Well, that's a cottonpicker!

The Art of Empty Nesting.....and such..

2011-10-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

Who is this man living in my house....that I just cleaned, eating my food.... that I just cooked, wearing clean clothes.... that I just washed? The same man that I have worked side by side with for the past twenty three years....and don't know as well as I should! In a perfect world, boy meets girl, they date... forever, become engaged, plan a wedding at least six months in advance, marry, honeymoon, buy a home with a white picket fence, and a few years later, have 2.5 kids, 3 dogs, a cat, and so on and so forth....In my world, I already had a two year old son, Ross and I met, we dated two months, got married, had Jake 8 months later, Katie came along 17 months after that, we raised our family, went through the ups and downs of the teen years that included a grandbaby that we had the privilege of raising for three glorious years.....and then....poof! Suddenly all of a sudden, we find ourselves for the first time in our entire married life...ALONE! I know what you're thinking....but no it's not like being young newlyweds....our life, marriage, work, play....everything, revolved around our kids and it's almost like having to start from scratch and "date" a while. It's been four months and we're still new at this. It has taken many evenings sitting on the front porch, drinking cold brews to sort through stuff, tie loose ends and cuss and discuss our likes and dislikes (didn't know he had any)....and it hasn't been all pretty. All in all, I think we're gonna make it and since we started this little adventure, we have been blessed beyond measure. The good Lord indeed has a good sense of humor and he doesn't reward bad behavior. On September 11th we were blessed with another grandgirl, Keylee.

Life right now is good. There is always a storm brewing, but that is just life! God is good all the time, and till next time, adios!

Woe to the Inhabitants of the Earth

2011-05-14T05:19:00.000-07:00

I am not God, don't want to be God, really do not understand God. I would like to think I know God, but there are times like these, in which we live, that causes me to question this entity that I have given the reins of my life to and have put my trust in. It's hard to look out into the pastures and see nothing but hungry cows, dry ground and smoke on the horizon while our neighbors to the east are flooding and losing their crops and livelihood. How easy it would be for God to just spread the rain around and give relief to both miseries. But I know that God is not as interested in my personal comfort as He is in the lost souls of those who are straddling the fence. I believe He is doing His level best to get the attention of stiff necked people who know the times we live in are a precursor to what is coming. The most chilling verses in the Bible are to those who have refused their right to become the children of God. Revelation 20:12 "And I saw the dead, small and great standing before God and the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." I long for the day when the Lord takes His people from this chaotic world and rules and reigns with perfect peace and justice. But times have to get hard to prepare us to want to leave. Who wants to leave a ranch with grass up to a horses belly, dirt tanks full of water and fat cattle grazing? The uglier things get, the sooner I want to trade residences. And this is a tea party to what Holy Scriptures says is coming. One only has to watch the news for a brief moment to see record highs in every facet of life.....record flooding, record drought, record tornadoes, record earthquakes, world-wide financial collapse....all recorded in scripture. 2 Timothy 3:1-3 "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God....." describes this generation to a tee. But....." As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." Get ready people...Jesus is coming and He's coming soon...Till next time, adios.

Courage Under Fire

2011-04-28T17:53:00.001-07:00

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
Thomas Paine, 1775

It is the veteran, not the preacher who has given us the freedom of religion.

It is the veteran, not the reporter who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the veteran, not the poet who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the veteran, not the campus organizer who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the veteran, not the lawyer who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.

It is the veteran who salutes the flag.

It is the veteran who serves under the flag.

I have the greatest admiration for our soldiers....they are not drafted, but choose to serve our country graciously, keeping in tact our way of life, and our freedoms and liberties alive. They train for months, under hostile conditions, being prepared for what lies ahead....war. Most have no idea what to expect..... the rollercoater of emotions that will flood them when they fly half way around the world, are placed in a life or death situation, the sights and sounds of combat, the feeling of fear. How can you prepare yourself to lose a comrad, a friend...your life? I know my son Ben shared these struggles when he deployed to Afghanistan as a combat medic for the 877 th PSD combat team, supporting the 101st Airborne, and the 25th Airborne combat teams. He was trained by the best, but until you're there, you just can't know. While there, he would write poems, expressing what had happened during the missions he was sent on. This one in particular tells of an experience that will always be a part of him.....literally. He tatooed this on his ribs as a reminder of the first life he was required to take.

It isn't fear that grips him,but a new heightened sense of things.
The scent of burning sulphur and black powder fills his lungs
The cavitation of shrapnel can be heard
as gravity guides it toward earth.
Trigger finger to cold steel activates the firing pin.
Rifling embraces naked brass as an inanimate object
is born into an animate world.
An advocate of righteousness tears superficial skin tissue.
Sleep now admirable foe; let not the world judge you but our
Lord God and Savior.

"The air was silent as we emerged from the outskirts of a village located at the bottom of a deep ravine. The valley was wide and its inhabitants were spread out. There were little kids playing on the side of the road begging for food. Now at the end of the mission, I was becoming tired and losing focus. We had already been up for almost two days and it was getting about that time to hit the sack. My back was facing the lid of the rear hatch as I provided sector security from my 6 to 12 o'clock position. Suddenly, a loud explosion shook the earth and woke the convoy from behind. Muscle memory had me dial in the red dot scope on my M-4 and initiate fire superiority. As I peeked around the corner of the rear hatch another explosion shook the ground and made me take cover yet again. Surely there won't be anymore, but as I peeked around the corner, yet again another explosion heightened spirits even closer than the last. The shrapnel traveled so fast that I could hear it whistling in the air. But this time I saw the flash and location of the shooter. The gunner didn't have contact so I knew something had to be done. It was a rocket propelled grenade team and I knew that eventually they would shoot close enough to hit the truck and kill our 50 cal. Gunner. Trigger finger to cold steel activated the firing pin. A 5.56 bullet struck the insurgent almost 400 yards away and the sound was hollow as hit passed through his organs. Now my gunner did have contact and put several hundred rounds through insurgent's house. "Smith two o'clock, Smith two o'clock" AK-47 flashes coming from the door of another house 100 yards to the left were seen as I pulled the trigger. This man fell forward and began to crawl on the ground to find cover. As he crawled a young kid, maybe 14, ran to his aid. But Smith, our 50. Cal gunner, already received my radio contact, and sprayed rounds throughout the 2 o'clock position. The kid went to sleep in several dozen pieces as the man whom was crawling was lying motionless. Standard Operation Procedures provided by our commanding officer had us push through the kill zone and get back to base. Special Forces were in the area and took care of the bodies. The accounts of this day have been kept between our combat team since the day it happened. Although the characters in this story are real, the names and location will not be disclosed. All the events will be denied should this land in the wrong hands. "

May God bless those who serve our country with courage......till next time, adios.

Whoa Mule!

2011-04-25T13:22:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow officially starts the beginning of the 2011 hay season....a day I have mixed feelings about. Once into the swing of things, I generally can hang with the best of them. It's the getting started part that I have trouble with. Time is not my friend...neither is gravity. Climbing in and out of trucks and loaders makes stocks in Advil soar....slight exaggeration but I will be a tad bit on the stiff and sore side for the first two weeks into this adventure. I love this job for two reasons.....I work with my family and work for good, down to earth farmers that are decent and as hard-working as we are. They help us help them any chance they get. Karli has also grown up in a hay field. She started her career at a year old and she's fixing to be three. Not sure she's gonna fit behind the steering wheel of the loader this year. She may ride shotgun in my truck this year....as long as there's cold drinks and a snack or two, she's game! She hasn 't forgot we always get ice cream when we're done either - a treat she earns for hanging tough even when she's hot and tired. On the homefront, we have another bunch of baby calves that need branded before long, and we're still feeding cows - till it starts raining. We're still trying to get a house placed on the 100 acres before Jake's graduation the middle of May, and there's always yard work waiting or woman's work that needs done. I think that's why the good Lord instructs us to live one day at a time....I think I'll take His advise and drink me a glass of iced tea....till next time, adios!

Cowboy Girls Rock!

2011-04-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but there is some little something special about kids raised in the country. I've raised three of my own and now my little 3 yr. old grandaughter Karli has had the privilege of breathing country air, rip-roaring through pastures horseback and playing in a hay barn. For sure and for certain, I'm not dogging city kids but I tell ya what, country kids stick out in a crowd like a sore thumb. There is a quality about them.....and a little redneck. Even now, little Karli is out making mudpies in her sandbox...and she's buck naked....and doesn't care. Her powder room is the front yard, and her best friends are two little dogs. Her favorite toy is the corn pile in the barn, her favorite snack is a haycube...well, that's just a little wierd...but oh well. These qualities may prove to be a little strange when she starts school, but she will know how to plant tomatoes, pick pumpkins, make cookies, and know where baby calves come from...and that's not all bad. I might ought to be emphasizing a few more feminine qualities before too long, but for now, she's just gonna have to have fun, be a kid, and love life...I do...Till next time, adios.

Weddings, Dogbites and Revenuers

2011-04-14T12:26:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess since we visited last, my cup surely has runneth over. My life is a rollercoaster that just won't stop. All in all, through the blessings and heartaches, one thing has never wavered...and that is the Lord has never left my side. Thankyou Jesus! On November 12, 2010, my baby girl Katie Carpenter traded her last name for a young man named Jeremy Ragland. We had a short and sweet ceremony at the house and my ranchwomen friends and family made this day very special. They are now expecting a sweet little girl in September! On January 15, 2011, my son Jake, took Kassie Shelko to be his bride and I was blessed with another daughter who I love dearly. They got married in Clovis, NM and went Cozumel for their honeymoon. They will be moving back to the ranch when Jake graduates college in May.

Then on February 22nd, our little grandaughter was was bit by our 9 yr old boxer. He was a part of our family and had never given us reason to think he was dangerous. I was bringing groceries in when it happened, and in two shakes we were headed to town quick, fast and in a hurry. He bit plumb down to the muscle and Karli required surgery to sew this gash up. The surgeon did a marvelous job and you would hardly know it ever happened.

We are now in the process of moving a Solitare home to the 100 acres my dad gave me a few months back. This has been nothing short of a logistical nightmare. I truly believe running shine has fewer permits that getting this house moved....in the meantime, God is good...all the time and till next time, adios!

Somewhere Between Fertile Myrtle and a Packer Cow.....

2010-12-27T05:47:00.000-08:00

Let us get something straight from the get go..... hormones are hateful little creatures, that if not kept in absolute perfect balance, will turn a normally sweet natured, right peaceful lovin woman, like myself, into a hideous beast. I used to think that Mother Nature was this kind, gentle, grandmotherly figure that held your hand through all of lifes "changes" from puberty to menopause......not so ......Did you know there are 35 symptoms of pre-menopause....I didn't either till I googled it. I've got 27 of them....and that doesn't even include gray hair, and wrinkles....oh no...that's an extra bonus! And to top it all off, the people that should be the most compassionate.....like your family, for example, are the ones poking fun and telling you that you should have a little more self control....really? They have no idea how close they just come to meeting Peter face to face at the Pearly Gates for ignorant, insensitive, uncaring, words. And that's all I'm gonna say bout that......

Standing up for what you believe.

2010-12-20T06:24:00.000-08:00

Ah, to be a Daniel....... something all Christians have dealt with in one capacity or another. We've all been challenged at certain times in our lives to take the high road or speak up and be counted when justice was waning or some entity was attempting to sink their hand too deeply into our pockets, but I doubt any of us have ever been threatened with our very lifeblood if we didn't compromise our faith. Recently I ran across one of Ben's old textbooks from Liberty University, and found some pearls of wisdom; the courageous faith of some of our old testament heroes. To say the least, I was convicted and encouraged to share this treasure with others.
Shadrach, Meshach an Abednego are standing before King Nebuchadnezzar, being threatened with execution for not worshiping the king's idol. "Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand he said."(Daniel 3:15).
"O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we...will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold"(Daniel 3:16-18).
'Humanly speaking, they had everything to gain by compromising. Spiritually speaking, they had everything to lose: their character, their integrity, and their commitment.'
We know how this account ends - The boys are thrown into the furnace and survive the ordeal unharmed. "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants" Nebuchadnezzar said. "They trusted in him....and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God" (Daniel 3:28).
'Two things are apparent from this account. First, it was an incredible testimony of Nebuchadnezzar. The pagan king was impressed by their courage and by God's power. Until you are willing to take such a stand, the power of God will never be evident in your life.
Second, the Hebrews put their fate in God's hands. They were willing to give up their lives for their beliefs. When people are willing to die for what they believe, they will also be willing to live for what they believe.
Very few Americans ever face this option. Rarely are any of us called upon to die for our faith in Jesus Christ. But until we are willing to die for Him, we will never fully live for Him. The true martyr is the one who believes his testimony is more important than his safety, and his faith more important than his life.'
The following confession of an African Christian was found among his papers after he was martyred:
" I am part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit's power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look up, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My pace is set, my gait is fact, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up, stored up, and stayed up the cause of Christ."
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until Heaven returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear."
May this be every Christian's banner. The days in which we live are perilious and full of compromise at every level. May we have the courage to stand for Christ and His righteousness always.
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! Till next time, adios.

Black Friday Madness......

