First of all . . . I have some really great pictures of Rick roping, kids swimming at the "Cowboy Country Club" (our pond), me and Les at the lake, and my kids knee boarding - BUT for some reason, the only computer that I can upload pictures from is my laptop and it is NOT letting me get into Blogger. SO . . . no pictures! :(
But let me just tell ya what life has been like around the Broken Y. B & B are still schooling, working two or three lessons a day in each subject - doing their best to get the stuff done so they can have at least a month off before starting their next year. The K's have learned how to get out both back doors and it seems I am constantly stepping out the back door doin the "Country Holler". I did win a contest on one of our local radio stations on what was called "Call for your kids" - if my kids are on the south back 40, they need to hear me holler! They can! I did - on the air, and I won!
We went to the lake over Memorial Weekend and hung out with the Brazles and their camping cohorts. We took our $.50 garage sale tent and put it up in the middle of all the nice air conditioned RV's. We were told by the experienced campers there that we got a good deal on our tent as it probably would sell for about $250 - it would easily sleep 6-8 people!
Let me tell ya . . .it can withstand a pretty good driving wind and rain. About 2:00am, we got hit with some wind . . . I couldn't find my shorts . . .the howl woke everyone up . . . and the rain started! I still couldn't find my shorts, I was starting to get nervous, I don't to be caught unprepared! I found my shorts, loaded the K's in the back of the van, Rick and the B's were going to tough it out in the tent, ran back to the tent fighting the Kansas wind, grabbed a sleeping bag in the tent, tripped over the edge of the tent, landed flat on my face in the wet grass, managed to get up and get back into the van with the crying K's. Get all settled down . . . and my cell phone rings . . . it's Les . . .she doesn't want to get wet . . . she's in her air conditioned RV . . . she's dry . . .well . . . she can't get her door open because of the horrendous wind! She's looking at the radar on her TV - should move by pretty quickly she says, as she sits in her dry, air conditioned RV, fretting about her poor, pitiful friend in the near tornado weather, not able to get the door open because of the horrendous Kansas wind! JB, on the other hand, admitted he wasn't gettin up, he was comfortable, and he had to be up at 5:30am. He's camped in a tent before and its kinda a "right of passage". Where is the love?
The thunder is booming, the lightning is constant but the K's finally fall asleep, only to have the van door slide open at 3:30am and Princess climbs in . . . "Mom, if it wouldn't be any trouble, would you drive me to the bathroom . . . I've been holding it for 3 hours!" - In the pouring rain and wind! I get up and get in the drivers seat and take her to the bathroom, only to have to unload the K's for a potty stop also. We're soaked, get back to camp, and she jumps out and heads back to the tent . . . crazy.
By 6:00am, the quickly moving, slowest storm of my life drove my adventurous three-some to climb into the van - soaked because the ground was so saturated all the sleeping bags on the tarp got wet. They were ready to head home, get warm, and take a nap! We slept until 9:00am, fed horses, and headed back out.
The wind was miserable most of the day so we fished, hung out, talked, fished some more, then went to the swimming area for a dip. By evening the wind had died and we got the boat out for a trek around the lake. That night we spent about an hour on the lake and had such a good time . . . used minimal gas and were excited for the next day! Living 20 minutes from the lake gave us the luxury to head home Saturday night for a good nights sleep!
Coming back Sunday morning (yes . . . we jipped church) refreshed and ready for some boating action . . . we climbed in and were off! The B's learned how to knee board and did a pretty good job of it! I have pictures! Came back around lunch time and Rick looked at the gas tank that said almost empty. That is crazy, he said, we haven't used a full tank of gas . . . tap, tap, tap . . . the gage must be stuck. We ate lunch and headed back out. . . only to run out of gas in the middle of the lake! A good Samaratin towed us in after I (and those daring enough to get imbarressed) did the "Help Us, Save Us, We're Going to Drown" wave!
We were camped close to the docks so I ran up and asked JB if he had some gas . . . sure nough, he had two BIG cans full . . . I told him I thought someone helped themselves to our gas the night before . . . Dad Brazle thought someone got into his also . . . all the while, JB's BIG gas cans sat right there for the taking.
