Marched in Like A Lamb

 Marched in Like A Lamb and Out Like A Hero

 It was 2011, almost Autumn time and a beautiful day outside. I was in the kitchen, I'm sure doing my "Mrs. Betty Crocker" thing or playing the role of "Mr. Clean". Then,I heard my dog, Sammie, barking, barking and barking, she rarely does this unless someone is walking by or is in our yard. I looked out the window many times and could not see anything. So I decided to let her inside, about an hour had passed and I let her back out and once again she began to bark at the very same location.  This sparked my curiosity, so I walked down the deck stairs and there in a grassy bush, lay a very small and wounded lamb.

                                           

  First of all, I was in total surprise and shock, then, the wheels in my head started turning. What the heck am I going do with this lamb? A lamb of all things. I went to the front and scooped him up and placed him on our deck. He had no marking of any type, as most farmers will tag their livestock. He had several puncture wounds around his neck which looked not so good, probably from a large dog.

                                          

  So I got on the phone and called my dad for help (SOSand for advise. I ran down and put a large dog crate that we had together so I would have a place for him. I treated to wounds the best I could and my dad went to get hay, bottles, special ointment and powdered milk. We fed him and nurtured him the best we could.  We never had a lamb before; I suppose there is a first for everything.

                                          

  We decided to name him, Wesley, after a church. A few weeks had gone by and, Wesley was feeling better.  I shaved all of his wool off because it was so matted with many burrs and dried blood (a very tedious task). He was so beautiful after his shave and bath. Even more beautiful when he enjoyed eating my trees and shrubs.

                                                   

  Our dog, Sammie, also nurtured Wesley, and mothered him, hardly leaving his side. Now that Wesley was on the mend, we were in search of the owner or the best home for him. My husband had a friend who reached out to us about Wesley. Her son was in 4-H and helped children with 4-H and their projects. They owned a small farm and had many different animals and were interested in taking on Wesley as their own.

                                         

  I will have to say, I was so excited to hear about their intentions with him and for him. I was so scared he might end up on a dinner table! So we made arrangements to meet and they took Wesley with them.  It was very bittersweet for  me, but there was no way we could keep him.

                                            

  Wesley, who's name is Junior now, is a very happy and a "well rounded" (loves to eat) sheep. He even sleeps in their home sometimes and waits for his owner to arrive home everyday to greet him. Junior is truly loved and well cared for and I could have never dreamed for anything better from him.

                                              

  This lamb marched right into our hands when he was weak and needed strength.  Now, he is giving strength to others; he is "Paying it forward", a true hero.

                                             

 If you have children, please check out 4-H. There are so many different 4-H groups that cater to activities your children would be, or are interested in. www.4-H.org

 "The wolf will live with the lamb".  Isaiah 11:6

"Meaning of Lamb":

"1

a: a young sheep; especially: one that is less than one year old or without permanent teeth b: the young of various animals (as the smaller antelopes) other than sheep

2

a: a gentle or weak person b: dear, pet c: a person easily cheated or deceived especially in trading securities

3

a: the flesh of a lamb used as food b: lambskin "

Dana Hunt-Me

Rain Drops on the Window.

                                                                                 "All Rights Reserved"
  I would like to take the time to share with you a poem I wrote to my son, Christian, on his First Birthday.

Dear Christian,

                  Rain Drops on the Window

  As children we see things in a different aspect than we do as adults.

  Yesterday, I was driving down the road and looked over my shoulder at my son as he stared out the window. It began to rain and drops of rain began to fall onto the window, and he watched in amazement.

  I began to think to myself about the drops on the window and as a child, how amazed I was with the rain drops on the window. How I use to play games with the rain drops as they crawled across the window, it was a race, which rain drop would make it across the window first.

  As children it was the simple things that intrigued us. I look once again at my son and wondered, what he thought, what he imagined, what he dreamed, what he saw in the rain drops on the window; and he reminded me of the simple gifts in life.

  As adults, how soon we forget about the simple treasures in life, like rain drops on the window. But as adults, we are much like rain drops on the window. The faster we go, the faster the rain drops crawl till they disappear.

  In a child's eyes they never disappear, there is no end to what they can dream, what they can imagine, what they believe and what they can be.

  I believe that as adults, we need to stop and think, put ourselves back in the shoes of children, if just for a moment and remember. We can learn so much from children. And if we just slowed down, we just might see Rain Drops on the Window.

                    Written by: Dana L. Carter        July 8,2004

  To my beautiful son on his first birthday.

  The world is yours to dream..............
                                                                        I Love You - MOM

Dana Hunt-Me                                  "All Rights Reserved"

Lay Me Down.

To Whom It May Concern:

  I wanted to let you know that this is my outlet. If by chance you find it "Negative", or is just not that bowl of cherries you were looking for, then DO NOT read it.

