Throw Out The Pacifier

Just because I once sucked a pacifier when I was a baby, doesn't mean I should suck on one as an adult. Just because I looked good wearing the latest styles in high school doesn't mean those styles still look good or even fit me as an adult!!

We all change and grow and just because something "worked" for us at one stage in our lives, doesn't mean we should still keep doing it. You won't see me walking around with a pacifier in my mouth, and I don't fit into the same jeans as I wore in high school. But, that o.k.! First of all, people would probably send me to a psyche ward if they saw me with a pappy in my mouth, and my girls would be embarrassed to sit next to me in church if I tried to fit into and wear the same outfits I did as a teenager!

With that being said, as Christians, when we are trying to reach that next spiritual level why do we look back to what we once had? Have you noticed in the fashion industry that about every 20 years a certain style makes it way back on the racks in stores? As Christians, we can actually learn from this! Styles come back but with a different twist. The style has usually been revolutionized a bit. (The 80's style is back, but with a millennium twist) In the same way, we can look back at a time when our walk with God was "on fire," and use certain instances or lessons we learned in the past to revolutionize our spiritual thinking to the next level.

We might of had a wonderful Sunday School teacher, been a part of an awesome youth group, or experienced a dynamic christian seminar or retreat and that's great. But, that was for a season in our lives. Those could have been great learning times, but we can't stop there! We have to press on to a new level. I don't want to ask God to revive what I once had, I want Him to revolutionize my spiritual thinking so I can serve Him better!

"Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore, let us leave elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity..." Hebrews 5:13-14, 6:1

"Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." Lamentations 3:40

Not Seeing The Signs

I dropped my girls off at school this morning and then met up with a couple of friends to go walk. We went to the track field, a couple of miles outside of town. We decided to walk the curves and jog the straights, all the while talking and laughing in between. About 5 minutes after our work-out began, we noticed an EMS car (not an ambulance) parked half-way on the road with its' lights flashing. This should have been warning #1, but we basically looked at each other and said, "I wonder what's going on?" We shrugged it off and kept on walking and talking... A few minutes later we heard a couple of gun shots and one of my friends mentioned that someone must be dove hunting. We said, "Yeah, probably so," and we kept on walking... A few minutes later, my two friends said, "Hey, check out that guy on a horse." We were like, "Huh, I wonder what he's doing?" We kept walking and talking (trying to solve our country's youth problems). Then, we noticed a helicopter over head. One of my friends laughed and told the other one, "Hey! I bet that's your husband checking up on you." (He flies helicopters). We laughed and kept walking... When we finally drove back to the house, one of my friends got a message saying everyone in Brackett should be on alert because a convict, from the maximum security prison in Brackett, had just escaped! Then the lightbulbs came on!! We put 2 and 2 together. He was probably right across the road from us the whole time, hiding under a mesquite tree! That explained the road block, the mounted police, the gun shots, and the helicopter hovering overhead!

Wow! How many signs did we need! Just like these visible signs, God gives us signs too. But, we have to slow down and take the time to listen and look around us. Many times He uses the people who cross our paths or certain situations to wake us up, but we can't be preoccupied with so much "stuff" that we are blinded to the warning signs! Open my heart, eyes, and ears Lord, and help me not to be blind-sided from our real enemy, Satan!

BTW, the convict, has still not been captured and the blonde highlights in my hair really do come from a bottle!

Fiery Trials

Yesterday, I watched an awesome Beth Moore video; I'd like to share what stuck out in my mind. She gave 3 different scenarios when people of God face a fiery trial. The example of a trial she gave was a christian being diagnosed with cancer.

Scenario A: We can be delivered from the fire. (Miracle)
Dividend? Our faith is built.

Scenario B: We can be delivered through the fire.
Dividend? Our faith is refined.

Key scriptures: This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it! John 11:4

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love." 1Peter 1:6-9

Scenario C: We can be delivered by the fire straight into His arms.
Dividend? Our faith is perfected.

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12

"But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ, and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear!"

We never want Scenario C to happen to us. If only our minds could wrap themselves around the awesomeness of being in heaven with Jesus, we would long for Scenario C. I think that's why we are not allowed to see how marvelous heaven is. If we knew, everyone would want to die and God's will on earth would not be carried out!,

Cowgirl Cuties

My girls ended up doing very well in the Del Rio Youth Rodeo Association! My oldest won 4 buckles and the All Around Girl Saddle! It was very cool, with a turquoise allligator seat! My younger girls did extremely well too! They won really cool zebra and cheetah print tack. They were all in the same age group at this rodeo, since at the time of registering, they were 9, 11, and 12! I'm proud of the way they cheer each other on, and are excited for one another when they do well! We try to instill in them to do their best, and focus on their own times, nobody else's. I'm excited for them...they deserved these awards because they always work hard and practice! Even better, we don't have to tell them to practice, they just go do it! Way to go girls!!

Morning Routine

Last night I dreamt that an irrational number really was insane and beat me over the head with a percent sign!! Aaahhh! I can't get away from this math "stuff"! I'm still substituting for Jr. High math. I have one more week to go. I guess you can say I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I'm going to miss seeing and interacting with the kids everyday. But, on the other hand, I'm really looking forward to fulfilling my domestic duties (to the 10th power), at home! I've fallen a little behind on my laundering duties since I've been working full time, staying in town (late) for practices, and going to v-ball games, and football games! Oh well, I guess I've done a semi-alright job, seeing as no one has had to wear dirty socks or underwear!



One thing that I was concerned about (that might suffer) if I took this long-term sub job was our morning routine. I love mornings. I guess you could say I'm a morning person. I like waking up before everyone else, getting clothes ironed and breakfast made all while have a pleasant and non-rushed attitude. For the past 7 years, since my oldest went to Kinder, we have had a morning devotion and prayer time while eating breakfast. It just starts the day out right. Occasionally, when I'd subbed in the past, my morning dialogue was devoid of "amens" and filled with "hurry-ups!" I was bound and determined that our morning schedule was not going to be derailed because I had to work for 5 weeks. Fortunately, I'm here to say that we've had a devotion and prayer time every morning, with a little something new thrown in. I set my alarm for 5:00 every morning. I get up, shower, get dressed and put my make-up on. At 5:30 I turn the TV on and watch Joyce Meyer (one of my favorite Christian teachers) while ironing the girls' clothes. These are the clothes they lay on the couch the night before. After ironing, I make breakfast, set it on the table and light a few candles. Then I wake the girls up. Luckily, we all like to eat breakfast when we wake up. They stumble to the table and sit down. We've been having candlelit breakfasts since the regular light is just too bright first thing in the morning. After breakfast, they get ready in the living room where Joyce Meyer comes on, again, at 6:30. They've enjoyed listening to her in the mornings, and they don't complain about watching preaching instead of cartoons! Amazingly, our mornings have been so smooth! I've only had to use the word "hurry-up" a couple of times since school started!!

Of course, there are some mornings when at least one child likes to help build my character! For instance, clothes might not have been picked out the morning before and "she" doesn't like what I've picked out, breakfast isn't to "her" liking, or "she" can't find her shoes. In the past, these little situations would have really irked me, since they know the rules...clothes should be picked out the night before (if not, I pick them out!), if you don't like the breakfast I make then go find something yourself w/0 complaining, and shoes go in the baskets behind the door! Well, let me tell you, it's kind of hard to lose my patience when I'm getting ready to read a devotion or scripture, about to pray or when Joyce Meyer is in the background saying we need to love more!

