Change of Scenery

The wintery weather has brought her temperature inversions and a sparkly showing of hoarfrost. We got about an inch or so of snow and not much wind, so the flakes landed perfectly on all things exposed! Such a beautiful sight to wake up to the other morning.


A welcomed guest by the Whitlock Christmas tree this year. We decided to put every ornament we owned on the tree. The Beautician helped me that day as we opened every box of decorations and reminisced about she and her sisters's childhoods.


Gotta love Wyoming. Over 300 days of sun each year. The temps can be well below zero and the sun still shines bright, warming rays.


God's decor for the holiday season. Oh how He loves you and me!

Hello Friday!

I worked at the pregnancy resource center yesterday. The folks of the community have done a great job supporting such a needed place to help young women in need.

Today we continue on the trimming journey. Construction Man is going great guns getting the detail work finished. We still have a ways to go but it's looking lovely.

I am glad to see that Friday has arrived in all her glory! We are having some friends over for dinner tonight. Not sure what I'll cook... need to peruse my cookbooks and find something yummy for a cold wintery night.

I'm looking forward to the visit.

I'll let you know how it all turns out!

Have a great day and enjoy the Christmas season. :)

Sunday Morning Coming Down

You know the song. That old tune by Kris Kristofferson which Johnny did so well. I am listening to it right now and my playlist of tunes with the word "Sunday" in the title.

There's Maroon 5 with 'Sunday Morning', Keith Urban with 'Rainin' on Sunday'... (should be snowin' on Sunday!) Yes, it's snowing here; and I am up very early.

Woke up feeling a bit lonely. You see, I should be on a trip to Vegas right now. I should be waking up at my little brother's house, visiting and laughing, heading down to my mom and dad's next. Oh well. Circumstances did not permit a trip at this time.

I had to be mucho mature about making this decision cause I just wanted to go and see people I love and drink a beer with my friend down at the RiRa pub at the Mandalay Bay. (Obviously having a hard time letting it go. So disappointed.)

But today is Sunday. The first day of the week. A day of rest and hopeful planning for the next several days. There is much preparation for The Theologian and her hubby to come for their Christmas visit. Also, Nurse Child turns twenty next Sunday! Yep. No more teenagers at our house...

Construction Man is staining trim boards and I have been trying to tape off and paint the trim in and around the bathroom. Still finishing up the remodel from last May. Oh my! We are making a little headway coming down the homestretch. So many details.

Hank and Addy are enjoying and enduring the colder temps and snow flurries. Hank has so much fur he is just fine racing around the yard reclaiming it from the cat all day long. Addy is cozy in her fur coat as well turning her hind end and tucking her head right after her green breakfast of champions. She lays down every morning for her nap. So spoiled...

Another Sunday morning. There really is nothing wrong. Just feeling a bit lonely for some family lovin'! Just a few people missing this holiday season. :( We'll get by.



Johnny

Keith

Adam

MOPS Moms and peace...

I spoke this morning at our local chapter of MOPS. That's 'mother's of preschoolers.' What a great group of young ladies and their babies!!

I spoke on having peace this holiday season and forever! We can seek peace and pursue it. Of course, this not going to be easy. But we can do it with a little effort. I simply encouraged these sweet gals to give themselves a break. Be a little more gentle to themselves, be kinder to themselves, cut themselves some slack, and forgive themselves for those thing they've been carrying around for awhile.

Also, to be thankful for what we already have, where we are at and who we are presently. This is a good start to opening up that treasure of peace that only God can provide.

Sounds like some words of wisdom, no? Now, if I can only apply it to myself!!





Find a quiet place today and understand peace. :)

Saturday...

So, today is Saturday? Really? It feels like Tuesday or Wednesday. Probably cause Thanksgiving seemed like Sunday with so much family over for dinner.

We had upwards of thirty people before it was all said and done. We deep fried one turkey and baked the other one. Everyone contributed to the meal and a good dinner was had by all. Nobody went hungry...

The kids watched movies, wrestled, played 'capture the flag' outdoors, and the adults sampled many red wines, pies and tasty tarts. Not to mention a few different kinds of Alaskan Ale and the old standby Corona. We played Euchre and basically did a lot of talking and laughing. Much needed laugher I'm sure. Many times I wiped the tears from my eyes for laughing so hard!

I can't even imagine how big the space would have to be if both of our families all came to Thanksgiving dinner! Now that would be a wonderful party. :)

Anywho... I need to make my way to the post office and pick up a package. They quit at noon today. Construction Man has many chores lined up for us all to begin staining trim, organizing the shop, (yes, we just did this, but we have three garages!) and getting on with the next big project of installing the bath tub in our upstairs bedroom. It is up there, but needs plumbed and tiled. Oh my... he's a busy guy.

