I couldn't decide a good name for this post, I contemplated February Flounders, February Fizzles, but I think I liked February Frazzles the best. Only 8 days into the 2nd month of 2017 has me frazzled!
We have been so busy lately that we don't even have a moment to catch our breath it seems like. But you know what, I love it!
This past weekend I drove myself to Brownwood Texas for a motherhood retreat and let me tell you, whoa! I had such a great time, although I feel like I didn't quite have enough kids to be there. Haha just kidding! One of the ladies leading it had 10 children! Several others at 5-7, and all of them were awesome! I got so much out of the messages and was glad to get to take a breath without cleaning something up, yelling, or being screamed at by children. I think the best part was able to carry on a normal, adult conversation without being interrupted sixteen times by a kid. I did however miss my babies was glad to be home!
We have started this new venture in our lives, its called becoming debt free. I've started to help my mother with a business she started a few years ago and has grown a lot in the last three months. She has a deal with a company out of Kentucky that builds and sell portable buildings. They could sheds, cabins, or even a chicken coop. (I have one just for that) Anyway, they asked her if she would like to take on the town of Fort Stockton which is about 65 miles north of us, if you don't know where I live. She asked me if I would like to help, so 3 times a week we take turns driving up there to tend to that lot. I went today, and I'm so tired! I stayed busy the whole 6 hours I was up there then I had an hour drive home. But I enjoy and its only 3 days a week. The days that she goes up there I stay in Alpine and tend to that lot. We take turns going up there so its easier on us and my kids.
Lets see, what else is going on.....
Oh! I finally get to blog again! As if you hadn't noticed already.... A dear friend of ours gave us a desktop computer and I'm in love with how fast it is! No more waiting 30 minutes for one program to open. I think I may use my old laptop for some target practice. Since I have a new computer now my goal is to start blogging more and more, and the best part is, our friend is a photographer and he used this computer to edit pictures so he updated his programs on it for me! So excited to start playing around with it!
My parents leave this Thursday for their annual trip to California. I kind of wish I was going but that's okay. Halfway there in the truck is about all it takes for me to get over it real fast. 24 hours on the road is not fun at all, and that's just one way. So instead I get to stay here and hold the fort down.
Well, I'm not sure what else to write about. I'd share some pictures but I have to figure out how to get them on the computer from off my phone. I'll give it a try and if you see a picture or two you will know it worked.
Talk to ya'll later!
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Friday, December 2, 2016
Two years
Has it really been that long since I last blogged? Whoa.... I suppose social media took over and was more interesting than blogging, which is sad because there have been so many great things happen in the last two years! Of course if you are on social media and reading this then you wouldn't of missed much. So with that, I think I'll start blogging again! Oh and y'all can thank my Sis in law for the encouragement, since she will be blogging again herself!
Christmas 2016 is right around the corner! This year has gone by way too fast if you ask me. We plan on staying home this year, since we spent Thanksgiving with Ts family in Roaring Springs. It was a lot of fun but the cotton gin had everyone coughing, hacking and sneezing. Needless to say we were glad to be home and glad to be staying home the rest of the year.
K Man is 4 this year, he started pre school in the local town north of us and loves it! There are 7 other kids in class which is really nice because the teacher can spend lots of time with all the kids. He likes to ride every now and then, but not as often as his sister, but he likes working with his hands and plays outside a lot!
Miss T turned 2 this year and by looking at the picture you can tell just how much sass this little gal has. Oh my! She loves to ride and has absolutely no fear whatsoever. She has grown so much in the last two years, and looking at baby pictures from this blog made me sad!
P Rose joined our little family this past May! She's a little over 6 months old now and is a big girl compared to her sister! Currently they can wear the same size diaper and are about 5 pounds apart in weight. She's a crazy girl and full of joy all the time! I'll have to post her birth story when I have some more time.
So now we are a family of five! And I wouldn't change it for anything! lol be back, sooner than 2 years the time
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Weakness
2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness," So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me."
Anxiety had a good hold of me, I was sweating and nervous and thinking to myself how in the world am I going to do this? I was walking my horse around in circles trying to calm myself down, all the while reciting Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious!"
