2011 another crazy year!!

Well where to start with 2011??? It has been a crazy year with some big changes. And lots to think about for the future! I know no matter what I am truly blessed to have an amazing husband, and an awesome GOD that gives me hope and a future!!! It has been a year of trials but also of growth. Especially for me in trying to not stress so much and for turning it over to the LORD! We got out of ranching in January:( We both miss it sooooooooooooooooo very much, we realize you don't get rich doing it and it is the life style we like more than anything, but we weren't able to do it with all the medical bills and no health insurance. We still pray that we can find a ranch that either pays well enough to purchase health insurance or carries it so that we can get back to what we love. Money is needed and great for things but it isn't everything either so we just want to get things going in the right direction and hopefully get back to what we love...RANCHING:) But who knows you never know where GOD may put you next:) We have been loving Colorado for all it has to offer in views, hiking, and such. But is has been a trying year with me tearing the bicep tendons in both my arms in July, surgery on one and probably still yet on the other, Eric having an emergency appendectomy and then his recent hernia surgery. We are quite the pair this year!!! These past few years had really gotten me down and beat me up!! Especially since my body has not cooperated especially since the thyroid cancer. But I think it was a good thing in a way looking back.. I see that I can look at others and really try to understand them or what they are going through. To try and no judge them without knowing their whole story. It is easy to look in from the outside and say you do this, you do that, but to live it is different. Giving loving advice that comes from the heart is great, but support is better:) I just want to be a more rounded person and I think everything we go through in life does that if we let it!!! So I am actually really excited to see what 2012 brings to our life. I am sure there will be good and bad. But we will learn from them both:)
May everyone have a very very safe and Happy New Years!!!!!

Off to the hospital

Well today is Eric's hernia surgery. We have to have him there at noon and surgery at 1. It is always nerve racking no matter how easy the procedure. Hate that he has to go through any of this but he needs to get them fixed. Then he will have 2 weeks off and then light duty. That will kill us with no income and such for that long but GOD is good and we will make it all work!! Praying for it to go well and for his recovery to be quick!!!

Hope y'all had an awesome christmas!!

Our Christmas was great!! It is usually hard to be away from those we love as it was this year also but this year was really really nice. Being just the two of us was kind of nice:) Eric worked a part day on Christmas Eve and then we went up to Aspen. We walked around and seen all the Christmas decor and celebrities in town for the holiday:) Kind of fun to see them just out shopping. But the poor people had to deal with all the rude paparazzi. But still fun to see them out in an everyday setting. Then it got dark and my parents had sent us $50.00 to do something fun for Christmas so we took a carriage ride around aspen to look at all the Christmas lights. It was so romantic and wonderful. An AWESOME memory for this Christmas Eve!!! I will never forget that:)

Christmas we spent most of the day cooking the turkey and then the rest of the meal. We played some games and then shared dinner with an old neighbor that stopped in to say merry Christmas. He didn't have anywhere he was going and he is alone so it was nice to have him stay for a Christmas dinner and of course to watch the yearly movie "A Christmas Story":) Just a perfect Colorado Christmas:)

Tomorrow Eric will have his surgery so I am just taking a break to write this from cleaning the house and preparing for that. We will be taking it easy this New Years eve weekend since he will still be not 100%. May your new years eve weekend be amazing and may the New Year bring everyone many blessings and love and great memories!!!!

Merry Christmas Y'all!!!

Hope everyone is having a VERY VERY Merry Christmas!!! This has been an awesome one for the both of us!! This time of the year is usually hard being away from those we love, and it still is but this year has been great. We have just enjoyed each other and what the season is really all about!! We went to aspen yesterday afternoon and evening and then today I am making a big Christmas dinner and we are going to watch A Christmas Story:) May all you be as blessed as we are today!!! We may not have much but we have each other and that is EVERYTHING:)

Yearly Cowboy Christmas Prayer!!

I ain't much good at prayin',
and You may not know me, Lord—
For I ain't much seen in churches,
where they preach Thy Holy Word.
But you may have observed me
out here on the lonely plains,
A-lookin' after cattle,
feelin' thankful when it rains.

