February 2020

Always wanting to be one of the big kids, Eli also chose to go to Top Golf for his birthday.

He brought 2 of his brothers along to join him.  They all had the best time!

All of the boys played better than me this time. I was worried the little boys wouldn't be able to score points, but they had no problem and Eli won (without us letting him, believe me, Irvins are competitive).

Then we had cake with the whole family to celebrate this boy turning 8!

On the 9th, we got our one "big" snow of the season.

I love it that the girls will still sled with there brothers and have a good time in the snow.

I made everyone take pictures with me....they loved it ;-)

And then we had an epic snowman making session!

We were just going to make one big one, but then we got a little carried away.

Some of the animals LOVE the snow.

Some do not: 

This snowman was giving us a little foreshadowing: 

Hold on to your hats, Spring 2020 is going to be a wild ride!

Baby Goats and Big Goats

Nick and some of the kids decided they would raise Nigerian Dwarf goats for fun and maybe a little income for the kids about two years ago.  

In January, we hit the jackpot with two boys and two girls being born just a week apart.

We suddenly had baby goat overload.

Trying to wrangle these kids is about as hard as the human variety.

We try to hold them as much as possible so that they will be friendly and use to people.

I would not peg myself as a farm girl....but, the baby goats are another story.

Fun photo shoots.

And their first snow.

I have been known to bring one in for a minute to cuddle (what has gotten in to me???).

Blame it on the long, cold winter (I know it's not really that long or cold compared to Northern winters, but compared to Florida "winters" it is).

Handsome boy number 1

We all thought he looked like a baby cow.

Handsome boy number 2

The sweet girls

The boys were sold together and went to their new home in March

We intended to sell the girls, but then the economy tanked and nobody was looking for baby goats, so we decided to keep them.  I kind of liked them any way.

So Marigold

and Ivy have joined the herd.

Best Buddies

And Daisy and I have gotten close....since we're milking her.  

Another thing I never thought I'd be doing.

All in a day's work.

I don't have a favorite goat, but if I did, it would be Ivy, the sweetest little goat around.

January 2020

2020 started, much to my friends' delight, with me updating my old android phone to an iphone.  I've never cared a bit about the new trends in technology, but the bottom line is iphones work better in Ethiopia, so I caved.  The ability to air drop pictures while sitting in a remote Ethiopian airport with no wifi sold me.

My first portrait mode photo.

January is full of birthdays and celebrations in our house.  

Caleb turned 16

And because I was going to be landing in Ethiopia on Rahel's 18th birthday (I know, what kind of mom leaves town on their daughter's 18th birthday.....)

We took her and Caleb out to Top Golf for a night of fun.

I happen to be pretty bad a golf, but somehow I won on this trip.

As a consolation for missing Rahel's birthday, we flew in her dear friend Kaleita and her sisters for a weekend of celebrating.

These sweet girls met in the care center in Ethiopia while waiting to be adopted and have such a special bond.  I love seeing them together.

Aunt Oleva took them out for a rainy night on the town to celebrate 18 years!

We landed in Ethiopia on January 11 and hit the ground running as usual.  After that long flight, we are always so excited to get to the people we love.

Swarmed with love at I Care

So much joy seeing our kids!

Beautiful Ayne!

Then we landed in Gondar.

And received a similar welcome.

How we love to spend time with these people!

I landed back in the US around dinner time on my 41st birthday, already missing my Ethiopian friends, but so glad to be home with my family.  I barely made it through dinner before heading to bed just before 8 pm (which felt like 4 in the morning).

2020, the year I vowed to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus.