Virtual Fieldtrip - Bison, and Zebras, and Emus - Oh My!

Please come with me on a virtual field trip to an exotic zoo in Morristown, TN. It's called Briarwood Ranch and boasts hundreds of exotic and endangered animals. Hundreds of acres of land provide for a day of fun feeding lots of different creatures.

Kelly, Wendy, all of the children, and myself spent a day at Brairwood Ranch. It was a day to remember. Come along and I'll share our day with you...

First, we climbed onto a large wagon. Immediately, we were surrounded by animals who knew of the goodies awaiting them...buckets of animal food! Within 30 seconds the wagon was surrounded by all kinds of animals...

There were bison.

Endangered deer from all over the world.
Texas longhorns. (Really, do not mess with Texas!)
Billy Goats.
Llamas.
We even had a few bunnies on the wagon! Right, Zach?

The driver drove the tractor-pulled-wagon into the ranch and then he stopped off-and-on. We saw many different animals along the way, and each stop seemed to surprise us with a new kind. Everyone got to feed the animals! We all had an absolute BLAST!

The funniest thing that happened that day was when a HUGE bison galloped right beside the wagon and jumped on top of a HUGE Texas longhorn. One of the boys said, "Look Mom! The bison's trying to get a piggy-back!" I nearly fell off my wagon - no pun intended! Ha-ha! How could I say, "No honey, he's not trying to get a piggyback. You see, it's mating season for the bison!" Let's just say we left the ranch with every child thinking that bison take piggybacks on Texas longhorns! Geez!

Here's a few (well, more like a LOT) of pictures of us feeding the animals:

Caleb and the emu.

Eli and the emu.

Franklin feeding the emu.

Wes doesn't want to get too close. He figures the animals can eat their food off the ground. Come 'n get it!

Weston feeds the llama. Then, he says, "Now, llama - go get food from my mama."
Here little llama, llama, llama... C'mere girl....

Eli and Caleb call from the wagon.

Franklin is patient, and it pays off. Some of the animals were a little skittish, but they always seemed to flock to Franklin.
Kelly giving a rub!
Oh my, help me Lord! Please don't let it eat my ear!
Mason feeding a sweet little billy goat.

And, a bison...
Eli gets to pet all of the animals around the wagon.
Braden is thinking...this is too close for comfort.

Franklin petting a wild deer that is found only in Africa...except for the few on this ranch in TN. They were beautiful!

Mason feeding a zebra. Yes, it's really Mason. Yes, it's really a zebra! How cool is that!?


Franklin feeding a .... hmmm... not sure... but he's feeding something! Here's a few more pictures of everyone enjoying the day together.

Caleb and Weston - so excited about the wild tractor ride!

Sam, Braden, and Wes. Sam and Wes are twins, but they are so different in front of the camera.
Weston and Me - Mommy

The three sisters! Me, Kelly and Wendy. Who do you think is the oldest?!?
Weston and Caleb
Wes and Kelly
Kelly and Wendy - my two sissies!!

Don't ask... That's me...
Camden and Sam - Let me out! Let me out!
Me and Mason - he's growing up!

Franklin is ready to feed more animals!

Eli snapping some shots!

Mason and Sam - cozy cousins!
Kelly - I think someone almost lost a finger! Nibble, nibble, munch...
Braden (our 4 year old that thinks his mother wears pajamas to church) and Me - Mommy
Eli and Weston - Best Buds!

Mason...all smiles!
Sam (He's such a Ham!) and Kelly :-)
Braden
Sam - the Ham! It's Sam, I am!

After feeding all of the wild animals, our guide allowed us to feed some of their very dangerous and extremely rare animals. It was frightening because they were very aggressive about getting their food! Get out of the way! It was hard to get good shots because they all ate the food so quickly, but this was the best I could do...

Hey, I think I have found I way to save on our grocery budget! Just buy some animal feed! In fact, I might open my own wild animal farm and allow people to purchase buckets of food! "Come Feed Tennessee's Most Amazing Wild Beasts and Critters! Only $5 a bucket for food! Or 10 for $10 - that's $1 a bucket people! Come on, what a deal!" Any takers?

I've decided the boys could really be country boys! Today reminded my of that old John Denver song, "Thank God, I'm a Country Boy." Don't we all look like we would enjoy life on a farm with lots of animals?

We had a wonderful day together. It was amazing to see God's creation up close. It was great to relax, have fun, and be silly! What a joy!

Finally, I had to share this picture. It made me think of what I must look like if I think about something too long... Hmmmm...

Thanks for sharing our day with us! If you are ever in Tennessee, we will take you there for a REAL field trip!

My Mamaw

Recently the boys and I spent the afternoon with my Mamaw. She is an amazing woman, and this summer, we will celebrate her 90th birthday! If you meet her between now and then, she will invite you to the BIG PARTY!

She lived with my Papaw for over 60 years, but he went home to heaven in 2002. She now lives on her own in a little apartment, and she still drives herself wherever she needs to go! We are similar is lots of ways. I'm certain she has passed a few things down to me through her genes. For instance...

