Little Inspirations

Yesterday morning as I was getting ready for church Isaac and Canyon kept fighting over everything.  Brett had left for church early for meetings.  I was almost done getting ready when I hear both the boys yelling and then crying.  My first impulse was to storm out into the living room give them a good lecture and sit them in time out--which would have turned into more yelling and crying.
But a little feeling told me to quickly finish getting ready and then go out and sit with them and do something quietly with them.  So I did.  I finished primping and went out and asked the boys to come sit with me.  They were a little reluctant--probably thinking I was going to lecture, spank, etc.  Instead I found a Book of Mormon reader.  We sat there and read for 15 minutes before leaving for church.  The boys listened and I listened and I learned a few things.  The boys were better at church yesterday, well, at least Canyon was better.  I am grateful for small inspirations and hope to listen better to them when they come.

17 Years and counting!

Saturday was Brett and I's 17th anniversary.  We went to Stearns and rode the train. It was fun and beautiful, even if it was a little warm and humid.  Here are some pictures.   The river was high and muddy because of rainfall.  Brett and Ethan had thought about going canoeing earlier this week.  Glad they decided against it--they probably would have been washed down river in their sleep.

It has been a good seventeen years.  I am looking forward to many more ahead!  I love my husband!

A benefit of raising the kids on the farm.

On Saturday morning I was awoken by Isaac, my four year old, whispering in my ear, "Mom, we need more goat food."  You might think it funny, but it made me smile.  I thought it was pretty cool that my little four year old was up before me and he had gone with his older sister to check on the goats.   About an hout later he was bringing in this little turtle.  He had saved it from the jaws of Jasmine--our turtle eating dog.  She had pierced the turtle's shell so the kids brought it in and doctored it up and the turtle seems to be doing ok.  I have to admit I really like the kids taking care of the animals.  Isaac really loves the farm--he'll go outside to play with the dog or kittens all by himself. He loves to go and check for eggs.  He seems to be the most at home with the farm animals--he and Canyon both are--I suppose it is because they were introduced to them at a very young age and have had the opportunity to get to know them a little earlier than the other kids.  I was always timid around animals--I was a little afraid of them and always awkward.  It is nice to see that my kids are growing up not being so afraid.  Rosie--who is 9--used to have an irrational fear of most animals--especially dogs--but in the 9 months we have lived on the farm she has made leaps and bounds!   She loves to play with the kittens and is not afraid of Jasmine, or the goats, and not much of the chickens.  She is a little afraid of the cows--but I think that is a healthy fear--after all the cows are big and it is good to be aware of them.  
I am so grateful for the chance my kids have had to learn about animals and their natures.