THE BABY CHICKS!

My husband reminded me today that I haven't blogged about everything going on around here. I am so sorry! So, hold onto your seat. I'm going to publish three posts in a week...yes, I need to watch out...my heart might not be able to take the excitement!



Three weeks ago,(the day after the Presidents Day holiday to be exact) we received a call from our Post Office. "Umm... your baby chicks have arrived, but they are all dead."

They still belonged to us, so I had to go pick them up. In the back IAHL was sitting, mourning the loss..."why did we even have to go get them if they're dead?" As in, I don't want to have to deal with this..why are we?
But I explained that someone needed to give them a proper burial. That would be us.

So with fear and trepidation we ordered more for delivery the next week. And we got the call Sunday morning...from Charlottesville! But having attended the first service...(a little unusual for us) we missed the call and they didn't leave a message. So we were invited over to my parents house for lunch with all the great-aunts and uncles and assorted extended family. I was anxious, but couldn't justify a 110+ mile round trip to visit a closed Post Office, with the possibility they were already on the truck to our town. So I pushed it down...and tried to put it out of my mind. Apparently I was successful, as I didn't think about it until 5pm when I checked my answering machine remotely. Yep, we got the call (from Harrisonburg!)

Now at this point I'd like to mention, (in my own defense) that we have NEVER received calls from the Post Office on Sunday. And this is NOT the first time we've ordered chicks. So I don't know if all these people just felt sorry for us and our loss only the week before, or what. But we have never been called on Sunday.

Back to my story. A Harrisonburg postal worker called and said they were there but she would only be at work until 4. (YES, it was 5 when I got it) But I still called the number, just in case.
NOPE.

By this time, I am literally climbing the walls emotionally. Every maternal hormone in my body has kicked in will full force and I am overdosing on adrenaline. But I look calm on the exterior. My dh keeps reassuring me, but even he is surprised that I am so worked up by the circumstances. I just know that every hour counts...literally... tiny little body counts.

So we called OUR local postal worker, because we know where he lives, and ask him if he has any ideas. Nope, but he's willing to check inside at Mt. Crawford to see if they've been delivered yet...absolutely.
What a saint.
We pick him up, drive him to BOTH post offices to see if we can find them, and realize that they are locked up like Fort Knox in the 'burg. Even our local Postmaster got into the fray and tried to get information for us from said lockup, but nothing. God Bless those two.

And we waited.

First thing in the morning I called that number given to me on the answering machine.
"Oh yes, they are still here....drive around back and come in to get them". So I do. Drive past the gates that say NO ADMITTANCE, walk up to the loading dock, terribly intimidated, knowing full well I am not an employee..and finally find someone to help me. (insert blank look on the worker's face).
It is eventually determined that they were NOT still there when I called, they were delivered to my Post Office that morning. Like an hour ago.

We got them, finally.
Only three dead.
Trampled.
Then began the watch....

....but if it was me....

I don't know about you, but there have been times in my life, times of intense worship that I wondered what it would be like if we were just swept up into the throne room of this amazing God. To continue on for eternity. Wow. Any time I get there it would be cool. Any way.

Today I read the words that LTC Jeff White was singing when he died,whose family I mentioned in an earlier post. Apparently, having been recently reunited, the entire family was singing a song in front of their home church.

OK, so here's the song.... (the words at least)

Angel Band
My latest sun is sinking fast,
My race is nearly run.
My longest trials now are past,
My triumph has begun.

O come angel band,
Come and around me stand.
O bear me away on your snowy white wings
To my immortal home.
O bear me away on you snow white wings
To my immortal home.

I know I'm near the holy ranks
Of friends and kindred dear.
I've brushed the dew on Jordan's banks,
the crossing must be near.
I've almost gained my heavenly home,
my spirit loudly sings.
The holy ones, behold they come,
I hear the noise of wings.

O bear my longing heart to Him
Who bled and died for me;
Whose blood now cleanses from all sins
And gives me victory.

O come angel band,
Come and around me stand.
O bear me away on your snowy white wings
To my immortal home.
O bear me away on you snow white wings
To my immortal home.

Pretty close to Elijah's chariot, huh?


You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.
I Corinthians 9:24 The Message

Run the race as if to finish it..

Crazy Dress Day

WARNING: uNsociALiZeD homes schoolers ....proceed at your own risk....






Jonathan "Jonnie Boy" Lohr



















Corbin "call me George" Fawleyman



Actually this was just a fun "dress-crazy-&-let's-go-out-for-pizza-night"
(with a number of other silly people)

By all accounts they had fun. There was supposed to be more photos posted of the entire group...but I have not found them yet.

We are not alone....

Somewhere....

...over the Rainbow...bluebirds fly...birds fly over the rainbow...why then, oh why can't I?...



Yesterday I received the news of a girlfriend whose husband died Sunday while singing in the choir at their hometown church. He had just finished an 18-month tour of duty in Iraq. They were looking forward to his last assignment before retirement. They had three children, the oldest, a girl, was about 11.

My heart grieves for this family, the children for their loss, and the widow,for all that she must endure. So much will change, now, for them. So much loss. My heart is heavy.
But then there's the rainbow.
A promise from our Creator, to us. One of many promises. And I know it to be true.

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.



3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;




6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.


7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;




8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.