ali's blog

With out the blood and water – you’d be hosed…heh heh.
Did you do that on purpose?

Anyhow. I know that the word says remove all leavening. Physical levening. So we run around and toss all our hot dog buns and pancake mix. Scrub our fridge, fun fun!

But the other day I was reading with my friend and toward the end of Ex. 12 It says:
And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.

We are bought with a price, our hearts are to be circumcised. And then we are considered to be in one house – as a native of the land. No uncircumcised person shall eat it.

But then it gets me thinking. On one hand we could see where physical circumcision is no longer necessary and actual mikvah after niddah is no longer necessary – but tossing the Bisquick is? That s kind of interesting because we know it is spiritually symbolic and not really about the leavening. also that it says no uncircumcised person shall eat it…when you would think it would say uncircumcised male…But no – we can run overt to Duet 10 and see how everyone does it…

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good? Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear. He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen. Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.

We know that we are commanded to be perfect as our Father is perfect, but also that no one is Good – not one. One one hand I appreciate all the little reminders we have through out the year to get rid of sin. But then I feel like such a faker – because what does that mean for the rest of the year? I am just skating by waiting for the warning bell to sound again?
I think this year – I mean we will get rid of the bread – but what I want to do this week is to keep a note pad – and write down the spiritual leaven I really want to remove from my life. I want to spend some time each day hunting out the corners of my heart – checking it with a candle and a feather – and when I have them all down I want to really consider how my life would be if I gave them up – and when it comes time to burn the chametz – I think that list will do just fine.

I want to sit and type for a while, but I need to sleep something fierce.
My dad’s goat went into labor on Saturday evening. had four kids pretty easy, but still felt like she had something left behind. Gave her Oxytocin..no effect. Stayed up with her till 1:30. took a nap, checked back at 2:30, then at 5. up at 6 to milk. Left a message with the vet on Sunday morning – she called right back and said I could take her to the clinic – she would meet me there.
Yup Vet comfirmed something was left behind.
Could be a kid that died during development. Tried going in to examine it – sorry the gate is closed – no access – only option was surgery. Thank the Lord – that we have a good vet up here that is willing to work on goats – she is Excellent!

Surgery took a few hours – we got to watch (well I got to baby sit the vet’s 16 month old baby boy AND watch the surgery!)
No baby but the doc says the goat’s uterus is pretty out of shape and she needs to skip a year of babies ot tone it. Five kids last year and four this year take their toll. She just didn’t have the muscle tone to push out the second half of the afterbirth (that is what we were feeling). If she didn’t have surgery – she would have died.

Then Pop’s other goat went into labor this afternoon – I had to pick up my husband and while I was driving back my dad called me yelling “I have a BABY!!!!”

He is so happy.
Now his goats are done – Goat one had two boys and a girl, goat two had two boys and two girls and goat three had two girls and a boy. 50/50 – not too shabby!

Only nine more goats to go!
So if ya think I have been not contributing much lately – I still like you, I am just brain dead from lack of sleep. Should have a chance to catch my breath once the Mini-mancha kids. Next goat after her is a couple of weeks out.

Yesterday I was enjoying the sunshine in the yard with a bunch of 4-H kids.
We were decorating rocks for the garden. Seemed like a spring thing to do.
Their designs were really fun too! One of the kids gave me the little elmo one for my garden.
Anyhow,I had just gotten the kids started on the project when my phone rang. My older brother was calling. weird. When I answered he said he has a quick question for me. Ooo-kay.. sure.
He says the other day our little brother said he wouldn’t eat scallops.
ok, yeah?
Why?
I said because it is in the bible.
But in Genesis it says that God gave all the animals for food

I sat stunned – not because God said we could eat anything in Genesis but because my older brother actually looked up something in the Bible!! I don’t care if he did it just to try to prove me wrong! He looked something up! wow!

I tried to explain (briefly – sheesh I was in the middle of a meeting!) That the noahide convenant was for the whole world, but that later people could choose to come under the covenant of moses and the guidelines there were a little more detailed.

So what you are saying is that different groups of people have different rules?

Yes basically, the whole planet should follow the rules given to Noah, and people can choose to enter into the other ones..wow I would LOVE to sit down and have a bible study with you, but I really got to get back to these kids. I will call you later.

how fun was that?!?

