Took a l o n g nap yesterday after skype with TJ.
Woke up to a noise on the back deck. Sarah (cow) was at the back doors. She had just knocked over a plant and was beginning to nibble on another. Well. more like chomp...cows don't nibble. Chased her off...then about 20 minutes later, heard noise on the front deck...Sarah was all the way up on the front deck, eating the flowers next to the door. Chased her away again.
Brad will be bringing hay tomorrow morning for the very hungry cows.
Kept waking up last night to our dogs barking from the back deck. I looked out several times, thinking the cows were back for a late night snack, but didn't see anything. Figured maybe they were barking at some far away falling leaf..they do that sometimes.
This morning, JJP (sheltie) was insistantly barking on the back deck again. Then I saw the reason - a raccoon on a tree hanging over the deck. As soon as I opened the door to get the dog in (so the coon could safely run away); the coon jumped down and started running - chased by the 11 year old sheltie with bad eyesight and stubby little legs. Luckily (for the sheltie) the coon got away.
Love life at the ranch :-)
Monday, July 18, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Skype with TJ
12:15 our time...so 6:15 there, (I think).
YEAH! Skype with my hubby! Jessie was out and about somewhere. Woke Ray up from nap to "see" Papaw. Ray wasn't too into the video call...he's still VERRY Tired from his day yesterday :-)
Several of the kids came into the room. I think they liked seeing themselves on the camera.
TJ said they played volleyball today, and had church service. TJ spoke at church...would have loved to hear that.
He said Chloe is much better, she'd been feeling a little poorly.
He talked about being invited into the home after the funeral and how people served them - that was an adjustment - to be the ones being served.
They even had Sprite!
He said Crystal is a Rock Star with all that she does for everyone.
They were going to eat dinner in about 30 minutes - didn't know what they were eating, or what would be in it. But that it all tastes good.
Then they'll have their devotional and then the generators are turned off...so they'll sit on the porch and chat before heading off to sleep.
Said his favorite thing is the people, and getting to know the folks on the team more.
SO nice to see his smiling face.
YEAH! Skype with my hubby! Jessie was out and about somewhere. Woke Ray up from nap to "see" Papaw. Ray wasn't too into the video call...he's still VERRY Tired from his day yesterday :-)
Several of the kids came into the room. I think they liked seeing themselves on the camera.
TJ said they played volleyball today, and had church service. TJ spoke at church...would have loved to hear that.
He said Chloe is much better, she'd been feeling a little poorly.
He talked about being invited into the home after the funeral and how people served them - that was an adjustment - to be the ones being served.
They even had Sprite!
He said Crystal is a Rock Star with all that she does for everyone.
They were going to eat dinner in about 30 minutes - didn't know what they were eating, or what would be in it. But that it all tastes good.
Then they'll have their devotional and then the generators are turned off...so they'll sit on the porch and chat before heading off to sleep.
Said his favorite thing is the people, and getting to know the folks on the team more.
SO nice to see his smiling face.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Missed a sykpe - sad.
:-( So sad, I wasn't home yet from my meeting, and TJ/Jessie tried to skype. They are going to try again tomorrow. Going to SIT in front of computer tomorrow from 2 until they contact me.
Here is Jessie's FaceBook Post
"So much to say, yet no words. i am running on limited power in Otutulu, Nigeria. An experience I would never trade for anything. I have seen things I never would have thought I would, I have done things I know many of you will never even have the opportunity to, I am in such a different world and I love it. There's so much to see, take in, be a part of. Everything is so simple and straight forward here, so.. real."
TJ left me a skype message that he went to a funeral today - looking forward to hearing about that. Jessie was part of the group doing the albinism class. Want to hear about that too.
TJ also said they picked melons today, and there was some melon throwing going on. He closed with saying they were going to go pour cold water on themselves - and call that a shower. LOL.
My friend Adam told me that journaling the adventures of Mamaw and Ray is good - TJ and Jessie will want to read it when they get settled back later this month.
