tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144682822024-03-17T21:59:11.742-05:00Daily BlogWendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.comBlogger10024125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-59938687987011659692024-03-12T12:05:00.002-05:002024-03-12T12:05:38.888-05:00A good day<p>Thank you for all the love and encouragement. But more importantly, the prayers. I am learning a lot about my body and what I've put it through for 46 years. Eventually, the way you are thinking, won't work anymore, and I am having an opportunity to learn that. I plan to share some of that on my Blog. This life is HARD. We are sinners. This is a sinful world. We come into it with the pasts of our community and our family, and we have to navigate through that. My kryptonite has been people-pleasing. I've convinced myself that that works for me. But the thing is, it doesn't. It puts stress on the body that cannot be kept up with ... eventually. </p><p>I'm hitting this spiritually. I'm hitting it medically. I'm hitting it emotionally. Therapy, medicine, prayer, the whole thing. I have had two good half days and today (Tuesday) has been overall good. Depression and anxiety is no joke. But I am determined to USE this for God's glory and to help others in this. Just like infertility. It will not define me. It will help make me into the woman God made me to be. </p><p>To those of you out there struggling too, you are not alone. </p><p>Also, I'll be talking more about a therapy I am doing. It is called EMDR therapy. Really fascinating stuff. Sounds really kooky, but it really, really isn't. </p>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-77333770975643191182024-03-07T17:55:00.002-06:002024-03-07T17:55:44.995-06:00Can't write<p>I am in the throngs of some anxiety/depression. I don't like to write about that here, if I can help it, because my kids are old enough to get on my Blog and see what's going on. But it is, what it is. I am clawing my way out of it. Mentally unwell is worse than physically unwell any day. Or maybe I am only saying that because I am currently mentally not Wendi. But she will be back. And my writing will come with that, I know. </p><p>Life is NOT easy. Life is NOT all happiness. But it IS worth living. We must hang on and fight and love and support. I have fantastic community. I don't try to hide things. But I really want to be on the other side of this. </p><p>The good news is: I've lost 25 pounds. :) I can't eat when I feel like this. The better news is: I had 25 pounds I wanted to lose. I didn't want to lose it like this though. But, silver linings!<br /></p>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-36395387402958901012024-03-05T18:41:00.003-06:002024-03-05T18:41:16.867-06:00Costa Rica Birding<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4I3rPrZFT3KHa6tigSE2COmzDnwKpg6sUp_ObPQI5LzM5krtW84gn_4kOOsNjyk9LRLTKozafBhrm6hqBTPpD65ZQ903RJZOxcvTwEQ0BGsOKQoRuSdsLiVHYLhK9hrvHNemDYM-6tVGVAoEW4fbbJ0swr7kuIU53g-jgqQqgz8KUqGKV_kQqA/s2048/417458510_10223345950092818_1537549938092983094_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="2048" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4I3rPrZFT3KHa6tigSE2COmzDnwKpg6sUp_ObPQI5LzM5krtW84gn_4kOOsNjyk9LRLTKozafBhrm6hqBTPpD65ZQ903RJZOxcvTwEQ0BGsOKQoRuSdsLiVHYLhK9hrvHNemDYM-6tVGVAoEW4fbbJ0swr7kuIU53g-jgqQqgz8KUqGKV_kQqA/w400-h288/417458510_10223345950092818_1537549938092983094_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6ES68PHPpPBBIR-SVVNRGRE-Eg3poHmLB-bdzQq01muOjC1cEnF8coLWRBVR_V5wOumpCj6NSZH7_O8Tuk7lv4xsBU6u0Z8t3Xwp30t_DnPZYbi1R99HCub-HLQ78dDFm5lpyRxHftfF4YGLQEZdkWILZR1LYWBT05a4JYPui2-I-6WmiFIAlQ/s2048/417518505_10223345951572855_1130937517456154713_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1488" data-original-width="2048" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6ES68PHPpPBBIR-SVVNRGRE-Eg3poHmLB-bdzQq01muOjC1cEnF8coLWRBVR_V5wOumpCj6NSZH7_O8Tuk7lv4xsBU6u0Z8t3Xwp30t_DnPZYbi1R99HCub-HLQ78dDFm5lpyRxHftfF4YGLQEZdkWILZR1LYWBT05a4JYPui2-I-6WmiFIAlQ/w400-h291/417518505_10223345951572855_1130937517456154713_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-f_vNLxY4_CJK4gX-lr4jUbi6XebF6bpHLS4A1aZ0VgdvQlZ0I9lOIJu9F7_M4Grd5uQS2aD5o887jMlwiM5yUIXTcPA2JDgrAgzin0tJraAw9AogoXOYU51DNx31YvpHMVwgfjohbr6a3tssuBmiRtcRXceTxh50HIQnKfPWF9I72BuuliFpg/s2048/418986577_10223345946732734_3044017702213309078_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1710" data-original-width="2048" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-f_vNLxY4_CJK4gX-lr4jUbi6XebF6bpHLS4A1aZ0VgdvQlZ0I9lOIJu9F7_M4Grd5uQS2aD5o887jMlwiM5yUIXTcPA2JDgrAgzin0tJraAw9AogoXOYU51DNx31YvpHMVwgfjohbr6a3tssuBmiRtcRXceTxh50HIQnKfPWF9I72BuuliFpg/w400-h334/418986577_10223345946732734_3044017702213309078_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">While birding was not the primary purpose of our trip to Costa Rica (this was a family vacation), we still got to spend a lot of time scanning the skies, trees, bushes, and undergrowth for birds. </span></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We hiked over 23 miles on this trip. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve included photos from EBird of some of the more beautiful and unique birds we saw. My kids took a lot of great photos, but they are not really sorted and loaded yet.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>saw 183 different species of bird on this trip. Over 140 of these birds were species I had never seen before except in books and in wildlife documentaries. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I also saw many birds well known to me, birds I see nesting on my farm in East Tennessee. Even though I knew these birds fly to Central and South America for the Winter, there was still an odd sense of disjointed familiarity with seeing a Summer Tanager or Black-Throated Green Warbler in the rainforest of Costa Rica. It was like running into a neighbor at a coffee shop on the other side of the country when you’re on vacation. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Two of my children are also birders. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My son saw 153 new species and reached a big milestone… he saw his 500th bird on this trip! </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My daughter is an amazing birder, who frequently sees things that seasoned birders miss, but she loses steam quickly. She can’t spend all day birding like my son and I can, so she typically just goes for a few hours in the morning and spends the rest of the day with the non-birders. Even still, she was easily able to see 90 new species and reached her 450th bird on this trip. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Here’s our birding breakdown.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Locations: </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Puntarenas (Curi-Cancha Refuge and Monteverde Reserve).</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Alajuela (La Carolina and Tapir Valley).</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Guanacaste (in transit).