"Wild Turkey Ranch, your up next!" The rodeo announcer said over the loud speaker. "I can't do this, I can't do this, I can't do this." I kept saying over and over again. But why? Why couldn't I do this? I love doing this! This is what I've been waiting for ever since I found out I was pregnant with Miss T. I couldn't help but be angry with myself as I walked Dunny into the arena, angry because I had to get so worked up about silly little things.
My heart was pounding as I loosed my rope and built a loop. I made sure my hands were right, reins and coils in my left, loop in my right, and gave it a couple of swings. It was hard keeping them from shaking. I walked Dunny in another circle as he started to prance, he knew what was coming.
"Are ya'll ready?" The judge asked us, I nodded my head yes. Dunny wouldn't stand still, he kept prancing around and didn't want to face the direction the steer would be coming from. My heart was pounding even harder, I couldn't hear anything due to the blood rushing through my ears. The seconds were ticking by as slowly as they could, torturing me. The judge raised his flag up and the gate at the other end of the arena came open. Dunny was wanting to rear up and the steer came busting out. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the flag go down.
Time stopped then, all my anxiety was left behind at the starting line. I could feel the adrenaline pumping and another sensation that I didn't understand came upon me. I leaned down low over Dunny's neck as he sprinted towards that black steer. We unintentionally left our team members in the dust. I was in my game, I was ready, I could do this! The steer had no idea what was coming as he ran towards me and Dunny. He was favoring the south side of the arena so Dunny changed leads and turned to the left hard to get me lined up with the steer. I started to swing my rope and Dunny put me right where I needed to be.
Now usually I'm not the best header in the world but on this particular day something was surging through me. I looked at the back of the steers head like I had been taught and threw my loop. To my disbelief it floated down nicely over the steers head and when I pulled my slack I had him caught.
I guess I was so excited about roping the steer that I wasn't ready when Dunny started to shut down. Had I been tied on I would have wrecked that steers world. Instead, I couldn't get my rope dallied in time and the steer got away.
But that's not the point of my post, the point is The Lord made me strongest in my weakness. I was wiped out from the previous event and hadn't been able to catch my breath. I was scared I was going to have a panic attack in front of all those people at the rodeo grounds, but instead I made my weakness to known to God and he gave me strength.
It felt so good to race down the arena at full speed and be able to rope that steer! And to have teammates who let me have first loop! I just wish I could overcome my weaknesses like that every day. I didn't come across the verse at the top until a few days after the rodeo but after reading it I realized that sensation was when he took off down the arena at top speed, it was the Lord's power residing in me, it was confidence!
Anxiety had a good hold of me, I was sweating and nervous and thinking to myself how in the world am I going to do this? I was walking my horse around in circles trying to calm myself down, all the while reciting Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious!"
"Wild Turkey Ranch, your up next!" The rodeo announcer said over the loud speaker. "I can't do this, I can't do this, I can't do this." I kept saying over and over again. But why? Why couldn't I do this? I love doing this! This is what I've been waiting for ever since I found out I was pregnant with Miss T. I couldn't help but be angry with myself as I walked Dunny into the arena, angry because I had to get so worked up about silly little things.
My heart was pounding as I loosed my rope and built a loop. I made sure my hands were right, reins and coils in my left, loop in my right, and gave it a couple of swings. It was hard keeping them from shaking. I walked Dunny in another circle as he started to prance, he knew what was coming.
"Are ya'll ready?" The judge asked us, I nodded my head yes. Dunny wouldn't stand still, he kept prancing around and didn't want to face the direction the steer would be coming from. My heart was pounding even harder, I couldn't hear anything due to the blood rushing through my ears. The seconds were ticking by as slowly as they could, torturing me. The judge raised his flag up and the gate at the other end of the arena came open. Dunny was wanting to rear up and the steer came busting out. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the flag go down.
Time stopped then, all my anxiety was left behind at the starting line. I could feel the adrenaline pumping and another sensation that I didn't understand came upon me. I leaned down low over Dunny's neck as he sprinted towards that black steer. We unintentionally left our team members in the dust. I was in my game, I was ready, I could do this! The steer had no idea what was coming as he ran towards me and Dunny. He was favoring the south side of the arena so Dunny changed leads and turned to the left hard to get me lined up with the steer. I started to swing my rope and Dunny put me right where I needed to be.