Admirin' Thy great handiwork.
the miracle of the grass,
Aware of Thy kind Spirit,
in the way it comes to pass
That hired men on horseback
and the livestock that we tend
Can look up at the stars at night,
and know we've got a Friend.

So here's ol' Christmas comin' on,
remindin' us again
Of Him whose coming brought good will
into the hearts of men.
A cowboy ain't a preacher, Lord,
but if You'll hear my prayer,
I'll ask as good as we have got
for all men everywhere.

Don't let no hearts be bitter, Lord.
Don't let no child be cold.
Make easy the beds for them that's sick
and them that's weak and old.
Let kindness bless the trail we ride,
no matter what we're after,
And sorter keep us on Your side,
in tears as well as laughter.

I've seen ol' cows a-starvin'—
and it ain't no happy sight;
Please don't leave no one hungry, Lord,
on Thy Good Christmas Night—
No man, no child, no woman,
and no critter on four feet
I'll do my doggone best
to help you find 'em chuck to eat.

I'm just a sinful cowpoke, Lord—
ain't got no business prayin'
But still I hope you'll ketch a word
or two, of what I'm sayin':
We speak of Merry Christmas, Lord—
I reckon You'll agree—

There ain't no Merry Christmas
for nobody that ain't free!
So one thing more I ask You,
Lord: just help us what You can
To save some seeds of freedom
for the future Sons of Man!

Its almost here.... what to do, what to do!!!

Well Christmas is almost here. We have still not decided what we are going to do. With Eric surgery coming up in a week we thought maybe just get out and take a drive or something. Maybe take a little picnic Christmas dinner lunch and go drive. Anybody have any fun ideas I would love to hear??:) I hope everyone is all ready and that y'all have an extremely blessed Christmas!!!!

Calendars for a great charity!

It is time again this year for crystal peaks youth ranch calendars. This is an amazing organization that not only helps rescue horses but helps people also. They give these calendars out for donation. It is an awesome charity to help out. Kim has also written several books that are amazing!!! If you can this holiday season please go to their site and order a calendar and donate anything you can. Every little bit helps:)

http://www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org/Merchandise/2012-calendar/default.aspx

More surgeries

Well Eric will have to have surgery on the 28th to repair two hernias. They found the one when he was in surgery for his appendix. I know, I know why not fix it then? That was our question to but with all the lawsuits they don't do that stuff anymore. So now he has to go through another surgery. Eric is beyond hating of hospitals and doctors so this is not a good thing for him. He tends to pass out and have seizures at hospitals so we are praying all will go well and that won't happen. So we are just praying it will all go well and no complications. He will be off work for two weeks and then light duty for couple weeks so it is going to be a challenge for us. But GOD is good so all will be fine.
Then when my left arm is doing better and can bare weight, the doctor said I will probably have to have surgery on the right arm. So we shall see.

Amazing Time at Bears-Broncos Game!!!

This is one of the best Christmas presents ever!!! My dad and I got to see my favorite team the Chicago bears play his favorite team the Broncos at home. This was the most amazing time. Even though my Bears lost:( It was an amazing game to watch live!! That stadium has the most amazing energy. That city does really. Even Saturday in downtown people were just yelling through the streets to each other to go bears or go broncos!!! There were SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many bears fans that came to see. We even met a guy that flew in from Austria just for the game!! AMAZING!!! This was definitely an amazing experience!!!

Me and dad on the mile high walk around the stadium

This was our view with no zoom on the camera from our hotel room window!!

Hotel VQ was awesome. And older hotel but friendly, easy to walk to game and they had free shuttles everywhere!! And the skybox restaurant at the top was awesome!!

Coors tailgated in our hotel parking lot so free beer for dad and free brats and soda for me:)

Love their statue and fountain going up to the stadium!

Broncos coming onto the field!!!

My favorite of anything opening ceremonies and star spangle banner. They did amazing and even had a flyover as you will see on video. Loved the horse Denver has, she rode him through quite a bit. And they did all the color guard, and had parachuters come into the stadium. AMAZING SHOW!!!!

