Blogging Again & Catching Up

Wow! It’s been quite a long time since I’ve been here. A lot has happened.

Canada Geese Family '09

Around the farm, another Spring and Summer has passed. We had a great Purple Martin return and nesting season with almost too many fledglings to count. A wild pair of geese (Canada Geese) successfully nested and raised 4 youngsters to adulthood. We lost Lavinia a few weeks ago, our elderly and sweet cat. (She had a stroke last year and was successfully saved and returned to 95% of her normal self after treatment at the emergency vet and by our regular vet … Thanks to Dr. Eskew.)

We’ve adopted our Ady Bea, a retired racing greyhound … actually she flunked out of racing school (not for lack of speed, but rather lack of prey drive). We’ve taken her to basic obedience and therapy dog classes at Full Circle Obedience School and she just needs to be tested (and pass) this fall to be a certified therapy dog. I hope to be able to do therapy visit work with her in the future.  Our goal is to do the reading program with children *reading to dogs* with the Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma City.

Ady Bea '09

Ady Bea just turned 2 years old in August. She’s mellow, loving, so laid back … and still has just a bit of puppy left in her. She loves her stuffy toys! She loves to snuggle and *man oh man can she ever RUN*!!! She’s only barked maybe twice since we adopted her back in March. In a nutshell, she’s a joy! Oh, and her name … well Ady means *noble & kind* and Bea means *blessing*. Those terms describe her perfectly and a better name for her simply doesn’t exist.

Our family has been very busy since I last posted. Our daughter, Amanda, and her husband, Ryan, had a great loss this Spring. Then in July, Amanda required major abdominal surgery. Thankfully, she is almost fully recovered and her surgeon and the staff of Integris Baptist Medical Center did a wonderful job of caring for her. We are so very thankful. Thank you to everyone that kept Amanda in your thoughts and prayers.

Knitting and spinning have been non-existent for several months. I’m hoping I’ll get back in the swing of both of those soon!

We now sponsor 11 children through Compassion (8) and Children’s Hopechest (3). Five of these children are orphans. Their letters to us are such blessings and it is possible to make a difference in someone’s life on the other side of the globe. We *can* do things individually to make a huge difference in helping a child escape poverty, go to school, receive medical care, be fed and have an introduction to the Lord and for them to know that someone cares. I no longer feel such great frustration in hoping that governments will wisely use tax dollars and resources to help those in greatest need.  We can highly recommend both organizations and honestly feel blessed to be able to help.

Please watch this video about the carepoints that Children’s Hopechest is starting in Swaziland. The need is great. Thank you for keeping these children in your prayers and please consider becoming a sponsor.

This Week

This past week has been good. I’m always in awe of how the Lord faithfully tends to each area of our heart … sometimes even more than 30 years later. A heartfelt apology can always heal an area of the heart of someone. It certainly did mine. Thank you for your apology … Kim and I both thank you. You know who you are. We’re keeping you and all your family in our prayers and wish each of you bountiful blessings.

I’m also currently reading this book:

Fearless by Max Lucado

This is a wonderful book in our times of wars, failing banks, economic failures, instability and worry. I haven’t finished the book yet, but I can highly recommend it!

I hope each of you have a wonderful and blessed week.

Your friend,

Shelly

NIV

Psalm 34:4
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.