$100 - What's It Really Worth?

$100…To me that amount of money could be any number of things…a trip to the grocery store; 9-10 bags of feed for my calves; a couple pairs of jeans (or depending on the type maybe just one pair with a  little extra left over); a steak dinner for Taylor and myself at a nice restaurant; or even 20-25 trips to my favorite coffee shop in Garden City. But at the end of the day none of these things will significantly impact my life.

Several days ago, I had a very humbling experience. In my mail box I had a letter from Tirana, Albania. It was from the little boy, Gerald, I am blessed to sponsor through World Vision.
Around Christmas time, I had responded to an email from World Vision asking if I would like to make an extra Christmas donation to my sponsor child. After spending a better portion of the day kicking the idea around, I decided to go ahead and make a donation of $100, and I was notified that Gerald's needs would be assessed and the money would go toward the greatest need of him and his family. Then within a few months I would receive a picture and a thank you letter telling how the money was used.

When I opened my letter, I saw a picture of my little boy standing in front of a box of food and other assorted items.
It shames me to think how easy it would have been for me to say, "No, I'm already giving a monthly donation. I don't need to send any more money," and I could have easily blown that $100 in any number of unimportant ways.
But thankfully, I got to share the blessings God has given me and actually make a difference and help provide for the greatest need of Gerald, his mom and dad, and two siblings.

Now all I can do is pray God would give me wisdom to do His will and remove any greed from my heart - the greed that would play through my head saying, "No, Lyndee, you're doing enough; you don't need to do more. Keep this [money, time, etc.] for yourself."

On a different note - the no-sugar/processed carbs for Lent is going pretty well. My cravings haven't been too terrible (although I do eat a fair amount of the non-sweetened dried fruits when my sweet tooth kicks in). And even though sometimes I feel like I'm eating more, I feel a little more trim. Taylor and I also feel like we're more alert. I've noticed that even when there's a night where I don't get as much sleep, I don't feel like I'm completely dragging the next day. I'll still get tired at night, but it's not like I'm riding the struggle bus during mid-afternoon or needing a coffee pick me up that hour after lunch. I'm thinking I may have to make a deal with myself after Lent is over to set aside 3 or 4 days out of the week and continue to make them no-sugar-days.

Western Kansas Fact: Pastures can be deceiving.
I grew up in an area where you figure a cow needs 4 acres of grass to sustain herself. The grass grew tall, and often we had to cut it during the summer. Out here, it does take more acres per cow, but the grass can be pretty surprising. Even though it may look short and insubstantial, native grasses like buffalo grass are very nutrient dense and make great pasture.

As I wrote this post, this Scripture kept running through my head.
Give and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap good measure - pressed down, shaken together and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return. 
Luke 6:38
This Scripture reminds me that God doesn't intend for me to hoard the gifts He has given. He wants me to trust that He will continue to provide for my needs, so I can be generous with others especially when that generosity ultimately brings glory back to Him.

Next time I'll tell you about Africa!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Lyndee

P.S.  Every morning I read a daily devotional and then send it out in an email to a small group of people. If anyone would ever like to receive this, send me your email and I can add you to my group list!

A Bright Idea!!!…Or Not

 You know those times when you come up with a really good idea (for example the time when Annie and me realized setting up a lemonade stand would be a great way to make money)…only to later find that, actually, your "good idea" wasn't so good after all (you mean a lightly traveled dirt road 7 miles out of town isn't the best place to sell lemonade and fill our piggy banks)?

This year for Lent, Taylor and I came up with one of those "bright ideas" - we decided to give up processed sugars and carbs for Lent.
Ok, so I actually do think it is a good idea, and I'm glad we're doing it, but I'll admit, it's been a challenge.
For a while I had planned to take all the things we couldn't eat during Lent out of the pantry, and then I realized that would include nearly everything in it, so I just put away the easily-snacked-upon/most-commonly-used items and left the rest there.

Before...

After removing items from one shelf - excluding the cereal I left there-my box for these items was full. If I had taken everything off the shelf above, I would have only had salt, tea, spices, baking powder and slivered almonds left.

