the place where it all began

Blog readers.....this is an older post I have been waiting to put up until we had a good internet connection (pictures are hard to get up!). This goes back to the early weeks of our trip, but I thought you would enjoy seeing "the farm". ;-)

This is the spot where it all began....."The Farm".....My mom knew Jim from a business group in Houston.  Jim mentioned they raised donkeys and llamas (The exotic animal of choice in the early 90's!) on their farm in East Texas.  "It just so happens" that I had always LOVED llamas AND I was going to college about an hour away from this weekend farm of Jim and Pat's.  I started going to visit Jim and Pat on the weekends and helping train their llamas for the Houston Livestock Show (a BIG show!).  I ending showing llamas three years at the show, but ended up with an even BIGGER prize!

I met Doug at the farm in 1990.  He was there visiting from Colorado, where he was working.  Doug's parents had known Jim and Pat from the Chicago area, and had been friends since Doug was about two.

Long story short (although I am sure I will write the details down some day!), Doug and I went our separate ways for about two years (he back to CO and me back to school), then "re-met" at the farm at the end of my senior year in college, fell immediately in love, and became engaged at the farm about six months later awwww!

We love taking our kids to "the farm".  Jim and Pat have retired from their careers in Houston and now live at the farm full time.  It is a beautiful and peaceful place and our children enjoy Jim and Pat as much as we do.  They do not have children, but instead have loved on many friends' children and nieces and nephews over the years.  They are special, special people and we always count it a privelege to be together.

On March 1st, we celebrated Micah's 4th Birthday at the farm....he said he had a Donkey Birthday and was thrilled!