The Book

Recently, I've been really annoyed by the way my children are acting. It's not like they are angels the rest of the time. But you know how when you 'see' something that needs fixed, you 'fixate' on fixing it? Well, I was at church on Sunday and this book caught my eye. So I checked it out real quickly so I could read the chapter on "respect". That seems to be our BIG issue these days. So, I'm about 1/3 the way through the whole book. (It seems to be a good book) It's titled Boundaries with Kids by Dr. Cloud and Dr. Townsend. Would you believe that my children can sense that I'm reading a book about them? They've stepped it up a notch on the 'lets annoy our mother' step. It's like Satan knew what I was up to and decided to put on the heat. I guess maybe that's how we really grow sometimes. I've also wondered if we all just need some sunlight?? Do I have an AMEN here? Maybe THAT would make a difference. I've even thought about having our whole family visit a tanning booth, just to get those artificial UV rays. Do you think that would be considered child abuse? LOL Actually, maybe it's just me that needs to be not as irritable and maybe they wouldn't seem so annoying! :o) The book has a reality check though. It refers to the fact that we as parents have to act within our boundaries first, so our children can mimic our actions. That one kind of hurt me. But, I picked myself off the floor and will keep reading. :o) They have a good point, "children need to know that their problems are their own problems, no one else's." That is a hard statement to swallow when you might be a parent that likes to 'fix' things for their children. The book is written around "Laws" that need to be taught. For instance "The Law of Sowing and Reaping". Letting reality be a consequence for choices they make. Anyway, does anyone else have children that are bursting at the seams?? I think they need to extend PE class and recess to half the day until the sun comes back to us. I think it might have gone on vacation. But praise the Lord, the fog seems to be gone today!

The Fog

This last week we had fog for about 2 days straight. We're talking, all day fog. Not the kind that dissipates when the sun burns it off. It made me think how sometimes I feel like I'm in a fog myself. How I need the 'Son' to burn it off. Actually, I think I'm in a fog daily until I specifically take the time and invite Jesus into my daily routine. (Oh, and probably that cup of coffee with my half & half, one scoop of hot chocolate mix and that dab of pure cane sugar) :o) A person has to...remember this?....deliberately determine to form a resolution with courage that is a firm decision of a course of action. (My own thrown together definition) You have to purposely make that initiative to ask God to help guide your day, everyday. I've had a hard time thinking, I shouldn't have to do this daily. I decided way back to have Jesus in my life, isn't that good enough? But I've learned it's just not that easy. We have too many distractions that tempt us to not take the time and invite Him in. We're so stinkin' busy, that we say I'll do it later. Satan just loves that. I went through a period when EVERY time I got up early, so did one of my children. I felt very discouraged. But, my new found stubbornness has helped me ride through the temptation of just skipping that time in the morning. I say new found because my husband and children taught me how to be that way. Really, they did. I'm not sure who I'm trying to convince, you or me!? Anyway, the bottom line is....daily....routine....of prayer time....clears the fog.

Isaiah 7:9b "..If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."

Psalm 143:8 "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."

Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

The Ranch

We have a name for our ranch, even though we're not incorporated or anything. Rafter P Ranch. We found a place that could make up coats, shirts and hats etc. with our logo on it. My husband, Mr. Rancher even had a brand made for the cattle that we use. Oh, how that job stinks. I love to help with working cattle, but the smells of the barn always send me into a sneezing frenzy. But sometimes, I suffer through it.
Last Sunday we moved cattle a few miles in the frigid cold. We used the 4 wheeler, tractor and a pickup. Here are a few photos that cap the day and of our brand that is on a hat.



This is our dog 'Rowdy'. He's seems so serious. He's really not. Very playful. He'll even jump on you if you hold still long enough.




Sorry these are all mixed up. Kind of like me sometimes. Mr. Rancher is getting the snow off of the electric fence so those wonderful cows won't get out. Like they did one other time and we got sued. That's a long story.



The cows took off through the neighbors wheat so Mr. Rancher followed them with the 4 wheeler to keep them in line. He kind of looks like a lost cow doesn't he? They sure didn't want to move very fast.



This is right when they decided to go 'off roading' and into the wheat. My eldest son is driving the tractor and wagon. Sure can't believe he's old enough.....



This is Mr. Rancher making sure they stay on track and don't stop in the milo stalks to take a snack. I'm pretty sure Mr. Rancher didn't stop either.

He likes to snack too.



Oops, you're going the wrong way Ms. Cow. They came out, and then probably thought "Oh, no. I know what your up too. I'm going back."



This is the cows being teased that they might get some feed. Not. Sorry ladies, you'll have to follow the green wagon to get a snack after you get to your new home.



They must be thinkin' 'Who are these people and what are they up to?'



Here's my eldest driving into the gate to gather his hens...oops I mean cows.



Cheese! This is the G-ster doing what he does best.



This is THE Mister Rancher giving everyone their instructions on what to do. And what NOT to do. Can you repeat that please? :o)



The two peas in a pod strike again. They are like twins. Fight like 'em too.



Our Logo on a hat.

Sometimes I complain about living on a farm/ranch, but 99% of the time, I LOVE IT! But sometimes that 1% crops up more than it should. And then when my husband complains of being cold, I remind him that he CHOSE his profession and he'll just have to take the good with the bad. Actually, I just tell him to 'suck it up and take it like a real man.' :o) I think those are the times that he wished he would've interviewed me more intensely before we got married. Just sayin'.

The Resolution

Happy New Years! (Oh, and Merry Christmas) It's that time of year that everyone thinks about change. Why we wait until now, I'll never know. Resolutions. What actually is a resolution? A rediscovery of a solution? (ha, my quirky way of thinking) Merriam-Webster defines Resolution as 1. The act or process of resolving. 2. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination. 3. A resolving to do something. 4. A course of action determined or decided on. Synonym = courage. Resolve is 1. to reach firm decision about. 2. to form a resolution; determine. 4. consult;deliberate. Synonym = decide. So what I get from that is: a deliberate determination to form a resolution with courage that is a firm decision of a course of action. Whew.
I usually don't ever have a New Year's resolution. Why, I don't know. Too lazy probably. Sometimes it takes a LOT of will power to fulfill those resolutions. I've never been strong with will power. Anyway. On my way home last night I was listening to KJIL and Greg Laurie was on. He spoke of Matthew 10:37-38. Ouch is all I have to say. "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." He then related the verse of Mark 12:30 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Well right about then I realized I was not worthy. How many times have I chosen my husband or children over God. Or even myself. Like not spending my prayer time in the morning for I'm too tired. Or not taking that meal to a family whose mother/wife just had surgery or had a baby, for it wasn't convenient. Even not buying that extra something for that someone that the Spirit pressed oh so lightly on my heart. (being to busy to hear the gentle nudge) The list could go on for awhile.
We are to love God more than anything else. So, I'm deliberately determining to firmly love my God first and foremost. I'm going to quit trying so hard to 'be'. I'm tired of trying to figure out how to be better at everything. I'm just going to live life as it comes and pray that I 'see' what it is God wants me to see and do. I'm going to start living in the present, not the past or future. Yes, I'll make some plans and goals, but I don't want to live 'within' them. A person can get so caught up in how they want to 'be'. I just want to be worthy. That means taking up my cross daily. Dying to myself on that cross daily.

Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me"

Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails"