Yesterday was fulling and exciting. We started our goat show season and we done very well. The two little girls that are showing for the first time this year did real well and enjoyed it. I had 4 goats to go into the ring for showmanship. My neighbors little granddaughter showed one of my goats in the under 8 showmanship, then the two little girls showed, and I had my cousins son to show. They didn't place but they all recieved a trophy so that was good. Nicole and Amber(two girls showing for us) was in the Light Weight 1 class together, they placed 3rd and 7th. David had one goat to go in the Light Weight 2 and placed 11, then he came back in the Middle Weight 1 and placed 4th. My neice was in the Light Weight 1 with her goat and won that class. I got home about 4 and had a few minutes to put things up, feed , milk , and load right back up to go to the open horse show. I ran in the barrel class and had some stiff competion and ended up in 3rd place, then I came back and ran in poles but my mare was cutting in on the pole, I believe she couldn't see that last pole. I had Chris to get on her and she done the same thing with him. He finally made her do the poles. We figured out they had the pole set too far apart. There was alot of horses cutting in on poles. It was like they just didn't see that last pole. We got home about 1:30 this morning and I didn't get up until 12. Whew, I haven't sleep that long in a LONG time. Today will find me cleaning house and doing things here that shouldv'e have been done yesterday. We haven't heard from JB , but I hope we will some time this week. I sure miss my little solider boy.

Tomorow starts our show season. I have 7 goats that I had planned on entering the ring. It looks like there will only be 4. I got 3 goats clipped and trimmed was fixing to start on the the 4 th goat when the heavens opened up. There won't be time in the morning to finish up clipping so I believe we will only take 4. I know I can clipp and trim one before the show starts. Then all we will have to do is wash and then get ready for the show. I have 2 little girls that will show in the under 8 showmanship. Then David, Nicole, and Alisha will enter in the weight class. Emily will not be showing tomorrow for she is at soccer camp and won't be home until next week. Right now, it looks like it will all be nannies that enter tomorrow. I know, I should have started earlier but my world has been turned upside down. I could have gotten through today but the rain has put a hold on it right now. I was inside the barn when it started raining but when the lightening started I got my little tail in the house. It thunders and I'm looking for a hole to crawl into. I'm terrified of storms. I will have a busy week , tonight I am going to watch two of my cousins compete in the Miss Rodeo pageant, tomorrow, the goat show, followed by the open horse show which I will compete in, tuesday, I will go and watch my cousin compete in the Miss Fairest of the Fair, Thursday, will bring the youth rodeo, where I have to be to watch my little cuz ride in the mutton busting, Friday night is the rodeo where they will crown the queens of the rodeo and then Saturday night, I will compete in the rodeo on barrels. This will be my last rodeo until Jon Brandon comes home.

I thought I had my day and evening all planned out right up to the last minute before I went to bed. HA, that was a good laugh. I didn't get a darn thing done. My plans were to work the goats, start clipping and trimming, ride Dass, go and help the two little girls that are showing for me this year, clean house, wash clothes, feed, milk, cook supper, take a bath then go to bed. Now, here is what I did get done, watch it rain, dusted the living room, put clothes in washer but didn't turn it on, watch it rain, talked on the phone, watched it rain, go with Justin and Nikki and vaccinate two of their little goats that were born last week and they had another set of twins born today, came back home, feed the goats, had Nikki milking Lady , then I milked Ginger, sent them home with some fresh milk, sat outside listened to the crickets and frogs, came in and thinking now is the time for me to go to bed.
I had a lady to reach out to me yesterday. She knew exactly what I was going through with Jon Brandon leaving for her son left the same day and on his 20th birthday. I have gained a new friend now and someone who I can tell how I feel and know that she knows exactly how I feel.

Have had a busy weekend. With Jon Brandon having a going away party Friday night, to putting up vegetables , going to church and having another party last night for him.

When he came today to say good bye, I knew that my little boy would be gone and in his place would be a man. It's hard watching your kids grow up. Watching them do things that you feel like is not the best choice for them. Yes, I'm talking about the military. I think it's just manily because I am selfish when it comes to my kids. I have to stop and remind myself that I'm not the first mother to watch their child go off to the military and I won't be the last. It takes a special person to do the honour of protecting our country and a special family to let that child go off and do it.

So, to the parents, whose place I'm in now, God bless you!!!! To the service men and women, Thank you and God Bless you!!!!

This the mantle peice that my Mom made for me at Christmas. I have kept up all year. I thought it was too nice and pretty to put away for another year. My Mom makes such nice stitches. I wish mine looked as good as hers. I believe she called it the 'star of bethleham'. I may be wrong on that , but I think that is what she called it. We had a little going away party last night for Jon Brandon and his friends. It was good to see all the kids that he grew up with. Tomorrow night is when the family and some more friends come and wish him off. I have had a bad day today. I cry then I cry some more. It's hard letting your

This week has been one heck of a week. My friend Justin had me to come and check out one of his goats. He didn't know what was wrong with her, after I went and looked at her, I told him it looked like she had coccidios. Wasn't for sure but she sure did have the signs. I told him that he need to get a sulfur drug and give her a shot. He called the vet and the vet told him the same thing and gave Justin some medicine for her. Yesterday when he called he said the doe was doing better. I told him the best thing to do was get her well and sell her and TO QUIT BUYING GOATS FROM THE SALEBARN!!!!!!! He also had two little one born yesterday and said they were doing great. I will go over there in about a week and vaccinate them with the cd&t vaccine. I also will vaccinate all my goats with the cd&t this weekend. If there is anything I hate doing , it's giving shots to the little ones. I also have to trim hoofs and clip for the show season starts next Saturday. Gosh, how time flies even when your not having fun.lol
Spent a little time with Jon Brandon today. He has to be in Memphis Monday by 1. I told him I would go with him but he told me not to that Abbie Gail was going to take him. I don't know if he doesn't want me there or if he thinks it would be harder on all of us if I was. I'm going!!!! It's going to hard regardless and if he gets mad, well, it won't be the first time he has been mad at his ma and he can just get over it. All the family is going to get together Sunday and have some fellowship with him. Now that is what you would call a full house. Does anyone know how BIG my family is?
I hope each and everyone of you will have a great day and at the end of the day it will find you filled with precious memories and contentment

Yesterday, we went back to the waterway for the kids to play. This is Emily riding the kneeboard. She rode nearly the length one way. After a few spills and rolls she finally decided she was ready to get into the boat. She has really come along way this year riding. I still haven't learned how to master getting up on my knees on that thing. I think one reason is for my knees ain't what they use to be. I believe I can thank barrel racing for alot of my problems. Hitting those barrels really tears up a knee. We had a wonderful time and the kids and adults enjoyed their day out on the water. I was asked about how I do my squash. I just rinse it off real good. Then slice it , lay them down in the bag so the bag will lay flat and just stick in the freezer. I don't blanche this for the slices are to be fried later on. I have also cut up the squash with onions cover with water and put onto boil for about 5 minutes then put into bags so later on I can have stewed squash. When I take the stewed squash out I put in on the stove let it cook down then add butter, salt and pepper.