There is alot to be learned from nature. Mothers in nature don't worry and lose sleep over whether their offspring are going to make it or if they are being a good enough mother.
They protect their young when they are very small and gradually let them explore the world, letting them get hurt and learn and even cuff them when they step over the line of authority. Are these bad mothers? I don't think so. These mothers know by instinct that young have to experience the tough things to become strong to survive. Young of all species want things easy but it isn't what is best for them.
More and more as their young grow, mothers in nature back off and even push their young from the nest or den to make them see that in fact they can make it.
Then those mothers get on with life and low and behold, their young survive and go on to succeed.
Those moms succeed because they don't over protect, over think and do for their young what they can do for themselves. These mothers do what God intended for them to do.
Heavenly Father doesn't hang on to his children. He lets them go. He wouldn't allow Lucifer to control and micro manage the lives of His children.
God trusts in His children, He believes in the abilities that He has given them. He allows them to get hurt, to make mistakes, but shows love and confidence in their abilities thereby building THEIR confidence in THEMSELVES.
We can learn alot from mothers in nature and in the instincts that God gave them in raising their young.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a great thing. Like Christmas it has a tendency to be a little commercialized but it is a good day to think about and recognize some of the special women in our lives.
I was blessed with a good Mom. I never doubted her love for me even when it wasn't always deserved. She was strong, hard working and a good example of how to make the most of what ever life throws at you, much like her mother before her. I was blessed to come from that heritage. Those traits along with many others have been a great help in the things that would occur in my life. I am still learning from and being blessed by my Mother who is 86.
I have a great Mother-in-law who loves me and has blessed my life through the son that she raised. She too has taught me many things through the years that have blessed my life. I learned much of what it means to be a mother-in-law from her. I have much to be grateful for in her example.
I was blessed with three daughters who have grown to become great women and wonderful mothers. They are each unique in looks, talents and abilities and yet the same in courage, strength, and love of their familys.
We are each pretty independant and don't call each other daily but there is never any doubt of the love and support that is just a phone call away at any given time. They teach me so much and I am thankful for each of them in my life.
I have five women in my life who are also wonderful mothers. They came into this family by marriage and each has added so much. They are each talented and special in numerous ways. They have given of themselves in countless ways and have blessed the lives of each family member. They are great mothers and are raising wonderful children. How blessed I am for each one. They love my sons and that is such a blessing to me.
Two out of these ten women are not mothers in the sense that the world recognizes mothers but they are mothers in every sence of the word. They each have loved, nurtured, sacrificed for and touched the lives of children in countless ways and with equal love and support given by those who have given birth.
For me the greatest gift I receive as a Mother is the love of my family expressed and given in little ways throughout the year. Thanks one and all for such a wonderful gift.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all Mothers and especially those who have touched my life in so many ways.
I was blessed with a good Mom. I never doubted her love for me even when it wasn't always deserved. She was strong, hard working and a good example of how to make the most of what ever life throws at you, much like her mother before her. I was blessed to come from that heritage. Those traits along with many others have been a great help in the things that would occur in my life. I am still learning from and being blessed by my Mother who is 86.
I have a great Mother-in-law who loves me and has blessed my life through the son that she raised. She too has taught me many things through the years that have blessed my life. I learned much of what it means to be a mother-in-law from her. I have much to be grateful for in her example.
I was blessed with three daughters who have grown to become great women and wonderful mothers. They are each unique in looks, talents and abilities and yet the same in courage, strength, and love of their familys.
We are each pretty independant and don't call each other daily but there is never any doubt of the love and support that is just a phone call away at any given time. They teach me so much and I am thankful for each of them in my life.
I have five women in my life who are also wonderful mothers. They came into this family by marriage and each has added so much. They are each talented and special in numerous ways. They have given of themselves in countless ways and have blessed the lives of each family member. They are great mothers and are raising wonderful children. How blessed I am for each one. They love my sons and that is such a blessing to me.
Two out of these ten women are not mothers in the sense that the world recognizes mothers but they are mothers in every sence of the word. They each have loved, nurtured, sacrificed for and touched the lives of children in countless ways and with equal love and support given by those who have given birth.
For me the greatest gift I receive as a Mother is the love of my family expressed and given in little ways throughout the year. Thanks one and all for such a wonderful gift.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all Mothers and especially those who have touched my life in so many ways.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Change in perspective
You wonder about why certain things turn out the way they do. When you really need your sleep the most is when you start to have problems and aren't able to sleep like you used to. It can really be the pits. And then again, for me anyway, sometimes there is a light bulb moment and you see things differently.
