So much...

...to catch up on! But, alas, no time. No time.

Today, a day traditionally reserved for barbeques and friends and fun and relaxing, was spent taking things off walls, filling holes, touching up paint, doing last loads of laundry, etc. We DID get to take a break for about 90 minutes tonight to watch/do some fireworks tonight with our CFL family.

I have so much to blog about! And just no spare minutes. Enter... Godchicks... Neverland Ranch... painting furniture... SHOES (the most important thing, after all).

Another day, another time.

Happy Fourth of July!

Running...

I leave for Colorado Springs Sunday after first service. Between now and then I have too many things to get done, and too many things that won't get done.

Tomorrow is a wedding, a birthday party, an all-star baseball practice, a packing of the car with whatever the movers won't take, a packing of a suitcase, and more.

Sunday is a nine hour drive.

Monday is a nine hour drive.

Then a worship conference I'm excited for. And staying with a friend I'm excited to see. And then flying to another conference I'm excited for. And time with my girlies.

Then home.

Then we're gone less than two weeks after I return.

It feels like I'm running. One foot in front of the other. Stride after stride. One thing at a time. Each day holding as much as I can fit in.

And I keep running. Because it's a good race, but all runners grow weary.

Good thing I'm not doing this in my own strength.

...and we should let mosquitoes finish their meal of our blood and then shoo them away kindly.

Evidently, Peta is disappointed in President Obama for swatting a fly. It was inhumane treatment of an animal. Can we GET any more ridiculous? I'm disappointed with him, too. But it has nothing to do with the killing of a fly.

And with his bare hands, no less. That's actually a bit impressive.

$80,000 Book

How incredible is this: Indiana soldier's rare `Federalist' copy nets $80K? I have to say, with my love for our country's rich history, I would have been tempted to keep it. Then again, that's a nice chunk of change.

And kudos to Heritage Auction Galleries for waiving it's 20% commission.

I guess I'll keep collecting fun old books. You just never know what I'll run across... or what's sitting in my library already. Hee-hee.

My kids have talent!

The school had a talent show this past week. I was so proud of Jordan & Brittney for putting this routine together and being brave in front of their classmates! That's a big deal. A. Big. Deal. I remember how petrified I used to be just thinking about being in front of my school. Eeek! My stomach still churns at the thought.

Ian's class had put together a song on the recorder for open house night that they also did in the talent show. He was a little freaked in the morning, but got all brave by the time he was supposed to perform. If you watch closely you can see him say "yo" as he walks out and sees we're there. He's such a little ham.

*Remember to mute the music at the bottom of the page before playing the video!*



I'm such a proud mama!

Rodeo Addendum

Brad sent me an amazing pic of Brittney with two of the Riata Ranch girls from the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo this past weekend. I just HAD to post it.



That, right there, is happiness.

You can take the girl out of the country...

...but you can't take the country out of the girl.

I had the amazing honor of singing the National Anthem at the 2009 Santa Maria Elks Rodeo this past Saturday. And I tell you what, I'm not sure there is a better place to sing that song. Cowboys with dust on their faces, mud on their boots, their hats over their hearts and a tear in their eyes.

The work is hard. The language is at times rough. The hugs are huge. The camaraderie is thick. And the faith is real.

What an experience to stand in that arena, all eyes on our flag, and pay tribute to the country that gives us our freedom, to the God who gave us our country.



After singing, I stepped back behind the rails and was literally as close as this picture shows to the chutes as the Broncs came out. Incredible!



I joined my family in the stands. The kids were captivated by the energy of it all. And a pink cowgirl hat just made it that much better.


We loved Saturday so much that the kids begged to go back on Sunday. How could we resist? The Elks Rodeo admits active duty military for free (which is MUCH appreciated), so off we went. On Saturday, our friend Brad took us back to be a part of a bar-b-que for the volunteers. And on Sunday not only did we get to go again, but he took us over to where we could all watch the rodeo from the rails.



Yes, we were THIS close. Us. The broncs. The bulls. It was AWESOME!!!


One of Brit's favorite parts was when the trick riders did their stuff. She's ready to sign up right now! The girls come from Riata Ranch here in California, and did some incredible stunts.


Right there from the fence we watched the hulking beasts best their riders time and again. We witnessed the victory claimed by few as they wrestled and white knuckled it for 8 seconds. We saw the adorable little cowboys and girls cling to the necks of frenzied sheep during the Mutton Busting. We watched a bloodied cowboy be helped with his exit. We shouted and cheered for the cowgirls as they raced around the barrels to the finish line. And the one who may have enjoyed it the most was the one with the biggest smile on his face:


Thanks so much to Brad (holding our little friend Caden) for getting us behind the scenes and into the action! What an incredible memory we made this past weekend.