tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55482699933024692072024-03-13T16:24:52.774-07:00Wranglers and RibbonsNellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.comBlogger566125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-87190922414421355882015-03-06T13:16:00.001-08:002015-03-06T13:16:38.229-08:00Out of The Blue <br />
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Yes, I know I have been absent from my blog for far too long. Rest assured that all is well with me and my family. We've been flying by the seat of our pants right now and at the end of the day, I don't usually have the time to sit and blog about life. Isn't that the way it always works? When I have all the time in the world, there's nothing to write about, but when my life is full of adventure, I don't have the time to jot it all down for posterity.<br />
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Rewind to last summer.</div>
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My husband and I decided it would be spectacular to buy a good sized camp trailer for the family because we had been traveling a bit for horse shows, roping, and the county fair. We love to camp and hunt, too. We knew that we would use the heck out of a trailer if we could find one big enough to fit the whole family on a meager budget.</div>
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So one night during my prayer time I said something to the effect of, "Lord, if it would be your will, I'd love to have a tiny little side job to make a little bit of fun money so that my family could buy a trailer. I don't want it to take away from my homeschooling. I don't want to be away in the evenings when I would have to miss my kids' sports or horse activities, and I don't want to be away from my family during the weekend. I know this is a lot to ask but all things are possible with you."</div>
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I kid you not, one day later I received an unexpected answer to prayer. Out of the blue, the principal of our local Christian school called me to see if I was interested in teaching a junior high science class for only one hour a day, four days a week. It was one week before the school year started and the previous teacher decided not to return. Several people had thrown out my name as a possible replacement because they knew I had a science degree. I was flabbergasted! I have taught my own children for eight years, and have taught numerous science courses for homeschool co-ops, but had never taught in a traditional classroom. Plus, I never saw myself as a junior high teacher of any kind. In fact, I could still remember vividly the awkwardness of my own junior high years, and vowed to never go back. </div>
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As usual, the Lord works in mysterious ways. I could not deny that this job met every single one of my criteria: I would only be away from home 4 hours a week. The hour that I would teach was after my kids were done with their homeschooling for the day, I would have every Friday off, plus weekends, holiday breaks, spring break, and the summer months. I would be home in the evenings, and wouldn't have to miss a minute of my kids' activities. I could still feed the cows, irrigate, and come home for a quick change before class, if necessary. <br />
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So we prayed about it for two days, and I took the job without even asking what the salary was. With only a week to put together a teaching plan, read through the textbook, and set up my class structure, I had to get busy. At first I thought I might be crazy to accept this job out of the blue, but I knew that since God sent me the job from out of nowhere, I could trust that he would take care of the rest of it. And he has.<br />
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It turns out that I adore teaching this group of slightly awkward fledgling teenagers. With two of our own kids in the throes of adolescent changes, I certainly understand their stage of life. One minute they say something profoundly wise, and the next minute they are giggling uncontrollably when I mention the planet "Uranus". I have the privilege to share the wonders of God's creation with my class every day, and occasionally to parents as well.<br />
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As for the camp trailer... One day after I accepted the teaching job, a camp trailer that met all of our needs came up for sale on Craigslist. The owners were wealthy, used it a few times for vacations to San Diego, and wanted to buy a new one. It was immaculate inside, had new tires, had never been off of a paved road, and was priced thousands of dollars below what it was worth. Woo Hoo! We bought it immediately, and have been enjoying it ever since. Isn't God amazing?<br />
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So in the late evenings after the kids have gone to bed, instead of sitting down to blog about my day, I have been preparing physics lessons, and grading papers for both my class and my own kids.<br />
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As if that weren't enough to keep me busy, I was elected as secretary of our county's Jr. Livestock association, and our committee has the responsibility of organizing the show and sale of all the livestock in our county fair. It's a huge undertaking that takes a full year to prepare for. The mountain of paperwork I receive in my mailbox for the job is daunting. But it's important to volunteer for programs that benefit the next generation of agricultural leaders. <br />
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Did I mention that I'm also teaching two 4-H sewing classes, as well? Being a sewing instructor requires a large amount of patience, and a seam ripper in hand at all times. I love to see young girls develop a love for sewing! I also love to see their mothers learning how to sew right along side their daughters. I feel like we are keeping a dying tradition alive. I'm always on the lookout for new projects to teach in my class.<br />
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Yes, there have been a few changes for me this year that have taken me away from blogging, but I have been immersed in things that I love to do.<br />
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There is much more to share, but this will do for today.<br />
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~Nell<br />
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Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-31539641306840089402014-10-22T09:10:00.000-07:002014-10-22T09:10:39.419-07:00Branding Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over the years we have branded calves any and every way possible just to get the job done. Our kids were so little that they weren't much of a help, and the bulk of the work fell on my husband and me. I remember being frustrated as I held toddlers on my hip thinking that the diapering days would never be over, and the work would never get easier.</div>
