Less than ideal

What happens when a folding table is delivered to your house and it sits in the rain and the box gets wet and you go to pick up the box with table inside and the bottom of the box falls apart and the table falls on your foot and you are wearing flip-flops. 

Swelling has spread out more. Absolutely can't walk on it at all. Pain is fine now but I'm stuck in bed.

Ughhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

PUPPY UPDATES: MELI

Here I am with Meli just before I handed her off to her forever home. Our good friends, the Law family, have taken Meli Rain (Meli means "honey" in Hawaiian and she was born on a rainy night) home. 

Meli actually will belong to their oldest daughter, Hailey. Meli was our firstborn pup so it is fitting that she be the first to go home. The Law family had a devastating house fire just under a year ago, and they lost many of their beloved cats and dogs. When this happened, they promised Hailey that when Arabelle had a litter, she could have the first pick. And she sure did!

I plan to keep one Blog page going for each of our seven pups so that we can see what they are up to and doing. We are excited these are ALL going to families we know so that we can stay in touch with them through photos and maybe even in person. New pictures will go under these words with a date below each picture so that our family can watch these little beauties grow.

I must tell you that doing these puppies has been one of the funnest and finest things we have done on our farm. Not only has it been a financial help to the farm, but it has brought us immeasurable joy. We DO plan to do another litter in the spring and are already compiling a list of people interested. 

This was the post Erin put on Facebook today as Meli went home: 

This sweet girl got to come home today! We have been impatiently waiting for her ❤️ Meet Meli Rain 😊 She is Hailey’s new Australian Shepherd puppy and her name means “honey” in Hawaiian. Middle name because it was raining hard the night she was born. She won’t replace our chubby Kobi we lost in the fire, but she’s SO dearly loved already and slowly filling that empty hole that Kobi left. Especially for our sweet Hailey. Thank you sweet friend Wendi Huisman Kitsteiner for letting Hailey come watch Meli and her siblings grow each week!

June 9, 2018 (6.5 weeks old)

June 15, 2018

June 14, 2018

June 18, 2018

July 16, 2018 Meli decides she no longer likes clothes.

PUPPY UPDATE: Abigail

Here is Abigail the human with Abigail the dog just before we handed her off to his forever home. Abigail the dog went home on Tuesday, June 12. Abigail the dog is spirited and appears to have the most energy of all the pups! She is a feisty and fun bundle of fur!

Abigail's new family has become an incredible special one to us. Toni and I became friends through ballet. Her granddaughter Cali was getting a dog. And then, while visiting the pups at our house, this happened. Please continue to pray earnestly for John and if you can, donate to a gofundme we have set up in Cali's honor.

I plan to keep one Blog page going for each of our seven pups so that we can see what they are up to and doing. We are excited these are ALL going to families we know so that we can stay in touch with them through photos and maybe even in person. New pictures will go under these words with a date below each picture so that our family can watch these little beauties grow.

I must tell you that doing these puppies has been one of the funnest and finest things we have done on our farm. Not only has it been a financial help to the farm, but it has brought us immeasurable joy. We DO plan to do another litter in the spring and are already compiling a list of people interested. 

Cali picking up her puppy on Tuesday, June 11.

Me giving little Abigail a last little look over. 

June 18, 2018

 

July 16, 2018

PUPPY UPDATE: Ritter Jr.

Here is John with Ritter, Jr. just before we handed him off to his forever home. Ritter, Jr. went home on Monday, June 11.

Ritter's new family is my friend Robin. I actually wrote a post about the story of how he came to be her dog here. 

I plan to keep one Blog page going for each of our seven pups so that we can see what they are up to and doing. We are excited these are ALL going to families we know so that we can stay in touch with them through photos and maybe even in person. New pictures will go under these words with a date below each picture so that our family can watch these little beauties grow.

I must tell you that doing these puppies has been one of the funnest and finest things we have done on our farm. Not only has it been a financial help to the farm, but it has brought us immeasurable joy. We DO plan to do another litter in the spring and are already compiling a list of people interested. 

Walking out the door with his Ms. Robin.

Buddies forever.

At his new home on day 1

June 17, 2018

June 17, 2018

 

June 28, 2018

July 10, 2018

 

July 16, 2018

 

July 16, 2018

PUPPY UPDATE: Trapper

Here is Abigail with TRAPPER just before we handed him off to his forever home. Trapper went home on Sunday, June 10. 

Trapper's new family is with the Wilkersons. Jo-Lyn works with JB at the ER in Greenville. It was fun because Jo-Lyn surprised her kids when they were at her house and announced that one of the puppies was going to be going home with them. Then yesterday, she surprised them again. She had told them they were just coming to visit Trapper and instead they were taking him home! 

I plan to keep one Blog page going for each of our seven pups so that we can see what they are up to and doing. We are excited these are ALL going to families we know so that we can stay in touch with them through photos and maybe even in person. New pictures will go under these words with a date below each picture so that our family can watch these little beauties grow.

I must tell you that doing these puppies has been one of the funnest and finest things we have done on our farm. Not only has it been a financial help to the farm, but it has brought us immeasurable joy. We DO plan to do another litter in the spring and are already compiling a list of people interested. 

Hannah, Abigail, and their middle child, Lacey preparing to take Trapper home.

The entire Wilkinson clan with Trapper.

Jo-Lyn with Trapper. Gonna miss this boy!

 

6-22-18

 

7-15-18

PUPPY UPDATE: FN 1287 (Finn)

Here is Abigail with FN 1287 "Finn" the day before we handed him off to his forever home. Finn went home on Wednesday, June 13. Finn has been one of our favorites from the beginning. He's just such a mellow pup with absolutely adorable markings. 

Finn's new family is one that we are well connected to. Yamil and Patty were stationed on Eglin AFB in Florida with us and then joined us in Turkey for a year. I was able to meet their little Troy before we left Turkey. They are now out of the military and living in Tampa with their six-year-old boy. We are hoping to visit them in February and get to see "The Finnster."

I plan to keep one Blog page going for each of our seven pups so that we can see what they are up to and doing. We are excited these are ALL going to families we know so that we can stay in touch with them through photos and maybe even in person. New pictures will go under these words with a date below each picture so that our family can watch these little beauties grow.

I must tell you that doing these puppies has been one of the funnest and finest things we have done on our farm. Not only has it been a financial help to the farm, but it has brought us immeasurable joy. We DO plan to do another litter in the spring and are already compiling a list of people interested. 

Patty meeting Finn for the first time on Monday, June 10, 2018

The puppy and the Patty!

Arabelle with her last two remaining puppies: Finn and the dog we call "Owl" or "Meadow"

6-22-18 Looks like Finn is going to have two different color eyes!

 

7-20-18

 

7-20-18

 

7-20-18

 

7-20-18

How a city girl, gone country grieves (and raises cows): One Day

 How a city girl, gone country grieves 

(and raises cows)

I met Kimberly through farming. She, like me, has been dropped into this life and is learning to love it just like me. She is a Christian, however, our pasts are nothing alike. I've asked her to share her story on my Blog over the next weeks or months or however long it takes. It is filled with much grief and loss but will hopefully make you laugh and smile and grow and grieve along with her.

One day..... Mother won't be joining me for coffee... the kids' room will be empty... I will spill tears over my husband's grave... I will see grandchildren grown... family gatherings will go from parties to funerals... one day I will draw my last breath and leave this world behind. Today is someone's "one day". On this day, in this hour, with this breath let me thank You God for all You have brought me through, all You will take me through and all that You are that I have blessed assurance of one day being in Your presence for eternity. Hug your parents, kiss your children, call your siblings and especially love on your spouse; praise God in this day for all you have for "one day" will indeed come for you too, and what you didn't have won't matter near as much as what you do.

Kimberly

Princess Ballet Camp

While we were in Maine enjoying our anniversary week, Hannah participated in the Princess Ballet Camp at Central Ballet. She's a funny kid that Hannah. She doesn't want to take ballet during the year, but she loves the princess camp where she gets all kinds of fun toys and treats. :) 

Even more exciting, however, was that Abigail was able to serve as a "helper" for the camp. She was so excited about this and it was so good for her. This is a big move for Abigail, and I'm so proud of her.

You can see Hannah with her hands above her head in black, and Abigail in blue touching her nose to her toes.

Another shot of the two girls.

Hannah walking with Ky-le. 

Hannah and a new friend. (A huge thank you to Veronica who did the girls hair each day!)

Abigail preparing to help

She's Seven!

Our little blondie is seven years old. 

On July 16, 2011 our little gal was born in Landstuhl, Germany. I remember this first picture of her well as her big brother Sidge said: "Look Dad. Abigail has one chin ... two chins!"

Today she is seven years old, and truly brings such an incredible joy to our family. She is shy, soft-spoken, athletic, and priceless to us in all ways.

Before my Dad and Mom flew back to South Florida, Grama Kitsteiner made a cake, and we all went over to celebrate our little lass turning seven: 

We did a few fun family gifts: 

Then yesterday, Monday, her actual seventh birthday, we took our family, Grampa and Grama Kitsteiner, Uncle Ray and cousin Nate, as well as good friends Tijmen and Anni down to Build-a-bear and Dolly Parton's Stampede to celebrate our little lady. Here are some pictures from our adventur. First up, Build-a-Bear:  

I wasn't sad at all that she didn't want a SINGLE accessory for her dog (which she named Brownie):

And then it was off to the show!!!

We had such a wonderful, wonderful day celebrating together as a family. Happy birthday our sweet little used-to-be-blue-eyed-and-now-we-think-she's-green-eyed-little-ballerina. We love you!