Basically, I want to remain loving, considerate, and patient even when schedules are a little more hectic, and saturating the mornings with God has helped tremendously! I feel like this 5 week sub job is like a dress rehearsal for what is to come within the next year or two...maybe a full-time teaching job (not Math!). Since I've passed the morning routine, I've just got to figure out a way to get warm brownies on the table when we all get home! Can you believe that's one reason why they don't want me to work! "Who's going to make us a snack when we get home?" :) Until next time...

Mrs. Frerich, The Tall Math Teacher

Yeah! Technology at the ranchito has changed drastically! I bought a laptop and last week the Dell guy came to our house and installed wireless internet! My life will never be the same. No more waiting 20 minutes for a page to appear on the screen! It all happens so fast, and I feel a little spoiled! :)

For over a month, we did not have internet service out here, that's why blogs have not been written. Well, and to be perfectly honest, there hasn't been much time. You know the routine: everyone's getting adjusted to the new school thing, extra-curricular activities, etc... Also, I accepted a 4 week substitute position. I'm teaching jr. high math! (Insert scream!) At first I didn't really understand why God was nudging me to fill-in (long-term) in the math department, since I'm an english minor and received a BA instead of a BS. I purposely wanted a BA so I would only have to take one math class in college. My oldest daughter does extremely well in math and is very logical. I think she learned through osmosis. Let me explain: When I was pregnant with her, I was taking 18 hrs. in college. The only class that I struggled with was college algebra. As I would do my homework, on the couch, my expanded belly was a perfect "table" for my algebra book. That's where the "osmosis" part comes in! Now, I'm teaching her AP math class! I think the thing that stresses me out more than anything is all my over-achieving friends' kids are in that class!

My sister laughs at me because I told my 6th period class that I would be available at 7:30 in the mornings if they needed help with anything. I don't know what I get myself into sometimes! Doing my best at things tends to consume me at times! One thing I have learned is, if I have the answer key I can figure out and explain anything!

At first, I thought there was this "behind the scenes" reason why God always opened up long-term math jobs for me. Well, I'm starting to believe He has me here for a logical reason...to learn math! He's also been convicting me of saying that I'm not good at math! Ouch! That phrase has always slipped out so easily from my mouth! What kind of example am I setting for my girls when I'm always saying I'm not good in math! I wouldn't want them saying that about themselves, so why should I say it about me!

I'm finding out that I'm not as bad as I thought I was in this subject, but I still have to do some homework before I teach the lesson. All in all, I'm enjoying being in the junior high building. They are a good group of kids and it's fun encouraging them. Another reason why I like the junior high kids is they know how to correctly use their adjectives. They say: "Wow Miss, you're so tall!" I prefer that to what the little elementary kids say. They look at me and say, "You're soooo big!" "Tall" is just a much nicer description! I'm 5'10 but I usually wear wedges or heels, so I look much taller.

Having to teach only 4 classes a day isn't too bad either! :) Hats off to all you teachers out there! It's not as easy as some people think! Until next time..

Home Alone

I'm experiencing something new today. My family left this morning to go camping at the beach, and I stayed home. This is extremely against my nature in many forms. First of all, I can't recollect a single time when all of them have been away from me at the same time for a few days. Secondly, since my middle name is GO, you'd think I'd be on this adventure with them. There are a couple of reasons why I decided to stay home this weekend. Believe me, it was a hard choice to make. I was going to go and then I wasn't...I was going to go and then I wasn't... And then I finally came to this conclusion:

1. When I go to the beach I like staying in a hotel or condo. I would prefer camping by a river or in the mountains.
2. The list of Mark's male family members kept growing and growing while the female persuasion dwindled down to nothing!
3. All the talk about fishing, all hours of the day, had my head spinning!
4. I thought it would be great for Mark and the girls to spend a weekend away together (A dad-daughter get-a-way). I feel for certain that this weekend will be etched in their minds forever and will be talked about for years to come! He's the best vacation dad and I know they will have a wonderful time together.

You may be wondering why I had to put any thought into this decision. Well, like I said, I'm always up for a new adventure and the thought of me being left behind was a little weird. But, the main reason why I wasn't sure if I should stay home was the fact that I wouldn't be in charge of my girls' safety. Don't get me wrong, Mark takes good care of his girls, but come on, all mom's usually think they watch over their children better than anyone else. I'm usually the mom who is watching out for my girls and 6 other kids while their parents are sitting next to me. Giving up this control was a little hard for me, but I knew I needed to do it. I felt like this weekend would be a great experience for them. And besides, God is ultimately in control of my children, so I'm pretty sure He can handle the job much better than I could!

While their dad wasn't in earshot, I gave them a quick lists of do's and don'ts.
Do put lots of sunblock on everyday and reapply.
Don't walk anywhere without your dad.
Don't walk too far out in the water.
Do go to the restroom and take a shower in the camper not in the public restrooms!

All this was followed by, "We know mouuum."

Before loading up at 6 a.m., I told each one of them I loved them and gave them a hug and kiss. If I would have let myself, I probably would have cried like a baby. I could see in their eyes that they were ready for this adventure with their dad, but were a little sad that I was staying behind. All of our eyes kind of misted up, we hugged one last time, and they said, "Bye mom, I love you" until I was out of earshot. I watched their truck until I could not see it anymore and then went inside and cried a little. Then I pulled myself together, reminding myself that it was my decision to stay home. The first thing I did was go to the sun room, sit down and pray for their safety and protection and I prayed that they'd have a wonderful time. After spending a little quiet time with God, I watched 2 episodes of Joyce Meyer and then decided to write this blog. No, I'm not just going to veg out all day. I'm going to clean house and then do laundry. Don't worry though, I won't be working the whole time they are gone. My mom and I have plans. Yep, we're going to San Antonio tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it. Well, I guess I better wrap it up and get to work, so I can play tomorrow!

Our Anniversary Date

Two days ago was our 14th wedding anniversary! Mark had to work on Wednesday, so we celebrated last night. Living where we do, there's not a whole lot of options in the entertainment department. Invariably, there hasn't been a good movie at the theater the last couple of years around our anniversary either! Oh well, I guess it means Mark has to hear me yack more!

All day, yesterday, I was secretly pumped up about our date. I had been wanting to get away with him, all by myself, for the past few days. Well, around 4:45 he asked me if the vet had called and asked if the sheep was ready to be picked up. I told him I hadn't heard from the vet's office all day, so he called the office. Dr. Martin told him the sheep was ready to be picked up. Mark looked at me and said, "How quick can you get ready?" I said, "Aah, come on, I don't want to be dragging around a sheep and a trailer with us all evening." Besides, I had a whole lot of primping to do! It was going to take me a while to get ready. He kindly said he'd pick up the lamb and for me to be ready when he got back. Whew! That was a close one. I thought for a second I was going to have to compete with a sheep on our date. I put my broom down (I'd been cleaning out a bedroom all day), and hopped in the shower. Calgon take me away...

Since it was our anniversary, I thought I'd spice things up a bit and where a dress and heels. This may not have been the greatest choice of clothing, but I'll get to that later. When he walked in and saw me in a dress, he said, "I don't want to have to get dressed up." I told him he didn't have to. After 14 years of marriage, I know him pretty well. I had already ironed a pair of shorts (camo) and a shirt for him. All he had to do was put on his baseball cap and slip his flip-flops on. He likes to be casual. I can count the number of times I've seen him wear a tie, on one hand! That's o.k., I like the sporty look! So off we went, me looking like I should be going to a wedding and Mark looking like he should be going to a Ranger's game!

We decided to eat at Cripple Creek, a great restaurant outside of town. He ordered a steak and I had the grilled salmon. It was really good. We had a great meal and pleasant conversation. I hate to see couples eating by themselves and rarely talking. So, I always step up to the plate and keep the conversation going so we won't look like one of those "boring" couples who've been married for over 10 years! I know he probably appreciates me for this! ha!

