Sunday...and barn update

So Sunday we got up early and met Jose's dad at Cracker Barrel. He wanted to treat us to breakfast in celebration of Jose's birthday on Monday. We then trekked over trade day in search of various tools. I was cold. We bought socks and a hoe. Jose's dad left around noon. Jose' got out his guitar and music to go over some songs. My aunt wanted him to sing a couple of songs at their church singing on Sunday night. It was so much fun singing along to some good worship songs. It was definitely a worship experience. Songs like "Light the Fire Again" and "I See the Lord". We then went to the barn to feed and visit with the animals...which brings me to the update.

Since the post with the picture of the 2 baby goats, there have been eight more born. One didn't make it, so we have a total of nine baby goats. Most of them are even smaller than those first 2. We even had one set of triplets. We hope to get some pictures this weekend to add to the post.

BABY GOAT VIDEO

Baby goats at play

Our Weekend

I'll start with Friday, Jan. 23. We got up and began our day with our usual dose of coffee. Today was the day we were going to my dad's house to chop down two trees. We love trees but these two were dangerously close to the house. My dad made breakfast for us. We had biscuits, gravy, sausage, bacon and scrambled eggs. My brother came to help, also. He wanted some of the wood for his fireplace.

While the guys proceeded to cut down the trees, I made two batches of fudge; one with walnuts and one plain. By this time the trees were down, so I sprang into action on cleanup crew. This consisted of loading firewood into the back of a truck as my brother cut them to size, dragging branches not fit for firewood to a trailer attached to another truck and raking up stray sticks and dead leaves, piling them in a wheelbarrow and dumping them in the garden. My dad plans to burn them there. I haven't asked him, but I believe he thinks that the ash will be good for the soil.

We began the job around 9 am. My dad and brother had to leave around 1 pm. My husband and I finished with cleanup and rolled the four big logs near the carport. This was not an easy task. He used a 4' crowbar, to pry it on one end as I pushed with all my strength on the other. Where are my super powers when I need them? He also had to cut off some large knots so that the trunks would roll. Oh, and speaking of tools, I recently discovered that the television program, Tool Academy, is NOT one that demonstrates various tools; which was my expectation when I tuned in. I'm not sure what it's about since I quickly shut it off, but I would not recommend it.

We finished up around 3 pm. We could not have picked a better day to work outside, as it was sunny with a welcome breeze that was almost balmy. We then proceeded to the barn to feed and visit with the animals. Even though we were tired, we were reluctant to go inside, so we made our way to the pond, which was full and pretty. Then back to the barn where we climbed into the hayloft to sit and enjoy the sights, sounds and scents. The scents were even pleasant at this time; the smell of hay and old wood and horses. We were very tired, but pleasantly so. There was something satisfying about working hard together and completing a task.

The trees were an oak and a hickory. Jose' said the hickory was much harder to cut. He plans to try and get the wood planed to make a table or something out of it.

Saturday we slept a little later, ran some errands, then went to some friends' house around 2 pm. We stayed until about 5:30 pm. When we got home, we ended up watching the Senior Bowl. We enjoy football and are going to miss it. We will probably watch the Super Bowl on Sunday and then no more football until next season.

I will post about Sunday later, as this is turning out to be quite lengthy. It was a good day for us as well. Until then...

kdr

SOMEONE TO THANK

Today is my birthday and I want to thank my mother.

This morning Denise and I were talking about birthdays. We all know the purpose and intent of a birthday. We thought it fitting to thank the one by whom we came into

the world. Even though it does take two to create, one truly suffers the pain. But like it says in the bible........ When a woman is in labor she has pain, because her time has come. Yet when she has given birth to her child, she doesn't remember the agony anymore because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world (John 16:21). Today my thoughts are thoughts of thankfulness for being born. I'm really just glad to be here...to have had the opportunities that I've had in my life. Now I'm a grown man(still growning up).....married to a wonderful woman....I have a life full of love.....it's what I've always wanted. I know that it cost my mother greatly to have me as a child. Not only in birth, but throughout my life.....and I'm thankful. So on my birthday today I honor my mother for just being my mother.

FROM THE N.Y. POST

I heard this on Fox News this morning and couldn't believe it! President Obama was quoted as saying:



"You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done," he told top GOP leaders, whom he had invited to the White House to discuss his nearly $1 trillion stimulus package.
"There are big things that unify Republicans and Democrats," the official said. "We shouldn't let partisan politics derail what are very important things that need to get done."
That wasn't Obama's only jab at Republicans today.
In an exchange with Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) about the proposal, the president shot back: "I won," according to aides briefed on the meeting.
"I will trump you on that."
Not that Obama was gloating. He was just explaining that he aims to get his way on stimulus package and all other legislation, sources said, noting his unrivaled one-party control of both congressional chambers.