</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">John</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">183 Total bird species on this trip</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">143 Lifers </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">670 Total bird species seen to date </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Elijah </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">184 Total bird species on this trip</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">153 Lifers</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">532 Total bird species seen to date</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Abigail </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">110 Total bird species on this trip </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">90 Lifers </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">458 Total bird species seen to date</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Birds seen (* indicates a Lifer):</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">1. Highland Tinamou*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">2. Great Tinamou*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">3. Muscovy Duck</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">4. Crested Guan*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">5. Least Grebe*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">6. Rock Pigeon</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">7. Red-billed Pigeon*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">8. Short-billed Pigeon*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">9. Inca Dove</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">10. Ruddy Ground Dove*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">11. White-tipped Dove*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">12. Gray-chested Dove*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">13. White-winged Dove</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">14. Groove-billed Ani</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">15. Squirrel Cuckoo*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">16. Common Pauraque*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">17. Vaux's Swift*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">18. White-necked Jacobin*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">19. Green Hermit*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">20. Long-billed Hermit*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">21. Stripe-throated Hermit*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">22. Brown Violetear*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">23. Lesser Violetear*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">24. Purple-crowned Fairy*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">25. Green Thorntail*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">26. Black-crested Coquette*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">27. Green-crowned Brilliant*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">28. Magenta-throated Woodstar*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">29. Ruby-throated Hummingbird</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">30. Violet-headed Hummingbird*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">31. Violet Sabrewing*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">32. Crowned Woodnymph*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">33. Snowcap*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">34. Coppery-headed Emerald*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">35. Stripe-tailed Hummingbird*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">36. Scaly-breasted Hummingbird*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">37. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">38. Blue-throated Goldentail*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">39. Russet-naped Wood-Rail*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">40. Purple Gallinule</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">41. White-throated Crake*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">42. Double-striped Thick-knee*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">43. Northern Jacana*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">44. Sunbittern*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">45. Anhinga</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">46. Bare-throated Tiger-Heron*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">47. Green Heron</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">48. Western Cattle Egret</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">49. Great Egret</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">50. Green Ibis*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">51. Black Vulture</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">52. Turkey Vulture</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">53. Crane Hawk*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">54. White Hawk*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">55. Gray Hawk</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">56. Resplendent Quetzal*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">57. Gartered Trogon*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">58. Collared Trogon*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">59. Lesson's Motmot*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">60. Rufous Motmot*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">61. Broad-billed Motmot*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">62. Ringed Kingfisher*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">63. Green Kingfisher*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">64. Prong-billed Barbet*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">65. Northern Emerald-Toucanet*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">66. Collared Aracari*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">67. Yellow-throated Toucan*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">68. Keel-billed Toucan*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">69. Black-cheeked Woodpecker*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">70. Hoffmann's Woodpecker*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">71. Smoky-brown Woodpecker*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">72. Lineated Woodpecker*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">73. Golden-olive Woodpecker*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">74. Laughing Falcon*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">75. Crested Caracara</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">76. Orange-chinned Parakeet*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">77. Brown-hooded Parrot*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">78. Red-lored Parrot*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">79. Scarlet Macaw*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">80. Barred Antshrike*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">81. Russet Antshrike*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">82. Plain Antvireo*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">83. Olivaceous Woodcreeper*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">84. Wedge-billed Woodcreeper*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">85. White-collared Manakin*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">86. Masked Tityra*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">87. Northern Schiffornis*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">88. Cinnamon Becard*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">89. Common Tody-Flycatcher*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">90. Eye-ringed Flatbill*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">91. Mountain Elaenia*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">92. Mistletoe Tyrannulet*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">93. Tufted Flycatcher*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">94. Northern Tropical Pewee*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">95. Eastern Wood-Pewee</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">96. