Friday, December 31, 2010

2010 Wrap Up

Wow, what a year it has been! In many ways I am so glad to put 2010 behind me and move forward into a new year. I will remember 2010 as a humbling year in which I reached all the limits of my mind, body and spirit.  As I become laser-focused on rebuilding and restoring I have made a decision to change the scope of this blog.  Since we have my blog published into a full color, hardcover book at the end of each year, I've decided to move my health and nutrition rantings to a new blog at www.goodlifenaturals.blogspot.com. That will allow this blog to be a true "family diary" documenting our escapades and adventures and still give me an occasional outlet to document my nutrition research and hopefully help others trying to avoid disease and achieve optimal health.  My life's goal is to bridge the gap between the average person and the nutrition "experts" by documenting and discussing our healthy lifestyle and revealing how we apply sound dietary principles on a daily basis in our busy household.  This is the legacy I hope will positively affect each of my children and all the children after them.

We wish you all the best of happiness and health in 2011!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Quiet Moment w/Nyla

Nyla and I are all alone in the house listening to Christmas music together.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Luke and Marshall Visit Santa

Luke and Marshall are waiting for their turn to visit Santa on the square in Seward. Notice the older two are not with them. :<(


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Monday, November 29, 2010

Saying Goodbye

Today, the children and I said "good bye" to a treasured friend and pet. Our old guy, "Rocky" passed away peacefully at The Good Life Farm. Rocky was a "one-in-a-million" kind of horse that we were blessed to call "bomb proof", "kid safe", "honest", "trustworthy" and "dead broke". All the things you hope to call a horse when you have small children.....he was all of those and more.

When we got Rocky three years ago the vet estimated him to be "25-28 years old". We went with the younger end of that range and decided he would age every year on Gemma's birthday, making him "28" last March when Gemma turned "8". He was probably a bit older than that.

The most notable memory I will keep of Rocky is watching Gemma as a tiny child, literally climbing up his leg to mount him. He would stand perfectly still while she shimmied and wiggled until she finally reached the top of him. Sometimes it was a painfully slow process to watch (especially during competitions) but his patience with her was everlasting and in time, they formed a most unique bond.

To most people, Rocky was just an old, "dead belly" slow horse that had no "go", but under Gemma he would offer her the wind! Gemma loved to hop on and show him off to guests and we would often see her cantering him bareback around the farm. Gemma and Luke have taken the news the hardest, but we are all so grateful he didn't suffer and we never had to make any tough decisions about his care. Even in death, he was a "good 'ole boy" for us. He will be sorely missed.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Thanksgiving Day

Click on the slide below for a slide show of Thanksgiving day at Uncle Vernon's and Aunt Ruby's house!

From

Saturday, November 20, 2010

7 Months, 7 Teeth

If you look close you can see Nyla's 8th tooth about to break through on her top right!
 

Nyla and Gemma

Light At The End Of A Dark Tunnel

Found this tonight while cleaning my office. The book literally fell open to this page in my hands….how could I not share it?


“Any kind of “death” is an invitation to resurrection life for the believer. Thank goodness, the loss of something or someone dear never has to mean the end of abundant, effective, or even joyful life for any Christian. Joy and effectiveness may seem to pause for a while as grief takes its course, but those who allow their broken heart to be bound by Christ will experience them again. Our Savior is the God of resurrection life, no matter what kind of death has occurred in the life of any believer!

Nothing is more natural than grief after a devastating loss, but those of us in Christ can experience satisfying life again. When our hearts have been shattered by loss, we have an opportunity to welcome a supernatural power to our lives. The power to live again on this earth when we’d really rather die. Perhaps the most profound miracle of all is living through something we thought would kill us. And not just living, but living abundantly and effectively—raised from living death to a new life. A life indeed absent of something or someone dear but filled with the presence of the Resurrection and the Life.

No, my life will never be the same..........But the life of a Christian is never about sameness. It’s always about change. That’s why we must learn to survive and once again thrive when change involves heartbreaking loss. We’re being conformed to the image of Christ. When our hearts are hemorrhaging with grief and loss, never forget that Christ binds and compresses them with a nail-scarred hand. Life will never be the same, but I have the invitation from Christ to rise to a new life----a more compassionate life, a wiser life, a more productive life. And yes, even a better life. Sound impossible? It is without Christ.