After we ate, he asked if I wanted to drive out to the lake. I said, "Sure," thinking it was kind of a romantic gesture. So off we went. On our way to the lake he said he wanted to find the cliffs that he used to jump off of when he was in high school (romantic gesture just flew out the window). After about 20 minutes, we found the right road. (This is when the sporty look came in handy for Mark). We couldn't just drive up to the cliffs, we had to walk to them! We hopped out of the truck and made our way down a rocky path with cactus on both sides of us. Mark trailed on about 20 feet in front of me like nothing, and then there was me trying to walk down a rocky path in heels, while holding my dress down (it was really windy) and trying to keep my hair out of my eyes (and yes, I had spent 30 minutes fixing my hair before our date)! I swear, the only time he walks fast is when I'm wearing heels! We finally made it to the edge of the cliffs and it was beautiful! The sun was setting in the distance behind an old railroad bridge. Aah! The romantic moment I had been waiting for. Don't get me wrong, we didn't gaze into each other's eyes and whisper sweet nothings to one another or anything like that. We just enjoyed each other's company and watched the sunset in the distance. It's the little things in life like this that make me happy. I seriously don't need wine and roses, I would much prefer quality time together, even if it means walking through a stickery path , in high heels, to reminisce about days gone by.

Every married couple has their highs and lows, and we are no exception, but I can honestly say that every year with Mark gets better and better! That's so exciting to me! He's a great guy whom I love dearly. I can't wait to see what God has in store for our lives and our marriage.

There's A Shark In The Tank

I know that God uses trials and tribulations to test us and make us stronger, but sometimes it's just not fun to go through them. I was praying about a situation and needing encouragement from God when I glanced at my bookshelf and noticed an old book that was practically saying, "Hey, open me up and read me!" So, I grabbed the book off the shelf and it fell open to chapter 23, entitled "The Purpose of Trials!" I'm going to share a few things from the book that I was needing to be reminded of:

"God has a divine purpose for every challenge that comes into our lives. He doesn't send the problems, but sometimes He allows us to go through them. Why is that? The Bible says temptations, trials, and difficulties must come, because if we are to strengthen our spiritual muscles and grow stronger, we must have adversities to overcome and attacks to resist. Moreover, it's in the tough times of life that we find out what we're really made of. (YIKES!) The pressure exposes things that we need to deal with -- things such as wrong attitudes, wrong motives, areas where we're compromising. As odd as this may seem, the trials can be beneficial. If you will learn to cooperate with God and be quick to change and correct the areas that He brings to light, then you'll pass that test and you will be promoted to a new level.

Often times we're tested in the areas where we are the weakest. I've discovered in the struggles of life that God is more interested in changing me than He is in changing my circumstances.

God will use people in your life. Your own husband or wife, your in-laws, or your own children may be the unwitting mirrors that God uses to reveal areas where you need to change.

There might be a person that irritates you to no end, and you may wonder why you have to be around him/her day in and day out. You might even wonder, "When is God going to change him/her?" Have you considered that God may wanting to change you? God may have purposely arranged for you to be in close proximity to that person who grates against you. He may be trying to teach you how to love your enemies. Or, He may be trying to toughen you up a little and teach you to have some endurance, to not to run from everything that is hard, uncomfortable, or inconvenient. (OUCH!) We must recognize the refining purpose of trials. We can't run from everything that's hard in our lives!

Recognize that God wants to do a work in you. He's molding you and refining you. But you're so busy trying to evade the difficulty, the work is not being done. You're so focused on all the circumstances and all the people around you that you haven't taken time to look deep inside and deal with the issues God is bringing to light. He will put people and circumstances in your path that grate on you like sandpaper, but He will use them to rub off your rough edges. You may not always like it; you may want to run from it, you may even resist it, but God is going to keep bringing up the issue, again and again, until you pass the test.

The following is a great analogy:

Many years ago, fishing for codfish up in the Northeast had become a lucrative commercial business. The fishing industry recognized that a great market for codfish existed all over America, but they had a major problem in the distribution. At first, they simply froze the fish, as they did all their other products, and shipped it out all across the country. But for some reason, after the codfish was frozen, it lost its taste. So the owners decided to ship the fish in huge tanks filled with fresh seawater. They thought for sure that would solve the problem and keep the fish fresh. But to their dismay, this process only made matters worse. Because the fish were inactive in the tank, they became soft and mushy, and once again they lost their taste. One day, somebody decided to put some catfish in the tank with the codfish. Catfish are a natural enemy of codfish, so as the tank traveled across the country, the codfish had to stay alert and active and be on the lookout for the catfish. Amazingly, when the tank arrived at its destination, the codfish were as fresh and tasty as they were in the Northeast.

Like that catfish, perhaps your adversity was dropped in your path for a purpose. Perhaps it was put there to challenge you, to strengthen you, to sharpen you, to keep you fresh, to keep you alive and active and growing. Granted, at times, it feels as though you have a great white shark in the tank rather than a catfish, but the adversity you are facing could very well be something that God is using to push you and challenge you to be your best. The trial is a test of your faith, character, and endurance. Don't give up. Don't quit. Don't whine and complain, saying, "God, why is all this happening to me?"

Instead, stand strong and fight the good fight of faith. God is giving you an opportunity for promotion. It is the struggle that gives us strength. Without opposition or resistance, there is no potential for progress. Without the resistance of air, an eagle can't soar. Without the resistance of water, a ship can't float!

Certainly, none of us enjoy going through struggles, but you have to understand that your struggle may be an opportunity for advancement and promotion. The very thing that you are fighting against so tenaciously may be the springboard that catapults you to a new level of excellence. Your challenges may become your greatest assets!" -- YOUR BEST LIFE NOW

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." -- 1 Peter 4:12

Hide-N-Seek

We just got back from playing a game of night-time hide-n-seek on the 4 wheelers. The girls had their cousin over tonight so we each grabbed a partner and hopped on a 4-wheeler.

Mark's rules: 1.We have to stay in the House Pasture.
2. We can't go past the 2nd tank.
3. Once your spotted you can't take off.

You won't find me breaking the first two rules. We venture too far from the house as it is! Man, my girls are brave! I guess hiding in the bushes, at night, in the middle of a pasture, is fun to them! I was riding with Kater-Bug tonight. I told her to look for her dad and Libby up on the hill where all the old trucks were. She hesitated and then took off. When we got up there she got a little nervous and didn't want to proceed. I tried to put up a tough girl front and said, "Oh, come on, there's nothing to be scared of!" But, inwardly I was thinking how much that old junkyard reminded me of a cemetery! I told her to "dale gas"; we got out of there in a flash. I like wide-open spaces.

Seeing as Mark has lived on this ranch all of his life, he knows where the good hiding spots are. It usually takes a little longer for us to find him! He was actually good tonight and didn't try to scare me.

Why is it if you're playing hide-n-seek at night you always have to pee? Even if you just went before you started playing the game.

Another version of hide-n-seek we play is inside with all of the lights off. My favorite hiding place is the bathtub. The girls are too scared to pull the shower curtain back, so they don't look there! Ssshhh! Don't tell anyone! ;) You'd think, since Mark is the biggest guy in the house, he would be easier to spot but he's usually the last one to be found! Games like hide-n-seek are not just for kids. Add a twist to it and you'll find yourself having fun too!!

