A Week On

A week on, and my husband has stronger pain medication. I pray that his knee will hold out until August, and on his visit to the doctor today,  he was given  Durogesic 75 micrograms/h, which means that 75 mcg of Fentanyl is released every hour. August seems such a lifetime away. Sigh! Two hours after placing the new patch, my husband has said that the pain is much less, and that he can cope with the level of pain that he has, now.

Yes, it’s strong, and in a perfect world, it’s not ideal, but he needs to be able to walk and do light duties until August so that he doesn’t become too bored. I am so looking forward to August, when my husband will be having a Total Knee Replacement, and total relief from pain.

In the meantime, my husband will be teaching our son to milk – his choice, as my daughter said that she wouldn’t mind milking the goats, and we have three new nannies ready to kid in the next month. I’m praying that they will be easy to milk, as first time milkers are often jittery and can be challenging to milk, even for a seasoned hand.  ‘Twill be rather interesting here over the next five months, so please keep us in your prayers.  Believe me, they will be very much appreciated.

My son is also working toward his year 12 Academic Certificate over the next couple of years, so he has a heavier school workload to cope with, and my daughter is currently undertaking studies for her year 10 Academic Certificate. There are animals to feed, wood to collect, meals to prepare and household chores to be done as usual, but if we band together, all things are possible.

Mind you, there are certain subjects that are taking a back seat at the moment, such as German and music, but I really can’t push the children any harder. With all of the extra work, there are only a certain number of hours in a day, and believe me when I say that we are using every one of them to our advantage.

God promises that those who honour and obey their parents and God’s Word, will be blessed. Our children belong to God and we are commanded to bring them up in His ways, but the Fathers are also exhorted to provoke not their children to wrath, but to nurture and admonish them when necessary. The children will only be obedient to us, and to God’s Word, if we have their respect, and if they can’t be obedient to us, they will never be obedient to God’s Word.

It is here that we see the results of child-training, as our children grow up and take on added responsibilities, and it is wonderful to see them volunteer to help around the farm. We feel extremely blessed by their attitude of quiet obedience to what is needed at this time.

Praise God that we can do all things through Him which strengtheneth us, and that He hath said that He will never leave us nor forsake us!

Wordless Wednesday

Goats, Molasses and Cider Vinegar

What were my Husband and Son Engaged In Yesterday Afternoon?

What were my husband and son engaged in yesterday afternoon? Well, it’s like this – our solitary sheep had problems with grass seeds, so they decided, in their wisdom to shear her. Now, don’t laugh – we do have our own shearing plant, complete with narrow handpiece. Our shearing plant is an ancient (came from Noah’s Ark) Coopers with a Mk10 Villiers motor (1HP).

Introduction to Deborah’s Kids – Elisabeth & RG

Last night, Deborah gave birth to twins – a buck and a doe, and the little doe is ever so tiny. The
buck would be almost double her weight. These kids are Toggenburg paternity and Deborah is a
British Alpine/Saanen cross. We trotted Deborah down to the yard, near the house, so that we
could keep an eye on her and her kids simply by picking her kids up and carrying them. Deborah
is such a good Mum and ever so protective. Best of all, she’s an excellent milker!