Simple Hobby Homesteading

Hello everyone, I’m Jhenna. I’m not an alcoholic, cutter, anorexic, or compulsive liar. I am quite simply a wife and a mother of two boys who admits that I have been defeated. It’s not a flashy or dramatic story as is the case with many other support group stories but it is mine and that has to count for something. Worn down, stressed out, deflated, depressed, disillusioned, discouraged, tread upon and exhausted.

It has shown vibrantly through my actions, words and overall demeanor in the past. My kids have taken the brunt of it because they are the “blessed” ones who have spent the most time with me. Their “Mommy, mommy, mommy…” answered with a drawn out, exasperated and completely unkind “WHAT?” Their response without skipping a beat, “The sky is blue and you are pretty. Why does the dog’s booty smell icky… can I have an apple with no outside and the red berries?” And me, what was my response “Oh that’s cool, now go play while I finish this email.” This was my life for too many years when my boys were young. No time or patience for their inquisitive and many times frustrated minds.

I would escape to 12 and 24 hour shifts at work (Air Force) just to be free from their constant demands, stories, ramblings, requests for seemingly endless conversations and the neverending bottoms and noses to wipe.

I was active duty military for much my sons’ lives up until my youngest was 5 and oldest 10 years old. They saw me treat everyone I met with a big smile and glad conversation while they got the leftover, tired and worn out mom.

There were always spurts of “fun mom” with trips to the movies, parks, Sea World, East Coast, West Coast and everywhere in between but they never got my consistent best. Nope, that was saved for acquaintances, coworkers, strangers and friends. My husband didn’t even get my best. God surely didn’t get my best. The worst part… I willingly gave everyone who mattered the least in my life my best, and happily even! How screwed up is that? Totally.

What changed? How did my priorities straighten out? How did my life turn into God first, husband second, kids next, and everyone and everything else lining up there after? I was defeated. Spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally I was knocked out and it’s the best thing that ever happened to me and for me.

To be rebuilt… to be reborn… one must be broken down, one must die to self. I didn’t get any seconds or minutes in heaven so don’t look for me to write a book about it (can you sense any sarcasm?). In fact I don’t remember many of the particulars about the time I was steadily broken down but I do remember the loneliness, the shame and being very aware of the utter depravity that is born into all people, myself included. It was all very clear and apparent. I saw how my behavior and demeanor affected my relationship with those I loved most… God, my husband, and my dear children.

I was yelling and God took my voice so I could yell no more. For some time after my stroke my face was numb and I couldn’t speak well. I slurred, stuttered, and became so frustrated that I just didn’t talk when we were out in public unless I had to. However, at home, in the safety and loving arms of my family I kept at that whole talking thing. Practicing, hoping I would regain some feeling in my face, tongue and jaw muscles and finally sound “normal” again. One night I was giving my son a bath and I asked him “D-d-d-d-do you w-w-w-w-a-a-a-nt a w-w-w-w-ashc-c-l-l-o-o-th?” He looked at me and simply asked “Why did you say washcloth 3 times mommy?” I cried. I was so frustrated and did not see why this was happening to me. After I recovered feeling in my face, tongue and jaw muscles I had already seen how my kids responded to a slower speaking mother who uttered fewer words and orders. A mother who took 5 minutes to get out the words “what do you want for breakfast?” but didn’t give up getting that sentence out. They flourished in patience and understanding at the tender ages of 2 and 7 years old. I quit yelling, I patiently listened as they told and asked me things (not all the time, God knows I am not perfect and you all should know the same). I asked follow-up questions and became interested in what they were interested in. I faked it at first but then I became sincerely more interested as their faces lit up when we followed all those rabbit trails together!

Spiritually… well, truth be told I thought I was too busy for God. I had places to be, things to do, and plenty of other self-help books to read besides the Bible. Besides, I could handle everything on my own, with my own power. I was a good person and I didn’t really care what happened after I died because that was so far off in the future. I was smart, educated and had a great family and job so obviously God was smiling on me and blessing me to the max. In all actuality I was and still am a wretched sinner in need of a savior as I cannot do all for the glory of God without the Holy Spirit working in me and through me. Yup, non believers do good things but their motives are just off. For too many years my motives were selfish. A stroke is something that puts your “I got this life thing all under control” mentality to the test.  I was shown how much I needed the strength of the Holy Spirit when I felt an absolute emptiness in my heart and began to be open to the truth of scripture.