In other news I still have four pregnant goats – today is the new moon so I am expecting them to arrive today. I have seen a bunch of goats have babies on the full moon…the new moon thing is still just a theory. The mini mancha is on day 144 today – so she might hold off. One Nigerian is at day 144 also, one is at day 143 and the mini Nubian is on day 149.
Gosh – can we get some girls here?! So far out of 8 babies we have had 6 boys (one died, but he still counts toward the ratio)

Everyone I know is having boys.

Anyhow – I know that was short – but it only 5:30 am over here and I might get a little bit of reading in before the day begins (or sleep – who knows?) I leave you with this adorable lion rock. How can you look at it and not smile?
Fun huh? See ya later!

The question on the table is: Would Jesus attend church services?
Of course lots of people say – Heck no! Church is all messed up right now, he wouldn’t step into a church except to tear the place up.

I understand that “church” is not a synonym for “synagogue” – sadly it seems we have very limited options for fellowship. I long for the day when my savior and teacher is back on the hilltop to teach in person. But until then, what can I do?
Let’s see what example we have in scripture…

Yeshu *taught* in the synagogue – as was his custom (Luke 4:16).
When he got kicked out of his home town synagogue, he went out and started teaching other folks on the Sabbath.

So where was he every Sabbath? With people who wanted to learn! Since he was teaching a crowd all the time – I see that as some encouragement to be with other people.

Not alone.

I am so torn up about this.
I don’t want to be in the church because going there makes me cranky.
I argue. I get angry. I feel nauseous. I feel like I am faking it. I feel conflicted
It really kills me to see leadership leading a bunch of people away from God.
Replacing what God has put in place with garbage.
And if I want to follow what scripture actually says – for example – Keep the Sabbaths and teach your kids about the Exodus every year – The church gets all wacked out and tells me I am under some Jewish Burden of the Law and I don’t know what grace is for…
Seriously that makes me want to barf.
Ok?
I am not saying I want to go back to church.

But on the other hand. If I am following my Savior’s example, I am not spending Sabbath alone, or just with my family. I am not hiding my light under a basket. I am not burying my talent in the dirt.
I should be out there, with people who love God. Celebrating. Studying. Growing.
Where are they?

My Savior didn’t go into the synagogue and blast everyone that was there. He didn’t tell people to stop gathering together to celebrate the Sabbath.
He did get pretty angry with the leadership of the study halls. He was angry that they were putting such heavy burdens on people who just wanted to praise God and learn more. He didn’t like to see the people’s faith dashed to pieces. He was also violently angry with the money changers who were basically out there telling the common folk that what they had was not good enough for God. Turning them away from worshipping Him with all they had. Telling them they needed something better, telling them to come back with a few more bucks and they could buy something that was *really* fit for presenting to the LORD.
Oh that…that…. really makes me so sad and angry.

That..breaks my heart.

Those thieves were taking advantage of common people who really just wanted to worship – money changers were not teachers, they were con artists that stole people’s faith and joy. Can you imagine? Going all the way to Jerusalem, bringing your very best? And then there is some guy at the door that tells you your best isn’t good enough?

That what you have to offer isn’t what God wants?
The very animal that God himself gave to you in the first place is not as good as what they can sell you for a price. So what do you do?
Do you go ahead and try to offer what you brought with that doubt some bozo planted nagging at your heart? What you have isn’t good enough…God really doesn’t want it or do you give up what you brought and settle for what they are offering? But your heart isn’t in it – this stupid lamb isn’t the best from *your* flock. It is just some random animal anyone with enough denarii could offer.

Why do we always get the idea that Yeshu’s feelings about the money changers were his feelings about fellowship in general? That he was some how really torqued with regular temple attendin’ folks? He came in an taught them as one with understanding. Not as if they were losers. But as an encourager. If he was chewing all the regular folks out…I imagine the crowd that followed him would have been smaller.

I just want to be clear – Yeshu was not upset with people for coming together. He did not chew folks out for the sin of being under bad leadership. It seems that he was even okay with what the people were being taught, as long as they didn’t believe they were better than other people (Matt 23:3) He was mad at people who stood between regular folks and their heavenly Abba.