2010-11-26T18:47:00.000-08:00

You bet I was in the big middle of all that....wouldn't miss it for nothin! The way we work this deal, is the day before, which would be Thanksgiving, right after dinner, all us cousins pull out out the store adds and start a tactical logistics plan to maximize our dollars spent in the shortest distance possible. This year, we had 82 at our little family get- together so we had a battle plan that would shame our military.....the most important rule we follow has nothing to do with being courteous or tactful, but to have fun. We compare deals, clip coupons to maximize early bird specials, and then compare the percentage of Christmas Shopping successfully completed. After the crafts fair, we all meet for hot chocolate and brag about all our big deals.....then we hug each other bye and start our diet and exercise program to get in shape for next year's shopping extravaganza. Tomorrow I start wrapping, undecorating the fall decorations and start cleaning and preparing for Christmas. Baking will start when that whole mess is cleaned up... Well peeps, it's been a long day and I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving and successful black friday.....till next time, adios.

Growing up or just old.....

2010-11-21T14:40:00.000-08:00

As I sit here sipping my eggnog, in the quiet of the afternoon, I am forced or maybe even privileged to recall how the day started out not so quiet. Early on, I had seven people wandering about, drinking coffee and getting ready to start chores, vaccinate the tail end of the cattle we'll be putting on wheat next week, and loading up horses to check the cattle we just put out on wheat. There is never a dull moment at my house and for that I am thankful....I'm too ADHD to begin my knitting lessons just yet and actually thrive on drama and adrenaline. If the drama ever gets to be too much, I am happy to retreat.....not scared.... just old.
I love my life right now.....the kids are growing up and starting lives of their own, and that gives me an incentive to ponder what I'll be when I grow up. I've always felt jipped somehow, not believing I ever had the choice of following a passion. After high school I was never asked or encouraged to go to collage - just told I needed to get me a job and start living and thus started years of wreck less living and bad choices. I realize now, however, that at my age, no matter what career path I would have chosen, I would be right here in this place with grown children and grandchildren. I've mothered kids for 25 years now and my life has been dictated by those who needed me the most each day. I have grown comfortable with myself, my abilities and lack thereof, and have the confidence to defend what's right, against those who choose wrong.....and won't apologize for that. I have no one to impress and am accountable only to Him who created me and those who He has given me to be in relationship with. I know my job here on this earth is not done and want to make the most out of each day I'm given. I've been around enough people to know who I want to be more like and those I don't want to be anything like; and the older I get, the more cut and dry that becomes. I know what is important and what is not and if it's not going to matter in 50 years, don't worry about it.... if that makes me uncaring or "insensitive" get over it. People invest too much time on worthless projects that have no eternal value. My life is well more than half over and I simply don't want to waste anymore of it dwelling on the past that I can't change or the future that I really don't have any power over. Here lately, I've been going through my house, pitching anything I don't like, won't wear, hate to look at, or simply have outgrown no matter how much "value" I once placed on it. I've done that with my life and mind as well. There are experiences I need to forget, wrongs forgiven, and people of the past that need to be forgotten. The more simple my life and my house become, the better I like it. I choose to surround myself with what is beautiful and what will last forever. I am now who I always wanted to be......almost. Till next time..adios!

From a Full Quiver to an Empty nest.....

2010-11-16T08:11:00.000-08:00

Ah Fall...the time of year when life begins to slow down....really? This year seems like I've tried to squeeze 20 pounds of taters in a 10 pound sack...especially the past couple months or so. We will be hauling hay up till Thanksgiving, we have almost a thousand head of cattle in the feedlot, just now got our calves weaned, had our daughter's wedding at the house last weekend, Jake's wedding in January....and the holidays are upon us - that's okay though; it'll give me something to think about when I'm 80, sitting on the front porch knitting socks.....

Weddings are always fun....so unpredictable...doesn't matter how much or how little planning is involved, something always happens that makes the day memorable! The most humbling though, is the friends and family who threw in their time, resources and talents to make this day happen. My sweet brother, put on a feed that will not soon be forgotten. He brought his right hand man Pat, homemade smoker, coolers full of ribs, pork loin, and brisket, poured on his famous secret rub and cooked all afternoon.
Dirtroad Scrapper graciously dropped off a pickup load of mums from wal-mart on her way home, Ranchwife who is now affectionately called "The Ciderwoman" brought a potload of beans, whooped up several gallons of the best spiced cider I've ever had and kept the wedding, and me on tract. We had people bringing in potato salad, wedding cakes, decorations, setting up tables and all were smiling! The weather even cooperated a little....still a tad chilly but that's November in New Mexico for ya! Hope you have a blessed week! Till next time, adios!

Potty Training and Wedding Planning......

2010-08-24T18:08:00.000-07:00

My confession is....I have been sucked, hook, line and sinker into the facebook scene and have no excuses except...well, I have none....It's been a busy summer, between hay hauling, wedding planning , ranch rodeos and now, we are in the throws of potty training Karli...and none of the above mentioned is conducive to anything else. To bring ya'll up to speed, Ben came back from Afghanistan in May, Jake proposed to his sweetie that same weekend and now we're planning a January 15th wedding. Jake also started his senior year of college as did Ben. Katie still loves working for Gateway Christian School and we still love taking Karli with us everywhere we go. Ross and I did take a week vacation in Cozumel Mexico, cruising on the infamous Ecstacy ship that listed and made the CNN news. Here of late, I'm putting up sweet corn that Sweet Farmer so generously plants for friends and neighbors and if I don't quit eating 8 ears of buttered sweet corn every night, Ross is going to put me in the feed lot. I start a Bible Study in the morning and having an engagement party planned for next weekend so......I'm really going to be better after all this and .......till next time ....

People are like cow turds...and vise versa

2010-05-20T15:13:00.000-07:00

Was visiting my favorite spot the other day....a windmill about a mile from the house. Karli has decided this too is her favorite place to visit, so we frequent this spot about three times each day. She likes to watch the windmill turn and the dogs run through the mud. If we time it just right, the cows will be there watering and she gets a kick out of that. One afternoon, on one of our adventures, I happened to notice all the piles of turds lying about and couldn't help but notice how different they all were....yeah, I kinda need to get a life. Their appearance, depended on the journey they had taken till they landed there. Some were splattered all over, and some almost looked artistic, as if they had been sculpted. Don't ask me where these thoughts come from....my mind can be a scary place. They reminded me of people I've come across over the years. I've met saints well into their eighties that didn't look a day past sixty, and some poor folks that look like they'd been rode hard and put up wet that were in their 20's. I certainly don't plan on winning any beauty contests before I'm laid to rest but I hope that an inner beauty will show that the struggles in my life were met with courage and dignity and a willingness to help others get through the turds of their lives. Till next time, adios

It's Good to be home!

2010-04-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

Well now, lets see....it's been a while since the last post which was.....can't remember back that far. Guess that means it's been long enough. Yes indeedy, we went cruising to the land where Mexicans can, and are willing to speak English. Too bad we had to travel thousands of miles to find out that fact, but that's all I'm gonna say about that. The bathing suit...yeah it fit and I really shouldn't have been so self-conscious about that whole ordeal....all my important parts were well covered with the exception of those few parts that got broiled, blistered and downright crispy crittered. Not for me to judge, but some of our fellow cruisers should have been a little more courteous. There are just some body parts that NOBODY needs to be subjected to unless under the care of a licensed professional. They obviously took the phrase "what happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico" a bit too literal.....and that's all I'm going to say about that. All in all it was a fantastic get-a-way. We saw ancient pyramids, swam in pristine water, met some very flavorful folks, and just enjoyed each other away from life and living. We did however experience a little excitement on the last leg of our cruise that tickles me now but caused me to make sure my relationship with Jesus is in good standing. Not really sure what happened....only the captain knows for sure and he's not talking. At 12:55 pm, on the last full day, our boat suddenly listed, they say 12 degrees....whatever. All I know it was shear panic for those with a fresh drink in their hands. The swimming pools and hot tubs emptied out completely....people and all. The gift shops, liquor shops, bars....any shop with lots of glass was trashed, and the dining halls looked like a grade school food fight was in full swing. Ross and I were on the Serenity Deck which means no obnoxious, ill-behaved children were allowed. We had purposely on purpose left our sweet,well behaved children at home....so be it. Anyhoo, for about two minutes, we were deciding if we should save the bucket of beer if we went over or just save ourselves....beer might come in handy if we had to float for too long. Funny how nobody remembered to go to their "designated area" in case of an emergency. People just grabbed their life jackets in one hand, their beer in the other and hoped for the best. People have a strange way of dealing with life-threatening situations, no matter how small. Shortly, everything righted itself and life on a floating city was back to normal. There was a heart-attack victim, several broken bones and a few got stitched up...luckily there was 200 nurses on board for a convention....and after the free party in the Starlight Lounge, I was feeling pretty good about the whole incident. Looking back, Ross had wanted to just do an all-inclusive vacation at a resort. But after the Haiti earthquake,I just couldn't bring myself to stay in some tall building built by who knows who. I figured I would be much safer in a boat....Till next time, adios

Bathing Suit....Take 2

2010-02-26T14:54:00.000-08:00

Well now, where does our story pick up? Ah yes....right after I received my package all the way from Michegan. I was almost afraid to open it. How many times have I gone through this...how many times have I tried on clothing that wasn't what I envisioned. You always think you're gonna look like the model that is advertising the whatever it is you're interested in....you know it's true. And inevitable, they will have a size 0 model advertising a size 16 article thinking we aren't smart enough to know the difference. Anyhoo, back to the bathing suit at large. Well as a matter of fact it was NOT large....I've had training bras that were bigger than what was sent. The bottoms were perfect, and the fabric was pretty but oh my.... if this is an E cup, I must be WAY up the alphabet somewhere. What does come after ... E? Well, I did what any responsible disgruntled customer would do....I gave them a call. I won't go into all the details of my frustrating conversation with a receptionist who obviously stuffs, but I will say that I am sending that intsy bitsy excuse for a bikini top back and I'm including my new bra along with, so they will have an idea of what a woman of my stature needs, so the girls can be covered up....till next time, adios.

In Search of a Bathingsuit...part one

2010-02-15T08:12:00.000-08:00

Been on the hunt for a "modest" bathing suit of sorts for an upcoming cruise my husband planned for us in April. The search for this elusive suit actually began years prior to this. I'm baffled why men's board shorts are a generous 20" in length and the women's are....well your cheekies would be in danger of getting sunburned. So I googled "long women's boardshorts" and most of the sights had them a whole 7" long and the cute ones were all the way up to a size 11...whoa! Well now.... I'm 5'10" and weigh in the 170 range and a size 11, 7" short ain'ta gonna work. If you go plus size, you get to look at a 450 lb model in a swimdress and a pair of panties. People don't need to see the junk in your trunk and I don't want to show all my 47 year old parts to nobody outside of my husband, who's junk is as old as mine...so there you go. Going one step further, if I were a milk cow, I would be considered a holstein, not a jersey. Finding tops that cover the mammies are...well, impossible unless you've had circus balloons implanted and I have not. I'm thinking seriously about finding some matching pillowcases and making my own. So the search continues.... till next time, adios.

God and Science

2010-01-15T09:18:00.000-08:00

God & Science; Very good read!!

A professor of science & philosophy begins his school year with a lecture to his students. The professor pauses before his class, 'Let me explain the problem science has with religion. He then asks one of his new students to stand.
'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'
'Yes sir,' the student says.
'So you believe in God?'
'Absolutely.'
'Is God good?'
'Sure! God's good.'
'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
'Yes.'
'Are you good or evil?'
'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you...Let's say there's a sick person and you can cure him. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'
'So, you are good!'
'I wouldn't say that.'
'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could, but God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good, Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent. 'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'
'Er...yes,' the student says.
'Is Satan good?'
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'
'Then where does Satan come from?'
The student falters. 'From God.'
'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God made everything, correct?'
'Yes.'
'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, and since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Again, the student has no answer.
'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student squirms on his feet. 'Yes.'

'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them?'
There is still no answer.
Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.
'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'
'No sir. I've never seen Him.'
'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'
'No, sir, I have not.'
'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelled your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'
'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'
'Yet you still believe in him?'
'Yes.'
'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'

'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'
'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

At the back of the room another student stands quietly for a moment before asking a question of His own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'

'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'

'And is there such a thing as cold?'
'Yes, son, there's cold too.'
'No sir, there isn't.'
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.
'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold, otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest: 458 degrees.'

'Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir , just the absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not some thing. It is the absence of some thing. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'

'My point is this professor; your philosophical premise is flawed to start with and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it. Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
The student continues; 'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now, not a scientist, but a preacher?'
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.' The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter. 'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'So, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'
Uncertain, the professor responds; 'Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

The student replies, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.

If you read this all the way through and had a smile on your face when you finished, please share God & Science.

