I have posted this for several reasons. One I love how “into the song” the students got and two, I love watching Mr. Comley direct. The second has a lot to do with the first. I do not remember music being this fun in JRH!!! God Bless our talented teachers!
In the same week that the orphaned kittens were found, Erin’s goat “Dolly” got pneumonia and coccidia. She was take off her mother and given to us and had a little cold. Well the stress was too much for her and she wound up in the vet clinic overnight on IV’s. Cheryl, the woman who sold her to us, was amazingly helpful and let us have the mamma goat until Dolly got back on her feet. So for a few weeks our backyard looked like this:
All the goats needed to be treated for Coccidea so right off the bat we got experience in givng shots and medicine to the animals. 
Not new for Chris who has helped with sheep for years, but new for Erin and I. Emily did not like taking her medicine and is hiding!
All is well now and Dolly is re-weaned from her mamma. She did cry like crazy all over again!
In the days immediately following Cutter’s death, the mother’s of the students in Alan’s class gathered food and things to take to the family. I went with Kim to deliver the items and had a chance to speak to the family and offer sympathies. Upon returning home to quick pick up the children and head to the church for family pictures, the kids showed me an injured kitten in the yard that the dogs found. Our hymalean cat, White Paw, had kittens so we found her and left her in the shed with the kitten and rushed to the church.
When we returned home the children found White Paw dead in the front yard and her injured kitten by her still alive. Ugh! The dogs must have intercepted her trying to return the kitten to the nest. More tears and sadness and wonder…where are the rest of the kittens?
White Paw’s last photos, she was hugely pregnant and trying to scratch her ear! Five kittens in there! I love how her legs won’t even lay on the deck!
Two days later, after the balloon launch, I heard mewing in the front yard. Abby was under the tree in the side yard and had not moved for hours. We discovered why…4 kittens in the “v” of a tree. We gave them some goat’s milk and put them in a box overnight. The kids promised to help feed and care for the kittens because I was very willing to let Chris “take care” of them. However, they looked pretty strong, so we decided to give it a try.
At the moment the kittens are still growing and experimenting with solid food!
I do not know where to start! Do I really try to recap May? I was a flurry of activity and a roller coaster of emotions! Where to start? At the beginning I guess. I love spring, the weather had been warming up in April, so I was kind of excited for May. We were also finally making progress on some projects: like Erin’s plan for goats! Back in the winter she said she wanted to raise some milk goats and started saving her money. Over spring break they cleaned out the barn up at the farm and researched some different breeds.
We stalled in March as we had trouble finding goats. We had not looked local. Once we got hooked up with Cheryl Carey the wheels turned quickly. First weekend of May saw us the owners of 4 nubian goats. Meet Dolly, 3 months old; Darla 5 months old and Emily 1 year.
Sadly soon after enjoying our first walk together we learned that a first grader in Alan’s class was killed in an ATV accident. We were friendly, although not close, with the family. Alan however, was friends with the little guy and it really rocked his world. What a tragedy! The whole community really gathered around this family and the evening of the funeral we launched balloons in memory of Cutter.
Erin, Hannah and Holly play a Courtly Dance flute trio at the 5-6th Grade Fine Arts concert Thursday night!
How deep the Father's love for us/ How vast beyond all measure/ That He should give His only Son/ To make a wretch His treasure/ How great the pain of searing loss /The Father turns His face away/ As wounds which mar the Chosen One /Bring many sons to glory /Behold the man upon a cross /My sin upon His shoulders/ Ashamed I hear my mocking voice /Call out among the scoffers /It was my sin that held Him there /Until it was accomplished /His dying breath has brought me life /I know that it is finished /I will nost boast in anything/No gifts, no power, no wisdom/But I will boast in Jesus ChristHis death and resurrection/Why should I gain from His reward/ I cannot give an answer/But this I know with all my heart /His wounds have paid my ransom.
This is from the most recent meet. Collin was in 3 back to back events! The mile and then 2 relays. During the 800m he had to quit because he had what looked like a mini asthma attack. Later that night we learned he had strep. That on top of 4 races within an hour were too much! I was encouraged at how protective of him his teammates were. When I went down to take him water they were gathered around telling me he’d run 4 races and it was just too much!!! Sweet.
This is Collin running the mile at his second meet. A team mate who is also a Cross Country runner is the best at being in the middle of the track cheering team mates on. Here she is pushing Colling to not get to far behind!
Here collin decided this runner is not going to beat him. They were down to the last 100 m and he takes him!
This is the first race which was a learning day. There was a runner doing a 5 minute mile. We aren’t there yet! Plus his teammates were sick so Collin was running alone in the longer races.
One of Hans’ friends gave him a kite for his Birthday, it was the perfect kite flying day in KS. Often it is too windy or completely still. Today = perfect!
This would have been a perfect evening if Lacey had not found a skunk in this field and pestered it the remainder of the evening… Still and A+ day in my opinion.
We have 2 April Birthday boys…Alan on the 8th and Hans on the 20th. So we had a variety of festivities and truth be told..I think we still have 1 more get together for Hans (the family one). However here are 2 of our treasures: 1 year older!
As you can see my Saturdays in April were busy! Fun, but busy!
