Parents

Please tell me that there is still parents out there with some sanity in them?

It drives me nuts when I see kids running amuck. Parents seem to have lost control. Isn't there a reason why your the parent?

Kids kicking and screaming in department stores because they want a toy. What happens? The parent caves and gives them the toy. What does that teach the child? That they now know how to manipulate their parent. And that's not even a teenager.

I think there needs to be a parent revival where parents start being parents again. Teach your children manners. Teach them discipline. Show them how to be a good adult by raising them. The lack of morals, responsibilities, and the attitudes that I see shock me.

I would never get away with any of that as a kid. Heck, I still wouldn't get away with it today. My parents would kick my butt.

Come on parents. Give the other adults around you a break. We shouldn't have to raise your kids for you.

I'd rather have a kid like this:

Any day.

Public Restrooms

I dislike them.

Let's just be completely honest. There isn't anyone who can be comfortable in one. Maybe it's different for guys. As I was sitting in one today I couldn't help but start writing this post in my head. I don't know if that's weird or just the fact that my mind gets a little focused on the hilarity of certain things that happen in my life. 

Walking into a public restroom is like being a spy on a mission. You get in, accomplish your task, and get out as fast as possible. Hopefully without being spotted by the person (because your never lucky enough to be alone in there) in the next stall. Why would this be important? Chances are your not just getting out with doing #1. 

You know what I mean. Toot, drop a bomb, run out of toilet paper, get a visit from Mother Nature, and several other unmentionables I am sure. Not to mention what could happen if seated upon the dreaded automatic flush. 

That's the whole reason your forced to use a public restroom in the first place. It's an emergency. An embarrassing, torturing, short visit, but when your on the go and have to go....sometimes the only thing you can do is just flush that pride down the toilet.

NEWWORLDSON ~ Learning To Be The Light

Okay last song for the day. Yeah, I found it. Took me a minute to stop everything as I am multitasking and play the words in my head. Funny how things like this song then come up in a sermon I hear from Kevin Weatherby on why we should Quit Going To Church, you'll hear what he means by clicking the link. Coincidence? I think not.

It is hard all of the time to be the light. When you are naturally though, it shines through. It can't be hidden. I've known this since I was a child singing "this little light of mine.." Now I've got a great new song to sing.

Tenth Avenue North ~ Losing

And yet another song. There is probably about one more that I will post if I can find it. LIke I said I will do a post as well about some of the things that have been going on in my life and how I have been getting through them with a little more trust in God. OKay, a LOT more.

This song is about FORGIVING. And it SO goes over the struggle that everyone has. How to forgive. How to be more like Christ in forgiving.

Enjoy!

Group 1 Crew ~ He Said

Here is another great song. It keeps coming on the radio station and I love it. It's up beat and at the same time delivers the message intended. Here are the lyrics and the video. I don't believe they have an official video yet but just hearing the song is great. Because I know I need to remind myself what He Said.

"He Said"
(feat. Chris August)

So your life feels like it don't make sense
And you think to yourself, 'I'm a good person'
So why do these things keep happening?
Why you gotta deal with them?

You may be knocked down now 
but don't forget what He said, He said

I won't give you more, more then you can take
and I might let you bend, but I won't let you break
and No-o-o-o-o, I'll never ever let you go-o-o-o-o
Don't you forget what He said

Who you are ain't what your going through
So don't let it get the best of you
Cause God knows everything you need, 
so you ain't gotta worry

You may be knocked down now
but just believe what He said, He said

I won't give you more, more then you can take
and I might let you bend, but I won't let you break
and No-o-o-o-o, I'll never ever let you go-o-o-o-o
Don't you forget what He said

Don't fear when you go through the fire
Hang on when it's down to the wire
Stand tall and remember what He said

I won't give you more, more then you can take
and I might let you bend, but I won't let you break...

I won't give you more, more then you can take
and I might let you bend, but I won't let you break
and No-o-o-o-o, I'll never ever let you go-o-o-o-o
Don't you forget what He said

Jason Gray ~ Remind Me Who I Am

If you haven't heard of this artist before I'm not surprised. Because frankly until a couple of weeks ago neither had I. Along with some other artists and songs that I am going to post. They are wonderful Christian artists who have inspired and touched me in the last few weeks to put my trust fully in God. Along with several other occurrences. God has shown me Who I Am. But more on that later. For now enjoy this music video with the lyrics below and a little inside article on what the song is all about via a Kevin Davis interview.

