I don't know if we are all so refreshed from Retreat or what, but it has been an awesome week.  Monday was a school day where one child didn't do school well.  Her choice.  I think she was mad at me for going to retreat.   Tuesday she was still punishing someone.  I don't think she was punishing the person she wanted.  A friend came over after lunch and she got the privilege of taking her computer to the school room and working.  Funny thing she said the battery was low.   So she got the privilege of just  setting in the school room while we visited.  Not what she wanted.

We had a wonderful visit.  I am blessed to have her for a friend.  She is also an adoptive mom so she gets the control/power issues.   We decided to do a laundry soap making day at her house on Friday.   We get together about every 3 months and make laundry soap.   It works well and is very cheap, and the day of fellowship is priceless!  

Then on Wed. another friend and her 7 kids came out to get milk and visit.  Again someone wasn't finished with school.   Again her choice.  This time her computer didn't run out of juice :)   She didn't get to play though.   It isn't she can't do the work, or the work is extremely hard, it is a power struggle.   I refuse to buy into the power struggle.  Her choice, her consequences. 

Thursday morning we loaded all the goats on the 18 wheeler.  23000 lbs worth.   Or about so I was told.  2 1./2 decks worth.  YEA!!!!!!!  This is me doing the happy dance.  No more playing midwife or getting heads out of the fence.......... until Oct.  when he will again fill the pen.   This is always an exciting and fun day.  I took my 21 yo to the hwy to get his truck that morning.  The two done with school got to ride in the 18 wheeler to the pens.   Then the 2 done got to help drive the goats up to the neighbors pens to load.  The once child that loves the livestock was still working on school.  

What is interesting is that she can give you feed back on what her attitude is costing.  I refuse to get mad, which is what she wants, or nag, again giving her power.  I just point out her choice her loss or gain.  I agree it makes me sad when she choose the hard way, but it is her choice.  Funny thing was she wasn't even mad at me after the first day.  It was still a power struggle, but not with anger.  Maybe because she couldn't get anger out of me.  

Friday was SOOOOOOOOOO fun!!!! We all met at my friends house.  We had lunch and fellowship as we made buckets and buckets of laundry soap.  For those that want the recipe here is the link: http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm  It works well.   I add lemon oil to mine to make it smell good.    I think we had about 10 families.  I have no clue how many kids, but a LOT.  It was such a wonderful day. 

Today my DH is off to pick up a bobcat/skid loader.  More freezer work and also lots of other jobs we have waited to do until we could rent a bobcat.  The list includes cleaning the barn, and moving a pile of dirt that is in my way.  I would rather not do the barn, let the "experts" do it, while I drive the bobcat in more wide open spaces.  I love playing on the bobcat, but my favorite piece of machinery is a bulldozer. The are really fun to drive.

My DIL is off to get our beef today.  Bet I know what is for supper!   STEAK!!!!!!!!!!   I can't wait.  I have a friend coming out that wants to play in the dirt.  She is going to get the garden ready to plant.  Works for me.  She is more than welcome to plant all of it I will get kids to water it   :) 

Right now MN is setting beside the play pen reading a Pathway reader to the grandbaby.  :)   T wanted to also but MN beat her to it.   Seems reading to the baby is a big hit.  He is loving it too.  He plays and watches and coos as they read and play with him.   He has gotten to where he sets up well.  He is so happy and content.  Of course being the center of the universe has nothing to do with him being so happy.  

Milking time!!!  All be blessed!