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">97. Yellowish Flycatcher*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">98. Long-tailed Tyrant*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">99. Dusky-capped Flycatcher*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">100. Great Kiskadee</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">101. Boat-billed Flycatcher</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">102. Social Flycatcher</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">103. Tropical Kingbird</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">104. Lesser Greenlet*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">105. Yellow-throated Vireo</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">106. White-throated Magpie-Jay*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">107. Brown Jay*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">108. Gray-breasted Martin*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">109. Southern Rough-winged Swallow*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">110. Blue-and-white Swallow*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">111. White-browed Gnatcatcher*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">112. House Wren</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">113. Rufous-naped Wren*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">114. Rufous-and-white Wren*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">115. Cabanis's Wren*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">116. Bay Wren*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">117. White-breasted Wood-Wren*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">118. Gray-breasted Wood-Wren*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">119. Black-faced Solitaire*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">120. Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">121. Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">122. Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">123. Swainson's Thrush</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">124. Wood Thrush</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">125. Mountain Thrush*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">126. Pale-vented Thrush*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">127. White-throated Thrush*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">128. Clay-colored Thrush*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">129. House Sparrow</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">130. Elegant Euphonia*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">131. Golden-browed Chlorophonia*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">132. Scrub Euphonia*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">133. Yellow-crowned Euphonia*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">134. Yellow-throated Euphonia*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">135. Olive-backed Euphonia*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">136. Common Chlorospingus*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">137. Black-striped Sparrow*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">138. Orange-billed Sparrow*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">139. White-eared Ground-Sparrow*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">140. White-naped Brushfinch*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">141. Chestnut-headed Oropendola*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">142. Montezuma Oropendola*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">143. Baltimore Oriole</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">144. Bronzed Cowbird*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">145. Giant Cowbird*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">146. Great-tailed Grackle</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">147. Worm-eating Warbler</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">148. Northern Waterthrush*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">149. Golden-winged Warbler</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">150. Black-and-white Warbler</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">151. Tennessee Warbler</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">152. Mourning Warbler*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">153. Olive-crowned Yellowthroat*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">154. Tropical Parula*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">155. Chestnut-sided Warbler</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">156. Black-throated Green Warbler</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">157. Chestnut-capped Warbler*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">158. Golden-crowned Warbler*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">159. Costa Rican Warbler*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">160. Buff-rumped Warbler*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">161. Wilson's Warbler</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">162. Slate-throated Redstart*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">163. Summer Tanager</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">164. Carmiol's Tanager*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">165. Black-thighed Grosbeak*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">166. Blue Grosbeak </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">167. Scarlet-rumped Tanager</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">168. Blue-gray Tanager*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">169. Palm Tanager*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">170. Golden-hooded Tanager*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">171. Rufous-winged Tanager*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">172. Silver-throated Tanager*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">173. Scarlet-thighed Dacnis*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">174. Shining Honeycreeper*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">175. Red-legged Honeycreeper*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">176. Green Honeycreeper*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">177. Blue-black Grassquit*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">178. Variable Seedeater*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">179. Morelet's Seedeater</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">180. Bananaquit</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">181. Yellow-faced Grassquit*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">182. Buff-throated Saltator*</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">183. Black-headed Saltator*</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">184. Southern Lapwing (seen by my son and daughter… I missed it!)