Signs

The following is an email I sent to my kids, especially for my daughter.  She left last week to serve in Afghanistan.  We have been talking lately amongst family members, if we believe in "signs" or if things are just coincidence.  My son is thinking about becoming a Navy Seal and just happened to find out he was working with a guy that was one. It was odd how he found out...but that is another blog! 

I share this with you, so you can determine for yourself.  I have added a few notes ** in the blog to help you gain more perspective!  I also blocked out the names for privacy.

>>>>Hi (Kids)!

We had this conversation about believing in signs.  Just wanted to let you know about this coincident!

I had talked to (friend) the other day and she talked about asking her angels to watch over someone for her.  These angels are loved ones that have died.

So, last night or the night before...I did a mental inventory of which angel I wanted to watch over which kid.  As we have plenty of angels, I broke them into groups.

My dad, W, was a fighter and very intimidating...So, I sent him to watch over (daughter) to keep her safe.  I also sent D because I knew he loves her so much and being so far from home it’s always good to know you are loved.  **D is a cousin that passed away January 2009.  He lived in a group home in MN and visited our farm regularly.  He and my daughter were very close.** 

I sent my real dad, M, to watch over (son1).  M was a marine.  He was very intelligent and it took him a while to get on one path.  I figure he can keep (son1) safe and help lead him to where he needs to go.  M, eventually, made a huge impact on the war effort!

(Son2) is being watch by Grandpa J.  He had that dry sense of humor but also kept an eye on you so you didn't get out of line.  As (son2) is pushing some of those limits, I thought J would be a good angel for him.  **Son2 is a new college freshman!  Need I say more?**

As for our girls: (sis1&2) and L.  (sis1&2) are popping in and out between all the family (I'm sure they love being in Mexico with Dad!).  I'm sure L is as well, but I asked her to stay around me for a bit so I can feel like I am keeping our family somewhat together!  HA!  I also have my sister, Gina.  **L is my husband's mother.  She was the true matriarch that held the family together.  After she passed, the family rarely sees each other!**

BUT....the coincident?  Last night I fell asleep trying to remember who I had asked to watch over (daughter).  Today, I drove down to get the mail as I hadn't gotten it in the past couple days.

There was a postcard with a phone number to call..."YOU have won!"  My dad, W, died with a very old letter from Publishers Clearing house on his table stating he was a winner...he never threw it away.  AND...There was a letter from D's nephew.  I didn't even know who it was but opened it.  It was a nice letter with pictures thanking us for all the time we spent with D and telling us how much D loved us.  His nephew also stated that he had meant to talk to us at the funeral but was just able to get in touch now.  How long ago did he die?  AND, today that shows up? 

Coincident?  Or...a sign?!! 

To follow up:  After sending out the above email to my kids...I went to the kitchen to tidy up.  Still wondering if the letters were a "sign" or what...I went to file the letter away and found a poem folded up with it.  I didn't read the entire poem, but this line caught my eye.  It was on the lower half of the page.

He had great faith, so please watch over him and he will be sure and watch over the friends and family that are still here on earth.  He will be a great guardian angel for them.

Sign or coincidence?  You be the judge. 

Hugs, Hums and Blessings!

Bonnie

White Rain

     Ah yes, another lovely day slopping the hogs!  Well, I don't have hogs...but the llamas are pretty sloppy looking right now!  Women...you know how when you're husband leaves, everything that can go wrong does go wrong?  No matter how much you try to pre-empt it...it gets you!
     So, hubby had to leave for a business trip to Mexico.  Yes, warm weather, sunshine and yummy food!  Me?  Someone has to slop the hogs!  I mean, feed the dogs!  This time it was Mother Nature that had to get involved in my chores!  Another bright and early, before I was even dressed ordeal.  (I do think I will sleep in my clothes from now on!)  Rain helps me sleep.  I love to be in bed during a storm.  So, I was enjoying the early morning patter when the dog…dang dog, Chip…started barking.  He barks at EVERYTHING!  Well, all the dogs started in, so up I fly to look out the window.  The propane truck is here and tentatively backing around the front of the house.  I just happened to have parked our pickup out there and was worried the driver might back into it…so….Another morning of running out of the house in my pj’s.  This time I managed to grab some boots (not winter type, high heel dressy type) to keep my feet from freezing as the rain was a bit icy!   T-shirt, flannel plaid pants and high heel boots...running out of the house, across the yard, behind the moving propane truck!  Did you see it coming?  I didn’t!  Yep, down I went…best second base save of the season!  Foot hit the icy grass, knee hit the mud, sliding up to the hip, shoulder hits and here it comes…the roll from side to back…and still sliding.  AND…the propane truck was still backing up!  So, I managed that incredible maneuver from lying on my back to standing in a split second!  The driver of the truck opens his window and yells out…”I’m new.  Where’s your tank?”  I point and ask if he needs our vehicle moved.  Nope.  Second base roll for nothing!  Green slimy mud decorated my lovely outfit from my knee all the way up my side as I hobbled back to the house, dripping goo from under the back of my shirt!
     Okay…clean up and get dressed.  Got the dog, Izzy, a shock collar to teach her to stay off the highway, so put it on the charger.  Out to feed the llamas and then a hike to try out the new collar.  I get to the barn to find out that half of it is flooded!  The rain starts pouring down!  Gee, memories of a flooding barn back when we lived in MN are telling me to go back in the house!  That time it was trenching in the pouring rain to save our baby chicks!  De ja vu!  Two hours later, I have the trench around the boy’s side of the barn completed.  The rain never stopped and I was again soaked to the bone!  Boys will be dry, good work.  I entered the house and thinking it should be a bit warmer than it was, got side tracked trying to figure out the controls on the dog collar.  I had already replaced it once due to malfunction.  The remote wasn’t talking to the collar.  Dang thing.  Maybe it needs to charge longer?  So, I plug it in…only to find out our electricity was out!  Are we seeing a theme here?  Wet and cold, no hot water, no heat.  Gee, no lights, no computer, no TV.  No microwave, no stove…no getting warm, no entertainment, no eating…NO HUSBAND!  He’s in Mexico, in the sunshine, eating great food!  I’m here… still no power …watching the rain as it turns white! As the sun goes down it glows in the moonlight. It’s brighter outside than in the house! I bet it’s warmer, too! I’m sleeping in my clothes!!! J 

