I just wanted to share this photo of my last day at the Lexington Farmer's Market this summer. This is the 4th summer I have worked at the LFM for Blue Moon Garlic Farm. I love my work at the LFM and look forward to it every summer. We had a great crew this summer and I really enjoyed getting to know them! I'll share more about my various jobs soon (I have 4), but I wanted to post this fun photo in the mean time.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Last day at the Lexington Farmer's Market for 2011
I just wanted to share this photo of my last day at the Lexington Farmer's Market this summer. This is the 4th summer I have worked at the LFM for Blue Moon Garlic Farm. I love my work at the LFM and look forward to it every summer. We had a great crew this summer and I really enjoyed getting to know them! I'll share more about my various jobs soon (I have 4), but I wanted to post this fun photo in the mean time.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Fur-Baby Friday!!
My pretty girl, Annabelle.
I love this girl so much!
She loves to explore, chase toys (and other cats) around the apartment, and most importantly snuggle with me! She is so adorable when she sleeps - and quite the troublemaker when she is awake - haha!
In these photos she is sleeping on my Scottish woolen blanket. My mom's family family comes from Scotland, and a couple of years ago she traveled to Scotland to explore the family's roots. Each family has its own tartan, and this blanket is the Greenshields family tartan. At first my mom insisted that I not allow any cats on the blanket because of all their fur. But, what could I do, it's their favorite sleeping spot!
I love this girl so much!
She loves to explore, chase toys (and other cats) around the apartment, and most importantly snuggle with me! She is so adorable when she sleeps - and quite the troublemaker when she is awake - haha!
In these photos she is sleeping on my Scottish woolen blanket. My mom's family family comes from Scotland, and a couple of years ago she traveled to Scotland to explore the family's roots. Each family has its own tartan, and this blanket is the Greenshields family tartan. At first my mom insisted that I not allow any cats on the blanket because of all their fur. But, what could I do, it's their favorite sleeping spot!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Go Katie, Go!!
Such a sweet and uplifting story about a girl who competes for her middle school swim team, and her precious teammates who cheer her on! Go here for the article! Be sure to check out the photos - they are awesome!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Ronan Update!
I just received an updated photo of one of the precious dogs that I was blessed to transport last month... here is Roman in his forever home! This is what it is all about!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Just amazing!!
About 11 months ago, in a moment of boredom at work, I started researching single mother adoptions. My Google search brought me to a website called "Reece's Rainbow." There, I found hundreds of family blogs. Family blogs of people who were deep in the midst of special needs international adoption. I'm sorry to say that I didn't get much accomplished at work that day, but my life changed in ways never before imagined. I followed along with families as they started the extensive paperwork process to go overseas and bring home their children. It was amazing to be taken along on their journey. I also spent some time looking at the children still available for adoption and one sweet girl's photo caught my eye. Here's the photo:
She was listed by Reece's Rainbow as Oksana - not her real name, but one assigned to her in order to keep her safe. It's because of her, that I know that one day I will adopt a sweet little one just like her. But, I knew there was no way that I could be her mommy, since my life was pretty complicated at the time. So, I made it my mission to pray for her daily. And, I did.
I prayed that she would be safe in her orphanage, have enough food to eat, get to play with her friends, and that one of her caregivers would take extra special care of her. Most of all, I prayed that somewhere her mommy was looking for her. I prayed that she would get to know the love of a family. And, I prayed that it would happen sooner rather than later. Deep down, if I am honest, I wished it could be me. But, I knew that was selfish, and she needed a family so badly, that I prayed someone would step forward for her.
Why did she need a home so badly? It wasn't because of an idealized vision of every child having a home and a family. I do wish that for every child, but that wasn't it. The truth is, that Oksana had a very short window of time before she would be transferred to the mental institution. The statistics for children transferred to a mental institution are staggering. Most children with Down Syndrome, like Oksana, will spend their days in lay-down cribs being largely ignored by the staff. They receive very little food, very little stimulation, and many of them die within the first year of being transferred. So, to say I was desperate for sweet Oksana, is a complete understatement.
All through that Winter, the Spring, and this Summer, I prayed. I prayed that if it was God's will, He would provide a family for her. Those prayers were heartfelt and sincere, but they were sugar-coated. Then, last month (September), my prayers took a turn. I began pleading. I knew her birthday was in January, and at that point she could be transferred. I just couldn't let that happen, and short of me winning the lottery, I knew there wasn't a thing I could do - except pray. And I prayed, and I pleaded with God. I thought about her a lot, and wondered what would happen in January.
And, then the impossible happened.
Yesterday, October 20th, I scrolled on over to the Reece's Rainbow website and saw Oksana's picture listed in a different place. She was listed on the page titled, "My Family Found Me." Truly, truly a miracle from God.