</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Wendi Huisman Kitsteiner</div></div>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-56542138600842298702024-03-05T18:33:00.003-06:002024-03-05T18:40:16.790-06:00Costa Rica<p>We took a family trip (and another family came too!) to Costa Rica. We are home. I took about 7-9 days offline completely. Like I didn't turn my phone on for days at a time! I'm going to be including some pictures and posts in the days to come. Stay tuned.</p><p><br /></p>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-73006101902504770762024-03-01T14:14:00.001-06:002024-03-01T14:14:03.220-06:00A few quick pics <img id="id_93dd_b2b5_72ef_d51c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/17ZI8fpf6HPwtuFK1N67Y2qiWK69lNy-3" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div><img id="id_a7b6_f95a_1d89_1756" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1AeYOGnVhHJ6p6Rd6GaUBCNYeQX__785-" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_de58_5661_7b09_d6c8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1xSftl0ueRQvbFKRXxu-7MMTpAV_PmGWx" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_88b6_6b4e_ed35_e470" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1mHdrLaH8wef8DoNRWF1WWVPoPG87l08O" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-71229046182486490862024-02-19T17:37:00.001-06:002024-02-19T17:41:38.601-06:00What the kiddos are up to<p>Isaac is WAY into <i>Newsies</i> and is loving it! So excited for him. He continues to take piano, guitar, theatre and voice. He is excited about having his own room as well. Isaac is very involved with his Youth Group and really likes it. He's on leadership and the worship team there. He will be 16 in May and able to drive!<br /></p><p>Sidge still plays piano. We have told him he does not need to perform anymore if he doesn't want to. (He doesn't want to.) So he's taking lessons, but we aren't making him do the recitals. He said he'll push through and try to do it until he graduates. He's a little bummed right now that the BIG hunting trip he and John were hoping to do in 2025, has now been pushed to the summer of 2026. We are working on finishing the boys' news room, and Sidge is excited about having his own space -- he has plans for new fish tanks with that. His LOVE is all things biology and nature ALL THE TIME. </p><p>Abigail is still very into ballet. But I'm watching her love to doodle and color with pretty pens when she takes notes for classes. She doesn't love school. (But I am not sure if there is a kid who does?) But, she has found a book series SHE LOVES which is so exciting. It's called the <b><a href="https://www.tnzfiction.com/9780310749219/fairy-tale-romance-collection/melanie-dickerson/">FAIRY TALE ROMANCE SERIES. </a> </b>Abigail is attending youth now as well and enjoying it. She has made some good friends that she enjoys spending time with!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmhi0HOB00l_UxiLyEvDNvkYh9yZJN66bYjd9pmNX73_MTrRtXj_8JHjjHkAx5OAZR8YlSpQ3RldeNkNZSj5kxHwxUlKyjaokaOn69lg9bNK5igR1s9CWx5ikb32eMIDGEOaPp0XT-WWtEqgOyyRLIkCZ7pJeqBVxyFx42SD6ej5k2CXdRntl2A/s1600/image000001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmhi0HOB00l_UxiLyEvDNvkYh9yZJN66bYjd9pmNX73_MTrRtXj_8JHjjHkAx5OAZR8YlSpQ3RldeNkNZSj5kxHwxUlKyjaokaOn69lg9bNK5igR1s9CWx5ikb32eMIDGEOaPp0XT-WWtEqgOyyRLIkCZ7pJeqBVxyFx42SD6ej5k2CXdRntl2A/w400-h225/image000001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p><i>(The picture above is of Abigail wit her good friends Johnna Beth and Ella (and little sister Ezri.)</i> <br /></p><p>Hannah is also very into ballet. She absolutely LOVED her role on stage and it was very hard to say "good bye" to Newton :( She really, really, <b>REALLY </b>loves homeschooling with her Kotysnki family and does NOT want to stay home with us and do her schoolwork. She just finished reading the <i>Gregor the Overlander </i>series (which I read and thoroughly enjoyed many years ago.) It gives me flashbacks to little Sidge when he finished Gregor the first time. He was SO sad when it was over. He was probably about eight-years-old, and I remember him crying saying, "Why couldn't she have written more books? Why does it have to end?"<br /></p><p><b> </b><br /></p>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-80349247956933140062024-02-15T13:41:00.001-06:002024-02-15T13:41:07.391-06:00Valentine’s Night at Tusculum <img id="id_e618_c8a6_9b66_9d26" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1NQqpUBuC-7DlK9-cn7aSZpyF63TihcWg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div><img id="id_ae64_77c9_83cb_588d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1OkjnKv9VywqqyL2rR_Dl-D_HSkeCsB19" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e4b2_c0d7_fded_6fee" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1NEwjUs2Ppfxh6VGslnPYuH7Z_DgfXvFG" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_7cef_7f01_37de_93fc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1twMkOwwt4v5jFCQayBEJadEOp51lO8OM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d20a_9710_c55a_8d2e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1S0OUuYDU4M9QFxT2Du_PJqG3GH6a2m-U" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_7db_5f26_2d4e_3714" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1IdKBUFlC8hqNE3VA7T_OSX0zfKMRvOuH" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9ca4_f618_ca65_21cd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1TgTf9BEJ5CHfqjM5RU4bGikG3z3iGPym" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_cc9a_a8ff_3015_650a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1pPqRO2O7MrqoOPX5xgk5JXbStT6lJXvk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6b86_d9ba_ec32_9f84" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1DPsevYq11rPBwcPj3Qn8-xW9MNznpxHZ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6438_8dfc_a270_c5c8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1gac6ODZWLln0NNwhJ0NEeq_J3N5Sw1QN" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-86897300057724786332024-02-11T11:52:00.001-06:002024-02-11T16:50:20.669-06:00Game night with the Kot’s!