Angles We Have Heard on High

3 days till Christmas......

I helped the Cowboy some today. We hauled off the trash. We went to the Co-op, I reminded him to get dog food, and we got free dog treats - which I shared with the horses. I opened gates and shut them. I recommended we start the new horse on some penicillin - uh yes another new horse - I think I 'might' like him -- sshh don't tell. We moved some calves - if I had, had another treat on me I would have shared with this one very friendly calf.

Oh - yes, did I mention --- its 27 out today, and windy!!! I've also been to town, 4 different stores - that may be a world record for me - but hey I was with out the kids.

I still need to wrap, pack, clean, finishing folding and putting away the 10 foot high and bullet prove amount of laundry, finish putting away the groceries, make something to eat, wash my hair, and paint my toe nails, and then find a corner to rock and suck my thumb in.

But really the most important thing of the day is that I have saved Christmas ----- A missing angel has been located and successfully extracted from the vacuum cleaner tube - So my friends now Christmas can go on, just in case you were worried oe something.

Thank you, good night.

What's under Your tree??

The Sugar Crash has Hit

For the past week I have been living on Chocolate and Coffee - which I'm pretty sure are 2 of the major food groups.

And today as the last of my students left the building I could feel the crash setting in...........I'm tired! I feel as if I could sleep a week!!! I'm so glad Christmas break is here!!!!!

I have a massage scheduled for the 24th - a gift to myself!! After an all day Christmas Party Marathon the day before, I'll be ready for it! And I'll be nice and relaxed for my snow skiing trip!!! YAY!!!!

Silver Bells

I polished and hung my silver bells the other night. I get a new one each year at Christmas with the date on it. I now have 10; this year will make 11. This year I hung them from my pot rack; I had to find a place to stash my pots. The Silver Bells look so beautiful hanging brightly shining on different lengths of red ribbon.

As I hung them and looked at each year I made a mental note of what we were doing that year at Christmas where we were and what had happened during that year. The year before we were married, our first Christmas married, each of the kids first Christmas’s, Emma’s first Christmas was the day she started to walk, our first Christmas here at the Ranch, the year my granddaddy died and Christmas seemed a blur of a funeral mixed with my brothers graduation and lots of family in my tiny house. So many good, sad and sometimes awkward Christmases we have had and so many more to look forward too.

I thought of how truly blessed we are. And of God’s faithfulness, even when we sometimes are not as faithful as we should. God has given us so, so much more than we have ever deserved. Why? Simply because he LOVES us so much more than we could ever even begin to imagine.

Tonight as I read to the kids from the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, (we are working our way through The Chronicles of Narnia – I’m not sure who is enjoying it more, me or them) I was struck by something as the Witch and Aslan spoke of what to do with Edmund.

“You have a traitor there, Aslan,” said the Witch. Of course everyone present knew that she meant Edmund. But Edmund had got past thinking about himself after all he’d been through and after the talk he’d had that morning. He just went on looking at Aslan. It didn’t seem to matter what the Witch said.

Like Aslan, who took the punishment for Edmund, Jesus has done the same for us. And like Edmund, we too need to get past thinking of our selves and look to Jesus no matter what Satan says about us. Our debt has been paid, we can become clean and shiny, like the silver bells. Once we belong to Him we have no need of looking back at who we once were, we are a new creation and should live as such and must look forward to who we are becoming – more like Christ.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
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I wrote this 2 years ago, the years and memeories keep coming and so do the bells. I hung my bells again this year from the pot rack and remembered I had written this. I found it, read it and it is almost funny, Wednesday night in my ladies Bible Study, we talked about this very verse! How God is that?

Why - Hello there!

OH Hi there!

How are you?

My name is Belle.

You're The Cowboy.

Has anyone ever told you how nice you look up on that horse?

Oh, um, not lately?

Well, you do!

Can we go out sometime?

Call me. OK?

