Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

It started in Friday morning - sleet pellets hitting the windows with force from the Kansas wind.


At least an inch of ice coated everything before . . .



The power went out! Four years ago, we had a major ice storm that left us without power for 8 days! My K's were four months old! I learned to make macoroni and cheese in a pan on the top of my wood stove! Not this time, though! We powered up "Hank" and all was good!



My tiny, little redbud tree is feeling the weight of the ice.



Clothes lines are sagging . . .



Rowdy doesn't seem to mind the snow!



Creates more work for my Cowboy . . . we couldn't even get out the drive.



My potato rows are covered - good moisture, I just hope they survived . . .



Trees are drooping with broken limbs . . .all my fruit trees were budded out . . . only time will tell.



Sure does make a pretty picture though . . .



Stay tuned for pictures of the "Great Thaw" which should be complete by Monday afternoon! Only in Kansas!

Blessings~
P.

Random Selections!

Okay - I was challenged a while back to pick like the fifth picture in the fifth folder, yada yada - instead - I've picked some favorites!

I've just delivered the twins by C-Section with major complications. I'm holding Klay, Kash is in NICU. I look terrible in this picture, completely worn out BUT - I see my Grandma Margaret, like she's looking right back at me. For that reason, I treasure this picture!



Didn't realize how tiny the K's were - then the big kids snuggled up next to them and WOW! But the amazing thing is . . . I didn't realize how little the big kids were!



Identical? One bouncy seat for two babies!



For a man who doesn't typically smile for my photos - would you look at his eyes - the mask is hiding it, but the eyes say it all! He's smiling as he shows off Baby A and Baby B!




I have a sweet friend who just lost her baby at 17 weeks. It has been very hard for her and my heart has been extremely sad for her. This event has had me in prayer quite a bit for my friend and sitting here at the computer, looking at my own babies. I'm 40 . . . I'm not ready to say I'm done . . . there is just something about a baby . . .

So . . . hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane . . .


Snow predicted for Kansas. The wind is gusting out of the North and COLD! We're putting the hats and gloves back on!

You, my sweet bloggin' friends, have a great Friday - know that you are loved tremendously by the Heavenly Father - who wants to rain down His blessing upon you!

Seek and you shall find!

Blessings~
P.

Mocha Vodka Latte

Okay - I have four kids - three are rowdy boys - sometimes I think the only thing that could possibly bring back my sanity is a Mocha Vodka Latte - or just a straight shot of Vodka! Now . . . most of you know that my passion for Christ and the hope found in him out-weighs my passion for a good, stiff, slam of devil juice!

Therefore, I don't indulge, simply because I want to make sure when I'm sharing that hope that my speech isn't slurred, my vision blurred, and my facts all confused. However, I get some of the craziest reactions from people when I start talkin' about fallin' off the wagon! So, I just love to throw it out there all the time.

My gal-pal, Karma, seems to get a good kick out of it when I start talkin' alcohol! She is a redneck, gear head's wife so I'm sure she has stories! She sent this to me . . . since I seem to be obsessed with Vodka! She may now throw away her Windex and meet me at the Liquor store!

Paula- Guess it comes in handy for all kinds of things!! Karma :)


Who Knew?
1. To remove a bandage painlessly, saturate the bandage with vodka.
The stuff dissolves adhesive.

2. To clean the caulking around bathtubs and showers, fill a
trigger-spray bottle with vodka, spray the caulking, let set five
minutes and wash clean.
The alcohol in the vodka kills mold and mildew.

3. To clean your eyeglasses, simply wipe the lenses with a soft, clean
cloth dampened with vodka.
The alcohol in the vodka cleans the glass and kills germs.

4. Prolong the life of razors by filling a cup with vodka and letting
your safety razor bladesoak in the alcohol after shaving.
The vodka disinfects the blade and prevents rusting.

5. Spray vodka on wine stains, scrub with a brush, and then blot dry.

6 Using a cotton ball, apply vodka to your face as an astringent to
cleanse the skin and tighten pores.

7. Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo.
The alcohol cleanses the scalp, removes toxins from hair, and
stimulates the growth of healthy hair.

8. Fill a sixteen-ounce trigger-spray bottle with vodka and spray bees
or wasps to kill them.

9. Pour one-half cup vodka and one-half cup water into a Ziploc
freezer bag and freeze for a slushy, refreshing ice pack for aches,
pain or black eyes.

10. Fill a clean, used mayonnaise jar with freshly packed lavender
flowers, fill the jar with vodka, seal the lid tightly and set in the
sun for three days. Strain liquid through a coffee filter, then apply
the tincture to aches and pains.

11. To relieve a fever, use a washcloth to rub vodka on your chest and
back as a liniment.

12. To cure foot odor, wash your feet with vodka.

13. Vodka will disinfect and alleviate a jellyfish sting.

14. Pour vodka over an area affected with poison ivy to remove the
urushiol oil from your skin.

15. Swish a shot of vodka over an aching tooth.
Allow your gums to absorb some of the alcohol to numb the pain.


And silly me!
I've only been drinking the stuff!! Or at least talking about it!

Have fun today - Know - the answer to life's insanity is not found in a Mocha Vodka Latte -

Jesus said, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life!"

Blessings~
P.

My Sister - Yvonne

Her birthday is today so I thought I would celebrate her with all of you! She's in the center, to the left is her neice and sister-n-law, our mom, Vera, and myself are on the right. I never thought she and I looked very much alike - she's always been tall, skinny, darker complected, and well . . . beautiful! Every once in a while, I'll be looking in the mirror, putting on my mascara, and I'll catch a quick glimps of her eyes in mine! She has the most beautiful crystal blue eyes - she gets those from our dad!

