The Magician's Nephew

This is a story about something that happened long ago when you grandfather was a child. It is a very important story because it shows how all the comings and goings between our own world and he land of Narnia first began.

In those days, Mr. Sherlock Holmes was still living in Baker Street, and the Bastables were looking for treasure in the Lewisham Road. In those days, if you were a boy you had to wear a stiff Eton collar every day, and schools were usually nastier than now. But meals were nicer; and as for sweets, I won't tell you how cheap and good they were, because it would only make your mouth water in vain. And in those days, there lived in London named Polly Plummer.

The Importance of Brothers

My brothers are some of the most influential people in my life.

I have three brothers and each one of them has taught me through example different things I will never forget.

Adam is my oldest brother, he is twenty-three. Adam has showed me how to love faithfully in his courtship and marriage to Megan.

Joel is 20. I am probably most influenced by him but it is easy for me to think for myself around him even when I am adopting all of his ideas. Joel is responsible for keeping the rest of us cool and up to date without flowing with the crowd.

(him showing Abby something on the laptop.)

Daniel is 12. and the goofiest of all our men. I am tempted to feel responsible for him but he always reminds me not to be too responsible. I can always go play with Daniel.

Adam always is quick to explain things. He taught me to look at the motives behind things I take for granted so that I can appreciate every thing more fully. But I think the most important and useful things Adam showed(and shows) me is to not be swayed by every breath of wind, to think as I would want others to think and never compare things in a derogatory way.

Joel is not as much of an obvious leader as Adam but he follows his own path and people are willing to follow. Even when he is contrary he keeps us straight. He is the thinker. All his plans are worth listening to and he is willing to listen to our ideas.

(below pic)
Adam is solid and strong. He is good at giving good advice. He has his hands up and is close to the ground.

Joel always cool. We all want be more like him. He is jumping the highest in this picture.

Daniel surprises us with his fun, creativity. He is a good chum. He looks like he is running off the wall in this picture beside(ish) Adam.

When Joel and Daniel are together there is no end of laughter...

Daniel is as long and thin as he is ready to joke around.

You would always want him on your side.

Not everyone has such nice brothers.

I think I will write another post on the advantages of brothers...another day.

ZOOs and all that FUN stuff

I keep trying to get a post up but I am meeting with complications. I will have to substitute with this till I get that worked out.

This is Lydia by the way. On Wednesday I started my volunteer work at the zoo in Norfolk.
My plan since I could talk has been to work at zoo, or rather own my own zoo and have my children and husband help me run it. I think that this one of my many ideas is still in effect after Wednesday.

As a volunteer of 15 years I have only so many options but I am working as a keeper aide.
This means that for the first 20 hrs. I am shadowing a keeper of a certain String (each group of animals is a String with about two keepers). My String is String 2 the primates and a few birds String. So far I really love monkeys.

Most of you probably know I love my pet chocolate lab Lucy. And subsequently I think dogs are some of the best things for kids and all people, not to be disloyal to horses my other love but it is not always practical to have a pet horse. And I would rather someone did not have a horse than have one the could not take care of . The same goes for all pets.

This is one of the reasons I love Zoos! I could not have an elephant of a tiger or a gibbon or an endangered tree shrew but at a zoo I can learn about, love and enjoy all these with out hurting them or compromising their comfort.

Horse are some of the most healing creatures I can think of. I can I imagine how unconsciously lacking I would be if I had never started riding. I have learned so much even since I got my horse(Owl Prophet) 1 1/2 years ago. If I ever have kids I will get horses. I would consider that a necessary thing. But if I can't do that right away I will use whatever animals I can, particularly the zoo.

I think monkeys are some of the jokiest and entertainingest animals. On my string we have 4 squirrel monkeys which are, obviously squirrel-sized monkeys with very long tails. They jump around, all over. We also have gibbons one is old and thinks everything must be taken seriously, which makes her look like a joke all the time. The other gibbon is an adolescent male and he plays around with the older one till she gets huffy.

The only other monkeys are actually apes. They are highly dangerous mandrills and we have no contact with them even when we are cleaning their cages. They have to be in a separate cage. And after we are done we have to triple check every lock and a second person has to go through to check as well. String 2 also takes care of a crane, a couple pigeons/love birds and an ocelot, shrew, porcupine, and some kind of other tiny monkey with a hard to say and spell name.

Well that is about all my job (for now). Come to the zoo and visit! It is so fun!
I will look for you!

-Lydia

Luke 18:1-8

All about us dead men fall
Children scream and women call

Good is shattered Earth is broken
All of this is just a token

Pain surrounds us crying loud
Suffering that makes us bowed

Where is safety? Where is peace?
When will all this anger cease?

Hurting can not get relief
Those with hearts are filled with grief

Anguish settled in our minds
Men with good hearts hard to find

In the midst of all this wicked
Hope to come is still predicted

Justice in the form of Love
Heavenly Father from above

My Plans for the Future

What else should I say?

Scattered Thoughts

So, Ariyana found a tick crawling on the ground this morning and said, "OHHH! Look! It's the Itsy Bitsy Spider!"



Ariyana is Steve's granddaughter, and she's two years old. She's alot of fun.



This is Emily writing, by the way.



I know I haven't written anything on here in forever--so I'll just pick up where I left off... If I can remember where that was.



By the grace of God I have survived the spring semester and today have just started my summer online classes.

This picture is of one of Steve's half-Corrola colts. You should see him run.







I broke my hand about two weeks ago while I was training a horse. I have a cast that goes almost to my elbow that I have a really bad attitude about. I have been reminded of how much I have to thank God for through this, however, as there are many people that don't have the luxury of using two hands--ever.

Recently, I have moved out to Smithfield, VA, (which is abou 45 min. from Portsmouth, where I had been living) to live with Steve and Beth while I wait for ABBY to move out here at the end of the month. That's right, ya'll--Abby is on her way! I can't wait for her to get here. Our plan is to live at the Little House (at the horse lot) where we will eat, sleep, and breathe horses from dawn to dusk.

By the way--it's raining outside. Long and hard and soaking rain. Answer to prayer.

Further by the way, my parents are buying a house here near Smithfield (K.C. and Carley--it's the one we looked at together... :). I am very, very happy about this.

Music

This is Lydia,

These are some of my favorite songs right now.

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/Dancin+in+the+Moonlight/1VJbAX

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/Felony+Melanie+Sweet+Home+Alabama+Suite/F1Jst

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/Go+to+Sleep/2nHxZX

I like a whole lot of others as well but I think these are the best.