A couple weeks again one of our chickens showed back up with five cute little balls of fluff following her. The chicks are absolutely adorable! We fixed up the pen (as I explained in an earlier post, I think...) and put them in there. Well, even though we tried our very hardest to get it chick proff, I am convinced there is no such thing! They can fit through the chicken wire! Yes, that are that small! They are always getting out but, luckily, none have yet died. YAY! This morning I headed out to check on them and feed them and stuff. I feed the other chickens first (because they mobbed me) and then headed over to check on them. Two chicks and one chicken. I felt the panic start up as I imagined little dead babies. I went hesitantly towards the house part of their pen and peered in, asking myself why on earth I wasn't getting Jon to look instead. No chicks in there. So now I started wondering if something had stolen them and eaten them.
I don't remember just how I saw them, maybe it was movement out of the corner of my eye or something, but I did. about ten feel away, weaving through the foot-tall grass were the babies. They were enjoying the freedom and eating the bugs around them. Exasperated, I shooed them back towards the house, trying to grab them so I could put them back. They did not want to be grabbed! They wanted to go back through the holes they had escaped from. They did not fit through the holes anymore! If they would only hold still, I could complete my plan to get them back in and it wouldn't take more than a few moments! But, of course, that was too easy!
It made me think, "Is this how God sometimes feels? When we are all dashing around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to fix something and not taking long enough to just let God fix it?" I wondered how many things God could have fixed long before us that we hendered by our mad dashes and dives. God has perfect plans for us and he can complete them without us getting flustered. He has everything under control. So next time you need to complete something, need to find a way into someone's life or heart, take a few moments to pray and let God work. He is so much bigger and more capable than we are.
Mandy
Our Fireworks
I took this picture at a fireworks display a few years ago.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
What Will You Say?
This morning I turned the computer on and went to facebook and was pleased to find on of the 'Christian post thingies' I enjoy. This one said: Ten Things God Wants You To Remember, which encluded 'He loves you' and 'He protects you'. They were all very true and I enjoyed it very much, even shared it. And then I clicked the 'read comments' button. I enjoy reading the comments as much as I enjoy reading the pictures and sayings. It is nice to see what the Christians around the world have to say but also for another reason. There are always those couple people who get one and say things like, "God isn't real." When I see those comments, I hover over the name and click the 'message' button and write this person, sharing my faith and hope. I don't know if I've ever made a impact on any of them, but it is something I enjoy doing. Sometimes there are even those few people who say, "I'm feeling overwhelmed, God help me," or such things as that.
Today the comments loaded and right away, the very first one, was a very long, almost blog size comment. "Christians are stupid and ignoriant. You are all brainwashed, crazy people who don't know anything. I was a Christian once but science proved to me that I was wrong." He went on and on, over and over, telling the whole world that Christian were stupid people who needed to go to church EVERY SUNDAY to be told what to do because they couldn't think for themselves. It made me sad. I hovered over the name in the hopes I could tell him some of our truth, God's love, the hope we have, the science that DOES prove us right. But it wasn't to be. There was only a 'like' button, no 'message' button. I even went to his page but found none. "Is He not one of your chosen, Lord?" I asked. "Or is it just not your time for him yet?"
I did not have the oppertunity to talk to him, to help him but what if you had the chance? What if someone came up to you, no warning, and said these things to you? You have no time to look anything up, no time to find verses, no time to think on how to answer - only time to pray and do? Would you have the answers you need? Would you be able to show them the science that DOES show the Bible is real? There is science out there that proves it. Look at the gospels for example. Have you noticed the disruptancies, the small changes in the stories? A man did quite a bit of research into it and found that, according to high athorities, that these disruptencies actually prove that the Bible was really written by different people that did not conspire to just write it up to confuse or brainwash people. People see things differently and therefore would tell it differently, imphasizing things that others leave completely out because they simply see it as 'unimportant'. I'm sure the police have noticed it - have you? Have five people tell you the same story (they all have to have been there) and listen for those small changes. It will happen unless they rehearsed it!
Another thing: if the people that wrote the New Testament just made it up, would they have been willing to be STONED, HUNG, and PROSICUTED for their lie? Would YOU die for a lie? No, they had to have REALLY, HONESTY believed it and remember, they are eye wittnesses. They couldn't have just been mis-led! They have SEEN with their own eyes the miracles not only done by Jesus but by those who believed him!