As I have gotten older, I sleep less and wake up really early. At first I hated it and lay there frustrated and mad because I couldn't just go back to sleep.
Then I began to just relax and in the quiet of the late night and early morning I let my mind ponder on things, mostly my family and the great blessings I have in each member.
I think on each one and pray for and about them individually.
I started to pray about what to pray about and have been blessed with thoughts and ideas on things to do.
I feel closer to my Heavenly Father and have a greater love for my family.
Life can be really interesting at times. What started out as a negative experience has turned out to be something that I have begun to look forward to and am even disappointed now if I sleep through the night.
As I have gotten older, I sleep less and wake up really early. At first I hated it and lay there frustrated and mad because I couldn't just go back to sleep.
Then I began to just relax and in the quiet of the late night and early morning I let my mind ponder on things, mostly my family and the great blessings I have in each member.
I think on each one and pray for and about them individually.
I started to pray about what to pray about and have been blessed with thoughts and ideas on things to do.
I feel closer to my Heavenly Father and have a greater love for my family.
Life can be really interesting at times. What started out as a negative experience has turned out to be something that I have begun to look forward to and am even disappointed now if I sleep through the night.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
cont. critter stories( beware long version)
Ok so we made it through the horses, stray dogs, stray cats, raccoons, skunk and possum.
then came the mice. the first one visited in Mistys room and she and her dad had fun catching and removing it. After another visit from a little visiter we set to work. So we got expert advice from a variety of sources and tried everything. We put out bait which nothing touched. So we find out we also had two sizes of mice. One size too little to set off the spring loaded traps and one size two big for the sticky strips and just drug them around and left them stuck elsewhere. we also tried the enclosed kind of trap where you don't see the departed little creature. So we got rid of one of the tiny ones in that one. Didn't even know it was in there until I went to move it and noticed a bad smell. Yuk. The rest biffed it on the spring loaded traps. We tossed the sticky strips, they were a total waste. We managed to eliminate a total of 6 over two weeks. The good news is it made me clean out the pantry and throw out alot of stuff that needed getting rid of anyway and I now have a totally rearranged pantry with containers for everything. Found a hole in the floor in the laundry room where they seem to be coming in and plugged that and haven't had a death to the mice population recently. Except for the ones our outside cats honor us with from time to time. They are like kids, they play with their food and then leave it uneaten for us to have to throw away.
Sooo, we thought that the worse was over at last. then we wake up in the weee hours of the morning, gaging from the smell of ..... you guessed it
SKUNK. Pee youuuuuu. !!!!!!!! We had one hit on the road in front of our place a few weeks ago which really stunk up everything and were hoping that is what it was this time.
Having blocked the place where one got under the house last time, we are thinking it just camped out under the porch in the back or was passing through, we aired out the house and felt confident the worst is over. Next day, the smell is still really bad. ??????
Sooo we finally take a good look under the porch and find out that the determined creature has ripped open the heavy sheet of plexiglass like stuff cover we put over the opening and has left his or her scent under the house which is seeping up into the whole house. Have I mentioned how very much I dislike skunks?
So, we get busy. Trip to Lowes for a piece of wood to put over the opening. Gather tools, put on coveralls and old clothers, squeeze under the only way to get under the porch and crawl through mud and old spider webs to get to the opening (hoping the said skunk has left for the day) Just as we get the wood cover ready to screw on, one of our cats darts into the opening and under the house. At this point I say leave the stupid creature for a couple of days and then let it out latter. The special screws that we bought to go into the fake brick wont work. We are under
the porch, muddy, cold, cramped for working room, mad at the dumb cat and now the screws wont work. We haven't divorced yet but are coming close. Sooo, I crawl back from under the porch, got into the house leaving mud covered shoes at the door and trying not to touch anything in the house with the mud caked coveralls and find some screw that we hope will work. Put the muddy shoes back on, crawl back under the porch, hand over the screws and hold my breath. Whew they are the right ones, we screw the wooden cover securely over the hole and crawl back out from under the porch. I repent of the urge to leave the cat under there and go to the other opening, take the cover off and call the dumb cat. The other cat comes tearing across the yard and luckily my husband catches her before she too goes under the house. I call, and call and call again. Finally she shows her face and acts like she has all of the time in the world. I am seriously thinking of my original plan to leave her under there when she finally exits from under the house. I quickly put the metal cover back up and head to the house to get out of my very muddy coveralls.
right now, I am sitting at the computer with my warmest coat on, with all of the windows in the house open and all of the ceiling fans and bathroom exhause fans running to air out the smell.