White Lie Cake

2010-01-12T15:16:00.000-08:00

Have you ever told a white lie? You are going to love this, especially those who bake for church events. Alice Grayson was to bake a cake for the Baptist Church Ladies' Group in Tuscaloosa , but forgot to do it until the last minute. She remembered the morning of the bake sale and after rummaging through cabinets, found an angel food cake mix and quickly made it while drying her hair, dressing, and helping her son pack for Scout camp. When Alice took the cake from the oven, the center had dropped flat and the cake was horribly disfigured. She thought, "Oh dear, there is not time to bake another cake." This cake was important to Alice because she did so want to fit in at her new church and in her new community of friends. So, being inventive, she looked around the house for something to build up the center of the cake. Alice found it in the bathroom - a roll of toilet paper. She plunked it in and covered it with icing. Not only did the finished product look beautiful, it looked perfect. Before she left the house to drop the cake by the church and head for work, Alice woke her daughter Amanda and gave her some money and specific instructions to be at the bake sale the moment it opened at and to buy the cake and bring it home. When Amanda arrived at the sale, she found the attractive, perfect cake had already been sold. She grabbed her cell phone and called her mom. Alice was horrified - she was beside herself. Everyone would know! What would they think? She would be ostracized, talked about, and ridiculed! All night, Alice lay awake in bed thinking about People pointing fingers at her and talking about her behind her back. The next day, Alice promised herself she would try not to think about the cake and would attend the fancy luncheon and bridal shower at the home of a fellow church member and just try to have a good time. Alice did not want to attend because the hostess was a snob who more than once had looked down her nose at Alice because she was a single parent and not from the founding families of Tuscaloosa . But, having already RSVP'd, she couldn't think of a believable excuse to stay home. The meal was elegant, the company was definitely upper crust old South and, to Alice 's horror, the cake in question was presented for dessert! Alice felt the blood drain from her body when she saw the cake! She started out of her chair to tell the hostess all about it, but before she could get to her feet, the Mayor's wife said, "What a beautiful cake!" Alice still stunned, sat back in her chair when she heard the hostess (who was a prominent church member) say, "Thank you, I baked it myself." Alice smiled and thought to herself, "God is good."

Does The Flag Still Wave?

2010-01-02T06:35:00.000-08:00

Anticipating a new year is almost like looking forward to a trip to the dentist. You know there will be pain, it's gonna be expensive, and there's no guaranteed results - but hopefully something good will come from it. No I am not a pessimist, but after this past year of economic, spiritual, and moral upheaval, I am a bit cautious. As the old saying goes, " I love my country, but I'm afraid of my government." And yes indeedy, I also know that God is still on the throne; that He's well aware of where we're at and where we're going as a people and a nation, but I tire of watching the livelihood of good people being tossed away by environmental terrorists, the welfare of animals overriding the holocaust of unborn children, and the influx of immoral filth being accepted, let alone celebrated.

Check out this video. It aired on Hal Lindsey a few months ago, and I thought it was awesome. We need more of these brave souls speaking up on our nation's behalf!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpQOCvthw-o

Twas A Night....

2009-12-07T17:31:00.000-08:00

Twas a night in December, we were all sawing logs, not a critter was stirring not even my dogs.....the leftovers were stored in the icebox with care, in hopes that a branding crew would not soon be here. The cattle were nestled all snug in their pens, while memories of warmer days haunted their dreams. The kids were all home from their lives far away and Karli just wanted to piddle and play. When out in the yard there arose a commotion, a skunk was again outside taking a notion. Away to the window, I tripped over clutter, I closed all the windows and tried not to mutter. The moon looking down on the fresh fallen snow, gave my dogs the advantage to chase off their foe. The skunk had the last word, the dogs he did drench, what do you do with dogs covered in stench?? The night finally ended, I'm glad that it's done, Merry Christmas to all, now wasn't that fun? Till next time, adios.

That's My Story, and I'm sticking To It!!!

2009-10-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is partially true. Only the names have been changed....... I'm protecting no one...and there are no innocent!

The weekend started out innocently enough. Three desperate cousins, in need of some time away from the responsibilities of job and family, drove literally hundreds of miles to the serene tranquility of the woods. Armed with only their wits, a few survival skills and a 30-30 rifle, they would soon discover they were almost no match for the unseen dangers lurking in the dense forest. (Translation...... Three hormonally unbalanced women cooked this weekend up and with the generosity of Sweet Farmer(cottonpicker's brother), they drove up to Sweet Farmer's cabin in Cloudcroft with five pounds of chocolate and a 12 pack of Coors light in hopes of finding a cheap tattoo parlor and a bargain at the mall. They found neither.)

Anyhoo, She Who Has White Hair, had never been around firearms and wanted to experience the thrill of the hunt. With her trusty hound by her side, she bounded through the woods in search of something small, you know, to hone her skills before attempting larger game! As you can see, this small fox was no match for this blood-thirsty woman from the great state of Texas! Nice shoes!

This, however, was not enough to satisfy the great hunter within her. So off she went, gun in one hand, lip gloss in the other, to find some meat for her teepee. Apparently, she hadn't read newly revised section in the New Mexico State Game and Fish rulebook on legal hunting seasons when she bagged this trophy bull Elk. That would be me, posing with the felon. Hope they room us together in prison....what was she thinking? While we're on the subject, the one shooting these Kodak moments...... She Who's Sicka Men, was in on all this....yeah you know who you are! Being incognito will not save you!

Back to the story......It was only a matter of time before White Hair would encounter the greatest of all predators....yeah, the one , the only grizzley bear. Taking close aim and keeping her white shoes clean, she stood her ground. A lesser woman would have run for dear life.....but not our beloved White Hair. No, she did what any proud Texas woman would do...she fluffed her hair, then shot.

That's what I'm talking about! This is what legends are made of....A little truth mixed in with a whole bunch of half truths and a few little white lies. Till next time, adios.

Wordless Wednesday!!!!!

2009-09-29T18:49:00.000-07:00

Pictures to Afghanistan

2009-09-20T17:47:00.001-07:00

Ben was wanting some recent pictures sent and this is the fastest way to get them that far.
I'm sending some letters by traditional mail but here are some pictures randomly selected, in no particular order.....here we go.

Little Banjo....playing in my flowers.

No fence too tall for our little monkey!

Time out for a kiss!

Jake and his antelope.

Smelling the fall flowers!

Me and Karli out for a 4-wheeler ride!

Dad and his new horse. This was taken at the Capitan ranch rodeo.

Meet Banjo!!

2009-09-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

The add is what caught my eye...."Little bitty, teeny weenie, hot little digitty dogs"...how could I resist?? It wouldn't hurt, just to call and inquire......afterall, Ross had just asked me that morning if I knew anybody that had weenie dogs for sale...and being the obedient, submissive wife that I tend never to be except just this once, I called. Wouldn't ya know it....they had only one male in the whole litter...poor little guy - hen pecked so early in his little life. Somebody needed to save him from a life of ......ya know....being drowned alive in a sea of hormones. Come to think of it....I should be that somebody! No....I'm just not over my Slack baby. How long is the proper mourning period for a beloved pet anyway? Maybe my bellydancer has had another litter and Ranchwife and I can sail on down to the panhandle of Texas for another adventure. Well, doggone....yes they've had a couple of litters but they won't be ready for another 5 weeks...and Ross just won't be able to hang on that long. He's already been in sackcloth and ashes since the whole tragic thing happened. Ross must be completely overcome with grief....he just handed me $200.00 and told me to go get him a weenie dog! This has NEVER happened. I must do as I am told. Ross is the head of this household...and if a little weenie dog is what he wants, then I must go.....off into the wilderness of Texas....without Ranchwife to guide me....or buy the donuts. Just me and little Karli, a diaper bag and $200.00. I hope Ross appreciates me for this act of kindness...afterall he's gone through though, it's the very least I can do for him. He named the puppy "Pistol Packing Pete" but I call him "Banjo" for short. And I am letting him sleep in my bed, you know.... so Ross won't have to fuss with a puppy all night. I even let Ross hold him once in a while....while I'm washing dishes, taking out the trash.....I'm just so glad Ross finally got himself a weenie dog!! Till next time, adios!

I'm gonna miss you!!

2009-09-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

Lost my little wiener dog today.....there are no words. Till next time, adios.

Why do we love'em!

2009-08-26T10:24:00.000-07:00

Picture this..... a 46 year old woman running through the pasture.... five miles from home...chasing a dumb little wiener dog.... yelling "don't make me chase you!!!!" Gasp.. wheeze... choke... get your butt back to the pickup!! I mean it.....gasp.....I'm not going to chase you!!! Are wiener dogs deaf? Do they not understand they would only be a small snack for a hungry coyote?? And just why do we care so much? I kinda doubt he would do anything remotely close to that for me...although he growled when the cows came up to the pickup....but was he REALLLY trying to protect me or just showing off within the safe confines of a big four wheel drive pickup? Face it..dogs are just dogs. I don't care if you pay a small fortune for one or pick one up off the highway...they are just dogs and it is our responsibility to love them, feed them, bath them and clean up after them....you know...kinda like a husband......well not really. Leaving you with an old photo of my dumb wiener dog just to remind myself why I love the little scamp..till next time, adios.

This would be Slack after he did his wiener dog duty chasing a skunk.....

It's Chaves County Fair Time Again!!

2009-07-27T15:54:00.001-07:00

This is Karli's first county fair.....so this blog is going to be all about the awesome wonderful smells, sounds, and textures thereof......!

Sheep don't look quite so big from here!!

This is cousin Sterling's steer!!

What does the chicken say??

These are much a whole lot funner to hold than to read about!!

He likes mud almost as much as Karli...but not quite!!

The Spiritual significance of a computer virus.

2009-07-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

Just got my computer back from the computer doctor. Apparently it contracted a nasty virus that was some kind of something to get rid of. The hard drive had to be taken out and put into another machine to scan that sucker out. Not unlike what has been happening in our family for the past few months....thus I've been out of the blogging circle. If I'd of scanned my computer daily like I was supposed to, updated my anti-virus, spy ware, kick butt worm annihilator software, this would have never happened. I would have protected my computer from all the nasty stuff being thrown at it on a daily basis. Just like our lives.....daily I need to scan, or reflect on the day and see if the enemy has infected any of my family members with any "viruses" and when I recognize them......wipe them out immediately!
There has been some praises amidst all the chaos. My soldier is heading to Utah for shoulder surgery . He was supposed to have deployed to Afghanistan three weeks ago but tore all kinds of stuff up in his shoulder. Then they shipped him to Fort Knox, Kentucky for surgery but decided he needed to go to Utah.....don't get me started.....government intelligence is an oxymoron. He is still engaged to be married September 25th 2010. I believe I have time to prepare for that event. While he is recuperating from surgery, he will take some online college courses and will be close to completing his BS degree in science. God does work in mysterious ways.
We've had some rain come our way....thankyou Lord!! Keep it coming!!
Please keep my family in prayer, especially my daughter Katie who is going thru some stuff, that the Lord will continue to have His hand on her. We need wisdom and discernment to keep ahead of the enemy who is always at work.
When the dust settles, I'll be back....keep your mud boots handy....it might get deep! Till next time, adios.

Ya'll did what??

2009-06-11T16:52:00.000-07:00

Is eloping really eloping if you have a couple days notice?? Apparently the budding war romance has turned into a nuptial aggreement of sorts....Ain't that a cottonpicker.

Catchin' Up !!

2009-05-24T14:59:00.000-07:00

Well now, where was I ? On the last episode, Slack was demonstrating the hectic schedule that we have just officially wound up. It has been quite a month and I can truly say, I'm not sad that we are about to open a new chapter in these days of our lives. Goddard High School has graduated the last rebellious, nonconformist child of this somewhat normal family and I'm sure they can't be as happy with that fact as we are. We have endured years and years of parent - teacher conferences, parties, awards assemblies, "come to Jesus meetings", and sporting events. The tears we have cried, both good and bad would water this ranch till Jesus comes back. Katie has a whole two weeks off before she starts beauty school. And believe me when I say this......she best study hard - because the older I get and the more of life I endure, the harder it's gonna be to make me beautiful! Plus....she just owes me bigtime and I plan on collecting!

We did celebrate in true Carpenter tradition for about a week off and on. Of course we had alot to celebrate. Karli turned the big 1 on Mother's Day, and Ben boarded a big military plane the next day with 180 other guys of the 920th Engineering Company heading to Wisconsin for another 4 weeks. They will officially leave for Afghanistan on June 9th and that will be that till next July. I was too tired for three parties so I just combined them all and had a birthday, deployment, graduation party. Entangled with all the festivities, we've had to haul several hundred loads of hay and oats...literally. The first cutting came off with a bang and with the slight promise of rain in the forecast, everybody was scrambling to get all the hay out of the field. We are now in a holding pattern for a short while. That dear friends will give me a chance to clean up my yard, and catch up on all my "woman's work". I am just throwing some random pictures of the past several weeks, at ya. Just try and sort through them.

Yellow Ribbon Ceremony at the civic center.

Ben and Claire. A budding war romance!

NCO's in the parade during the Yellow Ribbon Ceremony.

A tired little birthday girl not sure what she's supposed to do with that!

One last kiss goodbye.

Till next time, adios.

A Time For Every Season

2009-04-17T16:46:00.000-07:00

Springtime is always a busy time for this family, but this year we will have a few more taters on our plate than usual. Slack as always, has graciously volunteered his valuable time to help tell the tale of what will be going on during the next several months. Each week, Slack helps process yearlings, chasing them out of the chute and into the pens. So, he gathered his trusty pony to save his latest canine pedicure.

Prom is next Saturday nite and Slack has chosen this pink ensemble with a tiara to wow his friends...just call him Slackerella.

Won't be long and it will be time for graduation. Slack would have graduated with honors if he hadn't failed Potty Training 101. :(

We are so into the gardening mood....what a cute sunflower!!!

Summer is almost upon us and we are donning the latest in beach bum fashion. He still has those last pesky 5 pounds to lose before he can show off his new bikini. Oh well.......

Till next time, adios!