Did you know those things? They are out there to be found! God WANTS to use you, is willing to make his Word understandable to you! Get INTO it and LIVE it and USE it. Could YOU answer these questions? Could you help this person if he asked you these things? Do you have facts and verses to help?
You thought I was done? Wrong. He said one more thing that I think we need to face. It is one of those things no one likes to think about and I can tell you why: it is gross! It is sinful! It is wrong! Nowadays we call it 'gay'. I know, you winced, didn't you? This man said he was gay. "I can't help it, it is just natural, but because of it, you say I am sinful," he said. What would you have said? Maybe it is natural to him but you know what? SIN comes naturally to ALL OF US. We are sinful, broken human beings. Stealing may come easily to some, even murder is fairly easy to some people - does that make it right, does it make it okay? NO! It is still wrong. We will face these questions and we have to be ready for them. God gives us verses on this in Romans. Romans 1:21, 22, 24-28 and 32.
The next question is: what are you going to do? Some people say, "But I don't have oppertunities to tell people!" Do you have facebook, twitter, both? Then get on it and USE it for God. Sure, its purpose is to keep in touch with friends but God can use facebook, too! When you see someone say, "I don't believe in God," or other things like it, don't just shake your head sadly - DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! You have the tools you need, you CLEARLY have the time. So take a few moments to tell these people about God. Some of them are just waiting for someone to tell them, to let them know they are loved. Who cares if you don't know much! The Bible promises that God will give you the words. SO DO SOMETHING!
And for all of my wonderful, lovely, protective relatives, yes, my parents have given me permission to tell these people. :) I love you all.
Mandy
Today the comments loaded and right away, the very first one, was a very long, almost blog size comment. "Christians are stupid and ignoriant. You are all brainwashed, crazy people who don't know anything. I was a Christian once but science proved to me that I was wrong." He went on and on, over and over, telling the whole world that Christian were stupid people who needed to go to church EVERY SUNDAY to be told what to do because they couldn't think for themselves. It made me sad. I hovered over the name in the hopes I could tell him some of our truth, God's love, the hope we have, the science that DOES prove us right. But it wasn't to be. There was only a 'like' button, no 'message' button. I even went to his page but found none. "Is He not one of your chosen, Lord?" I asked. "Or is it just not your time for him yet?"
I did not have the oppertunity to talk to him, to help him but what if you had the chance? What if someone came up to you, no warning, and said these things to you? You have no time to look anything up, no time to find verses, no time to think on how to answer - only time to pray and do? Would you have the answers you need? Would you be able to show them the science that DOES show the Bible is real? There is science out there that proves it. Look at the gospels for example. Have you noticed the disruptancies, the small changes in the stories? A man did quite a bit of research into it and found that, according to high athorities, that these disruptencies actually prove that the Bible was really written by different people that did not conspire to just write it up to confuse or brainwash people. People see things differently and therefore would tell it differently, imphasizing things that others leave completely out because they simply see it as 'unimportant'. I'm sure the police have noticed it - have you? Have five people tell you the same story (they all have to have been there) and listen for those small changes. It will happen unless they rehearsed it!
Another thing: if the people that wrote the New Testament just made it up, would they have been willing to be STONED, HUNG, and PROSICUTED for their lie? Would YOU die for a lie? No, they had to have REALLY, HONESTY believed it and remember, they are eye wittnesses. They couldn't have just been mis-led! They have SEEN with their own eyes the miracles not only done by Jesus but by those who believed him!
Did you know those things? They are out there to be found! God WANTS to use you, is willing to make his Word understandable to you! Get INTO it and LIVE it and USE it. Could YOU answer these questions? Could you help this person if he asked you these things? Do you have facts and verses to help?
You thought I was done? Wrong. He said one more thing that I think we need to face. It is one of those things no one likes to think about and I can tell you why: it is gross! It is sinful! It is wrong! Nowadays we call it 'gay'. I know, you winced, didn't you? This man said he was gay. "I can't help it, it is just natural, but because of it, you say I am sinful," he said. What would you have said? Maybe it is natural to him but you know what? SIN comes naturally to ALL OF US. We are sinful, broken human beings. Stealing may come easily to some, even murder is fairly easy to some people - does that make it right, does it make it okay? NO! It is still wrong. We will face these questions and we have to be ready for them. God gives us verses on this in Romans. Romans 1:21, 22, 24-28 and 32.