As I was filled I wanted to know more… and more… and more. I now learn from so many knowledgeable people in my life but always fall back on the truth of the Bible. That is my help book now… not self help but rather help despite myself.

I want my boys to know the truth and love of Christ and so I teach them… I surround them with people who want to raise them up in the love and judgment of God and saving works of Christ. I model behavior, words, and thoughts that show how we give all glory to God and how when he fills us up we overflow spiritual blessing and fruits onto and for others. I love, cherish, support, discipline and teach my boys through the strength of the Holy Spirit. I strive to be more Christlike each day and when I interact with or around my kids I am consistently thinking how I can be more like Christ to show them my hunger and thirst after glorifying God.

Practically this comes across as me taking time for my family, providing for them,sharing with others, doing for others, reading my Bible, telling others about the great news of the gospel, being compassionate to others, not gossiping, praying, thanking God, showing appreciation to others and being patient when my blood wants to boil over.

I always went 150 miles per hour burning the candle at both ends… I would burn out, get grouchy, blame others and crash. Then I would pick myself back up by my own bootstraps and go right back at it with the same consequences… I don’t seem like I was too smart eh! I was physically stopped in my tracks when I had my stroke. Left side paralysis left me stuck in physical therapy for almost two years. Seriously, I was putting little golf tees into holes for more hours than I care to remember. Ever try to pick up a coin off a flat surface when your hand just won’t do what you want it to do and then when the therapist looks away for a moment you slide it off the table quick and into your hand…ummmmm, nope, me neither. Picking little itty bitty microscopic safety pins out of a bin of rice isn’t as fun when you get nauseated with the intensity of concentration needed for such a task as is usually all sort of giggles and fun at every baby shower across the country. Ooh and then the physical therapist suggests you race your 2 year old son with stacking blocks and you have to report back the next week that he beat you every time and you were serioulsy TRYING TO WIN! Yup, that deflates the ego a bit. Not just deflates it but literally pops it and then makes you sit there and watch a two year old tap dance on it. Nice. I’m not bitter at all.

Guess what though, my kids were so patient with these exercises and they learned that I had physical limitations for a while. Boys that were accustomed to wrestling, tackling, and having a blast using me as their personal jungle gym learned how to be gentle, cuddle, and just be still while I recovered. We went back to wrestling around after I had recovered enough but those lessons still resound with me and my boys. They are able to take stock of the person, situation and environment and act accordingly. I learned then that sometimes I can’t fix their problems or issues but I can just be there with them and for them. Calmly and gently letting them know that I’m here.

Just the other day my 15 year old son had a cold. He hadn’t had one since last year or maybe even longer so I lunged at the opportunity to baby him a bit with honey tea, chicken noodle soup and wiping his forehead with a cool washcloth as he drifted off to sleep. Being comfortable in these gentle moments was learned by both of us when I was being broken down. I died to pleasing and doing for myself and others and worked at doing for God first, husband second, kids third and then others.

It glorifies God for a mother to care for her children and teach them about Him. God entrusted these boys to us. I’m going to do the best I can and I know I can do better if I don’t ever try to do it in my own strength. Always say goodnight to your kids each night. It doesn’t matter how old they are, always do this. If you are away a telephone call will work just fine. Tell them they are loved, appreciated, and valued. They are made in God’s image and entrusted in your care, don’t ever forget that. Slow down, put away the phone, iPad, or laptop and take the time to listen to them. Your “sure, let me see/hear” should be much more frequent than your “hold on, mommy is busy.”

I’ve got some quirks, I’ll admit that. In fact, my whole family has quirks… sometimes they drive us nuts and sometimes we all share the same quirk so we think it’s completely normal and sane. Don’t try to hide it… you have quirks too!

Three out of the four of us are full fledged germaphobes. Not the “ewwww all germs are gross” kind of germaphobes but rather “not a fan of people germs.” When giving a tour of our hobby farm I will grab up a goat berry (for those of you non-goaty people, goat poo is called “berries”) with my bare hands to show kids what they look like up close and how they differ from a rabbit pellets (rabbit poo is called “pellets”). OK, with that being said you can probably easily guess what the first quirk is…

1.  Be a germaphobe… you don’t have to be rude about it or make a big deal. It is as simple as not sharing drinks (is it really that hard to make sure everyone has their own bottle of water?), ice cream cones, and anything else that another person has put their mouth directly on or manhandled with unwashed hands.

My husband is not as much of a germaphobe as I know he’d drink and probably eat after any one of us in the family but he does like a good handwashing and never really liked public pools and buffets due to the suspected germ content.

