Thanksgiving in the Wide Wide Open

A few years ago we packed up and went camping for Thanksgiving. We went with some friends and cooked our turkey over an open fire. It was one of my most memorable Thanksgivings. So why not repeat it I say! We packed up the trailer and met the Schmu's and Clatt's at our second home in Ingonish. Friday was a beautiful day. The last time we went for Thanksgiving there were four trailers in the whole place...not this time. Much, much more activity! The great thing about having cooked turkeys outside once you can figure out how to fix what didn't work last time. We had a better cooker and smaller turkeys. It was nice because Son #1 and Son #2 were there so we actually got to spend Emily's first Thanksgiving together as a family of five. I love camping for that holiday because it makes me so thankful for so many things. For my family, for God cause we are in the wide wide open, for friends, food, sunshine, yams, my health, did I mention yams. I'm posting some of the pics from the weekend. Hope you enjoy and don't get too hungry....Mama visiting Son#1 signing out for the night!

Yes I am alive

Well it's been just about a month since my last post. What's new...well Emily started daycare a couple of days ago. She is pretty weepy...big sigh.....I hate it. The daycare is great I'm just struggling with the whole putting her in an "institutionalized" setting again. Major heartbreak. Our sitter had a baby and will Emily will eventually go there but this is to help Emily get caught up developmentally but I'm not sure if I'll make it. She's fine - I'm not.

We are moving right along with our charity. We are in need of an accountant for our board so ya'll have to be praying that God will send the right one along to us. Our name is official. Children From the Heart. We have made some incredible contacts and we are taking it one day at a time walking through one door at a time.

We had a reunion of the families who went to China together last weekend. It was great to see the girls all together again. What a blessing to see them growing and so so healthy. We've been cutting trees in our back yard. Picture my DH, a chainsaw and a rope tied to the bumper of a truck....well let's just say we could write an article now on the "Redneck Guide" to chopping down trees. What would Jeff Foxworthy say...."If you cut trees and tie them to the bumper of your truck....yyyyyoooouuuu might be a redneck"!

I'm taking an incredible bible study with Beth Moore at the church on Wednesday mornings. It's called Believing in God...pretty appropriate for what we got goin on lately. What else????Oh my Mom just celebrated her 85th birthday which was nice. Son #1 isn't dating "my girl" anymore...sniff sniff...I knew it was too good to be true. If you think about them please pray for her and for him. Breaking up isn't easy and even though they parted as friends pray that feelings and hurts would be healed. Son#1 is flying high literally. He flies three days a week and is loving life at university. He's doing well in his courses. After I got over the gasp of paying my first tuition for one of the kids I'm okey dokey now....Son #2 is doing great in school as well. We just take it one day at a time and pray pray pray them through their days. Basketball tryouts are next week. I'll let you know how that goes. I have another big prayer request. Good friends of ours just received news that their 1 year old has CF. Please pray for Ryan and for Gary and Rachel (his parents) that they can keep their eyes on God through all of this. They are an incredible couple and they will get through this but it's their first child together and well those of you with children can just imagine the heartache. It has become clear to me this week that you can have all the material possessions in the world, all the success in the world, seem to have it goin on in everything but if you don't have your health and if your kids don't have theirs well none of it matters really....you would trade it all in an instant. We are headed out for Thanksgiving in the 5th wheel....I can't wait. To be under the stars and just spending time being thankful for all that we have had the opportunity to experience this year. Family is a great thing. It makes you able to handle anything that comes your way. What else.....I am back to work November 1st....big sigh again. Don't get me wrong I am thankful for my job and I am thankful for my friends at work but well you know....big sigh. This time has gone much too quickly. Emily got to meet her aunt from Virginia today. They bought a summer home in Riverport a number of years ago and I finally was able to go there. I really enjoyed the day and Emily was very comfortable with her as well. I have to pack up the trailer tomorrow early so I'm going to sign off now. I posted my new favorite song...hope you enjoy. Mama almost on the road again...signing out.

Fall Back....I'm Back

Well I've been computerless for quite some time now. I'm back from my trip to the Promise Land......Cape Breton! I spent pretty much the month of August beachin it. What a relaxing time. Hope you like my new summer song and video...this was what I listened to oh about 1700 times. I like to think that I'm the girl in the video...only a little heavier with lighter hair...minus the sofa and the guitar. Yah just like me... on the beach anyway. Em and I stayed part of it by ourselves and we've had friends come and go all summer. Son #1 is all moved into his new pad. He called me this morning to tell me he was off to his first class. School started yesterday for Son #2 all is well. I go back to work in 6-8 weeks. Can't believe how quickly the time has flown. I've added some of my favorite pics from the summer hope you like them as much as I do!! Sorry there was so many I took about 600 so it was good to just put these in. For those family members checking this from "away" it will give you an update on us.

I do have another golf picture that involves a whole bunch of guys with no shirts but I'm gonna save that one all on it's own...0h you folks in the pic be very afraid! Not much new. I've finished my bible study and have the intro and one chapter compiled for my book. Fourteen more chapters to go but I'll get there. We have four board members for our Children from the Heart Foundation and we are almost ready to go with this we need a CA though so if you know anyone please let me know. Please pray for both of those things for me. Music ministry is about to start I feel like I haven't played in ages! mmmm what else oh found another critter yesterday. Well I didn't praise God. It was cold cold cold yesterday and I wanted a fire in my fireplace so called my DH to "look after me" remember I am a well kept woman. He chopped up some kindling went to the fireplace opened the damper and got up. He walked into the laundry room. I decided I wanted to light it not being a patient one...where did he go anyway....I heard "I'M LIGHTING THE FIRE". That loud. Now I'm not used to having voices raised at me. "What"? "I'm lighting the fire". I could tell from his face he wanted me no where near the fireplace. I instantly knew..."What is in the fireplace you don't want me to see". "Never mind". Shrieking...."What is it"!!!!! "Don't worry...it's dead". Shrieking louder...."What is it". "Well".....he says....when I opened the damper something fell on my head. I almost fell on the floor at that point. "What is it"! A dead BAT....Oh mercy if I had lit that earlier like I was going to I would have first pee'd myself, only I wouldn't have realised it until after Emily woke me up from the faint to which I would have left the house forever. Bats in the Belfry...at least the stupid thing was dead. I pictured the house full of them when the fire lit. My brother asked me if I had bat houses. Now apparently we must construct condos for the fury black critters now but at least they eat bugs. Serenity now serenity now. Mama off to sleep with blankets over her head....signing out.

