Sounder!!!

 Folks (mostly us) in the vicinity of our farm can rest a little easier as far as the constant destruction of their farmland is concerned. At least in part. Jake from USDA trapped these 20 of 23 several days ago at our farm. They had been destroying large areas each night. Called in Jake from USDA who baited the trap a couple of days. Then Leslie baited it on the weekend. Then next morning Jake dropped the gate on these. I almost felt sorry for them but they have been SO destructive and would have continued. Got the remaining three of the sounder the next morning. Twenty-three each night for hours at a time in different areas of the farm. Our place is torn to smithereens from these things-- good riddance!

3Corinna Booker, Linda Jean Parsons and 1 other

Mom's Miracle

 Ten years ago today (November 27, 2021) my mom was in a horrific house fire. Not only did she lose everything she had but she was burned on 1/3 of her body. She spent two days in Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee before we even found out about the fire. When we got there, they told us not to leave-that they could only give her comfort care. Josh prayed with all of us over the phone that day. Mom was lucid enough to hear when the phone was put to her ear. We were then told to go back to the hotel for rest and to come back later that evening. When we returned, what did we find? Mom sitting up in the hospital bed watching the interns. Talking, albeit not well. She went through some horrible days followed by even more horrible days and weeks and months of daily dressing changes and rehab. It's been a decade and they didn't think she'd make it. What do I credit her remarkable recovery to? Josh's prayer, our prayer warriors and the incredible hospital staff at Vanderbilt...but even more, I credit God with the miracle of Mom's survival. I thank my son, our prayer warriors, the hospital staff, the doctors...but mostly I thank God for his mercies and grace. Happy ten-year anniversary, Mom....

Please, don't chance it!

 Ever pulled up to a traffic light that you just KNEW was going to be a long one and thought of something you needed to text to someone? I'm pretty sure that's what happened yesterday when I was on my way to get my granddaughter from school. I was sitting behind another car at a traffic light, watching for the light to turn green when I was -very gently thrown forward. Some young girl in a little red sports car behind me jerked her head up with the most dismayed look on her face...apparently, unable to fathom that she had just rear-ended me. After all, she was probably one of those that never went over the speed limit, never ran a light...always following the traffic laws. After all, just answering that previous text wouldn't take but just a second and the light had JUST changed to red so she had plenty of time...

Folks, try to remember-so many times we think, " Those things won't happen to me-it's always someone else that it happens to." Truth hits hard sometimes. This time it was just a little bump...scarred the rubber on my bumper and took off the paint in two little spots that weren't any larger than a No. 2 pencil. That girl was lucky...

Please, don't be texting and driving...don't even be LOOKING at that phone while you are behind the wheel! Don't think that your reactions are quick enough to avoid an accident. Don't think that you can keep an eye on that phone while also watching what's going on outside that car. Don't think that even if it happened to you, it'd just be a little bump that wouldn't hurt anyone. Is there REALLY a text you have to read or send that simply will not wait five minutes? Be safe, leave that phone where it is while you are driving. I hope that accident woke that young lady up to what COULD very well have transpired. Please, don't chance it...

Out of the mouths of babes

 A memory from a couple of years ago...my sweet little Gracie...(2020)

The other day when the kiddos were here and helping on the farm, Gracie and I were going to check the chicken houses that evening after having walked them that morning, put out hay and range meal...the usual farm 'things'. We were talking and I said, "I sure am glad to see the end of this day!" She says, "Well, I kind of am and kind of not."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I kinda am glad it's over because I'm tired. But I kinda don't because...Life is short." She left it at that.

Folks, it doesn't take an 8-year-old to understand that sometimes we are pressing our luck and wishing our life away when we are trying to hurry up one day just to get to another. Take a moment when you are tired and just thank God for that opportunity to savor the day you've been given. Thank him for letting you see that one and ask him to let you see another. It beats wishing it away. As Gracie said, "Life is short."

Surprise Reunion

 

Surprise Reunion 

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Yesterday Leslie was putting out hay and noticed a cow sitting down quite a distance from the others. He saw what looked to him from that distance to be afterbirth hanging from her. He drove on over to check her out only to see that she had prolapsed and no calf in sight. He figured coyotes had gotten it. He calls Dr. Powell's office and even though it was 11:30 on a Saturday he was told to bring her on. We get her up and walk her up closer to the trailer and - after getting her loaded- set off for the vet's office. After Dr. Powell did his usual awesome job and got her put back together we headed for home. On the way we discussed putting her in another pasture until she could heal but then decided it best to put her back where things were familiar. Good thing we did...look what we found today!