Poem by my sister, Lisa Morris

Today is the first anniversary of our Mama's death. Her birthday is Monday, March 23rd.

Lisa wrote a beautiful poem and has given me permission to post it here.

It’s been a year now
At this same time last Spring
When I received a telephone call
That would tragically change everything

I can still hear Kristy’s voice
As it quivered with her words
Giving me the worst news
That I have ever heard

The urgency we felt
As we all called each other
When we didn’t know for sure
What had happened to our mother

The drive to the hospital
Seemed in slow motion to me
I didn’t know what to expect
Or what my eyes would see

My mind knew the answer as soon as we arrived
But my heart would not agree
I could see it in my family’s faces
As they waited outside for me

No one would look at me
Except for Chelle alone
She forced a quick smile upon her face
Which didn’t last for long

Dale broke the news to Sherri and I
With Kristy by his side
It just didn’t seem real
As we all hugged and cried

I remember so many details
About that sad day
But I don’t mean to relive it
Or sound morbid in any way

I just wanted to say how thankful I was
That we were all together then
I remember how the room was so full of family
And some of Mom’s friends

So let’s cherish all the good memories
As we remember Mom today
I’m thinking of you all and I love you
Is what I really wanted to say
lwm 3/09

New Members of the Family

We have five hens and a rooster! We got them from Chris' cousin and converted our hog pen to a chicken pen to hold them for now. It should be fine for now but we'll need to do additional work or build another building for them before next winter. When we released them into the pen they two almost immediately laid an egg. They arrived with a little cracked corn and today we went to Tractor Supply and picked up laying mash mixed with all sorts of vitamins, grit, etc. Also picked up feed and watering containers. Also picked up a book for Russell on raising and showing chickens. Don't know if we'll get into the business of showing them but it looks like a good book for him to learn from.

I believe the rooster and oldest hen are about the same age. Three of hens are the youngest of the bunch and one hen, we believe, is the next oldest. The oldest hen makes it plan that she is the head hen in the coup but the next oldest tries her best!

It's been a number of years since I've had chickens and am re-learning how to care for them. We are going to try the deep litter method for the coup. For more info on that please see http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1560-DLM. We also need to build a run for them and replace the door currently being used.

Russell is with his Dad this weekend and can't wait to get home tomorrow to see them again and gather eggs.

This is a memorial video I made for my brother and sisters this past Christmas. I wanted to post and share.

Mama always said she wanted the song "Pistol Packin' Mama" played at her funeral. We didn't think to do this at her funeral so I decided to use it when I made this video.

At the end of this video is a video clip I inserted which I found just days before Christmas when I was reviewing some old tapes.

Enjoy!

Toddlers and Babies in the family

Pictures of some of the littlest ones in the family



Justice




Jayden at Colton's b'day party



Colton's First B'day!

March '09 Snow

A few pics of the snow that arrived last night.

Across the road from the house

The moutains in the distance

Mom's house

Snow piled on the vehicles.

Icicles hanging off the gutter

Beautiful sun rays

Close up of the moutains.

Spring in on the Way!

March - in like a lion! Out like a lamb. Can't wait to get the motorcycles out and ride! Can't wait to start planting garden! Longer, warmer day! Hurray!