On the Road Again Day Six and Seven

Day Six - We drove and drove and drove and did I say we drove. Emily did really well in the car but I'm sure she wishes she were home sweet home. DH and I picked up a book on the way outside of Buffalo. I spent the day reading to my sweetie. Here is some of what God is teaching us on our road trip. About dreams. God has placed in everyone a dream. Did you read that? God has placed in everyone a dream. Everyone's is different but everyone has one. You may have buried yours long ago but it's there. DH and I spent hours talking about our dreams and where we are in our lives and what's next on the horizen for us. That's what this trip was about it was about DH and I connecting our dreams and then handing them all over to God. We had intended to travel to Woodstock but there wasn't any hotel rooms available so we stayed at the Whitehouse Best Western in Bangor. It was a nice treat to stop driving at a decent hour and the room they gave us was an older room with a big old four poster bed. Just a relaxing night.

Day Seven: Up early and off to Bristol to pick up the boys. We got there about 11:30. We missed the boys. We wished they were with us at the Amusment Park but they are doing so well at camp. Both boys came running to the car to see the baby and she was ecstatic to see them. Me too. I do love my boys. Son #1 is growing so much in his faith. He has grown this summer in leaps and bounds. I can't believe it's almost over for him. I'm hoping he'll be able to spend a week in Ingonish with me. Son #2 is excited to go home but is leaning towards applying to work at camp next summer too. I would miss him but I know it would be good for him. That's a whole year away though and we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. It was nice though that the girls in the kitchen miss DH. He loved working with them at family camp and was an encouragment to them and why not he's a great guy. We took the boys out for stuffed crust pizza and Son #1 was able to take a couple of hours and go with us. Great end to a great week. We were touched this past week. We are not the same people coming back that started this road trip but that's ok. We are excited to see what God has in store for our family. All we know is that no matter what we are willing to do whatever absolutely whatever He requires of us to further His needs. That's scary to us but freeing at the same time. Please pray for us over these next weeks and months as we pray about discisions that will move us forward to fulfill God's dream for our lives. I'm off tomorrow again with the trailer. I'm not sure if I have internet access so if you don't hear from me I'm still around just riding a wave somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean and will catch you up when I get home. Or who knows maybe you'll hear from me sooner. Mama home and down for the count.

On The Road Again Day Five

What a day today was. It's late now because I'm trying to catch y'all up on what we've been doing. If you haven't noticed by now...there are two more posts under this one so start on day three and read up. By now if you've read the other posts you understand why I haven't updated cause we've been flat out. If there was ever a doubt whether we should have come or not (which there wasn't) today was everything God intended it to be for us. We got to church on time....great facility. The pictures you are seeing are of the children and what I want you to realise is that these children were thrown away. Some discarded on garbage heaps. It is an incredible thing that Tim Baker and his wife Pam are doing. We are so blessed to have been included in this weekend. I couldn't possibly put everything that happened in this blog and will have to hook up in person with all of you if you want to know more just let me know but I'll give you some highlights. God is incredible....I know you know this but do you know on our way to church this morning I was putting my make up on in the car and well I was starting to look like Tammy Faye Baker with the whole mascara thing. I had a whole conversation with myself about how I need an eyelash brush and will have to buy one and see if it works. Remember this for later it is relevant. We arrived at the church and were assigned a host family who were lovely and stayed with us all day. We were prayed over. We heard Tim's story. Stephen Curtis Chapman is a good friend of Tim and Pam's and sent a video for him which was nice. Stephen's third daughter Maria was a PHF Baby. This foundation looks after special needs orphans....fixes them as Tim would say and then finds them permanent homes. Incredible family. We had breakfast....listened to Tim tell his story and the incredible things that God has done in their lives....incredible incredible things. Again too much to go into details here you'll just have to treat me to a tea some day!! We had a lovely brunch and then attended a church family picnic. It was during the picnic time that we met a family from Ohio...originally from Connecticut who are in the process of doing the exact same thing we are. We talked and talked. They have seven children 5 biological and 2 adopted, one from Siberia and one from China. He is a Pastor and they adopted but like us not through Tim but came to this function like we did just because they felt God wanted them too. Guess what... they were one of the big reasons we were to go. Incredible how similar our stories are and his dreams and visions are the exact same as mine only he was able to help me work through some big holes that I didn't know what to do. We spent over an hour talking with Tim and Pam working through our dreams and he is such a tremendous help. I wish all of you could have met him. We left there so pumped. God clearly confirmed that Children from the Heart is something He wants done. He gave us a verse in Revelations 3 "See I have set before you an open door and no one can shut it". So there you have it. We are stepping out once again in the faith that God has opened this door we will go through it no matter what because this is our heart and this is what we are prepared to offer ourselves to for God's purposes no matter what. I'm going to be looking for help to get this off the ground so if it is something of interest to you let me know and I will tell you "the plan". Please look at the faces of these children. Please pray for them that they will not have the spirit of abandonment linger with them as they grow. Pray that they will come to know the Lord at a young age. Pray for their health most of them have health needs. Also please pray for our trip home. Adoption is a wonderful thing. It is not God's plan B...it is His plan A. We are all adopted into His family and these children deserve a chance. I have also attached a group photo.....a group photo of the kids...ignore Emily's screaming in it...end of a long day for her....and a pic of Tim, Pam, Wendy and Larry (in that order left to right) the two kids are Wendy and Larry's. You think we are brave...Wendy and Larry have a thirty year old and a 27 month old. I love it. Well gang it's almost 2:00 am. I was too excited to sleep and wanted to let y'all know we are safe and sound slightly outside of Buffalo right now. Everyone but me is sleeping safe and sound and I am about to follow. Oh....the eyelash brush. When we left I got in the car and pulled a bag of chips out of my welcome bag...and out came....you guessed it....an eyelash brush. Can you imagine. I'm shedding a little tear right now because our God is so amazing that something as small as an eyelash brush was a detail that he worked out for me. Who puts eyelash brushes in welcome bags...God does! It's Mama looking fine with the new lashes somewhere near Buffalo...over and out.