I don't know who her family is yet, and they may decide not to go public. But, if they do, you bet I will be following along with her family on that journey.
Sweet Oksana has a home. God is good.
She was listed by Reece's Rainbow as Oksana - not her real name, but one assigned to her in order to keep her safe. It's because of her, that I know that one day I will adopt a sweet little one just like her. But, I knew there was no way that I could be her mommy, since my life was pretty complicated at the time. So, I made it my mission to pray for her daily. And, I did.
I prayed that she would be safe in her orphanage, have enough food to eat, get to play with her friends, and that one of her caregivers would take extra special care of her. Most of all, I prayed that somewhere her mommy was looking for her. I prayed that she would get to know the love of a family. And, I prayed that it would happen sooner rather than later. Deep down, if I am honest, I wished it could be me. But, I knew that was selfish, and she needed a family so badly, that I prayed someone would step forward for her.
Why did she need a home so badly? It wasn't because of an idealized vision of every child having a home and a family. I do wish that for every child, but that wasn't it. The truth is, that Oksana had a very short window of time before she would be transferred to the mental institution. The statistics for children transferred to a mental institution are staggering. Most children with Down Syndrome, like Oksana, will spend their days in lay-down cribs being largely ignored by the staff. They receive very little food, very little stimulation, and many of them die within the first year of being transferred. So, to say I was desperate for sweet Oksana, is a complete understatement.
All through that Winter, the Spring, and this Summer, I prayed. I prayed that if it was God's will, He would provide a family for her. Those prayers were heartfelt and sincere, but they were sugar-coated. Then, last month (September), my prayers took a turn. I began pleading. I knew her birthday was in January, and at that point she could be transferred. I just couldn't let that happen, and short of me winning the lottery, I knew there wasn't a thing I could do - except pray. And I prayed, and I pleaded with God. I thought about her a lot, and wondered what would happen in January.
And, then the impossible happened.
Yesterday, October 20th, I scrolled on over to the Reece's Rainbow website and saw Oksana's picture listed in a different place. She was listed on the page titled, "My Family Found Me." Truly, truly a miracle from God.
I don't know who her family is yet, and they may decide not to go public. But, if they do, you bet I will be following along with her family on that journey.
Sweet Oksana has a home. God is good.
Fur-Baby Friday!!!
Meet Socks Arthur Hill. He was my very first cat and the reason I love cats SO very much! I had been begging for a cat for a while, but my dad absolutely wanted nothing to do with cats. Anyway, on June 5th, 1990 (my 10th birthday), my wish was finally granted and my mom brought Socks Arthur home to live with us for 17 amazing years.
That first night my dad was so furious, he insisted that Socks sleep in a box with holes, since he "didn't want a cat wandering around while we all sleep." Socks was too smart, though, and quickly he started doing just what my dad didn't want!
I have lots of great photos of Socks, and I really do need to scan some of them in to my computer... photos of him in pink bonnets and baby dresses, photos of him strapped into a stroller, photos of him swimming in the wading pool, and photos of a little girl who loved her cat dearly. It's because of him that my passion for animal rights is alive.
The photo above was taken shortly before he passed away. He was a great cat, and I loved him dearly. Thank goodness my mom didn't listen to my dad when he said, "no cats." After all, it was my dad who cried the loudest when Socks passed, so it's safe to say that they became the best of buddies over the years.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Praises!
So, I was tooling around the internet looking at a couple of my favorite sites when it happened... the answer to my prayers... listed on the Reece's Rainbow website, under the heading "My Family Found Me," was my little sweet pea, Oksana!!!
This is Jesus at work! Thank you, Lord! Thank you for providing a family for her, thank you for answering my prayers, and the prayers of many who rallied behind her, thank you for giving this sweet girl a family where she will be loved, cared for, and valued, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
This is Jesus at work! Thank you, Lord! Thank you for providing a family for her, thank you for answering my prayers, and the prayers of many who rallied behind her, thank you for giving this sweet girl a family where she will be loved, cared for, and valued, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
In memory...
Frieda Ermalee Greenshields
May 6, 1932 ~ October 11, 2009
May 6, 1932 ~ October 11, 2009
Graduation Photo
4 Generations PhotoI am the baby, with my mom, my grandma, and my great-grandmother
Grandmas hold our tiny hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever ~ Author Unknown
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
It's October!
I haven't carved a pumpkin since I was a child, but I was pulled in as I passed the cart of pumpkins at the Farmer's Market on Saturday. I really didn't know what I was doing. And, I really didn't realize how much work scraping the inside of a pumpkin is. But, here's the finished product - I think I did pretty good!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Fur-Baby Friday!!! (one day late)
Tonight it got pretty darn cold, so I decided it was time to use the fireplace for the first time this Fall. It felt great... and Sam found a very familiar place in front of the fire!!
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