The no-good thieves took about 3/4 of our tank of gas . . . I wished all kinds of evil and peril on them . . . extreme sunburn . . . dead engine . . .broken wake board . . . tornado . . . sleepless night . . . but then I remembered the Lord said that vengeance was His! All was not lost, we had an excellent time with the Brazles . . . jumped on a jet ski, swam some more and then headed for home. Been so busy since we got home . . . haven't even had a chance to talk to Les or update my blog! When I met Les about two years ago . . . I felt she was a kindred spirit . . . I know she is . . . especially since she worried so for her friends safety in her nice, dry, air conditioned RV. Oh yeah, she couldn't get the door open because of the horrendous wind! JB on the other hand . . . thank goodness he had gas!
That was our Memorial weekend! Now . . . stay tuned! The long awaited closing on our old home is taking place on Friday! Glory BE! Talk about being put through the fire . . . I'll give more details on that later . . . for now . . . laundry, house cleaning, garden work, real estate, more laundry . . . you know the routine!
Blessings~
P.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Where Oh Where Is That Post?
Okay - I have been gone all weekend so my morning has been busy! We're on the 10th load of laundry, the close-line is full, the horses have all been rotated out for a romp, the dishwasher has been loaded and is now being unloaded, the boys are getting lunch and headed down for a much needed nap, the older kids are working hard at school! I do have some pictures to post but don't have time to wait on the upload! Sooooooo . . . look for more later!
Blessings!
P.
PS - Les - The Lake is Calling!!!!
Blessings!
P.
PS - Les - The Lake is Calling!!!!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Muddle Puddle Fun
Never a dull moment with two energetic three year olds - I turned my back for one minute and heard them giggling - what could I do but let them play!
Morning Bliss
Rick is usually up and around pretty early, he feeds the horses before he gets ready for work. He is typically out the door by quarter till 7:00. I do my best to get my hiney out of bed but sometimes, blissful sleep overtakes me! I almost never hear him leave either. I think he sneaks around like a prowler - he says I sleep so hard that I just don't hear all the noise he makes!
Well, this morning, I actually heard him leave and thought, now is a perfect time to be with the Lord! As I leaned over to reach for my Bible, I realized I had one K snuggled to my tummy and another K snuggled to my back. Trying to get situated without waking them up was hard but I wanted that quiet time that I don't get very often. My friend, Les, is up at the crack of dawn every day and she likes it that way - I would love to be like that, but until I get consistent sleep, that may not happen. Anyway - Les left a message from the Lord for Ranch Wife yesterday from the book of Isaiah and I decided to start my morning there. I was reading from the Life Application Study Bible and it has an introduction to the book that kinda sets a mood of anticipation for what is to come. The crazy thing is, I didn't get into Isaiah because I was absorbed in the introduction!
Isaiah was a prophet and he was delivering a message to the people - some would receive it with a repentant heart and others would harden their heart and become angry - as I finished the introduction this is what it said - "As you read Isaiah, imagine this strong and courageous man of God, fearlesly proclaiming God's word, and listen to his message in relation to your own life - return, repent, and be renewed. Then trust in God's redemption through Christ and rejoice. Your Savior has come, and He's coming again!" Wow - what a way to start my morning and I haven't even gotten into Isaiah yet!
As I climbed out of bed, I threw open the windows - we had a storm last night and the morning air smelled glorious! As I looked out my window, I saw this . . .
I'm using a basic little camera so click the picture to enlarge - off by the trees are four deer. Now this little herd of deer are well known around our parts - they seem to not be afraid of anything! We've seen them eating our wheat, romping in our new hay field, and then late at night streaking through the headlights of our truck! We love watching them until one decided to put that big dent in my van - now, I only like seeing them in the early morning hours! But I thought, this is so blog worthy!!
Once done taking these pictures, I started some breakfast for all the monkeys, I looked at the clock - 8:00am - okay, I am running behind but then it hit me square in the forehead - I'M LATE FOR MY ETHICS CLASS!!!!! Great - I had a real estate class scheduled for this morning at 9:00am in Wichita! I am running through the house in desperate need of a shower, haven't even brushed my teeth and opt to just wash the hair - I make a phone call because I can't figure out where the class is and then find out if I'm not there on time, I don't get credit - I thought, great scott, it is hard to get into these classes! It's gonna take me an hour to just get to Tammy's (She's watching the K's) and then another 20 minutes to get to the class - I will be royally late! The gal at the office said, call me back later, we'll get you into another class! Thank you, Jesus!