This was our seats:) Prity good. High enough we could see across the whole field but low enough to see the names and such:) If you look across we sat about where the tunnels come in just to the side. GREAT SEATS:)

It will definetly be a memory for a lifetime. My dad is not just a fan he is a devoted obsessive fan. I really had to start routing for denver because my dad was getting prity sad with it looking so grim:( But it was such an amazing game to see live for sure. I think there be more of those in the future. My dream will be to see them play eachother in chicago:)

An Awesome Christmas present!!

So my dads dream has always been to see the Denver Broncos play. Well now I only live a few hours from there. So back in the september my mom and grandma, my brother and sister in law and I got to talking and they decided for christmas it would be fun to send me and my dad to a game and that game would be against my team the Chicago Bears:) I was soooooooooooo excited!!! I know my team isn't doing so hot now that cutler messed his hand up:( But still!!! So they are flying my dad in tomorrow and we are staying at a hotel right at mile high stadium and we are going to the game:) It was such an awesome present for both of us:) I will leave in the am and pick my dad up at the aiport since he is flying in from Oregon and then we will be off for a memory of a lifetime:)

Christmas cards are done!

So It was time again for our annual Christmas card photos! We decided this year to only try and wrestle the dogs with us and then do it outside. We took a nice little drive just up from us a ways and found just a little snow. And then the fun begins with 3 dogs that want to run, sniff and well you know water every plant that exists in the national forest. You will see a little of the fun in the next pics:)

Doesn't He look so excited. He is saying ya right this is going to be an epic fail:)

Next comes the bribery:) Start with that and see if it works!!

Got at least one good picture with him and the boys!! That was after we put the leashes on and Eric got to hold them:)

Then there is the mom goes, mom runs back almost falls getting in her spot and they get up to see what going on! Over and over again!

Why is my arm like that you say? Well we found the secret to making them look, just had to time it right.....

Prity good right! You hit the timer, hit the button, run, squat down count to two and then you throw their treat in front of the camera right before the flash goes off! And Vooohallah!!:)


Even Target got into it. Wanting to say Meowy Christmas:)

And Tonka of course!!!

I couldn't figure out how to get the finished card on here:( I did it through walmart and it wouldn't let me save the image to my computer. I don't have a scanner either. But it turned out prity well. It actually held 6 pics so we have the one of all of us in the snow, one of each of the cats, one of the horses wearing Christmas hats, one of me and Eric in our winter hats and one of some Colorado mountains. It was fun and great memories we can share.!

Pinterest

Ok who else is obsessed??? I love, love, love this site. I has sooooooooooo many awesome ideas for DIY projects, home decor, etc. And so much you can do yourself and do for cheap. I am just absolutely in love. Now I just wish my arms would work right so I could try some of it:) Great site for Christmas gift and decorating ideas:)

Just can't quit!!

I know, I know.....Didn't I learn the first time that I can't quit this blog!! I love blogging and I love my fellow bloggers. I just don't want to quit blogging. It has been a great learning experience for me and I realize that we open ourselves up here for new perspectives and sharing. I just can't give that all up:) Please forgive me for thinking I could just leave it all:)

GOD's Peace

Lately I have been feeling for the first time in a VERY VERY LONG TIME GOD's Peace. He has given me peace even when things are rough and things aren't going well. I love that feeling and had been missing it deeply. It wasn't like I wasn't praying, or spending time with GOD it was just like there was this block between us. I am still not sure what it was but I think it was just time I needed in "the wilderness" to learn somethings about me and GOD and such. It has been so hard the past year or so but I knew that sometime I would be able to look back and see the reasoning for it all. I can't say I see it all right now but I know I will and I definitely feel GOD is closer again:) I feel like I can appreciate things more and him more. Thankfulness is REALLY important. I just can't wait to see where GOD takes me from here. We are hoping to Oregon, to settle some and be closer to those we Love and Love GOD:)

May we all remember that Jesus is the reason for the season:)

Thankful for special friends!!!

