Old McCarter's Farm

I haven't written to much about what lives in the pasture behind the house. What we actually have is a small farm!! Several years ago Wil started showing heifers. (He actually started with a black steer, but after he almost trampled Wil at the county show, we decided he should try heifers.) Anyway, he started with a single Braford heifer (Braford: 3/8-5/8 split between a Brahma and Hereford) and that has now grown into 3 cows and 3 bull calves, the newest being born last Wednesday night.

Each cow has a name and a distinct personality. I know that sounds crazy but it's true. Pepper is the alpha female and Wil's first heifer. She is now to old to show and is now just a regular cow out in the pasture. She pushes all the other cows around, literally. She has an extremely unattractive bull calf named Shiloh. He really has a very ugly head. He will be sold as soon as he is old enough. Then there is Bessy. She was the second heifer Wil showed. She is fairly gentle and let's Pepper have run of the pasture. She also has a bull calf named Bruiser. We like him because he looks manly. He has a long face and is halter broken because Wil showed he and Bessy as a cow calf pair last show season. She also is to old to show and has been turned out into the pasture. Here are a couple of pictures.

Here is Bruiser at about 2 months. Wil is just playing with him.


Here he is today at about 11 months, too big to play with!

Wil's third heifer is named Padme. What can I say? The boy loves Star Wars. Anyway, she is called Paddy for short. Last Wednesday night, she had her first calf. We all watched with flashlights in hand as she lay in the "cottage" as Wil calls it, and had the calf. The cottage is actually a large horse stall that is attached to the round pen where the show heifers are kept and fed. This calf was another bull Wil has named Buster. Padme is my personal favorite. She never gets in a hurry and walks so slow in the show ring that we hope she is the last to come into the ring. If not, all the other kids with their heifers are held up because she strolls along like a queen. She also has been known to lose her way in the pasture. However, in competition Wil has done the best with her. He has finished second in his class in both San Antonio and Houston. She is starting her last show season and will be turned out as a cow in the summer.



Wil is very proud of Buster. He will show Padme and the calf as a cow calf pair at this years shows. Mollie will show the calf alongside Wil and Padme. He has been out working on halter breaking the calf already.



So...We will have a busy spring. Mollie also has a heifer, Tammy. She is young and this will be her first season to show. We also have 4 show pigs coming and 75 chickens to take care of until April. The kids will then show 12 of those at our county show.

Happy New year...from Old McCarter's Farm!

Sandy C

Journey into the unknown

Several weeks ago, Wade and I were talking about what a great year we had experienced and how blessed we had been. Our kids are healthy and doing well in school, we have enjoyed much spiritual growth at church, our families are happy and healthy, and we both felt successful in our work. Two weeks ago tomorrow, our world came to a very abrupt stop!

Wade lost his job! It came as a complete shock to the both of us. He has had a very successful year in the ag lending business. He has brought in a large number of new loans as well as servicing many existing loans. His evaluations had been excellent. We believe we know the reason but that is something in which we will not dwell. They did give him a fair severance package, in which we are thankful. So, in the past two weeks we have embarked on a new journey in our life.

Wade has a large network of friends in the banking business. He started making calls on Wednesday and was immediately offered a new job. It would, however, require us to move away from family and friends. We don't want to have to do that, at this point. Since then, he has made contact with several commercial banks in the area and those opportunities seem promising.

