What has happened to The Farmers Daughter? (Part deux)

(WARNING: Read at your own risk. You may want to take a break in between and drink some water. This is going to be a long post!. Just giving you fair warning.)

~ Continuation of part 1~

In November on Thanksgiving Eve, we were told that twins were going to be born into the family. I honestly couldn't believe it myself but, here is the proof:

 It is a complete miracle that my brother (who had the bone marrow transplant) and my sister in law were able to conceive twins. The doctors said that after they had Liam (the oldest) that they would not be able to have anymore kids (because of the kind of chemo my brother received). This just goes to show what GOD is capable of! Not only did He give us one baby but, He is blessing us with 2!!

We (well, they) now have: Liam (4 1/2), Benjamin (2 1/2), Emery Kate (1) and the twins Laila (Baby A) and Elizabeth (Liza) (Baby B) coming in March!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In December, my favorite sister and  my favorite oldest niece came for Christmas and we (and Grandma) took 2 mini trips. 

First, lets have Christmas pictures:

The Kirkland Children Offspring were very good last year

We all came back after the Christmas Eve service at my parents church to have supper on the farm

Doing what sisters do and photobombing!

 A non photobombing picture

 

Daddy .......

..... getting a clock

For Christmas, my sister bought everyone a book to read to the grandchildren

 Lia got a book (that she later told me she read in 2 days!!!). I can't believe that she did that. I definitely was not reading 400 page books when I was her age. Well, I probably was but, it took me longer than 2 days, I guarantee you!

 My sister wearing her fuzzy ball hat thing

Daughter looking to see what mother got!

Let's not leave the grandchildren out. They got a Mom (Amy) approved trampoline. The liner (net) is sewn to the mat so the kids won't fall out and there are no springs attached (which is awesome)!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mini trip 1 was taken to Henry County's only waterfall. I would tell y'all where this is but, I can't. Not only can't I tell you where it is but, I really can't tell you how to get there because I really can't remember! If you know of the location, please keep it to yourself. Here are the pictures:

I was a tad bit behind so, I decided to snap a picture of them walking 

So pretty!

Lia behind the waterfall

Anna and Lia

Anna and I

 

Dad and Mom

Dad and Lia. That girl will be 14 this year and she is already up to Dad's shoulders. The pediatrician told my sister when she took my niece (her daughter) to her 2 year old check up that by the time she was 18, she'd be 6"4'!!!

Mom and Lia

Lia and I

 The falls and I (oh, and Lia photobombing. I guess that this was payback from earlier!!!).

GO GO Gadget arms!!!

Well, I'm off to write part 3 (what?!?!?!) of "What has happened to the Farmers Daughter??" I hope that y'all had fun reading! I'll see everyone in the other post!

Christmases Past/Present aka Christmas On the Farm

When I was growing up, we had a very huge Christmas. Well, it was huge to a little kid. Just the 5 of us (Daddy, Momma, my sister, my brother and me!) We had a great time. Family would come over and bring their gifts . Below is a couple of pictures:

 Christmas 1989. I loved that little bear (sitting in a chair). His name is Teddy Ruxpin. 

He was so fun to play with. You'd stick a cassette tape in his back and he would move his mouth to the words! It was so cool to a little kid! I had fun sticking my fingers in his mouth so that he could "chew" them but, he eventually tore up from me doing that so much!

Getting the family Christmas Tree. I had so much fun! I loved it.

Snow in 1989!! The first snow that I remember!!! OK, so, it was a dusting but, a little of the white stuff fell ..... You know, I think that my Daddy looks rather dashing in a beard .....  don't you? :) Just sayin' ;)

~ Now to the blog post ~

*** I realize some might not understand this next part. I guess you just had to grow up with 2 way radios ..... ***

LOL!! I remember calling my Uncle on our 2 way radio (Yes, way before Southern Linc's and beep beep phones (even cell phones were popular) See, we (the house) were "base" and my Uncle was "Unit 2" and I remember getting the two mixed up all the time. I would always say (never failed): "Unit base to 2, come in Uncle Dale! I would do the same thing to Daddy but, he was "Unit 1". I would then ask my Uncle if there was going to be a hayride that Christmas. I really enjoyed the hayride!