The Necklace

2009-04-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. "A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green. Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny , "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave me. She's my very favorite." "That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss. About a week later, after the story time, Jenny 's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?" "Daddy, you know I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper." "That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss. A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. "What is it, Jenny ? What's the matter?" Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, daddy; this is for you." With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny 's daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny . He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. So it is, with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures. God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.

And on the 8th day, Mamaw rested!

2009-03-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

What a weekend!! Loved every minute of it, but now that it's monday, the possibilities are endless! Had kids coming and going.... eating and drinking.....sleeping, working and playing...and now...it's quiet. Katie left Karli with me this weekend so she could check out a local college in a neighboring town. It's been quite a while since I slept with a baby in my bed...human that is and that made for an interesting night. Between her and two little "bedhog" dogs, the fifteen minutes sleep I got was wonderful. The second night went a little better. I had a "come to Jesus meeting" with Ladybug and Slack and they finally decided to cooperate - threatening to kick them out in the cold had nothing to do with their decision. Ben was able to spend a little time with the family before he headed out to Santa Fe this morning for combat training. He will be there for the next month. Jake came home for spring break and we always have drop ins throughout the weekend - so my stove stayed hot and my sink, full of dishes. Forgot how much food it takes to feed teenagers but I love having a full house!! Well, gotta go. Karli has this walking business down to a science. So glad I'm so fit and trim....huff, huff... and in top physical shape...wheeze, gasp...or I'd never keep up with her.... till next time, adios!

March 19th 1986

2009-03-19T17:52:00.000-07:00

Twenty-three years ago today, at 8:02 am, my life changed forever. It's hard to believe that this young man was once a 6lb. 9oz. bundle of pure joy....and mischief. And just as it is with most mothers, Ben's arrival into this world was indeed love at first sight. Lots of water has passed under the bridge in those 23 years. Sometimes the water was muddy, other times clear. At times it has been turbulent and occasionally calm....but always bubbling. In a few short weeks, he will be heading to Afghanistan for a tour of duty that he has waited a lifetime for. I guess every child is born with a God given desire for something. Some kids dream of being farmers or ranchers....Ben has always loved guns and reconnaissance. This is Ben's ride for the next couple of weeks. He is the medic for his unit and he is taking some of the 150 "kids" to various doctor's appointments before they deploy.
He will leave the day after Mother's Day....but at least I have Mother's Day. Until now, I've prayed for other mother's sons, daughters and husbands....I now have an investment in this war and you better believe my prayer life will be different. I now understand what sacrifice really is and the high price many families have paid for our freedoms since this nation was born. Say a prayer for our soldiers and their families tonight. Somewhere, there is a mother wondering how her son or daughter is getting along...and a mother's heart never changes. Till next time, adios.

Here Comes Karli Kottontail...

2009-03-07T09:15:00.000-08:00

Yep, Easter is indeed almost here....only five weeks away, but who's counting! The wind is blowing a steady fify miles an hour outside, so we are entertaining ourselves inside the confines of the bunny barn!

There's always a wienie dog trying to steal your thunder....and your ears!

Okay Slack...

From now till Easter, we will be passing the bunny ears around.....stay posted!

Darrell Scott's Speech

2009-02-26T17:47:00.000-08:00

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm? On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript: 'Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers. 'The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart. 'In the days that followed the! Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. Your laws ignore our deepest needs, Your words are empty air. You've stripped away our heritage, You've outlawed simple prayer. Now gunshots fill our classrooms, And precious children die. You seek for answers everywhere, And ask the question 'Why?' You regulate restrictive laws, Through legislative creed. And yet you fail to understand, That God is what we need! ' Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our 20 major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. 'As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!' May God Bless You!

Life in the day of a slacker.....I mean Slack!

2009-02-19T14:12:00.000-08:00

One day this week, while I was in the middle of yet another Carpenter crisis, I happened to notice our little wienie dog Slack, soaking up the sunshine and loving life in general. He always has a wag in his tail and a sparkle in his eye. So I decided to follow the little fellow around for a day and see what the source of his sweet disposition might be. Morning found him waking from dreams about chasing wild barn cats and such.......good morning Slack.First priority was of course his Bible Study. Looks like he's learning about the first Christmas.
Every dog knows a hearty breakfast grows hearty dogs. What are we having?? Animal crackers of course. Couldn't show you his source of protein....we banded bulls a month ago....hmmmmmm After an exhausting hour of Bible strudy and breakfast, we had to have our first nap.

All righty, after a blissful nap, Slack decided to check his my space. He had to see if Ginger was still single or if maybe her and Rambo had a thing goin on......whatever.
Next on the agenda, is feeding cows. Afterall, it's almost noon.....and he invited all his friends to come along....even the one famous for pulling his tail. Grandpa does have his hands full.
After working for all of ....oh say 10 minutes or so barking at all the mamma cows....it's time for our next nap, yes indeedy!!
Moving right along......to wrap up our day of stuff wienie dogs do, Slack decides on a relaxing bubble bath.....you know..... to ease all his tensions away.
Last but certainly not least, he has some "me time" before heading off to his sleep number bed...which by the way his number is 45. We have come full circle and it's time to say our prayers and try and catch the sandman. Goodnight Slack.
After all this, I'm not so sure it's just easier to just be grouchy...... Till next time. adios.

Want the honest truth?

2009-02-16T10:02:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure you would get it. Truth is, not many people know what that is anymore. In light of some recent revelations in our world today, the truth would be a breath of fresh air. The Word has alot to say on the subject of truth. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life", we are commanded to "speak each man the truth", to "worship in spirit and truth" to "rejoice in the truth". On the flip side of the coin, satan is called the father of all liars. There is absolutely no telling how many marriages have fallen, family ties broken, hearts of children crushed because of a lie. My mom had a story about lies. Bear with me - she was a strong Christian but a farmwife that used terms that anyone would understand. There was a time in my younger days, when I was quite good at not telling the truth. One day, she was illustrating to me what even a "white lie" was. She pointed to a pile of chicken potty and said - " you see that little white spot on top of that pile? Even though it is very small and white, it's all chicken shit. " Enough said - Living in the days in which we do, I want to encourage you all to pray for discernment. As the days progress, I believe truth will be a rare and precious thing. Till next time, adios!

God's Valentine Gift

2009-02-14T14:17:00.000-08:00

God’s Valentine Gift
God’s Valentine gift of love to us, was not a bunch of flowers; It wasn’t candy, or a book to while away the hours.
His gift was to become a man, so He could freely give, His sacrificial love for us, so you and I could live.
He gave us sweet salvation, and instruction, good and true--To love our friends and enemies and love our Savior, too.
So as we give our Valentines, let’s thank our Lord and King; The reason we have love to give is that He gave everything.
By Joanna Fuchs

Hope your day is special!! Till next time, adios!

Spring is coming.....honest!

2009-02-10T17:20:00.000-08:00

There's no denying it.....spring is on it's way! Only 38 more days and it will be official! On warm, sunny days, Pumpkin and I enjoy the sun on our back, the wind in our hair and fresh dirt in our mouths.....Ooh! She wasn't supposed to do that!

This is a nightly scene - Grandpa, Karli and Ladybug sharing pork skins before bedtime...whatever.

There is a love-hate thing going on between these two. Looks like a truce has been signed.
She's 9 months old today!! Yep, that's reason to celebrate!!

Ah, get over your sweet self!!

2009-01-29T09:34:00.000-08:00

Ever have "one of those days" and three weeks later you wonder if the "drama" will ever end? Well, that would be me. My creative juices have been as wet as a dry creek bed so there you go. A partial list of "issues" would include..... teenage hormones, my hormones, a needed trip to the chiropractor, a reoccurring uti, cold dry weather, a wienie dog that refuses to "potty train", being on a diet I hate, a son headed to Afghanistan and a general bad attitude. Any one of these for mentioned offenses would be just another day at the office but I've had 'em all at once and finally came to the conclusion that this is just life - get over it..... so I did. With that said, I've decided to get a goat....yep that would be Ranchwife's bright idea. I know I'm a grown woman with a mind of my own but she borrowed it the other day and put that idea in it before she returned it. So come Saturday, we may be headed to "goatmart" to put our dibs on our goats. Haven't told my dh about my newest adventure but he'll find out soon enough I suppose. One good thing is, they're bred and will be milking by June which will be just right weather wise and Karli will be off the "baby milk" by then. Besides, what is cuter that a baby goat......right?? I will have to pen these - the last ones I had, liked to play on great - great - grandmothers's red sports car and she just got a new one. Here's a story I got in an e-mail that will put a smile on anyone's face, especially if you have daughters!! One day my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me. I was maybe 2 1/2 yrs. old and had just recoverd from an accident. Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a get-well gift and it was one of my favorite toys. Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when I brought Daddy a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my Mom came home. My Dad made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!' My Mom waited and sure enough, here I come down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy and she watches him drink it up. Then she says, (as only a mother would know...) 'Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet? Till next time, adios.

Bizare Behavior

2009-01-12T13:08:00.000-08:00

Recently I have been exhibiting some bizarre behavior.....more so than usual. At this moment, I'm listening to disco music and mixing brownies. Yes, I have indeed discovered YouTube and have listened to everything from Elton John to Led Zeppelin. I don't know what is happening...perhaps I am oozing off into my mid-high days dancing under a disco ball - funking out to "She's a brick house" or maybe reliving the era of Saturday Night Fever....whatever it is, it's quite disturbing. If I was to try to pull a move right now, I'd probably pull something out where it would never go back. My theory is, I think I have been spending too much time with infants and collage kids. Somewhere in my psyche I've sprung something loose and now I'm stuck in the psychedelic world of the 70's. How will I ever get back?? It wasn't especially fun then - the brownies are almost done and chocolate always makes the world seem right. Till next time, stay groovy.....I mean adios.

Chasing the Sandman!!

2009-01-07T10:08:00.000-08:00

A strange phenomenon has occurred the past week or so in our household. Grandpa seems to be the only one Punkin wants putting her to sleep. This nightly ritual begins with total denial that it is indeed time to go to bed. It starts with giggles and hugs....maybe a kiss or two..then a yawn.

Milk always makes the world seem right, That's true for kids and calves. This is step two in our evolution of "nite nite". She thinks if she takes her bottle sitting up. she's safe from the pursuing sandman.

I must say, a bit of whining and fussing and arguing the fact comes before this stage. This is the part where she thinks she has fooled Grandpa into believing she is almost asleep. However, a picture does say a thousand words.

But in the end, sleep prevails and peace is once again restored... for a few hours. Till next time,

yawn.... adios

The Greatest Prayer for Rain Ever Written !!

2009-01-04T17:31:00.000-08:00

O Lord, in Thy mercy grant us rain and by that we don't mean a shower. We want to go out and watch the lightening rip across the southwestern sky in hot blue forks as the fat clouds roll in on us. We want to hurry home to close the house with the first fat drops the size of marbles, on a suddenly rising wind, chasing us and plunking on the car hood. We want to scramble all over the house just as the first sheets descend, frantically slamming down windows.”
“God of Israel, Isaac and Jacob, let it come down so hard that the streets and sidewalks seem covered with a six-inch fog of spatter drops. Then let it just keep up for a while, then begin to taper off, and then turn right around and get a lot worse, swishing, pounding, spattering, pouring, drenching, the thunder coming –Crackity – Bam – and the lightning flashing so fast and furious you can't tell which flash goes with which peal of thunder so that all the women will get scared and climb on top of the beds and scream at you not to get too close to the window!”
So in Thine own way and in Thine own time, make up Thy mind O Lord, and we will bow before Thy judgment, and praise Thine everlasting name. Amen.”
This prayer came from the progressive editor, William Allen White. His petitions showed an affectionate familiarity with the physical sensations of a summer rainstorm on the plains.
At our house, we've always thought the Lord rains on the just, the unjust and then us. Here's to a toad strangling year ! Till next time, adios.

There is ALWAYS a Payday !!

2008-12-28T16:49:00.000-08:00

Well that did it! I know perfectly well how many hundreds of thousands of calories I've
consumed in the past two months but that didn't keep some cyber chick from letting me know in no uncertain terms that I am overweight and have no balance. Where are these feelings of animosity coming from?? Well, I set up my Wii Fit, followed the directions to a tee, stepped on that little balancing jasper and knew I was in trouble when it sighed....yes it did - I heard it. Then it started processing my BMI which stands for body mass index which apparently I have too much of. I knew I shouldn't have eaten that last tamale....and all it's friends .....and the last loaf of pumpkin bread, spiced pecans, chocolate candy, chili con queso.... need I go on?? Have I confessed enough??? Okay then, there was the guacamole dip.... with chips, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, ham, homemade rolls, and other goodies too numerous to mention. It is the holidays for crying out loud.....and I am. Not to worry, I have started a diet and plan on being ten pounds lighter by my 46th birthday which is January 27th.

This is my partner in crime. Don't let her size fool you. You can tell she was caught red handed!

After we got this horendous mess under control, she wanted to help her Mamaw try out the new wheelborrow.

Once again, she is more concerned with being fashionable than helpful. Oh well, since I am the one who is fat and unbalanced, it didn't hurt me to haul her around awhile.

After a long day of doing pretty much whatever she wanted, a bath is a must!! We just almost threw the baby out with the bath water. Lucky for her she's so cute.....