The next question is: what are you going to do? Some people say, "But I don't have oppertunities to tell people!" Do you have facebook, twitter, both? Then get on it and USE it for God. Sure, its purpose is to keep in touch with friends but God can use facebook, too! When you see someone say, "I don't believe in God," or other things like it, don't just shake your head sadly - DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! You have the tools you need, you CLEARLY have the time. So take a few moments to tell these people about God. Some of them are just waiting for someone to tell them, to let them know they are loved. Who cares if you don't know much! The Bible promises that God will give you the words. SO DO SOMETHING!
And for all of my wonderful, lovely, protective relatives, yes, my parents have given me permission to tell these people. :) I love you all.
Mandy
Monday, July 16, 2012
Enough - By My Mommy
This morning I lay in bed, trying to get up the courage to get up. I was feeling sorry for myself and began to think of all the things I had lost and the every day activities that are now so difficult, if not impossible, to do. I dreaded finding clothes for today, I could tell my arms would be too weak to pull up the loosest of pants and my fingers too shaky to button or zip. I thought about how I used to sew, knit and design clothing, things I now struggle to teach my children. I began to remember me, as I used to be.
I used to be an artist, drawing, painting, creating, now I have to try to find the words to tell others how to do the simplest of crafts. I was the “Craft Lady”; I loved showing others how to make something beautiful. Now I may be able to prepare but must rely on others to teach and help with the projects. The tremor has taken my talent.
I used to be proud of my handwriting; forming letters was a joy and an expression of beauty. Now neither the paper nor the pen will hold still and the words are barely legible, and writing a check or signing the receipt in a store is embarrassing. The tremor has taken both my words and my pride.
I used to be a long distance runner. I loved to hike and explore. I dreamed of the day we could go exploring as a family. Now I think about each step, telling my left leg to pick up and put down, pick up, put down, making even the briefest of walks mentally and physically exhausting. The tremor has taken my mobility and sense of adventure.
I used to make music, playing the piano and organ for church, and singing for the Lord. Now my hands hit all the wrong notes and singing causes such violent tremors my muscles cramp and I am in agony. The tremor has taken my song.
I used to be able to lift 90-pound bales of hay, work beside my husband and pull a kid, the goat kind. Now carrying a water glass or lifting a shovel full of dirt is a struggle. The tremor has taken my strength.
I used to be a teacher and I enjoyed talking with friends for hours (and we had the phone bills to prove it). Now I shake so violently that carrying on the simplest conversation is difficult, just holding still requires all my concentration so the words don‘t come, and my daughter must hold the phone for me. The tremor has taken my voice.
I used to be self-sufficient, independent, and opinionated (ok, I am still opinionated). I could drive a semi-truck, carry my own plate and go where I pleased, when I wanted, and hit a target dead on. Now I drive only on good days, others fetch what they think I would like to eat, and would you want to go target shooting with me? The tremor has robbed my independence.
And in that moment, as I lay there feeling discouraged and alone, I cried out, “Father, What do I have left?”
Softly came the answer, “My child, You have Me.
My strength is made perfect in your weakness.
My song is made new every morning, listen to it in the voices of your children.
My words are eternal and yours.
My grace IS sufficient for even your darkest days.
My love surrounds you, feel it in the love of your family.
You have Me.”
Then my heart cried out, “Abba, YOU are enough.”
Cheryl Eggers
July 2010
I got a lot of my writing talent from my mommy. She is one of the most amazing people I've ever known. She can laugh about her trimor with ease most of the time. She takes lifein stride. There are days for all of us where we wonder about these things but, unlike some, my mom listened for God's answer - and heard it. If you're struggling, don't just get upset, tell God and then not listen for what he says to you! He is always telling us things. This is something I need to learn as much as anyone else.
Mandy
I used to be an artist, drawing, painting, creating, now I have to try to find the words to tell others how to do the simplest of crafts. I was the “Craft Lady”; I loved showing others how to make something beautiful. Now I may be able to prepare but must rely on others to teach and help with the projects. The tremor has taken my talent.
I used to be proud of my handwriting; forming letters was a joy and an expression of beauty. Now neither the paper nor the pen will hold still and the words are barely legible, and writing a check or signing the receipt in a store is embarrassing. The tremor has taken both my words and my pride.