Another funny story: My cousin Jake was the umpire at the softball game I was playing (I was not good at it). I did not know before hand and apparently, if I told anyone, they'd have to get a new umpire so, I did not tell a soul! Anyway, every time I went up to bat, he'd talk to me. It was very annoying! I mean, come on ..... I thought that David would help me not hurt me ..... Oh well! We all laugh about it now!

Wow, I chased a rabbit there. ANYWAY .....

Christmas has changed for my family as each one of my siblings have moved away. I don't get to see my sister as much as I did in the past. She used to go to school in a town not far from here and she would come home on the holidays of course but, it was not lik having her 24/7. I mean, not that I remember much of that cause she was 9 when I was born so, I don't think that she had much to do with me (that is just my opinion and does not mean it was true. I just may not be remembering right). I miss seeing my sister at Christmas time!

When my brother and his wife lived in Texas, I didn't get to see them much cause with his job (working at UPS) he only had Christmas day off so, we didn't get to see him as much. I think that he might have come home one Thanksgiving One other Thanksgiving, we met them at my sisters house in N.C. because they flew in from Texas

Then, however, it's dwindle down to just me. I was lonely with no one here but, Daddy, Momma and myself (and occasionally Grandma). It was like, Christmas was just another day. There were presents to be sure but, not as many as there used to be. It would get depressing!Even watching all the Christmas movies that I have did not help! It does not have to be like that and it should NOT be like that! You need to be around family during Christmas time! LOTS of family!!!

Since my brother and his wife have moved back home, I look forward to having Christmas with them again! His sweet little son especially! Oh, I just love him!!! Oh, and his wife too! :D We are to have a Christmas like the Christmas we used to have ..... well kinda. My sister and her family wont be here so, it wont be the same but, it will be like our Christmases of old no less.

"They say, the older you get, the faster it goes" ~ Daddy

Update on Operation Christmas Decorating .....

I have the bookshelves (in the den) cleaned off where I am going to put 1 of 4 manger scenes. Yes, we have 4. See:

1 The Manger scene from when I was little
2. The Manger scene that has a stable
3. The sparkly Manger scene
4. A porcelain Manger scene

I'm tidying up the office so that I can put the table (not the one we eat off of) in the middle of the room to put my Christmas village on but, I will have to wait until Momma gets home to get that down! It is a to man ..... er, woman job! I would also like to put my train around it but, my train is out of commission and has been for a while now.

Daddy has previously stated that I was not to get the tree down until Momma got home but, I talked to her today and she said that I could get it down so, I'm planning on getting the tree down tomorrow. We are not going to have a decorated tree but, it will be just as nice!!

There is to be no huge decorating event this year. Just plain and simple. However, the stockings will be hung by the fireplace with care as always!!!

I have to get some decorating down before I leave to go out of town. When and where you ask? You may never know .....

Trust and Obey

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That is the song running through my head all day today as I was thinking over this (almost) past year.

I moved out of my parents house in May to move in with a friend of mine just to get a feel for living on my own (without Mom and Dad having to furnish and rent an apartment for 6 months). I moved back hone in August to settle in to life again here at the farm.

Anyway, the same week I moved back home, we left for Texas. My brother's WBC (white blood cell count) had shot up. The doc's did blood work and the lab at the hospital made a mistake. Well, a couple months after that, his WBC shot up again. We found out that he needed a bone marrow transplant. In November, my sister flew out to Texas and my Mom drove out there. My brother has since had the transplant and I do not see him having any side effects from it.

It is now December and Dad and I are here. Mom is in Texas still and I just dont know when she will be home. I just hope that she gets home in time for Christmas. Daddy will not allow me to get down any Christmas decorations until Momma gets home.

What is this blog post about? Apparently its about random things. :-)

What I originally was going to write about is this:

I've learned that since moving home that if you follow God's will, things are alot easier. In the past, I've fought God in not wanting to finish my GED but, this year I took a leap of faith and it is paying off!! I am almost done!!! I followed God's will and it is alot easier. I'm also currently following God's will and not thinking/wishing I had a boyfriend and it is paying off as well! I mean, I'm so busy right now with Momma gone that if I had one, it would still be like I didnt. I mean, I'm so busy and here lately, I've been traveling ALOT! So, if I had one I couldn't/wouldn't have anytime to spend with him ....

I hope that this blog post makes sense ...

Rambling??

I've been trying to rake my brain for something particular to write about but, I cant seem to find what it is that I want to right about. So, I'm just going to write about random things. They will be put into paragraphs.