Not Me Monday

I most certainly did not agree to have a Sunday School Party at my house Friday night. And I will not panic and turn into Martha on Steroids again.

I did not write a post about our horrible tooth-fairy - For sure that was not me.

I do not have a HUGE pile of dirty laundry - nope not at this house.

I did not eat pie for breakfast, lunch or supper - Who me? Never! Why would you think such a thing??

And I am not thinking of making another pecan pie just to eat for myself - nope not me!

I am overprepared for school - lesson plans and tests and quizzes, and fun extras and everything - I will not be flying by the seat of my pants from now until Christmas break.

I did not forget to schedule a field trip or order that book order - Not me.

Play along with MckMama and Not Me Monday.

I need a new tooth fairy, please!

So we may have the world's worst tooth-fairy ---- EVER.

Seriously - I'm not lying, even a little bit. I mean really bad here!

So the Little Princess loses a tooth a few months ago. It was the weekend. And our "tooth-fairy" does not routinely keep cash on hand.

Little Princess wakes up in tears because the "tooth-fairy" did not show up. OH CRAP!

So The Cowboy tells her the "Tooth-fairy" was out late, maybe he'll come tonight.

The next morning same story, can you believe it, the "tooth-fairy" did not show up again! Really, how sorry of a "tooth-fairy" can you be?? This time The Cowboy told her "The Tooth-fairy doesn't work on weekend." And she bought it. So bright and early Monday morning "The Tooth-fairy" finally arrived.

About a month later.......The Princess losses yet another tooth. I mean really, how is a "tooth-fairy" to keep up? This time it is the middle of the week.

The next morning, cries and tears of despair come from the Pepito-pink room about how "The Tooth-fairy" did not come again!

OH!NO! Not again!

The Cowboy tells her, "The Tooth-fairy does not work on weekdays."

"But you told me she doesn't work on weekends!" she wails.

To this he replies, "Well that was during day-light savings time."

I Think I Love You

I love very few horses. I like most, I even really like some.

But this one........

Oh my! I LOVE this one!!!!
His name is Peso. And I just LOVE him!

My girl does too!

And I think he likes her too.

He doesn't mind her 'grooming' him, not one bit.

I think he enjoys it.

She shares her food with him - you know important horse type food like peanut butter crackers and animals cookies. Oh, of course not the horse ones though that would be cannibalism or something.

Wait - don't stop he says! I'll give you a kiss --- please just don't leave!
Oh Peso! I just love you!

Just call me Martha

OK - not as in the book writing, TV show doing, magazine owning, prison time spending, no not that one. Yeah, as much as I'd love the idea of being like that, I know no way, no how is that going to happen, I mean a girl has to sleep at some time.

No, the Martha I speak of is of the Martha and Mary type - see Luke 10.

Yes, when things need to get done I tend to turn into Martha.

Yes, yes I do - I don't want too - but I do. But I think I might be Martha on Steroids.

Yeah - it's that bad!

When we have a family get together or something - I tend to go a little on the side of, weelll, overboard.

There I said it - Isn't admitting you have a problem and very big and important step?

The Cowboy's Mom and Aunt were coming for Thanksgiving. And what do I do......I go into a baking, cooking and cleaning frenzy. I just can't help myself - I know I do it but I just can't seem to stop - I may need some intervention or something?!

So I go grocery shopping......the day before Thanksgiving......seriously?? What is wrong with me?? I know better!! Help me, I know not what I do!

Anyway I go ahead and make not one, not two but 3 homemade pies - Oh yes I did -- OK OK so I did cheat a little bit ---gasp ----I used.......oh it is sooooo hard to say.......I used a pre-made pie crust -----SHOCK, GASP, FAINT........I know, I know I was so ASHAMED!! But then I ummm, pre-tasted the pie -----heaven is all I have to say about that!!

Also on the menu --- homemade mashed potatoes, homemade dressing, a corn and wild rice dish, green bean casserole, gravy, and crescent rolls (I was planning on making homemade rolls but since crescent rolls were on sale and I had a coupon I had to get them). The Cowboy's Mom and Aunt brought the meat.