So, I am sure the saga will continue. But for now, we are hopefully critter less for the time being and my cats are safe and sound. It is a good thing I love even stupid cats.
the bright side is, the skunk didn't greet us at the opening under the house and can't get back under there again.
Oh did I tell you about the lady bug invasion???? Maybe next time.
then came the mice. the first one visited in Mistys room and she and her dad had fun catching and removing it. After another visit from a little visiter we set to work. So we got expert advice from a variety of sources and tried everything. We put out bait which nothing touched. So we find out we also had two sizes of mice. One size too little to set off the spring loaded traps and one size two big for the sticky strips and just drug them around and left them stuck elsewhere. we also tried the enclosed kind of trap where you don't see the departed little creature. So we got rid of one of the tiny ones in that one. Didn't even know it was in there until I went to move it and noticed a bad smell. Yuk. The rest biffed it on the spring loaded traps. We tossed the sticky strips, they were a total waste. We managed to eliminate a total of 6 over two weeks. The good news is it made me clean out the pantry and throw out alot of stuff that needed getting rid of anyway and I now have a totally rearranged pantry with containers for everything. Found a hole in the floor in the laundry room where they seem to be coming in and plugged that and haven't had a death to the mice population recently. Except for the ones our outside cats honor us with from time to time. They are like kids, they play with their food and then leave it uneaten for us to have to throw away.
Sooo, we thought that the worse was over at last. then we wake up in the weee hours of the morning, gaging from the smell of ..... you guessed it
SKUNK. Pee youuuuuu. !!!!!!!! We had one hit on the road in front of our place a few weeks ago which really stunk up everything and were hoping that is what it was this time.
Having blocked the place where one got under the house last time, we are thinking it just camped out under the porch in the back or was passing through, we aired out the house and felt confident the worst is over. Next day, the smell is still really bad. ??????
Sooo we finally take a good look under the porch and find out that the determined creature has ripped open the heavy sheet of plexiglass like stuff cover we put over the opening and has left his or her scent under the house which is seeping up into the whole house. Have I mentioned how very much I dislike skunks?
So, we get busy. Trip to Lowes for a piece of wood to put over the opening. Gather tools, put on coveralls and old clothers, squeeze under the only way to get under the porch and crawl through mud and old spider webs to get to the opening (hoping the said skunk has left for the day) Just as we get the wood cover ready to screw on, one of our cats darts into the opening and under the house. At this point I say leave the stupid creature for a couple of days and then let it out latter. The special screws that we bought to go into the fake brick wont work. We are under
the porch, muddy, cold, cramped for working room, mad at the dumb cat and now the screws wont work. We haven't divorced yet but are coming close. Sooo, I crawl back from under the porch, got into the house leaving mud covered shoes at the door and trying not to touch anything in the house with the mud caked coveralls and find some screw that we hope will work. Put the muddy shoes back on, crawl back under the porch, hand over the screws and hold my breath. Whew they are the right ones, we screw the wooden cover securely over the hole and crawl back out from under the porch. I repent of the urge to leave the cat under there and go to the other opening, take the cover off and call the dumb cat. The other cat comes tearing across the yard and luckily my husband catches her before she too goes under the house. I call, and call and call again. Finally she shows her face and acts like she has all of the time in the world. I am seriously thinking of my original plan to leave her under there when she finally exits from under the house. I quickly put the metal cover back up and head to the house to get out of my very muddy coveralls.
right now, I am sitting at the computer with my warmest coat on, with all of the windows in the house open and all of the ceiling fans and bathroom exhause fans running to air out the smell.
So, I am sure the saga will continue. But for now, we are hopefully critter less for the time being and my cats are safe and sound. It is a good thing I love even stupid cats.
the bright side is, the skunk didn't greet us at the opening under the house and can't get back under there again.
Oh did I tell you about the lady bug invasion???? Maybe next time.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Grown kids make my head hurt
Some days I want to go back to when the kids were little and depended on you to take care of them and you knew what was right and best for them. Where bandaids and hugs and kisses could fix most things.
Sometimes I really hate it when they are grown and either know or at least they think they know more than me. OK Ok they know more than me.
I hate it when things get all complicated and there seems to be no simple answer to anything. Like trying to figure out when they are for real or joking and just trying to get a rise out of me. Trying to figure out if they need a listening ear or a kick in the pants. The things that you can only watch them struggle through and can't really help. You know stuff like that.
