't like fighting with that ole bull at home. I'm about the best they got in this except for that Tug Jordan from over in Silver Lake. I only beat him once. He joined up the same time as me, but I'm only 5'6" and 130 pounds and he's 6'8" and near 300 pounds dry.
Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other fellers get onto this setup and come stampeding in.
Your loving daughter,
Carol
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Rainbows
Hello, F.O.T.E.'s,
How is Sat. treating you? The Lambs and I are recovering from what turned out to be a nasty virus. The little ones are still coughing pretty badly, but all fever is gone and they are perking right up. I think I caught the worst of it. Now, my voice is pretty much gone. So, right now, *The Ewe* is squeaking like a *mouse* and waddling like a *duck,* LOL!
I was just thinking this morning that we are approaching the 2 year anniversary of The Ram's deployment to The Sandbox. He left the middle of Oct, 2004. It feels like yesterday. Veterans' Day will be the one year anniversary of his homecoming. My, how the years fly!!!
Do you remember my post from right before The Ram left? When I was driving home in the rain from an errand we all took and I was pouring out my hurts and fears to the Lord while the rest of the van slept? Then, out of the rain, the Lord gave me a rainbow to remind me of His promise? Well...
A few weeks ago, when I was driving home alone from my high level ultrasound, the sky opened up and rained like crazy. I had already been crying as I drove along, grieving over Baby B's severe birth defect. Somehow, the rain was a comfort--as if God were weeping along with me. Suddenly, the thought hit me, "He's given me a rainbow! Where is it??" Though the rain was pouring down, I started looking for that beautiful sign. It took some time, but finally I found my rainbow. It was behind me. It could have been there a long time before I found it, I just had to stop driving so I could look harder. I was immediately filled with such peace. I felt God pouring out His Comfort on me. The Holy Spirit had filled our van and I was overcome with gratitude to my Lord. Now, it might seem strange to some how I could be feeling gratitude when a doctor had just told me that one of my precious, beloved babies was going to die. I really can't explain it. The Bible calls it "peace that passes understanding." It certainly passed *my* understanding, so there's no way I could explain it to anyone else, LOL! The thing I was rejoicing in was not that my baby was sick, but that the Lord is The LORD. He *is* in control. He *is* merciful. He *is* good--ALL the time. Who am I to expect to understand HIS ways? Personally, I do not *want* a God whom I fully understand. I need a God so much bigger than me, that I know any problem I have is infinitely smaller than Him. His wisdom is way deeper than I can comprehend.
That rainbow was like a hug from God. We are being refined like silver in fire. It hurts...but I trust my Lord. We don't know what the Lord plans for our little Baby B--or Baby A or any of our Lambs for that matter--but we know He loves us and will carry us through all our trials.
Well, I've typed on and on today, eh? :-) Just felt like I needed to share.
Hey, y'all keep your wool dry!
The Ewe
Quote of the Day: "Police officer? Yes, there is a bear in my soup." Tater Tot, talking into a play phone, holding a plastic toy bear in a toy cooking pot. :-)
How is Sat. treating you? The Lambs and I are recovering from what turned out to be a nasty virus. The little ones are still coughing pretty badly, but all fever is gone and they are perking right up. I think I caught the worst of it. Now, my voice is pretty much gone. So, right now, *The Ewe* is squeaking like a *mouse* and waddling like a *duck,* LOL!
I was just thinking this morning that we are approaching the 2 year anniversary of The Ram's deployment to The Sandbox. He left the middle of Oct, 2004. It feels like yesterday. Veterans' Day will be the one year anniversary of his homecoming. My, how the years fly!!!
Do you remember my post from right before The Ram left? When I was driving home in the rain from an errand we all took and I was pouring out my hurts and fears to the Lord while the rest of the van slept? Then, out of the rain, the Lord gave me a rainbow to remind me of His promise? Well...
A few weeks ago, when I was driving home alone from my high level ultrasound, the sky opened up and rained like crazy. I had already been crying as I drove along, grieving over Baby B's severe birth defect. Somehow, the rain was a comfort--as if God were weeping along with me. Suddenly, the thought hit me, "He's given me a rainbow! Where is it??" Though the rain was pouring down, I started looking for that beautiful sign. It took some time, but finally I found my rainbow. It was behind me. It could have been there a long time before I found it, I just had to stop driving so I could look harder. I was immediately filled with such peace. I felt God pouring out His Comfort on me. The Holy Spirit had filled our van and I was overcome with gratitude to my Lord. Now, it might seem strange to some how I could be feeling gratitude when a doctor had just told me that one of my precious, beloved babies was going to die. I really can't explain it. The Bible calls it "peace that passes understanding." It certainly passed *my* understanding, so there's no way I could explain it to anyone else, LOL! The thing I was rejoicing in was not that my baby was sick, but that the Lord is The LORD. He *is* in control. He *is* merciful. He *is* good--ALL the time. Who am I to expect to understand HIS ways? Personally, I do not *want* a God whom I fully understand. I need a God so much bigger than me, that I know any problem I have is infinitely smaller than Him. His wisdom is way deeper than I can comprehend.
