Above Photo:

Yes..for those wondering the above picture is all my immediate family. From left to right in age order ... Ike 3 years riding "Lil' Guy", Amanda 10 & Scooter, Lydia 12 & Saidyl, Myles 14 & Silver, Griffin 17 & Peso, RA 19 & Jet, Amy 21 & Baby Blue, Talley (Mom) & Trigger, Rob A. (Dad) & Classie.

We had fun taking this picture on all of our favorite horses that we all love. So from our family to yours, we wish a very Merry Little Christmas!!!

7 December 1941

Today is my grandfathers T.L. Griffin's birthday. When you ask him what birthday he remembers the most, he will always answer the day I turned 17. He remembers exactly where he was when he heard the news. 7th December 1941 over 2,000 men lost their life, and many many more waited 24 hours and enlisted on the following Monday. We cannot forget the sacrifices these hero's made for us. So we can live free, have the freedom of speech and the opportunity to blog whatever we want.

I am very proud to be an American, and I won't forget....

The real REASON for this Wonderful Season!!

Its Christmas time, the most blessed time of year, because

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, and the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:14

Jesus birth is what we celebrate..the sheer sobering Understanding that JESUS came to earth so that we might have life!! Its beautiful, lovely and totally breathtaking that HE loves each of us that much! That he would leave his heavenly paradise to dwell with mortal man. To give us the key for our future on those golden streets; the opportunity to sit at HIS feet for all of eternity, and all we have to do is accept HIM as our Savior and love him, serve him, and walk by faith everyday. We truly do serve an remarkable Lord!!!

So merry CHRISTmas everyone!!! Have a wonderful day in HIM!!!

Lights

I cannot believe it..but I have to wait a whole year before I get to celebrate Thanksgiving again! aww..its my favorite!!!


Our thanksgiving was blessed and GOD is so good to me and my family! One of the blessings in our life is the opportunity to call this land home. Upon reading this article today, I decided I should share with all of you the power that each of us can have on our country and those around us. One man decided that our pledge of allegiance should have UNDER GOD in it. And, it happened because he persevered and followed what he felt God was leading him to do.


So..no matter what you are going through right now today, you can make a difference! Don't despair but cling to the hope we have in Jesus Christ!

Something I have learned lately is that words can be rubbish....many times only our presence or a smile speaks louder than any words. Let your light shine, hid it not under a bushel but walk through life in love with HIM because that truly is the brightest light of all!!

· For that is when we shine,
· that is when we bring hope,
· that is when we bring love
· when we are just being ourselves and going about our daily life.

HIS spirit speaks louder than any word we can conjure.

Still Alive - Still Loving Life - Still Simply Me - Being Still In Him -

Hello dear friends of mine! I have missed you! I truly have! I missed checking in on your life and most off all finding out what God is doing within you. I experienced some pain this summer that made me want to stop blogging forever, but I realized that in so doing that, I was letting the evil one win.

When I blog I am sharing a part of me to the world, a piece of my private life for the entire world to observe. And when people read, they judge. That’s just the facts of life. But do you know what – it’s okay, because I can’t stop being a light due to someone else being an arbitrator. I nearly let it happen and for that I am ashamed. But I am going to stand up and say – world this is me and I am the happiest girl on the globe. I want to encourage and inspire others to look for the happiness exactly where they are.

The Christian life is supposed to be a life of freedom, not of personal constraints. It saddens me more than you know when I see so many sad Christians living life in bondage of trying to be perfect. The perfect Christian, perfect daughter, perfect son, perfect example… friends we are NOT perfect, we can’t be!!! But we know someone who IS!! So embrace him, love him and laugh because he made you for a reason!

I wrote this essay for school last week. After I shared it with some friends of mine and it encouraged them so much, I felt I needed to share it with you. Enjoy..and remember GOD loves you just the way you are!!!

Choosing Happiness

The journey of life sometimes requires pain to fully enjoy the rewards. Once you go through challenging times, the sun shines brighter, the sky will seem a deeper blue, and laughter chimes in the wind. I now understand, just as another wise man once said “Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life.” (Hills) No matter where life takes a person the journey brings laughter, joy and happiness within their grasps if they look for it. The secret to this lies within the person, and the decision that person chooses to make in their race of life. I want to share with you how I learned this valuable life lesson.

At the start of this year I remember wishing my life would change. I felt my life very monotonous and felt unhappy with myself and the direction my life was taking. I kept trying to live a perfect Christian life, without any mistakes and no regrets. I continuously analyzed every new opportunity trying to see if the end results were acceptable in my predestined life. I became conscious of the fact happiness somehow was not a part of my daily living. I bottled the real me up, setting my desires and personality on a shelf and attempting to take on qualities of the ideal person I sought to develop myself into. I remember realizing one day that I had not laughed in days. I found myself asking God “why this, why that, why now, why here.” It became a Saharan like time for my personal well being. Little did I know what the year 2008 entailed. My journey to contentment began and my outlook on life forever altered for the good.

January 31, 2008 changed me forever. I thought it just another day of traveling and helping my dad in the family business, but its effects continue to impact my life even today. My brother, R A, and I were on our way to Fort Worth, Texas, to the Stock Show to sell twenty heifers for the ranch. While traveling down highway 287 near Estelline, Texas, we hit black ice and flipped a mega cab dodge pickup. Only by the grace of God, we ended up hanging upside down in our seat belts in the totaled pickup. I dreamed about the accident for days and feared riding as a passenger in a vehicle for months. Only to add to the sadness and the realization that life changes in an instant, I learned that my Government teacher, Mr. Moses, died that same day. I never felt as stunned in my life as the day of his memorial service. Consciously I became aware on that Thursday; I had lived, and he had died. God spared my brother and me. During the entire service I kept asking why? “Why me God? What do you want me to learn from this? Why this?”

My spring seemed to stretch on forever. I traveled weekly to the chiropractor for relief from the physical pain caused by the wreck. While I dealt with the emotional turmoil of coming to grips with the accident I fought depression and anguish. Wondering what I needed to learn from all of this I kept striving my best to excel at school and maintain my 4.0 grade average. I still felt dazed, however at the same time I began to feel a new zeal for life.
For the first time I took a good hard look at my life and what all God gave to me and I realized what a fool I had been! All the time of striving for perfection, I had missed out on being me! God had made me for a reason just the way I was – the unique individual. I cheated God and myself out of life journey full of happiness by trying to act like someone else. Upon personally coming to grips with this fact, I experienced a freedom I never knew existed; I only get one life to live and the choice of how I live resides solely in my control.

I experienced the special freedom of being exactly me, Amy Elizabeth Brown. With no guarantee for tomorrow, I learned to find contentment in everyday. I stopped trying to impress others by being perfect and chose instead to impress the Lord by being the girl He created. I embraced myself, all my imperfections and I became proud of who He created, the daughter of the Lord. I stopped trying to hide my embarrassing moments. Instead I let everyone else know about them and we now all laugh together. I started treasuring my family each and everyone, thinking the Lord for the opportunity of knowing them; because there is no guarantee I will see them tomorrow. Each new day became a gift from the Lord, a treasure worth remembering in my journey of life.

Every person alive walks down their journey of life, yet some seem to enjoy theirs more than others. I decided to choose happiness. I decided to choose contentment no matter the circumstances, because trying to live perfectly without regrets kept me from living life happily. I love who God created in me. I am so thankful that God used the wreck to make me realize that there is no excuse for not loving the true me! I now cherish every moment and laughter’s truly the best medicine for a perfect day!

HSA youtube video

I just got to watch this video this week. It was so fun to see everything, and you can see some of the people that were at the reunion, and me at the end. :D

Only at a Reunion....

Can you fit 11 girls on a couch! LOL
lt. to rt. Dania, Amy, Kitty, Laura, Christina, Savannah, Hannah, Abigail, Allison, Rachel and Emily.

few more

Scavenger hunt 08...talk about random, hilarious and totally fun!!! Friday evening proved to be very interesting and educational as you got to really know some people by the answers they would put down! :D

Here at the ECD (English Country Dance) it was so fun, I felt like Lizzie and Pride & Prejudice, though I am afraid I was not so graceful!!!! ha ha There are so many different dances that it is hard to master them all during one evening. Can't wait until the next ECD I can attend.

Listening......

A few more HSA reunion 08 pics!

Okay, here are a few more pics of the reunion! I was gone to Colorado for 5 days with no Internet access so I could not finish posting. I will post pictures of Lyndsey's visit soon as well! :D We had a blast!!!!

Me trying to master spades as a zombie...not the best way to learn!!! :D
John N., Allison C. and Jason C. were patient and kind teachers! Thanks guys!!!

The great group that had so many laughs over the weekend it really should be illegal!
lt. to rt. Rachel C. Christina C. Anna N. Kaeleigh H. yours truly, Allison C. Jason C. and John N.

My sweet and beautiful roommate Allison C. I could not have asked for a better roomie! :D

One promised pictures....to be continued at a later date.

My laughing buddies! Allison C., Yours Truly, and Christina C. We Texas belle's had a ball!

The totally awesome homeschool alumni reunion....

Okay I know I have been home for a while..but my word, life has been movin' faster than a freight train thats running late, since I have been home. (I know that was a totally 'southern expression' that many of you have never heard before....sorry. :-) btw, that was what nearly every single person I talked to at the reunion mentioned was my accent; during the course of our conversation. It got a little old, okay a lot old but seeing as they all said they liked it and just wanted to hear me talk that was better than having the opposite effect and them not wanting to hear me at all. I could never loose my Southern drawl, not that I want too, so I have just decided to wear it with honor...not everyone has it you know!) (just a tid bit of info there for all of you. :-) P.S. FYI..its after midnight so read at your own risk!!!)

All I can say about the reunion is that it was totally without a doubt, beyond my expectations....fantastic!! Words do not describe how great it was. I met so many amazing people and had the time of my life! I cannot wait for next year....I am counting down the days. Below is an excerpt from my Homeschool Alumni blog about my trip and my eventful trip back home. I hope to update you again soon but for now this will have to suffice for information.

God bless you all, and to all of you homeschoolers out there who read my blog....JOIN HSA!!! It is totally worth it, and you will not regret it!!!

Goodnight, sleep tight and always remember to look for the Silver Lining!

Oh..and newsflash....my dear friend Lyndsey is coming tomorrow!! I am thrilled beyond words and cannot wait, you will be hearing from both of us I assure you! Watch out world...2 country girls who love the Lord, love to laugh and good times are fixin' to be together for a few days.....