This is probably the most difficult bump in the road we have faced in our married life. I am also thankful for that fact. For me, the hardest part has been seeing Wade so hurt. He has been on a emotional rollercoaster at times, but strong for the most part. I have had a few bad days, but I have been trying my best to keep a good attitude for Wade and the kids. We have had much peace knowing that God is in control of this situation. Through the hurt, anger for being treated wrongly, self pity, anxiety, and fear of the unknown, we know that God's plan for us is much better than we can see at this point. I have often been convicted about my lack of faith. I want and know that God's in the middle of this, but my sinful nature takes over and I start doubting what I know for sure. Then, I compose myself and lean on Him for strength. If I hadn't had such a conviction, I probably would be a balled up mess with my head under the pillows. He promises us that He will take care of us and that we can't depend on our own understanding. More than anything, we have been forced to rely on Him for guidance. I think Wade has made this a point for me. We have to pray about each job opportunity and decide what's best and where God can use Wade in the most beneficial way.
My sister, Marlette, made a very good point to me in the days after the lost job. She said, "God waited until He knew you and Wade were spiritually ready to handle this situation and then He allowed it to happen to see how you would react." I think she is right. I think in those darkest times, I haven't reacted in a way that is pleasing to God. I don't want to harbor anger and resentment. I want to look upon the changes with hope for the future and know that God has a bird's eye view of our life.
I thank God for all the support of our family and close friends, Wade's customers, and our church family. I don't have an ending with a new job for Wade. He has two very good opportunities in the works. This does have a happy ending, however. I am looking forward to the best Christmas ever. One where we are extremely thankful for being blessed with each other, our children, great friends, and most of all for having God to supply all our needs.

Sandy C

The most wonderful time of the year?

Here we are the beginning of December, all my Christmas decorations are up(they look quite nice, I must say!), we have already been to two parties, and my house smells of cinnamon. I should be feeling the spirit of the holidays. Notice I said I should, but I don't. At first, I was getting a little worried about myself, but I think I have put my finger on the problem. I love Christmas for the wrong reasons.

Christmas has always been my very favorite holiday! As a child, we had traditions that I loved and looked forward to all year. We spent Christmas Eve at my Memaw's and then home to open presents. I have such sweet memories of family, food, and sheer joy of gifts.

As I grew up, got married and had children of my own we started our own traditions that are very special. We have Christmas Eve here with my mom's family. It's a very large group of aunts, uncles, and cousins. On a good Christmas Eve, we will have about 45 people crowded in our house. It's always fun, but a lot of work. We then go to my parents' house and open presents with my sisters and their kids. We then spend Christmas Day here with Wade's family. Wil and Mollie always have Santa to look forward to on Christmas morning.

There are a lot of good things to look forward this time of year. I will admit I love presents!!! I love my family and the time we spend together. I love all the beauty of the lights, trees, and ribbons and bows. I love the smell of Christmas. That's why my house smells of cinnamon. (It's actually a candle called "red neck Christmas".) But what I don't like ruins some of my spirit. I dislike all the shopping for gifts that people really don't need, including my own children. The idea of giving a gift just because it's expected, drives me nuts. My list is lengthy and I haven't even ventured to the mall yet and I dread it...like the plague. I absolutely hate large crowds!! I feel pressure at school to entertain my students with Christmas crafts, decorating the room with paper chains and Santa Clauses with cotton beards. My calendar this month is crazy. The social gatherings are endless and I always gain 5 pounds or more with all the food. We haven't had a single night home in two weeks and things aren't looking promising for this week either.

I want this year to be different. I do..I do...I do!! The traditions are heart warming and I do look forward to all the family time. However, I want all our over abundant gift buying, rushing around and stress to please everyone to come to a halt. I want to take the time to appreciate Christ and his birth. I want my kids to realize the gift God gave us in His son. I want to give my time and service on things that give Him honor. I want to stop trying to get that perfect gift, when what I should be doing is sharing Christ love in other ways. What I would really like to do is use all the $ we spend on gifts, that will be forgotten by Dec. 26, on helping others who really truly need our help. We will do some of that, but not nearly enough. My children expect much, but I truly want this year to be different. My prayer is that when they grow up and have children that their Christmas traditions will focus more on Christ birth and His gifts to us than on the hoopla of our worldly Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas should be with us everyday of the year, not just the month of December. We should want to be giving of ourselves and thanking God for the gift of His Son all year.

I do believe this is the most wonderful time of the year!! I have to work on making it what it truly should be in my heart instead of something that drives me crazy. Just think of how all this craziness makes God feel, when the best gift we have ever been given was born in a smelly, drafty, barn.

Sandy C