  I do write with my heart and it is an amazing stress reliever for me. My life has not been a cakewalk, a bowl of sugar or a room full of dancing unicorns; and many others out there are in the same boat as well. I am not trying to cut myself short, because everything that has ever happened to me has molded me and made me who I am. I am happy with my life, my family and my friends; perhaps, not where I stand now, but I do know that will change some day.

I so believe,"What does not kill you, will make you stronger".

  If anyone who knew me in Middle School or Junior High (that's what they called it back in my day). Lets just chip the ice a bit, I will share a few of my experiences with you. I was horribly bullied, called names in middle school like, fat and ugly just to name a few (Fatty, Fatty 2X4, you can't make it through the bathroom door). In Junior High, I was not quite so fat and ugly. One day, I rode the bus home after school and was held down against my will in the back of a bus, while 7 boys took over my body (we will leave it at that). My parents and I went to the school board, because the principal of the school was too afraid to get involved. NEVER did anyone do anything about it.  They just looked the other way. And, that is just a chip of a very small piece. And yes, those are all things that are negative, and no, you don't want to hear that kind of stuff. But it does happen and it happens all the time. It has made me stronger and has made me fight harder.

  I remember, it was just after my High School Graduation, there was knock at the door. There stood a girl that bullied me in middle school. She kindly asked if she may come in, and if she could talk to me. We talked for quite awhile and she apologized, we both cried. That was one of the most courageous things I had seen someone do, it will never be forgotten and it took lots of guts. And by chance, you read this and you know who you are, THANK YOU! I will take that to my grave with me.

  If you have read my blog, Marriage Changes You, these six years have also added to my strength. It has taken about all I have in me to keep smiling around here. I try very hard to find the bright side. And, just when I think to myself, I can do this, something else arises (which would go with an other blog I wrote, you'll figure it out).

  I do not support bulling or plain ignorance; I do however, believe we should do the "right" thing and try to be kind.  You have to respect yourself, before you can respect others, also, try to follow the rules even if we do not like them. For example, something just as simple as stopping for a stop sign. We might not like it. But, remember, our children learn from us, watch us and we choose to make that example for them. It just might save their life one day or someone elses. That might sound a bit corny, but, oh well, I love my kids to the moon and back, and besides, I have four back seat drivers, and, I can only imagine what they would say to me if I did not STOP (THINK ABOUT IT)!?!?

  Being here is, and has been, a very hard thing to do by trying to stay on a positive note. I once had a friend, that would call me crying many times about the same way I felt.  I totally supported her 110% and understood her. I would also call her crying and in need of help and support as well.  I thought I had her shoulder. I really overlooked a lot and that was my fault, I was looking the wrong way, when I should have been looking the other way. I can truly say, I apologize, that was my mistake and sometimes that has to happen to open up my eyes.

  I am also so proud of my husband, he is an extremely hard worker and goes beyond the extra mile. He has a very hard job; I to have stood in his shoes to some degree, working for Child Protective Services. There is no glamour in it, and it does, and will rip you down quickly. I know this is not a pleasant thing to ask, but, if you could imagine something very, very bad happening to a child and then multiply it many, many times! You could not even remotely begin to dream how bad, horrible and sick some of the acts of child abuse are, unless you have been there yourself. Many of the people whom work in these jobs have and want to make a difference.
 
 We also had a Foster Daughter for a while, and I know she thought we were hard on her and we were, I think it was a reality check for all of us. Now I know how it feels to have a teenage girl in a house, Oh My! But, even though we had our battles, I still loved her and wanted to protect her, still do!!

  We are no longer Foster Parents, for many reasons we have run out of space in our home and we would have had to upgrade to a bus (but those are not allowed in our neighborhood). I would also like to add, I always worked with Foster Parents and I was not one myself when I had my job working with foster children. Now that I (we) have had a taste of being one; I applaud every single Foster Parent in this world (at least the ones who do it for the right reasons). It is a very noble thing to do, but on the other hand, it is a very, very difficult task and takes much patience. I would never steer anyone away from being a Foster Parent. It is rewarding for you and the child's hearts and souls, and if you have the space, are interested in that and have the time it is worth a try.

  So we now are foster parents of animals from our local Human Society (Animal Welfare Society), and I love it! You could also do this too, if you have the room and  are willing to donate your time. Just contact your local A.W.S for more information.

  And again, I write from my heart and how I feel. So no need to read it if you do not want too!  It's your choice and we all have one.

Dana Hunt-Me

The Fall

   Have you ever stood back and took an eye-opening look at something? Perhaps, something as simple as a tree,or as some would say, "The Standing People".

   Could you imagine how many stories they could tell us if they could talk. Some of the oldest trees are estimated to be 80,000 years old. Now, that is history with many roots, that run extremely deep.

                   

                    
  Trees come in so many shapes, sizes, types and colors.

                   
   Just as we are, but we are not the trees; we are the leaves on the trees. We start as something so small, we grow, we hang-in there, we blow in the wind, we feel the sun and taste the rain.

                    

   Then, when the time is just right, the leaf makes its remarkable fall. A total free fall of grace, swirling and swaying its way to the ground.