Concentrate on the good in life!

Well, today was my "relax" day.  Maybe get online and visit with friends I've met on an art forum.  Everyone is having difficulties with some aspect of their life...and so I decided to write a touching poem about concentrating on the good things life has to offer.  The poem went very well...it rhymed and flowed well.  I even managed to express the gratitude I have in the friendships that I've made on the forum.  WELL...
During the spell-check phase, Bozo, our Collie/Saint Bernard, started barking.  This is unusual for him but not so unusual for Chip, our Border Collie/Lab mix.  So, up to the window only to see...llamas!  Llamas!!  Running out of the barn and down the driveway!! Concentrate on the good things...concentrate on the good things!   Good thing I only have 11 in that pasture!  I hadn't finished my first cup of coffee nor was I even dressed.  That will teach me!  So, I am yelling out the bathroom window..."Here llama babies, here llama babies!"  (This is the customary call to get them to come back to the barn for feeding!)  Well, they perked up their ears and twisted their heads in my direction...as my foot slips out of my jeans, catches on top and down I go!  Concentrate on the good things...concentrate on the good things!  Good thing I wasn't naked and woken up to the EMT's over me! Frightful!  Grabbed a jacket and headed out to the driveway.  Llamas see me coming and bolt.  Concentrate on the good things!  Good thing I don't have a loaded gun!!  I manage to get into the barn to fill a bucket with grain.  Some of the llamas hear the clatter and start the trek back to the barn.  This IS a good thing!  Now, how to get past the ones that are coming down to the barn without spooking them?  I wait it out in the barn.  Five of the eleven enter the barn and run into the pen towards their dishes of grain.  Six to go.  I head down the driveway and manage to get past them.  AND, now the dogs have decided to follow me...coming from the other side of the llamas! They spook the llamas and I am running down the driveway trying to keep in front of them so they don't make it to the gate.  The neighbors think I have mad llamas and am running in fear for my life as I am NOT yelling good things!
Again, good thing I don't have a loaded gun!  Dogs get past the llamas and we can halt!  Concentrate on the good things!  I have not lost my breath yet nor passed out!  I call the dogs to walk next to me and we herd the llamas up to the barn.  In they go...GREAT THING!  I get the grain bucket filled and continue to fill their feeders.  I turn to leave...and Corey, my biggest male, comes nose to nose with me!  I forgot to lock the gate!!  Concentrate on the good things!   Good thing he understands cursing and went back in!
Back in the house, to finish my poem.  There it is, as I left it...in the middle of the spell check.  Yep...great! I finished the spell check and hit "publish"...only to have the screen go blank with a message..."Your time has run out.  Please log in again."  Well, I lost the poem and I have no memory, so rewriting it is impossible!
Concentrate on the good things!   Good thing I have no memory...I'll forget this morning by tonight! 
Well, maybe......   lol

Bed and Breakfast Adventures!

We own a B&B.  We are a working farm and own llamas.  I am learning to accept the fact that we are NOT a LINENS & LACE Bed & Breakfast!

Guests arrived and as they got out of their cars I greeted them - "Be careful where you step, the dog left a present near there!"  They came an hour early and I was still in the kitchen preparing things for the next day. I really WAS going to get the doggy doo before they arrived!  After settling in, they came upstairs to visit and we found a chickadee in the room.  It flew around the vaulted ceilings and disappeared for the night.  The next morning it showed up on the table...on plates, in glasses, perching on silverware!  It finally allowed us to usher it outside! 

This prompted a breakfast clean-up BEFORE breakfast!  Then...the trek.  (Check out our website for trekking details...www.LlamaKisses.com)  Guests asked for a slow, easy trek.  It went very well until we were returning and right next to the culvert GreyT acted up, spooking Dez, who was in front of her.  Dez bolted sideways and with a hip to hip blow almost knocked our guest into the water!  All survived!  The grand finale?  Car keys were lost upon departure and we (guests included) spent an hour pulling apart the house...every nasty dust bunny escapee was found...but not the keys!  Yep, we are NOT a LINEN & LACE B&B! :)  But, our guests have already booked a return visit! :)