We came up with this idea one night when we were talking about wanting to get a little more fit/trim up  the more problematic areas on our bodies. We wondered how much of a difference it would make to remove the processed sugars and carbs from our diet (we're allowing natural carbs and sugars like fruit and potatoes) while adding minimal amounts of extra physical activity on top what we typically do in a day (a set number of sit-ups, pushups, and squats everyday) So at the beginning of Lent we weighed and measured. Then on Easter we'll check back in and see what the difference is. Hopefully there is a difference - Taylor and I both said we feel like we compensate for the no sugar by snacking more…Oh well. :)

There will be one week during Lent when we don't follow these rules. It was kind of a last minute decision, but we decided we are going to go to South Africa/Botswana. Our good friends, Grant and Landi recently got married here in the states. Landi is originally from Botswana and they are having a wedding ceremony at her parents' home in March. Her parents own a wild game ranch where people come and hunt exotic animals. We're going to be staying at their ranch while we are there.
Taylor and I are pretty excited. It's going to be a completely different experience from anywhere we've ever been before. When we decided to go, we told each other, excitedly and somewhat nervously, it's going to be an adventure!
While on this adventure we want to be able to really experience the culture and the food, so we'll be taking a break from the no sugar/carbs thing.

I tend to be geographically challenged so here's a map of Africa for anyone like me

Last night we got our first significant snowfall of the winter. We probably had about 6 inches or so. Taylor stayed up all night at the feedyard clearing alleyways so feed trucks could feed in the morning. At 5:30 a.m. he came back to the house, dressed in some warmer clothes then we both went back to the feedyard and started shoveling snow out of the feed bunks. With everyone working together, we were able to have them all pretty much done by 10 a.m.
All I have to say is whoever invented the bunk blower (an attachment that goes on a tractor and blows most of the snow out of the bunks) is a genius. It really cuts down on the amount of shoveling you have to do by hand.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Matthew 7:15
Here is part of the lesson that accompanied this Scripture: "Satan does not build a church and call it the first church of Satan - he is far too clever for that. Instead he tries to infiltrate the theological seminary and the pulpit - invading the church under the cover of an orthodox vocabulary - but emptying sacred terms of their true biblical meaning or denying their truth."
I feel like this is very true today. I pray that we would study the Bible and know His word so God can guide us and help us to recognize evil in this world, even in its hidden form.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and have a wonderful week!

Lyndee

Yoga Master

"Flexibile" and "Lyndee" are not synonymous. I can't touch my toes; heck, even sitting up straight while cross-legged is uncomfortable for me. So I decided I should try yoga to help make me more limber. I knew my yoga abilities would be minimal, but I figured it was worth a shot.

So the other day I bought a video for beginners, and I started out by watching the lesson of the correct yoga positions and movements. 

Near the end of the video there were several "relaxation" poses, and suddenly, I felt like I had severely underestimated my yoga potential. Because surely anyone who can relax so well during the "relaxation" poses that they fall asleep, has to be some sort of yoga-master, right? :)

Maybe not, but I felt like there was at least one part of yoga I could do well. :)

Sadly, this is as close as I can get to my toes with my legs straight

Sometimes I become very discouraged by the state of our nation. So often the people who are supposed to be our leaders seem to only be concerned about themselves and/or their bank accounts rather than the real needs of our country, and the rising levels of deception and corruption seem inversely correlated to the levels of the national spirit and pride of most Americans.
That's why I was so encouraged when Taylor and I went to see American Sniper a couple of weeks ago. Even after being in theaters for over a week, we still had to buy tickets online beforehand and get there 40 minutes early to stand in line so we could get a good seat. Not only was the movie extremely well done, but it gave me a lot of hope to see so many people interested in honoring our armed forces and showing a sense of national pride.
I'm so grateful to all our veterans, current and former, for their service to keep us safe and protect our freedoms.

Right after the first of the year Taylor and I went skiing with his family in Crested Butte. It was a fabulous trip with wonderful weather for skiing, amazing food and drinks, and a great time with family.