But for better or worse, just glad they take the time to include me in their lives and so far the hurt from the strain goes away like it does after eating ice cream.
Sometimes I really hate it when they are grown and either know or at least they think they know more than me. OK Ok they know more than me.
I hate it when things get all complicated and there seems to be no simple answer to anything. Like trying to figure out when they are for real or joking and just trying to get a rise out of me. Trying to figure out if they need a listening ear or a kick in the pants. The things that you can only watch them struggle through and can't really help. You know stuff like that.
But for better or worse, just glad they take the time to include me in their lives and so far the hurt from the strain goes away like it does after eating ice cream.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Love the country, not necessiarily the critters
So the saga of the country critters continues. We had a skunk under the house and thought it had moved on but kept hearing noices under the house at night. So now what? who wants to go under the house to check it out? Not us. So we just let it go for several nights. then we thought it was the cat, hunting under the back porch. Still noices at night.
then we had trouble with the satelight and had them come out to check it out. when they pulled the cable from the dish concection in the house to the outside, they found the wires chewed almost in to. Shesh, now what?
Since we hadn't smelled anything for awhile, we were hopeing the skunk was gone but now what was under the house chewing the TV cables?
So plan B. Set trap under the house and see what we can catch. Nothing the first night. Drat. But walla, the next moring there is a possum in the cage. Off he goes to the wild blue yander.
So, Tom goes fishing and when he decides to come home a kitten runs up under the truck and he can't find it. When he gets home, you guessed it, he could hear it. He can't get near it and it keeps running under the truck and he can't find it. So when he takes the possum off, it is still under the truck somewhere. Luckily after he drops the possum off and comes home, we don't hear the kitten anymore. Hopefully it left of it's own accord somewhere and didn't fall out and get run over.
Sooo, now we are double checking for any more ways for a critter to get under the house. We aren't holding our breath but hopefully we are done with critters for the time being.
We definetly didn't need a kitten that stayed under the truck to worry about everytime we needed to go somewhere.
So for now we are critterless and happy for it.
then we had trouble with the satelight and had them come out to check it out. when they pulled the cable from the dish concection in the house to the outside, they found the wires chewed almost in to. Shesh, now what?
Since we hadn't smelled anything for awhile, we were hopeing the skunk was gone but now what was under the house chewing the TV cables?
So plan B. Set trap under the house and see what we can catch. Nothing the first night. Drat. But walla, the next moring there is a possum in the cage. Off he goes to the wild blue yander.
So, Tom goes fishing and when he decides to come home a kitten runs up under the truck and he can't find it. When he gets home, you guessed it, he could hear it. He can't get near it and it keeps running under the truck and he can't find it. So when he takes the possum off, it is still under the truck somewhere. Luckily after he drops the possum off and comes home, we don't hear the kitten anymore. Hopefully it left of it's own accord somewhere and didn't fall out and get run over.
Sooo, now we are double checking for any more ways for a critter to get under the house. We aren't holding our breath but hopefully we are done with critters for the time being.
We definetly didn't need a kitten that stayed under the truck to worry about everytime we needed to go somewhere.
So for now we are critterless and happy for it.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
love the country
we fairly recently moved into a country setting. Lots of trees, birds, great views, wonderful night sounds etc.
things are different out here. I never had a horse come down my driveway where we lived before and have had it happen twice now. I was talking on the phone with my sister one morning and a big white horse went down my driveway. Made for the start of an interesting day.
I never had racoons on the back porch before. We have had two, a mom and her offspring who were captured and moved to other far away places. they loved the seeds in my bird feeders and would go to any lengths to get to them. I kept finding my bird feeders on the ground each morning. Finally figured out what was going on when I heard noises on the back porch one night and looked out to see two racoons staring back at me.
Our old house was on a slab so we never had critters under the house. We have had several here, some we just heard during the night and never knew what they were but more recently knew what it was by the smell. Yuk. Skunks under the house are really stiiiiiiinnnnnnkkkkkyyyyyyy!!!!!!!
Definitely not my favorite kind of a visitor. Thank goodness it has been warm enough to open all the windows and air out the house. Hopefully we now have all of the openings covered and it wont gain entrance again. the smell is getting better. Just glad it was under the house and not waiting outside the door to greet us.
No snakes to speak of so far. I would just as soon miss that experience.
Love the birds the most. I have two bird feeders outside my kitchen window and keep them filled and enjoy lots of feathered visitors. the little ones are my favorite.