So basically we had enough food for a small army --- But OH MY --- IT WAS GOOD!!! HEAVEN!

And we had a really good time too! After I realized I was being Martha on Steroids - I chilled out! The Cowboy asks every time 'Why do you do this to yourself?'

Honestly - I'm not sure? But it's Thanksgiving -- and you can get all the pre-made, pre-cooked, not nearly as good tasting stuff every other day of the year! AND it was good! And hey -- with all the left-overs I get out of cooking for the next few days!!

The Horse and His Boy

Every boy should have a horse - at least I'm convinced.

Not every boy does - but I'm sure at some point every boy dreams of being a cowboy.

My boy doesn't have to dream. He is a Cowboy.

I love that my kids are being raised in the country. I send them out to play, they can roam, and explore and just be kids. They can create and imagine on their own. They can entertain themselves.

I could not even imagine my life any other way.

COLD

My toes are numb.

I think I've lost feeling in them.

I'm not a fan.

Give me spring. Give me fall. Even summer - with a swimming pool.

A chill - I'm OK with, a light jacket and we are good.

But when it comes to freezing temperatures - NO WAY.

I wonder ever year if I will survive?

I don't like the cold!

My kids - run around with very little clothing - HOW? and mostly WHY??

I need more coffee - and a maid!

Hey did I mention ------ IT'S COLD!!!!!!

I saw Him Standing there

It was family fun night.

I did not want to go. Just one more thing on the to-do list. It was mandatory.

My school has a family fun night every other month. Last year I managed to get out of it - play ignorance or something, this year -nope, not happening - no way, no how. Not only is it mandatory for me as a teacher bu my two older kids are now students there. Double whammy - no way, no how am I getting out of this - now or forever. OK maybe at the end of the year or forever, whichever comes first.

It was craft night - WOO HOO - sure, whatever. I needed reinforcements - I needed The Cowboy the corral the kids - ALL 3 of them, while I maned my table - the one where we made some cheesy foam stockings.

It turns out - the kids stayed together, going from table to table completely happy and continent! Cowboy Jr. did his own thing while The Princess kept up with Little Bit. Little Bit was right at home. Almost literally, we spend enough time there and she has warmed up to every teacher and runs and hugs most of them.

This left The Cowboy with no duties, besides visiting with friends - I think he was pleasantly surprised.

I'm busy helping kids with tacky glue - wishing for a wet wipe or something besides my jeans on which to wipe my hands and then I look up..........

To gaze upon him holding a baby. OH MY- my heart skipped a beat. Be still my heart! My Cowboy is holding a baby.

What is it about seeing a big strong man just holding a baby that just, just gets you like that? I catch his eye and say 'I want another one.'

He rolls his eyes and gives the baby back, knowing I mean it but also knowing it could never happen and probably thinking I'd lost my mind.

I blame the tacky glue, or the baby but mostly The Cowboy.

The Cowboy Took Me For a Ride

I thought it was just a quick ride with him to the feed room. It was time to feed the horses after all, the kids were all playing outside and you could see the storm front heading our way.

I was sitting at the picnic table looking at a magazine. He rides up and says "Hop on." So I hop on to the back of the new paint we call 'Cash'. Now I don't really ride horses. If the truth be told - I love the idea of it, it sounds so fun but I'm not all that comfortable sitting up there and I really have no idea what I'm doing.

This time I was riding along - holding on - sitting on the back. No problem I thought. Have you ever sat on the back of a horse, behind the saddle, right above the horses hips? Hmmm - it may be the bounciest place to sit, the most out of control feeling place to ride. But I sat there, told my self to sit back and enjoy the ride - despite the sweaty horse hind-end I sat upon.

Ride was a little bit farther than the feed room. We rode through the clear-cut to the creek bottom pasture 'just to see if the new cows were still there'.