For the past few days, I've been helping Mom pick up pecans in a yard across from our house. I think that I have overdone things with the picking up of the pecans. I've not felt good lately. I have figured out that the scars from my appendectomy do not stretch. I suppose that I will pick up pecans tomorrow as well!!

My brother. Alot can happen in a year. This past February had been a year since he was diagnosed with CML. In September I learned that the meds that he had been taking that kept him in remission had quit working. He now needs a bone marrow transplant. The good news is is that my sister (who lives in NC) is a perfect match!! God is good!! Yesterday (Sunday) was their (my brother and sister in laws) one year wedding anniversary. In fact, it seems just like yesterday that they were getting married in the beautiful mountains of Angel Fire, New Mexico!! Oh, it was so pretty!! I want to go back and perhaps maybe one day I will get that chance!

Since my surgery, I have not been able to participate in harvest at all. We are almost done picking cotton. I had to sit that crop out due to it being such strenuous work. I mean, with the pushing and pulling that I would have to do in order to work the cotton module builder. Next is peanuts!! I can do peanuts easy!! All I will have to do is drive a truck (that weighs 3/4 of a ton) puling a peanut trailer (that weighs about 8 tons)!! If y'all think I am scared, believe me when I tell you that I am not.

I must admit that when I started writing this blog that I felt so down and out but after to talking to a very special and dear fried, I feel a whole lot better!! Thanks, Melanie!! Such a dear friend!!

Anyway ........

My life. It is busy to say the least. Would I have it any other way? Of course not. It is hard sometimes when I think about certain persons and I wish upon every star that things could be different. Then I realize that there is no such thing as a "fairy tale" relationship Things will get better though! I just have to keep believing. Alot of tears have been shed. Especially when I see a couple who is so much in love!! My heart aches because I want that. In the Bible, it says that God gives us the desires of our hearts. God knows what I want so, I really don't have to tell him. I really do think that God is waiting on my to grow up!!

What is my schedule like? Well, it consists of me doing the following: Mondays: Volunteer at a local hospital, Tuesdays: school, Wednesdays: volunteering at a local hospital, going to church and teaching GA's, and Thursdays: going to school!! Fridays and Saturdays is my free day to do whatever. Sundays are reserved for going to church!

Speaking of church, this past Sunday was the first time that I went to a particular church for several months. I was able to hear the testimony of Siran Stacy! If you dont know who he is, I urge you to look him up!! Tomorrow (Wednesday) I will be going back to teaching GA's for the first time since my surgery!! I cant wait. I hope that I will not be disappointed!!

Thanksgiving? Will we all be here together?? Who knows! We are waiting on God's perfect timing!!

Well, I think this is every thing that I wanted to say!! Oh, sorry about the randomness of everything!! I shall write more when I am not about to conk out!!

A Part Of Me Has Died Today

Well, I can officially say that I am unemployed. After 9 months, I received a call from my boss who own Southern Regional Veterinary Services (SRVES) who told me that he ws terminating my position. He went on to say that he was going to hire someone else who could do the job I was doing and also be a vet tech. So, I have no job. Thankfully I do provisions to get me by. I just hope and pray that I can find a job soon!! I know that God is looking out for me and I know that HE will keep on providing for me.

I cant say anything bad about my boss(es)!! He and his wife are such a wonderful and Godly couple!!!!! If it hand t of been for them, I wouldn't have even gotten this job!! I love them so much!!!!!

For I know that plans that I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you and plans to give you a hope and a future ~ Jeremiah 29:11

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and to those who are called according to His purpose ~ Romans 8:28

P.S. I just wish that it didn't happen a week before Christmas!!!!

When will the Kirkland's celebrate Christmas?????

Well, that is a good question!!!!!!!!!! When will the Kirkland's celebrate Christmas?????????? Will (my brother) was supposed to be home tomorrow (the 23) but, he called and told us he could not come (he was supposed to have a week and a half at home)cause he had to work. Now, he is not coming in until the 29th. Which means he is flying home and will not be bringing General Paxton (his dog). Hmmmmm .......... Drew (brother in law), Anna (my sister) and Lia (my niece) are not going to be here until the 29th or 30th. So, I guess that we will celebrate Christmas then????? Then everyone goes home the 3rd of January. This is so frustrating. Thanks for letting me vent!!!!!!!!!!