As enjoyable as the trip was, I have loved the last few weeks because we haven't had to go anywhere or do anything. I've been able to catch up on some paperwork and deep cleaning around the house; I've had time to start a couple of new bucket calves; and Taylor and I have had time where we could truly relax together. One of these times was a Sunday afternoon where we accomplished absolutely nothing. After church and lunch, the movie The Blindside happened to be on, and we just sat together on the couch enjoying a good movie in each other's company. I'm so thankful for simple moments like these.

Western Kansas Fact:  People truly appreciate moisture here. 
Growing up where it rained frequently, a lot of people would get upset about the rain because it might ruin their outdoor plans. But here, rain is simply a cause for joy. Nearly any time we get moisture, even if it is just a quarter of an inch, someone in church almost always makes a point of giving thanks for it.

Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a master in heaven. Colossians 4:1
This Scripture lesson talked about how slavery is not something practiced here in the U.S. anymore, but   the Scripture still applies today. We all need to think about how we treat others, especially those people who serve in leadership or employer positions. Recently Taylor and I hired someone to help us with the grow yard, so this Scripture took on new meaning for us. I pray God would grant us all wisdom every day as we interact with others and help us to always be just and fair.

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week!
Lyndee

Since last time...

I don't consider myself an extremely competitive person. I do like to compete and play games, etc., but it's not going to ruin my day if I lose. Mostly I just like to know, win or lose, I've done the best as I can.
However, maybe I just save up my competitiveness for other areas…

I used to feel like it was a mark of pride to be busy. It was like I was in some sort of secret competition with anyone I met to "busier" and thereby more "productive." I realize that way of thinking is just foolishness. What is so good about being super busy?
Don't get me wrong - I am not someone who likes to be idle. Ask Taylor, simply sitting still during the middle of the day when I feel like there are things I need to do can absolutely drive me up the wall.
However, I realize now that simple "busy-ness" shouldn't be the goal. Instead I think it's better to work hard and work well, but to also allow yourself time - time to spend with loved ones, time to relax and enjoy the moment, time to keep perspective on the important things in life.

This year has been a pretty hectic one for Taylor and me, and at times I felt like we were in a sinking boat in a sea of obligations with only a thimble for a bail. We made progress but not enough to feel like we were getting ahead.
Even so, as I sit here now, looking back over the year, I feel like we've done a pretty good job of handling our responsibilities without losing track of the most important things - our faith, our marriage and our family.

New Year's resolutions sound so cliche, but as we move into 2015, I'm praying it will be a year where Taylor and I can manage our time well, continue to work together as a team to accomplish all the tasks that are set before us, and continue to keep our priorities straight.

Sorry it's been so long since my last blog post, but here are a few things that have been going on in our world…

At the beginning of November we went to Kansas City for our brother-in-law's birthday to watch a Chiefs game. It was the first one I had ever been to. It was neat, but also bitterly cold. Taylor and I had to keep getting up and moving around to get feeling back in our feet.

My entire family came out to be with us during Thanksgiving. It was so great to spend the holiday with everyone rather than just one side or the other.

At the beginning of December we went to Las Vegas for the Nationals Finals Rodeo. Vegas is always a fun town, but best in small doses. We were there for three days, which I consider to be just about the right amount of time. While there we ate some great food, went clubbing, watched the rodeo, went to a Jeff Dunham show, a hypnotist show, and the Cirque Du Soleil show "Mystere." I think my favorite part was eating supper at Yellowtail in the Belagio. We sat out on the balcony, enjoying delicious food and drinks overlooking the fountains.

Watching the fountains in front of the Bellagio

Our impersonations of Walter

Christmas is one of my favorite seasons, and it always saddens me how quickly it is over. This year we spent Christmas Eve with Taylor's family, eating a nice supper together, going to Christmas Eve service, and opening our presents with his side.
On Christmas morning, Taylor and I exchanged gifts with each other. I was so excited to give Taylor his gift I woke up at 5:15 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep. :) Finally I was able to give him the gun safe I'd bought him!
I loved my gifts from Taylor, too, but my favorite was the tickets he had bought for me and my mom and sisters, and sister-in-law to go see "Wicked" in Denver in June. He took me to see it once in Kansas City a few years ago, and I absolutely LOVED it. Now I can't wait to share the experience. I know they're going to love it too!