As I think back on my weekend with everyone at the 2008 reunion I am totally amazed at the goodness and grace of our Lord! The whole experience was totally amazing. It was one of the most wonderful weekends I have ever had in my personal record book of life. There were so many things that stand out as fun experiences that I really do not have words to describe all that I enjoyed. But Sunday morning was the best!!! It was totally and without a doubt amazing, beyond belief because Jesus' presence was in the room. He was moving in ways I had never felt before. Dr. Ray's teaching on being zealous and content was just what I needed to hear right now at this point in time. It was convicting and inspiring. I had never thought of those two qualities of Christ within the same context; and I must say I will never think of one without the other because of the revelation that they do belong together. Personally, I know I get hung up striving to be content that I find myself sorely lacking in zeal. So this is going to be something that I am going to work on…as I will never fully master it, until eternity - but I can have it as a goal. The worship service. Oh my, it was so --- I could feel Jesus love engulfing me. I had tears of joy running down my face and I just stood in total amazement at my saviors Love for ME! My deepest thanks to all of you that helped get the praise band together. You were all awesome and you let the Lord move through you - it was beyond everyone's expectations. Thank you!

Oh my, where to start with everything that happened from Thursday to Sunday….I do not have the time, and you don't have the time to read all about it anyway! All I can say, as by Sunday I was hurting so bad from laughing I was asking others to stop making me laugh. (that really did not go over so well….I still laughed!) I really and truly think there is such a thing is having laughing bruises!!! I know, that sounds absurd, but um, I am a living experiment…it does exist. LOL As some of you have asked..how was my trip home?!?!? Well it was eventful, but there are "Silver Linings in everything" As Jonathan so kindly put it, I am a silver lining lady, and I really like that! Thanks Sir Jonathan..you are so sweet! My flight from Louisville to Dallas went uneventful and was right on schedule. But my flight back to Amarillo from DFW was canceled at 10:30 PM due to mechanical difficulties. Daniel and Dania were both on the same flight so we were together. The only thing that really bothered me was the phone call from Mom saying "hi..we are at the Outback Steakhouse eating a great steak, just thinking of you….." Just rub it in, right! Ha ha, no I was really glad they got to have a date alone due to my canceled flight. God has a plan and they got to enjoy a date out on the town! (it is a little over a hour and a half drive to the airport) I personally was not all that frazzled about not getting on the that particular plane as um… I mean, hello….I really do not want to just 'go ahead and get on a plane that is having mechanical problems!' I really don't want to die yet…planes can crash you know. So they gave us vouchers for a hotel and meals. We caught the Hilton DFW Lakes Hotel Shuttle and stayed at the Hilton. That was a really nice hotel. The only draw back as we were not there long enough to really enjoy it. By the time we eat and got to bed it was after midnight and my alarm went off before 5. Talk about running out of steam, that was me!!! I was just so tired - the reunion can wear you out. We got to the airport before six for supposedly a 7 o'clock flight. But seeing as we had already had setbacks why not add a few more, right. Well they had delayed it to 7:30, and then our second flight attendant did not show up so they had to call in a replacement. We finally got under way after eight. But everything does happen for a reason, so I just tried to look for the Joy in every moment. I was never so glad to arrive in Amarillo, step outside and feel the breeze and sunshine of a place with NO HUMIDITY! PTL And to see my sweet and charming brother drive up in his Dodge Mega cab and carry me away! (and live happily ever after….. jk) LOL God is good. So..I am going to strive to always be the silver lining, lady who thinks Change is good! By the way if you did not buy a CD of the Rogers Wells Project you are really, really missing out! I love it, each song is so beautiful. I listened to it three times today. It was so nice to get home at one Monday and have my whole family joyfully great me! It is always nice to be greeted after a long trip, though I am really afraid I did not make a lot of sense as I was so tired. But I had my 18 year old and 3 year old brother help carry in my luggage. And had Ike the 3 year old take one look at me and ask if I wanted to go and take a nap. I took him up on his offer, JOYFULLY!

As I am listening to the rain outside and the rolling thunder I can hear the beautiful voice of Christa Wells Singing…. "Only see's Silver Linings and open windows, and Changes is good Uncertainty is a joy that might be…."

It is important to keep that perspective, to help us all on our journey to being Content and Zealous for our Lord!

It will not let me upload pictures tonight..will try again in the morning....promise!

Packing

I really do not like this part of traveling! Its a task I put off until my last possible moment. Why do you ask, like I know! Its just something that you have to 'think' about. I had a good smile when I talked to my grandmother yesterday talking about my trip and she 'reminded me to get started early'...cause she knows I wait until the last possible moment to do this chore. So, for my Mimi's sake I am starting. :-)

I asked RA to take me to the airport on Thursday, he said yes. Then walked back in the room and asked what time we needed to leave. Wish I had a picture of him when I said 3:30 AM. :-) I'll just be sarcastic and say he was thrilled. He asked how he got to be the one to take me and I just said well, um..you kinda owe a me drive cause there's been many a time I have driven a certain dodge mega cab pulling a trailer driving to a rodeo while you were catching some zzzz'z so I just thought you would not mind driving me somewhere!!! :-) I just love him! We sure do have a good time. I really am blessed to have a brother like him, cause most importantly - he puts up with ME! And that really takes someone with a patience and a since of humor. Right Sheyanne????

Don't know if I will post before I leave...but I'll take pictures and post. Been a while since I have posted any pictures - sorry about that. Guess I am more into writing than pictures right now.

Something New to Add to My Record Book of Life

Hey y'all, I am doing something for the first time today! It is awesome/fantastic/fabulous/great/wonderful/amazing....the list really goes on and on. Needless to say I am actually posting to blogger from my bedroom!!! Isn't that cool!!!! I now, thanks to our dear family friend Patty K. have wireless hooked up and can access all of you from the ease of my 'little piece of heaven' called my room and from my new computer who I affectingly named Adaline. Yes, you may add why did I do that? Well, I just liked the name and thought it would be fun and something probably NO ONE else had named there computer! :-)
(I told y'all it would be different, and I did not lie did I!!! ha ha) I just figured out how to use the voice recognition and totally love the pen and touch scree on Miss Adaline. Will be so nice to be able to take her to class and keep all my class notes from school on one thing instead of having to keep up with so many different note books.