There are eight years difference between us so often times, she had to act as mother and protector! This photo is taken at her daughter's (Jessica) wedding last summer.


Yvonne wears many hats - she and her husband own one of the largest private-owned Kansas dairies so she knows how to show a dairy cow, milk a dairy cow, doctor a dairy cow, and help bring 'em into the world! She mothers all the calves and doesn't lose one unless someone doesn't followed her instructions! I like to tease her with this story - I was at the State Fair with the kids and we were gonna watch the LaPar Dairy cattle during the dairy show - Her son, Josh, was leading his show cow into the show ring and the cow pooped - Now dairy cows have to show off their utters, so we don't really want poop all over - Yvonne reached up with her towl, fancy nails, diamond rings and all, and wiped that cows butt! I thought, only my sister can pull off diamonds and cow poop!

She's been a top producer in Mary Kay, driving pink cadilacs, and generally making women feel fantastic! She's the vice president of the local school board, great wife, mom and sister! She's just an awesome person. I am proud to call her sister and friend!

If I could hang a sign around Yvonne's neck, it would say . . . "I like my money where I can see it, hanging in my closet!" She is a professed shop-aholic!

She needs your prayers right now as she has been diagnosed with three different auto-immune diseases. Two of which can be brought into remission with medication, one that is still pretty foriegn to the medical world. She's been in a terrible amount of pain but won't let you know it!

She's tough as tough gets, beautiful, funny, loving, kind, generous, devoted, true, loyal, determined, driven, creative, and faithful.

Happy Birthday, Bonn!

Loving you deeply,

P.

Quick Tour of Charlotte, NC

Rick had a conference in Charlotte, NC and decided it would be good to take me along! So . . . called Paris and she got us right in! Our room was basic but the bathroom was GREAT! Big walk-in shower with glass doors, marble vanity - make-up mirror! I felt like a socialite!




I spent two days just walking downtown Charlotte - It is beautiful, clean, well-kept, well-lit, and clearly populated with some of America's Fortune 500 companies. During the lunch hour, the sidewalks are full of people - no one follows the crosswalk signs! I mean no one! If you stand there and wait for the "go ahead and walk" signal you will get run over! You simply look to see if the way is clear and then head on across!

I love this picture - look at the building within a building! I couldn't have done that better if I had tried!



People ate their lunches around this fountain. Nice peaceful area to get away from work for a while.



Lots of trees and greenery. There were already flowers blooming.



Whiskey River Saloon "Howl at the Moon" - this was the only thing remotely close to "Cowboy" that I found!




The "Blue Line" - A major transit in Charlotte - Will take you anyway you need to go!



This is a court yard surrounded by trendy shops, restraunts, and night clubs. No parking on the street - Vallet parking only - or one easy block to the Blue Line.



Ate breakfast at this little coffee shop - Had the worst cup of coffee of my life! I just don't know how to pick 'em. Had a yummy strawberry cream cheese something-or-other, though!



More of the Charlotte Skyline!



Flowers in Boom in February!



My last afternoon there, I decided to catch a movie at the new "ritzy" UNO - Order dinner and drinks and head in to sit in one of these fancy-smancy seats and watch a good chic flic! I saw "Not That Into You" - I wasn't that into it. Not my thing.




This was the best picture we could come up with - he's tired from sitting in a boring conference all day and I'm tired, and wind-blown, from walking the streets of Charlotte! We had a great time and Grandma survived the kids!



I went to a plantation and they were only open to large groups! I spent $30 bucks on cab fare to not be allowed in. You read books about these big beautiful plantation homes and quite frankly, I wasn't that impressed by its size.

I did have a fantastic cab driver from Etheopia! His number was drawn in the American Diversification Lottery from his country. He has been here 5 years and speaks remarkable English. Plans to become a citizen in 6 months and very excited. He said, "America is the land of opportunity. If a person will work, they can make it here!" He met and married his wife here, and would you believe, she won the lottery a year before him and is from the same villiage! He was the high-light of my trip. He asked for my email address - he said, "I am going back to that plantation and take pictures for you!" I haven't heard from him, life is busy, he has children, but I was blessed that he was so kind and PROUD to ALMOST BE AMERICAN!

Blessings~
P.

13 Candles

I know - the song is "16 Candles" but she's just not there yet! I've been a terrible mom! My Cowgirl turned 13 on the 12th and I'm just now telling the world!



Bailey Sue is my girl and she wears my maiden name - My Daddy had three girls - so we gave her his name to carry on. Sue is mine and her Grandma Vera's middle name.

She came at 3:24 am after 12 hours of labor (3 of which were pushing)! Yep, she just didn't want to make her appearance! Those of you who have experience pulling calves - well . . . that sums up my delivery!

She had a beautiful head of black hair - rubbed it all off but one little piece about dime size - when you part her blonde hair in the back now, you will find that one black patch of hair!

She's my beautiful, determined, compliant, sweet natured, silly, goofy, loveable, passionate girl!

Happy Birthday, Sue Boogers!

Love,

Mama

Good Morning!

It is a GLORIOUS Sunday morning in Kansas! Did you remember to "Spring" forward? Is it Arizona or Nevada that doesn't "spring"? I personally like my mornings to be bright at 5:00am, so that I am motivated to get up and get started. But around here - daylight at 9:30pm is also pretty cool!

I'm ready to get going on my garden but am in desperate need of rain! Tried to run my tiller through it again and just about broke my arms off at the shoulders! Mercy we are dry as a bone and with so much clay in our dirt - we are just molded into what we were the last time it rained. My kids love playing in the clay-mud but it sure is messy!

Blessings to you as you enjoy this Sunday morning. Take time to breathe deeply of the wonderful air and look around at how magnificent our Creator God is!

P.