That rainbow was like a hug from God. We are being refined like silver in fire. It hurts...but I trust my Lord. We don't know what the Lord plans for our little Baby B--or Baby A or any of our Lambs for that matter--but we know He loves us and will carry us through all our trials.
Well, I've typed on and on today, eh? :-) Just felt like I needed to share.
Hey, y'all keep your wool dry!
The Ewe
Quote of the Day: "Police officer? Yes, there is a bear in my soup." Tater Tot, talking into a play phone, holding a plastic toy bear in a toy cooking pot. :-)
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Ok...I'm Spoiled/ Winner of the Ewe-manitarian Award
Hello F.O.T.E.s!
I can definitely feel myself becoming spoiled. I just had my groceries delivered to my kitchen counter, by way of a local grocery store's delivery gal. I filled out my order last night online, then she brought them right into my kitchen just minutes ago. Wow. Who'da thunk?
So far, this is my favorite perk of living near a big city. Ummm...maybe the only one yet...except for the part about The Ram having a job and all...That's a really big perk. ;-) Besides, without that perk, we couldn't afford the other one.
Anyway, I think I could get used to grocery shopping from my computer chair. Especially right now, when it would take who-knows-how-long for me to waddle myself around a grocery story, LOL!
Becky was the delivery gal's name. I considered telling her, "I thank you and my womb thanks you..." but I decided that might weird her out and she'd be reluctant to bring my groceries again, LOL. So, I just said, "Thanks." It seemed to be enough.
An aside: I and all the Lambies are sick. Just colds, so no big deal...but annoying, none the less. Even more reason to have my food delivered. :-)
I also want to nominate my new friend, D.J. for the "Ewe-manitarian Award" for telling me about the grocery store that delivers. THANKS, D.J.!! HUGS!
Ok...gotta go put away the groceries. Y'all keep your wool dry!
The Ewe
Quote of the Day: "I have beaver right here..." Tater Tot, holding his *feverish* forehead
I can definitely feel myself becoming spoiled. I just had my groceries delivered to my kitchen counter, by way of a local grocery store's delivery gal. I filled out my order last night online, then she brought them right into my kitchen just minutes ago. Wow. Who'da thunk?
So far, this is my favorite perk of living near a big city. Ummm...maybe the only one yet...except for the part about The Ram having a job and all...That's a really big perk. ;-) Besides, without that perk, we couldn't afford the other one.
Anyway, I think I could get used to grocery shopping from my computer chair. Especially right now, when it would take who-knows-how-long for me to waddle myself around a grocery story, LOL!
Becky was the delivery gal's name. I considered telling her, "I thank you and my womb thanks you..." but I decided that might weird her out and she'd be reluctant to bring my groceries again, LOL. So, I just said, "Thanks." It seemed to be enough.
An aside: I and all the Lambies are sick. Just colds, so no big deal...but annoying, none the less. Even more reason to have my food delivered. :-)
I also want to nominate my new friend, D.J. for the "Ewe-manitarian Award" for telling me about the grocery store that delivers. THANKS, D.J.!! HUGS!
Ok...gotta go put away the groceries.
The Ewe
Quote of the Day: "I have beaver right here..." Tater Tot, holding his *feverish* forehead
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
A Couple Random Thoughts and Quotes
Hello, F.O.T.E.'s,
Hope things are going well for you all.
The Lambies and I drove over to Ft. Leavenworth, KS today to take care of some errands for The Ram. The leaves are just beginning to change here and it's becoming quite a pretty drive. It seems to me the prairie sky here is bluer, with whiter clouds than in our Old Home State. Plus, contrary to what I'd expected, there are beautiful, rolling hills with lots of trees. Of course, I'm referring to the rural area. In The City it's like other cities--a concrete skyline broken up by steel and the occasional brick. ;-) (You can tell my preference, eh? LOL) I guess I've really become a "prairie muffin." (Google Prairie Muffin Manifesto.)