                    

   So the next time you see a leaf fall, just think, it is its moment, its time, and it is letting go of everything it once knew without any fear.

Dana Hunt-Me

Bowl of Cherries

Life is a bowl of cherries and rainbows, with sugar poured all over it! Have A Nice Day!!! ;)

"The Way".

  I was born, raised and lived in, Jefferson Co., West Virginia, my whole life, and I am very, very proud of it!!

 

  But, I am at a loss for words right now, I completely dislike where I live (If we could pick-up and leave, we would, but it is just not that simple)! A house should be a home, and not made of glass, or signs and regulations that many DO NOT follow (I'm sure that is the case in many neighborhoods). We have also placed blinds and curtains up, to shut out the "Going-Ons" on the outside.

 

  I tried so dag on hard to "FIT IN", Little "Mrs. Betty Crocker", I'm sure that's what they call me behind my back (Along with many other things, I'm sure "Mrs. Betty Crocker" would be mild in comparison to what else they call me). There I was running cookies and soups over to my "friends/family" all the time, so trying to do "THE RIGHT THING" and no matter how hard I tried, I guess I did not get it right; or perhaps, I was right to get it wrong? It's like living a soap opera, and, "So These Are The Days Of Our Lives". I tried so hard, but, I am so over it. (Note to the outsiders: You have no idea!!).

 

  I love my family (Jeff, Christian, Logan, Lucas, Abram, My Mom, My Dad, MY Brother, My ANIMALS (and of course, MY extended family)!!! XOXO And all my FRIENDS (Just to name a few): Leah, Jennifer, Marcia, Jenifer, Kelly and Marguerite and many, many more. Thanks for your support, XOXO!

 

  It takes a LOT to really upset me (A LOT), but on, Wed. Aug. 22nd, I totally had it!! I may look like "THE JERK" now (but not forever), so be it! Someone pushed me over the edge! It Was A Total Reality Check For Me and a whole new understanding and view of perspective!! Thanks for showing me "THE WAY"!!

 

Dana Hunt-Me

Marriage changes you.

  I have been happily married for six plus years, but it has changed me. It has made me a stronger person! Marriage is something that you have to work hard for and work together. It is not always butterflies and roses, and, is often bittersweet, especially when you have children. I love my husband, he is my total support system.

                                                            (Our Family)
                              
   I will have to admit, it is always nice to make a good impression when you first meet someone new. And, then, meeting their family for the first time, a total nail biting experience for both parties. We, as people, always want to be excepted by others and fit into the mix. And I believe this goes for most everyone.

  I always was "The people pleaser", "The sucker", "The push-over", the type of girl who just smiled, when I really would have liked to say what was really on my mind. I was the rug under many others feet.

 Something in me has changed in these six years of marriage, NOT WHO I AM, but HOW I AM. I am no longer any of the above.

 What I did not do then, and what I will do now; *1.) I will speak my mind. *2.) I will be BOLDER. *3.) I will be wiser.
 
  I wish there were do overs, I have to say, I would not change many things, for they are life experiences, and stepping stones of life, but I would change a few.

**Example#1: About 6 years ago my husband had no idea that his cat, Poe, was under the van and well, you know what happened next. My husband cried for days and was so hurt. So we decided to adopt another cat and hoped that this one would stay inside. Poe, had already experienced the outdoors when we received him, and if anyone who has cats, knows how hard it is to convert them to just indoor cats. So my Brother-In-Law, heard it through the grapevine, that we had a new cat. He kindly told us, "So I heard you got another cat, are you going to run that one over too." He's one of those type of people who really shows his ass often and is so full of class. We kept quite and that defiantly would not happen now for sure.

                         (Poe with Christian)    
                                   
**Example#2: Almost 5 years ago, I gave birth to our twins, and my, Sister-In-Law, had not the nicest of words for me the following day at the hospital (She must have foot in mouth syndrome). But, the sucker that I am just smiled. Then, I fixed her whole family a spaghetti dinner, two days after leaving the hospital, with one baby still in ICU. Yep, that was really, really stupid of me, and there are NO DO OVERS! And once again, "Stupid is, as stupid does.". Lesson learned.

                               (Jeff and Logan, in ICU, at Winchester, VA)



**Example #3: I would proudly ask two of my, now, dearest of friends, to take the place of "others" as my bridesmaids on my wedding day. I'm quite sure lots of people would say the same about theirs. And of course, Leah, you would always be my Maid of Honor.

**Example#4: One of our neighbors made a comment that my husband was putting a hurting on our riding lawn mower. Now, I would so tell him where he could place our mower. Like he has so much room to talk, a man should not look seven months pregnant.

  I to have made my fare share of mistake(s), and I have stood my ground and apologized for my mistake(s),(most of them being at a fence line, perhaps, that is where the saying, "Mending Fences" came from). I should have listened to my heart, and not what "others" told me. I now make my own opinions (not judgments) of others, and I will not let others guide me into theirs.

  For better or worse, marriage changes you.

Dana Hunt- Me