Birthday wishes

Well today is my birthday.  Let’s leave numbers out of it shall we?  I started out my day with an email from the school saying a threat had been made towards Saige’s building at Carbondale and that the police were investigating.  This makes me mad.  And sad.  I knew about it last night because social media literally makes it where kids are never “off” from what’s going on, and Saige had told me what was going on before the school responded.  Saige also knew the police had been notified, so we assumed they would handle it.  If I had one wish, it would be for a better world for my kids and grandkids to grow up in.  Seriously, I just want them to go to school and not worry that someone is going to harm them.  Or to have time with their family on a day that we set aside for fun things, to not end on a note of anxiety and fear.  There was no school today, and I am glad because it gave time for the investigation while the kids were not in the building,   Tonight the response is that there was no real threat, and that they will increase police presence at the school.  If there is no threat, why do we need increased policing?   Seems weird.  I just want my kids safe.  And I know there are answers to these questions, but the people in charge would have to take action, and the parents are going to have to do a better job of raising their kids, and we all need better access to mental health care.  And the schools need more resources.  But all of these things will have to work together and that is a big, big wish.  It’s sort of pathetic. 

And because I want to go to bed in a little bit, I’m going to change the topic because I just can’t get worked up and still sleep!  Aside from the aforementioned issue, I had a good day.  I got some inspections done at work. I got to see and/or talk to all of my kids.  I got some nice gifts.  Jim helped me get the rabbit cages up and things in the barn done so we can be ready for baby rabbits later this week.  I got my strawberry plants fertilized and covered for the winter (freeze warning for tonight).  Jim bought pizza for dinner so we didn’t have to cook.  I feel very lucky to be living this life.  

Life is overwhelmingly good.  Family is amazing.  Hope is a happy girl! 

 

A real fun weekend

The 4-H kids particpated in 48 hours of 4-H.  Basically a weekend where you perform some sort of community service along with all the other clubs in the nation.  If you participate, it counts as a national event.  This year we chose to clean the Boy Scout building for the fair board.  We had quite a few show up and we were done in less than an hour.  Our girls did a great job being leaders, and working hard.   

After the cleaning was done, we went to Overbrook fall festival.  I promised my co worker I would pick up a jar of caramel sauce for her, and I wanted to hit a fundraiser for some kids in town who have some upcoming medical expenses.  I got this cool painting from their fundraiser, the girls got shirts and Halloween bracelets and I got a cute pair of witch earrings.  I hope they sold out of all the things. It truly upsets me that as a family is struggling medically they also have to worry about how they will pay for the upcoming medical expenses and things the insurance refuses to cover.  Here I am again asking why we don’t have universal healthcare.  

Madison and Andrew took the girls with some friends to Shively farms.  They had a great time and I loved the photos! 

Today, after mass,  we went to Schaake’s.  Always a favorite of mine.  

It was crazy there today though.  First, today is the first day in a long time that it was nice/cool out.  And it is a weekend.  I have seen it busy before but it was crazy!   And the wind was blowing.  That place really blows the dust around.  I’m pretty sure I consumed my annual intake of dirt for a year.  

It was still fun. 

I was amused at Evelyn. She didn’t want to stand as a group - this is to measure how tall you are!  How can you tell if you stand in a group?  She’s not wrong. Chill out girl it’s fixable!  

Saige thought this pumpkin was perfect.  Then she picked it up!  Fooled ya!  

I told Evelyn my rule of “you can get any one you want but you have to carry it!”   She told me that was a dumb rule and we should abolish it.  Wait- where the heck did she learn the word abolish?  

Madison carried Evie’s pumpkin.  Wrenley followed the rules! I also sent the picture to Cameron - since last week I noticed he is a pumpkin patch cheater with his wagon.  He quickly blamed Lauren.  

We might have stayed longer, but we were all tired of eating dirt.  We managed to get Evie off the playground by promising her McDonald’s!  

We then went to dollar tree for crafts, Menards for parts for a project we are doing tomorrow, and Walmart for more Halloween supplies, costumes for Harper and Saige, and some stuff for dinner.  

We had a great time doing crafts, and having dinner this evening. .  In Hope world, this was dang near a perfect day!  Only could have been better if more of the kids were home for it! 

In Jim world, I think it was also almost a perfect day- he spent the whole, entire day fishing with Andrew!  

Jim and the girls have tomorrow off.  I have to work - it is inspection time at my office and I have to get started.  I’m not excited about it, but something about a million mile journey starting with a first step is ringing in the back of my head.  

 

Not your average circus

Harper, Saige and I attended the paranormal circus tonight. 

They had all the freak show things of your dreams (or nightmares) 

Contortionists ✅

Sword eaters ✅

Hilarious skits ✅

Satan selling popcorn ✅

The girls and I had a lot of fun.  I’m glad we got to go!

 

Goats and lights

We took 2 goats to a friend’s house to be bred.  We hope.  Babe and Kendra will have babies in the early spring.  We know it is a little later than what we would like for 4-H, but Evie can show them in open class.  We shall see what happens. We did want to get them bred a little sooner, but I have been a bit preoccupied with other problems.  I hope they like their new boyfriend. I think he seems pretty handsome.  

I enjoyed the drive home. The sunset was beautiful, there were combines everywhere harvesting beans. 

And blocking up the roads.  I don’t mind going around, it won’t last too much longer! 

It always amazes me how when they harvest the beans, there is nothing left behind. No stems, stalks etc.  it is probably because the combine completely pulverizes the plants.  And we have had so little rain the dust was sort of just hanging everywhere.   

I wasn’t home long before Mallory showed up.  We went out to try to see the northern lights.  We were successful.   I want to go to Alaska at some point, but for now, this’ll do. 

I am excited about the weekend. Like always!