On the Road Again Day Four

We were up early and on the go to King's Island today. It's like Canada's Wonderland. We met the folks from the Phillip Hayden Foundation. Gas here is so cheap it cost us 48.00 dollars to fill our vehicle. That's nuts. We drove by this church it's called the Solid Rock Church. They had a statue of Jesus coming out of this lake in front of it and it was like nothing I have ever seen before. It was massive. I attached a picture from their website. We found out the church calls it the King of Kings...but the locals call it the "Touchdown Jesus"...well you look at it and you will see why. Incredible thing. So we missed the stupid exit which made us late surprise surprise. I don't know where we thought we were going....maybe Crystal Palace. We'll park...dash in. Try park half mile away.....get scanned like at the airport....wait in a big line up then try and find people when you weren't where you were supposed to be at the right time. Good news is everyone was late....kindred spirits I love it. God has blessed us in big ways and little ways on this trip. In the line to get in a man 50 people ahead of us looked at me and said would you like a coupon to get 1/2 off your tickets "does a chicken have lips"! Yes sir saved us $50.00. The coupon was good for 6 tickets so we let "our cup run over" into the families behind us and shared with them. Felt good to get it and to give it. Pay it forward baby. Emily loved the rides and I mean loved them. I attached a few photos so you could see how incredibly brave she was. We couldn't go on the rides because apparently now they have a weight and height restriction. Either I was much thinner and shorter when the boys were little cause we always went on with them but not here. Only on the merry go round and the Timmy the Airplane and I will spare you the pics of me jammed into that. She had a great day. We did miss the boys though. Crazy rides. There was one that put two guys...yes guys were the only people in the line up to pay $20.00 each to be strapped into a metal ball with a buddy....attached to a be spring type thing. It was called the slingshot for a reason. These guys shot up in the air about 450 feet with squeals of curse words a mile long mixed with peals of laughter. It was too funny to watch. You couldn't pay me a million dollars to get on it let alone convince me to give someone money to do it. We had lunch at the park and met truly amazing families and kids. It was a bit overwhelming. What beautiful beautiful children. The spirits of these families are incredible. The children just make you want to weep when you see them with their special needs and how happy they are and the miracle that adoption truly is. We left the park at three and we were so close to Cincinnati we decided to drive there...when we were there we were so close to Kentucky we decided to keep on going. You know what's coming we just kept driving. DH's brother is working in Jamestown Kentucky which is close to Tennessee and he has never met Emily and well we couldn't possibly be that close and not go see him. It's been a while and it was so nice to have a few hours with him anyway. He took us out to supper to a place called the Porch. (Oh Vic if you're reading this we left in such a rush I don't think we actually thanked you for supper....thank you thank you thank you)....we ordered deep fried dill pickles...sounds grouse but you know what I liked them. Couldn't eat anything in China but bread up a big ole pickle and I start to drool. The best part

was the Karaoke. The whole time through dinner all the older people in this very small town filed in with their Karaoke cd's in hand and one by one proceeded to sing. They actually were pretty good I thought. A few duds but for the most part I really liked it. Did I mention Emily was a brat...that's another story. We went to see DH's brothers big D A M project he is working on and DH thought he would let DHB drive. Oh baby the tears flew. She did warm up after a while but it was too bad cause she really is cute and doesn't usually chuck food, slap our faces, yell when people are trying to sing Karaoke...you know the drill. It really was great to visit. We did pay for it though. We didn't get back to Dayton until a little after 1:00 and well then Emily was toast for about an hour but at about 3:00 we dosed off until 7:00 cause we had to be at the church by 7:00...yawn....Have a look at the pics ...oh I also stuck in one of the project Big Bro is working on...pretty incredible....hope you enjoy. Mama....on the road out.

On the Road Again Day Three

Happy Birthday to Me....Happy Birthday to Me.....Happy Birthday Dear Jewwwiiiiiiieeeeeee Happy Birthday to Me! We were up and on the go at 9:45 not too bad considering. Emily slept well last night because there was a crib available and no need for the pen. When we pulled out of the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Emily fell immediately asleep. Gotta love that cause it is easier on her for the travel. She has been a trouper with the drives. Pennsylvania was pretty as we drove through the little bit you see of it there were tons of vineyards. We finally hit the border of Ohio at a bit past 11:00. The food on the road is pretty grouse and we've chewed up nearly a box of Zantec well not the whole box but next to China it's the worst my stomach has felt. So we are in the car almost to Dayton and well we pass an antique mall now I told my DH you know that it is my birthday it would be nice of you to stop. "Oh I'm sorry hon did you want to stop". Ladies you know all of our husbands do it well probably 80% of them zooming by at 140 kms per hour. Hee hee two exits down there was two more bwahahahahaha.....he said "I'd love to stop". Oh my glory. This was like the silk market of antiques. DH had to make some phone calls and I went in with Emily. When Mike came in he said he expected me to be lying on the floor spinning around in circles and well I almost was. There were 800 vendors!!!!!800 cubicles!!!!!800 cubicles filled with stuff that I love!!!!! What an incredible birthday treat. Two hours later they had to kick us out because they were closing but I found myself an awesome oak dovetailed box from England and a wooden spoon. Sounds lame I know....another box Julie....but you know me and antique unique boxes. Best birthday present ever. We checked into the Hampton Inn lovely lovely room. I am so spoiled. The princess and the pea. We went to the mall and then out to O'Charley's for supper. Great bun place. We just said keep em comin...please it's my birthday and I'm eating white bread....."she's crazy"!!! Oh my glory I almost forgot when we were walking through the mall there were Aqua Massage beds. Imagine a cross between Spock's casket on Star Trek, a tanning bed and a car wash all in one. You lay down the lid closes so all that is out is your head and then well the car was starts spraying your butt, neck, legs,feet it was heavenly. I didn't care what people in the mall thought who knows me here right....wrong...Emily does and thought the big casket thing ate her mother...and went ballistic. So my relaxing water thing was me saying "it's alright baby girl...I'm ok.....and talking to her and letting her slap me in the face while the water slapped my butt. Motherhood after forty I'd recommend it to anyone....teaches you to be flexible. All and all a great birthday thanks so much for the Happy Birthdays I got on the road it meant loads to me. I put in a pic of Emily at the dive of a Motel that costs a mission dollars and one of her asking to get in the crib....I can't figure this kid out! Mama down and out in Dayton.