How does this help with staying healthy? Well, just think about it. Often times we are ill before we really show many (if any) signs and symptoms and when we directly share food and drinks we are also sharing that bacteria, virus, and any other unmentionable bug that is just waiting to make us sick.

Our boys like to point out that I will not share a drink with Kevin but yet will give or receive a kiss in a heartbeat… what can I say, for a kiss from my love of 17 years I’ll throw all caution to the wind and I bet they will too when they get married!

2.  Wash your hands… Remember when I said I pick up goat poo… and rabbit poo… and… well you get the picture. Well, I am also a big fan of handwashing and make sure I wash my hands after such crazy behavior before I touch anything that will be touched by others or later by me (i.e doorknobs, animal feed bowls etc.). I also like to wear the thin surgical gloves when I’m working with particularly messy jobs (fecal tests etc.) and work gloves when cleaning horse and goat stalls, paddocks, and enclosures. I still always wash my hands whenever I come into the house from being out working around the farm. A vinegar and tea tree solution is used to wipe down door handles and faucets every other day or so.

My quirk in this area is the simple fact that I have taught our boys to wash their hands as soon as they come home from being out and about as well. Public places have some germy door handles and our woods have lots of poison ivy. Never hurts to give those hands a good ol’ washing! I do the same. The first thing I do when I walk into my house is go and wash my hands.

How does this keep you healthy? Washing away the germs brought in from the “outside world” **go ahead and shudder** significantly helps cut down your risk of common colds, viruses, and all sorts of other little illness causing buggers.

3.  Sanitize your dish rag… I know some folks who use a new dishrag every time they wash the dishes. My quirk isn’t that I don’t like doing laundry much but rather I found a way to use the same dish rag for a whole week! And it’s not even ewwwww! I just sanitize my dish rag before each use by wetting it down (if it’s not already wet) and popping it in the microwave. From what I’ve read you only need it in there for 30 seconds but I decided two minutes would make SURE all those nasty germs were dead so that’s what I do. Make sure the dishrag is wet when you put it in and watch out, it will be hot when you take it out. I use the same dish rag in this fashion for about a week, just keep resanitizing.

How does this keep us healthy? Kitchen towels and dish rags are total breeding grounds for bacteria due to moist damp conditions. Those nasty buggers transfer to your skin and dishes and before long they will make their way into your mouth or nose without you even thinking about it. Just think how often your hands go up around your mouth and it seems little kids can’t keep their hands OUT of their mouths to save their lives!

4.  Practice good hygiene…OK, this seems so darn basic and not even quirk worthy but seriously, some folks need the reminder abut how integral good hygiene is to keeping our bodies healthy. Our youngest son (10 yeasr old) is in the “I don’t want to take a shower” stage and it drives me bonkers on the inside. I am a shower every day kind of person and when our cistern is super full I’ll take a couple showers! My quirk is only a quirk because in this day and age I really don’t hear parents ensuring their kids are washing well. Well, I do…

Before my kids get in the shower I give a loving reminder to make sure they shampoo, wash their face, behind their ears, in between their fingers and toes, bottom of their feet and all the private places on their body. I get the “ok, sounds good mom” with a subtle undertone of “you tell us the same speal EVERY day, I think we know by now” that never gets verbalized (good thing for them… something like that would be considered disrespectful and earn some pushups in our home). When they hop out of the shower I have no issues doing a quick fingernail or behind the ear check and have been known to make them get back in the shower and “try again.” Yes, I do random spot checks on teeth after they brush and I often have them do a quick check on each other’s teeth and will have them rebrush or refloss if needed.

I explain my quirk like this… God gave us these bodies to care for in the best way we are able. We have been blessed with clean water in which to wash, great smelling soap to help enjoy the experience, and all the toothpaste and toothbrushes we could ever want to ensure our teeth remain in good working order. To do things “just good enough” or “half way” is saying that we don’t consider what God has given as important and worthy of our best care. It is our job while our boys are under our roof and our instruction to teach them how to do this well and the importance of it.

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Make it habitual now so they will continue and hopefully teach their kids the same.

5.  Eat healthy and eat often… So, what’s my quirk with this one? I eat constantly. I really love to eat. I love great healthy food and I love great unhealthy food. Yes, my kids and I eat donuts (those yummy little powdered kind and the white iced with sprinkles and many others), Doritoes, and many other “off limts, they are going to slowly kill you” foods. However, we also eat a ton of really good for you foods like fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. My kids devour homemade pancakes (made with majority whole wheat flour), turkey bacon, fruits and vegetables galore.

