Sweet Potatoes, Ducks and such

This my friends is a picture of heaven. 

Well, a delicious and favorite dish of my family's.

We only eat it at Thanksgiving.

When I say family, I mean extended family. 

My guys are weird and don't care for sweet potatoes.

That have butter, brown sugar and pecans.

It is W*O*N*D*E*R*F*U*L

IF you like sweet taters {smile}

My crazy, wonderful, onrey guys...and mutt dog.

We attempted family pics on Sunday afternoon.

After grumbling and arguing over what would be worn.

This is what I got.  I am trying to be glad {smile}

It decided to be COLD and WINDY for the day.

Don't let that sunshine fool ya.

(disclaimer: my pics will NOT turn right side up and due to severe frustration, I've chose to leave them alone! LOL)

My oldest boy, he's 14, he has his Learners Permit to drive.

He's now 5'8", he's grown 3 inches since March and wears a size 13 shoe.

He LOVES to hunt.  He brought home 2 ducks. 

I don't eat duck.  I don't plan to cook duck. 

He says he's going to make duck jerky.  After the mess he made

soaking the meat in salt water...we'll have to talk about WHERE the jerky

will be made. {smile}

Can I just say M*E*S*S*Y cook?????

 

another try at family pic...JB looks cold, CB would NOT scoot to his right, I have the dog on my hind side and hair flying high and ZB is the only one who looks good...for a change.  He had a serious case of goofies and was ridiculous.

We did end up with one decent pic, everyone looking presentable.

Even Angel the mutt.{grin}

My boys are getting one early Christmas present tomorrow and I will have pics from that.

Can't wait to share~after tomorrow of course!

Have a great evening friends.

Second Chances

I received my Christmas newsletter from Cal Farley's Boys Ranch in Amarillo, TX this last week.  It was FULL of great stories of kids who have been given second chances and are doing great things!  That completely touches my heart and soul.  I have been "acquainted" with Cal Farley's for a very long time, it was kind of a household name when I was growing up.  I had a lot of family in West Texas and one of my Great Great Uncles, Sam Wohlford was very active in helping Cal Farley's Boys Ranch begin.  My Uncle Sam was a wonderful man who was very giving...he and my aunt never had any children of their own, but they adored their nieces and nephews.  My mom got to travel with them a lot and saw many things she would have never saw otherwise.  I remember him well, I was pretty young when he passed away, but I have very fond memories of visiting them in Stratford and enjoying his company and kind heart. 
Back to Cal Farley's...(sorry about the rabbit trail there!)


My family knew of the Boys Ranch and what a good thing it was, and so, we always gave to them throughout the year.  It is a place for kids to go and get things straight in their lives, learn to make good choices and know it's not possible without God.  It's a GREAT program and I am proud to support their efforts in helping kids.


 In the newsletter the president states "our work is based on Christian principles and American values that remain consistent over time.  These beliefs do not morph or shift based on the economic climate or politics............We make deep commitments and stick to them."  "So, we trumpet loudly and proudly what we do and how we do it.  I never want Cal Farley's to risk being painted with the same brush as those who do not serve children well."(Dan Adams, President)


It started out as only a Boys Ranch, but later expanded into GirlsTown.  There are 27 different "homes"on the campus and each has a set of host parents and there is an average of 10-12 kids in each home. 


I ask that you pray for this place, pray for those Host Parents who are dedicating their lives to others in need, pray for those kids whose lives are being changed. 


You can visit their website Cal Farley's

1+1=2 x 4

  Getting ready for the game

Our  QB, Collin Klein leading the boys out.

Collin is a good boy, he's tall, he's tough, he's smart

and he has Jesus as his Saviour--he's

not afraid to tell you that.

He's cute too(smile)

 

 

 

 

Can you say....4 overtimes?????  Geez.  We were calling our team the "cardiac cats" before it was over!  We had great seats and a great time!  It was a good anniversary. 

 

KSU Men's Basketball team was introduced that day too

GO CATS!

 

Some defense going on here...

I must get around, today is cattle sale day.

No school.  ZB is hunting and I think CB is going with me to the sale barn.

Looking forward to coming home, cooking all my goodies for tomorrow,

hanging out with my guys and having a relaxing evening.

May each one of you have a wonderful, Blessed Thanksgiving Day!

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.  Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.  Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Psalm 105:1-4

Which one are You?

Lately, I've been meeting myself coming and going.  Like many I know.  I have been a little stressed since changing jobs, there has been ALOT to do at my new job and helping the girl that took my place at the dr's office. Then of course there are my boys, husband, house, etc.  We are literally living in a construction zone, sheetrock dust everywhere, NO TIME to work on the house(that would require being home).  As if that's not enough for anyone.  Thanksgiving and Christmas have the nerve to SNEAK up on me.  Geez. 
I have been wondering/worrying/stressing about the holidays, Christmas cards-taking the pictures, shopping, no where to put my tree, etc.



Then.It.Hit.Me.  The Lord simply spoke to me and said "do you want to be a Martha or a Mary?"  Well, I knew I wanted to be Mary, but I was totally acting like Martha.  I went to that story in Luke 10: 38-41 and I love the last 2 verses...Jesus says, Martha, Martha...you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. 


