A smack to the back of the head

On the whole, I would say that I do not encourage violence.  (My little sister, Annie, may disagree.  When we were young, I used to tell her that if she hit me, I would hit her back twice as hard) :)  However, sometimes I feel there are certain people who need to have some sense knocked into them.
Today was one of those times...

This weekend in Garden City there was a home and garden show, so Taylor and I decided to go over and look around and then run a few errands and catch a matinee movie. With today being kind of snowy and cold, it was a perfect way to spend the day.

After going through the home and garden show, Taylor and I stopped to eat some lunch.  Not long after we sat down, a mom and her daughter came in to the restaurant. The girl was probably around 14.  The mom sat with her back to me but I could see the girl, and I noticed that she was constantly texting/checking her phone. A few minutes later the dad came in and joined them.  If someone were to only steal a single, quick glance at all three of them sitting together, they would see a family at a table with their heads bowed.  It would be easy to assume they were praying. But a one extra glance would prove that assumption to be false.  Every single one of them, from the time each sat down, was looking at their phones...THE WHOLE TIME.  During the entire time Taylor and I ate, I bet they didn't say five words to each other.  Heck, I wouldn't even have to use all the fingers on one hand to count the number of times they looked at each other. It was the worst display of family-togetherness I have ever seen.  I was appalled.  Part of me wanted to walk up to their table and smack them all across the back of the head and point out the valuable, precious moments they were squandering.
I told Taylor that it is amazing to me how we claim technology and social medias allow us to stay connected - but connected to whom?  To a random person we barely know who took time to "like" our status/picture rather than to the people sitting across from us - the people who should be the most important part of our lives?
Don't get me wrong, I think Facebook and technology are great, but only when they are used responsibly. Even I need to work on that occasionally.  But as a nation and a culture, I find it remarkably sad how messed up our priorities have become.

I will say at least their idiocy provided Taylor and I a great opportunity to talk about how we want to interact as a family and stipulations we want to have on phone usage during family time.  There's always a positive side. :)  I guess since hitting complete strangers would be frowned upon, I'll say a prayer for them.

All in all it was a wonderful, relaxing day, and I was glad to get to spend it with my best friend. :)

Western Kansas Fact:  During winter storms, the power lines out here jump around like four-year-olds on a trampoline.  Maybe I've just never paid attention before moving out here, but anytime we've had snowy/icy/windy weather, the power lines get to swinging and bouncing dramatically.  This morning, as the mist froze to the lines, they were really moving.

You should be a light for other people.  Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
This scripture stuck out for me while I was writing this blog because I as I thought about the family at the restaurant, I was reminded that others constantly see our actions.  I need to make sure I'm not just living my life to please myself, but to please God.  As long as I am living for Him, no matter what I do and no matter who sees my life, I'll be able to be proud of my actions.

Hope you all have a wonderful rest of the weekend, and be sure to enjoy your loved ones!
Lyndee

Assumptions and Adoptions

As humans, I'm not sure why we assume things.  Normally it just leads us to make fools of ourselves, and yet we continue to do it.  This weekend some small assumptions got the better of Taylor and me, and it reminded me that communication, even about the little, mundane things, helps build better relationships.
On Saturday morning Taylor asked me what I had planned for the day.  I listed off some of the things I wanted to get accomplished - cleaning the bathroom, cleaning the calf pens, sweeping floors, etc.
 - I should interject here that, normally, I think Taylor knows me better than I know myself.  One thing he understands about me is, sometimes, if I don't feel like I've accomplished very much in a day, my attitude can suffer a little (this is something I need to work on). Anyway -
Taylor assumed that accomplishing these tasks would be my first priority. However my assumptions were that I would help Taylor check our cows and go with him when he went through them to decide the best ways to sort them for the sale next weekend.  Then, in any down time I planned to work on my list of cleaning.
Long story, short, Taylor went to check the cows without me while I was cleaning the bathroom.  He assumed I didn't want to go, and I assumed he'd stop by the house before he went so I could go with him. In the end we both just ended up missing an opportunity to spend time together. So my newest personal-improvement goal is to quit making assumptions.

We got some exciting news on Friday.  After interviewing several people for the past couple weeks, the feedyard finally filled the accounting assistant job. Roshel has been doing this job while they were looking for the right person to hire, and I've been going in every morning to help her as well.  So I'm pretty sure out of anybody, Roshel and I are the most excited.

In between working at the feedyard, writing and taking care of cattle, I've started training again for the half marathon in Nashville at the end of April.  Roshel and I and several friends are all going together.  So far the training is going well, but I definitely had to talk myself into running 6 miles today.  It has been really windy.  I hate the wind, but I told myself that it would just make all the other runs seem a lot easier. It also helps to know that my friend Sarah is on the same training schedule and that she would be running today as well.  It helps keep me accountable.  By the time I got halfway done, I was feeling pretty good and enjoying myself.  I'm glad I didn't allow my negative thoughts to limit me and keep me from accomplishing something I could be proud of.

Last week my little sister, Annie, turned 21, so Annie, me, Katie, and our friend Julie decided to have a girls' night.  I went up and met them all in Manhattan for a night on the town. We spent the rest of the weekend at Mom and Dad's and had friends over for a card party on Saturday night. Love spending time with my family.

Found myself giving horsey rides while at Mom and Dad's.  Mom's floor is really hard  -  or my knees are old already. :)

I like getting mail, especially cards, notes, coupons from Victoria Secret, etc. If only I could get more of that mail and less bills... :) Anyway, I was really excited about one letter I got in the mail the other day.  It was from Albania!  At Christmas, on my wish list I asked for money to "adopt" a World Vision child.  Basically you pay a small amount every month to help give a child a better life.  I adopted a four-year-old boy named Gerald from Albania.  (There are so many kids to choose from, I had no idea how I could pick one.  I remember staring at the computer, asking God to help me.  Then I saw a picture of this little boy who reminded me of my nephew...God hears even the smallest prayers.)  :)  I got my first letter from him and his family. I learned about their family and that Gerald is in Kindergarten and loves to play with toy cars.  It was a great reminder that we should worry less about having things, and more about helping others.

Western Kansas Fact: Fog seems to have a weird effect on sparrows out here. One night after getting some snow, tons of little sparrows lined the road.  Then when we drove by, instead of flying away or up over vehicles like they normally do, the birds flew low to the ground right in front of oncoming traffic.  Many met an untimely end.  I don't know if they get confused about which way is up, or if they're just depressed by the fog and decide to commit suicide.

This scripture and lesson meant a lot to me, especially as Easter draws near.
Who is more important: the one sitting at the table or the one serving?  You think the one at the table is more important, but I am like a servant among you. Luke 22:27
The lesson that went with this scripture told me that hours before Christ was to die, He wasn't concerned about Himself.  He was concerned with proving His love to His disciples - to us.  The Lord, Almighty, got down on His knees and washed the dirt off their feet to show that His love serves us, even despite our sins.

Have a wonderful week!
Lyndee