Thanksgiving Praise

Now that my Thanksgiving break is coming to a close, I will stop and take a moment to reflect on ALL that I have to be thankful for. I have thought about this many times over the past week and a half. Having the responsibility of faculty devotions last Monday started my thanksgiving praises.

I am blessed!!

First and foremost: Jehovah Jireh, My Provider. I am thankful that He sent His only Son that I might be saved and have a personal relationship with a mighty God!

My family: My precious husband, Rothey, who willing puts up with me daily! Thank you for 21 years!! My two daughters, Katie and Lauren, both are in college and are very good daughters- beautiful, obedient, smart.

My parents: at 81 and 82 - the most Godly, supportive parents anyone could ever have!! They also provide a place for part of our sheep.

My brothers and sister: Peter, Michael, Jimmy, and Cindy. They have given me their love and 10 nieces and nephews as well as mates and great nieces and nephews.

Rothey's family: Papaw, Nana, and his sister, Daphne, and her family. If it wasn't for them, our home wouldn't be where it is today and neither would the rest of our sheep have a home.

Aunts and Uncles

Our two dogs: Belle, my beloved friend of 15 1/2 years! She is a dachshund-terrier mix that is going to live another 15 years at least!!!! Tucker, our 10 year old Australian cattle dog.

Our flock of thirty something Shetland sheep: They provide relaxation on a stressful day, and stress on an otherwise relaxing day. I love them, worry about them, look forward to seeing them, love using their wool to spin, weave, and knit, and cherish the time they come running to greet us when we feed or have cookies or leaves or whatever. I especially love Jane, Joy, Sarah, and Padgett--all my bottle lambs--they are Special!

Hendersonville Christian School: The place God has allowed me to be able to minister for the past 10 years. For the middle schoolers whom I have taught and for those that taught me. For the faculty members that have been my friends and extended family over the years. For the administrators that enjoy pushing me out of my comfort zone. For allowing my two girls to have received an excellent Christ-centered education that is allowing them to be successful in college.

Mud Creek Baptist Church: A place that feeds me spiritually and allows me another opportunity to minister.

My home on Hidaway Cove: Small and cozy and a place that is very peaceful at the end of the day. This includes my bed and spinning wheel!

My friends: Sherri, Terri, Evelyn, Denise, Mandy, Jill, and many more! My friend, DeeDee, that went to be with the Lord at the beginning of 2008.

The United States: What a privilege to be here in the US, in North Carolina!! The greatest place to ever be!!

Good health

Four vehicles: My Mazda (1990 model) that keeps on going, Rothey's Chevy truck (2000 model), Katie's Toyota truck (1999), Lauren's Chevy Blazer (1997)- all trusty vehicles that Rothey maintains diligently.

Basic needs: food, clothing, shelter, jobs

This list could go on and on. There are so many things that could be added! It definitely hasn't been exhausted!!

Thank you, Lord, for supplying all of my needs and then some!!

Lambs Are On The Way!

Breeding groups were put together on Saturday, November 1st. There are 3 groups. This year we are only breeding 9 ewes. The gentlemen above will both be 2 in the spring. On the left we have Rare Find Farm Emmett. He has great confirmation and a nice grey fleece. He gave us ram lambs last spring so we are trying for a few great grey ewes this year. (I like the grey fleeces best!) The ram on the right is Hidaway Farms Razzle. Razzle is a son from Cory, our head ram. We hadn't planned on keeping him but realized last fall that we could put him with Shania (yuglet ewe below) and possibly get spots. His mother is an HST. It worked on one ewe lamb. We are trying this breeding again. Both boys are for sale as soon as breeding is finished. Razzle is a grey katmoget with a nice curly fleece that is very soft.

Shania and Bethia, a grey ewe, are Razzle's 2 girls this fall. Bethia was bred the day we put them together. We think most of the girls are already bred.

Here is Annie, our aged ewe that won Champion Shetland Ewe at SAFF in October. She is with Emmett. Last year this pair gave us two ram lambs. Their fleeces were huge and 2 different shades of grey. I love to spin the more primitive fleeces. We hope to get some ewes from these two. Emmett is also with Butterscotch (fawn katmoget below) and Abigail (moorit). Butterscotch is a yearling and Abby is two. Abby gave us a grey and moorit set of twin ram lambs this past spring from Emmett. We wethered both of them. They have the most incredibly soft fleeces.

Below is our grand ram, Rare Find Farm Cory. He will be 4 in the spring and has improved our flock greatly in the fleece department. He is the son of Underhill Gordon (AI breeding). Cory has a very, very crimpy fawn fleece that is soft! He puts the soft in the long fleeces that I love. Every once in a while we get a short fleece like Abby's and then they put soft in their lambs. Cory is very gentle and respectful. He has great horns, great conformation, and a nice small tail. He is here to stay. Cory has four ewes this year. (We believe they are all settled.) Standing awkwardly is Ruth, a black and white yuglet flecket. (We hope to get a spotted ram next year to put with our spotted ewes but until then...) Then there is Cara. Cara is a light grey and she gives us white babies with Cory. Cory's dad is white. Next is Cara's sister, Maisie. Maisie has a very long, soft black fleece and with Cory she gives us babies with long staple length fleeces that are so soft. Sprinkles, a yearling, is with Cory for her first breeding. We have no idea what she will give with Cory.

It was nice to get all the breeding groups moved around within 2 hours. (We have sheep at 2 different places.) 3 of our ewe lambs had to be moved to the other place and we sure miss them being here at our house. One of them being my Baby Jane. She wants to come home. In December we will shift them all around again. All the bred ewes, 3 ewe lambs, and Sarah (our 2 1/2 year old bottle baby) will live here at our house.

Christmas will come again in April and we can't wait!! We're praying for safe deliveries and healthy lambs, good mothers, and lots of ewes!!