On the Road Again I Can't Wait to Get on the Road Again - Day One and Two

Day One: We arrived safe and sound last night in Portland. We were later leaving the city because we needed to drop the trailer off to get a few things "done" to it so we were an hour or so delayed. Emily travelled really well and I found out that hey you can pee in your Crocs and it's ok! No I didn't pee myself although I might have today it was close. I took Emily to a bathroom in St. John that didn't have a change table and was a wee bit grubby so I just took her diaper off standing up. I heard "ahhhh" looked around and she was lifting one leg and then the other with puddles of pee on the floor and all over her dress. Not very lady like if you ask me. You should have seen the look on the people in the line up when I came out with a baby in nothing but a diaper. The drive was good but because of the delay we didn't land in Portland until about midnight. Now the Bangor Motor Inn is our usual haunt but well this was Portland. You guessed it. Holiday Inn...booked. Days Inn...booked. Ho Jo's....booked. Quality Inn ahhh...finally a room. I was very good and knew that God had a place picked out for us. Now the next time I'll pray for a room and a room that costs less than the Sheraton in downtown Ottawa! We were ripe for the picking....the guy watching porn on the computer when Mike walked in....well not really but almost I wouldn't have been surprised... gave him a crazy expensive price. What are you going to do when Mom, Dad and Baby standing there looking like dirt and you have the only room in town. I did manage to give him "the look" and get 10% off. I actually wouldn't have minded the price if (now those of you who have stayed at the Bangor Motor Inn will appreciate this) it didn't make the Bangor Motor Inn look like a 5 star Motel. Dump is putting it mildly but hey I'm not going to question God I'll pay my five bits and try to sleep. NOT...you see they couldn't get a crib and I had to use the playpen. Yes the dreaded playpen. This started a half hour scream fest. It was a king sized bed so we just brought her in with us which wouldn't have been so bad but someone must have been teaching her WWF wrestling cause about a half hour into the tossing and the turning it was an elbow slam to my head and a bum slam to the face and a finger up the nose...after an hour of this...yes that means it's now 1:30 I put her back in the pen. Scream fest number two. Oh and the good old barf started again. We tried to let her cry but at almost 2:oo in the morning in a motel that the walls are paper thin and a yard full of Harley's I decided to let Mike sleep and I got up with her. She ate, she drank she watched two episodes of the Cosby's and well with a dropper full of Tylenol (she has a molar coming in honest) at 4:00 we went back to bed. Finally at 5:00 she slept.
Day Two: Mikey looking me in the eye at 8:00 with Baby sleeping peacefully. God truly is amazing...honest and truly. We vowed not to complain about the room because we prayed and that is where God put us...so we sucked it up. I got three hours sleep but did the prayer that "I need to feel like I got twelve Lord" and viola felt fantastic when I woke up. We went to breakfast with the Harley dudes and dudettes. After everyone left we were there alone with an older couple. After idle chit chat it turns out that they are missionaries. He is a physician and volunteers for an organization in Guatemala to care for children who need medical attention. We had a good chat about our foundation Children from the Heart we are starting and our visit to Ohio to meet Tim and our vision for orphan care. God makes no mistakes what a great contact to make. We exchanged our email and will stay in touch. Never never never complain or question God. Everything for a reason. We drove twelve hours today. The baby did fantastic. Now she is here Body slamming DH again but he's actually enjoying it this time. Secretly we enjoyed it the last time. I decided to get an ice cap which in the USA is coffee with ice cubes....grouse but nothing two sugar packets couldn't fix. Now I don't drink coffee and you coffee drinkers need to let people know that it makes you well.....how to say this delicately....stop at every rest stop to run to the bathroom. Oh my aching backside. The sad thing was I didn't figure it out until I ordered and drank another one. It wasn't pretty. In one of the rest stops an Pakistan girl .....oh about 12 asked me if I was Chinese...Now I figured my eyes were permanently squinted after the 50th stop...and I so wanted to say yes but decided against it. Children are so cute. She then proceeded to stare and asked if my husband was Chinese...what is this the grand inquisition....no he isn't we travelled to China to adopt her. Mmmm....don't you have any real children. Yikes....real children....Poor Emily I hope that in time when she can understand what people are actually saying that maybe they will stop talking like that but I doubt it. She's as real as it gets baby. We're missing the kids today. It's different with just the three of us but we did enjoy the day. We finally arrived outside of Buffalo in the middle of a humongo lightening storm and well we got a room no problem and didn't have to sell anything to pay for it and we booked it to Denny's to cram in some breakfast food at 9:30 at night. Life is good on the road. We will arrive in Ohio....Lord willing at noon in time to shop for my birthday present. That's all from the road I am optimistic that Emily will sleep and can't wait to meet Tim and the rest of the families and see what God has planned. Keep us in your prayers and remember to keep praying for Jakie and if you see my friend Christopher tell him Happy Birthday...gotta love that guy.....if my kids are reading this we loooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeee you loads and will see you on Tuesday. Mama, Papa and Baby in the U S of A signing out.

Road Trip Day Eight and Nine ----Home At Last, Thank God Almighty I am Home At Last!!!

Whaaa.....Whaa.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....whaa......whaaa......whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ......zzzzzzzzz. I think you get my drift about baby girl over the past few days. Son #1 arrived safe and sound. We were shopping at the mall and I decided I must have a hair cut. You ladies out there reading this you know what I mean. Your fine one minute then wham the next if you don't have your hair cut within 5 minutes you'll cut it yourself. After the week I had I deserved it. Low and behold the second that the urge hit to my left was a hair place. In I went and again they just happened to have an appointment. Son #2 took the baby with the attitude and I was led to "the chair". About half way through the cut I actually took to time to lift my head and glance around and well look at the stylists (plural). Singing "on the eighth day of vacation my true love gave to me three obvious lesbians, two emo chicks and a goth lady cutting my hair!" A whole lot of pink, black and other various colored hair. Great just what I needed to end my week from H E double hockey sticks. Let's just say I was the hippest looking 42 year old in the mall. The boys just looked and God love them said..."ah it looks good Mom". Boys went to a movie and DH, Baby and I watched a movie on tv. Oh did I mention once the two other boys got there the baby went to sleep with just a wee whimper, stopped throwing her food so much and well went somewhat back to almost normal. Life just isn't fair I say. I wanted them to feel our pain but noooo not this time. The baby did wake up twice through the night and with Son #1 and I leaving early and Son #2 in the room with her all night DH took pity on him and didn't go golfing. Yes he didn't go golfing he spent the morning with baby girl. Gotta love that guy. Son #1 is all registered for university and we visited the flight school. What a great group. His instructors were young though ...... kind of like a bunch of boys playing a video game if you ask me. I pummeled them with questions and they did just fine with the answers. Son #1 can't wait and I'm really excited for him. I choose to not think about him flying...in spins and engine failures and all the other things they train him to fly out of. They said I'd be free to go up with him and well there just isn't enough happy pills in the world right now to make me do that. I get almost hysterical thinking about it. We pulled out of the campground yesterday and started for home. Praise God home never felt so good. With the exception I now decided to get insomnia. I believe God is testing me. Really and truly I am soon going to lose my sunny disposition. Just to let you know how out of it I am I went shopping for Son #2 today for his birthday. Loaded up the back of the van with his presents and headed to the Mall for one more thing. I moved all the stuff so it wouldn't get stolen and then walked in the mall with my hatchback wide open. God must have known I couldn't deal with this because I was in the mall for and hour and a half and everything was still there. Sitting in the back of my van with what might as well have been a sign that said steal me but it was all there safe and sound. What a feeling when I walked out of the Bay and saw my van hatchback open. Sinking sinking feeling. I went to buy a birthday cake and well proceeded to knock over an Off display. A gazillion little bottles sprawled everywhere. It could have been much worse and well I could have lost my testimony with the guy rolling his eyes at me like "stupid woman". How about this stupid woman clawing out your stupid eyes....just kidding...I smiled and picked it up with the help of the summer student who I am sure just merchandised the whole thing. I am on a 7 second delay so I'm not driving anymore tonight cause I nearly swiped three cars and I'm not exaggerating. It's good to be home....There's no place like home. Oh and an update on Baby girl. We walked through the door.....she ran for her toys......ran all over the house....put on her PJ's......kissed us all good night and is napping as we speak. Who'd of thunk it. We are going again in a week I'll have to load up on the happy pills this time. Anyway I'm home and boy oh boy it feels so good to be here. Mama sprawled out on the couch with the remote....signing off.