When cooking supper I usually put out a plate of fruits and veggies and the boys eat a ton while their taste buds start to tingle from a yummy supper cooking. At that moment they are “starving” and will try just about anything I put in front of them… I choose fruits, vegetables and cheeses for them to fill their tummies. Sure, sometimes they aren’t as hungry for dinner but I’m not complaining that they filled up on vitamin and mineral packed fruits and vegetables!

We also eat often at The Shepherd Hobby Farm. While we are working outside in the summer and fall we often stop for breaks and check out the garden or berry bushes for a snack. I just love munching on freshly picked sugar snap peas, black raspberries, and slicing up a cucumber while watching the horses play in the paddock! While inside, we graze on mostly healthy fare though we do love some of those “horrible foods” as well and find balance is the key.

Stay hydrated… we do this by drinking a lot of water and limiting sugary drinks. Our youngest son tried soda (Sprite if I remember right) once when he was at a friend’s house and has never wanted to try it again. However, he does love Minute Maid lemonade in the can. Our oldest son (15 years old) likes pop but drinks mostly water. They are each allowed 1 soda (or lemonade for our youngest son) per day. The rest is water.

How does this help keep us healthy? Our energy is kept at even levels because of the foods we eat as well as how often we eat. Plenty of water ensures our bodies are able to function at the best of their ability and keeps things “regular” in the system. Both of my boys get headaches easily if dehydrated so that that is something we always need to watch. If the boys are sitting still they know to always have a glass of water close by to drink!

6.  Exercise… I really love to exercise. However, I love it even more when I trick my body into thinking it’s day to day living and not a concerted effort to “exercise”. Carrying five gallon buckets of water to animal enclosures, chopping and stacking firewood, spreading mulch, cleaning out stalls, paddocks and enclosures, housework, exercises with the kids… I try to think of it all as either a game or a way to go about daily living.

The boys and I like to do family exercises together and usually end up in a heap laughing towards the middle. Who am I kidding… I can never get past a couple sit-ups without the boys laughing hysterically at my complete inability to do very many sit ups. I’ve never been good at sit ups and I really don’t care to get any better. I’m a push up kind of lady. Then there’s jumping jacks… seriously? I’m horrible and my youngest son isn’t the best either so we are always begging my oldest son to let us in on his secret to expert jumping jacks. He’s not telling. Lunges down the hallways… yup we are pushing, shoving and racing to see who can do it the fastest but still keep perfect form… yup, kinda a quirk… have to keep perfect form or it doesn’t count.

We have TVs for movie watching only (no cables, satellite etc.) so there’s no wasting hours upon hours on the couch mindlessly tuned into the latest and greatest show about a dysfunctional family or reality star wedding.

How does this keep us healthy? It keeps us moving and continously maintaining these amazing bodies God created. An active balanced lifestyle helps the immune system fight off any intruders much more effectively. Do I make our sons play organized sports? Nope. Do I offer? Yup. Do they take me up on it and play organized sports? Some seasons they do and some they don’t. We balance our activity with plenty of rest which brings me to my next quirk…

7.  Rest… I don’t need much sleep but the rest of my family certainly does! My body does really well and I am most comfortable with about 6 to 7 hours of sleep. My husband functions best on 8 to 9 and both of our boys need at least 12 hours of sleep to be at their best… physically, mentally and emotionally. The summer usually affords more opportunity for kids to rest and there’s absolutely no shame in bringing back the good ol’ rest time in the middle of the day! Everyone gets a book, settles down and even closes their eyes for an hour or two sometime during the day (parents, I know this may not be possible with work but what about the weekends?). Don’t get so busy busy busy that you don’t give your body time to rest and recharge.

What’s the quirk here? I guess the fact that I don’t need much sleep but perhaps also that I absolutely love to go to bed. When I hit my “wall”, that point where I can’t take another step because I am physically too tired, I seriously get excited to go to bed, it’s my favorite time of the day! I guess I should say night.

Because we eclectically unschool (type of homeschooling) our boys do not have bedtimes. They are able to stay up as late as they want. Our oldest (15) goes to bed pretty early, usually about 10pm, shortly after we do, while our youngest (10) is a total night owl. He loves to stay up late and sleep til’ noon or 1pm. I don’t mind as long as he is rested. If we have somewhere to go the next day I will let them know what time we have to leave and both boys are actually really good about kowing how much sleep they need and will get to bed accordingly. When they were younger we cetrainly had bedtimes as they were not mature enough yet to understand their own needs in regards to sleep.

