I am "IT"

Well, I was "tagged" a few weeks ago by both Christa and Natalie. If my memory serves me right, I remember that being tagged meant I was running too slow and someone touched me. I guess that was about 30-some years ago and things have changed. The Rules - -

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.

2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.

3. At the end of the post, the player tag other people and posts their name, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

The Questions and My Answers...

What was I doing 10 years ago?:

This is probably more than you care to know but 10 years ago was monumental (altar building) in my life. So here it goes... 10 years ago was May of 1998. We were living in Park City and I was pregnant (just a few weeks before delivery) with our third child. At this time God was doing a complete makeover on me - key word being ME. I had just finished "The Way of Agape" bible study by Nancy Missler. Absolutely life changing. Up to this point, in my marriage and as a mom, everything was about Me. I was literally "tearing down the walls" of my house. You would probably like an example (believe me, there are many). The main one was that my security was in Brian and I had very high expectations of him (ones any human could not fulfill). ie: Because I thought it should be all about me, that is what I expected. I needed praise, I needed words of encouragement, and so on. It wasn't that he didn't give me those things, it just wasn't enough or the right way. Are you getting the picture? In my eyes, he could do no right? My expectations were idealistic and impossible. I became so focused on me and my needs and I put God and my relationship with Him on the back burner. It was a "dark" time for me.

Well, in the fall of '97, I was signed up to finish the second part of Kay Arthur's Precept Upon Precept Romans Study. On the first day of introductions about all the classes taking place, a lady shared about the study of "The Way of Agape". It sounded like something I would really enjoy. Little did I know that my world would be rocked!! I had always heard that God loved me. And I knew that He did but this book took it to a whole new level and meaning of Love. I realized how truly He loved me. Because I had a more complete understanding of His love, I was able to really trust Him in all things and all areas of my life. My security was now in Him. And that freed Brian! Our marriage did a 180. It wasn't Brian at all (well, not all of it), it was me and my selfish needs and desires. I am so thankful for such a loving husband who loved me and kept pointing me to Truth.

All this to say, 10 years ago (1998) is a time I will never forget!

Five Snacks I enjoy:
In a perfect, non weight-gaining world. . .

1. Movie popcorn smothered in movie popcorn butter (or whatever that stuff is)
2. Chocolate Covered Pretzels
3. Hot Tamales
4. Breyer's Oreo Mint Ice Cream
5. Grasshopper cookies (frozen)


In the real world. . .

1. Air popcorn with real butter.
2. Granola mix or bars
3. Granny Smith apples - oh yea, dipped in caramel
4. Pecans, almonds and pisatchios!!
5. Fruit - mango, strawberries, gala apples, grapes and raspberries ( picked fresh from the garden)


Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

1. Finish the funding for Big Canyon Ranch
2. Help families that want to adopt from overseas.
3. Put some under the mattress for our children's education and weddings.
4. Make sure my friends and family have what they need.
5. Donate generously to those in need.
6. We have always been penny-pinchers - I would love to take some friends out to a nice dinner and pick up the tab and not think twice. That would be so fun!


Five jobs that I have had:

1. Concessions at Fashion Place Movie Theatre (a high school job - loved it!)
2. Drive Thru at McDonalds in North Myrtle Beach, SC (summer project with Campus Crusade for Christ)
3. Receptionist for a company in Denver
4. Nanny for a family with 3 boys. (married, but before our own children)
5. Best job ever - MOTHER AND WIFE!


Three of my habits:

1. Picking my nails. (Gotta stop!)
2. Impatient with my children when they spill or break something.
3. Not remembering where I put my purse or cell phone. arrgh!

Five places I have lived:

1. Marshalltown, Iowa (place of birth - not Kansas)
2. Salt Lake City, UT
3. Manhattan, KS (Go Kansas State!)
4. St. Joseph, MO
5. Denver, CO


Five People I Want to Get to Know Better:
A nice way of saying "you are IT!"

1. Julie
2. Lori
3. KK
4. Tiffany
5. Jennifer

Mr and Mrs "Dinner"

I was going to introduce you to our newest and youngest additions on the farm, Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner. (purposely named so that the children do not get attached) However, yesterday their cage was left open and the cats decided to have an early Thanksgiving dinner of their own. We now are minus one.

Another One!

May 3rd

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!

Yup, another birthday around here. We celebrated Brian's birthday on Saturday.

Brian wanted Chocolate Cream Pie and that is what he got...

compliments to Marie Callendar. No, I did not make it.

The Super Guy!

His new croquet set.


