Goat pictures and stuff :)

We now have more than 40 little kiddies! Some times, if it's tooo cold for the new borns in the shop barn, we take them in the house for the first night. They sleep in baskets on the floor.The nubers on the tag represent the number of bottle feedings it's had.My cousin Aaron thought they were pretty cute :) Below is Andrew, playing swatt (the animal game) with the Young People when they were over last week.

The back pond has frozen again, much to our delight!





Benji is licking off the mixer beater for me :)
That's all for now...Enjoy the pictures everybody!

A new Arrival!!!

The first little kid was born this morning! It's a boy! Isn't he cute?

Long legs for such a little creature :)Sort of wobbly.

Benjamin is thrilled :)

Drinking form his mother...

Barn Pictures

I haven't posted on here in ages...time for an update! We are making lots of progress with the barn work. Today we were able to move most of the goats into the main barn. The move was very successful and the goats love their new home! I took some pictures today and I also added a few from the last couple of weeks.
I should include here that we got the last group of doelings preg-checked last week, and we found out that all but four (125) of them are pregnant! That is a lot more than we expected. There are quite a few sets of twins coming, and one set of triplets! (Multiples are common with goats). The kidding begins around the middle of next month, and will continue for the rest of the winter and spring, if all goes well.
Here is the hard working crew having their lunch break. (L-R) Darryl, Richard, Rebecca, Paddy, Dad, Terry, Ken & Jeremy.

Our new milk tank (below) The goats in their new pen, happily eating.

The back of our barn.
The pen where the goats are, before they moved in.

Mom, Dad, Becca, and John are bedding it down with straw for the goats.
These pictures are a bit older. This one was taken on Dec. 29 when we were busy installing the parlor.Our 4-wheeler gets a lot of use when there is snow. The kidds built some wooden sleds which pull very nicely behind the 4-wheeler. They got the pattern from some Amish children who used theirs behind a pony. Couldn't resist posting this pic of the neighbors new puppy... :)

Winter Wonderland

Snow fun!

Yesterday the twins & Rachel went to the dunes to sled, so I followed them with my camera:)

Snow ball fights :)

Three Words of Strength

There are three lessons I would write-
Three words, as with a burning pen,
In tracings of eternal light,
Upon the heart of men.

Have hope! though clouds environ round,
And gladness hides her face in scorn,
Put thou the shadow from thy brow,
No night but hath its morn.

Have faith! where're thy bark is driven-
The calm's disport, the tempest's mirth-
Know this: God rules the hosts of heaven,
The inhabitants of earth.

Have love! not love alone for one,
But man as man thy brother call,
And scatter like the circling sun,
Thy charities on all.

Thus grave these lessons on thy soul,
Hope, faith, and love; and thou shalt find
Strength when life's surges rudest roll,
Light when thou else wert blind.

Friedrich Von Schiller

The twins are 8!!!

Andrew Jacob,(right) and Steven Joel, (left) about a week after Nov.10, 1999, almost ready to come home from the hospital.

Today, with their new farm set, which they are thrilled about!

The traditional "farm" cakes that Mom makes for them. She's done it almost every year. Notice the pasture, the plowed fields, the barns (made of graham crackers) and the trees(suckers).

The cows and machinery are toys.

They have been and are, two great blessings to our family, praise the Lord!

"Come little leaves" said the wind one day,

"Come o'er the meadows with me and play;

Put on your dresses of red and gold,

For summer is gone and the days grow cold."

Soon as the leaves heard the wind's loud call,

Down they came fluttering, one and all;

Over the brown fields they danced and flew,

Singing the glad little songs they knew.

"Cricket, good-bye, we've been friends so long,

Little brook,sing us your farewell song;

Say your sorry to see us go;

Ah, you will miss us, right well we know.

"Dear little lambs in your fleecy fold,

Mother will keep you from harm and cold;

Fondly we watched you in vale and glade,

Say, will you dream of our loving shade?"

Dancing and whirling, the little leaves went,

Winter had called them, and they were content;

Soon, fast asleep in their earthly beds,

The snow laid a coverlid over their heads.

George Cooper

Amy & Steve's wedding!!!

Yes, I'm a little late in posting these pictures, but better late than never...They arn't the greatest ones either, I picked the best that I have but the lighting could still be better, O well...

Anyway, the wedding was beautiful!

Above is Karissa, Amy's sister, Andrew, Steve's nephew, and Ashleigh, his niece. Aren't they cute? :)

Below: The beauiful bride and her father, coming down the aisle.

This picture was taken during a song I think.

After the signing.

This is how they came out of the sanctuary!



At the reception, just before a kiss. :)

Think they're happy or what????!!!!I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the LORD.

Disappointment - HIS appointment, change one letter,
Then I see that the thwarting of my purpose
Is God's better choice for me.
His appointment must be blessing,
Though it may come in disguise,
For the end from the beginning,
Open to His wisdom lies.

Disappointment - HIS appointment, whose?
The Lord's, who loves me best,
Understands and knows me fully,
Who my faith and love would test.
For like a loving, earthly parent,
He rejoices when He knows,
That His child accepts unquestioned
All that from His wisdom flows.

Disappointment - HIS appointment,
Lord I take it then as such,
Like the clay in hands of the potter,
Yielding wholly to Thy touch,
All my life's plan is Thy molding,
Not one single choice is mine,
Let me answer unrepining,
Father not my will but Thine!

Edith Lillian Young

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6