I am soooooooooooooo thankful for good conversations with good friends!!! I have really struggled with saddness, being hurt and such in the last year or so. I have struggled with what life has thrown at me but I found that it has also taught me a lot about myself, others and the LORD!!! I know a lot of my posts have been sad or frustrated but that is what I had been dealing with and going through. I don't want to hide ME! I am an open book about my feelings but it is also nice to hear sometimes how others see you. I have a friend who is soooooooooooo very dear to me and means the world to me and tonight she told me I am strong and a fighter and a good person and it really made me smile. It made my night!! Sometimes just to hear something from others can change you totally. Even a smile from a stranger can change the world for someone. It really reminded me that we have a lot of power in our words, our body gestures, etc. That we can change someones day, night, life, etc. That GOD uses us to do this and sometimes we don't even know it. Or we can't know the extent that we do. I know this friend knows I love her and she is special to me, but I don't know that she will ever know the extent in which she has changed my life. I know we all feel that way about someone or someone's. But I want to be that person that can help others and make a difference in their life for the LORD!! I am just so thankful for those few people in my life that are my TRUE DEEP FRIENDS!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hope everyone has a VERY blessed Thanksgiving. May it be full of love, laughter and great memories. I am SOOOOOO VERY thankful for all you. You have changed my life in many ways. Thanks for always being there for me. I love you and am grateful for y'all everyday!!!

Thankful for a special family!!!

I am sooooooooo very thankful for the time with a very special family I got to live with before I met Eric. I cannot begin to even say how much living with them meant and all that it taught me. But for the first time in my life I had a REAL family. I miss them dearly, especially now with Thanksgiving tomorrow. But I will never forget them, their kindness, our memories and how Thankful I am that GOD put us all together!!!

Today I am thankful for......

Today I am Thankful that I have the LORD!!! Thankful that he is in control. Thankful that no matter what I have hope in him. I know my future will be glorious no matter the circumstances on this earth. Thankful that no matter how many times I let him down he is always there to pick me back up. That he loves me for me, no matter what!!!

A Goodbye:(

Just wanted to say goodbye to all my blog friends. It is time for me to close my blog. I just want to say thank you to everyone that I have met on here. You have affected my life in one way or another and it helps me to grow. I will keep up on all your blogs and what is going on in your life. I know some of you I have on facebook. So if I don't have ya on facebook and you want to stay in touch please comment or message me so I can ad your email and such. May your lives be extremely blessed. And have a very happy blessed holiday season!!! I will miss y'all!!

I'm Thankful for.......

On facebook a lot of us have been doing a today I am thankful for..... I thought it would be a great thing to also write on my blog and share.

Today I am thankful for those who love you for who you are and are there for you when you need them but also allow you to be there for them when they need you. For good friends and family!!!

Fun on Halloween:)

We went out to a costumer party at one of local places on Saturday. It was a lot of fun even though I couldn't dance yet with my arm. There was a lot of fun people and some fun costumes:) Here is some of the fun pics!

Trying to be happy but serious pirates:)


I don't make a very mean pirate just look peeved off:)


He was not happy that the make up didn't come off well:) He is a great sport!

Hilarious costumes:)


The guy behind us had a freaky costume



Hilarious guy and loved his belt buckle you could tell I had to squat to be the same height:) Amazon girl here:)

A hilarious craiglsist ad- good laugh for the day:)

Below is why people should proof read:) I know I mess up a lot but this one is prity hilarious. I am sure they ment gentle:)


western slope craigslist > for sale / wanted > farm & garden

genital paint gelding - $1800 (fruita)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2011-10-28, 2:53PM MDT
Reply to: sale-jbjtv-2664910259@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Eight years old 15 hands genital broke runs to meet you at the gate shoes loads crosses water has never spooked while I was riding him. Call 970 858 three five three one


•Location: fruita
•it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Trying to stay positive with all going on!