Rhinestone Cowgirl

Most of the time I can put up a pretty good front when I'm at a rodeo with my girls. Just because my girls are exceptional riders, I wear cowboy boots and can pull a horse trailer to these dusty events does not mean that I know a thing about horses! Although, I am learning a little more every year. For instance, when Mana was 5 she really wanted to ride her horse but Mark was not home. I always wanted their dad to be around when they rode. Well, she kept after me so I said, "Alright, go find that horse book you got for your birthday. I think it has instructions on how to saddle a horse." At the time, I told her not to tell anyone that I had to read a book to learn how to saddle a horse! Well, we got Baby saddled and the rest is history... Now, all 4 of us go to rodeos together, even when Mark has to work. O.k., o.k., I can't take too much credit. My girls round-up their horses, catch them, put them in the trailer, saddle them, and take good care of them at the rodeo. My job is to iron their clothes, do the little one's hair, and drive them to the rodeo (again, just if Mark's working).

I've learned that it's not a good idea to wear boots to a rodeo. When I wear boots people assume that I know a thing or to about horses. I don't go all out and wear shirts that say, "My True Love Is A Horse," or anything like that. I may wear boots and the occasional cowgirl bling but that doesn't mean I know how to ride that thing (a horse)! Now, that needs to be on a t-shirt: BOOTS AND BLING DON'T MEAN I KNOW HOW TO RIDE THAT THING! Anybody that really knows me knows that I'm a little skittish around horses. Well, the other night when we were at a rodeo a lady comes up to me and asks me if I could hold her daughter's horse because she's at the concession stand. I was thinking, "You've got to be kidding me, can you not see the look of terror in my eyes!" Before I could say, "I'm sorry I can't," the people pleaser inside of me took over and I smiled and said, "Sure." Then it was just me and this 900 pound beast. I was praying that he'd act right and just stay put. Because believe me, if he would have started acting up I would have let go of the reins and ran for cover! He tried to move around on me a little bit, but I tried my own version of being a horse whisperer. It was nothing like you see in the movies, it was more like, "In the name of Jesus, please act right and be still." After about 10 minutes I was getting a little irritated. I knew they weren't making steaks made-to-order in the concession stand, but that chic just kept standing there at the concession stand and there was no line! Finally, my dad walked up to me and said, "Who's horse is that?" I pointed over to the girl in front of the concession stand. I asked dad if he'd hold it and he said he would. Aaahhh! Dad to the rescue. At that moment, my blood pressure went down and my hands quit shaking. After 10 more minutes the girl walked from the concession stand with her goodies in hand. I grabbed the horse from dad, and walked her horse to her. She said, "Oh thanks!" She was probably wondering what a complete stranger was doing holding her horse. I was wondering the same thing! I guess it's back to flip-flops at the rodeos! :)

Counting My Blessings

The Deaf & Blind Triplets

Little Haley

It's 12:30 a.m. and I can't sleep, so instead of tossing and turning, I thought I'd write a blog instead. At this moment, as I'm typing these words, I'm overcome with thankfulness. I just checked on my girls, who are sleeping soundly in their beds, and I thanked Jesus for blessing me with three beautiful, loving, healthy girls. Many parents are not as fortunate to have healthy children and my heart goes out to them. I pray right now God will give them strength to endure!

What brought on this kind of thinking so late at night? I spoke with a grandmother, today, whose grandson was born with several complications. Her strength and her daughter's attitude is amazing. Also, the girls and I watched 2 shows on the Discovery Channel this evening that made all of us count our blessings. The first one was about a little girl named Haley who lives in England. She has a disease known as Progeria. It's when your body ages 8 times faster than it should. She is only 8 years old but her body is like a 70 year old woman. This little girl was amazing. She had such a bubbly personality and had remarkable strength. I loved watching her talk and laugh. Although she didn't look like your average 8 year old, I couldn't help but think that she was adorable. My heart broke for her parents because, of course, they know all the facts about the disease and that the average life-span for a person with Progeria is 13 years old. Doctors are working around the clock to find a cure for this disease, and I pray they will find one soon. Knowing that your child would more than likely not live past 13 would be heart wrenching. I pray that God will give them the grace to endure.

The second show was about triplets who are blind and deaf! I remember watching the Helen Keller movie, last summer, and thinking how lonely and lost she must have felt and how helpless her parents probably felt. But how in the world could one person deal with 3 Helen Keller's! The thought of it boggles my mind. When I watched their mom being interviewed my only thought was, "Wow! What problems do I have?!" This lady is truly remarkable! (You can watch her on YouTube. I just typed in deaf and blind triplets).

It's amazing to me how all of these parents are pushed to the limit each day, (physically and emotionally), yet they continue to laugh and try to endure - no matter the obstacles. God's grace is astounding! It makes me wonder what's so tough about my life?! My day-to-day family foibles pale in comparison. Thank you Lord!

Muddy footprints on a freshly mopped floor, the occasional argument between siblings, spilt milk, misplaced hair brushes, and messy rooms... these are things that are normally thought of as glitches in our day to day lives, but I bet the parents of the triplets would welcome all of these things into their homes with open arms. Muddy footprints mean that my kids get to enjoy dancing in the rain. Arguing shows they can speak and hear! :) Spilt milk means they are trying to be self-sufficient (every one's clumsy now and then)! Misplaced brushes mean they have the capability to find the brush with their own 2 eyes, and messy rooms means they are able to play in their rooms and have fun together!

While watching the show about Haley, Libby looked at me and said, "I bet it's hard for her mom to get mad at her, since she knows she's going to die." As soon as those words left her lips, I thought, "Shouldn't we all think like that?" None of us knows the day or hour our loved ones are going to perish from this earth. We should always keep that in the forefront of our minds. I'm not saying we should let our kids rule the roost, but I know we could probably all show a little more compassion and understanding when our kids do mess up. I know I could! And, we should always try to send our kids out into the world and to bed on a positive note. I know, sometimes it's easier said than done! But, we never know what the day or night may hold...

"Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings."

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus!" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Happy Father's Day, Dad!!

I was cleaning house today and thoughts of my dad drifted in and out of my mind. Some of them made me laugh and some made me tear up (I'm glad I was home alone). My dad, what can I say? He's a man filled with goodness, honesty, humor, and faith. He always provided a great living for my mom, brother, sister, and I. Although he may regret the long hours he had to put in at work, I always knew he was doing it for us. He worked hard so my mom could stay home and take care of us, and I appreciate him so much for that.

My mind was filled with mini-movies today about my dad, and the following are just a few that stand out in my mind:

Action: When I was young my dad would take me to his favorite fishing holes in Quemado. His days off were Mondays, so that's when we would go. I would always wear my orange cap with a little orange puff ball on top. He always had to bait my hook because I didn't like worms back then either.

Action: He would take me to Mary's Cafe with him while he would chat with the locals. I didn't care if I wasn't involved in the conversation, I just liked being with him. I would stick my nose in the tall glass and try to breathe in cool fresh air because the cafe was always filled with smoke!

Action: When I would hear his truck pull up, I'd run out and greet him with a hug. Sometimes I would sit on the orange couch next to him while he watched M*A*S*H or TIC-TAC-DOUGH.

Action: When I was little I invented a little dessert for my dad. I would take a vanilla waifer, spread peanut butter on it, and then sprinkle cinnamon on top. I don't know how he did it, but he'd always eat all of them, and would tell me how great they were.

Action: I liked playing sports as a kid, so he put a basketball goal up and would shoot hoops with me when he could. He always wanted to talk with me after my games, and was always very encouraging.

Action: I remember my dad doing the "Pee Wee Herman" dance in a restaurant and me be utterly mortified! I also remember going bowling and the guy behind the counter said, "How many games would y'all like to play?" and dad said, "We don't want to play, we just came to rent the shoes!" Needless to say, my face turned red several times throughout my teenage years!

