When we awoke Easter Sunday morning, we had no idea what lay in store for us just a couple hours later.  Most of you know what happened : ), but for those who are clueless . . .

During the morning sermon, Dad began having chest pains and pressure.  He wasn't feeling well so he slipped out during the invitation to see if a drink of water would help.  When he came back into the service, he tried standing there and singing with the rest of the congregation, but very quickly realized he needed to sit down.  One look at him and we knew something was wrong.  Chest pains, profusely pouring sweat, extremely weak, yawning, ashen color in face . . . what does this sound like to you?

We called an ambulance.  When he found out, he said "I'm going home!" and made a futile attempt at getting up.  Sinking back down into his chair, he resignedly gave his consent.  We certainly weren't going to take him home in that condition!

He was given a nitro pill, and he rapidly improved.  The paramedics took him to our local hospital where they admitted him.

This doesn't sound like a fun way to spend Easter, and to be quite honest with you, it was scary, but the Lord gave us some wonderful blessings.  That afternoon while the whole family was visiting Daddy, there was a light tap on the door and in walked Angie and the girls! . . . well, Abby made it about one step before she was snatched up by one of her aunts. : )

 At first, Abby was a little skeptical about Grandpa's paraphernalia,

 but she got used to it after a while.

 Mandy found a hiding place when there was any mention of leaving . . .

 and her adoring lil' sis followed suit. : )

 Allison had fun throwing Abby into the air and hearing her laugh.  Don't you just *L*O*V*E* the curls! : )

 Another something that makes her laugh is the flash of a camera.  So convenient! : )

 All of us "kids"

Mandy doesn't have far til she's caught up with us!

 Just gotta love bein' Grandpa!

Wow!  It's amazing what grandbabies will do to you! : )

It wasn't long after they surprised us that Aunt Valerie and Aunt Crystal came for a visit.  We enjoyed it so much!  There were also many visits from friends at church.  Our family is SO blessed to have so many people loving us and praying for us!

Monday, Daddy had to have a nuclear stress test done and found out that he is in the top 95-98 percentile for men his age.  He also has the endurance of a long distance runner and has no blockage in his heart whatsoever!  Praise the Lord!  So . . . in the process of giving all of us mild heart attacks, he found out that his heart is completely healthy. : )  We're not sure exactly what caused this episode, but we do know that the Lord is in control of each and every detail of our lives.  It's SO sweet to trust HIM!

The Blessing of a Mother

 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.  Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."

Proverbs 31:10, 28

 This is a Happy Mother's Day and a Happy Birthday all-in-one to the best mother in the whole wide world!  We are SO blessed!

 On May 16th, 19-ahem! ; ), Wanda Sipe was born into this world.

 The next-to-the-youngest child

 and absolutely adorable! : )

Richard, Jr., Ronald, Valerie, Wanda, and Crystal

 High school years came along,

 and she met the man she was soon to marry.

(It's hard to say "man" since he was only 17 when they married.)

 The first child came along 4 years later.

Over the years, the family grew, and she became affectionately known as Mama to seven absolutely angelic children. (heehee!)

In all actuality, it's a surprise she isn't gray-headed or bald!  But she has endured those years with grace. : )

And now, she is lovingly known as Grandma to two precious granddaughters!

Mama . . . thank you for your unending love, faithfulness to God, to your husband, to us, for all the sacrifices that you make every single day . . . no -- there are no short days, are there? : ) . . . and for all of life's lessons that you have never failed to teach us ~ by your actions as well as your words.  Thank you for sharing our joys as well as our griefs and heartaches as only a mother can.  For the hugs, the kisses, the counsel, and the much-needed talks . . . all of this bundled up into the best mother = Our Beloved Mama.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
from the bunch of us! 

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep

"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.  For he is our God; 
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand . . ."
Psalm 95:6-7

This year sheep shearing went very smoothly.  So smoothly, in fact, that it almost doesn't seem real. : )

In real life, the sheep have to get out at least once.  In real life, only half the sheep cooperate when you try to herd them into the front paddock.  In real life, shearing day lasts from early morning 'til dusk.  But, no . . . it was the best shearing day yet.

 We knew it had to be a good one when all the sheep ran into the front paddock without having to be encouraged from behind.  (But we didn't dare say so out loud for fear something would happen.  Leave those comments for the end of the day!)

 Even the donkey joined them and volunteered for the first haircut. : )

 We have to make sure all the fences are secure.  No gaps or loose places or the sheep are sure to find them!

 Next!

 Just look at those innocent eyes!

 The lambs are absolutely adorable!

 Fred has the most taxing job being bent over all day long and taking only a short lunch break.

 The most amusing moments are those when the sheared sheep try to find their fleece and when the little ones try to find their momma.  This one just couldn't handle the separation! : )

 Even Tilly behaved herself.

 Awwww!

 Probably the dirtiest job, and, other than the shearing, probably the most constant.

 Picking tags . . . we won't discuss the other name for it, okay? : )

The only hitch in the day was that there seemed to be some kind of invisible force keeping the sheep from going into the holding pen.  The gate would be open, but do you think the sheep would cross that invisible line?  Not on your life!  But that was only a small setback, and if that is the worst thing that happens on shearing day . . .

 The ever-growing stack of wool

 Hey, wait!  I have another!

 Hmmmm . . . no wonder they run from us! : )

 They think that if they turn their backs to us that we can't see them.

 The other creatures on the farm keep us entertained ~ especially the goats.  Their antics are never-ending!

 This sheep was SO funny!  After Fred was done with her, she just lay there rather than jumping up and running like the other sheep do.  It took us several minutes to persuade her that she really didn't want to stay there the rest of the day.

After 10 hours and 78 sheep, we were ready to do a little resting ourselves, but we waited 'til we'd had a nice hot shower.  Wouldn't want to smell like a sheep pasture forever . . . : )

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, have you any wool?

 

Yes, Sir, Yes Sir, just a few bags full! : )

A Moment in a Cat's Life . . .

Burning Up

 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

II Corinthians 5:17

Spring is here full force!  The pollen has been terrible lately, but that's not the only sign of spring . . . we have tons of new growth on our property.  New growth that is in desperate need of a good dousing . . . with weed killer, of course!  The driveway and the property lines are getting rather jungle-ish.  Say, if anyone likes poke salad, we have plenty of the weed to share!

 Ray and his big chain saw.  They always say big boys need big toys! : )

 And this?  It's the reality of camping.  No, it is not fake, and, yes, that is a quarter!  (Shiver!!!)

It cannot be stressed enough what a BLESSING our winch is!  Ray jokingly says that when there is a log so heavy that he and Dad can't move it, they just call Sara and she moves it for them. : )

It takes a lot of muscle to push that button! : )

The log is hooked up and dragged out of the pile,

Dad drives a short way so the log is in line with the stack,

and the log is then rolled over to the stack and. . .well. . . stacked. : )

Moving the pile one stick at a time.

They actually have to scotch the tires so it won't pull the truck backwards!

The cable is pulled out, and the process starts all over.

Piece of cake!

Just in case you're wondering, those big logs are what we will be building our house out of.

The Lord has allowed us to accomplish quite a bit in the short times we are able to spend there.  Hopefully soon we will be able to report something besides burning the brush piles, but until then. . .