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Well, time went by in a FLASH! Now we've got 3 kids that totally pull their weight around here, and are real hands when it comes to working cattle. I am a typical mother, in that I stare at my babies who are growing up right before my eyes, and I want to go straight back to diapers and make it all last longer. Women can be so wishy-washy. </div>
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This weekend we got together with good friends and we gathered up odds and ends that needed branding. We only had about 30 calves to brand so we decided to take our time and let the kids do most of the work. Our boy finally got to rope and drag calves to the fire. He LOVED it!</div>
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Our oldest daughter prefers to grab calves by the back leg and drag them over for branding. Behind that pretty smile is one tough cowgirl!<br />
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Our littlest girl prepped ear tags and brought the castration bucket over to us. She's also a big help to her dad while gathering.<br />
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Next up, weaning and selling our bulls. We're soaking up the last few weeks of temperatures in the 60's before we prepare for the long winter ahead.<br />
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Time moves so quickly these days,<br />
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<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-88848104203320461902014-08-19T22:44:00.002-07:002014-08-19T22:44:44.440-07:00A Summer Spent the Right Way!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We spent our entire summer outside, the way all summers should be spent. We unplugged from all but the most basic of technology and had an absolute ball with our family.</div>
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We did a LOT of roping. </div>
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The kids are getting better every week.</div>
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The kids competed in rodeos, horse shows, ranch events, and trail classes.<br />
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They had a saddle on their horses nearly every day this summer...<br />
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except when they rode bareback.<br />
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We rode through the most gorgeous countryside around...our mountain backyard.<br />
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And when we could pry the kids off their horses, we hiked mountains.<br />
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And when we weren't hiking mountains, the kids were showing their steers.</div>
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And when they weren't showing steers, hiking mountains, riding trails, going to shows and rodeos, or learning to rope, they were checking cows, irrigating, and filling stock tanks.... you know.... the "mundane" stuff.</div>
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It's going to be hard to drag the kids back inside after an epic summer like this, but it's once again time to start another year of homeschooling. We still have many things to look forward to including the county fair and a few more shows, but those things will have to be pushed to the weekends as we crack open our new school books and begin a different type of learning than what is offered to a kid on the back of a horse in summertime. Instead of creating their own adventures, they will have to read about someone else's in the pages of books during the week days.</div>
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Soaking up the last few moments of summer,</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Nell</span></b></div>
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<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-71196869070021420322014-06-24T22:29:00.002-07:002014-06-24T22:29:10.333-07:00Yes, we bought a car.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We finally did it. For the first time in our marriage, we bought a car. Yep, we sold my big beast with the 8" lift and bought a car that we could nearly drive under it. We went from owning 2 diesel trucks to having 1 truck and 1 car.<br />
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We put some serious miles on our vehicles, and our fuel bill was larger than our mortgage. To some people, the solution is a no-brainer, but we have a lifestyle that necessitates having trucks. We haul cattle, horses, feed, dogs, etc. and we live on a mountain with lots of snow, and have lots of dirt roads.<br />
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Reluctantly, we decided to try owning a car, purely for the fuel savings, and I'm happy to report that after a mere 3 weeks of ownership, we have saved $440. At this rate, we'll be saving at least <b><span style="font-size: large;">$550</span></b> a month in fuel.We juggle the car and truck between us and whoever needs to pull a trailer or get feed that day drives the truck, and the other person drives the car.<br />
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Here's what I'm loving so far:<br />
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<ul>
<li>We can park something in the garage for the first time ever.</li>
<li>I get rock-star parking at Walmart</li>
<li>I don't have to turn the engine off to give my order in the drive-thru.</li>
<li>I can fit in the drive-thru lane without running over curbs.</li>
<li>I can sync my phone to the car</li>
<li>My mother-in-law can hop into the passenger seat without needing a step stool</li>
<li>My groceries don't get hay on them or blow out the back anymore</li>
<li>I can take it through the automatic car wash</li>
<li>I can fill the tank for less than half the cost of filling the truck</li>
<li>I can go 3 times farther on a gallon of gas</li>
</ul>
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Here's what I'm hating so far:</div>
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<ul>
<li>I have to take it to irrigate and check the cows and it seems too nice to drive down a 2 track road.</li>
<li>I feel too close to the ground.</li>
<li>I feel vulnerable and frail in this little thing.</li>
</ul>
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I'm not sure if car ownership is going to work out for us or not, but a projected savings of nearly $7,000 a year in fuel makes me want to at least give it a shot. Lots of our friends and family are skeptical that this is going to last, but for now, I'm pleased as pie about our savings.</div>
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Laughing all the way to the bank,</div>
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Nell</div>
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Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-20360539034490202014-05-27T09:33:00.000-07:002014-05-27T09:33:53.448-07:003 Skincare Recipes for YouI am not a hippie.<br />
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That's what I tell myself every time I make these recipes. I am the world's biggest skeptic of all home remedies, but I was desperate to find something that helped my family after years of dropping big bucks on products that weren't helping.<br />