Action: My dad taught me how to dance. The picture above was taken at a restaurant in Mexico. He was probably talking me through the dance steps. I was a slow learner when it came to dancing. I can probably count the number of people I've danced with on one hand, including my dad and Mark! That's o.k., that's the way I like it.

Action: My dad was always faithful in going to church. He would always slide in the pew about 5 minutes before the service would begin. Sitting next to him was usually out of the question... that seat was reserved for my mom.

Action: I knew something was wrong when Joaquin, Amber, and I came home for lunch and no one was home. After 10 minutes, we got a call from my mom and she said that dad had just had a heart attack. Thankfully, my brother had his driver's license, so he drove us to the hospital. When we got there they had just revived him because his heart had completely stopped. We're still so thankful to God for saving him and for the nurse who wouldn't give up when everybody else did!

Action: Me, dad, and Amber going to the Ft. Worth Stock Show having to sing along to 50's and 60's music! Good times!

Action: I'm thankful for my dad's wisdom when I was a teenager. He was loving yet firm. He saw things that I couldn't. Having my car taken away for 2 weeks and having to walk to and from school seemed barbaric, but he knew what he was doing. After the 2 weeks were over, I realized I liked my wheels more than I liked the guy!

Action: I was inwardly doing a"happy dance" when he approved of me dating a guy 8 years older than me during my senior year in high school. Thanks to my dad's wisdom, he saw past Mark's age and saw what I could see: an awesome guy!

Action: I was so thankful my dad was alive to walk me down the aisle. He looked handsome in his tuxedo. I remember thinking that was the longest and slowest walk of my life. He really did walk slow, I have the video to prove it.

Action: I remember him praying for me before they prepped me for surgery when I was going to have Libby. He also cracked a few jokes which made me less nervous.

Action: My dad accompanied the girls and I to a rodeo in Uvalde a few years ago, and when we got to the Border Patrol check point, he rolled the window down and the agent said, "Go ahead." He didn't even asked any questions. After we drove off, my dad looked back at my girls and said, "Some people you just don't want to mess with!" We all started laughing. They still use that phrase after we pass a checkpoint.

Action: Another Border Patrol story wasn't quite as funny. It made me a little nervous. We crossed the Mexico bridge and were headed back to the U.S., and the Customs Agent asked dad if he was bringing back anything from Mexico. For some reason, he got a little tongue tied and said, "Yes, shampool (shampoo), and drugs and stuff!" I was thinking, "What the heck did he just say?" The agent looked at him kind of funny and said, "Excuse me, what did you say?" My dad quickly admitted that we had gone to the pharmacy and gotten some Retin-A. Thankfully, he believed him and didn't pull us over. After he took off, we all started laughing!

Action: Several years ago, my girls were watching t.v., with my dad, and he started jokingly aggravating them, so they started tickling him. Well, they wouldn't let up. He started laughing and couldn't quit and it made the rest of us laugh until our stomachs hurrt. In between breaths he'd say, "Get them off of me!" I finally had to put an end to the madness, fearing he might have another heart attack!!

Action: Friday night Mark had to go to work, so dad called and offered to help us at the rodeo. We had a great time with him. He had encouraging words and of course, we listened to 60's music going home!

I could go on and on, but I better stop. My clock is reading 12:45 p.m., although the time posted won't say that! (I don't know why).

Dad, thanks for being so great and for being such a terrific dad! I love you!

Tackling The To-Do List

Have you ever had so many things to get done that you just don't know where to begin? Have you ever been overwhelmed by the things you need to get done that you end up doing something that's not even on your to-do list? For instance, I need to finish cleaning out the attic and cleaning out Mana's room to get ready for the room re-do and I go and clean out my closet and out from under my bed! Or, have you ever saved up some money for something you really wanted and then spent half of it on something that you never thought about buying? I don't know about you but I've been guilty of doing all of these things from time to time.

This summer is the summer of change! I want to put an end to my old habits and start fresh! I've been trying to self-diagnose myself concerning these quirky issues, and I believe the one thing that will help me stay on track is an action plan written on paper! There's something amazing that happens when you get your thoughts and ideas down on paper. It's like they come to life and you can tackle them head on. I love taking a pen and marking through things on a to-do list. It's very gratifying to me! So, today I'm going to make a list of all the things that I want to do and need to do, and I'm going to prioritize them from most important to least important. I'm a very visual learner, so I've got to see things written down.

When you get down to it, putting things off just makes the situation worse because "it" still needs to get done, and you are still thinking about doing "it" (too much mind clutter)! So, I'm going to divide my projects into baby steps that seem doable! Sometimes we just have to stop thinking about what needs to get done, and how huge the project is, or how anxious we feel when we think about getting started, and JUST DO IT! The satisfaction we'd feel after accomplishing the task is way better than feeling guilty for putting it off.

The following list I found online, and I think it will help me stay on track!


____________________________________
Today’s Date

A Items: Something I must do today or face serious consequences.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
B Items: Something I should do today or face mild consequences.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
C Items: This would be great, but there are no consequence if done today or not.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
D Items: I could delegate this to someone else.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
E Items: I could eliminate this altogether without making a huge difference.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
F Items: I need to keep this in mind for the future.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________

So, if you're like me and have too many "irons in the fire" and don't know where to begin, start with a list! Another very important factor in this equation is for me to make wise use of my time. I read something the other day that really stood out in my mind. It was referring to the 100 most influential people in history. These men and women who changed the world did not have any more hours in a day than you and I. I'm convinced that these people had an action plan, probably wrote it down, and used their time very wisely!

"IF A TASK IS ONCE BEGUN, NEVER LEAVE IT TILL IT'S DONE. BE THE LABOR GREAT OR SMALL, DO IT WELL OR NOT AT ALL."

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might...!" Ecclesiastes 9:10

A Little Bit About Me

Favorite t.v. show? According To Jim...Mark and I watch it every night at 10:00. Who wants to watch the dreary news!

Do you like cheese? Yes!

Do you own a gun? Yes, so don’t come around at night trying to scare me!

Do you like listening to Christmas music? I’ve been known to start listening to Christmas music in early October. It’s a weakness of mine. I’m working on it. I’ve been trying to hold off until the 1st of November, but, oh, it’s hard!

Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Yes...I usually sweat bullets, especially at the gyno! I’m getting clammy and withdrawn just thinking about it!

What do you think of hot dogs? Great, cooked over a grill!

Favorite Christmas song? Oh man, this is a hard one...Joy To The World, The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire), Walkin’ In a Winter Wonderland.

What do you prefer to drink in the morning? I would love to drink coffee, but I don’t know how to make it very well. So, I just drink it when I go to my mom’s.

Can you do push ups? Yes, but only a couple.

What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding ring and a big turquoise cross pendant

Favorite hobby? Reading, decorating, painting furniture, and blogging

Do you have A.D.D.? No

Middle Name? Lee

Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment. It’s hot in here...I need to start making supper...I have a great life!

Name 3 things you bought yesterday? Nothing...I actually stayed home all day!

Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Water, milk, coffee

Current worry right now? I’d rather not say.

Current hate? When GPS systems don’t work right!

Favorite place to be? On vacation with my family!

How did you bring in the New Year? It’s been too long, I’m not sure!

Where would you like to go? Where wouldn't I like to go? My middle name is actually Go not Lee! New York City, Europe, and Hawaii are top on my list!

Do you own flip flops? Who doesn’t?

What shirt are you wearing? A Yellow T-Shirt

Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No, but I would like some with a higher thread count.

Can you whistle? Yes... I always love whistling along to the Andy Griffith Show.

