This morning I went to "Big House" to visit with the children. Yonatan was out of bed and Fetlework was asleep. He and I went to the mail box early to post a letter.
I woke Fetlework up and brought them to " little house," where they had breakfast while mom finished some paper work. Fetlework stayed with Memaw and Poppy and Yonatan will be at the gym playing.

It was a magical time. We picked berries, went for a ride around the farm and discovered a 1/2 grown raccoon caught in the trap. Together we rode to the river three miles away and released it where, hopefully, it won't again find it's way to our sweet corn.

We harvested cucumbers, field peas and beans 'til the heat ran us out of the garden.

It is a joy to have one on one time with the chilluns. Memaw an Fetle are now preparing our evening meal.

Tonight we will eat: fresh corn on the cob, fresh rattlesnake pole beans, fresh cucumbers, meatloaf from grass fed beef, blackberry cobbler........

Ain't God good?

Jillian Smiled!

She was born with many challenges twenty eight months ago.
I don't know what the terminologies are, I just know doctors needed to open her skull, segment it and do whatever, to make it big enough that it could accommodate her brain.

Now her fine, nearly red hair bunches up along the scar high above her forehead on a long, beautiful face.

Geneticists have discovered a chromosomal abnormality never seen before and can offer no prediction about her future.
Once a doctor, who needs to learn a better "bedside manner" bluntly stated she will never smile. Immediately little "Jillie" looked at her Mom and smiled a big wide grin.

She has learned to sit up, slide onto the floor, scoot along on her bottom, and walk shakily with help.
She smiles a lot and plays little games by pretending to ignore someone who gives her attention, then turns slightly toward them and produces a sly little smile, eyes flashing.

Today, after a long night of not much sleep deep in the Missouri woods, she stopped breathing. Eleven year old Korah, her big sister and constant companion sounded the alarm.

There is no cellular access there and it was necessary someone drive a mile or so to a phone, but God is good.
There on the archery range were two fellows from United Bow hunters of Missouri who were experienced medical personnel.

They quickly went to work and soon "Jillie" was breathing and crying. Screaming really, what with all the people and excitement.

Emergency response was terrific!
Firefighters and EMT personnel seemed to arrive as if by magic in, of all places, Iconium Missouri, so small the population is not listed on the sign.

They took her to a waiting helicopter; (where did THAT come from?) and whisked her and her mom off to St Johns Hospital a hundred miles away by car, where she was probed, prodded, and made all better.

Four hours after her "incident" safe at home, she hid her face, pretended not to notice, turned back to me and SMILED!

Ain't God good!?!!!!