I just got off the phone from my cousin Brad who is currently on his last week of internship in Washington D.C. It was so nice to talk to him and hear all about the neat things he has done this summer. Yesterday he said he got to dine in the members only "Congressional Dining Room" - which sounds pretty cool. :-)

Last night I went to the White Deer TCRA rodeo to watch RA. It is only 35 miles away so I thought I better go to a rodeo that was that close. He did pretty well should get a check in the bronc riding from there. I do not have pictures yet from Shawnee, but when I do I will post them! He and a friend just left a few minutes ago for Ulysses Kansas. They are up tonight at a rodeo. It is 3 hour drive. Hopefully they come home with all of the green. OH! and something I did not mention about RA winning at Shawnee is that he gets free Cinch Clothing for a year. Pretty cool huh, they will send him so many shirts and jeans every month for 12 months. You can't beat that, he will be set for a couple of years as none of us get clothes every month here. :-) His saddle is beautiful and fully tuled with a blue leather seat.

Something I am looking forward to Thursday if flying to the HSA 2008 Reunion! I will be gone 'till Sunday evening. I am really looking forward to visiting another state. The bluegrass state of Kentucky. So if any of my 'lurkers' are going to be attending you better let me KNOW!!! Cause I have a right to meet you there!!! :-) So I will let everyone know how it was and hopefully many of you will be able to go next year!

Okay, I have things to do places to be and friends to leave comments for. Have an awesome day in Jesus!!!

And remember, Because He Lives we Can Face Tomorrow!!!

Sister to the the reigning 2008 Shawnee Bronc Riding Champion

I am so EXCITED!!! I just got off the phone from my dad and my brother RA. RA just won the bronc riding!!! Boy am I psyched!!! :-) RA has been gone since Saturday to the Shawnee OK High School Rodeo. He won 4th in the 1st go, won the 2nd go and won the short go, won the average and thus won the championship!!

When Dad called I actually thought something was wrong.... but he was just pumped! :-) (Dad was at the Ranch in Throckmorton and just drove up for the short go today.) He had me hand the phone to mom who was on the phone with Lindi, (RA's girlfriend) and so there was three girls listening to him at one time and all excited!

RA called right after I got off the phone from Dad and he was in the media room to get interviewed for the TV Broadcast. (I'll let you know the dates for when it comes on TV) He sounded excited, though I have to say I was the one making the most noise!! ha ha imagine that. :-) I will post pictures whenever I get them, and I'll let you know what awards he received. Just had to share my NEWZ!!

It Came!!!

FedEx, came through and my new baby's here...working on a name. I have always wanted to name a computer!!! :-) I'll let y'all know what I decide - beware, it will be something very different and so very me!!! I am good at surprises and taking people by surprise. Just had to let everyone KNOW my good news!!!


I have been having the song in my mind this week, and really love it. Don't know if you have ever heard it, its country music at its best, telling a story. Jamey Johnson is a new artist and this is his best song yet, "In Color". Just wanted to share.....

Check it out....

Hello y'all. I have had so much fun re-designing my blog with the help of "The Cutest Blog on the Block", I have to say I have the cutest blog on this ranch!!!! (I guess I should add this is the only blog on this ranch....) But it is so much fun, and it totally changes your whole look, which is really fun because I was very bored with my last design. So if you feel like being really creative, go and check it out!!!

News Flash

Hello to all my readers in my small corner of cyber space!!! An important announcement here----I am ALIVE! :-) I know it has been totally ridiculous how long I have been neglecting all of you...but hey it is summer and time to be lazy, to sit around on your bum and eat bon-bon's and read simply all the time. I wish!!! I really do have a very large lazy, or should I rephrase that too... 'simply be' bone in my body that enjoys the simple pleasures, and dislikes blogger troubles, ect. I do not know if anyone else has had that problem lately, but I wrote a post a few days ago and, alas--- blogger was unavailable and you did not get my post. There were some very large "Grrr's" going on that evening, and I did not retry again. Sorry 'bout that! :-)

Okay, seeing as there have been many people asking how we/me are. (totally not grammatically correct there....but hey..who is caring! :-)

So I will try to do a little justice-
Dad - he is much better! PTL, but this week is starting to have more pain in his back, that he had not had for a few months. So please keep him in your prayers - it will be a long road for him of always being careful of what he does. Another prayer request concerning back troubles would be for my 16 year old brother Griffin. He has two bulging discs and we are working on getting him into another back doctor for his opinion of what to do. There are some bone structure problems that are contributing to his pain. I will keep you informed.

I really cannot believe that the last post was when RA and I were headed to Ardmore. That was an interesting trip, but I do not want to go into detail right now. Actually the last six weeks I could write a book on funny ranch/rodeo experiences that my family has done. BUT!!! I am really waiting for my new baby so show up!!! THIS IS A MAJOR NEWSFLASH!!! I ordered a new computer! So excited, a hp notebook. I am totally thrilled - that way when I have time and feel like posting I will not have to fight, nay race for the sole computer for this family of nine. (We never fight over anything mind you, just a ole' saying ya know!!) I really splurged on this one...and cannot wait to use voice recognition to post, to be able to write on the screen if I do not feel like typing OR talking. Just practically spoil myself with new technology!!! ha ha

Okay, I need to stop before I really start rambling on about who knows what, since I am a little under the weather today with a splitting headache, so I better sign off. (oh and I will not mention that I have a 6 ft 4 brother who is also waiting on the computer.......btw..just in case you are wondering, he is a LOT bigger than me!)