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First up is a recipe for a body butter that has completely eliminated the dry, bumpy skin in our family, and subdued the eczema flair-ups that a few of our family members with sensitive skin are prone to having. I love this stuff!!! A little goes a long way, and if you use too much, you might feel a bit greasy.<br />
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<b><u>Whipped Peppermint Body Butter</u></b><br />
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1 cup coconut oil<br />
1/3 cup almond oil<br />
1/4 cup pure 100% shea butter<br />
2 tsp. Vitamin E oil<br />
10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil *<br />
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Heat the coconut oil, almond oil and shea butter in a small pot until just melted. Remove from heat and add the vitamin E oil and peppermint oil. Cool in the refrigerator until it's starting to thicken to a pudding consistency and then whip it with a mixer. Place it in a jar, and keep it in the bathroom. I have never had any problems with it melting, but if you live in a really hot place, you may have to refrigerate it.<br />
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* We use peppermint oil for its soothing qualities for eczema, but a few drops of lavender would be a nice substitute.<br />
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Next up is a recipe for deodorant. I was a TOTAL skeptic on this one, but my husband begged me to try to make something for him. He works so hard outside everyday, and sweats like crazy! We have been buying him prescription strength deodorant for years, and it was really expensive...not to mention that it didn't work all that great. After seeing a few recipes online, I decided that we really had nothing to lose by trying it, and....IT WORKS! It's really cheap to make, lasts a long time, and did I mention that IT WORKS?!? I can't believe it, but my husband has been using it for 5 months, and his sweating has decreased exponentially. Plus, he comes home from a long day of hard work, and does not smell bad. This deodorant doesn't really smell like anything. It has peppermint oil in it because of its anti-bacterial properties, but after an hour or so, you can't even smell that. It just has a complete lack of smell. It doesn't take much, but should ideally be applied after showering, and once a day. The beeswax in the recipe will stain the armpits of tight fitting shirts over time, so I'd use something else if you have a tight fitting shirt on. My husband's old deodorant did the same thing, so he's used to wearing an undershirt under his nice shirts anyway.<br />
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I wear the deodorant, too, and after an hour long aerobics class, I had my best friends give me the sniff test. I passed with flying colors!!! It's a miracle. I was really used to wearing deodorants that smelled girly, but after reading about the junk in them and how it could be bad for my body, I decided that it wouldn't hurt to switch over, myself. Plus, I always got a bumpy razor rash when applying them after my shower. Not anymore. My underarms are smooth just in time for tank-top season.<br />
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Here's the recipe:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirp6mD6u6tbJNN9GtO-7KhPBjrg42pf_VMq8pY3x_4S-M3WoeQ3sGOBfmIp-IwfBsQhbONtv49NymdVdJ73y0hMlHKLtY4VukKH0Tf2bW925UlNM_2U6_whQUVMWZVKAte-SyoPx8uHYM/s1600/DSC_0560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirp6mD6u6tbJNN9GtO-7KhPBjrg42pf_VMq8pY3x_4S-M3WoeQ3sGOBfmIp-IwfBsQhbONtv49NymdVdJ73y0hMlHKLtY4VukKH0Tf2bW925UlNM_2U6_whQUVMWZVKAte-SyoPx8uHYM/s1600/DSC_0560.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Deodorant</u></b><br />
1/4 cup coconut oil<br />
1/4 cup pure 100% shea butter<br />
2 Tablespoons beeswax pellets<br />
2 Tablespoons arrowroot powder<br />
2 Tablespoons baking soda<br />
5 drops of peppermint essential oil<br />
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heat coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax in a small pot. Once melted, remove from heat and stir in the remaining ingredients. Cool until it starts to thicken and pour into empty deodorant containers. (It will harden quickly, so be sure that you are watching it carefully and don't walk away.)<br />
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1 recipe fills about 1.5 deodorant containers, if they are big, or 2 small containers. I just kept our old containers when the deodorant was gone, and I wash and re-use them. It makes application so much easier than making it into bars.<br />
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Here's a lovely sugar scrub recipe that I adore. I use it once a week to exfoliate in the shower, and always come out feeling like I've been to the spa. It makes my skin soooo smooth. I use a Doterra essential oil mix in it called "Serenity" and it's like having an aroma therapy session in the shower with the hot water. It's very relaxing.</div>
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<b><u>Serenity Sugar Scrub</u></b><br />
1/2 cup of sugar<br />
1 TBS olive oil<br />
8 drops of Serenity essential oil, or any other oil that you enjoy the smell of.<br />
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Just mix and put into a small plastic container. Apply it to skin and scrub away, then rinse. Beware, your shower floor may get a little slippery with the olive oil.<br />
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Hope you enjoy these recipes! My skin has never felt so amazing!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Nell</span></b><br />
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<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-85602860288173610972014-05-14T23:39:00.002-07:002014-05-14T23:39:38.118-07:00The Top 10 Things That Kept Me From BloggingHello friends! After taking an un-planned 2 month blogging hiatus, I'm back at the keyboard. Thank you all so much for your kind emails. We are all doing well, and I'm sorry to scare you with my abrupt pause in writing. It seems like when I have all the time in the world, there's nothing to write about, and when my life is full of adventures, I don't have a free minute to write it all down.<br />
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I had to put my Super Woman cape on for a few months to help my family get through our <b><span style="font-size: large;">busiest</span></b> season, and I had to let some things slide so I could focus on the important stuff.<br />
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Here's a peek at the fun and chaos that has kept me from the computer the last few months:<br />