It is funny that living way out in the middle of nowhere you'd think I'd be used to seeing all kinds of wildlife. But this ride was a special treat for me. Sure I see a deer or a rabbit - from my car or way far out in the pasture. But up close and personal, not so much. We rode up on an armadillo - I'm not sure I've seen a live armadillo, they are usually on the side of the road. We saw a coyote and a wild hog. These I do see, but not this close, just maybe 50 feet awayfrom me.

I loved it, the peace, the quiet, the beauty. Just The Cowboy and me, and the horse and the dog chasing off all the wildlife. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

By the time we got back it was quickly getting dark, the wind was blowing and starting to rain - back in just the nick of time.

I Get Carried Away

So I finally gave in, I caved.... Tired of all the coughing, and after almost cough up a lung yesterday, gagging in the process - I called the Doctor to make an appointment.

'Nothing till Monday - but if you get here by 9 you can walk in.'

OK good - I quick got my classes covered - they all agreed - IT'S ABOUT TIME!

By the time I get there, I'm really feeling crappy - I've been feeling OK - just very run down. But now I'm not feeling so hot - and my chest hurts.

My doctor's office has new staff - again- the new nurse was different, she didn't get my jokes (why do I always feel the need to joke when I go to the doctor??)

As I sit and wait and cough and wait and cough and wait, the radio is playing. That maybe what keeps me going back - the radio. I've often thought of changing doctors. Anyway - where was I - OH yes the radio. Of course it was a country station this being Texas and all and who should start to sing - George Strait - I love George - I hope he doesn't mind that he and I are on a first name basis. So there I sit listening to George singing "I get carried away by the look, by the light in your eye......." At first I think of my own cowboy - AAA yes, I do get carried away when I look at him - especially when he is in his wranglers and boots and hat and on a horse - mmmm, I love that!

And then I think how cool would that be if George Strait was my doctor - I mean he'd walk in and I'd faint, he'd revive me and I'd feel better, he'd sing to me and write me a prescription and tell me to call if I needed anything else. And then I faint again.

Yes, I tend to get carried away when sitting all by myself waiting in a doctors office - where it is quiet - where there were no kids, no books, no noise -but George singing to me - no whining, no laundry - A girl can get carried away pretty quick....

And then the real doctor walks in....bummer. He looks and pokes and listens and tells me I sound squeaky - I tell him Thnaks, I'm dizzy now, can I just sleep here for a while because I'm really starting to fade at this point.

Official diagnosis - sinusitis turned to bronchitis - I've never had bronchitis - is that why my chest hurts? du? And here I thought it was sore muscles from all the darn coughing. So I have a z-pack, some musinex -d (that I had to go all the way back out to the car to get my drivers licence to buy - thought I was going to pass out!) and some fun prescription cough medicine that makes me sleepy and dreamy feeling -

So I'm home today - my chest and head are hurting - still coughing- not as bad. OK I take that back - I about to cough up a lung or spleen or something here - I'm better when I lay down! All the kids are at school - the house is trashed - I don't have the strength to clean - again my chest, I feel fine when I lay down but I also feel useless. I guess I'll take useless - maybe I can tell myself I'm a movie critic and I have to sit and just watch T.V., yeah that's it, we'll go with that one----
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Originally written Friday October 17, 2008

Sisters

Something I never had was a sister. I fought with my dad when my mom was pregnant with my brother that it would be a girl, I wanted a sister. I think it may be something all little girls want or dream of at some point.

Now I still think that the perfect family would include 2 boys and 2 girls - that way everyone has a brother and a sister. My poor son will never have a brother, but he has 2 sisters that will undoubtedly drive him crazy or at least send him running for his room in search of solitude.

While I have no idea what that sisterly bond holds for my but girls, I'd like to think it looks something like this picture; holding hands, looking out for each other, and taking care of one another. Sure there will be times when they fight too. I pray it will remain like this picture; they have something special, they have each other, they are sisters.