May the Lord bless you and keep you all in his loving and caring arms, and remember!!! Enjoy life, and remember to always be yourself! Don't try to conform to what you think other people 'want' you to be. But BE who you are in Christ, nothing more, nothing less because there you will find yourself, the person God designed just for his pleasure!!!

Y'all take care now, and keep those beautiful grins on your face, laughter truly is the best medicine for any ailment!

Memorial Weekend

I am off...my dear sweet brother asked me to go with him on his memorial weekend sweep - and when I guy asks ---- it is really SMART to go! :-) So at 6:30 in the morning I am leaving for Weatherford Tx (which I was just there 10 days ago) which is a 7 hour drive. He is going to try out a new cutting horse there at a friends house. We will spend the night in the Living Quarter Trailer and then drive to Graham for a two day roping there. I am going to do some antique shopping, and get to see my dear friend Sheyanne again, grandparents and great grandmother. It will be fun, and hopefully relaxing as well. :-) I was informed that I am to be there when he ropes as I am to film all of his runs. Was just a little FYI from him to me. :-/ Surely I can swing that!! jk :-)

Sunday night we will drive from Graham to Ardmore OK for the big Barry Burke Calf roping. I hope he does Super but even if he does not, it will still be fun just being with one of my favorite people who just happens to be my brother!!! :-)

So until I am back - go give all your brothers a hug if you can!! :-)

Audios - Amy

All in a Mom's Day

Tonight I was browsing friend's blogs and watched this youtube video from Rebekah's site...and loved it! Mom and Amanda watched it..it is so real and you have to watch it!!! So please, turn up your sound and laugh along...because A Mom's Work is never done!!!

Anita Renfroe

Honors Banquet

I was honored last week at the Frank Phillips College Honors Banquet. It was a pleasant surprise, but I have to say the best part of was having my grandparents come. :-) My honors were "Who's Who In America's Jr. Colleges" & "Outstanding Student in Marketing of Agriculture Products." All I can say is Glory be to God! :-) Only through his grace am I here where I am right now today! If you would like to see a picture of my beautiful sisters, please send me an email and I will email it to you! I don't want to post pictures of them here...security. Today was the last day of my Spring semester! I am glad to be done for a while...and through for, um about 12 days. :-) (long break huh?!?) I will start a May Mini Term in Government on the 19th. It last for two weeks. I was so tired in the above pictures, and I think that it shows. But it has been forever since my posting pics of me so I decided to go ahead and post 'em. That was a long day..but a good day. Have a fantastic day girls!!! Keep smiling...you all are beautiful!!! ~ Amy

Spring Works

I posted these pictures using Picassa so it would only allow me to post 4 @ a time....
We had neighbors helping, and they worked all day - from 7 - 7.

It was a bummer as I had to go to school that day, but we had a good lunch and I got to see the afternoon works. We work cattle the "good ole way" and everyone loves it! Especially when they are the ones getting to rope!! Over a 150 calves were worked and many of my siblings were so excited to be able to rope and drag calves to the fire, brothers because they got to ride their young horses that were not ready to drag on last year, and my sisters who got to do it alone without help this year. :-) I did not help with the actual branding work, would much rather be in the kitchen and having a good lunch ready and waitin' on them. Then it is me on the fence taking pictures! And making sure that the drinks stay cold.

(Oh, and make sure Mr. Ike does not go and 'help' more than they need. :-)

Myles on his colt Patriot a 3 yr. old

flankers are RA & neighbor Shannon V.

Man, helping the guys brand can be hard work!

Lydia tired and content after a long day of branding

Griffin on his colt Paso

Ranch Branding

I love this picture that mom took Tuesday morning
Dad and Amanda on her mare Ella, getting some advice.

This was actually taken in the arena the night before, but I love it!
RA helping Amanda breakaway (rope) off of Ella, a 9 yr. old mare.

Flankers, RA and Shannon V. waiting on Griffin to doctor.

Lydia and Saidyl showing the guys how it is done! :-)

Branding Pictures

RA and Jeb Ball

Flankers RA and Jeb Ball

Doctoring, Dad and Griffin

Billy Paul V. dragging - Shannon V. and Myles flanking

RA and Jeb Ball flanking again. :-)

Amy's life

I know it has been forever since my last post..but I have been so busy! :-) In the last two weeks I Have:

1. Had a art class test - on Ballet! Did well considering all the terms were in french! :-)
2. Got my hair cut - off! It does not even hit my shoulders, still getting use to it.
3. Lydia and Amanda had a piano recital last week and did wonderful!
4. High School Rodeo's have started. Cannot believe I have a brother that's a Senior!!!
5. Got an A on my Psychology Paper entitled "Stress in my life and how I manage it" (whooh)
6. Working on getting all the last minute paper work done for the upcoming Horse Sale.
7. Having to halter break two filly's that I did not get done last fall.....(pray for me!!!)
8. Helped Myles feed cows yesterday----- in the RAIN, Praise the Lord!!! Yippee it rained!
9. Have an upcoming math test Tuesday.
10. Dad and three brothers will be gone for 5 day branding this next week.
11. All I want to do this weekend is sleep and watch the PBR and just practically be a bum.
12. Less than a month left of my 2008 Spring Semester! :-0 Where did the time go???
13. Deciding if I am going to take Mini Terms or Summer Terms.......
14. Just got through watching a required movie for my Art Class: "Fiddler On The Roof"
15. Painting a bird house for an outside art assignment - will post pictures.
16. Researching English Country Dance for my dance assignment. (thankfully I do not have to dance, just have to research it! English Country Dance are the dances that are in Pride and Prejudice and Wives and Daughters. :-)
17. Memorizing over 150 words for my Psychology Class final in 3 weeks.
18. Figuring out what classes I need to take next semester to Graduate with my Associates Degree. Hopefully I can in December..we shall just see.
19. Praying with RA about the college he wants to attend in the fall and what scholarships he wants to accept.
20. Laughing! Ike is growing up so fast..and is really to smart for his own good!!!!