So, for his birthday, he wanted to clean up the 2 mile stretch of road that leads to Big Canyon Ranch. So, that is what we did.

The sign

The Crew

While they walked along both sides of the road picking up trash, I had the tough job of driving the truck and pointing out what they missed. I also provided the water and encouragement. For some reason, Hudson wanted to do my "tough" job. He said his bones were weary and he would be happy to take over.

Caleb and Hudson

The whole crew on the final stretch of road.
Weston, Hudson, Brian, Caleb and Maggie

(Abbi babysat Elizabeth, Dani and Tess)

Finished!

Our neighbors joined in to help. Mr. L and son Evan.

The road looks great.

And Happy Birthday, Brian.

The Reunion!

Abbi and Chief

together again!

Remember this winter we got so much snow that the top of our fence was to the top of the snow? We took Chief down to my dad's in Salt Lake. He was there for about 4 months. We have visited him and ridden him a bit down there but yesterday my parents came up and with them they brought Abbi's "handsome man" back to her - Chief. They also brought a friend for Chief, Risky (one of my dad's other horses)

Abbi and Chief

We had a fun afternoon with Papa and Nana. Nana read books and colored with the younger ones.



Papa taught the older ones how to play Mexican Train with dominoes.

It's amazing what 2 horses will do in the way of motivation. Abbi and Caleb had their school done before the sun was up. (I checked it and they not only got it done quickly but they did a great job too) They were outside saddling and off for a ride after all the chores were done.

One happy girl and Risky



Another happy little girl. This one screams when we take her off.



Off they go!

Happy Trails.

Grand Finale

A Few Parting Shots...

Tess

Dani Rae

Elizabeth

Weston

Maggie

Abbi

Hudson

Caleb



We had a fabulous time in Palm Springs, California.

We relaxed, played, rested, sunned and just had plain ole fun. Thanks to the P Family for sharing their condo with us. We have made memories to last a lifetime. We have been refreshed and ready to move into "busy" time for us with building Big Canyon and serving/hosting campers.




Thanks to all my blog readers who put up with all of these posts and photos. I am now finished with this segment of our lives.

Palm Springs - Part 3

Days 4 & 5

I know, I know, I must be boring you all to death with all of these pictures. Please humor me, after all , I did take 507 pics - that is insane.

I guess you could say, I needed sunshine.

Anyways, most of our days consisted of about the same activities. Swim, eat, rest, eat, swim, swim, bed!

Brian was able to read 2 books and I finished the one I was reading. Excellent! I will share it with you another post. Each morning the children would pick fruit from the trees around the property. Oh my goodness!! So incredible. The oranges were our favorite.

Just returned from the morning orange picking.



Maggie cutting and picking seeds. Caleb juicing them. My mouth is watering just thinking about the juice. Amazing!!!



The boys playing water basketball.



Brian vs Caleb and Hudson

The Big Noodle War



Elizabeth warming in the sun



Jump Weston!



Go Dani Rae!




The Mattress Queen



Everyone in the pool



Brian and Tess - soakin' in the sun



Brian taught the children how to play "Pitch" (a card game). It is a game for four and you are paired up. Abbi and I won every game. Hudson and Brian were good sports.




Big sister feeding little sister.



Keeping warm in the cool mornings



Tess and Hudson



Caleb and Maggie



Dani and Elizabeth



Caleb and Tess




Elizabeth



The Three Musketeers



This is Brian.
This is Brian in charge of dinner.
This is Brian being very busy reading his book while cooking the meat.
Go Brian!




This is Dinner!
Great job, Honey!!





Another few fun days in the sun and pool!

Palm Springs - part 2

More Sun, More Fun

Day 3

We did "Home Church" on this Sunday. We sang songs, prayed and had a very famous guest speaker - Grandma June! She acted/taught the story of Jonah with great helpers. Many lessons to be learned from Jonah.

Dani and Elizabeth are the sailors on the ship. Weston is Jonah. The ship was about sink.

So, the sailors threw Jonah overboard.

Along came a big fish and swallowed him up.

Jonah under the shade tree.

Dani was the worm. She came along and killed the tree. Jonah learned lots of things about God and himself through all of these events. We can learn from him also.

Rummikub was played often and when Weston played there was lots of laughter.


Brian took Caleb, Hudson and Abbi to a waterpark for the day. Gma June and I stayed home with the other children. We celebrated Hudson's birthday when they got home.

Gma taught the little girls to jump in the pool with their "rings" on. They enjoyed their new trick.

Maggie swam/played with Tess in the water. Tess loved it!

The Little Fish

The End