I used to be a long distance runner. I loved to hike and explore. I dreamed of the day we could go exploring as a family. Now I think about each step, telling my left leg to pick up and put down, pick up, put down, making even the briefest of walks mentally and physically exhausting. The tremor has taken my mobility and sense of adventure.
I used to make music, playing the piano and organ for church, and singing for the Lord. Now my hands hit all the wrong notes and singing causes such violent tremors my muscles cramp and I am in agony. The tremor has taken my song.
I used to be able to lift 90-pound bales of hay, work beside my husband and pull a kid, the goat kind. Now carrying a water glass or lifting a shovel full of dirt is a struggle. The tremor has taken my strength.
I used to be a teacher and I enjoyed talking with friends for hours (and we had the phone bills to prove it). Now I shake so violently that carrying on the simplest conversation is difficult, just holding still requires all my concentration so the words don‘t come, and my daughter must hold the phone for me. The tremor has taken my voice.
I used to be self-sufficient, independent, and opinionated (ok, I am still opinionated). I could drive a semi-truck, carry my own plate and go where I pleased, when I wanted, and hit a target dead on. Now I drive only on good days, others fetch what they think I would like to eat, and would you want to go target shooting with me? The tremor has robbed my independence.
And in that moment, as I lay there feeling discouraged and alone, I cried out, “Father, What do I have left?”
Softly came the answer, “My child, You have Me.
My strength is made perfect in your weakness.
My song is made new every morning, listen to it in the voices of your children.
My words are eternal and yours.
My grace IS sufficient for even your darkest days.
My love surrounds you, feel it in the love of your family.
You have Me.”
Then my heart cried out, “Abba, YOU are enough.”
Cheryl Eggers
July 2010
I got a lot of my writing talent from my mommy. She is one of the most amazing people I've ever known. She can laugh about her trimor with ease most of the time. She takes lifein stride. There are days for all of us where we wonder about these things but, unlike some, my mom listened for God's answer - and heard it. If you're struggling, don't just get upset, tell God and then not listen for what he says to you! He is always telling us things. This is something I need to learn as much as anyone else.
Mandy
Camp!
My sisters just left for the first week of camp. Usually I would go too to help out with crafts and setting and cleaning tables but this year there will be no crafts. My mom's shaking is too bad for her to go this year as the 'Craft Lady'. So, my brother and I will be staying home with her for the first week and my little sister Julie will be with her for the second week. So...
170 hours and two minutes until camp (for me)!!!!!!
Mandy
170 hours and two minutes until camp (for me)!!!!!!
Mandy
Friday, July 13, 2012
Hot!
My cousins are out again, this time their whole family. From the title, you might have thought of the weather. While, its a good thing you did! It is HOT! It is the season to go creek walking! But that isn't what this article is about.
My sisters, Missy and Rose, our two youngest cousins, Kate (5years old) and Nate (3 years old), and I were in the kitchen, preparing lunch for are roaming family who would soon arrive looking for lunch. I had found, quite to my pleasure, that the chips were Gluten Free. Our aunt had brought two types: spicy and not-as-spicy. Those of us in the kitchen had been (of course) eating the not-so-spicy ones. Nate came up and said, "I want this kind." He reached into the spicy bag and pulled one out, walking away with it. Within moments he arrived back, and said, "Hot! I need water!" He shoved the offensive chip back into the bag (don't weary, Missy took it back out and threw it away). We all found it very funny.
Missy decided it would be funny to see if he could tell the difference between the two. She placed a couple spicy ones in the not-as-spicy bag and set it up. Nate came up and took one and then started off. He took one bite and stopped short. "This is a spicy one! What is it doing in this bag?" he asked.
Don't you just love little kids? They are so cute and honest.
Another time Rose found Nate eating her 'hidden' chocolate. She brought him downstairs and sat him on the couch. She looked at him seriously and said, "Did you eat my chocolate?"
"Yes," he said, very calmly.
"Are you sorry?" she asked him.
"No," he replied.
