Bikes

Sabrina's orthopedic appointment for her surgically repaired knee was at 8 a.m. this morning 25 miles away which sent us flying out the door. I've always preferred first thing in the morning time slots as there's less waiting. This wasn't exactly what Sabrina'd wanted to do on Spring Vacation, yet the kids hardly have 25 school days left in this entire year.

She'd come here in March back in her fourth grade year, now heading into her senior year of high school. She'd never been allowed to remain in any one place hardly ever more than six months at a time in her life back in Texas, the last seven plus years of stability has cemented her already sunny disposition.

"She's a really good kid," her Texas caseworker had reassured me, this same worker who'd also once placed some severely challenging children here with me. I'd hung in there somehow, two are still here living with me, now 16 and 18. The other two are grown, one is in prison, wearing the colored jumpsuit that differentiates him from less mentally challenged inmates.

Sabrina's sibling group, my last adoption, has been downright easy compared to all we've gone through in the last 25 years. No part of me thinks that'd be a good enough reason to adopt again, let me go out happily, smiling at these last four kids rather than have me attempt to risk life and limb ever again. I'm gave out. A Southern euphemism used after a long day toiling in the fields.

I'd rather toil in the fields, I desire to toil outside.

That's her entire sib group pictured with my neighbor and his horses.

My friend, Jim, Kristin's husband, brought me another dump truck load of wood chips, which thrills me to the marrow. Call me weird, but at least I'm a happy weirdo.

Dumb, stupid Blackberry Winter is here, all my blackberry plants are adorned in blossoms, it's gonna be a cold night tonight, no frost, no freezing, just the need for long sleeves in April when I should be wearing a tank top and happily sweating.

The kids have been bike riding like crazy lately, the little ones only allowed up to our gate, unless Sabrina or someone trustworthy is with them, then they head for the horses up on the end of the dirt road.

It's so very normal around here lately, so enjoyable, so safe, and so calm, leading to a boring blog, but I'm so loving it.

Boringly normal is my goal.

I've been working hard on yard areas that had long fallen by the wayside, as I've had to prioritize for so many long years of stress and violent episodes.

The 18 baby chicks in the family room, Nando's buddies, need to be moved outside after this dumb cold snap

But now that I just spent a few minutes bragging on Sabrina, I've been rewarded by a door slamming fit by her, as Mr Provocateur struck again, provoking a normally mild mannered girl into a pushed-button yelling fit.