Lyrics:
When I lose my way
When I forget my name
Remind me who I am
In the mirror all I see
is who I don’t wanna be
Remind me who I am
In the loneliest places
When I can’t remember what grace is
Tell me once again who I am to You
Who I am to You
Tell me
Lest I forget who I am to You
I belong to You
To You
When my heart is like a stone
and I’m running far from home
Remind me who I am
When I can’t receive Your love
Afraid I’ll never be enough
Remind me who I am
If I’m Your beloved
Can You help me believe it
Tell me once again who I am to You
Who I am to You
Tell me
Lest I forget who I am to You
I belong to You
To You
I’m the one You love
I’m the one You love
That will be enough
I’m the one You love
Tell me once again who I am to You
Who I am to You
Tell me
Lest I forget who I am to You
That I belong to You
Whoa
Tell me once again who I am to You
Who I am to You
Tell me
Lest I forget who I am to You
That I belong to You
To You
To You 

God is Good

Especially in those moments that you think He may have abandoned you. This week felt like one of those moments. I had prayed. My parents had prayed. My roommate had prayed. Without ceasing.


And still the situation did not want to resolve. It just kept getting worse. And worse. I was getting kicked repeatedly while I was down.


I kept wondering if this was/is a test. Matthew 6 is about forgiveness and there sure is a lot of forgiving that I am doing. I am completely and utterly drained from this weeks ups and downs. I've cried tears of sadness and I've cried tears of joy and relief.

Matthew 6:34 says Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


This week has been a testament to the fingerprints of God in my life. I am fortunate to have some of the best, most loving God fearing people in what seems like my unstable life at times. God took my worry away this week through these people. I was truly blessed by His hand. 


Thank you God for having my back even in the moments that I may doubt and worry. You love me anyway and you make sure that I know it by the people you have placed in my life. 


If you would like to hear more blog stories about how other people have seen the fingerprints of God in their life go here:  




The Rusted Chain :Fingerprint Friday






Tell Beki hey, tell her I sent you, and submit a post of your own for others to read. After all it's why we fellowship right?

Flag Line For Spc. Chase Marta

Our community lost one of our own. Today he was returned to his family and the community showed their appreciation to the family for his service the best way we know how.

Photos From The Flag Line

Please read the article from our local newspaper about this young man and the fellow soldiers who also lost their life while in Afghanistan. Appeal Democrat Article

Thank you to all our soldiers who have fought and are still fighting.

Babies R Us

Otherwise known as Calving Season.

We had one heifer to go for this cycle left when I took these pictures so I'll make sure to get some of the new arrivals (she calved out today with twins! Happy! Love it when God puts his hand on something. We had lost one this year and that makes up for it! )

So here are the cute little farts. Literally. Figuratively. You know what I mean.

There were 8 in total, and now 10 :-) 4 more are expected a little further down the line. The calves with white are AI and the others are the product of a clean up bull. And of course the last little baby of #24 aka Bambi (she has some deer blood in her I swear) looks just like momma. Big eyes, big lashes and that roan coat.

What a wonderful Spring!

I'm A Sucker

For animals.

I told my roommate after the last debacle with a cat that one was really enough for now and a second one (seeing as how the last one became an expensive cat and then died) really wasn't needed. Then again, it's not my money, I just have to hear about the cost. Whoopee.

So I thought I had this in the bag. No new kitty. Boy was I wrong!

Enter Kitty.

That funny thing that always pops into my head about "my plans and God's plans" in situations like these is what keeps me calm.

Did my roommate go get a cat? Nope. God kind of plopped it in our laps. My transmission was acting funny yesterday and so I pulled off on the side of the road by the orchards on our way to get Jamba Juice (yum! BTW) and what comes racing towards us out of the orchard like a bat outta hell crying for help? 

This guy. Adorable as can be. 

Damn.

And to make matters worse. This happened. 

I'm a goner. 

I even tried pushing it away toward my roommate. And what happened?

I'm such a sucker. 