Well, Sweet Friends, that's my morning - calm, crazy, calm again - now off to laundry, dishes, vaccuming, etc. but remember, even at the dishwasher, office, barn or out on the range, Your Savior has come, and He's coming again!
Blessings ~
Paula
Well, this morning, I actually heard him leave and thought, now is a perfect time to be with the Lord! As I leaned over to reach for my Bible, I realized I had one K snuggled to my tummy and another K snuggled to my back. Trying to get situated without waking them up was hard but I wanted that quiet time that I don't get very often. My friend, Les, is up at the crack of dawn every day and she likes it that way - I would love to be like that, but until I get consistent sleep, that may not happen. Anyway - Les left a message from the Lord for Ranch Wife yesterday from the book of Isaiah and I decided to start my morning there. I was reading from the Life Application Study Bible and it has an introduction to the book that kinda sets a mood of anticipation for what is to come. The crazy thing is, I didn't get into Isaiah because I was absorbed in the introduction!
Isaiah was a prophet and he was delivering a message to the people - some would receive it with a repentant heart and others would harden their heart and become angry - as I finished the introduction this is what it said - "As you read Isaiah, imagine this strong and courageous man of God, fearlesly proclaiming God's word, and listen to his message in relation to your own life - return, repent, and be renewed. Then trust in God's redemption through Christ and rejoice. Your Savior has come, and He's coming again!" Wow - what a way to start my morning and I haven't even gotten into Isaiah yet!
As I climbed out of bed, I threw open the windows - we had a storm last night and the morning air smelled glorious! As I looked out my window, I saw this . . .
I'm using a basic little camera so click the picture to enlarge - off by the trees are four deer. Now this little herd of deer are well known around our parts - they seem to not be afraid of anything! We've seen them eating our wheat, romping in our new hay field, and then late at night streaking through the headlights of our truck! We love watching them until one decided to put that big dent in my van - now, I only like seeing them in the early morning hours! But I thought, this is so blog worthy!!Once done taking these pictures, I started some breakfast for all the monkeys, I looked at the clock - 8:00am - okay, I am running behind but then it hit me square in the forehead - I'M LATE FOR MY ETHICS CLASS!!!!! Great - I had a real estate class scheduled for this morning at 9:00am in Wichita! I am running through the house in desperate need of a shower, haven't even brushed my teeth and opt to just wash the hair - I make a phone call because I can't figure out where the class is and then find out if I'm not there on time, I don't get credit - I thought, great scott, it is hard to get into these classes! It's gonna take me an hour to just get to Tammy's (She's watching the K's) and then another 20 minutes to get to the class - I will be royally late! The gal at the office said, call me back later, we'll get you into another class! Thank you, Jesus!
Well, Sweet Friends, that's my morning - calm, crazy, calm again - now off to laundry, dishes, vaccuming, etc. but remember, even at the dishwasher, office, barn or out on the range, Your Savior has come, and He's coming again!
Blessings ~
Paula
Friday, May 2, 2008
The Musicians
Bo's first piano recital with Mrs. Carolyn Ramsey. It looks like she is frowning at him, but she is a very pleasant woman. My camera acted up through the entire performance so I am lucky I have these shots. Bo played a duet with her and then played by himself. He played like a champ but can not say that he enjoys practicing! He got a new drum set and will be starting lessons soon.
Bailey has been playing piano since she was six and really enjoys it. She played at the Cowley County 4-H Day and received a Top Blue and then went to Regionals and received a Red. Same piece of music, different judge. She has been playing with Mrs. Ramsey for 2 years now and always challenges herself to pick harder pieces.
Bailey has been playing piano since she was six and really enjoys it. She played at the Cowley County 4-H Day and received a Top Blue and then went to Regionals and received a Red. Same piece of music, different judge. She has been playing with Mrs. Ramsey for 2 years now and always challenges herself to pick harder pieces.
The first time Bailey had a piano recital, I cried through the entire performance. She played so lovely and looked so sweet. Bo's first piano recital, I cried through the entire performance also! He was soo nervous and played so beautifully. All the frustration to get him to practice paid off!
They both have a desire to learn more so they can play in the praise band at church.
Blog Worthy!