Road Trip Day Five, Six and Seven

Three words....Whaaaaaa.....Whaaaaaaa......Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.......get the picture. We arrived safe and sound in PEI...other than the dead crow no beg thang...but Baby Girl hates and I mean hates the play pen. I'm beginning to wonder if at the orphanage she was put in it for a time out or something because she goes ballistic just if I set it up. Day four and Day five were brutal. Monday was as bad if not worse than our first day at family camp. Finally at 12:30 I packed her and Andrew up in the truck and drove back and forth to North Rustico and not for lobster suppers. Finally she went to sleep. I parked the truck and in my haste opened the door lights blared inside and well I left the lights outside on so...ding...ding...ding...ding....panic....get everything closed...still sleeping. I gently placed her back in the hell pen as I'm affectionately referring to it by now and she was fine for about one minute. I of course in my panic not to wake her I bumped the d....a.....rrrrr....n thing and the screaming started all over again. She screamed for about 1/2 an hour and at about 2 finally went to sleep. I crashed hard. Trailers were packing up all around us the next day. We didn't have anyone near us by the next afternoon. I wish I could say she slept all night but like clockwork at first light which is 5:00 it started all over again. I just brought her to bed with me. The screaming I can take but the barfing that goes along with it is what sends me over the edge. She has learned that well if she screams loud enough she will gag and voila barf city. I do not know how single people do it. I'm not even really single cause I have Son #2 for help but whoa baby he's a good boy cause any other almost 16 year old would have run screaming long ago. I was determined to figure out the problem so I dug out the crib guard from our last trailer and jerry rigged up a bed and plunked her in it for a nap yesterday and well she only cried for about 2 minutes then went to sleep. I wasn't going to get too excited because she was exhausted from the lack of sleep. I put her in it again last night and she slept well and tonight well not so great...we're about 1/2 hour into the crying but it isn't the hard core screaming it was all the other nights. This too will pass. In spite of all the screaming we did have a good time on the Island. All Son#2 wanted to do was shop so anything he wanted I was getting him...but those of you that know him well that just isn't something he is comfortable with but I did manage to get him a few things he was just lookin for the "deal". I bought a new shaker but Son #2 said it looked like 5 boobs on a stick...once I looked at it I realized that hey it did...so we have now renamed it the (all you Christians out there plug your ears)....the tittie shaker. hee hee. Let's just say it isn't something I can even play now without busting a gut laughing...so you won't see it in church unless I can reshape it somehow. Shame cause it sounded great. We rehooked the trailer for the first time today. It actually didn't go too bad. A couple of hiccups but we figured them out. We must look like knobs with our little notebook of instructions I've scribbled down. I missed an exit and had to pull a U-turn which was interesting...and well I took a wrong exit and actually got lost. I was on a back road and well figured we'd be in Doaktown before I would find a place big enough to swing the truck and trailer around and said as much to Son #2. Voila biggest church parking lot in NB I'm sure. God in all his sovereignty placed that church there just for us about 30 years ago that's my story anyway it was cute Son #2 said "God is good Mom..." you betcha. When we arrived this man said wow...my wife would be too afraid to drive something that big...again...no she's not stupid enough to! I am getting the hang of it though and actually backed in with only two tries this time. I will however let DH drive it back on Sunday. I just want my cruise control back. We are in NB now and DH and Son #1 will join us tomorrow. It will be nice to have my boys back together even if it's only for a couple of days. Please pray for DH's dad who is back in the hospital again with fluid on his lungs. Pray for safe travels for DH and Son #1 tomorrow. All's well on the road...I hear little snores and I finally have internet access to update y'all. I'll post prom and graduation pic's when I get back on Sunday. Monday is Son#2's sweet sixteen. Hard to imagine. That's all from the park...trailer park that is....Mama out!

Road Trip Day Three and Four

Well we made it to PEI safe and sound. Family camp was great but DH was "some tired". He helped out in the kitchen for the weekend. We didn't see him much but the food was yummy and he was a blessing for the girls in the kitchen. Baby girl finally settled down and slept in the pen yahoo. We thought we might have to cut the trip short but no way baby....we are on the road. It's a mother, son and daughter road trip. DH was so tired he missed the exit to Woodstock, missed the exit to turn around to make the exit to Woodstock and well then apparently a crow hit the car....now I know that seems hard to believe that he would hit a crow...no the crow hit us....do you understand the crow hit us....I took the keys and drove most of the way back to Moncton! Thunder and Lightening a go go though. We set the trailer up a bit crooked...good thing because the trailer people forgot to caulk the bathtub...we had slight water issues. Nothing too serious though. DH was up bright and early trying to find a place that sold some this morning. Let's just say I look like a camping hag and could use a shower desperately but I have my make up on baby! I'm at an Internet cafe right now. Getting many many looks about whose the lady with the rats nest on her head. For those of you who have camped with me before....just think of what I looked like in the morning and I am actually out in public like this right now...it's kind of fun. I do have my lipstick on though I'm not completely a bohemian right now. Son #2 and I drove, backed in and set up the trailer. Took 50 attempts to get the trailer perfect on the lot...my perfectionism was a pain today. We did just fine. A couple even came and told us how "brave" we were...I thanked her but said it was more like stupid than brave. We're here in PEI for a few days and we are going to do all the PEI stuff while we are here. I'm looking forward to the adventure. So far every day has been one. Well I need to leave this computer right now before someone I actually know walks into this establishment. It's Mama from the Internet cafe saying so long for now.

Road Trip Day One and Two!