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(Note: Many of these pics are straight off of my camera phone, but it's better than no pics at all, right!?!)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1.</span></b> Calving Season! I have written so many times about this over the years that you know the drill. I love the babies, but hate the stress. Thankfully we had lots of help from my in-laws and had a smooth season this year.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2.</span></b> Homeschooling 3 children... (Just 1 week until summer break. WoooHoooo!!!)</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3.</span></b> Supporting my husband as he took 2 very tough and demanding senior level college courses in addition to his full time job. I helped him study, and edited 8 papers that he had to write... yes EIGHT of them in 2 months. YUCK. By the way, I learned a wealth of information about Classical Economics, and I never knew that such a seemingly dry subject could be so intriguing and relevant in today's world.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. </b></span>All three kids started baseball/ softball on three different teams, at three different fields, in three different locations, at 3 different times. Ugh.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5.</b></span> Working with our show steers, attending livestock meetings, and going to showmanship clinics</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>6.</b></span> 4-H Horse Meetings, presentations, and riding, riding, riding.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>7.</b></span> Violin Lessons - Hard on the ears, but they sound a little better every week.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>8. </b></span>Church Women's Retreat at a beautiful ranch in Southern AZ- What a much needed break from my hectic schedule!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">9. </span></b>A trip to the big city with my husband for a date night at a Lady Antebellum Concert. We were front and center for part of the concert and it was amazing!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>10. </b></span>A gorgeous weekend get-away to Sedona to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday. We hiked, ate good food, and celebrated with the whole family.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">10.5</span></b>. Training a puppy. (Does that count?) With all of Tater's antics, teaching him to obey seems like a full- time job. Hahahaha. It's a good thing that he's cute, because he's also a handful.</div>
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I have left out so many things, but this is a small glimpse into our busy season. I'm hoping that with the end of our school year, I will have much more time for writing and reflecting on life. I have so much more I want to share with you.</div>
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Living in the Moment,</div>
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<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-9966763634613860392014-03-13T10:34:00.000-07:002014-03-13T10:38:40.393-07:00Photo Challenge Days 28-30I just realized that I never posted the last 3 days of the photo challenge on my blog. I promise I did them all very promptly on instagram!<br>
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Day 28: Oldie But A Goodie- Taken 16 years ago when my old dog was just a pup, and all the two of us needed were wide open spaces. Since then, I've added a husband and three kids, and lost my mom. I've had a lot of adventures with that old dog!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFClRSks7JQ5M0-XahXNILzeZTfxJywCJWgivsjbYi4gcOOtyBJNimbBIpefmcuzYoq80U4C3cYMaH58ZoU6yPLz3PNahC_PwnrXzISTraYnLmiTaoxwm4-p-omgjHe0FciTBb8Ozjtw/s640/blogger-image--1461121681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFClRSks7JQ5M0-XahXNILzeZTfxJywCJWgivsjbYi4gcOOtyBJNimbBIpefmcuzYoq80U4C3cYMaH58ZoU6yPLz3PNahC_PwnrXzISTraYnLmiTaoxwm4-p-omgjHe0FciTBb8Ozjtw/s640/blogger-image--1461121681.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br>
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Day 29: Tails- I love piggie tails!<br>
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Day 30: Sunset</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUDdYd6GqlYf4ebVifhrQ041mF0-xS5RQ65DpdOshyphenhypheniB8278eoq3LVLipLSwYZnjB5aN05e_ZrklfZ-4hIVJ2Z_uTjDud6PDRsODdyg6Oh8Z40Xg6hJ-JGrmWj6g9iitJfbow46qCsQ8/s640/blogger-image--2107442675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUDdYd6GqlYf4ebVifhrQ041mF0-xS5RQ65DpdOshyphenhypheniB8278eoq3LVLipLSwYZnjB5aN05e_ZrklfZ-4hIVJ2Z_uTjDud6PDRsODdyg6Oh8Z40Xg6hJ-JGrmWj6g9iitJfbow46qCsQ8/s640/blogger-image--2107442675.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-85765762522030142582014-02-28T22:08:00.000-08:002014-02-28T22:08:13.924-08:00Why I'm Terrified of Technology<div>
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I used to think my parents were over-protective for making me call home all the time. But now that I have kids of my own, I realize that it's awfully rough to have your heart walking around outside your chest. I'm certain that I gave my parents more than a few gray hairs over the years from worrying. Now I'm getting a few gray hairs of my own.<div>
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This year we'll have a teenager. Inconceivable, I know. As the kids have grown older, we have realized that they need a cell phone so they can call us from sports practices, club meetings, and church activities. The problem is that with all of the new technology, there comes a whole new host of challenges; challenges that I <b>NEVER</b> had to deal with when I was a teenager. </div>
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I thank my lucky stars that I grew up before the era of smart phones and cyber space. I'm grateful there was no Facebook or Instagram to capture my immaturity for all the world to see. It grieves my heart to see young girls posting inappropriate pictures on the web. I wince when I read the status updates from teenagers who lack self control. Where are their mothers? There was no cyber bullying when I was in school. People didn't base their self-worth on how many "likes" they got on their posts, or how many "followers" they had. It takes a tremendously grounded young person with a deep sense of value to look beyond the shallowness of social media and remember that their worth isn't tied to their online popularity.</div>
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I often hear of teens sending pictures and texts to the person they are dating, only to have them forwarded to everyone in school the minute that they break up. It seems like there is a much higher price to pay for kids' lack of discretion, today. It's terrifying. With the push of a button, people have full access to the internet through their smart phones. We are losing an entire generation of young men to internet pornography addiction. The statistics are mind-boggling!</div>
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What can we do to help our kids navigate all of this technology without stumbling into a myriad of dangers?</div>
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For starters, we pray for them, and educate them, and remind them of their value through Christ. We have an ongoing dialogue about safety, choices, and consequences. We realize that, inevitably, they will have to face some of these challenges on their own. The internet offers many wonderful resources, fun ways to keep in touch with family and friends, and a world of knowledge at our fingertips. Our hope is that we will have instilled enough sense into our kids that when they are grown, they can enjoy the benefits of technology while avoiding the pitfalls that so many young people fall victim to, today. We've definitely got our work cut out for us.</div>