Western Kansas Fact: Anyone in western Kansas without a job is simply lazy. This may be an oversimplification, but if so, it is only to the slightest degree. There are an abundance of jobs available here. Garden City recently had a new store development open with a Dick's Sporting Goods, Hobby Lobby, Petco, and a few others. One of Taylor's friends took a management position with Dick's and he said that when the store opened, of the 60+ employees they needed to operate the place, only about 1/2 that many had even applied. Through our own personal experience and with talking to other business owners in the area, nearly everyone will tell you the greatest limiting factor is finding good help.

There was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
The lesson that accompanied this Scripture made me think about how little room we as a society make for Christ in our lives. We celebrate Christmas, but during the time we prepare for and celebrate the holiday, how much of that is truly spent worshipping Christ? I pray I can think of this Scripture frequently throughout this coming year, and make more room for Christ in my life every day.

Hope 2015 is a blessed year for you all!
Lyndee

Honored Guest & Corporate Farming

Fresh baked bread and pipe smoke; chicken and dumplings and Werther's Original hard candies; a big snowy hill perfect for sledding followed by hot chocolate; beautifully crafted quilts and a vast array of expertly cared for plants - these are just a few of the more prominent things that come to mind when I think of my grandparents' farm. As a kid a fair amount of my time was spent going to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We were there a lot while Dad was helping Grandpa with the farming, and a couple times a week we would get picked up and dropped off the bus at their house.

Twenty years later Grandma and I had a role reversal.  Taylor and I bought some hay from my brother, and my Dad hauled a load to us last Monday. Dad's plan was to bring out the load, spend the night and head back the next day
Grandma had been wanting to find a way to come see Taylor and I, the home we've built, and our new growyard. Dad's short trip out and back presented the perfect opportunity, so my 91 year-old grandma loaded up in the semi with dad and rode 7 hours to come see us. It meant the world to us that she was willing and able to make it all the way out here, and I truly enjoyed getting to show her the different aspects of the life we've built. Grandma had never been to a feedyard before so it was fun to ride along as Taylor drove her around showing her over 20,000 head of cattle.
All I can do now is hope that when I'm 91, I'm still able to get around and take long road trips to see my grandchildren. :)

Me and my grandma, Alice Patterson

On a different note - for many people today "corporate farming" does not bring about a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings. In actuality, though, well over 90% of farms are family owned even if they are "incorporated". And just recently, mine and Taylor's operation became incorporated - Stabel Land & Cattle, Inc. We did this basically to simplify the organization of funds and activities. It doesn't mean we're any less involved or that our practices have changed, it just changes the way the government views our operation. I hope people will think of Taylor and I, our passion for cattle, and our love of this lifestyle, the next time they hear the term "corporate farming."

Taylor and I also registered a brand recently. Keep in mind we both graduated from K-State with degrees in Agricultural Economics, so we recognize that we have a nerdy and odd sense of humor, but  we both felt pretty witty and amusing when we registered this to be our brand:

+ or - $… makes me chuckle every time :) 

Earlier this month we had our annual family bonfire back at my mom and dad's. This was one of my favorite pictures from the evening of my niece Dawson enjoying a nice, messy s'more. 

And the after effects…

Western Kansas Fact: Winter can be a cause for apprehension.

The word "blizzard" brings to mind homesteads back in the 1800s where folks had to tie ropes from their houses to their barns in order to find their way to do chores. I've never yet had to tie a rope, but the open plains, and the high winds out here combined with snow in the winter make that concept easy to understand. But blizzards can quickly kill a lot of cattle. We've been hearing a lot of predictions about a very wet winter, and it's kind of concerning. I'm praying hard that the snow doesn't come in the form of blizzards.