8.  Lots of animals…I know many aren’t able to have lots of animals and I do not recommend lots of animals if you already are allergic to them. However, if you are allergy free try to get your kids around animals. All types… barnyard, typical pets, etc. Our kids have gorwn up with cats and dogs their whole life and for the past five years have had quite a few more animals to call their own. Not a single allergy of any kind with these boys. I have a mammal meat allergy but that is from a freak of nature lone star tick and his nasty alphagels!

Research shows that raising kids around animals leads to less allergies of all types later in life. The American Medical Association has released numerous studies on the subject supporting this fact in the Journal of American Medical Association (http://www.ama-assn.org/ama). WebMD agrees… http://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20070101/pets-may-protect-children-allergies

If WebMD says it then it has to be true, right?

So, every time I get another goat that they have get to help take care of I simply tell my kids, “it’s for your own good, you’ll thank me later when you don’t have any allergies.”

9.  Laugh, dont’ be so serious, stress less, give more… Play out in the rain, splash in puddles, go catch lightning bugs, everyone help with dinner, read a book together each day complete with funny voices for each character, go play with cats and puppies at the humane society, share cute jokes with each other and then make up your own, put the phone down, get away from the computer, pretend there’s no electricity for a day, make a scavenger hunt for each other, and the list goes on and on. Just relax, enjoy your family and chill out.

Stress in our bodies leads to a less effective immune system. Worry and stress are a vicious cycle that leaves no room for contentment and a servant’s heart. To want something or a situation that is out of your control to be a cetrain way is a slippery slope to idolatry and self-focused living. It leads to a hardened heart.

I hate to quote “Frozen” but “Let it go!” Don’t try to control others or uncontrollable situations. Guide your kids instead of controlling them. I’m not saying to “let go and let God” as many try to say… we still have responsibilities. However, if you are providing for those around you as best you can, being a partner to your spouse in a biblical manner, being present in each moment for your family and friends, working on your own right relationship with God full of repentence and dieing to one’s self then certainly LET IT GO (stress, worry, etc.)!

Let the pressure of work and people go, let the past mistakes go as you turn away from them and ask for forgiveness, let the money worries melt away as you look around and see you have life and all you truly need in Christ. Your time on this earth is going to be just a blink compared to your eternal life. Where will you spend that eternal life? Here’s probably my biggest quirk… I want you all to know what I know and I’m not ashamed to shout it from the rooftops! I’m a sinner (that’s not the quirk, we all are sinners), I need a savior, there is only one and we are told quite clearly it is Christ.

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me

 

Healthy living here on earth… I care to a point but know it’s not going to make or break my salvation. A healthy and right relationship with God, that’s what it’s ALL about.

 

You can drink green smoothies every day, exercise, always wear sunblock, wash your hands, and have the best job and family in the world but it’s not going to matter. You’re still a sinner, just as I am. Without a savior,Jesus Christ, you won’t be enjoying an eternal and everlasting life with Christ. Weeping, gnashing of teeth… Does that sound better to you? No thanks, not for me. That will be the lot for some and even the best physical body today isn’t going to help them one bit when that comes to unbelievers.

So, my quirks that keep me healthy and happy… yup I’ll keep at em’ but I’m not putting all my eggs in that basket. All of my eggs are going into my basket with my relationship with God because that’s the only one that really matters. As I grow and am filled with his love, compassion and caring Spirit I can pour out love, compassion, and caring to so many others. It is through that power that I am able to do anything and everything in my life with such unashamed vigor and zeal!

Another quirk… I’m really not a fan of top 10 lists (though I know I’ve made a couple) so I’ll leave you with 9 quirks that keep us healthy and happy here on The Shepherd Hobby Farm.

Happy handwashing to you all!

~Jhenna

 

 

 

Guess what… THIS Sunday is Father’s Day…June 15^th, 2014. Are you ready to party? Hold it right there… should we throw a big party on these “Hallmark holidays”?

If you were looking for a blog to get you out of any type of work, thoughtfulness, or kind words for your husband or father on Father’s Day then you have come to the wrong blog. I am all about taking the opportunity, every opportunity, to tell and show my father how much he means to me and my husband how incredible I think he is as a father. I just think that every day should have a bit of “Father’s Day” sentiment and that we shouldn’t save it all up for that one day in June.