Well it's bedtime.....yeah she looks like she's ready to go to bed!! Mamaw is.....cause she's fat and unbalanced. I'll get over it...I'm not going to let some cyber chick ruin my day. I'll show her....just wait. Till next time, adios.

Whew.....Me Too!!

2008-12-27T12:28:00.000-08:00

As I sit here choking down the last of the tamales, I can't help being thankful the holidays are almost over. It's always kind of a letdown after the presents are all opened, the anticipation of Santa Clause is a memory, and the tree taken down, that all the months of preparation, baking, shopping and such is......just over. And for me, it's hard to combine the hoopla of Santa Clause and decorating with the holiness of our Savior's birth. I just don't know how to do it all and feel good about it afterwards. I always vow that the next year will be different but it never is. I wish I could separate the two and celebrate them separately somehow. Anyhoo, it's a done deal and now I'm fixing to figure out how this Wii Fit game I got for Christmas is going to work out. Of course, I do believe I'm the one who is supposed to do the working out....maybe tomorrow.

2009 Yeehaw Sisterhood Membership Drive

2008-12-16T15:07:00.000-08:00

The first annual Yeehaw Sisterhood membership drive is well under way. This club began a year or so back, when three unlikely women, found friendship, based on a common lifestyle and a love for country living. Through mishaps with parents, children and in laws, these women were forever intertwined, resulting in several unforgettable road trip adventures that will bind them till the cows come home. Should you be interested in joining this most prestigious club of sisters, the following requirements must be met for consideration. Young whippersnappers who don't know "come here from sic'em" need not apply.

1. All applicants must be at least 40 years old.

2. At least two body parts must be saggin, baggin and/or dragging.....no exceptions.

3. All applicants must have bore two or more children....Stretchmarks are worn as a badge of honor .

4. Applicants will be highly considered if she was raised around , has married into or is married to a bovine or parts thereof.

5. Gray hair or hair growing in strange places is totally acceptable and encouraged.

6. Crow's feet and laugh lines are considered respectable.

7. Applicants must be able to help her man process cattle, make a mean biscuit and grow at least five varieties of vegetables.

8. All applicants must be menopausal or at least in the throws of menopause and must misbehave at least two days a week. Remember, well behaved women rarely make history.

9. Applicants must have a fetish for chocolate, and have at least two months supply on hand for any unforeseen crisis or the crisis of a fellow sister .

10 . Last but not least, all applicants must be able to drop whatever she's doing to emotionally uplift other members of the sisterhood in a minutes notice. This includes prayer in a cornfield, coffee over the phone or drinking eggnog in the parking lot of the local farm store.

To submit your request for enrollment, simply include your credentials in the comment section and your membership will be given due consideration. Initiation will take place after the holidays and will include a potluck dinner. Till next time, adios!

Felix Navidad Ya'll !

2008-12-16T11:53:00.000-08:00

Hope this finds all of you embracing the season with a tamale in one hand and a hunk of fudge in the other!

This is my "charlie brown" poinsettia. In true form, there is indeed a story behind this poor flower. Call it a pride thing, but I decided last year I was going to keep it alive till this year if it hair-lipped the governor. Well, it is alive....not pretty, but alive. Last spring, I planted it on the north side of the house where it THRIVED! I was so proud of how big it had gotten over the summer and how many people would marvel at my ability to grow poinsettias in none other but.... New Mexico....yada yada. Yeah, well this is what happens when you transplant a tropical plant on a hot day and shock it's very being. It dried up, coughed, sputtered and like a true farmer, I just kept watering it. Well, all the leaves fell off but two and then a miraculous thing happened....it started coming alive again - musta been all the water. It still hasn't turned all red yet but I think it has a certain charm.

This is the rose poinsettia I finally found and yesiree bob I'm going to plant it and see if maybe I can almost kill this one too.

This is "Miss Hollywood" doing her thing on the rocking horse that Santa hasn't brought yet.

After a hard day of riding herd on Mamaw and terrorizing the wienie dog, she retreats to her ducky hot tub for a time of relaxation - reflecting on the day behind her and dreaming of the mischief of tomorrow.

Till next time, adios.

Busted!

2008-12-11T06:33:00.000-08:00

An amazing, wonderful thing happens when the Christmas tree goes up....especially when three of our newest family members have never seen one. `The twinkling lights and shiny ornaments are just too tempting not to touch and pretty wrapping paper proves too irresistable for a certain weinie dog.All in all it hasn't been so bad. Dogs and kids are trainable. Torn paper and broken ornaments are just par for the course - Karli has however pulled a tag or two off a gift or three and if Jake happens to open a gift that includes body butter and bikini wax, he will know he is not the recipient. Till next time, adios.

Where did the week go??

2008-12-02T06:48:00.000-08:00

All things good or bad must end....including my hot date. Guess I'll roll myself out of this hottub and prepare for the season at hand. Thanksgiving went way fast. All too quickly, kids are back in school and life is as it was. We did get some alleys built over the holiday with the help of sons and nephews. We got us a new lead up chute last summer and couldn't use it till we built some alleys and connected our hydraulic chute to this menagerie.

The weather was good, the backs of young college kids strong , and if I do say so myself, the food was good .....so there was no excuses for bad behavior or an attitude gone awry.

Finally, the very day Jake had to go back to school we got to run a few calves through for her maiden voyage as it were. Even the weinie dog had a job!
Hope your Thanksgiving was just that - a day for thanking the Good Lord for good food and family. We had 81 show up for our little feast. Had a good feed and good visit - can't ask for anything else! Till next time -adios.

Well girls, I got me a HOT date tonight!!

2008-11-09T16:13:00.000-08:00

That's right...a hot date....that will include a hot bath, with a cup of hot tea and lots of theragesic slathered all over the body parts that will hurt tomorrow. Ross trucked in the first load of feeder calves this morning and before they could turn around twice, they were herded into the chute for a round of shots, a brand and a new ear tag. My job is to keep the chute full of cattle and eartag. During the past six months, Mamaw has been head cook and bottle washer and the calloused hands that I once had are now as soft as the baby's bottom I powder and lotion every day - The steers worked up quick fast and in a hurry - the heifers however, thought it would be fashionable to enter the chute backwards. I think females of all persuasions, whether they be human, bovine, canine or feline always have a better idea on how to do things, especially irritate. To add to the mix, our little wienie dog became a self-proclaimed cowdog and nobody had the heart to tell him otherwise. There's no telling how many miles that little dog ran between the chute and the next pen, but he's sure a sleepy pup tonight. To add insult to injury, he got a bath before he was allowed into the house. He had accumulated all kinds of delicious smells and was offended when all that hard work went down the drain. Tomorrow is business as usual with the exception of taking little Karli for her 6 month shots - how fun is that - this time though, she will be big enough to hit the local Dairy Queen for an ice creme cone. Till next time, adios.

There's a jaguar on the loose!

2008-11-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

I absolutely hate Halloween and am repulsed by all the gruesome images of death - but I do get a kick out of seeing little ones dressed up in cute costumes and strutting their stuff.`I'm always glad to get this aweful day out of the way so I can focus on the season of Thanksgiving. I love all the holiday baking, the anticipation of seeing kin, and just the giddiness of it all.

`Years ago, on Halloween night, the grandparents from next door would come over and we would have a wienie roast and make smores. The kids loved rounding up the wood and getting a fire started. Some years we near froze our ornaments off . We would stand facing the fire while the back side froze - then turned around till our buns were toasted....no pun intended. Now most of my brood are off making their own memories. Grandpa and I had frito pie, apple cobbler and enjoyed playing with our little jaguar.

`Today, I'm cleaning up my flower beds for next year. Karli and Grandpa brought me a bucket load of cow manure and I'm "enriching" the soil - we have mostly gyp dirt out here so all my dirt is imported from my brother's farm in Dexter. It's hard to have farmer blood living on a ranch sometimes but it's all good in the end - you have the best of both worlds. Ya'll be good - till next time, adios.

In honor of Broken Y turning 40!!

2008-10-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love .. I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.They, too, will get old.I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

What a weekend!!

2008-10-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

Let's here it for another girlie weekend!! The passion for quilting is catching but not caught...yet. Dirtscrapper and Ranchwife invited me and Karli to tag along to the Portales quilt show on Friday. I think it's a conspiracy to get me hooked into quilt making. Conspiracy or not, I needed to get out of the house and Karli needs some serious socialization skills so..... Did I buy cloth this go round?? Yes I did..... not for a quilt but for new kitchen curtains. Oh, by the way, this is the fashion trend for all wienie dogs this fall!! Ranch wife picked out this little ensemble at the Portales Walmart after they became inspired to buy more cloth to make more cute stuff....to make me feel guilty ....oh well, wait till they see my new curtains!!

Saturday, Jake came home from college to help his dad wire and floor the trailer they just built. I just love when kids come home.......then leave. Just kidding Ranchwife....she is still in sackcloth and ashes after the second of her little fledglings flew the coop.

Sunday, we had coffee with the great-great grandmother, Jake sailed back to school with his new trailer in tow and Ross and I went to the Sarah Palin rally. We had to park almost a mile away from the Southwest Aviation hanger and then we waited in line forever.......so forever that they just led us around the hanger and we never had to go through security. I was told 10,000 people were expected at this wing-ding and standing three hours in the blazing New Mexico sun was a testament to our commitment to whatever we're commited to. After a short tadoo by Hank William's Jr.....(I think he sings better when he's had some liquid inspiration) Sarah arrived in all her glory....almost an hour fashionably late but well worth it. You go girl!!!! After we panted the last mile back to the jeep, Ross and I went out for ice cream. All in all, it was a pretty cool weekend. Till next time, adios.

Roosters from Hell....Part 3

2008-10-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

Well, Ranchwife..... now you've done it. Rooster stories are as catching as a winter colds. Arkansas Stamper shared her's - guess I'll pass my childhood memories of our obnoxious rooster - actually two of the hateful he-birds right back at ya. Had to call my brother for memory support - his encounter happened after I'd flown the roost. According to his recollection , he was in the shop one day painting a trailer....minding his own business...when the family rooster decided to pick a fight. The rooster was white, and the trailer being painted was red, and boys will be boys. You have to be creative when dealing with roosters that won't back off after being kicked, cussed and rocked. How Greg caught this rooster is between him and the rooster. What happened next, became exposed to the general public! Yep, quick, fast and in a hurry, said obnoxious rooster was sporting around a red tail - dodging under equipment and vehicles - trying to get away from the red tail that was chasing him. Finally, after pure exhaustion set in, he retreated to the hen house where he hid for a couple of days. Not sure what ever happened to him. The rooster I recall hated 4-wheelers, people, dogs.... and was an expert at reconnaissance . Just when you think you had snuck by him, he showed up doing his little "I'm the pimp-daddy dance" and doing his level best to start stuff. He did his best work when he caught you bent over picking veggies in the garden. My mom sported a scar on her hip from this rooster the rest of her life and she was 6' tall. Yeah, this rooster was an Olympian. Well his luck run out one day when he got tangled up with my mom on "one of those days". She had had enough of him and his wicked ways. Can't recall what she hit him with but his leg got broke during the battle. What happened next, I'll never understand as long as I live. Being incapacitated, this would have been the perfect opportunity to "take this bird out" but no....she felt so sorry for breaking his leg, she took this worthless rooster in, splinted his leg and nursed him back to health. Yeah, no kiddin. That bird should have been rolled in flour and fried. If roosters would just protect their hens against foxes, skunks and things of this nature, instead of terrorizing the entire barnyard, I think they would live longer, more fulfilled lives. But no..... they have to spread hate and discontent to all that enter their domain. Well, with that said, just eat more chicken. Till next time. adios.

Could NOT help myself!!

2008-10-01T08:13:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think Maxine should run for president -- she was right on with this one! Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately -- illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, alligators attacking people in Florida .. .. not me -- I concentrate on solutions for the problems-- it's a win-win situation.

* Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border. * Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the level of the levees. * Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.
Any other problems you would like for me to solve today? Yes!
Think about this:
1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments

COWS -Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wanderingaround our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.

THE CONSTITUTION -They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq ... why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS -The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this -- you cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal' 'Thou Shalt Not CommitAdultery' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians ... it creates a hostile work environment.Also, think about this ... if you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone -- YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM! It is time for America to speak up! Yep, I passed it on!

Pumpkin Bread Comes From Banana Squash??

2008-09-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure just where this idea came from - all I know is, that in all my 45 years of life and living, pumpkin pies and pumpkin bread have always come from none other than banana squash. Oh yeah - I have pictures of my brother at about age four with one almost as big as he was. When mom went to glory almost 20 years ago, the tradition stoppped and was almost forgotten. She was the one who rallied the troops in the spring to plant said squash amongst all the other stuff my brother labeled as "noxious weeds". Anyhoo, one spring, I was in the local seed store, taking in all the sights and smells of potting soil, fertilizers and such and I inquired about some banana squash seeds - sure enough, in one his many seed drawers, the clerk pulled out a package and I almost fell over!! Ain't that a cottonpicker!! Not only did I rejoice but my mother's two sisters were tickled as well. My mom came from a brood of 10 kids and they grew all their own vegetables on the farm across the river-sandy soil that grew the best watermelons and cantalope you ever tasted!! So once again, the tradition began and every year, we grow these unusual squash to make the best pumpkin pies and bread you've ever had!!

I'm going to share my pumpkin bread recipe - you can use canned pumpkin.