<img alt="" id="id_fb02_1c70_7cce_7b89" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1xw0IYZkIifrnhi8WisWAmR-xsGojWNkk" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /> <div><img alt="" id="id_22a2_cfde_bd6b_7794" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1A5oEfDpLgZ9p72dp9trRBIdZP-9XdJDr" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_f31_6017_7e50_15fa" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1O5qwTYKznvIFJ6WW1F5GQEo9OEy5cuiR" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_9353_8be1_100b_9a12" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/19XZkNY_4fgIZwCsdnUipvo-wW8c5WUt4" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_3dbf_e747_9eed_6e7c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/10Dp44487jvDT4yWc0gSdU_D8nLWzMLTA" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br />We do life with this family but rarely spend TIME with them outside of running to and fro. John was working, but we still found time for a game night! We included the two significant others: Micah (who goes with Ana) and Maryah (who goes with the Gabe.) I am just so happy that I have this family living ten minutes from me!<br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-23158008097049372192024-02-08T12:43:00.001-06:002024-02-08T12:43:09.831-06:00A Typical Wednesday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffeATrEMxkZNZlX0mh4e18IU_QZtN0pMrlUaSXw8prvKniE999nyDHWyuAXugYCR1FhSOrTBXrWkpS0kg_Ecvxovr9H18a1ugyBcOwjk27GlP6KJtGLHsn25GpWQxklJsUSLIwk1rr1UKCdWd_K5GFKfdmKU-0TgytdXS3AGAaIDrSOxw9WtUtA/s627/425877193_343586698667589_3526288554006162807_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffeATrEMxkZNZlX0mh4e18IU_QZtN0pMrlUaSXw8prvKniE999nyDHWyuAXugYCR1FhSOrTBXrWkpS0kg_Ecvxovr9H18a1ugyBcOwjk27GlP6KJtGLHsn25GpWQxklJsUSLIwk1rr1UKCdWd_K5GFKfdmKU-0TgytdXS3AGAaIDrSOxw9WtUtA/w288-h400/425877193_343586698667589_3526288554006162807_n.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><p>Wednesdays are a day here that usually feel very "ordinary." The kids have youth group in the evening (Abigail and the boys). But otherwise, we are home. </p><p>But yesterday, the ordinary got a little bit bigger. Gramps and Grama are out of town and JB was working. Little Hannah (the "Pomegranate" -- as we affectionately call her so she doesn't get confused with <i>Aunt</i> Hannah) needed to get to the Kotynski's house for school. She schools there four days a week with <i>Aunt </i>Hannah and her best friend Genevieve and other cousin, Eoin. Sidge also needed to get to the gas station on the corner by our house. (It's actually 3.7 miles exactly from our house.) </p><p>So I drove Sidge to the corner by the gas station at 9am. He was meeting the Waddell family. They were going to let him "tag along" to the aquarium in Pigeon Forge. Sidge's high school Marine Biology class was dissecting a shark. This is the second animal they have dissected with Ripley's Aquarium. I'm so thankful for such an incredible class like this one is with Ms. Aliceson Bales. </p><p>After dropping Sidge, I took Hannah to the gas station and then headed home. I spent the next few hours doing a combo of farm work / house work / school work. I needed to take some sheep paddock down. There are always jobs around the house. And I was working to get ahead for the two classes I am teaching at the co-op each Monday. Our family is going to be going on a BIG vacation, and I want to make sure I don't leave anything "untied" before I go.</p><p>By 4:00p, it was time to return to the gas station to pick up Sidge -- who had a great time. Aunt Hannah returned the Pomegranate to me. I got everyone some quick dinner, and then I was off to Youth Group. I dropped the boys off at 5:30p and then went over to the house of my friends': Daniel and Rachel. Their youngest two do not go to youth, and if I sat at the house, Daniel and Meredith could work Youth Group without having to make them tag along.</p><p>By the time I got home, it was 9:30p. John was home from work and with the girls, and I was off to bed. </p><p>And then .... it was Thursday. </p><p>The days are like that here. They aren't very BIG really. Lots of tiny, little things. I am so enjoying the sun being out after a very gray winter!<br /></p>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-87200757954629685282024-02-07T18:49:00.001-06:002024-02-07T18:49:36.299-06:00Litter #4<img id="id_a562_d45b_e289_643f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1p8ROyNZUCOPJsKMZsujU0at5RwT3zRNc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Raven is in heat! Thinking we could expect puppies end of April/May. She’s such a sweetie pie girl!<br></span><br> </div>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-71166104092392865832024-02-06T20:54:00.001-06:002024-02-06T20:54:49.476-06:00The Hunter <img id="id_a928_fed8_81a2_dcdd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1alHh3ozz0rYOGkAJuFlk9LodI6w4wzPb" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Before anyone freaks out, it is squirrel season. And yes we eat anything we hunt. Well, he does. Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-88668078389479705632024-02-04T16:11:00.000-06:002024-02-04T16:11:19.623-06:00Struggling<p>I've been struggling a bit again with anxiety. I really, really hate mental issues. I think I'd rather be physically sick any day over mentally. But then again, being physically sick also really stinks. I have learned so much about anxiety and what it actually is. It is actually ADRENALINE that fires at the wrong time. When adrenaline fires at the RIGHT TIME (before a big game you have to play for example), you know what it is and your brain makes sense of it. But when that anxiety fires in just a regular old day, you don't know what it is. And your brain attempts to find a "cause" for that misfire. My brain tells me people are upset at me. That I've let someone down. Things that can roll off my back normally, do not. </p><p>It really makes me look around. When I sat in church this morning, I couldn't help but looking around thinking: "Who else is struggling today? Who else is hurting right now? Who else is barely hanging on?"</p><p>I know this isn't nearly as bad as it could be. I have felt worse. A lot worse. But right now, I just wish I could get the veil to completely lift. </p><p>If you are struggling today, you are NOT alone. You are NOT the only one. I am so glad to be in this life. I would not want to not be here. But this life IS hard. Watching people you love age. Watching people you love, leave. Navigating relationships and community. <br /></p>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-16147667401784388482024-02-03T19:14:00.003-06:002024-02-03T19:14:52.873-06:00How do so many ...<p> ... days go by since I posted last?</p><p>It's so interesting to me that I feel I had more time for <i>this</i> type of thing when the kids were younger. The amount of activities that we are doing seem to take me away from home way more than I ever imagined.