So..today I had an Emmaus team meeting. It was wonder-filled as usual. There were more than a few God moments. Like the "theme" for the Walk is an art piece of a heart and a cross and thorns. Kathy's mom made it - it is all that Kathy has of her mom - who passed away when Kathy was 20 months old. Well, one of the photos the music team used on their power point is of a door in a foreign country, with the the EXACT same design on it! God knew all along about the connection. Kathy was speechless.
Ray spent the day with the Jacobus boys - Adam, Landon, Dawson. Swimming, playing, eating pizza. They wore him out. He was sound asleep in the car seat within minutes of getting in the car.
I need to get off blogging and go get the trashcan from the gate...Haven't had a chance to get it since trash pick-up on Wednesday. Then a few loads of laundry and some work stuff on the computer.
Here is Jessie's FaceBook Post
"So much to say, yet no words. i am running on limited power in Otutulu, Nigeria. An experience I would never trade for anything. I have seen things I never would have thought I would, I have done things I know many of you will never even have the opportunity to, I am in such a different world and I love it. There's so much to see, take in, be a part of. Everything is so simple and straight forward here, so.. real."
TJ left me a skype message that he went to a funeral today - looking forward to hearing about that. Jessie was part of the group doing the albinism class. Want to hear about that too.
TJ also said they picked melons today, and there was some melon throwing going on. He closed with saying they were going to go pour cold water on themselves - and call that a shower. LOL.
My friend Adam told me that journaling the adventures of Mamaw and Ray is good - TJ and Jessie will want to read it when they get settled back later this month.
So..today I had an Emmaus team meeting. It was wonder-filled as usual. There were more than a few God moments. Like the "theme" for the Walk is an art piece of a heart and a cross and thorns. Kathy's mom made it - it is all that Kathy has of her mom - who passed away when Kathy was 20 months old. Well, one of the photos the music team used on their power point is of a door in a foreign country, with the the EXACT same design on it! God knew all along about the connection. Kathy was speechless.
Ray spent the day with the Jacobus boys - Adam, Landon, Dawson. Swimming, playing, eating pizza. They wore him out. He was sound asleep in the car seat within minutes of getting in the car.
I need to get off blogging and go get the trashcan from the gate...Haven't had a chance to get it since trash pick-up on Wednesday. Then a few loads of laundry and some work stuff on the computer.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Work Week One is Done
Four days without Jessie and TJ. Seems like a long-time. Trying to remember One Moment at a Time.
Several times today, I had stuff I wanted to share with my hubby. Like the new account in Austin being unhappy that I couldn't give her data on what her competitors' best sellers are. She actually accused me of lying when I told her for the umpteenth time that I didn't have that data. Then she couldn't understand why I didn't know average transaction amounts for stores near her, or the demographics of the community around her store, or the average volume of daily sales for other stores her size, and other info like that. She said, "I need to know all this information to know what to buy for my store". Well, yes, that'd be nice to know...but I'm the vitamin rep, not the chamber of commerce. (that's what I thought - not what I said). Just kept repeating that I didn't have that kind of information..she kept asking..we went round and round. Strange first meeting with a new store.
Annnyyywayy - I wanted to vent about that to my hubby, who always settles me...sigh.
And then Sadie isn't doing well, and I didn't have anyone to talk to about that.
And Ray's grandparents want to spend a day with him, and I didn't have TJ to discuss that with.
Hoping it'll be our turn to skype soon, so I can hear about their adventures.
Several times today, I had stuff I wanted to share with my hubby. Like the new account in Austin being unhappy that I couldn't give her data on what her competitors' best sellers are. She actually accused me of lying when I told her for the umpteenth time that I didn't have that data. Then she couldn't understand why I didn't know average transaction amounts for stores near her, or the demographics of the community around her store, or the average volume of daily sales for other stores her size, and other info like that. She said, "I need to know all this information to know what to buy for my store". Well, yes, that'd be nice to know...but I'm the vitamin rep, not the chamber of commerce. (that's what I thought - not what I said). Just kept repeating that I didn't have that kind of information..she kept asking..we went round and round. Strange first meeting with a new store.
Annnyyywayy - I wanted to vent about that to my hubby, who always settles me...sigh.
And then Sadie isn't doing well, and I didn't have anyone to talk to about that.
And Ray's grandparents want to spend a day with him, and I didn't have TJ to discuss that with.