3 cups flour - 3 cups pumpkin

2 cups sugar - 4 eggs, well beaten

1 tsp. salt - 1 1/2 cup oil

1 tsp. soda - 1/2 chopped nuts

1/4 tsp. cloves

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix dry ingredients well, add nuts. In another bowl, mix pumpkin, eggs and oil well. Add dry ingredients; do not overmix. Pour into ungreased loaf pans. Bake at 350 for approx. 1 hour. ( I bake mine in small pans and bake about 30 minutes.)

This is kind of the kick off of Fall. My kids know when the pumpkin bread starts coming off, cooler temperatures are on their way and Jack Frost is circling! Till next time, adios!

Favorite Place Revisited

2008-09-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

Started revisiting an old favorite place of mine. I'm not sure why I quit coming here....It's the perfect place to just sit and think...... and pray for what's on my heart. I know I can pray anywhere, but I always feel closest to the Lord here; not that He isn't everywhere....He just seems to meet me here, where I'm at. As I listen to the windmill turning in the gentle breeze, and watch the water trickling out, I'm really at peace. No fancy words are required for this meeting; I've learned that wailing, pleading and fit throwing doesn't impress the heart of God, but trusting those we love the most to His care does. If He allows it, there's a lesson in it. The thing I like the most about this place and and the journey here is, nothing changes. The place is totally unaffected by politics, world disasters, the stock market, fuel prices....you get the picture. The cows follow the same trails to get here each morning, tank up on water and head out for breakfast. The flowers bloom on time, the prairie dogs are doing whatever prairie dogs do.

Oh by the way, Happy Fall Ya'll!! Yep, this is the day I've been waiting for....the calendar finally caught up with my autumn decor!! No, I won't go dig out my Christmas ornaments yet...I'm waiting for a special occasion ...like a estrogen extravaganza or a hormone meltdown. Should be any day now. Actually it's been a great week - nothing catastrophic. And since it's only monday, I am completely optimistic the rest of the week should follow suit! Well, it's now 8:00 p.m. and mamaw is officially off the clock... believe I'll head to bed!! 10 hours from now we start over - till next time, adios!

Christian one-liners

2008-09-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.****************************************************Some people are kind, polite and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.****************************************************Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.****************************************************It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.****************************************************The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.****************************************************When you get your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.****************************************************People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road and the back of the church.****************************************************Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.****************************************************Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.****************************************************If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.****************************************************God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why do you?****************************************************Some minds are like concrete; thoroughly mixed up and premanently set.****************************************************Peace starts with a smile.****************************************************I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which on you stay home from?!****************************************************A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.****************************************************We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.****************************************************Be ye fishers of men. You catch them -- He'll clean them.****************************************************Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.****************************************************Don't put a question mark where God put a period.****************************************************Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.****************************************************Forbidden fruits create many jams.****************************************************God doesn't call gthe qualified, He qualifies the called.****************************************************God grades on the cross, not the curve.****************************************************God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fuits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"****************************************************God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.****************************************************he who angers you, contols you!****************************************************If God is your Co-pilot -- swap seats!****************************************************Prayer:Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!****************************************************The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.****************************************************The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.****************************************************We don't change the message, the message changes us.***************************************************You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... discourage him.****************************************************The best mathematical equation I have ever been seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

Confession is good for the soul!

2008-09-05T09:27:00.000-07:00

Got tickled at Ranch Kid's pittiful plea for somebody, ANYBODY to take some her barn kitties off her hands. Cats are usually plentiful around our place, but I remember a time when I would have jumped over the moon for a kitten. Katie was two years old and loved cats. Her cat had wasted it's nine lives so the hunt for another "cat toy" begun. Any other time, the papers would have had cats galore to give away, but not this time. For days, I called fellow country people, poured over the local paper in hopes that someone had an overabundance of felines and would be willing to share. After a week or two I was getting desperate and did the unthinkable. Remember now, this was 15 years ago, WAY before I lived by the spirit and not the flesh.....well, anyway.....I decided to visit the local humane society. Surely, they had some cats to spare! With a mission in mind, I bundled up little Katie, and off to town we went - we would return with a cat or else! It started off innocent enough - I walked in there like I owned the place and.......Lied. Yes I did. I told them I was looking for my cat..... which I knew was probably scattered over two sections by now.....and who could resist a cute little blond haired girl with dog-ears and a sweet smile. Yep, they let us go back to "look for my cat" .... alone. We ventured back into the "cat house" and wouldn't you know there was baby kitties of every color, in every pen. Poor kitties, I thought - locked up in these little ole pens, with nobody to love them.....such a shame....they would be so much better at my house.....good food...clean water...room to run around...yeah, you know where this is going. And like I said we were all alone....no supervision....being trusted. I was fixing to be involved in a catnapping. I know what you're thinking - I should have considered "adopting" a kitty but they wanted $35.00 to cover the mandatory spay fee. Well, I didn't want my cat spayed. I wanted all parts in tact so maybe I wouldn't be back in this predicament - maybe I wanted to have baby kitties so I could give kitties away...you know, to other people in need of a cat. You can justify most anything if you think about it long enough! I spotted a potential candidate and started shaking....I knew it was wrong.....I looked around to see if anyone was looking .... Do you know how hard it is to unlock kennel pens with one hand? I grabbed this poor baby cat and stuffed it in my coat and walked out to the office. I can't believe I'm telling this. Nervously, I explained my cat wasn't there...rambling....the cat was working up the arm of my coat and started meowing.....so I gently patted Katie on the bottom and said "Hush Katie, momma is talking"......yeah I know...I dashed outside shaking so bad I couldn't get my truck unlocked. Got cat and kid loaded up and zigzagged around the neighborhood in case they had discovered a missing cat and might be following - no, my conscience wasn't bothering me and I'm not making this up. After the 15 mile trip home, I had settled down some - but as I turned off onto our little dirt road - coming down the road...no kidding...never happened before or since...was a State Police car. I was about to have a litter of kittens....would have saved me alot of time and trouble had I done that first! I smiled and waved, broke into a cold sweat, and burned down the road to the house - ran in, totally out of breath and demanded to know what the state police was doing out here!! Ross looked at me and said...."what did you do"?? I let the cat out of the bag so to speak, and my husband was shocked and amazed that his wife would do such a thing... and drag a two year old as an accomplice. He had no idea why a police car would be on our road, other than maybe he was trying to find a bush. You know, that cat turned out to be mean and hateful and I think I ended up shooting him. All Ross could say was....you get what you pay for. I hope Karli 's cat takes care of her remaining seven lives.... maybe I need to talk to Ranch Kid about a cat! Till next time, adios.

"On the seventh day He rested"

2008-08-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

Well, it's indeed the seventh day and I too am going to rest. Life can be hard and unpredictable, but God is good. He has shown His mighty hand in the lives of several friends and family this week; and in the days in which we live, it seems like every family we know is going through something monumental; testing faith and trust. I've had a little bit of trouble in that area myself. Being the control freak that I am, I seem to always be trying to advise the Lord in areas I know nothing about.
Went to town yesterday, and should have had the flashers going, warning everyone there was a mamaw on the loose, and she might be armed and dangerous. I had several things I needed to do, had already put in a full day and was about as friendly as a horny toad. Well, I backed out and ran over the cat....yessserrrii bob....this is going to be a fun day!! Got to town...got to the grocery store....no debit card and only enough cash to pick up the green chili I was after in the first place. Called Katie and she was headed to town - said she would meet me at the farm store with my card. Meanwhile, I headed out to Hobson's Gardens to get my yearly supply of roasted chili, and was two bucks short...good thing we haul all their hay - Got home finally....in one piece, got a few groceries, twenty gallons of water, got my chili put up and and I think I'll make some chili rellenos today for dinner. Got a green chili stew on the stove...it's a cloudy, cool morning and that just sounds good to me. Till next time...adios!

Bless Sarah's pea-pickin' heart!

2008-08-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

It's 11:00 am and I've yet to get my clothes on. What am I doing sitting here blogging instead of all the necessary stuff that lies before me?? This is day three of "Operation Mamaw" in which I care for my daughter's three month old while she's in school. I have forgotton how much work babies are. After the third bottle and four chorus' of the "cuppy-cake song", I thought of Abraham's wife Sarah. At age 99 she became eligible for her yearly "Mother's Day" card and as I'm trying to get dinner ready for the hay-hauling crew, fold clothes, and do my normal morning chores, while trying to get a sleepy, but clearly not cooperating baby down for a desperately needed nap, I was wondering how Sarah managed to "keep up". Karli threw her first out-right, no holes barred, out of the park, temper fit this morning. They say that a baby rattlesnake's venom is just as dangerous as a big snake's. Well, I think in those terms, that estrogen levels of baby girls are just as potent as a full grown woman's - maybe even more so. She come undone now..... not to worry....this is not my first rodeo. Now back to Sarah....what was she thinking?? I 'm not EVEN going to pretend to understand God's ways, or his timing....but as for me and my household, timing is EVERYTHING! And.... time is getting away from me. I have a lot to do before the little princess wakes up and starts ruling her kingdom with an iron fist. Till next time. adeos.

New Beginnings

2008-08-06T05:59:00.000-07:00

Most of the world recognizes January 1st as the day of new beginnings. We start organizing our business ledgers for the upcoming year, start diets, shed bad habits, start exercise regimens and all sorts of new firsts to ensure the new year starts on the right foot. Great-great-grandmother Lillian even brings us over a can of black-eyed peas and expects each member of the family to choke down at least one pea for "good luck". As autumn approaches, I realize that most new beginnings around my house begins in August. This is the month we prepare to entrust our children to institutes of higher learning at various places to obtain a little white piece of paper so the world will recognize that we have "arrived" - not sure where anymore, but somewhere. I spend more $$ on computers, school supplies, clothes, bedding, appliances, ect. than I do at Christmas. We have invested a lifetime in preparing our kids for this moment - when they drive off by themselves to a new city, new school, new house of which they will be responsible for (scary thought) ; they will have to set up their own class schedule of which they will have the freedom to attend.... or not attend (they so better be in class EVERYDAY). They will have to put themselves to bed (hopefully at a decent hour) get themselves up, fix their own meals if they want to eat, do their own laundry.....well at least keep it gathered up so I can tend to it on weekends, and generally take care of their own sweet selves. No more curfews, kisses out the door with a reminder to be careful coming home, no more "what sounds good for dinner?" or "let's go swimming this afternoon!" Oh well, they can walk out the door, but they always leave good memories that stick around till they come bouncing back home on weekends. Katie has one more year in the Roswell Independent School District, of which I'm not real sad. Highschool is a scary place in the times we live in and I'll be glad when she is out of that environment known as a ses pool. I will have the privilege of watching little Karli all day - that will be a first. I've started my geritol regimen in hopes I'll be up to the challenge of a baby all day. No worries..... Ben will be leaving for Afganistan in March so we've already begun getting him ready for deployment. He finished 2nd in his Airborne school this past weekend and has two more schools to go to before he earns his wings. Then he's planning to go to Wisconsin in January for a refresher course in his combat medic field. I'm proud of the way the Good Lord is working in the lives of my kids, preparing them for what lies ahead, and the fact that He still let's me be somewhat involved in the preparation process. Me..... my new beginnings start afresh each day - that's the only way I can survive sanity. Lamentations 3:23 - "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." Till next time, adios.

A few things I really don't like!

2008-07-27T15:29:00.000-07:00

This week's blog was inspired by this afternoon's activity. What happens when you take your favorite dog out for a four-wheeler ride to the closest windmill to go swimming?? You get to shovel tank mud. Don't make much sense, does it! Actually, I'm glad we discovered this problem, and I know the cows standing around looking longingly into an empty drink tub appreciated it too. Didn't take long to fix. Ross and Jake had it going within fifteen minutes or so. The check had backed off the sucker rod and since our water is only 20 feet deep, it was no biggie.
Moving right along, in the most prestigious spot of number two, is none other than....flies. Yep, those pesky critters that fly up your nose while you're trying to water your roses, biting you on the ankles, dive bombing while you sleep...yeah those. Not sure what purpose they serve other than making you feel justified when you smear their little guts all over the freezer door...that was gross.... but I don't think there is enough insecticide in the known world to kill off this vermin.
Can I have a drum roll please.....topping the list at number one is probably the most awful, boring, back-breaking..... rather have a butt-whipping than do this ....job. But here it is - none other than.... ironing. Yep that's right. I've had some pretty ugly jobs in my life - shoveling out a silage trailer full of corn in 100 degree weather, fighting flies and such, shoveling out cowtruck trailers full of @#%$^ in 100 degree weather, fighting flies and such....seems as though around here all jobs involve hot temperatures and flies. Anyhoo, ironing is the one job, if I could hire done, I would. Let's here it for polyester blends!! Till next time, adios.

Ross, it's time to come home!