</p><p>I've decided that no one should give advice on parenting until they have teenagers. I don't mean that completely of course. People need advice. And I gave lots of sleep advice when my kids were little. But parenting teenagers is quite a different ballgame. </p><p>I was a high school teacher and a coach so I think I <i>knew</i> this intuitively, but I don't know if I really <i>felt</i> it until recently. Children move from these adorable little babies to these chunky little toddlers and suddenly, they are preparing to launch into the real world? They don't want you. But they need you. Or do they? </p><p>John's schedule means we can go days without really "being" with him and then we can get him in a big ol' helping. I wish we had him home every evening. And yet, that's not what our life is. </p><p>I'm understanding how quickly this parenthood thing will be over. My boys will only have three more years before they could actually launch into the world! How crazy is that? </p><p>So much emotion and learning and loving and FEAR. </p>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-29984281290425352912024-01-31T04:39:00.001-06:002024-01-31T04:39:25.573-06:00He’s 15<img id="id_b2e8_d410_2e23_df30" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1ovM-kjSZibsau1jbRr4o8RgAmAFHKg6P" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div><img id="id_6a21_925_86f1_26bd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1F3JnCS6gSTN3ZAn_htqkGPbsW78Zrpp2" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e58e_4f62_bcb2_ff8e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1wD1kTmBnglLwvk3RLOIJinHGehaTraB2" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Today, Elijah Luke “Sidge” turns 15. I am most happy that he loves Jesus and he is such an intellectual, the facts convince him. He is a: </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Naturalist. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Intellectual. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Thinker.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Outdoorsman. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Hunter. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Biologist. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Introvert. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">He is 6’2 and 3/4 tall as of today. He still plays piano and takes karate, but his best loves are being at home, on his farm, or among nature. He enjoys anything science but is NOT a math guy. He is studying for his permit. He introduces himself as Elijah to new people but to us, he is still Sidge. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Happy 15. For memories sake, here is a flashback to 9: </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_de02_5d65_28e2_5ded" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/12R7ALC13RB1fAH7BAnhVnZ8BHka9BPUz" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><br><br></div>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-25388300521100308422024-01-29T18:45:00.001-06:002024-01-29T18:45:11.358-06:00Good night Rapunzel <img id="id_c7b7_4ed2_c8e8_d401" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1pe1pN7UPJb-SYbP4lL_WoshWWnklmoCO" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div><img id="id_958d_5317_e9d8_7595" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/17IVmGVfRNDE8AtKPj-ejrIwl8pF19WKK" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_690a_3441_d2a_915f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/12Mm0T2D7ZIUWZlgQlJ8wpuQZWV1sPurB" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Hannah took 24 hours before washing the green out of her hair. Putting this character “away” is incredibly painful. I never would have understood this had I not watched my daughter do it. Newton became a person to her and not being Newton anymore is going to be tough! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">But she’s been transformed by this opportunity. We are so thankful to Marilyn DuBrisk, LoriAnn Sparks, Mauren Sparks, and Kristin Girton for helping her bring this opportunity into being. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Here is the short note I wrote to her mentors: </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div>Thank you all for entrusting our Hannah Joy Pomegranate with this huge honor and role. It was inspiring and monumental and truly transformative for her ten-year-old little self. She asked for "one more day" with her green hair and ribbons, so tonight, before taking a shower, she took a picture with all of her fun mementos. John and I didn't grow up in the arts so we are learning as we go, but the positive impact of this show, not only on Hannah but on our entire family is beyond words. <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br><br></div>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-52827030964050575352024-01-28T09:06:00.000-06:002024-01-28T09:06:34.770-06:00In these moments<p>The fatigue of a weekend of shows is INTENSE. And I'm not dancing. I do run the downstairs, but I have been very purposeful this year in spreading the responsibilities even more. I haven't been able to watch a complete show, but today (Sunday), I will do that. </p><p>The kids have been fantastic. John is amazing. Doing this together? The six of us. Truly is priceless. It's incredibly rare that a family is not dominated by a lopsided activity where certain kids are involved and others are not. The six of us doing this together has been amazing. Nearly every show has been sold out. For Hannah? It's an amazing opportunity! She really loves acting, and for this show, she loves it more than dancing. She does get to slide into two dancing roles outside of her Newton narrator character. </p><p>I love a small town. I love the community coming together for things. I love Isaac having an opportunity to sing and act in <i>Newsies</i> in April. <i>Sound of Music </i>is coming to Greeneville, and I think three of the kids <i>may</i> tryout. </p><p>Sidge doesn't feel left-out. He's doing backstage. This is his SIXTH year! He started when he was just nine-years-old. He loves his "Snack Man" nickname, and is relieved the show doesn't fall on his birthday this year. (He honestly HATES being sung to. Like, with a passion ...) Sidge's interests are different than the other kids, but he is so amazingly and passionately focused on the Safari trip that JB and he are taking in the summer of 2025 that he couldn't care less if everyone else loves acting. We are also preparing to move the boys to the garage "apartment." He will be setting up a new/different fish tank over there (sichlids?) and that has got him super excited as well.</p><p>Well, we are off ... one more show. Than co-op tomorrow, and ... Isaac starts <i>Newsies</i> rehearsals tomorrow. I know we are busy. But I also KNOW this doesn't last. I know it. I love that my kids will find their passion and their people/person and move on with their life. And I will enjoy a different pace when they are gone, but right now, I want to BE in these moments.<br /></p>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-77912369906537573712024-01-28T06:20:00.001-06:002024-01-28T06:21:19.918-06:00 Sunday is the last show <img id="id_4a9c_dcd2_38a0_569a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1kFVd7bMJHQCSmqg3EVpckp8w1Gwq5OEz" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>The girls with our dear friend, Lily. <div><br></div><div>I still haven’t watched a show. On Saturday evening I got to see about 2/3. Today is my day! </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_7181_b358_47e_dbd5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/13B1ikrGD3dJeu8T7R1x4-JNjAdnNTOf2" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>I love seeing Hannah doing this … the child has been an old soul since the moment she was born, and she acts so beyond her ten years as narrator. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_60a2_7875_bdda_fe18" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/19O9BSdN01pIzYhC7-o2KUZQAVG8LljSC" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Abigail is an Angel, a snake, a flower, and a festival girl, and she moves back and forth needing very little help from me. Her feet hurt so badly, and we Kitsteiners do not like to be short on sleep. But I’m so proud of her. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_94aa_da8e_79da_6824" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1Vrv0UHS32VMDgxrjlwDmXurzTostz2iv" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Isaac is a baker. And a soldier. Here he is on night 1 jumping between Newsies read-through and the last dress rehearsal which were in the same building! </div><div><br></div><div>I gotta get a pick of Sidge backstage!</div>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-67121164705045332032024-01-25T14:23:00.001-06:002024-01-25T14:23:51.082-06:00Hardy breed <img id="id_3a8_5d0a_322e_1e3d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1pvOnCdKN0YZcwomcw5wgDaBhsxRUBWrQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div><div>Our Katahdin Sheep are tough!</div><div><br></div><div>Here is our most recent lamb, delivered on the snow, up and nursing in sub-freezing temperatures, and running after mama like it wasn't miserable weather here in East Tennessee.</div><div><br></div><div>We don't do anything for our lambs. </div><div>Our ewes do it all. </div><div>We don't pull lambs (help with deliveries).</div><div>We don't dry lambs after delivery.</div><div>We don't warm lambs up in cold weather.</div><div>We don't have our ewes deliver in barns. </div><div><br></div><div>(Note... I have NO PROBLEM with farms that do these things, but we've intentionally developed a flock that doesn't need these things.)</div><div><br></div><div>We started with a breed that can handle the cold of Winter and the heat and humidity of Summer. Then we manage our flock's genetics intensively, selecting for the traits that will produce hardy stock that will handle bad weather and less-than ideal pastures, all while producing the best-tasting, grass-fed lamb possible. </div><div><br></div><div>This system takes time and dedication to develop, but the results are worth it!</div><div><br></div><div>Bauernhof Kitsteiner </div><div>East Tennnessee</div></div>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-26103933060830638562024-01-23T20:54:00.001-06:002024-01-23T20:54:07.211-06:00Excitement<img id="id_93a6_49c7_ffc7_16ac" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/15cjThLtGFQXbl2GRuQ-x5MuTfsElPLyc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div><img id="id_c150_17cf_a6d6_2223" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1eKLF4xqfvxrdkeG9AfNGeY0ng2z1l87z" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_45b6_a5bc_6b99_a424" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/12JWDKBWYTdsVkcCaFMPmJS2XKdqfkgHO" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_91ed_8235_9c0c_1f9d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1cs4rW9j6IfFtqbryhtgshf3NX6JKdGqL" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>We are in the middle of the ballet but celebrating with Isaac for getting cast with a speaking/acting/singing role in <i>Newsies!</i></div>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-49003062948557114632024-01-21T17:07:00.001-06:002024-01-21T17:07:10.768-06:00Some Ballet pics<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfrQDT9yghF9nM_wfXvSUWaafg53ne3VdmPINuzFs_Z2Fm-9OEFNR4UElzZwP1rYmUNOl93bmTZ6qclvdpn1djzwvcaH_bcy23O03VCTi6pNrMmWyn-BjnGieMGRV37U6YUXfav8xU-qKN7mhoD_NSPedNB-Z-vEWyHvn2wbLRR-GLneG72TQwA/s4032/IMG_7199.HEIC" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfrQDT9yghF9nM_wfXvSUWaafg53ne3VdmPINuzFs_Z2Fm-9OEFNR4UElzZwP1rYmUNOl93bmTZ6qclvdpn1djzwvcaH_bcy23O03VCTi6pNrMmWyn-BjnGieMGRV37U6YUXfav8xU-qKN7mhoD_NSPedNB-Z-vEWyHvn2wbLRR-GLneG72TQwA/s400/IMG_7199.HEIC"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKgFABCiawMyZONBQcP3wlGTpVC2HxpBuUQpOCsrw6Ng47wrsCzv2iQCh8m_sRuyoHwM_e9VgBJdNv9NLZcwCC_d9kxS5AkUcvmownv0x6tDRmGjLxEdq_5QjcmxbNT_qC7Yzmfki-Sn4wML0yssKrWCf4Ks6zYa7MzDn3EUasqXUIwdNYMHzsg/s4032/IMG_7201.HEIC" style="display: block; 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padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHkh-mrJQvlaJbeHWE9nrsVz82DknAOcQF0UxiR5fXHINmE_S4kmSOBq_x1fwnMpXcIaAIW4APxJzwdbC4EEOP9kcU12LSDcNaZ30rS6kqS1Y-19NZEh2pC71S8tpShR9quSC1BQsbQ4wmGuXJlnpbSIAdGynaLjQ2uNDagWSgJesfmNuV1cyTA/s400/IMG_2322.HEIC"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDtJAVqSYMR4oCycc5GWITG25G-UZ_RpVohvh4HIZ66DTjCZ029VCUGqOteMoLWKcKRr6TmfPdX37qaTvKVgNMJ2URHFsxI5EpLV4bmRLdX1BWwgsVJk-3rxZoQaD1ED9iwtadosO8sJ0BXnlVFgHp2p3hIwz-zlH8tZbRgxvduxnItcuwu0VKw/s3040/IMG_2319.heic" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="3040" data-original-width="2122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDtJAVqSYMR4oCycc5GWITG25G-UZ_RpVohvh4HIZ66DTjCZ029VCUGqOteMoLWKcKRr6TmfPdX37qaTvKVgNMJ2URHFsxI5EpLV4bmRLdX1BWwgsVJk-3rxZoQaD1ED9iwtadosO8sJ0BXnlVFgHp2p3hIwz-zlH8tZbRgxvduxnItcuwu0VKw/s400/IMG_2319.heic"/></a></div>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-10984125497587670292024-01-19T16:01:00.000-06:002024-01-19T16:01:00.132-06:00Friday Funnies <div>After sledding, Hannah took her shirt off while she was trying to get out of her snow clothes. </div><div><br></div><div>Sidge: “Hannah, please don’t take your shirt off.” </div><div><br></div><div>Me: “Sidge, when she is too old, I will tell her to stop doing it. She’s still a little kid.” </div><div><br></div><div>Hannah: “yeah, and at least I didn’t take my pants off.”</div><div><br></div> Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-66756340203603282592024-01-19T06:33:00.000-06:002024-01-19T06:33:00.143-06:00Friday Funnies <img id="id_1185_7a66_3de7_8233" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYRViwFRO4w4sCI9ZqLyhdH-f4CHfvUH9G9wnFMaQ0FOkLyYTguGUxtv2WPY9vapfXh1Lf3PyepTF0adO-m0ek_1jpiLTg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br> Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-81458111381726907852024-01-18T18:18:00.001-06:002024-01-21T17:09:27.757-06:00The kiddos <p><img alt="" id="id_139_f4dc_1f9a_d982" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYTewaVtxYU9ZiC0aXZ-MqoNjqOgIoqj41JgRDtcdy5Fi28C-rHvSy21DnmVi_P6OUliB6skvC0Oh9BvI052kIbwGtiN4Q" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /></p><p>I thought I would take a moment to tell you what each of my kiddos is "up to." This is a recent picture of Hannah "The Pomegranate" who turned 10 in September. Hannah does "Kids' Messenger" on my phone, and I am always finding these weird game photos of her. </p><p>Hannah does school completely with her Aunt Hannah Kotynski. She is doing CTC Math and a typing program at home. She is also working to finish her "Xtra Math" program (which she thinks is the <b>dumbest</b> name for a math program trying to get kids to want to do it. In 2022 I did the "Iowa Testing" with the kids and realized that all four of my kids was scoring lowest in "computation" was how rapidly you know your facts. I realized that this was a "weakness" in our online math program. When you passed something, they moved on, and not having other kids in class and repeatedly working on their facts meant that they were all "just barely" at grade level in this area. I had all four kids work on Xtra Math online. Isaac and Sidge got through it pretty quickly, and Hannah is hoping to almost FINALLY be done with it. Here are some facts about Hannah in no particular order:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Hannah LOVES to read. She has devoured <i>Harry Potter</i> so much that we had to pull her away and <i>make</i> her try something else. She is really enjoying <i>Gregor the Overlander </i>right now.