However due to my early work morning it was sentenced to sleep with my roommate. And this morning after I got done with work, this little gem was awaiting me on my iPhone. 

Somehow this and the above photos is making is all a little more tolerable. 

Growing Up Is Hard To Do

It's one of those things that everyone has to do. Physically you can't really stop it. The years just keep coming. And coming.

Mental growth however can tend to depend on the person. Forget for a moment the whole discussion about men and women and how different it is for the opposite sexes to mature. I'm talking about the one thing that everyone dislikes having to do. Be a grown up.

I know. Yuck.

I didn't want to either but if we are really true to ourselves then that's what we need to do. After all, no one can stay in Never Never Land forever.

I had an epiphany. Or as Oprah would like to call it an "Aha moment".

I have been sitting back letting everyone else make plans and run their own lives while I was watching. Like a bad reality TV show I got sucked in. I had forgotten ME. I was putting the happiness of others before myself, and I was okay with it! Crazy, right? All the time wondering why I too had not had this fortune. Single. No kids. Okay job but not a career. And I was okay with that?

NO!

Sometimes you've got to stop beating yourself up about what you don't have long enough to go get it yourself. The only thing that has been stopping me from getting what I want and more importantly what God has planned for me is myself. I keep getting in my own way. It's time I stopped thinking I'm not qualified enough, not smart enough, etc. I'm shutting down opportunities before they even begin. 

I know better. My momma didn't raise a fool. She raised a smart, independent, be all you can be, loving, one of a kind, kick ass woman. It's time I started living up to it and quit knocking myself over the head with all my "failures". 

I did it once when I took off to Wyoming. And I'm going to do it again. It's time I started making me happy and stopped focusing on everyone else's happiness. 

Step One: Research

Here I come...

Things That Get Stuck In My Head

Yup. I was moving and grooving to this only moments ago...

Owning An Animal

There is a distinct difference in being an animal owner and having a love for animals. Money being the first of these. You can love animals all you want but what happens when they get sick? Injured? Need to get shots? It costs money. If your not prepared for this ahead of time it can be a pretty big blow to your wallet. 

Veterinarians are not cheap visits. And just like any doctors visit. The longer you wait the more expensive it is. That's why there are preventative measures to be taken. 

Another of these differences is knowing your animals. What you can feed them. How they act. Basically you treat them like babies. They can't tell you when they feel bad or what's going on with them. You just have to KNOW.

If your not willing to do these things. To figure it all out or sign over the mortgage to your home to pay the vet bill then forget it. Owning a pet is a big responsibility. More than people think it is. Please know what you are getting into. 

Don't take on more than you can handle and don't slub off your responsibilities onto someone else when you do. It just ends badly. 

Cooking With Mom

My mom and I have started a little venture. It all began after watching The Pioneer Woman on Food Network. If y'all haven't watched her show, read her blog, read her books, etc. your missing out! I just can't get enough. I adore her, like her, think she's funny, and just down right awesome.

This is Ree ⬇

This is Ree's Blog ⬇

www.thepioneerwoman.com

Be Amazed. 

Okay... so after finally figuring out what time her show was on and watching it (DVR is a blessing!) my mom asked if I wanted to try the recipes out. Sure. Why not?

Bring on our version of Julie and Julia. Except we will not be making 365 days worth of recipes (as far as I know right now we will not be). Sorry. Just the recipes we want to try to get a handle on now. Starting easy and expanding from there. 

This last weekend we did this ⬇

Pop Pulled Pork

The Fixin's 

Cilantro Slaw

And of course dessert...

It was cake!

Pistachio Bundt Cake to be more specific :-)

Mmmmm it was good! 

To say the least mom and I are having fun with our weekend date to cook and bake. Dad is enjoying the benefits as well...

 I'm learning some new quick and easy recipes and mom says she's aiding me in being able to one day feed a ranch full of people of my very own. What can I say? She has hopes for me too! For now I'll continue to take in the knowledge I am gaining and the fun I am having. 

And hopefully one day I'll be able to apply it all to a wonderful family of my own. 

Next weeks' plans consist of Enchiladas and Chocolate Sheet Cake. Yum!

My Not So Rockin' New Years Eve

New Year's Eve is a day that some people love, some people hate, and well some people would rather forget...