I had a blog-worthy moment and of course didn't have my camera! And when I mentioned how this experience was blog-worthy - Rick didn't grunt, groan, or do anything but kept working . . . so I think he probably thought it would be blog worthy too!
Now . . . if you work on a ranch in NM, one measly trailer of 90 bales of hay is really a cake-walk, no big deal, easy as pie . . . well . . . we went to load this hay up and I told Rick when I got to the top of the stack, "I reserve the right to grunt and moan as I pick these monsters up" - He said, "Come on, just throw 'em down." Rick is in constant hustle mode - even when he sleeps, his brain does not shut down! So . . . I begin to throw them down, a couple land right where he wants them, and then a couple don't but he's a good sport and goes to retrieve them, then he has to get out of the way of a couple that come down and 'bout hit him, but he's still a good sport because he knows good help is hard to find!
We get the beasts on the trailer and Rick looks at the front tire and thinks to himself, "that's gonna blow" but keeps getting the hay straps on. I'm following in the car and after we're down the road a ways, Rick informs me that I need to make a quick stop at Wal-Mart for him and I can catch up. So . . . I run into Wal-Mart smelling like sweet hay and sweat and looking like I've been rolling in the hay! Which I have out of sheer lack of balance! As I'm standing in the check-out, Rick calls and sayes he's lost a tire . . . no surprise . . . he knew it was gonna happen.
So . . . we find out that we don't have a big enough jack, nor do we have a four-way either! We brainstorm all of our friends who live near where we are at and we call our good friend, Tim Bauer - in no time he has a large enough jack, four-way, and mini-air compressor! It was like road side tire service!
Now . . . the moment that made this whole experience blog-worthy - Rick comes up to me while we are waiting on the side of the road for Tim and points to the west at a building . . . "Look, a Wholesale Tire Store!" and then he pointed to the north at a billboard for "Bosley Tire & Repair!" We were surrounded by tires and still had to change our own! I didn't laugh, I just thought, how ironic!
BUT - God is good! He kept us safe on a very busy road, the spare made it the 25 miles home, we got to see our friend, Pastor Tim, and we enjoyed each others company while Rick changed the tire and I watched - there is something about watching your man work.
Now . . . we have to unload all that hay! I still reserve the right to grunt and moan as I throw those monsters down!
Blessings ~ P.
Now . . . if you work on a ranch in NM, one measly trailer of 90 bales of hay is really a cake-walk, no big deal, easy as pie . . . well . . . we went to load this hay up and I told Rick when I got to the top of the stack, "I reserve the right to grunt and moan as I pick these monsters up" - He said, "Come on, just throw 'em down." Rick is in constant hustle mode - even when he sleeps, his brain does not shut down! So . . . I begin to throw them down, a couple land right where he wants them, and then a couple don't but he's a good sport and goes to retrieve them, then he has to get out of the way of a couple that come down and 'bout hit him, but he's still a good sport because he knows good help is hard to find!
We get the beasts on the trailer and Rick looks at the front tire and thinks to himself, "that's gonna blow" but keeps getting the hay straps on. I'm following in the car and after we're down the road a ways, Rick informs me that I need to make a quick stop at Wal-Mart for him and I can catch up. So . . . I run into Wal-Mart smelling like sweet hay and sweat and looking like I've been rolling in the hay! Which I have out of sheer lack of balance! As I'm standing in the check-out, Rick calls and sayes he's lost a tire . . . no surprise . . . he knew it was gonna happen.
So . . . we find out that we don't have a big enough jack, nor do we have a four-way either! We brainstorm all of our friends who live near where we are at and we call our good friend, Tim Bauer - in no time he has a large enough jack, four-way, and mini-air compressor! It was like road side tire service!
Now . . . the moment that made this whole experience blog-worthy - Rick comes up to me while we are waiting on the side of the road for Tim and points to the west at a building . . . "Look, a Wholesale Tire Store!" and then he pointed to the north at a billboard for "Bosley Tire & Repair!" We were surrounded by tires and still had to change our own! I didn't laugh, I just thought, how ironic!
BUT - God is good! He kept us safe on a very busy road, the spare made it the 25 miles home, we got to see our friend, Pastor Tim, and we enjoyed each others company while Rick changed the tire and I watched - there is something about watching your man work.
Now . . . we have to unload all that hay! I still reserve the right to grunt and moan as I throw those monsters down!
Blessings ~ P.
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