The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness. Romans 8:26

Sometimes I feel really close to God and other times, less so. I know God hasn't gone anywhere; it's me that has moved away. I used to picture God at these times, waiting patiently for me to turn around and come back to Him, but this Scripture lesson reminded me that the Spirit isn't just waiting for me. Even when I have allowed myself to be distanced from my God, the Spirit is there in my place, petitioning my Lord for me. It is there for me in my weakness.

Hope you all have a marvelous rest of the week!

Lyndee

Journey Through Italy

It's always exciting to go on vacation…see new places, try new food, and not have to worry about typical daily activities.
But even with the excitement of traveling, there's nothing like coming home. At the end of a vacation, so many people say they wish it could last forever, but Taylor and I have been blessed to build a life that we love to come home to.

During the month of August Taylor and I had an extra exciting vacation. We went to Italy for two weeks with our good friends Lucas and Allison Regula. While there we traveled from the northern Tuscany area to the southern tip of the country.
Before we'd even made our first flight, Taylor and I were concerned our whole trip might get messed up because our very first flight from Denver to Atlanta was delayed 3 hours. Thankfully we were supposed to have a fairly long layover in Atlanta. However by the time we flew out of Denver, Taylor and I were running through the Atlanta airport to make our connection. We got to our gate just as they were boarding the plane. Thankfully that was the only occasion we had any problems like that.

While in the planning process, Allison got in contact with a travel agent named Jan who specialized in Italy trips. She planned everything perfectly. All of our drivers met us with a sign saying "Stabel/Regula" any time we got off a train or plane. And all of our tour guides met us in our hotel lobby, so it was very easy and there was no stress at all.

The flight to Rome from Atlanta was pretty uneventful. Taylor and I both tried to get some sleep, but we failed miserably. Thankfully we were able to go ahead and stay up for our first day in Italy so we didn't have any problems with the time change.

Upon landing in Rome, we met our driver who took us to Florence.
Florence is absolutely fabulous, and anyone wanting to go to Italy should definitely go there. My favorite thing we did there was a wine tasting. We went to a small winery where they showed us how they made their wines and balsamic vinegar. Then we went inside where they had a table made up for us with wine glasses and a plate of bread with oils tomatoes, cheeses, honey, meats, etc. for us to pair with our wines so we could experience their full flavors.
It was extremely enjoyable and Taylor and I both really liked the wines and balsamic vinegar.

The river in Florence

Wine tasting in Florence

After Florence we took the train to Rome. Business class on the train was really nice. I can see why people travel that way a lot. The trains go over 100 mph and it's a smooth ride (plus you don't have to worry about other drivers - a lot of them drive like absolute maniacs).

The bidets in Italy freaked us out. It seemed very much in the way and I was afraid I was going to accidentally drop things in there.

Rome was neat because of all the history. We toured the Vatican, Castel Sant'Angelo, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon and the Colosseum.
A reserved tour with a guide is the only advisable way to do these things. The line to get into the Vatican was at least 1/2 a mile long. People had to wait in line for hours upon hours. But because we had a tour guide we were able to go right in.

The ornateness of their churches, especially St. Peter's Basilica, was absolutely breathtaking. You couldn't help but feel close to God as you walked into that sanctuary. It was kind of unreal to think that we were able to stand right next to the tomb of Saint Peter, Christ's very own disciple; a man who ate with, walked with, and learned from God in human form.

I think the thing I found the saddest about our whole trip was that even though every city was filled with cathedrals and places of worship, there seemed to be very few believers. One of our tour guides guessed that maybe 30% of Italians were actually practicing Christians.

The history in Rome was great, but mostly it was just a city. Not being big fans of big cities, Taylor and I weren't sad to go to our next stop.
We took the train to Naples and then met with our driver who was going to take us to Positano, and along the way we stopped for a tour of Pompeii.

Pompeii was a much bigger city than I realized and it was extremely neat to see such an old place that was still so whole. Most of Pompeii was covered with ash so they were easily able to excavate it compared to other towns that were covered by lava.
One very interesting thing was that some of the people who died were covered by lava which then cooled so when they uncovered the city, even though the flesh and muscle of these people had decayed away completely, they were able to pour plaster into the holes in the lava which then took the form of the body that had been there.