Hoping it'll be our turn to skype soon, so I can hear about their adventures.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Updated Understanding of the Itinerary to Date
I was confused - so I thought ya'll might be too.
I knew that there is a 6 hour time difference. And as I've thought about the team through out the day, I pictured them based on that time. But I didn't know that they didn't go straight from the airport in Abuja to the MoM orphange in Otutulu.
This is information I adapted from an email to me from Renee Leachman (her hubby, Leonard, is part of this team, and their two daughters, Oma and Anita, are adopted from the orphanage in Otutulu.)
Tuesday, 12th
Depart San Antonio at 1:30PM Central Time
Wednesday, 13th
Arrived in Germany at 9:00AM-ish Germany Time (3:00AM- ish Central Time)
Arrived in Abuja, Nigeria 5:00PM-ish Nigeria Time (11:00PM-ish Central Time)
Stayed overnight at the Hope Eden (or Eden Hope) Community School, on the
outskirts of Abuja
Thursday, 14th
Drove from Abuja to Lokoja. Spent day at the MoM facility in Lokoja. This is where many of the babies are. I don't know the age limit before they "move on" to Otutulu. A personal note: TJ LOVES babies - and they love him. So I look forward to hearing how that went. Jessie too. But there is just something about TJ and infants :-) Shhhh don't tell him I told you!
Drove from Lokoja to Otutulu. From the messages we got, it looks like they
arrived there 8:30 - 9:30PM-ish Nigeria time tonight - Thursday
They are sleeping now for the first time at the MoM orphanage in Otutulu.
Tomorrow -Friday, July 15th, will be their first day of waking up in the MoM compound.
That is much different than what I had in my head. Thanks Renee for the clarification!
I knew that there is a 6 hour time difference. And as I've thought about the team through out the day, I pictured them based on that time. But I didn't know that they didn't go straight from the airport in Abuja to the MoM orphange in Otutulu.
This is information I adapted from an email to me from Renee Leachman (her hubby, Leonard, is part of this team, and their two daughters, Oma and Anita, are adopted from the orphanage in Otutulu.)
Tuesday, 12th
Depart San Antonio at 1:30PM Central Time
Wednesday, 13th
Arrived in Germany at 9:00AM-ish Germany Time (3:00AM- ish Central Time)
Arrived in Abuja, Nigeria 5:00PM-ish Nigeria Time (11:00PM-ish Central Time)
Stayed overnight at the Hope Eden (or Eden Hope) Community School, on the
outskirts of Abuja
Thursday, 14th
Drove from Abuja to Lokoja. Spent day at the MoM facility in Lokoja. This is where many of the babies are. I don't know the age limit before they "move on" to Otutulu. A personal note: TJ LOVES babies - and they love him. So I look forward to hearing how that went. Jessie too. But there is just something about TJ and infants :-) Shhhh don't tell him I told you!
Drove from Lokoja to Otutulu. From the messages we got, it looks like they
arrived there 8:30 - 9:30PM-ish Nigeria time tonight - Thursday
They are sleeping now for the first time at the MoM orphanage in Otutulu.
Tomorrow -Friday, July 15th, will be their first day of waking up in the MoM compound.
That is much different than what I had in my head. Thanks Renee for the clarification!
Thursday - the Driving Day
This long drive day worked out just fine. Up at 5:15AM. We left at 6:30AM. I arrived in Brenham just as the store opened. Then on to Bryan and Caldwell stores. Back in time to get Ray to swimming - we even had some time to practice before his class.
Ate dinner at home. Tired of fast food/restaurants already. Then worked with Ray on his numbers. He seems to be struggling with the 'teens'. 11, 12, 13, etc. So we are going to work on those more when there is spare time.
Got my new GPS holder...so I no longer have to "balance" it on the stand, and catch it every time I go around a corner or over a little bump.
Another day of no mice. A few ants though.
Tomorrow is Austin and back. Have to be there early...so leaving again at 6:30ish.
Ate dinner at home. Tired of fast food/restaurants already. Then worked with Ray on his numbers. He seems to be struggling with the 'teens'. 11, 12, 13, etc. So we are going to work on those more when there is spare time.