Favorite color? TURQUOISE...I’m going to write a blog about turquoise one day. I think my family will probably kick me out of the house if I paint anything else turquoise in our house!

Would you be a pirate? Of course not

Favorite girl's name? Olivia

Favorite boy's name? Jake

What's in your pocket right now? Change from the dryer

Last thing that made you laugh? I was acting like a dork a few hours ago, trying to get my family to laugh, and then it made me laugh. I love to laugh and I also like being around funny people!

Best bed sheets as a child? The sheets that had pink and yellow flowers on them.

Worst injury you've ever had? I usually try to make it a goal in life to stay away from danger, but when I was 8 years old I got the bright idea that I wanted to drive my brother’s little motorcycle. Long story short...I confused the gas with the brakes...popped a wheelie...landed in a pile of rusty tin...cuts all down my leg...lots of crying and blood...huge scar still on my knee!

Do you love where you live? Absolutely!

How many TVs do you have in your house? 3

Who is your loudest friend? Michelle Johnson, she is so funny! I wish she still lived here!

How many dogs do you have? I don’t own any but my girls and Mark do. One died a few weeks ago and Mark gave one away last week, so they are down to 5! Thank goodness we live on the ranch.

Does someone have a crush on you? I hope Mark still does!

What is your favorite book? Too many to name! I’ll stick with the good book, The Bible!

What is your favorite candy? Anything chocolate!

Do you know all the words to the Fresh Prince theme song? I could sing along if I heard it.

What song do you want played at your funeral? I’ll Fly Away :)

What were you doing 12 AM last night? I was sleeping, thank goodness. No night terrors last night! Night terrors are just minor hitches in my giddy-up!

What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? Oh no, it’s already 7:00!

The Riverwalk

After a few days of being away, I'm back to the real world. One of the perks of Mark being on the school board, is the school board convention every summer. I probably get the better end of the deal because I get to do whatever I want and he has to go to class. The past 6 years we've stayed at the Marriott on the Riverwalk, but this year we stayed at the Hyatt, right across the street. Poor baby, I had to walk across the street every time I wanted to go to the mall. I had so gotten use to the mall being connected to our hotel! See what a little urban living does to a country gal, it makes her a little spoiled!

My itinerary is usually something like this:
Wake-up whenever I want (usually 7:00), walk down to Starbuck's in the lobby and grab a bran muffin, a banana, & small coffee, read by the pool, in the room, or by the river, get dressed and go shopping at the River Center Mall, have lunch, go back to the room and read or watch t.v. Then, Mark arrives and we usually find something to do, have supper on the Riverwalk, & go back to the room and watch a movie. Aaahhh...life is good on the Riverwalk!

Although, I added something new to my itinerary this year. I took advantage of the "oh so cool" gym every morning, and I didn't eat every meal like it was my last. I tried to incorporate these two new habits into my little vacation. You know how it is, when you're on vacation, it's like calories don't really count. Well, I'm here to attest that they do! Unfortunately my stomach is the by-product of this myth!

Last year Mark couldn't make the convention in San Antonio, so he went to the Dallas TASB Convention in the fall. Of course, I tagged along. Dallas was great, but I'm a San Antonio-kinda-girl. I like familiarity, and I don't like having to drive to get to the place you want to go. That's why the Riverwalk is ideal for a person like me. That being said, now I'm going to contradict myself. With the help of a new gadget in our lives, I ventured out of my little world to find the nearest Target. Come on, I like deals and I just wasn't finding any at the mall! So, with my keys in hand I made my way to the parking garage. I HATE those kind of places. I always feel like some body's going to jump out at me. That's why I hold my keys like a weapon. I would actually kind of feel sorry for anyone that tried to "jump" me. I would probably embrace my inner "psycho" and open a can of crazy on him. Needless to say, he would probably run like mad, holding an eyeball in one hand and holding his crotch with the other!

Well, anyway, I made it safely to my car. I jumped in it and locked it right away. Then I pulled a dear little friend out of my purse. Her name is Meg. No, she's not an imaginary friend. I was never into pretend people. She's our GPS! We are finally moving up in the world. I typed in Target and pressed go! I was secretly wishing she'd drive for me, but, hey, I can't have it all! As I made my way out of the parking garage, I wondered which way I should go because Meg wasn't talking to me. Then I realized, it was a one way street, so I could only turn right. I was off! I'm like, "O.k. Meg start talking to me girl. I'm not sure where I should go now! (insert crickets chirping) I almost called her something that a nice girl like me should never utter! Then the unimaginable happened! Meg said she needed to be turned off and then restarted! So, I drove a little further and found a place to park. After saying a quick prayer, I restarted it and prayed that it'd work this time. It wouldn't stick to my windshield, so I held it on the dash with one hand and drove with the other!

I've got to admit my relationship with Meg is a love-hate kind of thing! One minute I hate her and the next minute she pulls through and is the greatest invention for a directionally challenged girl like me! Although, I questioned her several times. I came to the conclusion that she probably grew up in the hood and wanted to revisit her old stomping grounds because the back roads she was taking me on would make Jackie Chan a little nervous! I love the way she "dings" when you do what she says. After several minutes, which seemed like a lifetime, I finally arrived at my destination...TARGET! I was still a little concerned about the hood I was in, so I found a parking place right up front! I stayed in Target for over 2 hours! It was nice. I had no time limit. I love to window shop. My life will never be the same after buying the things I purchased: a t-shirt, 5 marshmallow skewers, a band-aid kit for my purse, a cute little journal and a sticky pad to put on my dash for Meg to sit on.

Meg worked perfectly on the way back and I did a pretty good job at maneuvering my SUV through S.A. traffic. We finally started to "jell" and made a pretty good team (with the help of a few savvy angels).

This is the part that's pretty amazing. I was indecisive about telling Mark about my little rendezvous to Target. Well, when I pulled into the huge parking garage downtown, my exact same parking place was available! I know this was God. He knows my sense of direction gets a little off at times and if I had to park somewhere else we'd probably still be looking for our car! Of course, I ended up telling Mark about my expedition into the urban jungle. Amazingly, he didn't ask any questions, but I told him all about it anyway.

When I got to my room, I pulled out my new little journal and entitled it, "My Dream Journal." I answered a few questions from the YOU CAN DO IT book to get my "juices" flowing. Yeah, I know it's a little corny, but it has got me dreaming and planning new things for my life! It's exciting to think that we can all do anything we set our minds to do, with the help of Christ! The first step is getting it down on paper. I'll talk more about this later.

Although we'd like to have stayed one more night, we had to cut our stay a day short to get back home. The girls had a rodeo on Friday night. Oh well, we'll always have the Riverwalk...

Turning Over a New Leaf

O.k., after mulling over different things I'd like to "tackle" this summer, one of the first things on my to-do list is xeriscaping! I'm sick and tired of looking at an ugly yard! Our yard is quite embarrassing!

I'm going to start slow. Watering the weeds is first on my list. Hey, at least weeds are green when they're watered! I am not a self-proclaimed earth mother or tree hugger, so a lush Mediterranean garden is probably not going to happen (although I'd love one). I was the little girl in the 1st grade whose little bean sprout (in a milk carton) never sprouted! The reason being, it was probably never watered! As a young homemaker, my mom would give me houseplants. Unfortunately, their life-span was always cut short. The cause of their short life-span? The only time they got watered was about 10 minutes before my mom came by for a visit. What was I thinking - that the wilted plant would come back to life in a matter of minutes? It was worth a shot! My mom tried to give me helpful hints about keeping plants alive. Her most used comment was: "You need to water them!" I don't know why I have a mental block when it comes to watering plants and my yard! Well, not any more! I'm turning over a "new leaf" this summer! Instead of a lush Mediterranean yard, I'm aiming for a xeriscaped yard. Not zero-scaped, I want more than rocks in my yard!