I headed off for a summer road trip on Friday. I guess that was yesterday. It's been the longest two days of my life next to Beijing! We bought ourselves a new trailer and I must say that I do love it. However, it didn't look as big unattached to the truck. The trailer salesman sort of spooked me about driving it because he kept emphasising the "sweeping turns Julie or the trailer will come through the back window"....no problem I said. So off we go 1:30 yesterday afternoon headed to drop Son #1 off at camp for the summer and we were booked in for a weekend of Family Camp. DH had to work for most of the day so he was meeting us in Hartland about a 5 hour trip away. We were to drop the trailer in Moncton to head back there for Sunday night. Off we go, myself and Son #2 driving the trailer and Son #1 and baby girl in another vehicle following close behind. First stop Irving Big Stop to fuel up. I had thought very long and hard about how to get through the pump without blowing up said Big Stop by shearing off the pump with the hind end of the trailer. I would be fine...NOT. When I pulled in first wide sweeping turn went fine. Heading for the pump straight in not a problem. Wait....two red neck hairy dudes in a BD Stevens truck sweep in and steel my pump. For a second I think about running over said truck however I am now blocking all the pumps and the entrance so I make a snap decision to go to the middle lane pumps. Mistake. Let's just say when I pulled the truck to the right the trailer went to the left just in time to nearly run over Son #1 as he was frantically waving me to stop. I missed it by oh about 6 inches. Now I am cross ways in the island. Remember the hairy red neck guys now in their wisdom they have moved from the pump they were in and have parked about five feet behind the trailer. As they say in Nascar officially boxing me in. It was about this time I nearly lost my testimony and dragged said hairy guys by the fur onto the pavement but I swallowed the urge and a few choice words I was trying not to think. I would back up a foot....they didn't move.....go ahead a foot....closer to the pump. Now bear in mind that we are three minutes from home. I looked in the window of the Irving and saw two horrified cashiers with their hands covering their mouths I'm sure stifling a scream and preparing to bolt as I was preparing to blow up Enfield. God is good though. A nice man was driving by saw the Kafuffle...and actually turned around at the weigh station and drove back. He approached the truck like he was approaching a pit bull...."Mam are you alright". "Oh I don't know I've jack knifed the new trailer in front of about a million people or so it felt and not exactly sure what to do. I just kept this voice in my head saying....be calm...look like you know what your doing...be confident....."No sir I am not alright". "Can I help"? Yes please. "Now I can talk you through it or I can do it....it was the quickest I handed the keys to my vehicles and well poor Son#2 was still in the van..."don't mind the nice stranger". It was about this time I realized Son #1 had been out of the van which I couldn't see and I remembered we had a baby. I instructed Son #2 to get out of the truck. The nice stranger sent by God in a nano second had everything straightened out....he even said the bad things I couldn't about the hairy ape men. I wish I could say it ended there. About this time Son #2 was yelling for the keys to the van because the baby was well sweltering in the heat. It was about this time that Son #1 through the keys up in the air and proceeded to land them on top of the trailer. Yes you read right on top of the trailer! So after the climb on top of the trailer we were on the road again but after I had a mini meltdown in the Irving parking lot. Now I was hyperspooked. I wasn't stopping again until Moncton. Four stops later after eating a three piece KFC, a Tim's, changed a poopy diaper, a bathroom stop so Son #1 could pee in a marsh...which for the record I told him it was a marsh but what do I know. Now he's driving in his bare feet, it's three hours later and we have reached the NB border Whooo hoooo. By the time we arrived in Moncton, parked the trailer and got that settled well it was 6:30! What a joke. It was so late that DH had made it to Moncton and he left Halifax at almost 5:00. Mercy. We arrived in Hartland at 10:30 yes 10:30 nine hours later, nine hours for a trip that should have lasted 5 max. At about 10:15 Emily started to barf in the back seat. By the time we arrived at camp and our van was stopped she had snuzzled up to me wiping much puke on me. We went into the cabin and washed up the baby the baby woke up and well did I mention she hates the play pen. Poor thing must have thought that we were going to leave her because by 2:00 she was still awake. After rocking, laying down, trying to put her in the bed...nothing worked but DH finally did the job. At 5:30 she awoke howling again well and in our bed she went. She went back to sleep and was rudely awaken by the drop she took from the bed when she slid between the bed and the wall to the floor....just about the time Son #1 fell out of bed with a huge thud waking Son #2 instantly up on his feet. Good Morning and welcome to family camp. That was the end of day one and the beginning of Day two. We did have a great day but well baby girl won't sleep in the pen. She finally went to sleep when we realized the camp speaker was attached somewhere in the vicinity of her window. Every fifteen minutes...."attention family camp campers"! Whaaaaa Whaaaaa.....zzzzzzzzz....."The pool is now open"......whaaa whaaa....I think you get my drift. Apparently she threw up again because when Son #1 went in to finally get her he slipped on it dragging it everywhere. Sigh....She loved the slide, I won one and Andrew won one in horse shoes, speaker is great, music is really good....fellowship is nice, desserts are great cause DH is making them....food...well I love camp food and the whole meal snack thang...I move the pen to a different quieter spot and right now baby girl is fast asleep. I pray that she stays that way until at least 7:00. That's all from the road we are back to Moncton tomorrow. I'll keep you up to date on our adventures along the way....Mama...oh mama needs sleep on the road signing out.

Up Up and Away!

Well I'm finding myself just a wee bit emotional this month. Happy but bawling all the time if that makes sense. It's all Son#1's fault really. He grew up. When did that happen! How did that beautiful little boy turn into such a fine young man? How did it creep up on me so fast? This post is dedicated to my boy who no longer is a boy but an incredible young man and we are so proud of him. He's in his final stages of high school eagerly anticipating his move to camp and then school. I don't feel bad because he is excited because I remember vividly the day I moved to go to university. I was on my own. I was beginning my life seperate yet still attached to my parents. It was some of the best years of my life. I am so excited for him! The pictures you're seeing are two lasts and a first! His last band concert for Grade twelve last week. Great night. The group picture is the Grade twelve graduating band class. I am so pleased that he stuck it out in band for the time he did. I say stuck it out he really did love it and is now a great trumpet and french horn player. I'm a wee bit sad that he won't be playing at university but he'll have enough on his plate. My prayer for him now is that he uses that awesome singing voice for the Lord that was given him. I won't dwell on that cause he get's it enough from me all the time...in God's timing. I know I know. We went to the co-curricular awards night and he won AV team member of the year. Matt leads the AV team at school which doesn't seem like much but they logged over 1000 hours preparing for any special event that takes place at the school. He led the team this year as a beginning leader and his team won club of the year which is the picture with the "big" trophy. We were so proud of him and he was so proud of the AV team. Finally, the first. Son#1 went to meet his instuctors a couple of weeks ago and well they let him fly a plane. I will never forget the call I had with him after it was over! He got to take off and fly around for about a half hour. The great thing was they let him take his girlfriend and her brother with them. So nice he had others to share this time with him. So yes I'm sad. Yes I am shedding some tears. Yes I am going to miss him loads but like the song says I loaded on this blog...
"Staring at the blank page before you....He is unwritten..(well actually God has it written Son #1 just has to figure it.....Let the son illuminate you...reaching for something in the distance so close you can almost feel it....Live your life with arms wide open...today is when your book begins the rest is still unwritten...."

