Sunday, September 27, 2009

Just an Update...

Ok, it's been a little while since I've updated the family blog. :) It's not for lack of anything to post about...life's been busy...I've just been lazy about updating. :) So what's been going on? Well, since you asked....

Jacob has started college and is loving it. Seems his favorite class so far is a computer course he's taking. He's learned a lot and is very interested in it. He's already been fairly busy writing research papers and essays. He has been VERY blessed....at the beginning of the year, he received the Pell Grant, which covered his tuition plus there was almost half of the grant money leftover to use for "incidentals". Then just a few weeks ago, he was notified that he had been awarded a scholarship!! What a blessing!! We are very thankful. Rachel has started with the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra and she is in hog heaven!! :) It's an altogether different experience playing in a group like this. But she loves it. I think it'll be a challenge for her and usually, that's a good thing. Violin just seems to be her "thing". She spends anywhere from 1-3 hours (occasionally more) practicing. I've never ever had to make her practice...she does it because she loves it! Here's a picture of a big gift basket Amy sent to Rachel as a "congratulations" for getting into the orchestra. Wasn't that sweet of Big Sister?? :)Katie is doing very well in school. Sixth grade can have it's own little challenges, but she's doing great. In fact, I mistakenly got her the 7th grade math book this year. I considered sending it back and getting the 6th grade book, but thought I'd at least let her try it. I'm so glad I did because she's just flying right through. She's also working on a Civil War project. She's always been fascinated with that time frame in history. We're hoping Amy will be able to come in for a visit soon...she really wants to be here for Rachel's first concert. She has started taking some pre-med courses...which she says are quite "intense"...I can only imagine! :) But she seems to be really interested in them. Working and going to school is always difficult, too.

Let's see, in farm news...garden is practically over now. Okra is still quite abundant. The plants are way taller than we are...in fact, Matt can't even reach some of the okra to cut it! :) We have been so blessed with rain all summer long. Last year, during the drought, he was having to bend over to cut it. LOL! Rain makes all the difference, doesn't it? :) The cows are doing good...besides the Angus, we have a few little Jerseys that will be next year's beef, and we also have a little Jersey/Holstein mix (named Hershey for her chocolate color). Lord willing, we "may" eventually use her for a milk cow. The chickens seem to be cutting back on production lately...I guess they're getting ready for winter. :) Hopefully, the pup in the picture below will make a good farm dog one day. So far, half of the time, he's doing this....

The other part of the time, he's fighting with the other pup. :) He hasn't shown much interest in the cows...and thankfully, hasn't been concerned with the chickens. :)

We'll be getting things ready for winter very soon...moving the potatoes into the cellar, bringing wood on the back porch, cleaning out the chimney, etc... We are already having some very cool nights. I wonder if we won't be having an early winter this year.

So, for now, that's a brief update on what's going on here. Hope all is well wherever you are!!