Got CHICKEN?

Ewwwww.. Brings back memories! Can't say I thought I would re-create them for my own children. However, this was pretty funny to watch! A neighbor took the kids to a chicken farm, where they raise them to sell. Once the big trucks come in & load them up, there are always a few left running around and hiding. Our Neighbor gets to keep whatever he catches of whats left.

This is where the kids come in handy! Well, not really. It was pretty nasty and above stinky, sloshy and gross. Once they got over the frightening flailing of the "chicken" and the noise, holding them upside down and carrying them out got to be a bit better.

NTM, they got to ride in the back of a truck( backroads) for the first time. Now, can any of you remember when that was the only way you rode until you were about 13?
Anyway, maybe it was just me. I was reminded how much trouble I could get in If anyone knew.. So don't tell anyone that out in the middle of nowhere, literally. That we let the kids ride slowly in the back of a truck as we followed.

Posting on the Shallow end=)

Sure, that last post was little too deep. I sure feel better-LOL!

Warped perception blinds. So much so, that when you stand next to nothing- you gripe about not having it.

Posting from the Shallow end now. As it floods buckets of rain once more, I am choosing to go to High Ground.

Here are some cute pics from a cute weekend. The kids got to have a real "Cowboy Experience". Amidst the cutting and worming calves, watching the cowboys rope in steers and drive herds, all from the backs of 4wheelers- driven by a little boy their age, the kids had a blast. I am really thankful we can literally walk out our door and see just about anything...... Country. I told the guys, hay! the difference between Cuntry & City is a Camera! I have pictures for the remember when(s). At least I am in hopes it will be a reflection=) Ok, I will quit cracking myself up now, lets just call this- burn out- ok!!!








Amazingly, but NOT surpisingly, I didn't get a chance to get many pics of Kori- she'd rather be "helping" than playing around!

What has Envy done for you lately?

A long freakin summer has lead to a hault in assuming I must put up with anymore asinine remarks. I am still bordering on confronting the rumor goddess- however for the most part has amazingly stopped. I finally awoke to realize I wasn't being punished. I finally have seen an over abundance of blessings that had been there the entire time. The abundance of people God placed strategically to help us. Perception is the battle. Its also hard to be happy for someone if you don't know HIM personally. I certainly don't want to slap someone in the face with HIM & the things He has done for us & still doing.. I have a feeling that is why David went and hide and rejoiced and jumped up and down and cried praises to HIM -alone- when he was delivered in Ps. 30.

What has envy done for you lately? Have you ruined someones day lately with a "Well, it must be nice........." statement or a " Its about time you came down here with the rest of us" statement or the " It was about time for you to get in the real world with the real people" statement.

I will have to plead logic on this one.

Once upon a time there was a thing called choices and you got to choose one, some & many. Then in the wonderful world you created for yourself you got to reap whatever you have sown, you get to see light or darkness, good or bad, you get to display the very things that are in your heart by the way you live, think and speak. The very things you hold close to you, are important, thus why they are very close. You get to have free will to do as you please and have the liberty in doing so. You have learned that for every action is a reaction, for every up is a down and every positive is a negative. Then you continue to make your choices, you continue to live the way you choose and you continue to be envious,no wait-successful, no wait happy, no wait miserable.......NO WAIT! Whats the Correct answer?

Envy is our enemy. What has it done for me lately? Maybe it brought bondage? It certainly brings condemnation. Brings friends. Brings sadness. Of course this list goes on forever. For me personally, it trips me up. No, not the envy, but how I respond to others envy and snide comments towards me and my family. I know, sounds funny doesn't it? How can that be? Right! Surely smart people whom have smashed us to pieces surely don't want what we have? Or do they? Not knowing the answer to that is just what kept me in the cess-pool long enough until I realized- the "perception" is half the battle.