1.) We both love pictures! I mean, we really LOVE pictures (just scroll down this blog - you'll get the idea!) Whenever Mamaw and I have a visit, we spend a lot of the time looking through her albums and reminiscing about "days gone by." Mamaw's shelves are FULL of photo albums and her walls are full of pictures! One of my favorite memories with her was when Kelly brought her to High Point. Mamaw, Kelly, and I made a scrapbook of some of her favorite pictures. She wrote all of the stories about the people in her own handwriting. This scrapbook of memories will forever be cherished!

2.) We enjoy memories made by building with poker chips! The boys played with Papaw's poker chips when we were there for the afternoon. This infamous set was a gift from Kathy to Papaw. I played with this same set when I was a little girl. In fact, Wendy, Kelly, and I would play "Poker Chip Bakery" and we would pretend our different stacks of colored chips were different kinds of bakery cakes available for purchase. The boys simply enjoyed stacking them up and knocking them down. :-) As I smiled at the simplicity of their fun, I realized how Mamaw must have enjoyed watching me as a little girl.

Okay, I'll admit it. Mason wasn't really "into" the poker-chip thing!3.) We both have a strong love and commitment to family. My Mamaw loves her family. I'm not sure I've ever seen someone more joyous about family occasions. Even at 89, Mamaw can still recite from memory EVERY birthday in her family. Three children, Eight grandchildren, and Sixteen (seventeen this summer!) great-grandchildren...she knows every single birthday! She even knows all of the anniversaries! I can always be certain that there will be a sweet card in the mailbox for my birthday! She's also fast with the telephone if there is family news to share. If you want everyone to know what is happening - just call Mamaw!

4.) Shopping for ourselves is low on the priority list. I'm sure you have read my entry about my adorable, precious, and, yes, honest four-year-old asking me if I was planning to wear my pajamas to church. Well, that is because I do not prioritize shopping for myself. I continue to wear - and wear - ummm...and wear....things that I already have. On Sunday, I saw Mamaw and she said, with great pride, "Robin, you see this top here?" (She was speaking about the one she was wearing.) "Well, honey, I got this for my 80th birthday. It's nearly ten years old!" Then she giggled because she was so proud of herself! Now, I see where I get it! Oh, my! I need to look back through some older albums to see how long I have owned some of my clothing - I probably have some things I wore in my late 20s!

5.) We both love handmade gifts. For birthdays and Christmas, Mamaw has started giving some of her most prized possessions to the family. This past Christmas she gave me a purse that my own mother had made for her in 1970. She had kept it for nearly forty years! It is a cherished gift to me b/c I have heard the story behind it from my Mamaw, and because it was made when I was less than two years old! She found value in something handmade - Oh, I am so much like her!! I love gifts are made with love and care - how precious! The shelves in her kitchen are decorated with two mugs the boys and I painted for she and my Papaw several years ago. They are painted pottery, one says "Good Morning Mamaw" and the other mug says, "Good Morning Papaw." I feel so honored that she still has them. (My boys' pottery is also displayed in my own kitchen!) We both love handmade, homemade gifts!

6.) We both keep things of sentimental value. I keep things that the boys have given me. I have a file for some of the "love notes" I have received, and I love the gifts that they give me. On this day, during our visit, Mamaw asked me if I needed an umbrella. I said, "Actually, I could use one because I never seem to have one in the car." Mamaw proceeded to go out to her car, pop the trunk, and retrieve the strangest looking umbrella I have ever seen. The faded peach umbrella had a tortoise shell handle, with a 6 inch spiked point on the end. It could easily be used as a weapon! Then Mamaw handed the umbrella to me and said, "Robin, your Dad gave me this before he and Janet were married. I've always kept it in my trunk." (Yes, this umbrella was older than the purse!) She kept this because my Dad, her son, had given it to her. Believe it or not, it still opens and has already kept me dry during a rain storm! I know there is a bit of humor in it, but truly I find it to be precious. Who else would have a 40+ year old umbrella in their trunk? Only my Mamaw!

7.) We both love the Lord. Mamaw has always had a strong faith in the "Good Lord." I have admired her reliance on God through the loss of her lifetime partner and friend. She always says, "I give thanks to the Good Lord." She is really vocal about her faith but she has a quiet assurance about all that is to come when she leaves this earth. She talks freely about dying, and, frankly, she is ready to go. I was teasing her about living to be 100, and she looked deep in my eyes and said, "That's not a goal of mine." Sad words, but words from a woman who has tasted a full life with someone else, and now must continue on alone. I don't know God's timing to bring my Mamaw home to him. I'm thankful for the memories I have had with her. I will forever hold them in my heart.

"Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life." Proverbs 16:31

"The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair is the splendor of the old." Proverbs 20:29

Mamaw - you are radiant with beauty. God has crowned you here on earth with gray hair, but you will be crowned in heaven with jewels of righteousness. I'm so blessed to have you in my life. I love you!

My 6 Word Memoir

Scott challenged (appropriate internet term - tagged) me to write a memoir...using only six words.