2008-07-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

It's been five days since Ross sailed out of here with one of his good buddies for an adventure of a lifetime. They left out early Monday morning heading to Ocala, Florida with a load of hay - then dropped down to Ocheechobee to pick up a load of calves for Oklahoma. Florida is one of the few states Ross has never visited, so this invitation was irresistable. I assured him we could handle whatever arose and so far we have. But.....it's time for him to come home. Doubt they'll have near the fun me and my buds have on one of our roadtrips but......they are men....and they'll do the best they can. It will take them a week to have all the fun we have in one day. Speaking of roadtrips, Ranchwife, Dirtscrapper and I decided to take a short daytrip to the nearest quiltshop within 90 miles a couple weeks ago. Little did we know, the quilt shop was closed on monday. We had no cattle crews to feed, no hay to haul, and here we were with all this time on our hands. Well, the only logical thing to do was to head on to Lubbock, Tx. When in doubt, keep on driving! Since we all have limited bladder control, we stop when we want - every ten miles if necessary. We eat when and where we want. If the mall calls , we answer. There is no time limit in the prissy panty section, and if by chance we need a starbucks, or a nibble of chocolate to keep our strength up for the rest of the day, so be it. We did find the elusive material Dirtscrapper needed to start her quilt. We could have looked for cute baby material and such if Ranchwife had of spilled the beans about being a granny 200 miles sooner......yeah she's still in hot water...... but I guess I'll have to completely forgive her as soon as I get my pie......thought I forgot huh?! Ha! All in all, it was a good day....a needed day by all. We've decided to make this a monthly thing.....better time this carefully. If we synchronize to closely, we might get thrown out of another small town. Anyhoo, till next time, adios.

Totally untitled - don't know where this will go!

2008-07-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

Is peace the absence of chaos or just chillin' in the midst of an impending storm? Not sure? Well neither am I but at the moment I do believe I'm experiencing some of it. The lull is welcome, but I'm a bit suspicious of it. GI son is doing his Nat'l Guard stuff, Ross is reading a book, Katie is napping(recovering from last night and preparing for tonite) Jake is out chasing rabbits on the 4-wheeler and Karli is sleeeping peacefully on my bed. My house and yard are clean and my laundry is caught up. No, I'm not bragging, I'm just....thankful. Tomorrow we will have a Bar-B-Que for, and in honor of, a close friend's family that has truly known what chaos is. They have survived two unspeakable tragedies in their lives and today they will put a close to the last one. They have been tested and have a testamony. I, on the otherhand, if being tested like that would just have the "mony". Tragedy either makes you bitter, or better. And I have found that you can't be pitiful and powerful at the same time. A choice always has to be made. This family has chosen the high road and allowed the Lord to make them better for it and a powerful testament that when you're going through hell, don't slow down - just keep on keepin' on till you get to the other side. I admire their strength and friendship, and it has been a privilege to walk by their side all these years. Till next time, adios.

Did little Jesus have a Mamaw?

2008-07-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

With Christmas only six months away, I was singing "Away in a Manger" on the way to the hayfield one day last week, and strange as it seems, I began to ponder Christ's birth. Where was Jesus's Mamaw during His birth? If Joseph was to be registered in his ancestral home, it would seem to me that at least "his" parents would have been present for this most special event in their lives. And while we're at it, where was Mary's momma? Was she with Mary's daddy at a local camel convention somewhere, or being registered elsewhere?? It just seem to me that a mamaw should have been close by.....somewhere. I do realize the use of cell phones were not an option in those days but honestly girls.....you see my point. Since becoming a mamaw myself a few short weeks ago, I have discovered that I "ooze" wisdom in "all" areas of life......including those areas that I know nothing about.....and Mary should have had the benefit of a mother's advise on......oh say nursing, fussy babies, etc.... Lucky for Joseph, she was AWOL.

And then, I was rocking Karli this morning, just watching her as she slept. I kept looking at her little hands and feet, fascinated with how small and delicate they are. I know Mary did the same thing. Untold hours were spent just adoring Jesus while he slept. I wonder if she realized that someday those precious hands and feet would be pierced; that the brow she kissed each day would have a crown of thorns placed on it, and his soft, sweet skin that she so tenderly bathed would be striped for all mankind. I have a great deal of respect for this woman, being between God's purposes, and her role as a mother. I kind of wonder though, if she was like one of our ranch cow mamas. She has no idea that her baby is going to be branded, cut, and ear marked; that in the fall, a cowtruck will come rolling down the road to take the baby she has nursed, protected and befriended to places unknown - to fulfill the purpose for which he was created -to feed mankind. All she knows is that right now, her baby needs her to provide milk for a hungry belly, shelter from the storms , protection from wild critters and a spit bath each morning.

If she, so unselfishly, could invest so much of herself into the life of the child that would save my old hide, I believe I can invest more time into the lives of others. Till next time, adios

PMS to Fall Decorating...go figure

2008-06-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

Can't explain it - not even gonna to try. Woke up PMS'n and in a few`short hours...just plain MS'N (don't believe that is a network) which led to today's "fall decorating". Yes I know it's not fall. We're barely out of spring but something had to give. This oppressive heat is killing me and there's just something about the color of fall that lends a feeling that cool weather is on it's way. When I went out into the container to get my oakleaves and pinecones and such, it was all I could do to stay out of the Christmas decor. I do believe my family would have had me committed.... but as long as there is refigerated air I really don't care. Gotta go....I think my carpet is dry enough to start putting my furniture back....yes I even shampooed the carpet. Have heart, my sanity is due back Saturday morning about 9:00 a.m. and only Ranch Wife knows why! Till next time...adios

Hay - it's what's for dinner - if you're a milk cow!

2008-06-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

Got up froggy-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to give ya'll a glimpse of a typical day in our hay-hauling lives - grabbed the camera, my coffee cup and out the door we went! It's a twenty mile drive from our house at the ranch to East Grand Plains, a farming community east of Roswell. We park our hay trucks at a farmer friend's barn so they'll be handy. Thought I'd snap a picture of a hayfield to start this adventure. Lo and behold - no battteries- I literally asked the Lord to please "show up" with some batteries - AA to be exact. After searching high and low in the other trucks, I jumped into my truck disgusted at the thought of no batteries, no pictures and no blog. Well ain't that a cottonpicker! No kidding - I looked on the dashboard of the truck - and there's two AA bateries sitting there.....no way.... crazy awesome thing to happen. Never saw them before. Didn't look a gift horse in the mouth - thanked the Good Lord for my batteries, loaded 'em up and headed to the field.
Our family started Carpenter Custom Hauling over ten years ago. We started off with two trucks, hauling triticale silage in the spring and corn silage in the fall with a cow haul and a little hay hauling mixed in there for good measure. With the passing of each year, our hay acreage increased to the point that after nine years of "chop hauling" we decided to sell our silage rigs and focus on hay hauling. We now haul hay and oats for twelve different farmers in the East Grand Plains and Dexter area, delivering these loads to several of the thirteen dairies in our area. There are generally six cuttings of hay each year and we've hauled up to thirty-one loads in one day. Alfalfa hay is New Mexico's #1 cash crop and averages $200.00 per ton.
Today we're hauling hay to Three Amigos Dairy in Dexter. It is one of of the largest dairies in the area, milking 4,600 cows each day. They feed 66 bales a day of hay, barley and oats, along with corn silage, and all the goodies from the commodity barn. Most of the milk in the valley goes to Laprino Foods, one of the largest mozzarella cheese factories. They receive 90 to 120 tanker loads of milk each day, and each tanker carries 6,000 gallons of milk. Leprino is also the largest US exporter of whey products.
Well, there you have it folks! Next time you pour yourself a tall glass of cold milk, remember somehow, it all started in a hayfield! Till next time, adios!

Whew! Hotter 'n hell?

2008-06-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

No, it probably wasn't hotter 'n hell but when you work in 106 degree heat with a steady wind blowing, it sure makes you glad you're saved!! I look at all the beauty the good Lord puts in front of me everyday and wonder how people miss the love of God. Then I haul hay all day in this blistering heat and wonder how people miss the judgement of God. I guess Christians just naturally pick up on all this symbolism and see the spiritual side of everything. When you work in agriculture, God just shows up. He may be found in a beautiful sunrise or a rainbow after a good rain. I see Him when a mother cow licks her new baby off, or in a wheat field waving in the wind. Looking up at the sky on a moonless night never ceases to amaze me. Can't imagine how anyone could think this world showed up by chance. Well, cottonpicker is plumb smooth wore out so I'm calling it a day. Till next time, adios.

Five generations

2008-05-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

Well, it took an act of Congress and a small miracle to gather this bunch long enough for a picture. Hard to believe the matriarchs of our family grew up without the luxuries of running water and electricity - not to mention central air and a satellite dish....internet, microwave, cell phone....the list could go on and on. It was a different world indeed and I think in some ways better. It seems we spend more time working for the things that make our lives easier. Makes no sense does it!! I expect my coffee to be done by 7:00am, after I roll out of my sleep number bed {my number is 45}, I set our central air on 72 degrees and my dvr receiver records my favorite shows during the night so they're ready to watch at my convenience. I enjoy my hot baths, washer, dryer, and all the other conveniences we Americans are accustomed to. If I could somehow be thrown back in time about a hundred years, I'm not sure I could manage myself, much less a family. By the same token, if these saint of old were to come visit us, I'm not real sure they would be too impressed with us either. Makes you wonder what the world will be like during the thousand year reign when Christ is the "Commander in Chief"! Will this world hold the simplicity of ages old, or am I going to have my sleep number bed in my mansion?? Just wondering.....till next time, adios.

A few of my favorite things!

2008-05-21T19:36:00.000-07:00

A while back, Ranch Wife challenged us all to post a few of our favorite things. It's not that I chose not to participate in this group effort, but like a good stew, you must throw a few things in the pot occasionally and let them simmer a while. As good as that sounds, the truth of the matter is, all I had to throw in my pot was hog jowls, possum and greens. A bad attitude had absolutely nothing to do with my lack of recognizing the blessings in my life...well, maybe I was a bit short sighted. However, I am happy to report that the scales have fallen off my eyeballs and I am ready to return to my normal sweet self. { You can wipe the smirk off your face at any time Ranch Wife} Not to sound overly sentimental, but the past two weeks have allowed me to appreciate what is truly important in this life and I am investing my time and efforts more wisely. Karli has absolutely nothing to do with that either. {You can quit gigglin too Dirt Scrapper} I believe with all my heart that a woman's first and only priority is to rock whatever baby is in their home at the time. It is only when this baby no longer wants to be rocked that we invent hobbies to take the place of this most wonderful but short lived task. Rocking tends to get a little difficult however, when they are 6'4" and weigh over 200 lbs. but it can still be done with a little finagling . Another favorite thing is sitting on the front porch with my husband in the cool of the evening and just visiting. In this day and age with all the busyness and such, we tend to become preoccupied with life and living and we neglect those we live with. I tend to do that on purpose occassionally, but we'll pick that one up another time. I also love the sound of thunder, flashing lightning, the smell of an imenent rain storm and the sound of rain running off the tin roof of the house . I love road trips with special friends.....as long as they behave themselves. I love to watch puppies play, homemade icecream, swimming in a stocktank, the dust boiling down the road of a kid coming home for the summer...... and at times the dust boiling the other direction as they make their way back to college. I love New Mexico sunrises and sunsets, snowstorms and everything about Christmas. I've even been known to play Christmas in July. I love riding in the tractor with my brother, the smell of a hayfield, the satisfaction of a job well done. Last, but not least I love the Lord for all He has blessed me with and the opportunity to fellowship with the sweet souls that I have met through this blogging adventure. Till next time, adios.

Kids, Cows and More

2008-05-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

So there I was girls, one arm behind her head and the other under her leg, counting down from ten with each contraction.......cheering her on and fussing at her to push harder. I've birthed a bunch of critters in my day, but never one of my own. And for all you potential grandmothers out there, it's best not to joke about having ob chains and prolapse needles out in the pickup. Really.... nobody will think it's funny but you. { Don't ask me how I know.} Honestly, nobody has a sense of humor these days. I must say, my last blog was a bit sentimental.....I think I was lactating at the time. Speaking of lactating, I believe Katie's milk has finally arrived. The past few hours of tears and frustration explains much of the bad behavior of my favorite milk cow Abigail, {may she rest in peace} after she calved and I milked her for the first time.... only Katie hasn't kicked me or stepped in my milk bucket yet. The hormone hell we endured two months earlier pales in comparison to what we are experiencing now. And this too shall pass..quickly I hope. It's been three days now and I believe I am regenerating the loss of active brain cells. With each bottle washed, diaper changed and kiss given, I am slowly getting back to normal... whatever normal is. With that said, I believe Karli needs another kiss....and probably a diaper change.

Mamaws ain't not cool

2008-05-10T19:54:00.000-07:00

Got a new perspective on the title, word, meaning and responsibility of the word "Grandma", or "Mamaw" as I have chosen to be called. Used to when I heard this word, a little fragile blue haired woman with a cane, a cat and the smell of "tonic" came to mind. Now however, after enduring twenty-seven of the longest, most heart wrenching, wonderful hours of my life, I see "Mamaw" as great strength, wisdom, agility, endurance, compassion and tireless sacrifice. How this little seven pound bundle no bigger than a sack of sugar can capture one's heart so completely in the matter of minutes is a complete mystery to me, but I'm here to say, it's worth it all!

