Shhhhhhh, don't tell my kids. No sillies, I don't have goats. But hey! Wait a minute! I do! Well, kinda-sorta. Let me explain.

I went Christmas shopping for my children this afternoon. On Sewanee campus, Heifer International was selling off herds of several species.

Heifer International is a non-profit, humanitarian organization dedicated to ending world hunger and caring for the earth by providing livestock, trees, training and other resources to help struggling families around the globe. Since 1944, Heifer has helped 7 million families in more than 125 countries improve their quality of life. Animals from Heifer provide milk, eggs, wool and draft power...

I lifted word for word of the last paragraph from a pamphlet describing Heifer, but I bet you already knew that - the lifting of words, that is. It's a wonderful organization and if you want to learn more about them and maybe buy a flock of chicks or geese or a goat or llama, here's where to go: www.heifer.org. Presidents of all persuasions have given this organization high praise and so do I.

Anyway, I can't wait to see my son's face Christmas morning when he's found out he's now the proud owner of a water buffalo and that his wife has sheep and his two sons are new owners of a few pigs. Boy howdy! And I'll be with them when they find out! Hee Haw! I suspect my son and daughter-in-law will be relieved to discover they are actually co-owners and that someone else will be taking care of the animals... but I may need to console my grandsons.

Remember, shhhhhhh. Don't tell.