Got my new GPS holder...so I no longer have to "balance" it on the stand, and catch it every time I go around a corner or over a little bump.
Another day of no mice. A few ants though.
Tomorrow is Austin and back. Have to be there early...so leaving again at 6:30ish.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Day 2 of the Adventures of Ray and Mamaw
http://www.lamplightmissions.blogspot.com
Go to the above blog for updates on the team in Nigeria.
They are 6 hours ahead of Central time, so it's 9:45PM here and 3:45AM there - so they are currently sleeping under their mosquito netting.
Today would have a seemed overly full if I looked at it in advance...but I'm trying not to do that - other than to plan what time to get up and get going..
Eggs for breakfast. No ants or mice in the kitchen this morning.
Dropped off Ray. Drove north of Austin to 620 area. Then to Georgetown, 2 stores in Round Rock and 2 stores off 183. Then to the little hispanic store off I-35. Had enough time remaining to drive back down into San Antonio to help out a store - and arrived to pick up Ray in plenty of time for swimming.
Ray's weekend swim teacher helped out today - that's good, because the current teacher needs help knowing how to fit it all in with 6 little wiggle worms. Tonight's class was much better...but Ray regressed a bit and wouldn't jump into the water..AT ALL. Did not want to get his face in the water. AT ALL. So he and I stayed after again and he's more comfortable now - promises to jump in and get his face wet tomorrow.
Then he wanted pizza. I said, Yes - but only if you eat salad first! He ate broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and spinach from the salad buffet BEFORE he ate his 3 pieces of of pepperoni pizza. Then we played games, and he won Prizes.
Home late. Didn't feed chickens tonight or get eggs - they can wait a day.
Tomorrow is the tough one.. -Three hour drive to Brenham, then up to Caldwell, then on into Bryan. Then 3 hour drive back - be at daycare by 5 to pick-up Ray. I let the swim teacher know that we may be a little late. Better than being stressed about rushing.
I'm done for tonite. Tired. Need to sleep well tonite for all that driving tomorrow.
Go to the above blog for updates on the team in Nigeria.
They are 6 hours ahead of Central time, so it's 9:45PM here and 3:45AM there - so they are currently sleeping under their mosquito netting.
Temperatures there aren't too bad..It's the rainy season there right now, so it's cooler. Their hottest time is the spring. How odd - I'd have thought it'd be over 100++ given that they are closer to the equator.
Hardest thing for me to get used to is that TJ and I text several times per day, just something funny that happened, or what is going on in the day, where we are, what time we'll be home, who is getting Ray, etc. I keep wanting to send him a message about this or that...and cannot. Not communicating at all for two weeks is going to be a challenge.
Today would have a seemed overly full if I looked at it in advance...but I'm trying not to do that - other than to plan what time to get up and get going..
Eggs for breakfast. No ants or mice in the kitchen this morning.
Dropped off Ray. Drove north of Austin to 620 area. Then to Georgetown, 2 stores in Round Rock and 2 stores off 183. Then to the little hispanic store off I-35. Had enough time remaining to drive back down into San Antonio to help out a store - and arrived to pick up Ray in plenty of time for swimming.
Ray's weekend swim teacher helped out today - that's good, because the current teacher needs help knowing how to fit it all in with 6 little wiggle worms. Tonight's class was much better...but Ray regressed a bit and wouldn't jump into the water..AT ALL. Did not want to get his face in the water. AT ALL. So he and I stayed after again and he's more comfortable now - promises to jump in and get his face wet tomorrow.
Then he wanted pizza. I said, Yes - but only if you eat salad first! He ate broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and spinach from the salad buffet BEFORE he ate his 3 pieces of of pepperoni pizza. Then we played games, and he won Prizes.
Home late. Didn't feed chickens tonight or get eggs - they can wait a day.
Tomorrow is the tough one.. -Three hour drive to Brenham, then up to Caldwell, then on into Bryan. Then 3 hour drive back - be at daycare by 5 to pick-up Ray. I let the swim teacher know that we may be a little late. Better than being stressed about rushing.
I'm done for tonite. Tired. Need to sleep well tonite for all that driving tomorrow.
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