There was also a mention in the article that he was worried about being re-elected in 4 years. Can you believe it? I'm not an avid listener to Rush......but I do like the guy. I also enjoy O'Reilly, Glen Beck and Hannity.....but to say that our representatives should not listen to them (in general) is CRAZY! This to me screams......'we're good as long as you agree with me!'. CRAZY!

NEW ADDITIONS

Isabella is a Red Merle Australian Shepherd. She was born in the middle October. I've been working with her....trying to teach her obedience. She's really sweet and playful. Right now she's not too comfortable with the barn animals. She'll get used to it. Eventually I hope for her to be able to herd the animals by voice commands. My father-in-law Aaron has 2 other A.S. dogs. I'm amazed at their natural ability to herd animals and follow voice commands. These are good dogs.

On my way to the barn today I heard the familiar cry......a newborn baby goat. I found two. Believe it or not, goats are really sweet when they are babies. They are soft and cuddly. Both are nannies (females). The red head and white bodies are indicative of Boer goats.

THE SHACK and Theology

I received this book as a Christmas gift on the weekend before Christmas. The family who gave it to me are dear friends. But before I even got home with it my husband informed me that it was controversial. He wasn't sure why.



It didn't take me long to read it. It's hard to describe the effect it had on me on so many levels. It was very good.



Mack is a man who has experienced a great tragedy in his life. I found myself asking, along with Mack, the questions he asked; feeling the feelings he felt; making the judgments he made; and ultimately, experiencing the healing, humility, trust and love that he was finally able to experience. I would not hesitate to recommend it. I even plan to buy some copies when I can to give to friends. My husband enjoyed it also. ('Mack' is a character in the book)



Maybe I've watched too much Fox News and thought I should be fair and balanced; or maybe because some who opposed the book so strongly were friends...At any rate I listened to and read quotes by a man who thinks his fellow believers lack discernment in the matter. This man said the book was "...teaching modalism and goddess worship and graven image-ism and even denies any sort of deference within the ontological Trinity..."



I reread the book, but could not find anything in it to uphold that view. I wasn't sure what modalism was. I asked my cousin who has been educated in such matters and he said it was a belief that each member of the Trinity was for a certain period of time: The Father in the Old Testament; the Son in the Gospels; and the Holy Spirit in the Church Age. I'm not entirely sure that this is what he was saying; but it's my best interpretation of it.



I don't understand at all how ANYONE could read this book and think that it was teaching goddess worship and graven image-ism. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Please understand that I am NOT bashing the man whom I quoted or the people who agree with him. They are fellow believers and we all have our blind spots, and those beliefs that are buried so deeply within us that we are no longer even consciously aware of them. One of mine was that God no longer inhabits a building made with hands, but each believer who is a living stone. Oh yes, I said and thought I believed it, but still perceived a mere brick building as the "House of God". I would get frustrated when I would be concerned about another group using the building and a friend would say "This isn't God's temple, we are." But I've finally been able to grasp this truth.



I'm not sure what "ontological Trinity" means either. I looked up the word, ontological, and found "ontological argument- an a priori argument for the existence of God, asserting that as existence is a perfection, and as God is conceived of as the most perfect being, it follows that God must exist." This was from a Webster's dictionary. I probably should've asked my cousin.



But in the book, the members of the Trinity most certainly showed deference towards one another. I really don't think the author intended this story as a theological study.



I attended some classes at a church one time, where the pastors/teachers quite often referred to being a "Calvininst" or an "Arminian". At first, I felt somewhat like an outsider attending a meeting of an elite club. But some words of Paul came to me, and I don't think I could say it any better than he did in 1 Corinthians, chapters 1-4.



There is quote by J. B. Phillips in a book entitled "Ring Of Truth": "Apart from sheer neglect, the other way in which human beings can protect themselves from the rather frightening vitality of the New Testament is by carefully dismembering it. It is obviously right that we should have New Testament scholars-indeed I owe much to them-but it is horribly possible so to dissect your subject that you remove its life. By the time each source and component has been tagged and labelled this vibrant and compelling body of writing is no more than a cadaver on the theological operating table."



kdr

FLY FISHING FLIES

My nephew and I love to make fishing flies. We've gotten pretty good at it. Of course we can't do the really elaborate flies....but they work. What we try to do is mimic a cricket, spider, grasshopper, dragonfly or a moth.

There are all kinds of materials that you can use to make flies. I categorize flies two ways: those that sink and those that float. I prefer to make the ones that float. Sinking flies are for a different kind of fish...mainly river trout and salmon. Floating flies work well with the sunfish that we have around here: mainly crappie, bluegill, bream. They even work on catfish and bass. I've discovered that the color doesn't matter so much as reflection. Fish like shiny flies. They also prefer those with legs. A guy once told me that fish recognize shapes and shadows.