This time of year seems to bring out the Martha's in us all, me for sure.  I have totally taken my eyes off of what is important.  Jesus. It does not matter if my cards get out on time, if I have to put a tree up in the basement amongst the boxes of unpacked stuff and ironing pile, that my house looks as if it's been "flocked" like a Christmas tree with sheetrock dust.  I will be joyful regardless.  I will not let the enemy steal my joy with the "worldy" things that go along with this time of year.  While I enjoy some of those things ALOT, I will not let it "make" my Thanksgiving/Christmas/NewYear bad if those things are not in place.  Then I went to Matthew 6:25...DO NOT WORRY.....
God's good that way.  Just giving us a little advice in that small voice.  Praise God I listened.  I pray that everyone I know will choose JOY.  I pray that all people I do NOT know, will see I have JOY. 

Today

is my "actual" anniversary date
It's very windy & cloudy here
It was windy & cloudy the day we got married
I am drinking my java
I have planned a surprise for JB
We are going north
It could be dangerous
But I doubt it
We are going into WILDCAT country
We are going to watch KSU vs TA&M
I'm so excited
He has NO idea, just that we need an overnight bag
We will buy a few Christmas presents
They will have WILDCAT stuff on them
The weather is going to be beautiful, the weatherman just said so
JB is nervous about the surprise
He thinks we are going to a concert
I told him it might be(LOL)
There is the WILDCAT band
Kickoff is at 230 p.m.
I must go finish up getting packed
I taped the tickets to the bathroom mirror
Think he will notice?
{grin}
I guess we will see!
Have a beautiful Fall day friends
I am going to

17 years

It's our 17th Anniversary on November 12th...when friends and family told me on my wedding day to enjoy every moment, it goes by so fast, I really didn't believe them.  I thought it was just something to say.  Little did I know at age 22, a newlywed, that so much truth was in that statement!  It has been an awesome 17 years and every year is better and goes faster! 

We actually met at the sale barn...dad and I took some cattle up to sell and went into the cafe to get a drink and he comes walking in, walks back to the kitchen(like he meant to be in the kitchen ;) to talk to someone back there to find out my name, little did he know-the girl he asked was my cousin! ha ha  I am of course, thinking he's pretty cute and I know who he is...our folks had known each other for a long time, our dad's were in the Natl Guard together and our mom's had run around together in their younger days but for some reason...we had never met.  He finds out that my 21st bday is a few weeks away and that I was planning to be at the local dance hall that weekend...he made plans to be there too.  So, we actually meet that night--I'm with friends and my sister and we have a fun time.  He calls me the next day, we go out..Our first date was at the Greyhound track in Wichita...we met a bunch of his friends up there that night...I was a little nervous, he offers me some money to bet on a race...I didn't know anything about betting on dogs.  I bet, I lose.  I bet again, I lose again.  I was surprised he called me again!  I wasn't really wanting to date seriously, I had a big idea I would go to stewardess school in Dallas TX and fly the friendly skies. So we date a little off and on for a few months.  Then he doesn't call.  I wait.  He still doesn't call.  I move forward.  It is August and I'm thinking I really like this guy...so I call and invite him to our local fair.  I was singing that night.  He comes, brings friends...we have a good time...we were nearly inseparable from then on...we got engaged the following March (7 months later) and married in November that year.
 
 I didn't have a fancy wedding but it was nice...it was us.  I wore my mom's wedding dress, I borrowed my cousin's white cowboy boots, my m-i-l to be made my headpiece and veil.  The guys wore jeans, boots and tux jackets.  My flower girl wore pants and woven in thru out the decorations were stalks of wheat, grown by my dad.  I LOVED my cake...it was tiered and had a fountain under it...then there were cakes that spread out from it. Octagon shaped. JB and I LOVE white cake.  We had small bags of wheat in burlap bags full of more of my dad's wheat to throw.  A very dear friend sang "I Cross My Heart-George Strait and The Lord's Prayer"--the music would not play at the wedding and she's so wonderful...she didn't need music!  We were married in the town where I live now because the church was much larger and his family went there...then we drove to my hometown for a dance.  Tables were decorated with mason jars full of sand with votive candles inside.  Fancy huh?  I thought so...I'm not a Fru-fru girl. ;) 
It was good and of course there are things I might do different, but ya know...it doesn't really matter to me.  We still love each other and have had a wonderful life together...none of that "stuff" would make any difference now! 

This is probably my favorite picture

NOT taken by the photographer

and you can see the scratches and marks on it

We look so young

I was

ha ha

I'm 4 years younger ;)

Fall Frenzy

Hey
I'm still alive
Somedays I wonder
but then I have a fit
and then everyone knows I'm still around
Life is crazy
I feel like that is my normal
I do not like that normal
I still have NO computer
Which means I have NO pics to share
I LOVE my new bathroom
I have sheetrock dust ALL over my house
I do not like to mud, tape and sand
Someone told me Christmas is about 9 weeks away
I screamed when I heard it
I made a very tough decision about 2 weeks ago
I have a new job
I loved my old job
I love(d) the people I worked with
I love the new people I work with
It's my husband and f-i-l
It's quite a story...for another time. maybe.
I ran another 5K Saturday
I felt GREAT afterwards
I'm running another race this weekend
My boys are keeping me BIZZY
My dad was 70 yesterday
I love KState football
I'm about to celebrate 17 years of marriage in November
I have a F*U*N surprise for my hubby on our anniversary
I really must go now
Please don't stop coming by my blog
I miss everyone
Really
I do