Quick Update for Y'all

Hello All! This is just a quick post to let you all know I have not fallen off the face of the earth..but am busy beyond belief!! :-)

Number one on my updates, is on Dad. Thank you for your continued prayers!! He still is in need of them. Today he is going back to get another injection in his back. He is still not able to do very much, though he can drive and that is such a praise! Though he can only be out and about for a few hours then he has to come back and rest. Valium is sure helping him sleep, and his nights are getting so much better! :-) I am so thankful!!! It is still not back to normal, but we are just glad that he has improved so much, but please keep praying for a complete recovery.

As for me this week....RA and I are headed to Fort Worth early Thursday for the Fort Worth Stock Show. We are taking 2 pens of heifers to the show and sale there. 10 heifers with calves, and 10 heifers that are heavy springer's..and could calve while we are there. That could prove interesting. :-) I am looking forward to it, though I am going to have to make up a missed day at school. Last year the whole family was able to go, but since Dad cannot go, it will be just RA and I. We have been attending this sale for many years, and hopefully these heifers sale well. We will get to attend the rodeo twice, and that will be fun. Its neat, my great-grandparents started buying tickets to the PRCA rodeo years ago and had box seat tickets. We still sit in the same seats that they did, now50 years later! I think that is pretty cool! :-) Just a little history there.

The wind has been blowing here...nearly blowing us away! There's a chance for snow, and I hope that is does not come, as we are trying to clip heifers and clipping in 40 mile an hour wind with snow does not mix very well.

School is going well, Just got out of Art Class, was really fun. We are leaning 7 Elements of Art right now.

1. Line - actual and implied lines
2. Color - primary, secondary and natural colors
3.Value - lightness and darkness of colors to add value
4. Shape - organic or geometric shapes
5. Form - heigth, depth and width of art
6. Space - positive space (subject) negative space (background)
7. Texture - real texture or implied texture

I am really really enjoying it. I have always liked to look at art, and now I will know what to look for. :-)

Well Ag Marketing homework needs my full attention, so I will sign off.
May the Lord bless and keep you all in the palm of his hand. May you feels his presence 10-fold today, and have Patience, and Loving kindness overflowing in your heart and life throughout the rest of this week!
Take care and keep smiling!! :-)

..:: I Hope You Dance::..

I have been singing this song lately as I have been going about my work; I have always loved these lyrics when ever it would play on the radio. I had never looked them up, but it is encouraging to me. Sometimes I do feel like selling out, but I must reconsider, because I am living for a greater purpose than just for myself, I am living for the maker of all, my creature! I hope I never loose my since of wonder either, may I always look for the Lord hand in all things. When I look at all that he has made, may my love for Him, overflow. That when I come to an closed door; that I not give up, but keep looking for God's next direction. I hope that Faith will always be present in my life, in my heart and in my mind. And when I am down, I will get up and dance for Him! When I see the mountains I must climb, that I would appreciate the view, and that I don't take the low road just because its easier, but walk always to the narrow gate. Lord help me to never become bitter, but forgive and forget and let you take the reins. I am along for an awesome ride, a ride that few are willing to take. With highs and lows, thrills and spills, laughter and tears, joys and pains. Should I reconsider to avoid the heartache? Absolutely not! For I would miss all the times my heart stops in total awe!! I am Daughter of the Most High King! Life is worth the living just because I am His!

"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder.
You get your fill to eat, but always keep that hunger.
May you never take one single breath for granted;
God forbid love ever leave you empty-handed.
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean;
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens.
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,
I hope you dance!

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance.
Never settle for the path of least resistance,
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'.
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'.
Don't let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider.
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance;
I hope you dance!"

~ I Hope You Dance, LeeAnn Womack

Jeremiah 31:13
Then maidens will dance and be glad, ....
I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give
them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. NIV

Ecclesiastes 3:4
{there's} A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance; KJV

Good Morning!

from frank phillips college! Today is my second day of classes. So far, so good. :-) I am going to be challenged and cultured this semester; and in life that is always good. For those of you that don't know, I still live at home and commute back and forth to school. It is a 30 minute drive and not bad I really like it on the drive home, as you can chill and re-group before you get home to everyone. I only attend classes on Tuesday - Thursday. This semester I am taking 16 hours. That is the most I have ever taken in a semester, and I am still a little "wide eyed" over all the things I need to do. With still living at home and getting all assignments in on time I am going to have to really work on my organizational skills. :-) I am one of those people that is really "Organized Chaos" and hopefully having all of this stuff to work on, I will improve in that area not just for the long run, but for life in general. :-) I am striving to be 100% mentally at school when I am on campus, but when I am at home, I am going to strive to be 100% there. Yes I might be a full time student, but first I am a full time daughter. :-)

Just so you know, when I am mentioning things in the next few weeks about classes, these are my 2008 Sophomore classes:
1. Fine Arts Class
2. Agriculture Marketing Class
3. Psychology
4. Math Class
5. Texas Government
6. Ag Work Program

For an update on Dad-
He has slept the last 2 nights in bed. Which is such a praise! He still wakes up many times during the night but his pain level is not so high. He still is not able to do much, but being able to sleep is such a God send. I think that the injection is slowly helping, but he will not go into Amarillo until next week, and hopefully that the inflammation will slowly go down so that the healing process will start. I will keep you all updated on the process.

Just wanted to share some verses that blessed me last night:

Psalms 16

"vs. 1 Preserve me O God:

for in thee do I put my Trust.

vs. 5 The Lord is portion of mine
inheritance....
vs. 6....yea I [do] have a
Godly heritage.

vs. 8 I have set the Lord
always before me: because
He is at my right hand. [and]

I shall not be moved.

vs. 9 Therefore my heart is glad
an my glory rejoiceth:

my flesh also shall rest in

Hope.

vs. 11 Thou wilt show me

the path of life: in thy

presence is:

Fullness Of Joy,

at they right hand there are:

Pleasures Forever More."