I can almost hear Christ calling out a name. Is it yours? By any chance, have you been among the living dead? The stone’s been rolled away. Resurrection life awaits you. Will you continue to sit in a dark tomb, or will you walk into the light of resurrection life? Lazarus, come forth! “ ….from the book Breaking Free, by Beth Moore

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Trick-or-Treat

Our Trick-or-Treaters: a lamb, a cave girl, a hobo, a werewolf and Tigger too! (Thanks Christina! Would not have pulled it off without you!) The kids got to trick-or-treat at David dorm on Concordia's campus Saturday night. Three floors, four wings each! Next night, trick-or-treat in the neighborhoods. Total candy collected?? Almost 20 pounds (only reason it was less was because Marshall didn't go along the second night!)  The three older kids got to keep whatever they could stuff into a quart size zip lock bag (about 1.5 lbs.) and the rest was left out tonight on the front porch for the "Halloween Witch!"  She usually brings some pretty cool stuff to trade for the candy.

 

 
 

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Gracie Rates Up To D-2

Gracie and 4 of her friends from Cornhusker Pony Club took their D-2 test last weekend. All the girls not only passed, but the tester said they were "more prepared than any group she ever tested"! Way to go girls! Click on the blue screen to see slide show.
From 2010-D2 Testing





Posted by MommyD at 6:08 AM

Friday, October 8, 2010

Luke's Birthday Present

So...this is the Gator I wanted....but Scott didn't want to spend the money so I got Luke the battery operated version for his birthday instead! This thing is awesome!! There is a "governor" blocking the boys from second gear because it goes too fast! It has a real lift-up dump bed so after we break it in here at Wildwood, we'll put the boys to work picking up sticks for Grandma at the farm. Marshall wakes up asking to drive it. I had to pull him out of it kicking and screaming today as he was insisting he could drive it to the farm! (5.8 miles from here!) So far, Luke is being a very safe driver just like his Daddy....although Daisy does exceed the dump bed weight limit.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Luke Is 6 Today!

Our baby Luke is 6 today! Happy Birthday to our special Puppy! We all love you sooooo much!


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Sunday, October 3, 2010

Heart Breaking Tragedy

Many of you know my cousin Renee Whitaker-Buhl (She was class of '85 from Ashtabula).  I was informed today that she has lost her only two sons in a tragic twist of events this past week. Mark, her oldest son was in a car accident last weekend which left him brain injured with little chance of recovery. Her younger son Matthew was so deeply grief stricken over his brother's condition that he recklessly, but accidentally died of a drug overdose on Friday night.  The next day, yesterday, the decision was made to remove the life support from her older son, Mark. 

One son has a two year old child and the other is expecting a baby in May.  Please keep Renee and her family, and the families of Mark and Matthew in your prayers.

Of course neither boy (in their early twenties) had any life insurance, so if you know Renee and would be inclined to send flowers....PLEASE don't! Instead, please direct cards and memorial funds to:
Renee Buhl
123 Phillips Lane
Clinton, TN 37716

I don't now how a mother even begins to grieve the loss of a child, a son....let alone two sons....in the same week.  Please, just stop and pray.....

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Games Rally Review

Games Rally weekend was full of heartbreaks and triumphs again this year!  Gracie's team came in 1st place for "Horse and Stable Management" (only the top score of all teams receives an award), but 3rd place in the actual games. We had two "rookie ponies" that got so charged up they could not be controlled-one even had to be removed from the games for the safety of the rider!
Gemma's team came in 2nd place for the games! I was very proud of both Gracie and Gemma as they exhibited excellent teamwork, sportsmanship, control, and games strategy. The US Pony Club Games are a very difficult discipline for kids this age but a great way to learn and grow with your horse.  Check out the slide show below the photos!
Gracie and Joe in the warm-up arena.

Gemma and Happy in the "Bottle Race".


Gemma makes the hand-off in the "Flag Race"!

Broken arm? What broken arm?

Gemma makes a basket in "Hi-Lo"

Gracie in "Hi-Lo"


Gracie's team-Amanda Traphagan, Jessie Juergensen and Anna Baack

Gemma's team: Dani Drbal, Sierra Wilson and Abby Baack

Gracie maneuvering cones on the "Flag Race".

Gracie, reaching for a flag.