Thanks to the recession, wisdom has been redefined. There are people on the street from wise counsel and smart investments. Various types of people with different backgrounds and beliefs have lost all. Great time for Salvation if you ask me. Nothing Lost is Nothing Gained. If you have it and keep it all, then what will you ever gain? Great proof, you can't take it with ya & you can't even keep it safe while you are here- as much as we want to shout the answers- sometimes there's just not one! Ask job.

I had my fill this weekend. I decided to speak up. I realize its a disease, this envy thing and its side affect is scales on the lids, dark heart disorder and running of the mouth. Not being able to see blessings in front of you or being able to be thankful- is its symptoms.

I didn't realize it in the beginning, but I sure am thankful I recognize it for what it is now.

City Mouse vs. the Country Mouse if you would. Two different ways of life- with an incorrect perception poisoning the wonderful view!

Look! If you have chosen City, love it! Make the best of it- don't be mad at people who live in the country. If its that much of a desire- work it out and move! Same with the Country people, you don't like it? Enough to gripe about those rich city folk? Then move! Don't be mad at me because I view this as temporary, with a way out! We will press through, not sit and moan. It would be nice if you learned to do the same thing.

You asked, and I explained, whats good for you may not be my desire.. I never slammed this way a living, not one time in my life. I like it, just not enough to love it. I do not envy you, literally. I do not want what you have or want what you do or even how you get it. I do not want to live stressed out to the max in any place I live. Its a CHOICE. I choose to sacrifice in area's for my family that you would never consider. And vice versus.

So don't let ENVY rule. Come up with your dream and work towards it and along the way be thankful! Know what you want and don't settle for less. Living someones elses dream- gets you in trouble. If you are constantly thankful and pressing thru makes it easy for change. Knowingly full well that you can reach your goal- the trip along the way- is minor. Enjoy the View!

I say all this out of the blessing of getting my hair trimmed and shaped up- yes, 10 inches later! Those of you already know this happening always occurs everytime with a new styist-why does EVERYONE want my hair short? Is it because I don't like short hair? Ahhhhh, a choice to gripe about another move- had to leave the bestest hairstylist in the world- Melyssa!!!
Don't envy, you work with it long enough you'll learn to love it! Because I do love my new hair! Just think had I not stepped out and tried someone new- I never in a million years would have experienced something I really love!
Get out of your box and quit viewing the concrete walls outside your window!

Its a Yam Shame!

This past weekend we did the annual Yamboree- you know, its about Yams! The only thing is all the Vendors absolutely refused to acknowledge the weekend for what it is and continued calling this most precious food item "Sweet Potatoe". Oh come on, its the YAMboree! Stand after stand on the road with lovely suculant huge Yams and what did the sign say? You got it- Sweet Potato's!

I remembered as a youngun not quite teen yet- absolutely loving yams, like I could eat them for every meal. Loved the pies, loved them any way you could fix a yam. When we moved to Texas only around holidays they cooked sweet potato's, I wouldn't touch them. Then they tried to pull off sweet potatoe pie- omg yuk- who would eat that! I didn't understand many things- why the beans had bacon and were dark in color, why you would want to eat a sweet potatoe, especially when you could have northern white beans(ham hocks/beans) & of course, yams!Yumm..

Needless to say, I grew up and have it all figured out now!

We went to the festival and enjoyed the parade, realizing the new style here is thug-wear. So I am preparing for that windstorm once it makes it to actually our neck of the woods. I had to laugh all my kids wanted to see in the parade were the Queens- and I must say these were some of the prettiest Queens I may have seen. The Queen Yam had a train on her dress no less than 50 feet- I thought I had taken a picture of that- but I didn't! The dresses and floats were really amazing for small town!

The moral to my Yam shame is Yams are not yams anymore and my kids have grown out of parades!





Share the Love! Leave a Comment!

Which side of the Plow am I on? Whah?

This is the question my husband asked me in an abrupt statement this am. "Which side of the plow are you on?" Is he nuts?!