This New Year's Eve for me unfortunately will be one of those that I would choose to forget. Why? I had a date for the first time on NYE. I was excited, I was nervous (does everyone expect a kiss at midnight?), and because this was the first time this man and I had spent more than an hour together. Sure, we talked on the phone but long distance can be tricky. You work with what you got yah know?

So with the short amount of time that I had to throw together something to do while he was up here, (yes his telling me he was arriving was a last minute thing... I know, I know red flag right?) I chatted up my best friend who let me know there was a NYE team roping going on in the next town. Great, I thought this would give my friends the opportunity to meet him and suss him out a little for me. I've got bad judgment sometimes okay?

The guy tells me he'll be here at noon. He lives about five hours away. Did he bother to get online, use a smart phone and get directions? Did he bring a map? Nope. He just knew what direction to head in. North. 

I gave him slight directions but not everything because he had told me he was going to stop at his sisters or see his mom and get all the directions from them. Did that happen? Nope. What did happen was him getting lost and being over two hours late. Thus, making us late to the roping. Thankfully the roping was going to be going on most all day as there was 150 teams. 

He finally meets me at my house and we hop in his truck and follow my best friend to the roping. Does he say hi or compliment me on how I look? Nope. He tells me I stink. "What did you use the whole bottle this morning or something? Wow, that's strong." Nice to see you too dude...

*please take note that I do NOT over use perfume and have been complimented on many occasions as to how nice I smell, and how light and pretty it is. So there.

To say the least I was taken aback a little by the whole thing (again, red flag right?). Let's just say it was a horrible way to start things off. And it didn't get much better from there. Downhill was the only direction things were going. 

To sum it up I'll make a list.

1. Personalized license plates telling people your a roper ( I thought that was bragging but I might have been wrong?) 

2. Telling a woman she over did it on the perfume (whether joking or not, this is not a good idea).

3. Not introducing yourself to her friends (yes, there are exceptions but if she's trying to introduce you, don't cut her off to ask the friend something before you've been introduced).

4. Opening doors. Is it just me or has this gotten to be old fashioned? I thought men were suppose to open doors, whether in car or not. This is almost like pulling up and honking instead of getting out to knock on the door. Manners please.

5. Making yourself comfortable in someone else's house. If it's your first time there please don't kick off your shoes and plop your butt down on the sofa all stretched out like you own the place. You don't. It's one thing when you've been dating for awhile and know each other, it's another when your just putting your feet in the water. 

6. If the dogs don't like you...

7. Mocking a woman is not funny. And it certainly does not lighten the mood. This includes picking on a woman too. Every move she makes does not need to be commented on/reviewed and criticized. That's what she has friends and family for (again this is when you've just started dating. I like to joke around, can be sarcastic, and do some picking on of my own but I know the appropriate time to do so).

8. Conversation. Try it some time. I know the world thinks that women just like to talk for the sake of talking but truth be told if we're not comfortable, we're not talking. At least, I'm not. 

9. Whining. Women don't want to raise you, your parents should have already done that. And whining in any situation won't get you what you want. It's a turn off. 

10. Awkward hug. Hopefully you can read signals that a woman gives off. Just like women can read your signals most of the time. If she's looking like she's done with the night and just not that into it. Don't keep pushing. 

These are just ten reasons why things didn't go well. I'm more than sure that I could write more. Heck, I could probably spill out the whole story but I just want you to get the picture of what happened. I basically spent my NYE with a whining immature thirteen year old. 

I was done with the date within a few hours but I let it stretch out. Let it finish. Unfortunately since we don't live in the same town I felt obligated to see things through. Just in case he may have been nervous or something. 

I know that's an excuse I was using to justify certain actions but how do you know at the time? I had also invited him to stay in our guest room. Awkward, I know. But this is not how I thought things were going to go. 

Me calling the date short (all I wanted to do was get away). Me going to bed before midnight (no chance for an awkward kiss). Me disconnecting (going to bed and shutting my door). 

I wanted things to work out. They didn't. Am I disappointed? Yes and no. Just because I want things to work out doesn't mean that they will. If it's not right, it's not right and love can't be forced. No matter how bad my mom wants grandchildren.