With that being said it’s never too late to start some fun traditions. In our home we have a very simple tradition on days that celebrate a specific member of the family (birthdays, mother’s day, father’s day etc.). We make cards. Yes we get out the cardstock, construction paper, markers, crayons, stickers and anything else that we find around and we make cards. It’s fun to see my normally anti-crafty boys channel this side of their brains and oh how I long for at last one kid who wants to create scrapbook pages, quilts, cards, and the other multitudes of crafty items that my boys personally think are “the most boring and tedious projects in the world.” Boring… really? Apparently they’ve never watched paint dry.

*Note to self, have boys watch paint dry so there is something more boring than crafting in their opinion.

Ok, back to fathers and the Day of Fathers.  My husband’s opinion on the whole thing is that it is a Hallmark holiday and there is no need for celebration. He goes a step further to point out that he is not my father so there is no need for any type of celebration, gift giving, extra kindness, etc. from me… I should direct all of that to my father, who is actually my father and the natural recipient of MY Father’s Day wonderfulness. He’s got the same sentiments about Mother’s Day (I am not his mother so there should be no wonderfulness, other than normal day to day wonderfulness coming from him… it’s all on our sons)…  I’m still coming to grips with that (not sure I ever will, I am a selfish person… especially on Mother’s Day.)

I’ve met our sons… in fact I know them really well. They are not all about celebrations and meaningful remembrances of love and appreciation. At fifteen and ten they are usually looking for the easiest way out of, into, and around anything. Expert easy road finders, they won’t touch celebrations with a ten foot pole.  Celebrations=work and usually plenty of it. Couple that with the fact that they know their parents aren’t fans of extravagant purchasing and gift giving and what’s left is the horrible world of craftiness and creativity.

This year I’m forcing it on them though. They will be helping me make dad (by dad I mean my husband, their father… I refuse to buckle to his thoughts of what I should and shouldn’t do in loving wonderfulness for him on Father’s Day) a big breakfast (unless we go out to eat after church which I am sure my boys will suggest if I tell them of this plan ahead of time… so I’m not telling them) and then we will ask Kevin (aka “dad”) what he wants to do for the day. I’m guessing he will want to go on a bike ride (he and I do that every Sunday and he likes routine… oh and we need to train for a 535 mile ride), play a few board games (the boys and I love that, seriously, no sarcasm, we’re a gaming family), eat a big brunch (homemade, he’s not a big fan of restaurants), grill something for dinner, have a clean house (this would be the ultimate gift for him), family devotions in the evening, and see some cute cards made by his sons.

Now think about this folks… what looks different here from a normal day in our home? Not a whole lot. If my sons made him cards any other day you wouldn’t be able to tell this day from a normal day in our home (except for the brunch… Kevin would be at work). That’s the point. We try to live every day as it is a celebration of each other not because we are the most important things in life or on this earth but because we are filled with grace, humbled exuberance, and awe of what God has blessed us with, each other. God could have seen fit to never give Kevin and I children and Father’s Day would have been just for our own fathers. However, he gave us two amazing boys to raise up in His Word and teachings. This is why God made fathers, to protect and provide for the family and raise up and guide children to praise and glorify God!

This is what we strive for. Appreciating each other every day of our lives and finding ways to tell and show each other how blessed we are to have one another. There are so many people out there who have never known their fathers, had them pass away, or distanced themselves from their dad’s for one reason or another. Don’t use a Hallmark holiday as your one day to show dad (husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend…you know who fits that bill for you) how much you love and appreciate him. At the same time use Father’s Day as a fun day to celebrate a little extra how much you love and appreciate him.  Make him a card 🙂

Since I mentioned gaming I have to throw out a few games that you may consider purchasing for dad this Father’s Day to start a gaming tradition in your home.

I have to tell you nights and afternoons of gaming are so much better than sitting in front of the TV! Our family favorites are as follows…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Castle Panic (our favorite lately)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tobago

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Legend of DrizzT

 

 

 

 

 

 

Battlestar Glactica (yes, from the television series… we are that nerdy)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Age of Empires III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wings of War (Kevin and the boys love it, I’m ok with it… they always beat me)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gulo Gulo (Kevin and I can never seem to beat the boys at this one… great for ages 4 and up… not even kidding adults are usually worse at it than kids)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carcassone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Settlers of Catan (gotta love the ore, wheat, sheep combo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricola (you get to make a farm folks… seriously! And Kevin actually likes this one…. Score!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s Jet (a Simply Fun game and a god one)

 

 

 

 

 

These games can be found at Hobby Town USA in Evansville, Barnes & Noble, and of course online (Amazon etc.). We try to get a new board game every Christmas, birthdays, and sometimes Father’s Day. Start a collection folks, it turns into a collection of great memories!