No. You got to get the two weeks leading up to this am. first to get the plow part! The Sunday before last, a pivotal moment occurred in a tiny church in the wildwoods. Literally. The Pastor preached out of Luke 9 using vs.62. Well he used it with a double bubble bubble gum story and frankly, I just never got it, I never understood anything of where he went or was going. It could have been the gum, I love double bubble! So I stayed focused on how much I wanted some maybe.

Anyway, after the service a unique thing happened. Casually and usually the Pastor came over, asked how we were and posed a normal question " Have you guys heard anything or hows the job thing going etc.." Along with that, he interjected another question, as if he was pondering even asking it, "Are you just looking to stay in the industry you have been in all these years or are you looking to get out of it or what?" Almost immediately we both respond, " Oh yes, definitely looking to get back into it( NTM we have already been down this discussion road before like a little over 3 years ago)" and Dewayne included how he already was pursuing another career with OSHA in safety and how that merged right in etc...." But, if one were to come up, type answer... etc.... We left and went on our way. Did I tell you the Pastor acted Shocked when we responded "yes" to the above? Well that kinda floored me, I didn't think he would have response at all, I thought he was just being nice and asking how we were.
So that got me thinking, well convicted actually.. What was the scripture about that day? Luke 9:62 A man who turns to look back from the plow is not worthy in the Kingdom of God. WHAH? What does that have anything to do with me or him, we don't have a plow! They have perfectly good machines for that kind of stuff now, plus, why would we need a plow, why would you look back anyway if you are plowing- heck I don't know. See where I am going with this?

So for the last week or so we have realized the Funeral Business is looking back. We already knew that, not to mention, crazily if you look in the scriptures just before that one it is the one about " Let the dead bury the dead". Yep, pretty funny huh. It looks as though looking back has maybe been a problem.

I say all this to assure myself to move forward. To know its ok not to dwell and that just because I don't it doesn't mean it wasn't good, just means I was moving forward

Of course, this comes as a surprise to me as usual. I now realize Dewayne is headed into another field, another career and it really doesn't matter what the past had to offer. We know the Lord will bless us in whatever we do as He always has. I truly thank God for that security.

Now that is kinda hard to stomach for me today, after wrecking my moms truck on the way to work on Friday. There was nothing I could have done about it, except not have been in her truck. But it still happened.

So in my whine today, my husband challenged me. He provoked thought to push me through to the next phase and to get over the stump. I can't say for sure that I won't be back there tomorrow, but for today I am looking ahead- though it still looks pitch black..

Hindsight is over half of the battle and is also in the rear of things.

Soon to be 14!

Well, I am certainly going to use this post to talk about my oldest, he will soon be turning 14 and he is a sweetie!

It is hard to believe how time has flown by since the moment he was born. We have been through so much together. He is such a great kid. He is kind and gentle and is really accountable, more so than I had thought he would be. I truly know the Lord has His hands on him and that he wants it that way.

Its been quite the adjustment from married to singlemomhood to remarrying, to him leaving and moving in with his dad. There were no words to express the elation & loss I had felt along the way. I am blessed to have been able to see a glimpse of why this has all happened and how somethings needed to be the way they are. It makes me wish I could trust God right off the bat and not have Him have to give me something to entice me to Trust Him. I understand a little more of why He said "blessed are those who believe without seeing".

I love Eston, I am so proud of him. I know that he is a great kid and will do just fine with whatever he does in life. I miss seeing him everyday and of course wishes that would change, but I am ok with knowing that the Lord has that covered too.

I must say I, as a person have come along way because of this sweet boy. I fought back dread of being pregnant and ruining my career to fighting to keep him alive, to fighting to keep us together, to fighting for him to stay, to fighting for him to be upright and maintain/establish integrity through all things. He is the spark that ignited my inner will to be a great mom, to be one whom will not put anything in the world in front of my family, to endure when walking thru the valley, to see HIM in all things.