A plaster shape of a body

After Pompeii we went to our hotel in Positano. This was a great place to unwind.The whole town was built into the side of a cliff and our hotel was near the top so we could look down on it all. It was beautiful. Here we spent most of our time here just checking out the town and relaxing.

Positano

Being on the  side of a cliff, to walk anywhere your options were pretty much limited to going up some stairs, or going down some stairs.
At one point we wanted to go down to a more secluded beach. Our concierge at the hotel said it was 700 steps down and another 700 to come back up. We decided to make the trek. I figured going down would be easy but apparently that downward movement uses completely different muscles and by the time we got down to the beach, my legs were shaking. Honestly going up was easier for me.

I still want to get a shirt that say "Stair-Master" Positano, Italy. :)
Sadly we weren't impressed with the beaches. They were overcrowded and rocky so we opted to go back up the steps to our hotel and the pool.

View looking down from our hotel in Position

The food on the trip was wonderful, although neither Taylor nor I were big fans of their seafood. They tended to serve you the whole fish, eyeballs and all, which isn't much our style. Personally I like my fish filleted and well seasoned. Taylor and I ate a lot of veal instead.

The noodles were awesome, and I was wishing we hadn't waited until the end of trip to be at the place where we would need our bathing suites. :)
Not many hotels had good workout rooms, so my ability to hold off the effects of the pastas and bread was minimal. (Truthfully I didn't do too bad and sometimes at lunch I would just order a side of veggies because I was missing green foods).

After Positano, Lucas & Allison had to go back home, but Taylor and I went on to Sicily. Sicily was neat, although I think all the Italians were on vacation there. Not many of the ancient structures were whole either because the different countries that ruled over the years, especially Spain tore buildings down and recycled the materials.

My favorite day in Sicily was our last day when we went to the Volcano, Mt. Etna, and then afterward we went to a winery further down the side of the volcano for a wine tasting. To end the day, Taylor and I had massages at the spa in our hotel.

On Mt. Etna

Wine tasting in Sicily

We sat outside while trying the wines and enjoyed this view over the vineyard

Last night/meal in Taormina, Sicily

Then, finally, it was time to come home. It was the trip of a lifetime.

Over Labor Day weekend my sister, Katie, and her family came to visit us for a couple days. It was so wonderful to have them in our home and to get to show them what we do out here, especially our new growyard.
This past week Taylor and I spent a lot of time up at the growyard because of silage harvest. We had arranged with a neighbor to chop 3 fields of corn for silage to use for cattle feed. Taylor was on the tractor packing the silage, and I was in the scale house weighing the trucks. We finished up on Friday, and we ended up with a whole pit of really good feed for our animals.

After our vacation there was a scripture that really spoke to me:
You have only one master, the Christ. Matthew 23:10.
The lesson that went with this Scripture, spoke of not allowing anything to come between you and God, not teachers, not parents, not even church leaders. We all need to seek God for ourselves. I heard several Italians talk about corruption in the Roman Catholic church, and I think they allow that to be a reason not to know God. But we all need to have a personal relationship with Him, not just with the church. I pray one day all those people who do not have that relationship will have their hearts opened and know the joy, peace and hope of our Father.

I hope your upcoming week is a wonderful one!
Lyndee

New Adventures

This weekend my little sister, Annie, began one of the most exciting adventures of her life…She and Abe vowed their lives to each other and began the wonderful journey of marriage.

The entire day was blessed and everything went smoothly. Annie was a gorgeous bride and I was so honored to stand next to her with my sister Katie as her maids of honor. One of my favorite parts was getting to sing with my sister and brother as Annie and Abe lit the unity candle. Annie asked us several months ago if we could sing Miranda Lambert's song Making Plans during the ceremony. Casey played the guitar and added a little vocals while Katie sang melody and I did the harmony.