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In the mean time, we got them a simple phone that has no access to the internet, no apps, and no texts. They have just enough buttons to call their mother. As far as I'm concerned, that's all the mobile technology that they need for now.</div>
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Stepping off my soap box, </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Nell</span></b></div>
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Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-77295840072545629082014-02-27T12:46:00.000-08:002014-02-27T12:46:03.822-08:00My, How Times are Changing!My first cell phone was a college graduation gift from my in-laws. Like most children of the eighties, I lived over two decades of my life without this piece of mobile technology that we treasure so much. My phone usage has really evolved over the years. I feel like I was on the cusp of a new era in high-tech devices, sort of like watching the people of "Downton Abbey" as they made the conversion to electricity.<br />
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When I was a kid, I called my friends on the kitchen phone with the spiral cord that tangled in knots and reached half way across the house. Zero privacy was to be had with the phone in a central location: just the way my parents liked it. My mom would reluctantly let me ride my bike to my friends houses, but I had to call her <i>immediately</i> upon arrival to let her know I was safe. One time I forgot to call her, and she showed up at my friend's front door twenty minutes later. I saw the look of wrath that only mothers can give. It was a mixture of worry, anger, and relief, and I instantly knew I was in deep, deep trouble. She said, "You forgot to call me. I was worried, and you know the rules. Now you're going to have to come home with me". I nearly died of mortification. After all, I was at Shelly Harker's house, and she was the coolest girl in 4th grade. She had fishtail braids and side ponytails that every girl was envious of. I could not believe that my mom was making me go home, just twenty minutes after I arrived! I hung my head in shame and said goodbye, both to Shelly and to any chance of me being cool, ever again. My mom was serious about me calling home, and I never forgot that lesson for the rest of my life. (Now I tell that scary story to my children as a cautionary tale of what happens to mothers when their children worry them half to death.)</div>
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Then, when I turned eleven, my Granny bought me a "Hot Lips" phone for my bedroom. It was the most awkward shaped, uncomfortable phone I had ever used, but <b>man did I look cool when I used it</b>! My dad drilled a tiny hole through the wall and ran a phone cord into my room so I could talk to my friends without the sound of pots and pans clanking in the kitchen. I still didn't have my own line, though. Kids didn't get their own phone line back then.</div>
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When I went to summer camp, my folks gave me the calling card number so I could call home from the pay phone outside the camp cafeteria. Since my dad was slightly paranoid about someone getting their hands on the number and racking up phone charges, he wrote it backwards on a slip of paper, and I hid the paper inside the tongue of my shoe. I felt like a spy with a secret code every time I dialed the numbers. You can never be too careful when a bunch of kids are waiting in the phone line behind you.</div>
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In Junior high and high school, I used quarters to call my mom whenever my sports practices were over. I was always running out of money until I got wise, and learned the trick that helped me to save my quarters forever more. I started to make a collect call every day. When the automated phone operator asked me for my name, I would say, "Pick-up, North Gym" or "Pick-up, Cafeteria". Then, the operator would call my mom and say, "You have a collect call from... Pick-up Cafeteria. Will you accept the charges?" My mom would hang up without accepting the charges and magically appear at the cafeteria ten minutes later. That's called working the payphone like a boss!</div>
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In college, my parents were so worried about me living far away that they got a 1-800 number so that I could call home, no matter where I was. I called from my dorm room, and then later from the ranch that I lived at, a whole state away. But most importantly, I could call from any place that had a payphone; and I didn't need to have any change in my pocket. Since I drove a piece of junk car that always broke down, I called from payphones quite frequently. Once, I was at the mall and my car wouldn't start. I called my dad with the 1-800 number. I described the noise that my car was making, and he gave me explicit instructions on how to find my starter and bang on it with a big river rock from the landscaping. It worked like a charm! Another time, I was stranded in Shiprock, New Mexico after stopping to get gas on my way home to visit my parents. I called home and my dad told me how to push start my car by putting it in gear and popping the clutch at just the right time. Even though he was six hours away, he rescued me from that creepy gas station. The 1-800 number was invaluable during my college years!!!</div>
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On the day I crossed that stage and got my bachelor's degree, my world changed forever! I got my first mobile phone. I was no longer tied to a phone cord! Help was just a button away. (as long as I was in a cell service area, had the phone antenna pulled up, and stood at a specific location in my house. Cell phones weren't nearly as good as they are now.)</div>
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My, how things have changed! Today, we carry around little computers that fit into our pocket with the entire vast world of knowledge at our fingertips. We can find out anything we ever wanted to know about, and yet we use it to prove each other wrong in arguments, and share pictures of our dogs.<br />
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With this new era of technology, I find myself on the parenting end, struggling with how to harness the benefits, while protecting my kids from a world of dangers that are lurking just a button away.<br />
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This is what I'll be addressing in my next post.<br />
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(To be Continued....)</div>
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Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-4724697420433010732014-02-27T09:32:00.000-08:002014-02-27T09:32:11.547-08:00Photo Challenge Days 22-27Day 27: Scarf - (Awkward Selfie)<br />
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Day 26: Boots- A throw-back picture from when our baby was two years old. She loved to wear her daddy's boots around everywhere.<br />