Have a Beautiful Day in the Lord! For this is the day that the Lord has Made, let us rejoiceth and be glad in it!

- Quick Monday Morning Update -

Hello all,
whew...what a week! :-) I am sorry for not updating sooner, but I was under the weather for the last 4 days. That is one part of winter I do not like...cold/flu season. I am doing better, praise the Lord! One downside of a large family, and probably the only.... :-) is that when the family gets sick, the sickness seems to take a long time staying around. :-(

Thank you for your continued prayers for Dad, he did not improve last week. There is not a comfort zone anywhere. Today he is on his way to a pain management doctor in Amarillo that is going to give him injections and hopefully help his nerve's and muscle spasms subside. It is so hard to see your father in so much pain, day in and day out. But God is in control and for that, I am eternally thankful! You have to just give it all to JESUS; as living without doing so, is no way to live. :-)

So the specific prayer requests for this week are:

1. For Dad to be able to sleep!
   
2. For the injections to work!
   
3. No more muscle/nerve spasm's
   
4. Inflammation to go away!
   
5. This week would just go smoothly,
   as I start school, trips to Amarillo continue,
   that everyone would get back to being healthy,
   and that the rest of the first calf heifers have
   easy deliveries! :-)

2008 has so far been a very challenging, but it can only get better! Hallelujah! Each day is a treasure from the Lord and the JOY of the Lord is our strength!

May the Lord bless and keep you all, may your eyes never leave the Son, and may this week be full of:

A. "Joy unspeakable moments,

B. Contentment in every circumstance,

C. Faith steadfastly set in HIM alone,

D. Love for everyone around you,

E. And that you wake every morning with
the Hope of Christ abundant and full! :-)"

Oops

Sorry about this post..I tried to share some really cute pictures with you, but I could not get it to work and don't have time to fix the mess I made of the post. :-) If you stopped by, or are subscribed to my blog and wonder what is going on; its just me, pulling another stunt. :-)
So if you would like to see the email that I received with cute kittens for the new year just ask and I will email them to you. :-)

Have great night!!! ;-)

...:::... Looking for the good ...:::...

I know that my new template looks really "spring-ey" :-) Not that I am so looking forward to spring that I am overlooking the good things in winter. Its just that it looks so cheerful and happy and Lord knows I need that right now. :-)

~ The JOY of the LORD is our Strength! Keep you eyes on the cross and not on the circumstances! :-)

::: 3 weeks today :::

It has been three weeks today, since my Dad hurt his back the second time. As far as improvement, well - its really hard to say. He is some what better, but his pain level is still very very high. He has had three treatments this week, and it will take a while for his back to heal and for the treatments to start helping him. It is really hard to see Dad having to be at home all the time and not physically able to go and do his every day tasks here on the ranch. In the last few weeks he has only been out and about a few times. Sitting is still out of the question, so thats what makes it hard to get out and about.

I just want to thank you all for your continued prayers. My family and I are so greatful for the body of Christ, and how we have friends that lift us up in prayer!

~ A New Beginning ~

a collection of scriptures celebrating life in Christ
King James Version

taken from a dayspring movie:

• The Door
  I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,
  and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John 10:9
  
  
• Walk in Love
  ...Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given
  Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a
  sweetsmelling savour. Ephesians 5:2
  
  
• New Creation
  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
  old things have passed away; behold, all things have
  become new. ll Corinthians 5:17
  
  
• Everlasting Life
  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on
  Me hath everlasting life. John 6:47
  
  
• You Open Your Hand
  You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every
  living thing. Psalm 145:16
  
  
• Fountain of Life
  For with You is the fountain of life; In Your
  light we see light. Psalm 36:9
  
  
• Shall Never Thirst
  ...He that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he
  that believeth on Me shall never thirst. John 6:35
  
  
• I Am He Who Lives
  I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am
  alive forevermore. Amen. Revelations 1:18
  
  
• Whoever Believeth In Him
  For God so loved the world, that He gave His only
  begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should
  not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
  
  
• I Am The Light Of The World
  ...I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me
  shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
  John 8:12
  
  
• My Love
  My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
  l Corinthians 16:24
  
  
  
  
  

Happy New Year to Y'all!

Well 2007 is in the History books, and 2008 is upon us whether we wanted it to be or not! :) I hope that everyone is doing wonderful. That CHRISTmas was a time of Joy and Fun for you and your family. Ours was blessed, as we were so thankful for all that God has done, and will continue to do in our life, because our Faith is in HIM! Our dear cousin Judy came by, surprised us on CHRISTmas day and brought gifts for everyone, and really out did herself! She brought so much Joy and Laughter. Thank you Judy! You blessed us so much!! :)

I have to say that the end of 2007 was quite eventful for my family and I. Seems like I have lived a whole life, just in a few weeks. Thank you for your continued prayers for my Dad. He has not improved from my last post. Tomorrow he will start the 5 week treatments, 4 days a week in Amarillo. Pain is still very much a part of his daily existence. 2 - 3 hours of sleep a night is all he can do. It really is taking a tole on everyone in the family. But especially Mom, please do pray for her to have strength and courage to face each day.

You all have been such a blessing, by your comments, your emails, most of all though, your prayers for my family! I appreciate it so much, and you all have encouraged me to keep putting my faith in the maker of all! Thank you for being a Light for Jesus, and I am very blessed to be in y'alls corner of the world!! :)

May the Lord Bless you and Keep you, and Make HIS face to Shine Upon you and give you HOPE and PEACE through out the new year!