Weather Change!

It has been a busy and weird week and a half or so since I posted. 

The post that I made regarding the mandatory vaccination bill has weighed heavy on my mind.  I have read so many articles, done so much research, talked to so many people, sent more emails to senators, and sat in on the work session and watched in disbelief as every Democrat (the majority) voted to pass the Bill on to the next committee and every Republican voted it down.

The more I dive into this bill and do my own research, the more concerning it is, and the more irrational it has become.  Hep B, for example, is a required vaccine for infants to attend daycare under the law.  Hep B is spread through an irresponsible lifestyle of IV drug use and unprotected sex.  A student who has Hep B is NOT excluded from public school or daycare or playing sports in school.  Their right to an education is protected.  BUT, if you do not have all the Hep B vaccinations, you are denied an education.  It makes no sense.  Students with parole officers, juvenile records, registered sex offenders, possession and distribution arrests, students who have attacked fellow students and teachers, have been expelled, are in jail, etc.. are all protected under the law as having a right to a public education.  There are programs in jails, special programs/classes in schools, alternative schools that cater specifically to troubled students, etc..  BUT, if you are missing even one vaccine, you are denied your right to public education, to participating in sports, to even being prevented from going to church if your church has a daycare or a preschool program.   Oregon is above the national average for vaccinations and within established herd immunity.  What is going on!?  There is so much more that I could say!!!  I have a 3 1/2 page summary of how this bill is a violation of parental rights and how the government should NOT have autonomy over the bodies of its citizens.  

I met with my friend and mentor Karen yesterday and relayed all this angst.  It was so helpful to be redirected back to the Lord.  He is sovereign.  Leaders and rulers are in place because it is according to His will and He has specific instructions about our role under a governing authority.  The battles that we fight are not against flesh and blood but against the powers and principalities of darkness.  Ephesians reminds us to put on our armor of God and that our most powerful weapon is prayer.  This is just the tip of the iceberg as the end times approach and the second coming of Jesus is ushered in.  Our lives in every situation is an opportunity of ministry to share the good news of salvation, to give an account of the hope that is in us, and to ultimately bring glory to God.  Karen reminded me to keep my focus where is should be, put my emotions under the control of the Holy Spirit, and not let the enemy use this as a way to distract me from my relationship with the Lord, with my husband, with my children.  Honestly, after prayer and Bible study this morning, and sharing Karen's wise counsel with others.  I feel so much better.

Enough of this, I just wanted to give quick update on where my mind has been....besides emotionally and mentally exhausted and not sleeping well.

My favorite kind of cloud cover!

The poor children came down with various versions of a cold (fever for Brighton, sleep walking and delirium at night for Evi, coughing for the younger 3, mild symptoms for the older 2) but they were miserable enough that I declared Friday another read the day away and they made their forts and listened to me read all day!

I called Phil at work on Thursday and told him I accidentally bought a llama...

This is Mama Llama!

I called him on Saturday morning when I was out running errands and suggested that I not be allowed in Wilco unsupervised.

Weekend wonderment!!!  

We worked on raised beds Saturday and Sunday and got quadrant number 1 finished!  The weather was mild but very windy.  The forecast called for the first days of high 60's and low 70's and I couldn't bear to do school on the first week of Spring like weather!  We still hadn't used our week off that had been earmarked for February so even though we have Phil's Spring Break next week, we are taking this week off as well!  

I filled all these raised beds already and I need more!  I was so glad that I planted seeds this year.  I went to the grocery store and bought produce and I couldn't believe how expensive it was.  I am looking forward to the early spring veggies (peas, beets, radishes, spinach, salad greens, onions) to be harvested!  We have plans to get another quadrant done for carrots, tomatoes, kale, broccoli, etc.. and the other two will have to wait until Fall.  In the meantime, I will just have to scrape and till up space to plant vines and corn.  

The site of quadrant number 2.

The sound of the frogs croaking down by the creek, the call of the Redwing Blackbird, the wind whistling through the Douglas Fir trees, and the shrill sound of a penny whistle....

This was actually quite the massive undertaking.  I forgot the before pictures.  This was an overgrown grape fence line with roots bigger than my arms growing deep in the ground and outlined in old hot tub parts (if I never see spare hot tub parts it will be too soon.  We probably filled up at least one of the 22 yard dumpsters we ordered last year with just hot tub parts).  We decided to turn this section into an access road behind the barn.  I had to dig up and transplant 8 trees and shrubs that were in the road way and dig out these ancient grape vines.  I am hoping that some of the vines are still viable.  I have the roots buried in wood chips until I can figure out if I want to dig 4 feet holes to plant them in!

The first day of spring (today) boasted the most amazing sunrise!!!

This is not creepy LOL!  My Goliath Bird Eater molted.  I was a bit relieved because she is one of my new spiders and has yet to eat.  Isn't it interesting how they turn over on their back to molt.  Her coloring changed significantly after her molt.