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Day 25: Feeding Time<br />
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Day 24: Rust- Our old, antique squeeze chute that I love to hate. It keeps things from getting too western, but that's about it. (At least it's paid for.)<br />
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Day 23: Muscle- I found this drawing that my son made, and had to use it for the muscle pic. We definitely don't have a future artist in the family, but at least he has a healthy self-image. HA!<br />
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Day 22: Hat- Keeping it real. When it's cold and windy, it's best to keep your ears warm, and not worry about looking cool. :)<br />
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<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-64660668726377043012014-02-21T17:00:00.002-08:002014-02-21T17:00:43.900-08:00Photo Challenge Days 17-21Day 17: Lace- My Favorite lacy blouse for fancy occasions. (In other words, I hardly ever wear it.)<br />
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Day 18: Old Timer- Boone has been my cowdog for 17 years. He's totally deaf, going blind, and a little stiff in the morning, but he's still the head of ranch security, and patrols for cats in the barn every day. He enjoys hoof trimmings and the wind in his fur on long truck rides.<br />
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Day 19: Beef<br />
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Day 20: Tools- The fence stretchers and fencing tool are my amigos. I never leave home without them, and we have a pair in every truck.<br />
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Day 21: Horseshoes<br />
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<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-30438591409059407802014-02-18T09:24:00.000-08:002014-02-18T09:24:04.373-08:00Counting my BlessingsI have written a blog and hit the delete key at least 5 times in the last week. That's always an indicator that my thoughts are going in a thousand directions. HA! It's been one of those months when everything seems to be in a state of tough transition. My mind has been whirling, the way all female minds tend to do at one time or another. I have had a million things to say, but somehow none of them seemed appropriate to blog about, so I take my burdens to the Lord and he has been faithful to give me perfect peace. Isn't that just like our Lord to walk us through our trials with His steady arms of support?<br />
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Our family made the difficult decision to change churches after being in the same church family for 13 years. There are few things that can rip your heart up like church drama. We don't make these sorts of decisions on a whim, nor do we take them lightly. We have weathered many storms, but finally felt prompted to go. We prayed and agonized for months before making the decision, but now we feel peaceful about it. Unfortunately, many other friends have been agonizing over the same thing. The good news is that I think we have found a new church that we can be a part of and serve in, and the whole family is excited about it. That's a big blessing in a small town with very few Bible believing churches to choose from.</div>
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Whenever life seems challenging, I find it absolutely essential to count my blessings. After all, I have many things to be thankful for.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">So here are 7 blessings that I am thanking God for at this very moment:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1.</span></b> Our girls have wanted to learn to play the "fiddle" for years. My husband's old high school English teacher is now retired, and plays the violin in the local symphony orchestra. To give back to the community, she has chosen to give free violin lessons to children on the mountain. She is even going to come to our house every week to teach my girls how to play. We surprised the girls with brand new violins for Valentine's Day, and they can't wait for their first lesson to start this week. I'm sure it will be hard on our ears for a while, but I'm ecstatic to hear the first little songs that they will squeak out on their new instruments. Free lessons are a huge blessing for this family! Isn't it nice to know that there are still kind people in this world?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2.</b></span> Our kids have a phenomenal 4-H club, this year. Their leader doesn't have any kids of her own, but she volunteers countless hours to help her 4-H kids become the best little riders they can be. She is an amazing teacher! Her family has a state-of-the-art roping arena, and not only do they let us ride there, but they are helping our kids learn to rope in an arena setting. These folks are just the salt of the earth, and our kids grin from ear to ear every week when it's time to load the horses for 4-H. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3.</b></span> The driver's side door of our old truck has been broken for years, and since the parts needed to fix it are several hundred dollars, we just kept putting it off. We would unroll the window and open the handle from the outside, or just climb out like the Dukes of Hazzard. One day last week, our mechanic took my husband down to the junkyard and helped him to find a replacement for the broken part. Then he helped him to replace the door handle, free of charge! You can't imagine what a blessing it is to have a working door, again! Good guys are still out there!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4.</b></span> Even though his own sons are grown and gone, our son's baseball coach still volunteers his time to Little League, and has even set up a pitching machine in his yard so that kids can come work on their hitting in the off-season. And he does it all for the love of the game. Our son has benefited so much from his coaching.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5.</b></span> We have been blessed with great friends that feel like extended family. Our pastor said that the best friends you have are the ones who show up on moving day. Our "moving friends" also happen to be the friends that we have enjoyed having Bible Study with one evening every week for many years. We look forward to getting together to fellowship and dig into God's Word, verse by verse. That's one of my favorite parts of the week! We just finished studying the book of Daniel, and are now diving into a study on the book of Revelation. It's sooo good.There are some great expositional Bible study guides that we use, and then we listen to online sermons about the chapters we are studying to get the complete picture.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>6.</b></span> Four days a week, I leave all of my frustrations on the gym floor in the form of sweat puddles. I'm so thankful to be working out with 5, yes 5, of my great friends every week. We do a lot of giggling and grunting as we experience the shared torture of reshaping our bodies and making them stronger. I'm thankful for what it's doing for my body, but I'm most appreciative of what it's doing for my well-being. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>7.</b></span> I'm so thankful for <b style="font-size: x-large;">you</b>, my blogging friends. I've received so many blessings in the form of emails, comments, and encouraging words from you all over the years, and I appreciate each of my readers and blogging friends so very much! You have no idea how often your thoughtful words make me smile and even laugh out loud. You all add joy to my life, and I wish we all lived closer so we could sit and talk in the kitchen over a cup of coffee.</div>