Now usually I'm not the best header in the world but on this particular day something was surging through me. I looked at the back of the steers head like I had been taught and threw my loop. To my disbelief it floated down nicely over the steers head and when I pulled my slack I had him caught.
I guess I was so excited about roping the steer that I wasn't ready when Dunny started to shut down. Had I been tied on I would have wrecked that steers world. Instead, I couldn't get my rope dallied in time and the steer got away.
But that's not the point of my post, the point is The Lord made me strongest in my weakness. I was wiped out from the previous event and hadn't been able to catch my breath. I was scared I was going to have a panic attack in front of all those people at the rodeo grounds, but instead I made my weakness to known to God and he gave me strength.
It felt so good to race down the arena at full speed and be able to rope that steer! And to have teammates who let me have first loop! I just wish I could overcome my weaknesses like that every day. I didn't come across the verse at the top until a few days after the rodeo but after reading it I realized that sensation was when he took off down the arena at top speed, it was the Lord's power residing in me, it was confidence!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Ol' Whitie
It's a cold morning as I step outside and walk through the grass. I wrap my coat around me a little tighter and give a shiver. Goodness its cold, too cold for West Texas. The sound of my footsteps on the gravel can be heard as I walk up to the beast.
A half top, single axle trailer is hooked up to it, its white and rust color showing clearly in the moonlight. It has been a good little trailer, it joined the family before the family was established. My husband bought it a few years before we were married and it's been with us ever since. "I could take this trailer places a horse won't go," My husband always says.
Anyways, back to the beast. There's a dent in the driver's side door where another vehicle backed into it leaving a red smear on it. Poor truck didn't do anything to deserve that. All but one hub cap was missing, and a pile of shredded tires sat in the back. A reminder of how tough it actually is. Inside the cab, the dash was shattered yet still in place. It rattled like crazy when you drove it. A "newer," radio had been installed some time back with the new auxiliary plug in so the younger generation could plug in their ipods and listen to music. Blood could still be seen in the cloth on the driver's door from the time my brother cut his thumb off. Over 246,000 miles read on the odometer, "Just barely brook in," my brother would say.
I opened the door and climbed in the front seat, took the truck out of gear, pushed the clutch in and waited for the "wait to start," icon to disappear. I turned the key and the truck shook to life. If it were daylight, a big black cloud of smoke could be seen escaping the exhaust pipe. Because the truck had been straight-piped, it could be heard from a mile away. That's not a joke either, you could hear it from a mile away, especially when your in a low gear.
Another thing about the beast, it needs to idle for at least half an hour before you even think about getting in, especially if you want to be warm while driving. The air conditioner didn't work the best either. It would blow a steady stream of hot air at you all day long; it was just better to roll the window down.
Did ya catch the part about pushing the clutch in the start the beast? Yep, that's right, the beast is a standard, 5 speed to be exact. What, did you think I was just writing about a regular ol' pickup truck? I don't think so! I'm writing about ol' Whitie, the standard pickup truck. It may just be me, but I like driving standard trucks and I live in a place where I can easily, even in town.
I am very proud of the fact that I can drive a standard pickup, its a dying art nowadays. Most vehicles made now are automatics, giving the driver the easiest driving experience possible. Well, I like a challenge.
The first time I ever drove a standard was my freshman year in high school. We still lived in Colorado at the time and the truck was my dads work truck; a red Ford. It was a gaser (gasoline,) and supposedly easy to drive. I was all gung ho and talked big when I first asked to drive it, but when you get behind the wheel and see that there are three pedals instead of two, my confidence quickly drained. I was committed though and had to do it now. It wasn't so bad on the dirt roads, but those three miles quickly ran out and my dad said "I need to go to town so you keep driving." By this time, I had only experienced gears one, two, and three. It was time was the last two.
Well, to make a long story short, I got us to town safely, and made my dad drive us home. I continued to drive his work truck from time to time and was doing pretty good. Then things changed and we moved to Texas and I hadn't driven a standard in years, until my first year of marriage.