 

 

Ever have one of those mornings where all you want to do is sit? I look around and see the kitchen table scattered with books, Wal Mart bags of groceries still needing to put away (hey, props for getting the cold stuff in the fridge right away), various soaps to smell and wrap for sale, papers galore (mostly soap recipes and “to do” lists that never got checked off because a newer better list was made when they got lost), and various cups and bowls (why we can’t each use our own same cup for the whole day traces its roots back to germaphobe tendencies).

But…the windows are all wide open and the rain is steadily falling and creating a rhythmic song that dulls my sense of sight and heightens my sense of hearing.

Disengaging my eyes, my ears take over and set my head against a lose fist with elbow propped up on one small open spot on the table I cleared just seconds ago.

Notebook and pen…check.

Cup of coffee…check

Engage coffee break… check! What am I taking a break from you ask? I don’t know… it was tough coming down those bedroom stairs and I gave the dog a bone. That totally deserves a break.

Axel bellows a few deep man dog barks (he’s only 6 months old, how can he do that?) to break me out of my rain induced trance to which I respond, “Axel stop it.” I don’t even know what he’s barking at because I don’t want to get up (go go gadget lazy legs). It’s probably the cat. The cat who was supposed to head outside last week to join the Mouse patrol but was given extra time in the house due to stormy weather and the thought that she may get too scared. Ummmm… the storms haven’t let up in 5 days! Is this cat controlling the weather?

Bah, I’m out of coffee… that does require one to get up and do something… get another cup… I’ll be right back.

I’m back… Epic doggy mommy fail. Axel was calmly sitting by the door waiting to go out. Now I feel bad that I told him to be quiet as he was doing just what we had trained him to do when he has to go potty. See, even professional dog trainers fail on occasion. Luckily he can hold it longer than 5 seconds nowadays and I was instantly forgiven with a pat on the head and opening of the door. He saw it was raining, looked at me, looked back at rain and was quite surprised when I shoved his big butt out the door. Quickest potty ever and he was back in.

I like to make lists so I begin another “to do” list when I sit back down… ugh all that moving was exhausting on a morning such as this… rain do you somehow steal every ounce of energy I stored up over the night? I don’t care, I’m good with that (perhaps that is the lack of energy talking?). Boys are still sleeping (in the living room… who knows how late they stayed up as they are both in really good books right now which they refuse to put down). Our youngest is reading a book full of Minecraft stories and our oldest  is launched into another World of Warcraft novel. They crashed in the living room last night so I get to watch a sweet Axel lay and “guard” them while they sleep… cute.

My “to do” list is done and just for fun I put a few things on there that I did yesterday so I can have a few things already checked off…it gets some momentum started (no, it’s not cheating… ok yes it is, I don’t care, the rain made me do it.)

Next up, I have to brave the weather and head out to tend to the animals. The goats are probably happily munching hay in the barn, horses are probably standing in the middle of the rain because they refuse to go into the barn during inclement weather, dogs are in the entryway because we think they don’t like to be wet (unless they are swimming), cats are all hiding for the same reason, I bet rabbits are doing what rabbits do (eat, drink and poop) and the chickens are probably waiting to be let out to pick through the treasures they find in the woods. Ooh, we have a new member of the farm! We started our guinea pig colony yesterday with a beautiful white long haired female guinea pig named Zelda! She’s super shy but sweet as can be and loves garden fresh lettuce!

Have a great day folks and thanks for reading my rainy day morning ramblings.

Jhenna

I’ve lived on this earth longer than my own mother did and I’m only 35 (at least I think I’m 35… right around there at least. After 20 I really stopped keeping track…born in 1978, you do the math.) I had 9 years with her and that’s longer than some have with their mothers but still seems not long enough for me. With each day the memories fade, her face is the one I see in the pictures I have and she’s changed… no longer the tired, hurried, stressed out single mother of two but rather an epic superwoman who never raised her voice, made amazing well balanced suppers, gorgeous hair and perfect makeup and whisked us away to fantastic summer vacations.

Truth be told I only remember one vacation with my mother (with our whole maternal side of the family in fact) and on that vacation she let us watch “Elephant Man” and she chased a bat around our cabin with a tennis racket screaming that we may all die from rabies. I had nightmares for years!

