Monday Evening Fun

Charlie and I went to get the kids at camp last Friday and Wyatt couldn't wait to get home to his dog! Excuse the very grainy photo, but it was dark, and I am still learning the flash on the phone camera =) Shadow and Wyatt were so happy to see each other! Shadow was crying and jumping and just so happy to have him home.

Shadow was happy to see Bailey, too, but there is just nothing like Wyatt Clay in her world. When we went to pick up the kids, we were met with counselors who invited her to stay for the remainder of the summer to be a counselor in training, getting her ready to be a counselor next year. Wow! So excited, but lots of time away. She will be home most weekends though. So after attending an all day college class Saturday, we washed everything and she went back to camp, leaving her animals with Wyatt and I until Friday!

Wyatt likes to tell everyone he doesn't like the goats, but we know the truth. Really, he just likes the bucks, and 4-H won't allow him to show just them, so he enjoys them here at home. While Let Your Light Shine is the crazy friendly bottle baby who is completely at home in the house, Freedom's Prayer is Wyatt's favorite, hands down.

During evening chores, I tend to let the boys out. Shine gets a couple bottles of milk, and the boys all get to visit with the other animals around the farm as they wander.

Uncle Obediah and Daddy Powerstroke watch the young bucklings as they explore and play. Shadow loves this time too, since some if the boys play with her and pretend to let her herd them.

When Shadow herds Shine or Obediah,  the run for the pen, and then when she turns to get Powerstroke or Freedom's Prayer,  they pretend to run up behind her like they are going to head butt her in the rear end.

Below is Obediah, pretending to jog for the gate to the boys' pen. This was right before he and Shine dashed together after silly Shadow. 

Once back in the pen, the boys play together, wrestling, butting heads, or turning their plastic houses into toys. 

While Uncle Obediah prefers to play  turtle, the bucklings like king of the mountain, or in this case, Freedom's Prayer was in the mood for rock the boat. 

Sometimes when I catch the animals playing, they stop and stare at me as though they are trying to look innocent. This time, though, Freedom's Prayer posed for the camera! 

The boys are growing up fast, but I think they have also been great fun for the rest of the herd and the whole farm! 

Citizenship for the Future

By now, you all know me and my oorah posts.  Well, here is another one.

Citizenship isn't something you do for class credit, or because you know people are looking, or even because it benefits someone who matters to you. It is doing the right thing, without being asked or told to, when needed, often with some or great inconvenience, because it is simply the right thing to do.

The other day, I heard about a little girl who stood up to a bully on a bus. What is right is right, what is wrong is wrong.  While I fully concede that life is not nearly that black and white, how we treat people, the intent and spirit of the treatment and interaction matters greatly.

So we decided that it was time to establish an award. I spoke with the little girl's Dad, who told me that she loved pink and purple, so the hair ties below were designed just for her. I made a couple extra because I liked the design so well, and those will go into the merchandise available, but the two below went in a box with a note to the little girl thanking her for being the kind of person who makes the world a better place, and one to the little girl's mama. As a parent of a child who was bullied, those actions matter.

I know folks often read me quoting Gandhi, and "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." I am also in a position to recognize those who stand up to be that change, and I hope that somehow that helps the positive worldview contagious.

So here is the deal. Know someone we should recognize? Shoot me an email or message. Tell me about it, and we will figure out the best way to recognize them, be it award, or helping them in their endeavors to make the world a better place, or whatever is appropriate to the specific case. 

For tonight, great job to those parents, and to that very strong young lady.  All the best to you!