This time it was a Chevy gaser and I had to relearn how to drive it all over again. Well, that's a little exaggerated, I didn't get that "oh no there's three pedals," feeling this time. What did make it hard though was the seat didn't adjust, it was broken and it fit my husband's long legs perfectly. Not mine. Luckily I didn't have to drive it as much.
Then when we moved into to town following the good Lord's plan and my dad bought us a day-working rig. He said it was for his kids, my husband included, as long as he got to drive it too. The rig happened to be Ol' Whitie: A 2002 Dodge 2500 with a 24 valve cummins engine in it. At first I didn't want to drive it. It was loud, too loud, and and every time you hit third gear a stream of black smoke poured out behind you.
Oh but then, I was set up. We went on a trip to North Texas helping my in-laws move and we took Ol' Whitie because we would be pulling a trailer. Our truck at the time was a, can you guess, a gaser and got terrible fuel mileage without pulling a trailer, plus we had just sold it.
We got a load hauled for the in-laws and the next day we would travel home, or so I thought. I didn't know this, but my husband had been "truck searching," and had a truck he wanted to go look at, that was 30 miles in the wrong direction. "Alright," I said and we ended up buying a truck, a diesel this time. Now we had two trucks to drive home and my husband wanted to drive the new truck. I said I would as long as he took our son, our 9 month old son. Yeah, that didn't happen. I ended up driving the beast and having the pleasure of riding with my son.
After 500 miles you could say I was pretty dang good at driving that truck. When I got in to drive our new automatic diesel, I was pushing an invisible clutch and looking for the shift stick.
Every chance I get I drive Ol' Whitie, or "the white truck." Even if it is running errands for my dad around town. He talks about selling it and if we could I would buy it. But then he laughs and says he's joking. Ok, I'm not that attached, but I do feel like a cool ranchin' momma when I drive it.
A half top, single axle trailer is hooked up to it, its white and rust color showing clearly in the moonlight. It has been a good little trailer, it joined the family before the family was established. My husband bought it a few years before we were married and it's been with us ever since. "I could take this trailer places a horse won't go," My husband always says.
Anyways, back to the beast. There's a dent in the driver's side door where another vehicle backed into it leaving a red smear on it. Poor truck didn't do anything to deserve that. All but one hub cap was missing, and a pile of shredded tires sat in the back. A reminder of how tough it actually is. Inside the cab, the dash was shattered yet still in place. It rattled like crazy when you drove it. A "newer," radio had been installed some time back with the new auxiliary plug in so the younger generation could plug in their ipods and listen to music. Blood could still be seen in the cloth on the driver's door from the time my brother cut his thumb off. Over 246,000 miles read on the odometer, "Just barely brook in," my brother would say.
I opened the door and climbed in the front seat, took the truck out of gear, pushed the clutch in and waited for the "wait to start," icon to disappear. I turned the key and the truck shook to life. If it were daylight, a big black cloud of smoke could be seen escaping the exhaust pipe. Because the truck had been straight-piped, it could be heard from a mile away. That's not a joke either, you could hear it from a mile away, especially when your in a low gear.
Another thing about the beast, it needs to idle for at least half an hour before you even think about getting in, especially if you want to be warm while driving. The air conditioner didn't work the best either. It would blow a steady stream of hot air at you all day long; it was just better to roll the window down.
Did ya catch the part about pushing the clutch in the start the beast? Yep, that's right, the beast is a standard, 5 speed to be exact. What, did you think I was just writing about a regular ol' pickup truck? I don't think so! I'm writing about ol' Whitie, the standard pickup truck. It may just be me, but I like driving standard trucks and I live in a place where I can easily, even in town.
I am very proud of the fact that I can drive a standard pickup, its a dying art nowadays. Most vehicles made now are automatics, giving the driver the easiest driving experience possible. Well, I like a challenge.
The first time I ever drove a standard was my freshman year in high school. We still lived in Colorado at the time and the truck was my dads work truck; a red Ford. It was a gaser (gasoline,) and supposedly easy to drive. I was all gung ho and talked big when I first asked to drive it, but when you get behind the wheel and see that there are three pedals instead of two, my confidence quickly drained. I was committed though and had to do it now. It wasn't so bad on the dirt roads, but those three miles quickly ran out and my dad said "I need to go to town so you keep driving." By this time, I had only experienced gears one, two, and three. It was time was the last two.
