Gas

This is what the pumps looked like yesterday. Unfortunate for me is that I too was completely out of gas. I've been borrowing my sister-in-laws truck as our car has perished and we are trying to bide our time until John leaves for Iraq. I had filled up my gas tank completely Thursday evening before the hurricane had actually hit. Yesterday, I went to College Station. I knew that I would need gas before coming home and thought that I would get gas there. While I was in College Station I realized that the usual places I get gas did not carry diesel. I had one more stop to make in Milano and knew that there was a gas station there that would carry diesel and I THOUGHT that it would be less busy. Not to mention the fact that I had passed vehicle after vehicle after vehicle carrying 5 gallon gas tanks.

The gas meter was registering just before empty when I turned into the feed store and it started chugging a little bit. Uh-oh. But it started right up and carried me the two blocks to get to the gas station. As I pulled in, it started chugging again. Phwew, at least I'm in the parking lot. There was someone on both sides of the tank and I picked the one that looked like the best option. I turned off the truck while waiting. It barely lurched into place as I pulled up. As I'm getting out of the truck a lady came around the corner with those nifty yellow bags. "We are all out of diesel."

"Are you kidding, so am I." I called dad to rescue me (they had just filled the tractor with diesel and had to go fill up the tank again (hopefully in Cameron, but possibly in Rockdale?)) About 40 minutes later, another lady came out to remove the nifty bag off of the diesel. Yippee!!!! Better yet - Dad hadn't even left Cameron!!!!!

"I knew if I waited long enough someone would deliver some diesel."

Luckily it was a nice day to wait : )

Ike

I wanted to thank everyone who called concerning our safety as Ike was heading our way. Luckily we are far enough away that things would not be as severe as they were in Houston. Since we were on the outer edge, by the time it took the turn east (thanks to the cold front) that we got the perfect amount of rain and the wind was not terrible either. A few gusts that had us raising our eyebrows, but considering we live in a single wide tin hut, those eyebrows get raised more in a passing thunderstorm.

Congratulations Max, Stephanie and Noah

Max (John's brother) and Stephanie were married Friday afternoon. Max has known Stephanie for a long time, but they started dating about 2 years ago. So it feels like Stephanie and Noah have been with the family for a long time. But now it is official. Welcome to the family!!!!!!

GROSS

I feel kinda bad that I have been so slow in posting. We have had a bunch of things going on the last few weeks. Broken grey line, broken water pipe, broken (never be repaired again) car, broken internet (lightning strike-feel blessed actually that it wasn't worse), broken water heater, etc.

We have had some good things too. Like Alex becoming a Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood and Justin signed up for his first two college classes, he starts Wednesday the 27th. We went to the beach (Port Aransas) last Monday.

Some sad things. A good family friend from my childhood passed away last week. Not sure if I should mention how, but it was unexpected and unbelievable.

Today Alex started high school, Mark started middle school, Rebekah started 3rd grade and like I said Justin will start college on Wednesday. We started seminary this morning with 8 students (6 in my living room, and 2 on webcam).

But, I finally came to the computer because of something gross. I figured, I don't need pictures for this (double gross), I can just post. Earl, our buckling, peed on me this morning. Luckily he is a buckling or he would be taller. Bucks are gross anyway, when they come into rut (breeding season) they pee on themselves to make them smell nice and sweet for the girls. I was kneeling down to give him some fresh water when I felt something warm on my arm and then leg. Like I said, it was a good thing he wasn't taller or it would have been my face and shoulder.

Blessings come in small packages sometimes.
Have a great day, week, month etc.

Now for the big news!!!

This is the floor plan of the new manufactured home we are buying!!!! John has been looking for months (if not years) for a piece of land to buy and build. Long story short (and a lot of prayer on both of our parts) we are staying put. We are buying the acre directly behind us and we think between the two acres we should have enough room for all the animals he desires (well, the ones I'll let him get : ) Everything else he wants to do can be done on leased property.

I'm warming up to the idea that we are buying our 3rd mobile home. This one is by far the nicest. Tape and texture throughout. Wood cabinets. I don't want to bore you with the details, but this thing is huge compared to the tiny site built house we were looking into for only $50,000 more!!!! (In other words the manufactured home is cheaper).

I wish there were better pictures but we are having a hard time getting the pics off of my phone camera and it is their model anyway. So as things develop we will take more pictures and post them.

Goats

Mark with Brunette.

Rebekah with Blondie

Yes, I need my head examined!!!! Mark wanted to show goats, so we got some show goats. Like we needed an excuse. We sort of lucked into these actually. A friend I met while doing goats before had these. She claims that they haven't been able to keep goats in stock very long because of the way the economy is going. Everyone wants them - ok, well not everybody, but . . . We were lucky. And as much as I fought it, it has been like coming home with them here. Check out the pictures, including the one of Earl the buck.

Teyla

Wow, it has been a long time since I have posted. Well, we have lots going on, as usual. This is Teyla. She is a Cocker spaniel. I've been wanting a lap dog for a while and came across her when I responded to an add that had goats, chickens and cows for sale. She is soooo cute. There is a reason God made puppies and children cute though, and that is so you don't throw them away when they are misbehaving which she usually is. My MIL had been warning me about her sons dog, Frank, and how much he was terrorising the place. NOW I know!!! Just like kids though, I know she will eventually grow out of it. And when she is being cute, she is being very cute : )