I have alot more spiders but they know their place and stay outside for the most part. I do have to clean the widows alot more when the webs get too much though.
I acquired two outside cats when we moved here. They are both very good hunters and leave little tid bits of their prey on the front porch. One day it might be a mouse head or various body parts, another time parts of a mole, sometimes a bird. How sweet of them to share their successes but I just wish they would clean up after themselves a little better. Yuk.
I have never been a big animal person but I must admit I enjoy our two cats. They always greet us when we come home and if we are outside they are right where we are. We each enjoy our independence and yet enjoy each others company and yes love, too. It is a good balance.
I went from very few trees and little shade to lots and lots of really big ones and lots of shade.
I love to sleep with the window slightly open and to hear the sounds of nature. It is my favorite way to fall asleep.
I love having a metal roof over my front porch and being able to hear the sounds of the rain coming down.
I even love the sound of the roosters, chickens, goats, donkeys, dogs and the voices of the children running and playing outside from the neighbors.
I have learned that I like goats milk and fresh eggs.
I love the sound of the wind in the trees. It is such a peaceful sound.
I love to burn and have had a great time clearing out scrub bushes and trees and making burn piles and seeing progress in opening up spaces for pretty things to grow.
If I ever think I want to grow roses, I remember what it took to get rid of the wild ones. I have had all I want of things with stickers and thorns that reach out and grab you when ever you get near. Nope no more rose bushes of any kind for me. I just burned the last wild one last week.
I love to walk my place early in the morning and listen to the sounds of the wind and hear birds and see nature and so much that is beautiful and peaceful.
I can understand why a boy named Joseph went to a grove of trees to find God.
things are different out here. I never had a horse come down my driveway where we lived before and have had it happen twice now. I was talking on the phone with my sister one morning and a big white horse went down my driveway. Made for the start of an interesting day.
I never had racoons on the back porch before. We have had two, a mom and her offspring who were captured and moved to other far away places. they loved the seeds in my bird feeders and would go to any lengths to get to them. I kept finding my bird feeders on the ground each morning. Finally figured out what was going on when I heard noises on the back porch one night and looked out to see two racoons staring back at me.
Our old house was on a slab so we never had critters under the house. We have had several here, some we just heard during the night and never knew what they were but more recently knew what it was by the smell. Yuk. Skunks under the house are really stiiiiiiinnnnnnkkkkkyyyyyyy!!!!!!!
Definitely not my favorite kind of a visitor. Thank goodness it has been warm enough to open all the windows and air out the house. Hopefully we now have all of the openings covered and it wont gain entrance again. the smell is getting better. Just glad it was under the house and not waiting outside the door to greet us.
No snakes to speak of so far. I would just as soon miss that experience.
Love the birds the most. I have two bird feeders outside my kitchen window and keep them filled and enjoy lots of feathered visitors. the little ones are my favorite.
I have alot more spiders but they know their place and stay outside for the most part. I do have to clean the widows alot more when the webs get too much though.
I acquired two outside cats when we moved here. They are both very good hunters and leave little tid bits of their prey on the front porch. One day it might be a mouse head or various body parts, another time parts of a mole, sometimes a bird. How sweet of them to share their successes but I just wish they would clean up after themselves a little better. Yuk.
I have never been a big animal person but I must admit I enjoy our two cats. They always greet us when we come home and if we are outside they are right where we are. We each enjoy our independence and yet enjoy each others company and yes love, too. It is a good balance.
I went from very few trees and little shade to lots and lots of really big ones and lots of shade.
I love to sleep with the window slightly open and to hear the sounds of nature. It is my favorite way to fall asleep.
I love having a metal roof over my front porch and being able to hear the sounds of the rain coming down.
I even love the sound of the roosters, chickens, goats, donkeys, dogs and the voices of the children running and playing outside from the neighbors.
I have learned that I like goats milk and fresh eggs.
I love the sound of the wind in the trees. It is such a peaceful sound.
I love to burn and have had a great time clearing out scrub bushes and trees and making burn piles and seeing progress in opening up spaces for pretty things to grow.
If I ever think I want to grow roses, I remember what it took to get rid of the wild ones. I have had all I want of things with stickers and thorns that reach out and grab you when ever you get near. Nope no more rose bushes of any kind for me. I just burned the last wild one last week.
I love to walk my place early in the morning and listen to the sounds of the wind and hear birds and see nature and so much that is beautiful and peaceful.
I can understand why a boy named Joseph went to a grove of trees to find God.
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