2009...

Well, here it is...2009 has officially begun. I can't say that I've done anything tremendously earth shattering today to mark the beginning of a new year.

It seems that New Years Day is a day to get things accomplished around here. Usually Sam is only off for the day so he has things on his "to do" list that he wants to get accomplished. Today was really no different. Sam had a project that had to get done due to some excitement earlier this week. There's always some kind of excitement around here:

Tuesday morning he headed off to work, the kids and I were here at the house with my dad and Esther. Dad and E were getting ready to head back to Indy to catch their flight home when the phone rang. It was Sam... "We have cows out...someone just called me...I'm on my way, but you gotta get out there." I love those kinds of calls. Thankfully THIS time, I had someone to leave the kids with...the alternative is not very fun. Since Dad is lame (Achilles tendon repair surgery 8 weeks ago), I was on my own. I left the kids in Dad and E's care, threw on my "barn boots," and headed outside. I got some sweet feed from the barn to try to entice the cows back into the pasture. I got out to our "front" yard to see one of our newest calves hanging out with one of the younger heifers right near the road at the end of our driveway. I went the long way around to try to herd them towards the pasture...just in time to see a Sheriff's deputy car pull into the end of the driveway. UGH! This spooked both of them towards the fence to the pasture...thankfully away from the road. I was pleasantly surprised to see the deputy in the car was actually a guy from our ABF...whew! The little calf climbed her way back through the fence...barbed wire and all. The heifer was a little excited. I managed (with the deputy's help) to herd Wilma back to a gate where she willingly ran back into the pasture...too much excitement for her. About that time, Sam pulled into the driveway with one of the guys from work. They were both apprehensive about the police car at the end of the drive, but as always the Lord worked out the details! No injuries to anyone...cows safe and sound!

So needless to say...the fence around the pasture was Sam's project today. The fence, well, it needs a lot of help. We'll probably end up replacing it completely here shortly, but for now it's a patch job. Sam was up and at it early this morning. Have I mentioned how hard-working he is? He really does enjoy it though. He spent the day adding to our burn pile...trimming tree branches that were leaning on the pasture fence, cleaning out old doors from the basement of the garage...the list goes on. He is now toasty warm...belly full...weary from hard work...watching Penn State play in the Rose Bowl.

Me...well, I wasn't completely lazy today. I tackled the daunting task of getting all the Christmas decorations down and put away. I was quite pleased with myself that I managed to remove ALL the ornaments, beads, and lights from our 12 foot tree all by myself! Yep, it was interesting at times, but I got 'em all. By the time Sam got in for the evening, I was putting the last tubs of decorations back in their places in our storage room.

It is always a little stark... a little dreary once the Christmas decorations are put away. I LOVE Christmas decorations...love them...it's an inherited trait. My mom didn't see a Christmas decoration she didn't love! I love the warmth greenery and lights bring to a room. I can't get enough of remembering years past and the stories each ornament tells. I LOVE it all! This year was especially precious because I was able to incorporate quite a few things of my Mom's into our Christmas decorations. So yep, the decorations are down, but beyond just the starkness, it's also the reality that another year will pass (so quickly!) before we unapck the Christmas treasures again...my babies will all be another year older...sad, but........ exciting.

What will 2009 hold for us? Every year I am amazed by God's goodness to us...His grace...His provision...His love...His guidance...HIM!

Happy 2009!