Okay there is a very brief overview of what all is going on with me lately. Just thought it would be fun to do a little different post for a change. Hope you know that I have not forgotten all of you! I have been missing you, each and everyone! hope everyone is having a wonderful spring and enjoying each new day the Lord has blessed you with! Remember..life is to short not to have fun, to laugh and to smile, to just be yourself! Don't get so caught up in trying to BE this or that...just enjoy who you are! Look for the Joy in every situation and don't forget to have FUN! I gotta go and study! Have a super duper day!!!

Cowboys

lt. to rt. Griffin, Jeb, RA & Myles

Thursday my brothers and our friend Jeb got back from music lessons & got to go and do what all cowboys love to do, but sometimes don't get to do as much as they would like - rope & doctor cattle outside. :) Two cows needed antibiotics, and a neighbors yearling was over in our pasture, so they got to have fun! Mom and I came to watch, and Ike and Dad were there with the medical supplies. It was fun to get to watch them as they went about there work. It is hard for me to believe sometimes, but those are my brothers, they are not little anymore and they do the work of men. Time does march on so fast!! It was windy outside and with them roping it made me think of the above lyrics to a song called "Cowboy's like Us" and if you know my brothers or Jeb it fits them - they love being cowboys. They love what they do, and they have no regrets because they spend there days being who they want to be. I am such a blessed sister, I am so glad that I live in on a ranch, and get to see my brothers and friends laughing and having fun - while they work! God is good - we are living a dream!

Doctoring one of the sick cow's

I am glad that it worked out that Jeb was here and got to help. My brothers were glad to have company, and get to laugh and have fun together. I have never seen Jeb so excited! :) I hope you enjoy these pictures, and catch a glimpse at how blessed I am. I get to live and spend time with some really handsome cowboys, who ride good horses!!! (I am a little biased, but I don't really care! :)

Memory Bank

I received the following in a email today and it is so true. Because life is full of choices; we as Christians need to choose happiness every day because We are daughters and sons of Jesus Christ who knows all things! He loves and cares for us. He died so that we might have life - so during your life today remember that and know you and only you can control the choices you make; how you deal with them and what attitude you choose to have each day. Because you choose Jesus you choose life and because you have Him in your life - there is no reason not to be full of Joy and happiness no matter what the situation. I of all people know that is very hard to accomplish because we are living in mortal human bodies in a dark world; but with God all things are possible. So lets work on this together!

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

'I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

'Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'

'That doesn' t have anything to do with it,' he replied.

'Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged .. it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. 'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!

Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing.' Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

• 1. Free your heart from hatred.


• 2. Free your mind from worries.


• 3. Live simply.


• 4. Give more.


• 5. Expect less.

Spring Break

Good morning everyone! I know I have been neglecting my blog terribly the last month; but I am so busy it seems I can hardly catch my breath. But it is spring break and I am excited to be off from school for a while - not that I am going to completely not do school for a whole week as I do not have time to afford to do that; but not going into to school will be nice. The last week for I have been wanting to post different things I have been learning in the life this year and I am going to do my best to accomplish that! But please don't get mad if I do not get it done - good intentions are worth something you know! :-)

I know I have some friends that are not big country music fans and probably had some people surprised that I would actually go to a concert; but you are just seeing another side of me. :-) I so enjoyed it and hope that you all enjoyed the youtube song that I posted last.

Spring is coming and I am so ready for it. The weather has been teasing us with beautiful days. I got to go and ride Thursday and it was such a pretty day. What made it even more fun was getting to share it with Jolynn! There is nothing more fun that getting to ride with a dear friend! I am ready for it to rain and for the green grass to starting showing its pretty face. This week I have started working with a 4 year old gelding that has had about 45 days of training as a 3 year old. He is doing well and I really enjoy spending time with "Tough" in the round pen. I have not gotten on him yet as he is living up to his name a little bit and is being a little Tough as he does not want to give his nose to me on his left side. So until he does I'll stay on the ground. Myles has made me proud - he has started riding a 3 year old colt named "Patriot" and they are doing fantastic. I really need to go and work with the yearlings (1 year old) foals that we are going to sale in May; so it will be easier at the sale to work with them as I lead them around and through the ring. Out horses are very gentle; but sometimes you can get to a new place and there first outing and they can get scared so you sure don't want them scared of you too. :-) My favorite part of working with horses is actually on the ground. I like to ride too; but I love to halter break horses and make progress at whatever I am trying to get them to do. And really get the horses to be my friend; where they like to be with me.

Well I think I have rambled on long enough - I hope everyone is having a great day, full of the JOY of the LORD! Keep your eyes on the King! And walk always by Faith knowing you are saved by Grace!!!

I Saw God Today

I know this is playing on the radio but I just wanted to make sure you got to hear this!!! It made me cry the first time and it is ONE of my all time favorites!

...::: King George :::...

Friday evening found me in the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock at the
George Strait Concert!!!!

