Goats part 2

So Trent & I talked some more about pets, and agreed that if we could just find someone to board our pet goat(s) at their place, we could have a pet. I know you are shocked that so far no one has come forward to support this venture! 

And I know I'm not helping my case here, but Ti sent me this hysterical (at least t & i thought it was funny when we watched it late one night) video that did sway me a bit. I am now considering the fact that I already have lots of noise in my life and may not really be ready for more. (sibs, can't you just hear mom saying "who's making noise?!?"  Yes, Mom, now it's me!)

At this point you may be asking yourself "why does Mandy even have a blog & when is she going to write a real post?" Believe you me, sometimes i wonder the same thing. One problem-or really a small obstacle-is that I started shooting RAW with my camera, and now my pics go to Lightroom, and it's tedious to export & upload them to blogger. I need a workaround for that if anyone has suggestions. I could store them in IPhoto AND Lightroom, but that seems like a lot of memory used. Personally, words follow pics for me so I don't end up posting when I can't easily upload pics (and no, so far I don't have a smartphone by choice, but those days are prob numbered). 

I also think a lot about privacy (how much to share/talk about our family) and what is most beneficial to share, esp as my kids get bigger. So, I guess I'm saying that I'm not sure what my blog will be when it grows up, but i haven't completely given up on it, just re-thinking the when/how/why. 

Any thoughts on blog privacy? Or pet goats, for that matter? Who wants to keep our little goat flock at your place?   : )

catching up & fainting goats

When one hasn't blogged in 4 months, it's hard to know where to start. This summer held a lot for us-weddings, relationship time, kids growing up, family vacations, memories, 10 YEARS TOGETHER whoop whoop, etc! Not sure i'll ever get the blog caught up on everything so i'll just start with some recent pics: 

zoo trip with aunt sherry-a motivation for some memory work with the kids. Aunt Sherry loves the zoo & we loved having her.

Erik/Carrie/Savannah/Jonas/Claire/Larissa/Luke/Nat/Richard/Moses we were wondering if you have these red-billed hornbills in Zambia?

and yes, on to an important recent interest of mine: goats. Or rather, the fact that we don't have any & I'd like two pets. Someone recently tried to convince me that nigerian (or was that namibian?) pygmy fainting goats are the way to go.

I know, i know...they get out all the time, they eat your plants (and that definitely wouldn't fly with trent), cost a lot to feed, can be hard to milk, and so on. Plus we live in town. Plus we don't really have enough room. PLEASE do regale me with crazy stories about your cousin's grandma's neighbors' goats-because I need to get over this little weird kick. It does help when I think of dear Snoopy who thought he was a dog, never let aunt sherry sneak a walk by herself, and ended up in the freezer. Really, they just seem like FUN right now. We are wanting a pet and the beta fish is not cutting it. 

I love this picture-either tait or indigo took it

random. miss indi into fingernail painting any way she can  : )   garage sale stickers work

otherwise, life is falling into our new fall routine: work, cooking, homeschooling, time with people, our family, enjoying last moments of summer, birthdays, etc, knowing that all of life is preparation for eternity. Enjoying Jesus and the amazing gift of these days he has given us, and the glory of salvation and looking forward to one day being presented spotless because of the sacrifice of another-and for the glory of another. Jude 1:24-25 has a hold on me lately-I just keep reading it in amazement.   Meanwhile trent & I keep talking about how life plays out and whether we are using what we've been given wisely, trying to listen carefully to what that still small voice is saying.