Well, I did say they were honest, didn't I? I am dedicating this to all the mothers that read my blog. I bet you know how this goes! :)
Mandy
My sisters, Missy and Rose, our two youngest cousins, Kate (5years old) and Nate (3 years old), and I were in the kitchen, preparing lunch for are roaming family who would soon arrive looking for lunch. I had found, quite to my pleasure, that the chips were Gluten Free. Our aunt had brought two types: spicy and not-as-spicy. Those of us in the kitchen had been (of course) eating the not-so-spicy ones. Nate came up and said, "I want this kind." He reached into the spicy bag and pulled one out, walking away with it. Within moments he arrived back, and said, "Hot! I need water!" He shoved the offensive chip back into the bag (don't weary, Missy took it back out and threw it away). We all found it very funny.
Missy decided it would be funny to see if he could tell the difference between the two. She placed a couple spicy ones in the not-as-spicy bag and set it up. Nate came up and took one and then started off. He took one bite and stopped short. "This is a spicy one! What is it doing in this bag?" he asked.
Don't you just love little kids? They are so cute and honest.
Another time Rose found Nate eating her 'hidden' chocolate. She brought him downstairs and sat him on the couch. She looked at him seriously and said, "Did you eat my chocolate?"
"Yes," he said, very calmly.
"Are you sorry?" she asked him.
"No," he replied.
Well, I did say they were honest, didn't I? I am dedicating this to all the mothers that read my blog. I bet you know how this goes! :)
Mandy
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Have Faith, and an Umbrella!
One time our pastor told us a story about a small church family made up of mostly farmers (I'm telling this by memory, so I may or may not have it word perfect). It was the middle of a drought and all of their crops were dying off. "Come next Sunday and we will pray for rain together! Have faith and God will give us the rain we need!"
The next Sunday rolled around and everyone began showing up. "Where is your faith?" asked the pastor to his church family. "Why don't you have faith that God can make it rain?"
"We have faith!" they told him, confused.
"Then where is your umbrellas?" he asked them, shaking his head.
Today we got ready to walk to the post office and, as we were preparing to go, Missy picked up our blue, slightly beat up umbrella. It was sunny and extremely hot when we left. I took a big blue hat. I don't think either of us expected it to do what it did. It began sprinkling as we reached the main road and we both began laughing as we realized the connection with the story. We got to the post office and began mailing our things off. As we were almost done, the mailman looked at his window and said in surprise, "Is it raining?"
"It is. It is a good thing we brough our umbrella," Missy told him.
We left the post office and got part way down the road when our mother and brother showed up with the van. "We had an umbrella," I told them.
"I told her that," Peter said.
It was nice that they came anyway, however! So, if you need rain, I suggest you go for a walk and bring your umbrellas.
Mandy
The next Sunday rolled around and everyone began showing up. "Where is your faith?" asked the pastor to his church family. "Why don't you have faith that God can make it rain?"
"We have faith!" they told him, confused.
"Then where is your umbrellas?" he asked them, shaking his head.
Today we got ready to walk to the post office and, as we were preparing to go, Missy picked up our blue, slightly beat up umbrella. It was sunny and extremely hot when we left. I took a big blue hat. I don't think either of us expected it to do what it did. It began sprinkling as we reached the main road and we both began laughing as we realized the connection with the story. We got to the post office and began mailing our things off. As we were almost done, the mailman looked at his window and said in surprise, "Is it raining?"
"It is. It is a good thing we brough our umbrella," Missy told him.
We left the post office and got part way down the road when our mother and brother showed up with the van. "We had an umbrella," I told them.
"I told her that," Peter said.
It was nice that they came anyway, however! So, if you need rain, I suggest you go for a walk and bring your umbrellas.
Mandy
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Frog Hunting!
I know, isn’t the title awesome? I LOVE frogs! They are...well, they’re...just...ah... Hmm. It seems frogs are so amazing it is hard to even explain it! They are just...well...WONDERFUL! I would say ‘cute’ but I think some people would then beg to differ (but I still think they are!) I don’t know exactly what it is about frogs that is so attracting for me but they ARE. I find them absolutely fascinating. Maybe it is the way they live in water like fish but you can hold them and squeeze them and call them George with out accidentally suffocating them (well, sometimes.) I’m not sure why, but I like frogs.