My sweet Grandparents bought 8 tickets for our any of there grandchildren that wanted to go! Talk about an EXCITED girl here!! :-) I am a big country music fan, and esp. a Strait fan. So my brother RA and I went and my cousin from my mom's side of the family Tom and his wife Cari and my cousin Dan were able to go. RA and I invited our cousin Brad, friends Sarah who are both students at Texas Tech in Lubbock, and we took our friend Lindi down with us. We all had SO much fun!! It was a sold out concert and we had wonderful tickets. He sang so many of my favorite songs like:

1. "I saw God Today"
2. "Cowboys Like Us"
3. "The Chair"
4. "Amarillo by Morning"
5. "I Just Want To Dance With You"
6. "Somewhere Down In Texas"
7. and so many more.....

lf. to rt. Brad, Sarah, RA, Cari, Tom, Dan, Amy & Lindi

Lindi and I spent the night at the courtyard and did not get in bed until really late and then talked for a long time! RA spent the night at Brad's house. We had to leave to go to a rodeo in Amarillo by 9 Saturday morning. So we were literally going to be in Amarillo by morning! The high school rodeo was fun and my brothers did well and that is always a high light! I got to see so many of our friends we had not seen because of the winter break. Probably the highlight of yesterday was having 9 friends and family in our trailer talking and telling stories late yesterday evening. We sure have fun - and that is an understatement! Late nights can help that though..every thing is funnier when you are tired! :-)

So that is why I did this weekend - what did you do?

A beautiful story....

August 1942. Piotrkow, Poland. The sky was gloomy that morning as we waited anxiously. All the men, women and children of Piotrkow's Jewish ghetto had been herded into a square. Word had gotten around that we were being moved. My father had only recently died from typhus, which had run rampant through the crowded ghetto. My greatest fear was that our family would be separated.

"Whatever you do," Isidore, my eldest brother, whispered to me, "don't tell them your age. Say you're sixteen" I was tall for a boy of 11, so I could pull it off. That way I might be deemed valuable as a worker. An SS man approached me, boots clicking against the cobblestones. He looked me up and down, then asked my age. "Sixteen," I said. He directed me to the left, where my three brothers and other healthy young men already stood

My mother was motioned to the right with the other women, children, sick and elderly people. I whispered to Isidore, "Why?" He didn't answer. I ran to Mama's side and said I wanted to stay with her. "No," she said sternly. "Get away. Don't be a nuisance. Go with your brothers." She had never spoken so harshly before. But I understood: She was protecting me. She loved me so much that, just this once, she pretended not to. It was the last I ever saw of her. My brothers and I were transported in a cattle car to Germany. We arrived at the Buchenwald concentration camp one night weeks later and were led into a crowded barrack. The next day, we were issued uniforms and identification numbers. "Don't call me Herman anymore." I said to my brothers. "Call me 94983.." I was put to work in the camp's crematorium, loading the dead into a hand-cranked elevator. I, too, felt dead. Hardened, I had become a number. Soon, my brothers and I were sent to Schlieben, one of Buchenwald's sub-camps near Berlin. One morning I thought I heard my mother's voice Son, she said softly but clearly, I am sending you an angel. Then I woke up. Just a dream. A beautiful dream. But in this place there could be no angels. There was only work. And hunger. And fear.

A couple of days later, I was walking around the camp, around the barracks, near the barbed-wire fence where the guards could not easily see. I was alone. On the other side of the fence, I spotted someone: a young girl with light, almost luminous curls.. She was half-hidden behind a birch tree. I glanced around to make sure no one saw me. I called to her softly in German. "Do you have something to eat?" She didn't understand. I inched closer to the fence and repeated question in Polish. She stepped forward. I was thin and gaunt, with rags wrapped around my feet, but the girl looked unafraid. In her eyes, I saw life. She pulled an apple from her woolen jacket and threw it over the fence. I grabbed the fruit and, as I started to run away, I heard her say faintly, "I'll see you tomorrow." I returned to the same spot by the fence at the same time every day. She was always there with something for me to eat - a hunk of bread or, better yet, an apple. We didn't dare speak or linger. To be caught would mean death for us both. I didn't know anything about her just a kind farm girl except that she understood Polish. What was her name? Why was she risking her life for me? Hope was in such short supply, and this girl on the other side of the fence gave me some, as nourishing in its way as the bread and apples..

Nearly seven months later, my brothers and I were crammed into a coal car and shipped to Theresienstadt camp in Czechoslovakia.. "Don't return," I told the girl that day. "We're leaving."

I turned toward the barracks and didn't look back, didn't even say good-bye to the girl whose name I'd never learned, the girl with the apples.

We were in Theresienstadt for three months. The war was winding down and Allied forces were closing in, yet my fate seemed sealed. On May 10, 1945, I was scheduled to die in the gas chamber at 10:00 AM. In the quiet of dawn, I tried to prepare myself. So many times death seemed ready to claim me, but somehow I'd survived Now, it was over. I thought of my parents. At least, I thought, we will be reunited. At 8 A.M. there was a commotion. I heard shouts, and saw people running every which way through camp. I caught up with my brothers. Russian troops had liberated the camp! The gates swung open. Everyone was running, so I did too. Amazingly, all of my brothers had survived; I'm not sure how. But Iknew that the girl with the apples had been the key to my survival. In a place where evil seemed triumphant, one person's

goodness had saved my life, had given me hope in a place where there was none. My mother had promised to send me an angel, and the angel had come.