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Counting your blessings is good for the soul,<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nell</b></span></div>
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Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-64594304599740257772014-02-16T18:20:00.002-08:002014-02-16T18:20:17.228-08:00Photo Challenge Day 16: Wood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-73492381692955486992014-02-15T19:40:00.002-08:002014-02-15T19:40:50.909-08:00Photo Challenge Days 13-15Day 13: Work<br />
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A picture of my husband welding pipe...upside down. He has to weld like this pretty frequently. HA!<br />
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Day 14: Sweethearts<br />
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He's been my sweetheart for nearly 15 years, and I'd choose him all over again!</div>
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Day 15: Cowpokes</div>
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Our son was practicing his roping this morning on the Heel-o-matic.</div>
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<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-90857973931419947822014-02-12T16:51:00.002-08:002014-02-12T16:51:09.549-08:00Photo Challenge Day 12: Brand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2bsTpH-zUVm5bZII_A8d4zuIn2F3wYFx1s-W5CIhyRIwfzlzNBiVcEfeeAHB0bq1KfHJ06kvzHbozLjWMGNw41Vwss65ncuKywEJm0ssbv7g9JW7OV9bNWCd7K7rJneAMArLPmKJEB0/s1600/brands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2bsTpH-zUVm5bZII_A8d4zuIn2F3wYFx1s-W5CIhyRIwfzlzNBiVcEfeeAHB0bq1KfHJ06kvzHbozLjWMGNw41Vwss65ncuKywEJm0ssbv7g9JW7OV9bNWCd7K7rJneAMArLPmKJEB0/s1600/brands.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-27012896207574849172014-02-12T12:37:00.001-08:002014-02-12T12:37:43.780-08:00Dinner Roll RecipeI've had four requests this week, so by popular demand, here is the bread machine dinner roll recipe that I use from time to time.<br />
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<b><u>Dinner Rolls</u></b><br />
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1 cup warm water<br />
2 Tablespoons butter, softened<br />
1 egg<br />
3 1/4 cups Bread Flour<br />
1/4 cup sugar<br />
1 teaspoon Salt<br />
3 teaspoons yeast<br />
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Place the ingredients in the bread machine in the order that they're given.<br />
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Select Dough/ manual cycle. (Mine is 90 minutes long.)<br />
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Remove the risen dough from the machine and place on a lightly floured surface. Cover and rest for 10 minutes.<br />
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Divide dough into 15 pieces and lightly shape them into a ball. Place them into a 9" X 13" pan sprayed with cooking spray. Alternately, you can put them on a greased cookie sheet if you don't want them to touch. Cover and let them rise in a warm place for 30 to 40 minutes or until double in size.<br />
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Heat oven to 375°. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and brush the tops with melted butter.<br />
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<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-82083463188225858002014-02-11T20:34:00.003-08:002014-02-11T20:34:51.608-08:00Photo Challenge Day 11: Spurs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're missing a pair here because my husband drove off with his this morning before I could get a picture of them. This is the best we could do. (Doesn't he know we're in the middle of a photo challenge?!?) ;)</div>
<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-62909297236905840552014-02-10T19:40:00.000-08:002014-02-10T19:40:27.000-08:00Photo Challenge Day 10: "Pretty as a Picture"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The cross is the most beautiful picture of love I can think of. "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. " Romans 5:8<br />
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This is the window behind the pulpit at church.Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-7856757687640476502014-02-09T16:47:00.002-08:002014-02-09T16:47:48.856-08:00Photo Challenge Day 9: "Dusty"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm trying my best to avoid my photo archives whenever it's possible, because I really started this photo challenge to give us all a reason to dust off the cameras and take some new pics. We have had snow this week, so there is no dust outside. Although I have some neat dusty branding pics, I wanted to find something new to photograph. It forced me to head into the hay barn to find my dusty pics. This old motorcycle has been laid to rest in the barn, and it's definitely a dusty relic from another era.</div>
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<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-58072328189763953702014-02-07T17:52:00.003-08:002014-02-07T17:52:47.931-08:00Photo Challenge Day 7: "Watcha Got Cookin'?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-72395488205515285942014-02-07T17:50:00.000-08:002014-02-07T17:50:26.008-08:00Photo Challenge Day 6: Ouch!<span id="goog_2034431344"></span><span id="goog_2034431345"></span><br />
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Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-33277679484906725792014-02-05T17:11:00.002-08:002014-02-05T17:11:35.506-08:00Photo Challenge Day 5: "All Dolled Up"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKWl1SKa6q0gxFEutZcnsb_MTeyeY0lHT62jm0CKadCrWBmBzF-N3thNoz0qOm6lzy4zOxamUV5vQL9HcMBf3DRH2KSE_nWPppDuJSzSxnEycyjaowDwSLVK7GQENphpOU5eAvBWINg8/s1600/IMG_2055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKWl1SKa6q0gxFEutZcnsb_MTeyeY0lHT62jm0CKadCrWBmBzF-N3thNoz0qOm6lzy4zOxamUV5vQL9HcMBf3DRH2KSE_nWPppDuJSzSxnEycyjaowDwSLVK7GQENphpOU5eAvBWINg8/s1600/IMG_2055.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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The girls traded their ponytails for curls and homemade headbands for today's challenge.</div>
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Don't forget, it's never too late to join in on the fun!</div>
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<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-49834057466555178812014-02-04T14:57:00.000-08:002014-02-04T14:57:05.497-08:00Glimpses of Light from the Trenches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm writing this post for one reason only: so that every time my 12 year old son makes me want to bang my head against the wall, I can read this and remember that he's growing into a fine young man.<div>
