The Big Kiss

A fantastic ending to a campaign created in the hearts and minds of the faithful supporters for the precious children of Mexico.

An hour long ride from one State to another, Iowa to the border and suweeeeeeeeeeee here we are at the 2010 Empire Farm Competition in Sioux Falls, So Dakota. Pigs and cows everywhere!!!!!!

Hogs of every shape, size, color, weight AND disposition. Ever see a 400 # pig have a stress attack? It ain't pretty.

I climbed into pig pens, lay on wet saw dust, faced off with over 20 big porkers, endured the laughs of many, (all in good fun) WHAT IS THAT CRAZY OLD LADY DOING LAYING ON THE FLOOR STARING INTO THE FACES OF THESE HOGS DOING?

Well, that sure opened up a lot of doors to tell about Tapestries of Life, the Orphanage and the reason behind all this foolishness.

It gets sweeter as the day wears on.

A precious blessing, kind of like, made it really all worthwhile (for me) anyway. God truly has a wonderful way of letting you know when you are on the "right" track.

Hopefully, one day this excerpt will be found in the pages of the book I intend to write about the travels on this fundraiser and Pigkme. (Look out Babe!)

Just across the aisle from the pen where I had met some wonderful folks, The Bomgaars family, who had agreed to let me play with and kiss their champion competitor stock, stood a tall young man watching all the fun.

I turned to say, "Hi, do you know what this is all about?” He smiled and said something like" well, I heard you’re going to kissapig for a fundraiser and I think that’s cool."

I handed him the donation canister with the label wrapped around it and the young man, Jared, whose pen I was standing in said, "John,!!!!!! that's your pig!

I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EARS! What? And this is how the story unfolds

The young man hosting me at his pen said," that was taken last year at the Spencer County Fair, those are my gilts behind yours! John, then said, "you're right that's the Fall Show pig." (My mouth is hanging open.) I can hardly believe after 7,000 miles, all these months, all the promo, blogs and internet travel that I have ended up across the aisle for the owner of the adorable 'PIGKME" (which is the name I had given my standing up on the fence, begging to be noticed, personality plus pal on the website and label photo way last year.) Whoaa........, hold on it gets even better here.

I said, "What are the chances of this ever happening?" I always talk about sweet" PIGKME" and that photo has gone international, is in the newspaper this week, and has become almost a household word, well at least with anyone knowing about the fundraiser for the orphans of Mexico. HE WAS AMAZED AND PROUD, might I say, also very shocked at this incredible meeting.

Next, I shared my heart how I had bonded with that sweet, loveable, huge black and white Hampshire who so quickly made me giggle and had won my heart. I felt bad that "PIGKME" had to turn into ham for eggs or a BLT somewhere.
At times, thinking of the day we met in Spencer, Iowa, I almost cried what a ......sad ending.

“Oh, don't worry Abby she didn't end up on a plate for breakfast. I had a call from the man in Nebraska who bought her last year and she has just given birth to her second litter, they love her, she's a great ‘working’ mom and they are using her as a producer and she has a great life, just having babies and being spoiled.”

I actually teared up, it was such a happy ending to a perfect day.

My muscles are sore, my clothes filthy, covered with wet, sticky sawdust and I don't smell very good, but I got my kiss, face to face, lying on the floor in the elements with ‘Baby'. We will begin to share the new photos upon returning home. Not the big kiss though.

Now, for best part.- Send your $10 on paypal . lots of names I expected to see aren't on my donations listing......... yet. Pay pal notifies me on line the day a donation is made. As before, if you prefer you can mail direct to His Servant and Yours - info on website - for your photo.

Come on everyone keep filling those canisters till April 15th and get your teensie request for a mere 2 Starbucks or Burger King treats, $10 sent in so we can mail your photo to you.

It is copyrighted photograph taken "Live" yesterday, and will not go public on the internet..EVER! So, please help us build the children a home and continue to walk alongside of us in this endeavor.

Join in the fun, help us build and have a great souvenir photo to remind you of your "good deed" part.

Love to all with appreciation for what you plan to do and thanks to those who have already given.

God Bless.

Granny Abby