All is well.

Stay warm and tell someone how much they are loved today! People matter more than we think.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy BIrthday to Me!!

This is a pict of my beautiful flowers my Dad and Mom sent for my bday today!! Aren't they just lovely?

Yep. Today I am fifty one years of age. I made it through being fifty. I must admit that I've had a 'failblog' with 365daysof50 the last few weeks with all the happenings around here.

I was the facilities coordinator for our local pregnancy resource center. We had a huge banquet last Thursday night with 224 people in attendance. Lots of financial support was given and the keynote speaker was the sweetest little gal. She had quite a message of hope and life.

Construction Man has been going to town on the finish work of the home renovations. We did have to replace the dishwasher. Lots of trim, porch lights, cleaning out garages and sorting... again! Does it never end? Guess I have to stop bringing stuff home!

Then to top it all off, the weather has been very warm; and a cowgirl must ride her horse while fall breezes pile up golden, leafy drifts. Addy tromps so gingerly through the cracklings. I had her shoes pulled and her feet trimmed up real nice. She has been such a trooper this past summer. As I have noted all she has learned, I am looking to myself and the growth I have incurred this past year as well.

In many things I have had to decide to "grow up" and move forward as opposed to kicking and screaming, and reverting to childhood reactions! Yes, we do get to choose which direction we will be taking.

Don't worry. My first inclination is to take ahold of that bit, bow my neck and run my own direction. But wisdom reminds me of how that worked out in the past. So, my new strategy is to actually stop, think, pray, wait and move more meticulously/cautiously than before. See--I can be taught!

I really need to go and get ready for the day, but I want to tell you one more short story.

While rummaging this morning for a table cloth to cover the card table, two brand new dish towels fell out at my feet. They were a gift from my sister for my birthday two years ago. Funny, I was just complaining that I needed some new dish towels yesterday. And the sweetest thing is that they are flour sack, (my favorite!) and they are covered with printed chickens of all kinds. I didn't cry. I just thanked God for the gift, knowing the lovely hands that sent them in the first place.

I am thankful for sweet memories and the promise of seeing our loved ones again someday real soon.

I love you, my family. Have a great day. Eat lots of food, be glad and enjoy the love and relationships we all share. I think of each of you so fondly and am a very blessed woman. This much I am sure of.

Upon Returning Home

Needless to say, my feet hit the ground running upon my returning home. Bills to pay, meals to prepare, laundry to catch up on, people needing my attention, stalls and kennels to be cleaned, and just the general upkeep of self and surroundings!

We did have one very special happening though... The Beautician turned twenty two on the second and brought a friend to her birthday dinner. We were graced by their presence as we dined on her favorite dish of pork scaloppine. We laughed a lot, hugged a lot, ate a lot and then she was off again to go out with friends for the evening.

What to say, Taylor? We love you so very much and are cheering for you the loudest to complete your schooling and move ahead with your life and career. You are so beautiful and so determined to do things your way! May you find your dreams and desires right in line with what God has planned for your life. :) Many times the words "free spirit" have been used to to describe you by those who adore you. And this is what you are. I pray you soar high above the troubles of this life and encourage others to do the same. You are our sweet Tatorbug and we love you dearly. Thanks for the smiles that you bring.

Construction Man will be home this week for good! Hooray!! We have many decisions to make before the end of the year is up. I just love that man and have the utmost belief in his decision making processes. Together we are unstoppable!! Hurry home, honey!

My trip was unbelievable. My family is so sweet and supportive of me. For this I am truly grateful. Our nephew's wedding was lovely, tender and at times difficult as another one of our precious babies grows up to do adult things.... marriage is not an easy row to hoe!

The EAGALA class in Payson was grueling, insightful, and will take much time to process. I'm sure you will hear more as the days unfurl. Again, I will reiterate: horses are an amazing gift from God. What sense of peace, love and community they contribute to our lives. I am sure my horsey friends will concur-- not to mention the mental health professionals who use them in their equine assisted therapy programs.

Anywho... all is well and today I will have been home for a week already. Thanksgiving fast approaches as the trees turn loose of seasons past. Temps will drop, rain will turn to snow and autumn breezes will whip up into winter frenzies. This too shall pass and 2013 will nose her way into all of our lives if we're blessed enough for her to do so.

Relax and enjoy your Sunday. We are going to do just that here on Rd. 8 in Northwest Wyoming.



The Beautician in all her glory! Love you, Tates!