So, naturally, I went frog hunting when three of my male cousins, my brother, younger sister and I went to the creek. It all started with cleaning the yard. I guess that sounds slightly strange in a ‘Frog Hunting’ blog but it is true! Before we could go to the creek my cousins (Cousin A, Cousin B #1, and Cousin B #2,), my sister (Jules) and my brother (Peter) had to do some yard work for my mom. You know: mow the lawn, move some wood, pick up trash...so on and so on and so on and so forth. When Jules and cousin B #2 (who is Jules’ age) claimed to be ‘done’, I was sent to inspect. I’m very good at inspecting. In fact, I’m so good at it that my siblings came up with a saying: ‘WWMS’ which, being translated is ‘What Would Mandy See?’ I’m not sure what planet my dear sister and Cousin B #2 were on but it wasn’t the same one I was on! I quickly put them back in order and gave directions to the moving of various pieces of wood and trash pieces.
And that is where the mention of the creek comes into play. Mom had already told them they could go when they were done. Everyone else had already finished their chores and were waiting on Cousin B #2 and Jules, both of which were giving me murderous glances and complaining of the heat as they did the chores I set forth for them to do. To tell you the truth, I felt sorry for them and would have gladly let them go but for the fact that it really did need done – desperately. There was nothing for it! They would have to clean it.
But, FINALLY, they were done and we all dashed inside to...eat lunch. Nope, still no creek. Food had to be eaten first (but I notice that no one was giving me evil glares when I told them to eat!) And THEN we were off to the creek! Our swimming holes aren’t far from the house (half a mile at the most) and when you ride bikes it takes no time at all. The first thing we did was get wet and swim for awhile, look at the creek bottom with goggles and such (we even dunked each other a bit) and then Cousin A (who is my age) told me to go hunt frogs with him. We were off. We found some right away, the place being crawling with them, but catching them was going to prove not to be easy! Oh no, definitely not. Frogs are slippery, cunning...and GREAT swimmers. Your only hope is to get one on the land. Cousin A spotted one and crouched down very slowly. Slowly, slowly, slowly....DIVE! GRAB! And he had it. And then... he didn’t have it. Gone, slipped right out of his fingers. Gone forever into the water and mud and grass (which, you may be interested to know, was above our heads it was so tall).
Oh well, time to try again! Up and down and around we went. Sometimes we’d see them go under rocks and think we’d have them, just to find they’d escaped by means unknown to anyone but the frog kind! And there was the dog, running up and down, making enough noise to scare away a herd of elephants. My bare feet (yes, indeed, they were bare) dug delightfully into the mud. It really is a very good feeling. I know, some of you are now screaming, “EWWWW!” but you really should try it!
I was the first to catch one, but I also have years of experience in frog hunting. It was a rather small frog and I decided to call it Buddy, because I could. A little while later Cousin A caught one, which he gave to me to hold (he is always passing me things to hold for reasons unknown to me.) So there I was, a frog in each hand, walking up and down and up and down and over and under the whole creek with one frog in each hand and likely smiling a little crazily. It really was very fun!
Then I got lost from my group of cousins and siblings. I was told by one set that another set was farther up creek (yes, creek, not river) and so I headed that way on the path (thinking to myself, “It is easier to travel by path than creek,”) and somehow managed to go AROUND my cousins and get too far up creek. So, this time I thought, “Well, they surely can’t be very far down river and I’ll just go that way this time.” BIG mistake. There was a huge fallen tree (yes, it was a TREE not a LOG) and it had dead branches sticking up everywhere all poky and stuff. So, I decided to myself to just climb up on the bank and go around it. NOT a good plan! The bank was on a very steep hill that was covered in trees and scratchy grass and ROSE BUSHES. Have you ever seen a rose bush? Spikes, thorns, things that scrap your legs and cut your bare feet (actually, my feet did not get cut, I have very tough ones) and are very terrible to walk through. And you must keep in mind that I had a frog in each hand that were squeaking at me in the most betrayed, injured squeaks imaginable!