Eventually I made my way to England where I was sponsored by a Jewish charity, put up in a hostel with other boys who had survived the Holocaust and trained in electronics. Then I came to America, where my brother Sam had already moved. I served in the U. S.Army during the
Korean War, and returned to New York City after two years. By August 1957 I'd opened my own electronics repair shop. I was starting to settle in. One day, my friend Sid who I knew from England called me. "I've got a date. She's got a Polish friend. Let's double date." A blind date?
Nah, that wasn't for me. But Sid kept pestering me, and a few days later we headed up to the Bronx to pick up his date and her friend Roma. I had to admit, for a blind date this wasn't so bad. Roma was a nurse at a Bronx hospital. She was kind and smart. Beautiful, too, with swirling brown curls and green, almond-shaped eyes that sparkled with life. The four of us drove out to Coney Island. Roma was easy to talk to, easy to be with. Turned out she was wary of blind dates too! We were both just doing our friends a favor. We took a stroll on the boardwalk, enjoying the salty Atlantic breeze, and then had dinner by the shore. I couldn't remember having a better time. We piled back into Sid's car, Roma and I sharing the backseat. As European Jews who had survived the war, we were aware that much had been left unsaid between us. She broached the subject, "Where were you," she asked softly, "during the war?" "The camps," I said, the terrible memories still vivid, the irreparable loss. I had tried to forget. But you can never forget. She nodded. "My family was hiding on a farm in Germany, not far from Berlin," she told me.
"My father knew a priest, and he got us Aryan papers." I imagined how she must have suffered too, fear, a constant companion. And yet here we were, both survivors, in a new world. "There was a camp next to the farm." Roma continued. "I saw a boy there and I would throw him apples every day" What an amazing coincidence that she had helped some other boy "What did he look like? I asked. He was tall, Skinny, and Hungry. I must have seen him every day for six months." My heart was racing. I couldn't believe it. This couldn't be. "Did he tell you one day not to come back because he was leaving Schlieben?" Roma looked at me in amazement "Yes," That was me! " I was ready to burst with joy and awe, flooded with emotions. I couldn't believe it. My angel.
"I'm not letting you go." I said to Roma. And in the back of the car on that blind date, I proposed to her I didn't want to wait. "You're crazy!" she said. But she invited me to meet her parents for Shabbat dinner the following week.. There was so much I looked forward to learning about Roma, but the most important things I always knew: her steadfastness, her goodness. For many months, in the worst of circumstances, she had come to the fence and given me hope. Now that I'd found her again, I could never let her go. That day, she said yes. And I kept my word. After nearly 50 years of marriage, two children and three grandchildren I have never let her go.

Herman Rosenblat Miami Beach, Florida
This is a true story and you can find out more by Googling Herman Rosenblat as he was bar mitzvahed at age 75. This story is being made into a movie called The Fence.

Just wanted to ask my friends to pray for me. This week my back has been really bothering me. I have continued to go to the chiropractor and he says it will just take time for the muscles in my back to stop from spasming when I am sitting and standing up. Which seems to be all that I am doing currently. The only comfortable position is laying flat; but studying and going to school and driving back and forth to Amarillo is hard to do laying down.
:-) I am not in unbearable pain or anything like that; it is just very uncomfortable, esp. those days I am at school and doing homework at the computer. I took Advil today as I had so much to study for my 4 tests next week that I new I need to be paying more attention to my books than my back. Thank you for your prayers. I am still so thankful that I do not have major complaints from the accident. It could have been so much worse! God is good, I am having to learn to keep trusting in My Lord no matter what is going on around me! :-)

Remembering with a Smile!

Did you know that I competently missed a important date on the calendar? I missed my 1 year anniversary of being a 'blogger'!!! :-) Yesterday was 1 year and 1 month so I guess officially I am 13 months and 1 today. :-) I am very glad that I did set up this blog to post all the things that have been going on in my life in the last year and how far the Lord has brought me. If you would like to see my First Post; be my guest. If I had not gotten online I would have never had the privilege to have so many of you as dear friends, and to help me stay in touch with friends that I knew before. I just could not let my year on blogspot pass me by without looking back with smiles and the knowledge that with Jesus as my Target ~ It will only get better in the coming years!!

I know I have fallen of the band wagon on my updates and praises concerning Dad. And I am sorry about that! He is doing so much better; and I am so Thankful to the Lord. He is off of all of his medicine’s and is going in for treatments and the Doctors are very pleased with his progress. Dad still has limitations, but to be able to sleep and not be in pain are such amazing gifts. So thank you from the bottom of my heart! I hope he can get back to being able to do what he wants, but until then we are continuing to walk on faith. Really and truly that is the only way to walk….period! :-)

"Trust and obey for there is no other way to
be happy in Jesus; but to trust and obey!"

What hast thou given for Me?

In family devotional this morning we sang this song. It is a beautiful melody and if you would like to hear it you can go to Cyber Hymnal and listen and sing along.

He did give his life for us! It is really very humbling to know that. That he would do that for you and me. So please take a few minutes, read the words and ponder them in your heart.

May you have a beautiful day in the Lord ~ Full of the riches of the Lord Jesus as you rejoice in his Goodness and Grace!

..:: I gave My Life for Thee::..

I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed,
That thou might ransomed be, and raised up from the dead
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?

My Father’s house of light, My glory circled throne
I left for earthly night, for wanderings sad and lone;
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?

I suffered much for thee, more than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony, to rescue thee from hell.
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?

And I have brought to thee, down from My home above,
Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love;
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?

Frances R. Harergal adn Phillip P. Bliss 1958

"For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried:
he is a buckler to all those that trust in Him."

Psalms 18: 28-30