It took a child to change me. It took a sweet, funny cute little boy to put things into perspective. It took all the steps up to this point to point me in the right direction and realize this is LIFE, this is a precious GIFT, on purpose- from GOD. I must steward with appreciation & great responsibility. I must treat this time as though its special. Because it is.



This has changed my view on everything, my heart now sinks when I hear others who just don't get it. I know why they don't, because I too was there in the beginning. I am so glad the Lord changed me, I am so glad he used this awesome teen to do it!

Here's to Eston who will be a big 14yr. old soon! I love ya Sweetie Pie!

Against the Wind

Wow, now I know why the Irish blessing prayer says "May the wind be at your back"! Last year was the physical wind that took the breath out of us- moving to West Texas be grudgingly and the wind that seemed to blow non-stop. This year its figuratively speaking. Even though some time has passed since Anna died of cancer this summer- its feels as though everything pertaining to her was just yesterday. Now with someone I grew up with in the next town over and who was the Superintendent of our school, who was a little over a year younger than me, up and dies. A little too much.
I knew there would be sorrow, I knew there would be times and seasons like this- but its starting to feel increasingly heavy. I try real hard not to question. He just had a cold that turned into what they thought was pneumonia- after a couple of weeks in a very good hospital & Dr.s not being able to figure out whats wrong- he dies, and as if that is not enough, he dies on his daughters 3rd. birthday. I can't begin to express the sorrow I feel for his wife, his parents, family and everyone whom was close to them. We saw him often, checkin his cows and bailing hay, mending fence as we passed by his house up the road from us- he always turned and waved, always smiled and honked at the kids when he came by while they were playing.. He was a pleasant warm positive guy, he gave encouragement to our kids this summer to get them excited about the new year at a new school. It worked! Josh had his truck memorized and Matthew called him Mr. Abernathew which his name is Abernathy.
I feel like the wind has taken the air out of me and it won't give it back. How must his family feel?

There is nothing compared to the shock and sorrow of loosing someone. It affects/effects everyone in a different way, strangely enough even during sorrow the darkness is revealed. People hearts are illuminated for all to see- whether its dark or light it always seems to show thru in times like this. I pray that the teachers are able to talk about how they feel and work through this. I pray his family can find strength and press through. I pray the community draws close to the Lord in this and realize Life is a Gift and its but for a very short time. I pray we all find purpose and help each other, I hope this kills hate and destroys negative and brings about love and gentleness to one another.

As the Rain falls

As the Rain falls and the leaves turn, the cool breeze blows and yet this season of change indicates more than that for alot of people. Have you ever just looked around to see "people" just to wonder whats going on in their life? Are they ok? Are they going through something tough or happy?

I spent alot of time thinking of people tonight- I get to see alot of my old friends now & people I grew up with. Things have changed, but not.

As the rain falls and the coolness of the fall air is setting in, someone somewhere is in pain.

Tonight, its a family in our community, a family whom are standing by watching their loved one freeze in time. Our superintendent at our school, someone whom we all grew up with, young @ 38 yrs. old, has been fighting for his life for weeks now. The outcome was grim. Todays his daughters 3rd. BD. and we hear they hope he can hold on until after midnight but he didn't make it. Tragic to say the least. No one knows what went wrong, what he has or how this has even happened. A little cold- gone haywire.

The heaviness in my heart can't help but to be present. The loose term- "we just never know what tomorrow holds" sounds absurd to me now. Of course we don't! We never did! I pray that we draw nearer to Jesus- its not worth the stress when tragedy hits. Just like this family, there is no rhyme or reason why this happened, a young wife, parents, a baby daughter- a community, my goodness!

Are you going to Heaven or are you Not going to Heaven? Which is it? Then.... are you Sure? Do you want to find out when its too late? Hard work and good behavior get you there? You better find out.......

A Rainy Fall Night. My pondered thoughts of sadness.