Don't guess I've really got much else to share today. I've been mind-bogglingly (like my new word?) tired. I'm thinking it really *does* take more energy to grow two babies, as compared to one. ;-)
I'm going to leave you with a couple quotes I like--one from a Famous Guy, one from a Future Famous Guy.
Famous Guy:
"How can it be a large career to tell other people's children about
(arithmetic),
and a small career to tell one's own children about the universe?
How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone,
and narrow to be everything to someone?
No; a woman's function is laborious because it is gigantic,
not because it is minute."
~G.K. Chesterton
Future Famous Guy:
"Beeee--you-tiful moooorrrr-ning GORLY!" sung at the top of his lungs by Tater Tot...and, no...that last word *isn't* mistyped. LOL That song has been passed down for a few generations in the RamFam. It is used to encourage late sleepers to get out of bed. :-)
Hey, y'all keep your wool dry!
The Ewe
Hope things are going well for you all.
The Lambies and I drove over to Ft. Leavenworth, KS today to take care of some errands for The Ram. The leaves are just beginning to change here and it's becoming quite a pretty drive. It seems to me the prairie sky here is bluer, with whiter clouds than in our Old Home State. Plus, contrary to what I'd expected, there are beautiful, rolling hills with lots of trees. Of course, I'm referring to the rural area. In The City it's like other cities--a concrete skyline broken up by steel and the occasional brick. ;-) (You can tell my preference, eh? LOL) I guess I've really become a "prairie muffin." (Google Prairie Muffin Manifesto.)
Don't guess I've really got much else to share today. I've been mind-bogglingly (like my new word?) tired. I'm thinking it really *does* take more energy to grow two babies, as compared to one. ;-)
I'm going to leave you with a couple quotes I like--one from a Famous Guy, one from a Future Famous Guy.
Famous Guy:
"How can it be a large career to tell other people's children about
(arithmetic),
and a small career to tell one's own children about the universe?
How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone,
and narrow to be everything to someone?
No; a woman's function is laborious because it is gigantic,
not because it is minute."
~G.K. Chesterton
Future Famous Guy:
"Beeee--you-tiful moooorrrr-ning GORLY!" sung at the top of his lungs by Tater Tot...and, no...that last word *isn't* mistyped. LOL That song has been passed down for a few generations in the RamFam. It is used to encourage late sleepers to get out of bed. :-)
Hey, y'all keep your wool dry!
The Ewe
Thursday, September 21, 2006
A Couple Good Days
Hi F.O.T.E.'s,
Hope things are going well with you all. I just have to share that today and yesterday, I have felt such a warmth around me. I know many of you are keeping us lifted in prayer and I have to say "Thank you." I believe He is The One sustaining us during this time. I know we have a lot left to face--and we don't really even know what the near future will entail--but I definitely believe The Lord is in control and will never let us down.
So, how is the weather where you are? In in MO, I'm loving it! It's not been over 72 degrees in weeks!! This is my favorite time of year. I call it the "nice, cool drink after the long summer." My lambies joke that, "Mom hibernates in *the
summer!*" With the cooler weather, I've been accompanying The Flock to the local park each evening after supper this week. Everyone has his or her (mostly her!) tricks they like to show Mama and Daddy. It's been so nice to just sit back in my jacket (!) and laugh with abandon at their antics. I told Lioness last night that the cooler weather invigorates me. She said, "Great! You wanna walk laps with me?" That started me laughing so hard, I could hardly keep waddling along, LOL.
Indeed, I get very tired, much quicker these days. I really have to pace myself. Still, I've been so blessed. Carrying twins brings on bed rest for some folks. I'm so happy that my health has been good during this pregnancy. I don't take that for granted.
Well, I need to run...Time to get dinner going. The Ram will (I hope) be home before long. (He's swamped with "end-of-the-fiscal-year" craziness.)
Hey, it's raining here--y'all keep your wool dry!
The Ewe
Quote of the Day: "Because I *do*!" Tater Tot
Hope things are going well with you all. I just have to share that today and yesterday, I have felt such a warmth around me. I know many of you are keeping us lifted in prayer and I have to say "Thank you." I believe He is The One sustaining us during this time. I know we have a lot left to face--and we don't really even know what the near future will entail--but I definitely believe The Lord is in control and will never let us down.
So, how is the weather where you are? In in MO, I'm loving it! It's not been over 72 degrees in weeks!! This is my favorite time of year. I call it the "nice, cool drink after the long summer." My lambies joke that, "Mom hibernates in *the
summer!*" With the cooler weather, I've been accompanying The Flock to the local park each evening after supper this week. Everyone has his or her (mostly her!) tricks they like to show Mama and Daddy. It's been so nice to just sit back in my jacket (!) and laugh with abandon at their antics. I told Lioness last night that the cooler weather invigorates me. She said, "Great! You wanna walk laps with me?" That started me laughing so hard, I could hardly keep waddling along, LOL.
