OKC State Fair Goat Show

We left at 7:oo am and returned in the evening around 6:15 pm, so almost 12 hours worth of it. We had a good time anyway.....Bethany and Andrew placed 6th and 10th, which is not great by any means, but this was our first Dairy Show and good experience. She did place 2nd and Reserved Champion and Andrew 4th in the youth show which is for students 20 and under and they judge that when they are in the age classes of goats, but it is really not much to speak of. Back today and repeat the schedule of yesterday except with a different judge. So what did we do in between the waiting for our turn at showing.....I guess you see those pictures.....right outside the goat barn the New Holland tractor display had peddle tractors for the little ones to ride free, we did that at least 4 different times, Josiah really liked that and you can see his determined face!! Now as for the mechanical bull riding it was also right outside the goat barn too, but was not free!! Micah went first then Andrew, he gave a good ride then Elijah and the guy said to him "this is not going to be a joy ride." He really slung Elijah around good, I think the fellow was quite surprised that our guys could stay on for so long. Josh and Jeremiah were next and he gave Josiah a free ride. Josiah surprised me, he stayed on for a good time. We walked around some, went into some of the children's buildings, watched the herding dog/calf competition, which was really neat, had lunch(that we took, the food there I would not want and too expensive) Mercy was a bit under the weather, I think she had what Terry and I did last week, so it was challenging to keep her happy, she wanted me to hold her, I did not mind, but she gets heavy after walking for so long, she did take two naps while I held her so that was nice! It was a beautiful day and enjoyed just being together! Thursday will be a day of no showing and then on Friday, the Boer goats will be taken down, bathing and grooming and trimming, getting ready for the all day of Saturday showing. Friday is my grocery day, so I will have to juggle Anna staying here and keeping the little ones for me!

I think the enemy is always seeking to devour if he can not kill. I was thinking of Pilgrims Progress and the Giant Despair and how he had to be fought and it was with truth. This giant often comes with taunts and jeers to my mind. When you literally go through a death situation, the only way to see something good out of is to put it alongside of the Resurrection, then starts flowing the hope, the life that is living but just in another place. I read a scripture in Romans and here even in this scripture death/life are side by side, but as we know there is victory! So this is my scripture that I am going to battle the giant with..... For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. (Rom. 6:5) I like to think about Jesus' resurrected body since the scripture says we will be in that likeness, that means since he ate, was touched and felt by others and they recognized him and the relationship they had, we too will experience that, I will be able to hold, touch and feel Joel again, in his resurrected body. It is anticipation of a day and that gives me hope in the sorrow. I have enjoyed reading the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn, there is truly a day, the New Jerusalem to look forward too, even as I drive down the road and see things that deteriorate, that are broken, fences and such, things now just wear out, what a day when the New Heavens and the New Earth, (Rev. 21) the Holy City and we will inhabit that great place, where there will be no more death.

Have a great day!!

Cindy