Annie and Abe had all their nieces and nephews act as flower girls and ring bearers. Three girls and two boys - Kolden is 6 but everyone else is 3 or under. After the rehearsal, I wasn't sure how it was going to work…there were a lot of crying children and frustrated parents...but I shouldn't have worried - everything went well during the actual ceremony.
Everyone was cracking up because Rowan only tossed out a couple of petals on the way down the aisle. Then when she and Kallan got to the alter, they both emptied their baskets in a big pile. Then Kallan looked back down the aisle behind her and when she saw the few petals Rowan had tossed, she walked back down, picked them up and brought them back to the pile at the alter. Dawson just went to Casey and had him hold her for most of the ceremony, but the rest went and sat down with the goodie bags Abe and Annie had made for them.

Afterward everyone went to the reception hall for dinner and dancing. All in all it was a beautiful day. I just pray that Annie and Abe will find true happiness in their marriage by making God the center of their relationship and by always seeking to avoid selfishness and put each other first. It's a skill Taylor and I are always working on. Occasionally we fail, but once we correct our mistakes, that is when our relationship is at its best.

For the garter toss the DJ played a joke on Abe. First he blindfolded Abe and then he had Casey take off his shoe and sock and then had Annie  sit on his leg so it seemed like Casey's leg was actually Annie's. It was pretty funny to watch  Abe touch Casey's leg and then jerk his hand back in confusion. He took his blindfold off pretty quickly to figure it out.

When Abe actually went to toss the garter, he didn't get it far enough to reach the group of guys so Kolden ran up and grabbed it. This happened twice and they kept making Abe redo the toss. When he finally got a good toss another kid grabbed it and poor Kolden was so sad that he didn't get to have it that he started crying. Here Abe was trying to console him.

Taylor and I are getting ready to start a new adventure in our lives too. Early this year we closed on a piece of property that had facilities for a grow yard (a mini version of a feedyard where younger cattle are acclimated to the feeding process so they can stay healthier once they enter a feedlot). Right now we are having a processing facility and receiving pens built so we will be able to vaccinate and treat any sick animals. Once that is done we should be ready to start filling up the pens with cattle.

Taylor and I have spent a lot of time discussing what all we will need to do to make this venture work.  Right now the plans are that I will do a lot of the bookwork/record keeping/helping look over the cattle and treating if necessary.
Although I enjoy writing for the Kansas Livestock Association, I didn't feel like I would be able to take on this new role and still have time to continue writing articles on a regular, time-specific basis. So last week, I told my editor that after the next couple of pieces, I would no longer be able to write for them. It was a little bitter sweet, but I'm excited to work together with Taylor to build a dream and hopefully make the grow yard successful. Our friend Jim is also planning to be a part of this operation with us.

Between wedding preparations/celebrations, helping with Bible school last week, my 13 bucket calves, my writing, and the garden (which sadly has been rather neglected as of late), things have been pretty darn hectic. I keep hoping it wi


ll slow down, but now wheat harvest is in full swing. I'm working to finish my writing so I can get into the fields to serve as grain cart driver once the fields dry up from some recent rains we've gotten.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we might have a little bit of a break after wheat harvest is done.

Admittedly, I kind of lose track of the different things I've listed as "western Kansas facts" so please forgive me if I've repeated one…
Western Kansas Fact: scratching is less of an issue. It's too dry here for many mosquitos and I've never experienced chiggers out here like I did growing up. At my mom and dad's it seemed like if you walked around in the yard at all, you'd end up with chiggers. Heaven forbid you sit down in the yard without bug spray…you'd end up with an underwear line full of chigger bites and 2 days of scratching in some unseemly places.

We shall all be changed in a moment - in the twinkling of an eye. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
The other day this Scripture reminded me that Christ could come back at any point. Often I think of that time as some vague point in the future…definitely not during my lifetime. But that is completely the wrong way to look at it. I need to live as if I expect Christ's second coming within the hour. I need to be  constantly prepared for my Savior, and when I give God an account of my life and actions, I want to be able to do so with confidence, not regret and embarrassment.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!