Also mixing the Holy with the Profane is Wrong. On every level. And that is one of the core reasons I personally can not be in church.
Because every church I know of is guilty.
Our little local church does not have a cross in the sanctuary – just so you know. And people there do not bow down to any object that I know of. But they do have Christmas and Easter sevices and that is Not Okay with me.

But locking my self up in a cave seems equally wrong. I am starving from lack of service.
I am missing the opportunity to love others. Sitting on my hands seems a very foolish way to spend the short amount of time I have in this life – especially when I *know* I was put here to use them for good.

I thank God that I have the silly goats, because it is one small way that I can serve others. I help people with their animals. I educate them. And when they are here I love them. But it seems so small.

So…no I don’t think Yeshu would be heading for Son-Rise Service (except maybe to flip the pulpit and then gently bring the misled people back to understanding truth). But I don’t think he would be stubbornly sitting at home with His arms folded and his lip pouting that no gathering was good enough either. And that is what I am doing. And that is not right.

.

*Made the baby goats a more protected area.

*Found that fluttery metallic tape to keep birds off your fruit at the hardware store (tried to buy it all last year with no luck)

*Shaved the butts of two goats that are having babies next week.

*Got frost blankets for the trees that have already blossomed.

*Got sissy to help me cover the trees with frost blankets – good thing we got the trees trimmed back so far.

* Got a blueberry bush to go behind my olive tree.

I realize it seems I am going a little overboard about this silly storm coming through. Really I don’t mind the cold weather, when it shows up in December, or February. Last year my dad put so much work into the orchard and a late frost knocked off every single blossom…so we basically watered a bunch of trees for nothing. Besides that, it really discouraged him. So if I can keep at least a little fruit on the trees it will give him a reason to get outside and fuss around in there on a regular basis, and with my dad, keeping him busy is a big part of keeping him from having a melt down…Things have been going well for a while now, and I am hoping to keep it that way.

I am probably going overboard for nothing though – it seems that every storm they have predicted for us this year has fizzled out. How about just getting some nice rain?

Ok, off to finish the chores.

Hey just to put it on the record.
I Do Not want snow this weekend.
Winter had it’s chance – now it is springs turn.
All of the fruit trees have bloomed, and snow would make me unhappy. I am seriously thinking of running down to the thrift store and buying a bunch of king sized cotton sheets to cover the trees with. Waiting to hear back from the Master Gardner of San Bernardino to see if that would work.
Of course then the wind will probably blow them over easier.
Last year we lost our entire fruit crop from this stupid weather – oh how I love apricots. And last year, there was zero.
They said snow levels down to 3000′ – we are just at 3700′ I think.
Also more baby goats due on Monday. But she could have them anywhere between this Friday and next Friday. Her sister had kids on day 150 (They are Nubian/Nigerian – Nubs have babies on day 150, Nigi’s on day 145)
If she waits till next Friday we have three other goats due that weekend. New Moon is on the 21st – maybe they will all go then – they tend to have babies on the Full moon, but maybe the new moon will have a similar effect.

The last momma had four boys- but it was late when she had them, and I wasn’t sure what she would do with four – so we brought two in for the night and now she hates those two. Some times the mommas cooperate and sometimes they make up their mind. She actually chomps on their tail and flings the boys she doesn’t like across the pen. She is a good milker, but a lousy mother. Even the kids she likes – she barely tolerates.
Oi.
So looks like we will be pulling babies, I mean – I would do that anyhow, but I want the babies to get through the colostrum for me. So next up today – building a Lambar for the little boys. Then kid proofing an area for them….maybe building them a little house too.

Baby count so far – six boys and two girls…

Gotta get a lot done before the weather shows up.

I am sure by now – almost a week later you have all heard of KONY 2012.
If you haven’t watched the video – don’t worry – you do not have to, I will tell you the highlights.
Basically – about ten years ago – this peace corps type kid was over in Africa and met a boy that was a part of the LRA. Like most of the militant groups in the Uganda/Sudan/Congo – central African chaos – The Lord’s Resistance Army man their army with children they have abducted. This has been going on for a long time. For a really interesting movie – watch the Lost Boys of Sudan – it was on Netflix last time I checked.
anyhow – the young film maker was so touched by this little boy who has witnessed so much horror, that he promised they would do something to help.