</li><li>Hannah continues to have SO MUCH SPUNK. She makes us laugh with her wittiness and spirit.</li><li>She is very excited about being the narrator in the upcoming ballet production. She really likes theatre and would like to do more of it. However, we don't feel she's quite up to being in the "public" community theatre. We are letting her do stuff with the homeschool group.</li><li>School is very easy for her. She doesn't love math but is good at it. She really hates the dictionary. She rarely complains about schoolwork. </li><li>She is on pointe now and really enjoying that. </li><li>She can be quite "opinionated" and "forceful" especially with her sister.</li><li>She has very little fear.</li><li>Whens he is tired or overwhelmed, she cries easily; otherwise her emotions are pretty steady.<br /></li></ul><p><br /> </p><div><img alt="" id="id_7394_3673_aa86_7308" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYTmSahQGSfqR207YM4AmPp9Zw4RGyUiDpYox6kAhSlEELtQNtlDNF-T7POUKxT2q_Ric5CX0wexRZFiiAD1JNCofNgN" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div>Oh our Elijah (aka "Sidge"). He is such an interesting kid. He is huge -- probably over 6'3" now. He introduces himself as Elijah to new people now because he "doesn't want to explain why he is called "Sidge." He loves to read. He loves to study anything with biology. He is incredibly excited about Africa and the trip he and Dad are planning (probably with his Uncle Matt and John's friend Shane) in the summer of 2025. He will turn 15 on January 31 and has already been very purposefully studying for his permit test. He is very stubborn and usually right; we are trying to teach him that even though he is "right", it doesn't always need to be "said." He is so handy and capable with any "guy things" around the farm. He doesn't like cooking at all and so whoever he marries better able to cook. He is doing backstage in the upcoming play, and he likes that. He would NEVER want to be on the stage. He's still doing karate and really likes that.<br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_d8eb_49c3_c173_d094" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYS8z79Io_huFyUwmftdC86xmlPtPRLWeKmqbS_kqDIY9ILRdmzBcKZavlZ0gor4uXNmEc6QpWBXxMNwoWQk7s1hcWuEGA" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div></div><div>Abigail is very stylish. She definitely didn't get that from me. She loves ballet. She does not like school and isn't a big reader. She's a fretter and worrier and we are always working with her more, but she came out of the womb shy-er and more concerned about where I was and what I was doing and that still really impacts her. She is playing piano and also taking voice lessons. She has a beautiful voice! Ballet is very important to her, and her closest friends are all fellow dancers. <br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_249b_55_1b54_d269" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYR7LE0KEM3DQki7FS7bh_LWjxdfN7mV-k64Lp09-0Or4VC0vB0XbM6iteDq8nbqv4DPMR9j9s_SoKh2Nf4bh7DsS970Gg" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div></div><div> </div><div>Isaac and his hair. Always makes us laugh. Isaac is loving theatre. He tried out for a production of <i>Newsies</i>. A LOT of people tried out, and he is anxiously waiting to hear if he made it in or not. (I think there were 100+ for just 50 or so roles.) He is still taking piano, guitar, and voice, and then he's involved in theatre as well. He also does karate. He doesn't love karate, but it's a good physical activity for the boys so we've had him keep doing it whenever he has a Tuesday or a Friday evening free. He will be 16 in May so he has his permit. Isaac is not very "into" the farm, but he likes living in a place that has jobs ready for him ... we have some non-paid jobs (of course), but also have some "optional" paid jobs as well. He was also in the ballet this year as a baker. <br /><br /><br /></div>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-71193021513679810942024-01-16T06:39:00.001-06:002024-01-16T06:39:27.851-06:00Snow Day!!!<img id="id_6e76_f419_4862_1374" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYRCHl7tANemUOyaitoLHVh1sgKU-Dgbk-t6SyN5_zY94mREieuKXENhPPswK3Fk1enTyandmhWbgkclh_rFFvmGCkTB" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br> <img id="id_2dcd_e266_fe16_5405" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYSA2PrDz1wH88RS5PWD57a3HW6y4RZo0vbPeZeInTsImRnS1F3nWsX1ulxTJMvLwKCgXfopzRerPneAw3EQqVtFhqPxmg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><div><img id="id_8e1c_a6ef_5b13_ce1c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYR0zPRq1H1vEICbFprmvs13tCisTUf-yfLif1B898mfHMqushvXCNfnNQyWWAAsVqcnnAVjrfkSqtn5p2AMLxBbc87p" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ffa4_fffe_2ae8_70ad" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYQuUC6FS0R0pqyIDCYmV1QZ9CGDhn0arY9jRuXIIGXPa6iDp_e9mj6Gczq7GPF8VO6AbsDM9LhddxvfemFmNEItCkcN" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">We had a TON of snow (for East TN) yesterday! John measured it at the end of the day: </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_70c_e1bd_12a8_91da" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYRb7ybLI6KGCMtqe1ZuaSMmWCqzm2NXcDussNIOSC9t4JtS0bgBG3TLCFE2FYG2hvjKEHwinyRDEKFNtA-1u64dHrR0wg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">This was after a lot of mixed precipitation so I am sure we had a lot of melting. I’m guessing that we probably had at least 6”. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Everything was cancelled, and as I wake up this morning, it appears Tuesday may be quiet as well. The best part of it though is that JB is home with us!!! It has seemed that every snow storm or winter event has been an event when he was scheduled to work. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">But yesterday it was the four of us. And it was wonderful!<br></span><br></div>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-37051766425040950552024-01-15T06:59:00.000-06:002024-01-15T06:59:00.147-06:00Letters from the girls <img id="id_7c4d_2199_3d11_95b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYTpwBuWKDfE1dRlLrabL34_rVOXRXQOqaX6QGc2x7Qkv-9Mj4VjCXqlvMi5jq1VLFsOpEMeMu8dXUZYFFGSFgZd-PKn0g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div><img id="id_1cdc_7628_8a3e_cf83" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYQtjc_5gZ9YWtvZaoCLVpIuB3CFBfoQnYMzcOGlv2JV5_nQRpTyS9zldqEzquNcytxCxWaMST3BNnx04aFHHdrS4muY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Boys don’t do things like this. But the girls did. Before I went to the grocery store today I was working in my room on some schoolwork, and these came sliding into my room. <br></span><br><br></div>Wendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.com0