But, finally, after much maneuvering, I found my way back to the creek and, finally, to my cousins who were playing with their frogs in the creek. All in all, it was a pretty good day! :)
So, naturally, I went frog hunting when three of my male cousins, my brother, younger sister and I went to the creek. It all started with cleaning the yard. I guess that sounds slightly strange in a ‘Frog Hunting’ blog but it is true! Before we could go to the creek my cousins (Cousin A, Cousin B #1, and Cousin B #2,), my sister (Jules) and my brother (Peter) had to do some yard work for my mom. You know: mow the lawn, move some wood, pick up trash...so on and so on and so on and so forth. When Jules and cousin B #2 (who is Jules’ age) claimed to be ‘done’, I was sent to inspect. I’m very good at inspecting. In fact, I’m so good at it that my siblings came up with a saying: ‘WWMS’ which, being translated is ‘What Would Mandy See?’ I’m not sure what planet my dear sister and Cousin B #2 were on but it wasn’t the same one I was on! I quickly put them back in order and gave directions to the moving of various pieces of wood and trash pieces.
And that is where the mention of the creek comes into play. Mom had already told them they could go when they were done. Everyone else had already finished their chores and were waiting on Cousin B #2 and Jules, both of which were giving me murderous glances and complaining of the heat as they did the chores I set forth for them to do. To tell you the truth, I felt sorry for them and would have gladly let them go but for the fact that it really did need done – desperately. There was nothing for it! They would have to clean it.
But, FINALLY, they were done and we all dashed inside to...eat lunch. Nope, still no creek. Food had to be eaten first (but I notice that no one was giving me evil glares when I told them to eat!) And THEN we were off to the creek! Our swimming holes aren’t far from the house (half a mile at the most) and when you ride bikes it takes no time at all. The first thing we did was get wet and swim for awhile, look at the creek bottom with goggles and such (we even dunked each other a bit) and then Cousin A (who is my age) told me to go hunt frogs with him. We were off. We found some right away, the place being crawling with them, but catching them was going to prove not to be easy! Oh no, definitely not. Frogs are slippery, cunning...and GREAT swimmers. Your only hope is to get one on the land. Cousin A spotted one and crouched down very slowly. Slowly, slowly, slowly....DIVE! GRAB! And he had it. And then... he didn’t have it. Gone, slipped right out of his fingers. Gone forever into the water and mud and grass (which, you may be interested to know, was above our heads it was so tall).
Oh well, time to try again! Up and down and around we went. Sometimes we’d see them go under rocks and think we’d have them, just to find they’d escaped by means unknown to anyone but the frog kind! And there was the dog, running up and down, making enough noise to scare away a herd of elephants. My bare feet (yes, indeed, they were bare) dug delightfully into the mud. It really is a very good feeling. I know, some of you are now screaming, “EWWWW!” but you really should try it!
I was the first to catch one, but I also have years of experience in frog hunting. It was a rather small frog and I decided to call it Buddy, because I could. A little while later Cousin A caught one, which he gave to me to hold (he is always passing me things to hold for reasons unknown to me.) So there I was, a frog in each hand, walking up and down and up and down and over and under the whole creek with one frog in each hand and likely smiling a little crazily. It really was very fun!
Then I got lost from my group of cousins and siblings. I was told by one set that another set was farther up creek (yes, creek, not river) and so I headed that way on the path (thinking to myself, “It is easier to travel by path than creek,”) and somehow managed to go AROUND my cousins and get too far up creek. So, this time I thought, “Well, they surely can’t be very far down river and I’ll just go that way this time.” BIG mistake. There was a huge fallen tree (yes, it was a TREE not a LOG) and it had dead branches sticking up everywhere all poky and stuff. So, I decided to myself to just climb up on the bank and go around it. NOT a good plan! The bank was on a very steep hill that was covered in trees and scratchy grass and ROSE BUSHES. Have you ever seen a rose bush? Spikes, thorns, things that scrap your legs and cut your bare feet (actually, my feet did not get cut, I have very tough ones) and are very terrible to walk through. And you must keep in mind that I had a frog in each hand that were squeaking at me in the most betrayed, injured squeaks imaginable!
But, finally, after much maneuvering, I found my way back to the creek and, finally, to my cousins who were playing with their frogs in the creek. All in all, it was a pretty good day! :)
Monday, July 2, 2012
Kids Against Hunger Event Update
Well, our packaging event went WONDERFULLY. We had eleven more people than we needed so we opened another line so more people could get involved. :) Thirty six people in all arrived and everyone said they had a good time. One of my dear cousins (Will, age 9) commented, "Who knew saving lives could be so easy?" And it really was easy!
If you'd live more information on them you can visit their site at: kidsagainsthunger.org.
Mandy
If you'd live more information on them you can visit their site at: kidsagainsthunger.org.
Mandy
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