Running buck naked

2008-05-06T17:35:00.000-07:00

Ever feel like running buck naked down the road wearing nothing but a smile? Try not to picture that, but that's kinda how I feel today. It's been a rather long haul lately and I know the Good Lord has promised not to give us more than we can bear but sometimes I think He gets mighty close. Ya know what a full bucket of milk looks like after you've let it sit a while? The good, the bad and the ugly rises to the top of the bucket. If you don't strain it and get the "stuff" out, you can't enjoy the milk or the cream. I kinda feel like I've been being strained. Not that I'm complaining though, because it's been a good thing. When your plate get's full, you have a tendency to prioritize what's important and bunk the junk. You just don't have the time nor the energy to fret the small stuff. Plus, I think being tired keeps your mind straight. Ross has a good friend who's dad was the foreman of the Diamond A Cattle Company some years ago. Come Saturday afternoon about four o'clock, a truckload of sack feed would come rolling in. Those boys had to unload the truck before they could go out that night. No coincidence there! Well, I guess I've finally come to the place of taking one day at a time and blooming wherever I'm planted at the moment. My circumstances haven't changed, but I have found that I can blossom purt near anywhere, doing anything. When you finally let go and let God have the reins of your life and quit trying to ride herd on everything and everybody, you can rest even when you're working hard. Also, I have finally discovered that I cannot and should not fix everything that happens in the lives of my sweet but adventurous offspring anymore. Oh, it used to be easy. When the kids were little, there was nothing a bandaid and a kiss couldn't fix. What I wouldn't give for a bandaid big enough to cover all their teenage bumps and bruises. So I did the only thing I could think of at the time and gave 'em back to Lord and told Him I'd done the best I could do, and He could handle them from here...... and He has but I have a tendency to offer my advise when I think He needs it.... which He doesn't ...just makes me feel like I'm helping. Anyway, back to the buck naked part. We got two inches of rain last night so I got the whole day to myself....in town....getting groceries...not in a hayfield....so there ya have it. Till next time, adios.

It's a conspiracy!

2008-04-23T13:59:00.000-07:00

Today was my "senior citizen's day" in that I take Odd Chick's husband's father to the doctor and do the Walmart, Sam's, FCM, and feed store thing. Odd Chick is married to my brother so you can figure it out. I sailed by Odd Chick and Greg's house for a quick cup of java before starting the obstacle course before me. Like Ranch Wife, I have an......adversion, to the unusual sights and sounds that often, well always, awaits me in town. I've never considered myself snooty but I guess I do have some prejudices against trans...everything! Like oil and water, some people were simply not meant to be stirred together in confining places. For example, we let our milk cows out to pasture one summer when we dried them up and the ranch cows never hung out with the milk cows. They separated themselves on purpose - not one class of cows being better or worse than the other, just different. My brother assured me there was not some evil conspiracy against me - memos were not being sent out for all the gangbangers, druglords and trans...things to take their positions throughout the city to purposely on purpose irritate me and make my day unbearable. Now that I'm home and the groceries are put away, I am thankful I don't live amongst all the wierdness. By the same token, I'm sure their are a few people who are thankful I'm home as well. Till next time, adios.

The albatross has landed!

2008-04-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

Katie has been dreaming of her first prom since grade school. Prom is now only one week away and the albatross I left on my kitchen table, was there waiting for me this morning, squawking "Fix Me"! It was a thing of beauty when I bought it. Even though it was more than two sizes too big, my thick German blood assured me that at THAT price I could fix anything. A prom dress is a ridiculous investment considering it will be worn only for a couple of hours and there's really nothing else you can wear it to. This dress, I thought was a Godsend, in that it was handmade for a young lady that at the last minute decided not to go to prom, and the dress shop was asking very little for it. There is really no telling how many hours of blood, sweat and tears the seamstress poured into six layers of lace, netting and intricate beading, only to find her masterpiece in a second hand shop. All I can measure is the amount of blood, sweat and tears I have poured out altering this.... well, it's now a done deal and it best fit.
Before I dared this gnarly task, I first had to have the necessary support of my ever faithful cheering squad. "In this corner, weighing in with a mop bucket in one hand and a phone in the other is Ranch Wife, advising me to quit being a a sissy and jump right in!" In the other corner, baking cookies and homeschooling, was Dirtscrapper counseling me with inspiring phrases of encouraging promise." Sometimes, you just have to "pull up your big girl panties and deal with it!" I will post pictures of this dress come Saturday nite and all the hoopla that goes with this most anticipated event. Till then, adios.

Hormone Hell

2008-04-17T12:14:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure exactly what a hormone is, but I know I've got more than my share. And when the hormones of every female in our house combine their military strength, it's an awesome force of nature! In my opinion, I believe hormones are responsible for nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these truly are the beginning of sorrows. Hormones can take a happy-go-lucky 17 year old girl to a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. And there are days when the only difference between the usual sweet nature of the women of this family and a growling junk yard dog is lipstick! I simply don't understand it. And you cannot predict these bouts of insanity. However, through many years of intensive research of this scary phenomenon, I've found that numerous hugs, kisses and a pound or more of chocolate revives peace negotiations, ending the hostilities against all innocent members in the household. There is no way to predict how long this state of bliss will last, but as we all know, it doesn't last long. My advise is only to "speak your mind and ride a fast horse." Till next time, adios.

Divine Adventures

2008-04-16T16:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a divine appointment and didn't know you were even scheduled for one? Only when you are in the middle of a said appointment do you recognize what it is, and later understand why you needed one. They are always unexpected and usually wierd.... in a wonderful sort of way. That very thing happened to me yesterday. With fuel prices as they are, going to town is only when a hunger mutiny is eminent. Ross was headed to Datil, NM to pick up some syrup troughs from Elliot and Evelyn McMaster, and asked if I wanted to go. I'm all for scaring up an adventure if the opportunity arises so at 4:00 am I was up and raring to go! Ok, so I wasn't raring ..... or up. Truth is, Ross had to threaten to leave me behind if I didn't get up. We sailed out of here by 5:00 am, pups and snacks in tow and five hours later we landed in the thriving village of Datil; then drove ten miles back into headquarters. What a beautiful place; a testament to fifty years of marriage and remodeling. Evelyn greeted me with a "I haven't seen you since your mother used to come visit me with you in the basket on the front of her bicycle! Can't say I remember that! Apparently, she grew up with my mom and they had been great friends all through school. She shared her memories with me of two farm girls with wind blown hair, riding a school bus, going to dances.... doing all that young girls do. You never think of your mom as a giddy school girl with hopes and dreams or a young mother with her whole life ahead of her. Nineteen years have passed since I lost my mom and I've allowed life and livin to rob me of alot of precious memories. I don't think they're forgotten but occassionally I need to be reminded of those special times we shared and the wonderful, caring woman she was. She shaped me into the wife and mother that I am today. Her struggles developed in her the strength to face the day before her and are a reminder to me to never give up on those I love. I wish she could have watched my kids grow up and selfishly I wish she could have been here with me through some of the "stuff" life tends to throw at you but the Lord's timing is always perfect. I never have believed in coincidences and certainly would have never believed that 250 miles away....a gift was wrapped up in a new friend named Evelyn; memories of a woman I didn't know but loved till the day she died.

Changing gears

2008-04-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

After two days of baggin saggin and draggin, I've decided this day to be more uplifting and supportive; you know, like a good bra. There's alot to be said about a good supportive bra especially if you've nursed a few babies and these now older kids have talked you into...maybe jumping on the trampoline, or going horseback; or you've endured driving down a washed out dirt road, in a wore out pickup with no shocks. No imagination needed here! Back to the uplifting part....I woke up this morning bugged eyed and bushy tailed and ready to start the day. We had a wonderful time at Cowboy Church last night - good food, fellowship, music , and a good message to chew on. Katie came home from work safely (I always worry about her driving in so late) and both pups slept all night. The morning shows no promises of a windless day, and there is no prospect of rain but I am thankful for this day. I am blessed with healthy kids, a godly husband and priceless friends I would not trade anything for. " In a way, friendships are kinda like a favorite bra....They're hard to find, and sometimes hard to fit. But once you find a good one, you don't ever want to give it up!" Till next time, adios.

"This is the day the Lord has made....

2008-04-11T12:41:00.000-07:00

....we will rejoice and be glad in it"......along with the wind, dirt, sand and manure. As friend, foe or family can tell you, I try my level best to see my bucket as half full, not empty. Along with most agriculture entrepreneurs, we would love to see our bucket overflowing with rain water instead of the brief list mentioned above. I hear people complaining all the time about the weather; in grocery store lines, at salebarns, farmstores, and I have on occasion caught myself complaining after trying to water my young plants that are laying horizontal to the dry ground after a 60 mph wind. Seems my whole adult life has been spent looking for rain clouds. And up to this point, after keen observation, and years of experience, I have come to the conclusion that my complaining does not prompt the hand of God to expedite a good old fashioned "turd floater" . May I even go so far as to say that I believe complaining hinders His desire to bless us. I bet my attitude must remind Him of at least one of the children of Isreal who wandered in the winderness whining about the weather, the menu, this , that and something else and they didn't even have cheese to go with their "whine"! All that got them was another trip around the mountain. Good thing their boot leather didn't wear out! I really need to find within myself that place where I can rejoice in all things, knowing full well that the Lord knows my needs even better than I do. He hasn't forgotten we need rain but will supply all our needs according to His wonderful purpose. Till then, keep looking up and keep the feed wagons rolling! Adios.

Ah, the life of a dog!

2008-04-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

What is it between the human race and dogs? I know from personal experience that there are few people I choose to jeehaw with, but it seems with the canine species I always feel right at home. I genuinely prefer their company over most people. They greet you with a smile in the morning, don't care what you fix for breakfast and are happy with whatever you have planned for the day as long as they're included. They don't care how ugly or fat you are, if you are wearing the latest trend or not; actually they like you better if you have on your "shit boots" and some interesting smells from the cow pen as an accessory.

When I left the house this morning heading to town, I decided to take both pups with me. The wind was howling already and since they are not quite house broke, leaving them inside is not an option just yet. I had several stops to make and both pups behaved themselves better than most of the kids and adults I was forced to have encounters with.

And another thing.....dogs don't bogart the remote control; they're content watching a chick flick....... for the fourth time already; they are ready to go to bed anytime you're ready...whatever! They are not demanding or selfish. They love you more than they love themselves, and they do not hold a grudge. They appreciate all that you do for them and have no superfluous expectations.

At the end of the day, when you're all "peopled out", the best therapy in the world is sitting in an easy chair, scratching on a lap dog. Your lap dog may be two pounds or 200 pounds but something almost magical happens between your fingertips and your heart. Till next time, adios.

Yeehaw for Yo-Yo's

2008-04-08T15:38:00.000-07:00

It's only taken me three days to recover from Ranch Wife and my trip to the panhandle of Texas. While browsing at all the quilting paraphanalia at the show, we got the bright idea that we could make yo-yo's quick fast and in a hurry. We thought of all the cute accessories we could make for ourselves, daughters and grandaughters......hint hint Jen. It became a regular feeding frenzy at the material rack matching this with that...the possibilities were endless! Well girfriends, let me tell you what.....that little yo-yo doodad is not only complicated but my first yo-yo looks like a night cap for a mouse. The instructions are in four different languages -one of which should be simple enough to grasp. All I can say is....well, that's a cottonpicker.

Thinking that I could rise to the top of the bucket, I decided to hook up my wireless router to my computer. Ranch wife and I had gone round and round with the salesmen at Curcuit City in which we refused to buy any extras for anything! One of the said items I refused to buy was a "walk ya thru it instructions" for $80.00 which I balked at. I may not have stayed at the Holiday Inn Express but I thought I was swavey enough to read thru the prompts and intall my handy dandy router. Well thirty minutes and three meltdowns later I broke down and called the 1-800 number and immediately got hooked up with an Asian gal who spoke broken english. Is there a reason why these multi-million dollar companies can't hire SOMEBODY that can speak ENGLISH??? Anyhoo, she managed to walk me through the complicated process of revamping the systems thereof. Not sure who was more frustrated- her or me but we got' er done! And just for the record, I believe Ranch wife has impuned my honor and must be shot!
I never once embarrassed, harassed, confused, or otherwise discredited her in any possible manner....she's was clearly hopped up on caffeine and sugar and was just being mean and hateful. But I too am a forgiving person and will offer her the peace pipe as soon as she publicly apologizes to me...and makes me a coconut creme pie. Well, till we meet again, adios.

I Love Sundays!

2008-04-06T12:38:00.000-07:00

I just love Sundays. It's like a spring morning and mom's apple pie all wrapped up in one. We're all generally a bit more laid back on this holy morning. We get the coffee on before Grandmother Lillian comes over for breakfast. Ross and David get the feedlot cattle fed and then we enjoy a good visit with those that are up and about. At this season in our lives, we faithfully tune in to the Cornerstone Church on Sunday morning and share what we have gleaned from that weeks sermon. My time of prayer is while I am watering my young flowers, thanking the Good Lord for the day before me and praying that a good rain is on it's way. He waters everything so much better than I do anyway. I thank Him for the provision He has made in the lives of my children. They are all at different crossroads in their lives and I marvel at way He tends to each of their needs individually. Like a packet of mixed wildflowers, they are all different but beautiful in their own way. Sometimes they are fragrant and sometimes they are not .....they grow at their own pace, bloom when they're supposed to, not when I think they should, and hopefully they will produce good seed that brings glory to God and blessings to all those they encounter.

Dedicated to the "Ranch wife..... loving life at the end of the dirt road"

2008-04-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

Well girls, here you have it. I've only been at this for three solid hours. There are no words to describe this experience except....well there are no words!! In the last 48 hours I have E-mailed my first set of pictures to Walgreens, did an online Bible Study, and now I'm an official blogger....sorta. Only time will tell. Karin, Marquita, and Sarah.... thankyou....I think!