Scott, as usual, was witty with his. I suppose I could be humorous, silly, or thought-provoking. However, after giving this some thought for a few days I thought I'd keep it simple. I decided to share my hope for how my life is lived...

Here it is...Robin Beebe's six word memoir:

My lifelong goal...Be a BLESSING!

Now, I'd like to "tag" a few other fellow friends a bloggers out there. I challenge Amy, Kelsey, Becca, Becki, Tracie, Meghan, Martha, Jana, my 11 year old - Mason, and my precious hubby - Reid. I won't "link" all of these, but this is pretty much my entire Blogroll. :-) You can read all of these by clicking on the links on the left side of my blog.



If any of my other friends start a blog - I'll "tag" you too! A-hem.... Patti, Collins, Margaret, Bev, Wendy, Kelly and Jess - this would make a great first entry!!

Braden - He tells it like it is...

I can't believe I am going to write this on my Blog, but, I figure, life is too short to withhold a few laughs from my friends and family. Therefore, please know that I am sharing this for you! Don't you feel loved?!?

Okay. So, Easter Sunday I am busy getting ready for church. Of course, I didn't purchase a new outfit to wear. I figured I would simply wear something I already had. I put on a nice (I thought!) two piece pants suit to wear to the service.

After putting on my make-up and fixing my hear, I walked down the hallway to grab my purse, and head out to the van. As I am walking down the hallway, thinking I look pretty fine, Braden says to me, "Mommy, are you going to wear your pajamas to church?"

Shock and horror. Shock and dismay. Shock and a reality check... I turned to Franklin, my visual son, "Franklin, does my outfit look like pajamas?"

He got the "deer-in-headlights" look, and then hesitantly answered, "Well, kind-of."

Back to my bedroom. Back to the closet. Back to the basics...my black pants, and my black blazer...on Easter Sunday. It was this day I realized I did need to go shopping a purchase a few clothing items for myself.



This week...

Well, as you know our life is busy. I tried to cut some corners on Monday because we had to be somewhere early that morning. I skipped taking a shower because I'd taken one the day before, and figured I could "go one more day." (I don't do this often, but I thought I could make it one day! Geez! Please don't think I have bad personal hygiene!)

So, Monday night I was reading a story to Braden. He was snuggled up beside me listening to my soothing voice. After I finished the book, Braden said, "Mommy, did you take a bath today?"

This time I got the "deer-in-headlights" look. I sheepishly answer, "Ummmm, I'm not sure. Why?"

Braden just scooted away from me and said, "'Cause you smell bad."

It was this day I realized there would be no more skipping showers for me!

There you have it. My honest son is calling me to a higher standard. His desire is to have a mother who doesn't wear clothing that looks like pajamas out in public, and one who smells like she has taken a shower within the past 24 hours. That's not too much to ask for, is it? Gee whiz!

If you are looking for a nice pajama-looking pants suit, please come check out our next Yard Sale...

Finally...

Last week, Reid had to travel out-of-town for a business trip. He was gone for two nights. On the second night we were having dinner.

Braden asked, "Mommy, is Daddy coming home tonight?"
"No, sweetheart, he's not."
"Mommy, is Daddy EVER coming home?"

My heart melted that he had missed his Daddy so much after just one night away. He was longing for his Daddy to come home. So precious!

What's My World System?

Lately, I've been reflecting on my personal world system. Is my primary influence the world's way or God's way? Do my actions stem from thoughts of the world of thoughts of God's Glory?



On Sunday, Ted Ancelet shared an inspiring, yet challenging, quote from John Piper. I thought I would post it to give you something to ponder along with me. Is my mindset that of an exile?



John Piper’s comment on this present "world system"...


"We must cultivate the mindset of exiles. What this does mainly is sober us up and wake us up so that we don't drift with the world and take for granted that the way the world thinks and acts is the best way. We don't assume that what is on TV is helpful to the soul; we don't assume that the priorities of advertisers is helpful to the soul; we don't assume that the strategies and values of business and industry are helpful to the soul. We don't assume that any of this glorifies God. We stop and we think and we consult the Wisdom of our own country, heaven, and we don't assume that the conventional wisdom of this age is God's wisdom. We get our bearings from God in his word. When you see yourself as an alien and an exile with your citizenship in heaven, and God as your only Sovereign, you stop drifting with the current of the day. You ponder what is good for the soul and what honors God in everything: food, cars, videos, bathing suits, birth control, driving speeds, bed times, financial savings, education for the children, unreached peoples, famine, refugee camps, sports, death, and everything else. Aliens get their cue from God and not the world."

Easter Afternoon

This beautiful cross covered in flowers was the Easter cross from Mom and Dad's church. The members bring in fresh flowers and cover it on Easter morning. What a beautiful reminder of our celebration.

Here are a few smiles from Easter afternoon. We had a wonderful time being with our family!

Mom wore her Easter Bonnet... with all the frills upon it!

We ended the afternoon watching Tennessee play in the tournament. They won, but it's hard for me to wrap my heart around watching basketball on Easter Sunday. Hmmm.... However, it was truly a wonderful day full of love, joy and celebration!