Perhaps the fading memories have always given me the opportunity to wonder… I do an awful lot of wondering and have ever since the day she suddenly died.

I wonder if I’ll ever see her again in heaven, knowing that I won’t care as I’m enveloped by the awesomeness of God which will sustain me completely… I still wonder.

I wonder if she knows that I only searched the crowds for her face for 20 years instead of a lifetime and if she’s disappointed about that.

I wonder if she’s mad that I haven’t cared enough to visit her grave more than once in my life and that I didn’t take any flowers…

I wonder if she knows that I found out what her favorite flower was only a year ago…

I wonder if she knows that in her death she created a bond between father and daughter that never would have come to be without her leaving…

I wondered for so many years what I did wrong to make her go away…

I wondered for too many years why God was so mean to take a little girl’s mamma…now I thank God for taking her.

I wonder if I’m wiser than she now that I have lived more years… I highly doubt it.

I wonder if she knew that I noticed how kind she was to people but at the same time how she could be one heck of a sarcastic little stinker…

I wonder why she never talked about Jesus to us and why I never saw her reading a Bible.

I wonder what her touch felt like because now I forget… her arms around me… a snuggle in the bed we shared for so many years because I didn’t want to sleep alone…

I wonder if she watched and heard from above as my brother looked at some kids playing and simply said, “I wonder if they know how lucky they are to have a mom”… good to know I wasn’t the only one wondering. I wondered the same thing but never would have said it out loud.

I wonder if my mom knows that I have horses and it was those years hanging out at the stable while she rehabilitated abused horses that sparked my intense and deep love for these animals. I wonder if she sees how free I am when I ride… free of sadness, free of missing her, free of guilt and totally connected with her very essence. I wonder if she would bury her face in the neck of a horse and breathe deeply, thinking there’s no scent so amazing and intoxicating. Yup, I do that.

I wonder if she knows I still vividly remember sitting on the floor in front of her while she rocked in an old wicker rocking chair and read my brother and me snippits of her diary. We always begged for more but she would never disclose the personal stuff… I wonder if that diary (reached novel proportions) will ever show up. I wonder if that sparked my love for writing…

I wonder if she thought I was silly when I stood on the stairs leading up to my bedroom the day we left to go to my dad’s for the weekend (we usually spent it at my grandparents with dad visiting us there) begging her not to make me go… it was the last day I saw her.

I wonder if in her death she knew that she created a bond between a brother and sister that few siblings will ever know.

I wonder why in the world she ever let me pack my own suitcase for the weekend trips to my dad’s house and why she ever bought me red tights and pink dresses (I seemed to love that combo together, ugh!).

I wonder if she knows that through her divorce she taught me to hold on to my own marriage tighter than anything else in life. I will never get divorced, about that I do not wonder.

I wonder what she loved so much about Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” and why I love it too.

I wonder why she never got me past the very first piano lesson book when she was always an amazingly talented piano player (the word pianist still always makes me giggle).

I wonder if she knows how many times I have listened to the recording made of her playing piano and singing in my grandpa’s church, just goofing around and having a good time with me, her sister, and her mother…

I wonder what kind of a grandmother she would be to my own two sons… would she insist we visit Wisconsin more often… would she come spend weeks in Indiana with us? I wonder if they would realize that I got me scatterbrained antics directly from her…

I wonder if she knows that the thought of her watching me from above kept me from doing a lot of stupid things growing up… now I simply wonder if she is in heaven…

I wonder if she knows that I have no idea the date she died, no recollection of her funeral, and I was coaxed out of grieving under a bed by a simple roll of pennies…

I wonder if she cares that I don’t celebrate her birthday with a big cryfest and some years don’t even really think of her on May 10th. She will always be woven into the very fabric of my life and being but I sentementality is not one of my strong points…

I wonder if she knew that I always respected her for working 2 and sometimes 3 jobs to support my brother and me. She’d take us with her to the laundrymat she worked at in the evenings and we’d do our homework, eat junk out of the vending machines and have races in the laundry carts. Those were actually really fun times!

I wonder if God shared my prayers with her…

Wow, I cetainly seem to wonder a lot. Mother’s Day is hard and glorious at the same time for me. I celebrate my own motherhood with two amazing sons but wish I could wrap my arms around the woman who gave me life and hear the story from her lips one more time about the day she welcomed me into the world and the crazy amount of hair I had. Hold your mothers close if they are still on this earth 🙂