If you didn’t know how militant groups in central africa work, what happens is these guys with guns come into villiages and steal all the boys to be in their army. They turn the girls into sex slaves and they kill the parents. Or they make the kids kill their own parents, and then the boys are ordered to go kill and mutilate people in other villiages. The children basically live in piles like animals. If they fight or run, they are killed.
In the video they are interviewing the boy – Jacob and the boy says – you should just kill us. It is better for us if we are not here. No one cares for us and we have no education, we have no family, we have no future. It would be best for us if you killed us when you saw us.
Kony is the Leader of the LRA. He is also at the top of the International Criminal Court list found here.
the movie encourages young people who watch the film to become activists and push our government to keep going after this bad guy until we get him. On April 20th they plan an event called “Cover the Night” where they all go out – all over the world and cover their cities with propaganda referring to KONY 2012 – to draw awarness to this guy and get him arrested.
The point is not so much Joesph Kony – though he *is* a bad guy that deserves to be brought to justice. The point is some little group with a documentary can mobilize millions of young people to stand behind an idea around the world.

Anyhow – what does it have to do with Anna’s Sanctuary?

27 minutes into the film the narrarator speaks over this graphic:

“It has always been that that the decisions made by the few with the money and the power dictated the priorities of their government and the stories in the media. They determine the lives and opportunities of their citizens, but now there is something bigger than that. The people of the world see each other and can protect each other – it’s turning the system upside down…and it changes everything.”

yeah I know, I know – it doesn’t fit with the time line of the eclipses and that sort of thing, but when I saw the graphic – and that little inverted striped triangle is on a bunch of the graphics that this little activist group is putting out…well of course the first thing I thought of was Anna’s crop circle.
That symbol is a big deal.
I can also see how it fits in with the web bots. The video mentions a few times – hey there is 750 million people on facebook. That is twice the population of the United States. We can connect – on a personal level – to people all over the world. And of course that makes it harder for powers that be to manipulate us. This little video may not bring Joeseph Kony to justice, but it proves how dangerous the internet can be. How dangerous it is to allow people to connect. Interesting…

Well there she is our first baby of the season. Banjo is very happy to have a new baby to love.

I knew Nutmeg was going to kid yesterday, but as it got later and later, I started to worry. Turns out she just had one kid and singles are always really big. That baby is 6 lbs. 4 oz.!

Her momma is half nubian/ half nigerian and her daddy is all nubian.

I need to get outside and grab some warm breakfast for that little one. My sister named the baby LuLu Belle.
Not sure if a picture post will work from my phone…but I will give it a go.

Almost.
I had a migraine for four days. It felt like someone had tucked some loose wires in my brain between my left eye and my ear and was giving me random electrical shocks every ten to thirty seconds. Now it is down to every ten minutes or so. Still not wonderful, but so much better than before.

My goat has lost her ligaments so babies when the sun comes up I think…full moon and all so the timing is right.

I went to urgent care on Monday. Yes I have bronchitis. I knew that. Can not wait for the coughing to subside. I have been flat out exhausted and could not even read thanks to crainial shock headache.

Sent computer in for a tune up. Pop bought the extendo warrenty on all of the computers when he has his fixed in November. He kept bugging me about taking my computer in if it wasn’t running right. After all, its already paid for. The guy asked me, “are there any important documents or files that you can not afford to lose?” Ummm. Well I won’t die without them, but I would rather not lose them, right? Silly question I think.
So I am typing up this post on my little phone just to let you know I am still alive, but not back to 100% yet. Hopefully soon though.

I am sick. Oh my goodness can not breathe, do not want to get out of bed – running a fever sick. What the heck happened?
I have a goat due to have babies anytime now, the vet is coming out tomorrow morning, My husband has surgery (minor – but still!) on Tuesday. Danny has something for 4-H Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
I would just sit down and read – but I am sick to the point where my eyeballs are hot. yuck.
I was going to go to urgent care – but for some reason they close at 3 pm on Sundays. So back to bed with a gallon of water and soem vitamin C.
Sorry I can’t contribute much. I am hoping that this will be a short lived ailment.
Goodnight.