Well, to make a long story short, I got us to town safely, and made my dad drive us home. I continued to drive his work truck from time to time and was doing pretty good. Then things changed and we moved to Texas and I hadn't driven a standard in years, until my first year of marriage.
This time it was a Chevy gaser and I had to relearn how to drive it all over again. Well, that's a little exaggerated, I didn't get that "oh no there's three pedals," feeling this time. What did make it hard though was the seat didn't adjust, it was broken and it fit my husband's long legs perfectly. Not mine. Luckily I didn't have to drive it as much.
Then when we moved into to town following the good Lord's plan and my dad bought us a day-working rig. He said it was for his kids, my husband included, as long as he got to drive it too. The rig happened to be Ol' Whitie: A 2002 Dodge 2500 with a 24 valve cummins engine in it. At first I didn't want to drive it. It was loud, too loud, and and every time you hit third gear a stream of black smoke poured out behind you.
Oh but then, I was set up. We went on a trip to North Texas helping my in-laws move and we took Ol' Whitie because we would be pulling a trailer. Our truck at the time was a, can you guess, a gaser and got terrible fuel mileage without pulling a trailer, plus we had just sold it.
We got a load hauled for the in-laws and the next day we would travel home, or so I thought. I didn't know this, but my husband had been "truck searching," and had a truck he wanted to go look at, that was 30 miles in the wrong direction. "Alright," I said and we ended up buying a truck, a diesel this time. Now we had two trucks to drive home and my husband wanted to drive the new truck. I said I would as long as he took our son, our 9 month old son. Yeah, that didn't happen. I ended up driving the beast and having the pleasure of riding with my son.
After 500 miles you could say I was pretty dang good at driving that truck. When I got in to drive our new automatic diesel, I was pushing an invisible clutch and looking for the shift stick.
Every chance I get I drive Ol' Whitie, or "the white truck." Even if it is running errands for my dad around town. He talks about selling it and if we could I would buy it. But then he laughs and says he's joking. Ok, I'm not that attached, but I do feel like a cool ranchin' momma when I drive it.
Motivation
I need some motivation, not only to write this book that I've talked up, but also to do the many chores that need doing around here. The wind is blowing though, and it has a nippy little bite to it which doesn't help. I'm supposed to be working on my soon to be chicken coop but again, the wind...
Since I've opened this blog, I haven't had a single idea as to where to start. I'm hoping that as the year progresses and spring works roll around that I will have much to write about. I was told that I could help a day or two during the works, which makes me so excited! At the last place we lived, the boss had this thing against women and they weren't allowed to do anything... I was afraid to go out in my yard and water while they were over at our house. Woman-haters.
Anyways. I will have something to write about after this weekend. It's the first WRRA rodeo of the season, and it's in Alpine! I have a different team this year so I'm hoping will do good, and have fun!
So after this weekend I'm going to make a point to start writing my book! Wish me luck!
Since I've opened this blog, I haven't had a single idea as to where to start. I'm hoping that as the year progresses and spring works roll around that I will have much to write about. I was told that I could help a day or two during the works, which makes me so excited! At the last place we lived, the boss had this thing against women and they weren't allowed to do anything... I was afraid to go out in my yard and water while they were over at our house. Woman-haters.
Anyways. I will have something to write about after this weekend. It's the first WRRA rodeo of the season, and it's in Alpine! I have a different team this year so I'm hoping will do good, and have fun!
So after this weekend I'm going to make a point to start writing my book! Wish me luck!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Here we go!
Alright ya'll... I said I was going to do and do I shall!!
This blog will serve as my guideline to my book that I want to write. Everything in it will be posted as if it were in the book, and when I have enough posts I'll see about making it into an actual book. I don't know where to start or even how to go about publishing a book, but I'm bound and determined to make it happen!! I'll have to first little part along shortly.
Thanks for the support!
This blog will serve as my guideline to my book that I want to write. Everything in it will be posted as if it were in the book, and when I have enough posts I'll see about making it into an actual book. I don't know where to start or even how to go about publishing a book, but I'm bound and determined to make it happen!! I'll have to first little part along shortly.
Thanks for the support!
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