Now when I fish I'll go between store bought flies and those that I've made. It feels good when fish love a fly that we made. Right now it's too cold to fish......I'll pick it back up in March. -JGR

SHARP SHOOTERS

John Wesley Hardin

James Butler Hickok a.k.a. Wild Bill Hickok

Annie Oakley (Phoebe Ann Mozee)

Buffalo Bill Cody

Today I watched a really cool show on 19th century sharp shooters. The show focused on their feats. Featuring modern day exhibitionist shooters who attempted to recreate their exploits. They were able to. My favorite act involved throwing half dollars up into the air and shooting them. One guy was able to throw up aspirins and hit them with a .22 That was amazing! If you get a chance to see the show....do it. I believe it comes on again this Friday (23rd) and Sunday (25) on the History Channel.

A PRESIDENT'S FAREWELL

As a child I remember seeing bits and pieces of the then President Reagan. My concern was more aligned with action heroes saving the universe and cartoons filled with adventure. Growing up in the 80's...I don't remember much of politics. The 90's were no different. I remember a sense of fear of War. I had a fear of being drafted. I admit I was totally unpatriotic as a teenager. President Bush spoke of war and a 'Desert Storm'. Of course it didn't help having a world history teacher who also was a Pentecostal preacher. I guess back then teachers could speak openly of God and Christianity in the confines of a classroom. The thought of a great end time battle scared me. That wasn't President Bush's (41) fault....he was just doing his job. Then came President Clinton. I don't think that I had matured much in the way of politics, but I knew that I didn't much care for him. The criteria for my dislike was more superficial than along party lines.

Then came President Bush (43). It was just after 9/11 that I think that I 'came of age'. By that I mean that I started to care. I'm not the center of the universe.....God is. That was a great revelation. I realized that what happened to this country had an affect on me and those around me. I started caring about abortion and the definition of marriage. Not to forget national security. It became apparent that people in this world wanted to harm us and destroy this country's freedom. I honestly believe that 9/11 was a wake up call for me. I developed a great appreciation for President Bush. He, in my opinion, was the right man for that particular time. He said recently.....

"I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe. ... And with strong allies at our side, we have taken the fight to the terrorists and those who support them. There is legitimate debate about many of these decisions. But there can be little debate about the results. America has gone more than seven years without another terrorist attack on our soil."

I really appreciate that!

Thursday night Denise and I heard his farewell address. We were deeply sad to see him go. He was a good president. I know that many people don't like him because of his party. Many who don't like him because he supports traditional marriage or pro-life. Many don't like him because of the war. That's fine for me. I like the man. I know his job was tough. But a guy like him isn't afraid of hard work. I know that much of the world thought of him as a 'COWBOY'. But you know what.....that's not bad in my book. He's in good company. I wish that more of the world had a 'cowboy' mentality.

John Wayne as Sergeant John M. Stryker (Sands of Iwo Jima):"A lot of guys make mistakes, I guess, but every one we make, a whole stack of chips goes with it. We make a mistake, and some guy don't walk away - forevermore, he don't walk away."

This video is from Noccalula Falls...BUT from across the street. The backside in the residential area. Denise and I really love water.....the ocean, rivers, waterfalls, lakes....ect. This is a treat.

The water is going down.
Low lying fields still look mushy.

Rivers are still murky with mud.

Things are getting back to normal.

For a while there it seemed that it wasn't going to stop raining. It's nice now. The pond at my father-in-laws house is full of water. The pasture is pretty soggy right now. The animals are enjoying the sunshine and the freedom to graze. Did you know that goats dislike the rain? Horses don't mind. The ducks love it!

We're both glad it's the weekend. Fridays bring the excitement of a weekend to come. Saturdays are days to be free. Sundays bring rest. Weekends are nice. I wouldn't mind if it didn't rain for a few days......the winter nights are so clear and the air is brisk. It's nice. Enjoy your day! -JGR

THE FALLS

It's been raining.

So every time that it rains Denise and I wonder what Noccalula Falls is like. After this particular rain the falls was AWESOME! Check out these video.........(I hope you don't have dial-up).

Notice how the water was up to the bridge......of course the City of Gadsden had the walk way blocked off....so this was as close as I could get.

I love watching waterfalls. The power and sound of the water is amazing. A truly powerful force. As beautiful as this is.....lots of other places around town were flooded. I don't think that any one's house got flooded out...but fields, pastures and low lying lands are under water. It's still beautiful......on a small scale as this. -JGR

A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

I don't know if I would call it a resolution.......a better word may be a desire. Already a few days into the new year and I have several things on my heart. This year I would like to grow. Grow stronger in my faith and grow small in my weight. To play. Play with Denise and Carolina more. To pick up my guitar and see where it takes me. I want to enjoy life more than I have in the past. I want to be free from worry and fear. I want to love others and myself more. I want to build new things this year. Repair old things that are broken. I'd love to ride Rosie this year. I think 'desire' is a better word. Maybe 'prayer' would be better. -JGR