Here is a quick slide show of the weekend:

Monday, September 20, 2010

Nyla 5 1/2 Months

Nyla cut a new tooth this weekend bringing her total to 4. The third bottom tooth actually beat her
second top tooth through, but it is very close behind. No more gummy smiles at the Seevers house.
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Saturday, September 11, 2010

Nyla-5 Months and Crawling

Nyla has been "commando crawling" since about 4 months (which was freaky enough) but now she's up on her knees and on the move at 5 months!  She also has three teeth (two bottom, one top)! Will someone please tell this child she's the 5th kid?!  She's supposed to stay immobile in my sling and nurse until she's three! haha. 

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Happy Birthday Brian!

My baby brother and only sibling, Brian Michael Cochran, would have been 35 years old today. I can't believe it's been 13 years since he died. When I let myself stop and think about it, my heart aches like it happened just yesterday. For me, this grief never gets any easier. It just gets placed neatly in a box and put away while I tend to the business of life. I like to think of him more on his birthday, as opposed to the anniversary of his death.  I still miss him very much. I wish my kids could have known him.  I know they would have adored him.  I often see him in their faces, especially when they are silly or tired.  Happy birthday little brother!


Saturday, August 21, 2010

Gemma's Broken Arm

Gemma is resting on the couch this afternoon after falling off her horse and breaking her left arm in two places. She was trail riding around the farm on Rocky, when he was suddenly spooked by something and did a 180 degree turn at the canter (there is some dirtwork going on out there so we think he might have been caught off guard by a big bulldozer parked on his normal route.) Gemma went flying off and landed on her hand, breaking her radius and ulna bone. In the x-ray below, you can see the ulna bone has a crush injury and has actually "buckled". The radius is more of a clean break. She was casted clear up above her elbow in an effort to stabilize these "unstable" fractures. She will be x-rayed again in a week and if the bones have not begun to heal properly, or have shifted at all, we may be making a visit to an orthopedic surgeon to discuss having pins put in.

After falling, Gemma got up, lengthened her stirrup so she could re-mount with one hand, and returned to the barn. She dismounted, tied up her horse and then came to me with tear-filled eyes to explain what had happened. I knew immediately it was serious because very little brings Gemma to tears, or off of her horse for that matter. On the way to the ER she had these comments: "I know I wouldn't have fallen off if I were riding bareback, Mommy. That saddle just doesn't fit him right!"....and "I reached out with my hand so I wouldn't hit my head!" .....and "Rocky was so good Mom, he just stood there with me, waiting for me to get back on (as opposed to taking off back to the barn)!"

We are so grateful that Gemma was wearing a helmet and for our barn rule of wearing helmets "EVERY RIDE, EVERY TIME"!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Lincoln Journal Star Article About John and Karen

Scott's brother and sister-in-law, John and Karen, were recently the topic of a newspaper article in the Lincoln Journal Star. Click the "share" button below to see the article.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Saturday, July 31, 2010

First Farmer's Market

Farmer's Market was so much fun today! We were set up by 7:30am and sold out of eggs by 10:45am. We got off to a slow start so I was a little nervous for the kids. I sat them down and explained it was possible we wouldn't sell many eggs this first time, especially considering the competition at $1.50/dz!! But a child's optimism is so refreshing as it didn't even occur to the children we wouldn't sell them ALL. While I was reverting into "sales mode", worrying about the table presentation, reviewing "features and benefits" and what they should say in the "first 30 seconds".....the kids just happily played, greeted the customers and visited other producers to get honey and banana bread samples! I had to chuckle at myself as I settled into the realization that Farmer's Market is not a trade show and the eggs are not medical equipment! They practically sell themselves! LOL

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Friday, July 30, 2010

Happy Chickens

Even with all this heat, the chickens seem to be doing really well and production is ramping up daily. We are so grateful to have the shade and bugs that Grandma's fruit trees provide! Now if we can just figure out what to do with the extra roosters! Out of the four, three have to go but we are having trouble getting our courage up to "process" them.  Maybe YOU would like a pet rooster? Did you know there doesn't have to be a rooster in the flock for chickens to lay eggs?

Keeping the water jugs clean is quite a chore in this heat.

The fallen fruit attracts many yummy bugs!


They're running toward the camera because they think we have food!

Time to lay an egg!

Keeping the feed up off the ground is better for the grass. 6 of our 9 breeds are shown here.