I stood back --- And watched....

I am amazed.... And humbled.... And blessed.

The Lord is good!

Before I get to far, I want to warn you that this post is going to be ridiculously long.

Ever since going to the Flock and Fiber Festival back in September, I have been snooping around, hunting down some fiber animals of my own. I really didn't care if I got sheep, goats, llamas.... I just wanted my own source for fiber! But, I had in error in my ways.

I was trying to do this all on my own. I never asked the Lord for guidance, I just floundered about on my own. Oh I found plenty of animals that I thought were perfect; a lady was giving her herd of angora rabbits away for free, there were some pregnant llamas for $50, the cashmere goats for $25.... You get the picture.

But the timing was never right. "Oh yeah, I would need some feed and cages for those rabbits.." "Oh, I don't have the money to buy enough hay for those llamas..." "That's right! Those goats would jump right over that saggy part of the fence..." Etc.

Finally, in my frustration, I prayed and said: "Lord, I give up! Your will be done, if you want me to have some fiber animals I will trust you to work it out, if you don't want me to have any, please grant me contentment."

It was like having a huge weight lifted. I could now go about my daily life, knowing that it was in His hands. :)

A few days later, while trying to find some good quality alpaca wool (remember? I gave up looking.) I stumbled onto a website called 'mahartalpacas.com' These people were about an hour away and had very nice alpacas. Okay, I couldn't help but look at their 'pacas they were selling. Scrolling through the list I saw the usual, $6,000 thru $12,000 for alpacas.

Then I saw it.

What's this? A female huacaya for $100!!! And they're having a 50% off sale!! That would make her $50!!! Needless to say, I was kerflummuxed.

I didn't do anything at first, aside from showing my mom. Instead I prayed about it.... And prayed about it, and prayed about it some more. I really felt that this was the Lord's will, so I e-mailed the owners....

There were still a lot of things to think about though! I would need a companion, hay, feed, ect. But I never felt worried, I was merely along for the ride. The Lord was the one who was busy working it all out. And I got to watch it first hand.

After getting the okay from my dad, I set a date with the owners to come see Marina, the female alpaca. I learned that the owners had tried and failed to get 'Rina bred for a couple years, so they were just selling her as a fiber pet, hence the price. She was a lovely blue eyed white, with a lovely temperament to match it. While we were at the ranch, visiting, the owners introduced us to Bella Mia, the most beautiful, dark brown, female, suri alpaca I had ever seen. She too was unbreedable because she had birthing problems. I had seen Mia on their website, but didn't pay too much attention because they were selling her for $500.

When we were beginning to leave, they asked if I would consider a package deal for both girls. I was thinking, "Hmmm, they'll probably offer something like $250 for the pair, and I can't afford that." But I told them I might consider it.

"Would you take $50 for both." That was their offer.

My answer was something like "I beg your pardon!?"

They said they would be happy knowing that Marina and Mia would be at a good home, so money wasn't a big deal. They also offered to sell me some hay for a super good price!

I thought I would burst with happiness and excitement! The Lord provided a companion and hay!!

On the day that we picked the girls up, the owners surprised me again! They were giving me a free sack of feed (one sack stretches a looooong time), medicines and then, she wouldn't let me pay for the hay!!!

I am so happy with my girls now. :) Mia is my drama queen, who never does anything halfway. Marina is my laid back sweetie. Both are so friendly that I can barely believe it!

I did warn you that this post was going to be long, didn't I? Sorry. :-/

Because of the rainy weather, Emily hasn't been able to get any great pictures of the girls, but here are some okay ones.

Hmmm, Emily is so captivated with Mia that she forgot to get a good picture of Marina! That'll have to be the next post I guess...

I stood back --- and watched.....

~Caitlyn

Can't

Can't
by Edgar Guest

Can't is the worst word that's written or spoken;
Doing more harm here than slander and lies;
On it is many a strong spirit broken,
And with many a good purpose dies.
It springs from the lips of the thoughtless each morning
And robs us of courage we need through the day;
It rings in our ears like a timely sent warning
And laughs when we falter and fall by the way.

Can't is the father of feeble endeavor,
The parent of terror and half-hearted work;
It weakens the efforts of artisans clever,
And makes of the toiler an indolent shirk.
It poisons the soul of the man with a vision,
It stifles in infancy many a plan;
It greets honest toiling with open derision
And mocks at the hopes and the dreams of a man.

Can't is a word none should speak without blushing;
To utter it should be a symbol of shame;
Ambition and courage it daily is crushing;
It blights a man's purpose and shortens his aim.
Despise it with all of your hatred of error;
Refuse it the lodgement it seeks in your brain;
Arm against it as a creature of terror,
And all that you dream of you someday shall gain.

Can't is the word that is foe to ambition
An enemy ambushed to shatter your will;
It's prey is forever the man with a mission
And bows but to courage and patience and skill.
Hate it with hatred that's deep and undying,
For once it is welcomed 'twill break any man;
Whatever the goal you are seeking, keep trying
And answer this demon by saying: "I can."

~Megan

Wisdom of Jane Austen

"It may be possible to do without dancing entirely. Instances have been known of young people passing many, many months successively without being at any ball of any description, and no material injury accrue either to body or mind; but when a beginning is made -- when the felicities of rapid motion have once been, though slightly, felt -- it must be a very heavy set that does not ask for more." ~ Jane Austen

"Felicities of rapid motion", I like that.... :)

~Caitlyn

Goodness! Has it really been a year!?

We have now officially been writing this blog for a whole year.

(Que for applause) ;D

We want to thank everyone for their encouragement through the year! Thank you for visiting, for commenting, for everything! All three of us have been very blessed. :D

Thank you.

~Caitlyn, Megan and Emily

Because I like it....

Some of my readers may remember this picture from last year.... But I just had to put it up again. :) It's still my favorite picture that Emily has gotten....

~Caitlyn

Gone!

Hurray! My braces are finally off for good! :D

~Caitlyn

'Shrooms

That's what we call mushrooms anyway. ;D

A couple weeks ago we noticed the most adorable little mushrooms growing under one of our pine trees. While they are most likely poisonous :( they are just too cute to pull up.

See?

~Caitlyn

Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's day, as y'all know. I'm suddenly finding myself thinking about our veteran's more and more. As it's been said, I'm indebted to them and I can never repay them, both to those who laid down their lives for their country, those who lived for it and those who are fighting for it yet. I'm beginning to realize just how much I owe them. They are in my prayers daily.
THANK YOU, VETERANS, FOR WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN!

As an aside (for those of you who care about this sort of thing), Guess what happened today, ninety-one years ago at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month?
You got it! On this day, ninety-one years ago, the armistice was signed, ending World War I!
I know, I'm kinda weird.

~Megan