That's it. That's why I'm so torn. I'm staring at his blank page before him and now I'm releasing him from our care to his own with our support and love and he's holding God's hand now and I just didn't think it would be so hard to let go. I know I have to and I know I have to rejoice in the job we have done and praise and thank God for giving us such wonderful children and well he's just our first to let go. Thank goodness I began letting go about a year ago or well I would be a total basket case right now. I do also think it's a control issue...I'm a control freak...oh I know...surprise surprise...right for those who know me well know I'm a total control freak. I will be praying for him, supporting him, rejoicing with him, continuously guiding him, loving him, laughing with him, definitely visiting him and handing him over for the purpose God put him here for no matter how hard that may be I trust....I continue to trust an incredible God.

A bit of an update on the critters....I"m sorry to report that the pheasant met his maker. He was killed before DH's very eyes at the foot of our driveway....went hurling through the air. DH stopped and picked it up and it died in his arms...sniff sniff...he chucked it in the ditch at the end of our driveway. DH said it was beautiful up close and so soft...I'll take his word for it cause I'm not touching it. Son #2 said last night that tonight Dad has to go bury the chicken at the end of the driveway....too stinking funny...chicken...that boy needs to start wathing the discovery channel. Well DH hopes something dragged it off last night. New critter...we have a hummingbird that is stalking me now. Do I have a hummingbird feeder...no because I'm alergic to wasps and well they attract them. Which is another story we have a big wasp's nest on our house up high enough we don't know how to get it as both of us are afraid of heights and well wasps...so pray that someone knows and can tell us how to get rid of the stupid thing before the two people alergic in the house are stung! Back to the hummingbird it hovers outside our window in the family room and just looks at me. It's like..."what'ch you lookin at"? Beautiful bird it just needs to get a life. Well that's it teary eyed Mama signing out.

First Mother's Day, Baby Dedication, Chocolate and Taranchulas

I'm back y'all. It's been a busy couple of weeks. Life really is fantastic right now. God is so good! Let's see....first Mother's Day as a family of five!! Friday night we went to Fan's with the other Mom's from China for a first Mother's Day celebration. It is awesome to see the babies grow. The kids are so great. I was up early cause we were playing at church this past weekend. When I came downstairs there was a fantastic breakfast cooked for me complete with menu's, yummy food, and awesome kids. Both wrote me awesome notes. Son #1 wrote me the most beautiful sonnet and Son#2 wrote me the most beautiful poem and baby girl was just there with her cutie patootie face. The kids got me a writing desk but really what touched me was the time they took to put what they felt for me in writing. I was truly blessed. Mother's day was also the day that we dedicated Emily at church. There was 27 babies dedicated! How incredible is that. A set of triplets, which were too cute and baby upon baby upon baby. It was special to be included in such a large group. It was a long time to be standing on stage though. It was nice to look out and see the faces of the friends, our family and the church family that has been such an incredible support for us. Family, Friends and church family who could ask for anything more! Now for some Chocolate....baby girl loves chocolate. We gave her puddin...tonight. Too funny we just put it on her tray and gave her a spoon. She loooovvvvveddd it as you can probably tell in the picture. However, let's just say she was a wee bit hyper. Now for the new critters. Now I call it a new critter even though it was an insect. Well I should say they were insects. Yes my title gives it away. We have spiders. Not little spiders but spiders that stare you down when you see them. They stare you down, circle you as if to say....oh I dare you to try and kill me! First it was the one above the front door. The one that you had to run by to get in the house. My husband came to my rescue on that one. Then there was the one that fell out of the electrical switch when I removed it. Luckily it met it's spider maker sometime last year cause it fell apart into a gazillion pieces. Then there was the one on the steps that when DH killed it you heard it's backbone snap I swear all the way upstairs! Finally, there was the one I inadvertently killed with the Costco 20lb bottle of dishwasher soap when I accidentally placed it on it's monstrous head. When I pulled out the bottle it fell to the floor. One of it's leg that I accidentally tore off was like a crab leg. It was so big it I could see the joint from the big thigh to the spindly part of the hairy leg. It was I kid you not about 3/4 of an inch long....the one leg....shiver.....Where did these things come from and how are they getting in the house. All I can say is if you don't hear from me again it's because I woke up with one on me and had a heart attack. DH says their good because they eat bugs....obviously like me these things need to go on a diet cause they's eatin too much!!I'm also losing my mind....as if you all didn't know it. My poor friend Amy and my favorite baby boy Cam were going to go swimming with us but dummy Julie...sent them to the wrong pool. Can you believe that oh yah...Amy we would love to swim with you just meet us at the Dartmouth Sportsplex...we won't be there but you haul your butt there. I felt so bad....good thing Amy's a good head cause well others would have smucked me in the head.Well American Idol's on and I must go watch. Even though Lakisha's gone...bunch of dummies. American Idol Mama signing out!

Doing and teaching

I saved these two images to my computer to remind me that we are to be as Christ. Christ did and Christ taught. For those of you taking my P23 study thanks so much for the blessing it has been for me. The teaching part I have thoroughly enjoyed...This week God has been pressing upon me the doing. If you look at the young girls face above...it is an indication of the beauties that are currently waiting in China. Many wait in vain as there is just such a huge need. All too often we know or sense that we are to do something. What usually happens is that through our indecision we end up doing nothing. I made a vow this year that I would cease to do this. That in order for my life to move forward towards what God's plan for my life is it won't happen as long as I stand still. I don't think it says anything in the bible..."seek yea first the Home and Garden channel"...or "seek yea first the computer"...no God says "seek yea first the Kingdom of God". I am humbled by what God has been teaching me lately. I had the opportunity to go see the Watoto Children's Choir last Sunday. INCREDIBLE!! A group of orphans from Uganda travelling the world singing of God's incredible hand on their lives. What an incredible ministry this is in Uganda. God placed on our hearts when we were in China to begin doing something for the children waiting and left behind. The Watoto orphanage villages in Uganda are an incredible example of when Christians act as Christ acts and truly "cares for the widows and orphans". These children said that they had no hope and once they went to these villages they received the hope that only Jesus gives. God has a plan for the lives of the orphans in Uganda and I believe with all my heart that He has a plan for the children left behind in China. Mike and I have made the decision to pursue a trip to Uganda putting together a missions team to see first hand how this holistic approach to raising orphans is working. Please pray that if this is God's will that the finances and doors will open to travel and that the Lord would reveal to us the others who are to go with us. Also please pray that as I begin working on the proposal for the Chinese government that they would open their hearts to this kind of orphan village and that the children's spiritual needs will get the approval of the gov't and moral teaching would be allowed in this country. God is moving and we are attempting to do that which we believe He would have us do. I will keep you updated on our progress.

