Skippy Lou

Long story...got a new horse. We've been getting to know each other for 2 weeks now and I'm totally in love! She loves me, follows me around, comes to the fence, super easy to catch, lunges beautiful and is a bit in the lazy side (my kind of horse!). Skippy is a retired show horse that has spent years in the show ring. She is so educated she shocks me, just say the word, she does it and is eager to please. Unlike my last horse she is content to stand and be brushed and petted. She actually enjoys being with people. She'll also be perfect for Mollie in 2 years if she decides to show in 4-H. I'm so excited about her and look forward to getting several rides in before winter.

The Hit of the Party

This summer at the Family Night for VBS the kids got to ride in a "train" made of barrels. Mollie had a "barrel" of fun. When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday, she said she wanted PawPaw to make her a train. I told my mom thinking it was pretty funny she would think of that. Fast forward a few weeks. When we got home from Mollie's party, look what was in the yard! She was thrilled. She and the other grandkids had a great time as Jerry pulled them around the yard. Thank you PawPaw for such a "labor of love" gift that she's sure to enjoy many, many times!

20 Years Together, He Still Gets To Me

When you are 18 there is nobody that can talk you out of getting married. They can never convince you that it can be a rough road merging two lives into one. That it's not always the warm fuzzies you are imagining it to be. So at 19 we set out on this road called "wedded bliss". It has been bumpy at times, smooth at others. We've fallen off the cliff a few times but made our way back on the road. We've grown up together. We've been through great times, sad times, quiet times, fun times, low times and high times, all which has grown and shaped us into the people we are today. God has blessed me with a man that has many wonderful qualities. We have nothing in common but enjoy each others company. I'm a complete screw up when it comes to finances, he could manage the national budget. He can hardly find his way home, I can get us anywhere. We are complete opposites but we compliment each other. I think that's how God designed marriage to be. Jerry, I'm glad to call you my best friend. Would I change some things?...yes, would I trade?...never. I'd still check Yes.




It started way back in third grade
I used to sit beside Emmy Lou Hayes
A pink dress, a matching bow in her ponytail
She kissed me on the school bus, but told me not to tell
Next day I chased her around the playground
Across the monkey bars to the merry-go-round
And Emmy Lou got caught passing me a note, before the teacher took it, I read what she wrote:

Do you love me, do you wanna be my friend?
And if you do, well then don't be afraid to take me by the hand, if you want to.
I think this is how love goes, check yes or no

Now we're grown up and she's my wife
Still like two kids with stars in our eyes
Ain't much changed I still chase Emmy Lou
Up and down the hall, around the bed in our room
Last night I took her out in a white limousine
Twenty years together she still gets to me
Can't believe it's been that long ago
When we got started with just a little note

Do you love me, do you wanna be my friend?
And if you do, well then don't be afraid to take me by the hand, if you want to.
I think this is how love goes, check yes or no.

Do you love me, do you wanna be my friend?
And if you do, well then don't be afraid to take me by the hand, if you want to.
I think this is how love goes, check yes or no.

Check yes or no
Check yes or no
Check yes or no

George Strait

6 Years - A Pictorial Review

Sounds so official doesn't it? But, nothing tells a story better than pictures. My girl turns 6 today. Six years ago I had no idea what a blessing she would be to us. I'm so proud to be her mom. Happy Birthday Mollie, we love you so much.


Happy 14th Anniversary to us. Mollie 6 days old.








Cowgirl Up! She'll hate me for this picture later! Mollie 5 months.






1st Birthday, she loved the cake!


The calm...


before the storm!!! (16 months)


Hog Riders!


Drivin' the tractor with dad.





Mollie age 2 with Matilda.




Tickled, age 2 1/2


Mollie and Daddy with their "Deere's"


Mollie, 3rd Birthday.



Mollie playing dress up with Bug, age 4




Mollie and Butterscotch


Mollie, age 5




Mollie and Crystal, age 5


Turning into quite the young lady.

The Donks New Long Eared Friend

The past few weeks we have enjoyed watching a little doe in our pasture. Recently we noticed she's "grazing" with the donkeys. Now just about every time I go check on the donks she's right there with them. The other day she let me walk within 15 feet to take her picture. Only then did she turn to run but did it at a casual pace. However, last week it was even more amazing. I found her in the barn lot behind the barn grazing with Red the jack. I got Jerry and the camera and she actually walked toward us. She seems more intrigued by us than scared. Now, because we see her spending so much time with the donkeys, we are wondering if she's an orphan. I've never seen a deer run with donkeys before but with those big ears she does fit in quite well!

6 Year Pictures

Prayers please

We've had tragic events happen to two of our 4-H kids in the last few weeks. Our friend, Zoe (8), was in a horse/cart accident and had substantial damage to her foot. She just spent 16 days at Children's Mercy and they just sent her home. She has a pump attached to her foot and will be in a wheelchair for many more weeks. And while the tissue is starting to grow her nerves are now rebelling and her biggest obstacle at this point seems to be extreme nerve pain. There is no rhyme or reason to it and when it hits it hits all at once with no warning. Please pray for her and her family. Pray that these tissue heals, that the nerves calm down and that she can walk. Please pray for patience and peace on her parents part as the healing process will be long and arduous.

We got tragic news Thursday evening that Garrett (8), was playing at his family's orchard when apple bins and/or pallets fell on him. His poor father and grandfather were there but unable to get to him in time. He passed away.

While I have not known this family long I had come to really like and respect them. His mother and sister came to my 4-H photography classes where I got to know them better. Garrett seemed to always have a smile on his face. A very sweet, happy boy. My heart breaks for his mother, who didn't know when she woke up that morning that it would be the last with her beautiful son. For his father that was there where the accident happened and will surely be haunted by it's memory forever. For his sister that seemed to love and really like her little brother. They seemed to get along and be great friends. And for the rest of their family. Also my town. The entire town has a connection to this family. Whether related, works with, went to school, in 4-H with, friends of, ect. Their isn't a person that I've talked to that hasn't been affected. Please pray that our community will continue to wrap their arms around this family in the weeks to come so that they might find comfort.

I have heard it many times, especially in the last few weeks, to enjoy and appreciate what you have as we don't know when it could tragically change in an instant.