I'm a use-whatcha-got-kind-of-girl. So, today, I dug up some spiky cacti that were growing on the ranch and planted them in big pots. I even watered my yard! I'm making progress, baby! Tomorrow, my mom and I are going to go to a dry creek bed and load up on some rocks. But first, I've got to google it to see if that's legal!

My mom came over yesterday to help me clean out our attic! Thanks mom! She no longer has to remind me to water the houseplants anymore. Whys that? I don't own any houseplants! She stopped buying them for me years ago. I made a few lame excuses why my yard looked the way it did. But I could tell she was thinking, "If she'd only water the yard, it wouldn't look so bad!"

Later on that evening, before I turned out the light by my bed, I noticed a book that I'd checked out from the church library, a week prior. It's called ONLY NUNS CHANGE HABITS OVERNIGHT (52 Amazing Ways to Master the Art of Personal Change). It's a funny book with a lot of good advice about making changes in your life and pursuing your dreams! I've found that it's a great companion to the YOU CAN DO IT book that I wrote about in another blog.

As I was reading the book last night, I had an "aaahhhh-haaaaa" moment. I thought, "What's stopping me from having a nice yard?" Well, after I thought about it for a second, I answered myself with, "Me!" The good news is all I have to do is change my thinking and eventually, with a little hard work, I can have a decent looking yard. I'm looking forward to the challenge, and I'll get to mark it off as one more thing I've always wanted to do! By the way, if any of you have tips on xeriscaping, I'd love to hear about them!

Happy 13th Birthday!

Thirteen years ago, today, I was lying in a hopsital bed in Eagle Pass, Tx. (Yes, I'm still here to tell about it)! I was lying there, admiring my one day old baby. Mana's birthday was yesterday! My life forever changed on June 3, 1996. Being a mom to her has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. From day one, Mana has been an exceptional child.

A few months after finding out I was pregnant with Mana, I had read that I should "talk to her", so she'd recognize my voice and yada, yada, yada... Well, I tried it a couple of times, but talking to my growing belly seemed a little odd. Early on, my main goal for my child was to raise her to love the Lord our God with all her heart, spirit, soul, and mind. I wanted to tell her about God before she was even born. One day, an idea popped into my mind, so I ran with it. I grabbed my tape recorder, pressed record and told her how much I loved her. I also recorded myself reading the bible to her. The tape was several hours long. As I would go about my day, cooking, cleaning, doing college homework, etc... I would fastened the little walk-man to my pants and press the earphones to my stomach. I just wanted her to be brought into this world knowing, in her spirit, how much she was already loved by me and by God.

Thirteen years later...Maddie is a happy, healthy, truly remarkable child who loves God with all her heart. There are so many wonderful words to describe her, but there's one that really sticks out in my mind, "Leader." She realizes her witness is her life, and tries to be a good example for others. I've learned so many things from her. She has way more common sense than I've ever thought about having! She is easy-going and an absolute delight to be around. She loves animals (a trait that was not passed down from her mom) with a passion. She's an excellent horse rider and even trained her horse all by herself! She loves the outdoors and is a hard-worker and a great athlete. When she sets her mind to do something, she doesn't give up! I love the fact that she will try anything, at least once. She's also a peacemaker. There have been so many times when she's given up what she wants, so somebody else in her family could benefit.

I love the way she tells me what's going on in her life without me having to ask. I pray this will continue throughout her teenage years. I also pray that God will continue to bless her life and give her favor with Him and others.

Yes, I am her mom, and I'm a little biased, but it's my job to brag. Although, I've noticed that lots of other people feel the same way about her, as well. She was awarded "Scholar of the Month," at her school, in October. Here's what her 6th grade teachers had to say about her (quote from newspaper): "She is always attentive in her work and has above a 95 average in all her classes,"they said when nominating her. In addition, the teachers can depend on her to be responsible, attentive, and cooperative. We also love the fact that she has a pleasant personality and is very helpful." They also said, "She is truly a joy to have as a student and will continue to be a remarkable asset to our school."

I will be writing blogs about people in my family when they celebrate a birthday, so they'll know how much they mean to me.

Yesterday, my mom, the girls, and I went to Mana's favorite place. We went to the best swimming hole in Texas, which is the Frio River in ConCan. We had so much fun. It was a perfect day. Later, we had a late supper at my mom and dad's. We ate her favorite meal, enchiladas! This was part one of her 13th birthday. Today, she is celebrating with her other grandmother, Gigi. They went shopping. In a week, we'll be taking Mana, her sisters, and four of her friends to Schlitterbauhn (the biggest waterpark in Texas) to continue her celebration. She deserves it for being such a good kid! I love you, Mana...

**Pic on the left: Mana's 1st trip to Concan. (1 year old)

**Pic on the right: Mana, her sisters, and I celebrating her 13th. (12 years later)

**As most of you know, Mana is her nickname, given to her by her dad. She has such a long, beautiful name, but some people have freaked me out about posting my kids' names on the web (so I'll stick with their nicknames).

Dare To Dream

When I was shopping yesterday, I found the coolest book! It's called, YOU CAN DO IT! by Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas. What I also love about the book is it was only $3.99 because I bought it at Ross. You've gotta love that store!

The inside cover of the book says this:

"When was the last time you dared to dream, learned something new, or did something just for you? What is on your want-to-do-list? Things you thought you'd do when you grew up or got settled, things you feel envious of other people for doing, or things you resolve to do , learn, or try every New Year's? Whether it's running a marathon, learning to sew, trekking in Nepal, or singing on stage, every now and then you look up from your bills and laundry and think, "One of these days..."

I've flipped through the book and it looks inspiring and fun! There are several things listed that I can mark off (building a web site, be your own boss, decorate a room...), several things that I want to do (run a marathon, trace my roots, learn a foreign language, go back to school to get my master's...) several things I never thought about doing (paint a picture, be a renaissance gal, learn to knit), and there are a few things that I probably wouldn't do (fly an airplane, skydive, and walk on fire)! But, all of these things have got me thinking and dreaming! I've always wanted to be a well-rounded person, but I never seem to find the time to learn all the things I want to. This book is just what I need to get me started in following my dreams.

The author's purpose was to boost women's self-esteem by helping them achieve their goals, realize their dreams, and embrace life's joys and challenges to the fullest!

I always tell my girls that they can do anything they set their minds to, and that they "can do all things through Christ who gives them strength!" Phil. 4:13 Lots of times, as moms, we try and give our kids great advice and encouragement, when at the same time we should be taking our own advice to heart! When our kids see us learning and doing new things, it will make them want to do the same thing! I encourage everyone who reads this blog to buy this book, or at least write your goals and dreams down in a journal and follow through with them. "Because wherever you are is the perfect place to begin!" Until next time...

**By the way, I learned how to find a picture (of the book) and copy it to my blog. The info was on page 127, where it talks about creating your own website! Yes, I should have known how to do that, but all this web stuff is new to me!

Rounding-Up

My girls had a softball game last night, and we didn't get to bed until midnight. Usually, if my girls go to sleep at midnight, they sleep a little bit later the next morning. Well, today was an exception. Their dad woke them up as the sun was coming up. They jumped out of bed and put their clothes on in a flash. There was no need to coax them to get their clothes on or to brush their hair. They did all of this in a matter of minutes and rushed out the door. What was the motivating factor? They get to help a local rancher round-up today. It's one of their favorite past-times. They get to go because they actually help the men! They've been doing this for several years and they are only 9, 11, and 12 years old! They'll probably come home with a slight sunburn, a few minor scratches, and great memories. Any chance they get to do things like this with their dad, they jump at the chance. Mark is an exceptional dad to our 3 girls. He's gentle yet firm; fun-loving yet strict... He balances his roles as a father very well, and I'm grateful for that.