I'll move onto other things now. Emily struggled a bit with me being away. Four days was hard on her. I've noticed since I've been back when I put her to bed now she cries a bit and she is clinging. However, while I was away she did great. A good friend looked after her for to mornings - praise God for friends- and Emily did great. I had to work this week one day and spoke at a ladies conference this weekend so I am looking forward to relaxing this week. It has been a busy busy two weeks. We went swimming this week. We all ended up in the hot tub because...well...one of the kids had an "accident" in the pool. Poor Bernice one of the Mom's in our group was in the pool after it was "evacuated" and was wondering...."where have all the people gone"...when she got the news! Let's just say I'm sure her feet didn't even hit the bottom of the pool before she was out. So the whole pool was closed down...because of the "incident". Son #1 has me addicted to Vanilla Milk thingys at Starbucks...so stinking good! Can you tell I'm excited he works today so I can get one yum yum...I'm gonna miss that kid when he moves. Where has the time gone. My #1 is moving away...how did that happen. When did that happen! He such an incredible young Godly man...both my boys are. Love em love em! I have a praise item this week at the top of my list is that a dear friend of ours finally finally got the call from the RCMP (no not that call) He wants to be one not run from one...He is leaving Mother's day which is kind of crappy for his wife and cutie patootiest baby boy ever...but God has been so faithful to them and we are so proud of him and can't wait to see him in his Red Outfit...Well I guess they call it something more manly than an outfit but you know what I mean. Well that's it for now I'm going to nap while Emily is napping...yes I've been reduced to a napper but I'll take it...snore...snore....Mama out.

Ladybug sighting, Easter Girl and a bit Homesick

I'm away in Calgary at the moment missing my family but thought I'd take the time away to update my blog. I love the ladybug picture of Emily and she was a princess on Easter morning. What a time to get my two big kids excited for me so I could have the "perfect" Easter morning for Emily's first Easter with us. It was a wee bit chaotic....let's just say two days after Easter I realised that she didn't open her Easter basket...now what kind of a loser is that for a mother...too funny. Let's just keep it our little secret! I have been in Calgary on business for the last few days...I know I know...it was unavoidable and God has been so good to meet me in my quiet time here. Once I got here. For those of you that know me know I hate to fly. Without my happy pills I am a bit of a basket case. Well top that off with a bit of stress from leaving. Did I mention I have an incredible husband who supports me in all I do and is an awesome Dad! Back to the flight. I'm on the plane and I had to buy business class because the plane was booked so it was nice to be in the big seat. It's funny what I think about during turbulence. What kept coming to me is "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me" and since we're going to crash "Thank you Lord my laundry is caught up". How crazy is that since it is actually what went through my mind. Now the turbulence lasted for an hour yes an hour. It started right at the beginning of the flight and didn't stop and well my happy pills were in my purse...IN THE OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT! What was I thinking. Twenty minutes into the bumping around I could feel my face on fire...I'm sure I looked like a big red tomato. I just repeated...the LORD is my shepherd. For an hour I prayed, praised, cried, worshipped and realised that through the bumps is when our dependence on God jumps into high gear. Now the good news is I fly back tomorrow...pray for me y'all that the flight is smooth...I've had enough bumps this week now let's hope God agrees with me...Mama on the move out.

They're Back Just in Time for the Probiotic Challenge!

One of the things I was so looking forward to when moving to the country was the peace and quite and living with the wildlife. That was before the wildlife took over our life. It started when we lived in Fall River and put up with the attack owl, ghostly loons, suicidal rabbits and well just stupid hosta eating deer. That was the old house. This is a new lake with new critters. There is the ancient deer path that runs across our driveway. You know, kind of like the elephants in Africa well we have a herd of deer in Oakfield. What this means is anytime day or night you may round a corner only to have four or five deer jump in front of the vehicle. I've threatened to have one of our friends bring their gun during hunting season....bwahhahahaha...kidding, kidding.....well not really. Next we contended with the nervous, insane racing pheasant. Yes every so often it runs in front of the vehicles straight down the middle of the driveway at about 40 km's per hour every two seconds turning and looking over it's shoulder with a look of sheer terror in its eyes....just get off the road...crazy bird! Squirrels love to torture our dogs dropping nuts on their heads and well the loons are back. The Canada geese arrived last week....honk...honk...honk.....all hours of the night only! Good thing they are protected like the attack owl was or there would be a few less Canada Geese flying south in the fall. We have a colony of bats that live in our back yard that comes out at dusk. Sort of like Transylvania out back. They love to eat bugs so I'll put up with them as long as they keep eating bugs. However, nothing is as bad as well I'm not really sure what they are. I say they because there are many many many of "them". At about 12:00-1:00 in the morning what seems like hundreds of well let's call them jungle birds perch in the trees outside out window and well make jungle bird sounds most of the night. Now we have gotten used to them but I've also gotten accustomed to the quiet of the winter night. Well spring is here and well the critters have returned. Nearly hit four deer leaving the driveway, the loons are apparently mating, the geese well I'm not sure what they're doing maybe rebuking the loons for mating....who knows but they aren't doing it quietly and well the jungle things are back.....mmmmm....country living. Now that my sleep is disrupted by the critters I can sort of live with this however what is really killing me is probiotics. What is it you say....I wish I had known about a week ago. Son #1 asked me to take the probiotic challenge. It's a certain bacteria that is added to yogurt that is really really good for your bowels. My bowels were just fine thank you! That should have been my first clue! Just eat this yogurt for 14 days and your better than new....right? Maybe? Two days into this I asked Son#1 to look and see what it does to a person. Well warning probiotics may cause bloating and diarrhea. I can confirm that you can change the may to will!! I'm sure my bowels will be fine as will the rest of my family because well you fill in the rest. Mama bloated, sleepless and well belly grumbling signing out.