Indeed, I get very tired, much quicker these days. I really have to pace myself. Still, I've been so blessed. Carrying twins brings on bed rest for some folks. I'm so happy that my health has been good during this pregnancy. I don't take that for granted.
Well, I need to run...Time to get dinner going. The Ram will (I hope) be home before long. (He's swamped with "end-of-the-fiscal-year" craziness.)
Hey, it's raining here--y'all keep your wool dry!
The Ewe
Quote of the Day: "Because I *do*!" Tater Tot
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
She's Baaaaaa-ck! Plus Important Info
Hello, F.O.T.E.'s (provided there are any of you left reading after my long hiatus, LOL),
Well, some of you will be surprised to know that the RamFam is *not* living in Europe now. (Job fell through.)
Some of you will be glad to know that we have recently moved to Kansas City, MO, where The Ram is working for the Corp of Engineers.
Some of you will be surprised to find out that we are expecting. (I'm now 30 weeks along.)
Some of you will be surprised to hear that it's TWINS! Two more girls! (ROTFLOL!)
And (deep breath)... some will not have yet heard that one of our precious babies has a life threatening birth defect. We are faced now with planning a birth and funeral, all at the same time. Certainly, we are asking God for a miracle, but at the same time, facing the possibility that His answer for our Lamb will be "the ultimate healing."
Never before has life been so bittersweet. We were intitially told that, though Baby A appears to be perfectly normal, Baby B has spina bifida--certainly a challenge, though not necessarily fatal. In more specialized ultrasounds, however, and through consultations with specialists at Vanderbilt University, we have found that Lil' B has an "encephalocele" --which is not her major problem--but also is missing 90% of her brain (her major problem.) The first specialist said Lil' B would die within minutes of birth...the second specialist opined that she could live minutes, to hours, to days, to weeks to months, but most assuredly not as much as a year.
The Ram and I are disciplining our mind to accept any amount of time with her as a most treasured gift.
And, really, you know...none of us knows how much time we have with any of our loved ones. It's an overdone quip, but true: "Every day is a gift...that's why it's called 'The Present'"
Keep us in your prayers. We never know when the tears are going to sneak up--anything and everything can trigger them. It's sad to think that Lil A could very possibly begin her sweet life without the companion she's shared a womb with for so many months...
Hey, go hug your babies for me...And keep your wool dry!
The Ewe
Quote of the Day: "Cajun! That's not sweet, that's spicy!" anon. lady at a restaurant
Well, some of you will be surprised to know that the RamFam is *not* living in Europe now. (Job fell through.)
Some of you will be glad to know that we have recently moved to Kansas City, MO, where The Ram is working for the Corp of Engineers.
Some of you will be surprised to find out that we are expecting. (I'm now 30 weeks along.)
Some of you will be surprised to hear that it's TWINS! Two more girls! (ROTFLOL!)
And (deep breath)... some will not have yet heard that one of our precious babies has a life threatening birth defect. We are faced now with planning a birth and funeral, all at the same time. Certainly, we are asking God for a miracle, but at the same time, facing the possibility that His answer for our Lamb will be "the ultimate healing."
Never before has life been so bittersweet. We were intitially told that, though Baby A appears to be perfectly normal, Baby B has spina bifida--certainly a challenge, though not necessarily fatal. In more specialized ultrasounds, however, and through consultations with specialists at Vanderbilt University, we have found that Lil' B has an "encephalocele" --which is not her major problem--but also is missing 90% of her brain (her major problem.) The first specialist said Lil' B would die within minutes of birth...the second specialist opined that she could live minutes, to hours, to days, to weeks to months, but most assuredly not as much as a year.
The Ram and I are disciplining our mind to accept any amount of time with her as a most treasured gift.
And, really, you know...none of us knows how much time we have with any of our loved ones. It's an overdone quip, but true: "Every day is a gift...that's why it's called 'The Present'"
Keep us in your prayers. We never know when the tears are going to sneak up--anything and everything can trigger them. It's sad to think that Lil A could very possibly begin her sweet life without the companion she's shared a womb with for so many months...
Hey, go hug your babies for me...And keep your wool dry!
The Ewe
Quote of the Day: "Cajun! That's not sweet, that's spicy!" anon. lady at a restaurant
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