Yesterday, when Mark told them they were going to round-up today, I said, "Oh great! What time are we leaving?" They just looked at me, laughed, and said, "Yeah, right!" They know their mom better than that! Yes, I have come a long way after living on a ranch for 12 years, but I haven't come that far! My horse's name is Wheeler, better known as the 4-Wheeler! I feel it's a much safer mode of transportation. Needless to say, they didn't get their horse riding skills from their mamma!

Over the years, I have eased into ranch and rural living. Let me explain... I no longer start convulsing when I see a millipede crawling across the road (I hate worms!)... I no longer run from a docile cow who's eating grass in a pasture... My heart no longer pounds out of my chest when I ride a horse...Spiders and scorpions are almost considered housepets...I allowed Mana and Kater-Bug to have a hamster...We have a little dog who comes inside our house and sometimes sleeps in our bed (as long as he's not on my side, I hate ticks and fleas)... I know how to drive a tractor...I know how to pull a trailer...I know how to saddle a horse. Of course, the list could go on and on, but I don't have all day! ha! Living out here has been a great experience for all of us. It's something I don't take for granted. Well, I guess that's all for now. I've got to fix a windmill, mend a fence, and break a few horses before the cowpokes get home! ha! Actually, I'm going shopping. It's my favorite past-time! Ssshhh! Don't let the others know!

Ranch House Organization

June 1st will mark our 12 year anniversary of living at the ranch. We live in a older home that was built in 1940. Needless to say, there's not a lot of closet space or storage. As you can imagine, we've accumulated lots of stuff over the years. Throughout the years, I have painted, decorated, organized, and re-organized our humble abode. I've bought books such as, Organizing From the Inside Out, and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing Your Life (I wasn't very fond of the title, but I thought if they could get an idiot to organize their home, maybe there was hope for me)! After years of organizing and re-organizing, organizing and re-organizing... I finally have come to the conclusion that we have way toooo much junk! Why put things in organized baskets, if you're never going to use those things? So, on Wednesday, I tackled Kater-Bug and Libby's room head-on! I knew it was going to get worse before it got better, and I was right! At one point, it looked like a bomb had gone off in their room. Every now and then frustration would try to creep up, but I kept thinking of the end result, a nice, clean, decluttered room! After 16 hours, 7 "big" trash bags, 4 stuffed animal bags, and 3 savers later, their room is decluttered!! It is so cleaned out, it echoes!! One of my girls even said, "Hey mom, it echoes in here." I love their clean room...clean room...clean room!

Have you ever noticed that when you put all your energy into one room of the house, (for several hours in a row) the other parts of the house start looking pretty bad. Well, I had a little remedy to that problem. My girls pitched in and helped me. Reluctantly, they folded and put away the loads of laundry I was washing. I told them this was going to be their permanent job if they kept putting clean clothes in the dirty clothes hamper! After hours of folding clothes, I think it might have made an impression! Kater-Bug also cleaned the kitchen. Wow! She knows how to detail a place. As I was walking through the kitchen, I thought it was funny when Libby wanted some food and Kater-Bug said, "Don't use a real plate, here's a paper plate. If you use a real one, you're going to have to wash it yourself!" Aaahhh...welcome to a mom's world. I'm hoping they had a "light-bulb" moment!

Why are we spending the first 2 weeks of summer vacation cleaning out and organizing? We are doing this so all 3 of the girls can have a room of their own. After 69 years, the huge room upstairs is finally going to be finished! Since Mana is the oldest, she gets the priviledge of living upstairs. Since her birthday is this summer, the room re-do is her 13th birthday present. Everyone is excited about it! Aaahhh...more space!

At the end of the summer, we will finally be able to lay Carmela to rest. I have 2 little words for Carmela, "Good riddance!" Who's Carmela? She's our 4th daughter, who came into our lives about 5 years ago. Her alias is "Sneaky Messy Chic!" She likes to go into rooms and make messes when no one is looking. I may ask, "Hey, who left the milk out?" And 3 voices will echoe, "I didn't...I didn't...I didn't..." I may ask, "Alright, who left all the toys out?" And I may get three responses like, "It wasn't me...I wasn't even playing in there...or I didn't do it!" Carmela strikes again! Over the years none of our children seemed to be responsible for the messes that were sometimes made. So, if it wasn't them, then who was it? We finally came to the conclusion that we must have a 4th daughter whose goal was to go to a room, make a mess, and then leave before anyone could see her. This girl was good at her job. At the end of the summer, when everyone has her own space, Carmela will be gone for good. Then, we'll be able to tell which girl had a little more Carmela in her than the others. F.Y.I. Carmela is a family joke and we all blame her for things from time to time! Well, I guess I have to go, another disorganized room is calling!

Near Deer Experience

I just drove home from my mom's house, and to get home I have to drive 17 miles down "Crazy Deer Road." I can't remember how many times I had to brake for deer tonight! One time I had to come to a complete stop because the crazy deer wouldn't move! It just gave me that "deer in the headlight" look. Oh well, I guess all the deer on our ranch road keep me driving the speed limit (at night, anyway)! Seeing all the deer tonight, reminded me of a near "deer" experience I had a few months ago (pardon the pun)!

It was a crisp fall morning, perfect weather for a jog, at the ranch. Being the cautious and sometimes fearful person that I am, I grabbed my cell phone and hollered for Popeye (our killer Chiahuahau) to accompany me on my morning run. After saying a quick prayer, I was on my way. "What are you afraid of?" You may ask. Well, there are a number of things that go through my mind as my Adidas are kicking up dust, and many of those things I'm not too fond of. Rustic ranchland, 5 miles from the Rio Grande, poses many threats, such as rattlesnakes, mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, skunks, an occasional mad bull, "illegals", and black bears (yes, one was spotted a few months ago)!

As I was jogging, and deep in thought, my senses went on alert when I heard something rustling in the bushes. Before I had time to wonder if it was a mountain lion, drug smuggler, or raging bull, a huge axis buck ran out in front of me! Being of the skiddish sort, I jumped to the right and it ran past me a few feet to my left (at full speed)! I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest. If it would have ran into me, it could have done some serious damage! Now I have one more thing to add to my list of possible dangers when I go for a jog, and I never thought it would be a deer! The next time I see a huge axis buck, that up-close-and-personal, I hope it's mounted above my fireplace!

Although the mental picture of this incident is kind of comical, it's an evident display of God being my Almighty Protector! A few feet to the right, and I could have head-butted a deer with a huge rack! I've got to give all the credit to God for keeping me safe. When I was young, my mom was adimant that I learn Psalm 91. It's a prayer of protection. I say this scripture when I'm feeling like I need extra protection and it always gives me a sense of peace: "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust..."

Livin' In The Good Old Days

I'm extremely blessed to have been brought up in a loving, Christian home and to have my own wonderful family now. I try not to take these things for granted and I thank God, often, about the life He's given me. I don't want to be the type of person who always looks back to how great it used to be or the type of person who can't wait to get to the next stage in life. I like living in the here and now and enjoying each chapter of my life. I loved it when my girls were babies and toddlers, but I don't sulk over them growing up because each stage has been filled with good times. I know that through each stage our relationships will change and grow and that's exciting to me. As my young family ages, I know we'll reminisce about the good old days, from time to time, but my goal for each of us is for each day to be a good old day! "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!"