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There are days in the trenches of motherhood and homeschooling when I can't see the rewards. It is very much like planting a shade tree from seed, and having to wait 18 years before you can sit down and enjoy the shade.</div>
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Even though I'm in the thick of child-rearing, the Lord is gracious enough to give me occasional glimpses and rays of hope that show me everything is going to be OK.</div>
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<b>Despite our flaws and short-comings, God's grace covers a multitude of parenting blunders.</b></div>
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Can I get an AMEN for that?</div>
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I can occasionally see that our son is maturing, and actually putting into practice some of the things that we've been teaching him all these years. He got his first little after-school job 5 months ago, and it has been a phenomenal experience for all of us. He's able to put into practice some of the skills we've taught him, and we're able to watch him spread his little wings. There are so many teachable moments and fabulous benefits to having a job. He has learned so much about the following areas:</div>
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1. <b>Punctuality</b>. Our son now manages his school time on his own without me nagging him to keep busy. He knows that if he's not done with school, he can't go to his job. He watches that clock like a hawk! He arrives to work on-time each day, and doesn't leave his job a minute early. He knows to give his employer an honest day's work, and keeps an honest time sheet.</div>
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2. <b>Responsibility</b>. He loads up his back-pack with his necessary supplies, and rides his bike to work each afternoon. If he forgets his gloves, his hands get cold (and Mom won't rescue him!) His employer depends on him to feed and water the livestock. If he forgets, then animals go hungry.</div>
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3. <b>Communication</b>. Our son calls his boss each day to see what needs to be done. If he is sick, or out of town, he gives his boss notice that he won't be there. Our son used to be terrified to call adults outside of the family, but his phone etiquette is getting better all the time. </div>
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4. <b>Manual labor</b>. He mucks stalls, feeds, stacks feed, rakes, shovels, waxes, washes, paints, and does anything else that's needed. When he comes home, he's tired, ravenously hungry, and gratified from an afternoon of working with his hands. There's no more satisfying sleep than the sleep that comes from being physically tired at the end of a productive day.</div>
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5. <b>Consequences</b>. If his grades slip or he's grounded, he can't go to work. Our boy tries very hard to keep on the straight and narrow with Mom and Dad so he can keep his job. It kills him to have to stay home and do chores when he's in trouble. No work = No money. Which brings me to my next point: </div>
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6. <b>Money</b>. He saves it, spends a little, and makes decisions on what to buy with it. He's learning the value of money, and suddenly little trinkets from the store aren't worth the amount of work it takes to buy them.</div>
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7. <b>Giving</b>. He's learning to give to God, be generous with gifts to his family, and give to charity.</div>
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We're thankful because our boy's boss also happens to be a friend of ours. We ask him frequently about our son's work ethic, and he assures us that he's a hard worker. </div>
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I'm pretty excited with the way our son is using his money, too. So far, he has saved to buy his very first rifle ( a BIG purchase), and recently bought two new saddle cantle bags and fencing pliers for them. While many of his peers are buying bubble gum and sodas with their cash, he has purchased some pretty practical things that will last him for years to come.</div>
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Finally, I'm thankful that our boy looks up to his dad, and imitates him. We always laugh because he's so practical, he dresses like an old man trapped in a 12 year old's body. Thank the Lord that he's homeschooled because his public school counterparts might laugh at his antics. My husband bought him a cattlemen's "Red Book" so he can keep track of our herd, his work hours, and the grain schedule for the steers. He keeps it in his shirt pocket along with a pen so it's handy at all times, the same way his dad stores his red book.. <i><b>Nerd</b> alert!!! </i></div>
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He also wears a scarf around his neck when it's cold, and keeps a Leatherman tool on his belt. He's practical and prepared, just like Dad.</div>
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So on those days when I have to ask him to put away his clothes, or take off his muddy boots<span style="font-size: large;"> for the thousandth time</span>; when he refuses to write his cursive correctly, or sneaks Oreo cookies when I'm not looking, I'm going to remind myself that he<i> <b><span style="font-size: large;">IS</span></b> </i>turning out to be a fine young man... even if he wears his long johns for two weeks in a row without putting them in the laundry!</div>
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We still have a few things to work on.</div>
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Thanking God for glimpses of progress,</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nell</b></span></div>
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Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-65742771017398073352014-02-04T12:34:00.002-08:002014-02-04T12:34:32.958-08:00Photo Challenge Day 4: NOSES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5548269993302469207.post-33577754958070462552014-02-03T17:48:00.001-08:002014-02-03T17:48:07.493-08:00Photo Challenge Day 3: Turquoise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJh9ekk9f_RLScxf6Tmhgn2Rq87_FkDgPYVLleFlnDmcthgbvGe3HJUSlUOEskNH-E4OUvhhSKLsk-t0MvsC8TPjuVjw6ItukCZEfy5H-AXsn7D4BsVBDOFn3IIuXcMIxux6UcriIaAo/s1600/DSC_0139ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJh9ekk9f_RLScxf6Tmhgn2Rq87_FkDgPYVLleFlnDmcthgbvGe3HJUSlUOEskNH-E4OUvhhSKLsk-t0MvsC8TPjuVjw6ItukCZEfy5H-AXsn7D4BsVBDOFn3IIuXcMIxux6UcriIaAo/s1600/DSC_0139ab.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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An old broke-down Dodge that I pass in town all the time.<br />
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Some of my favorite turquoise pretties.</div>
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<br />Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04012536565426527226noreply@blogger.com2