So I learned long ago not to say whats going to happen next. Even though I don't say it guess what......the crap just keeps happening. I try to stay positive and look at the good things I have but it is so hard sometimes. It is just hard to try so hard and to have Eric work so hard to get NOWHERE. Yes the job is nice for pay but with the cost of living here and trying to get things caught up that need it like car repairs, doctors, etc that doesn't leave anything for back bills or the unexpected things that come up. Don't think I don't know everyone struggles with this cause I know they do. I just wish one thing could work out well and just give us a chance to get caught up and then work on getting some savings. With that rental house not working out and this one is a mess with where the horses are(poor Eric has already fallen twice now trying to feed when it was rainy) we are REALLY trying to find a different rental soon but not a lot available now and then yesterday the car decided it wants to die:( One of the lifters is going bad so now we have to scramble to find another cheap car. Just a lot going on and when I don't feel well and arms are hurting makes my patience thin to say the least. I have never been so impatient as in this last year but I think the years and years of pain and sickness on top of life is finally just got me down:( I keep praying and trying really hard to kick my attitude but I just don't know what to do anymore. Just keep going and doing what we can and hope it doesn't end in an even bigger disaster! I know GOD is control and I know I will look back one day and see the reason for all this but it is just hard now. I know there is a lot worse and I thank GOD everyday for the good I do have so that is what I will continue to do. I usually write the downer stuff in my other blog but thought I would share my thoughts with my blogger friends:)

kitty gone wild and grandma gets staples

So here is what happened with my Grammy while she was here. I had gone in and cleaned the Kitty's litter box, fed them and such and petted them. I opened their windows a crack and left. About 5 min or so later I went to go outside to start the car since we were leaving for my physical therapy and hit Tonka on my way out with the door and he took off around the house. "what the, why are you out?" go around and see he had pulled the window open further and then pushed the corner of the screen out. He was all scared and puffing and that is not like him. SOOOO Stupid me I reached down to grab him and put him away as I have done a few times before and he went psycho kitty on my rear. He jumped on my other arm and scratched the heck out of me:( He has never done anything like that so my grandma comes out to see why I had hollered I told her he scratched me and he did....blood was dripping everywhere. Well we live way to close to the road so I ran in to get the kennel and my grandma was still outside. As I come out the door I see her by the fence hollering and she said he got me to. I look up and she has blood running down her forehead, way more than what a kitty could have done. So she runs in and washes her head really quickly while I get Tonka in the kennel and put him in his room where 5 minutes later of course he is fine. We think he might have gotten chased by one of the Ferrel cats that hangs around since he was SO SCARED! So I go inside to check on grandma and she says look and as I look I see a couple little scratches and then a cut about 3 1/2 inches long and really deep all laid open. I ask her what happened and she said she picked him up and you know cats he climbed right up her. I said he couldn't have cut you like that so we get her ready to go to ER and I go outside to investigate and realize when she bent down to get him off her head she hit the barbed wire fence and that is what sliced her. So a trip to the ER some nice Dr's, a tetanus shot, and 7 staples in her head and we were back home. Never did hurt much she said just started to itch as it healed. What a crazy weird thing to have happen. My kitty tried to apologize in kitty purrs and grandma forgave him but we know just to get the kennel if he is scared. Lessons you learn the hard way. I have known that with cats but no matter if he was scared he has never done that before so it better not happen again or he will be claw less!

Not moving yet:(

Well we aren't going to move yet:( The house we were sooooooooooo in love with won't workout. they didn't want horses on the property. Wish they just would have said that upfront but oh well. We were possibly going to board the horses but why have em if I can't even see them and then it would have cost us more than we are paying now and we want to get cheaper not more. We need to be able to do better not worse so we decided to just keep looking and see what we can find. Just REALLY would like to find it before winter! But we will see.

Other than that nothing to exciting. Just getting excited for Halloween. I love Halloween and I love to dress up! I am going as a buccaneer this year and Eric a rouge pirate:) I am not sure where we are going yet but we will find somewhere fun I am sure. Just fun to get out and be something you aren't for a day:)

Crazy around here lately!!

So it has been crazy past two weeks. My grandma came in on the 8th and left the 17th with Staples in her head(that will be a post all its own soon) and then we have been trying to find a different rental before winter. This place is alright but the only way down to the horses to feed, ect is down a hill that gets very slippery when wet or snowy and I fell countless times last year being careful and can't afford to have that happen this year with my arms:( We have looked at so many but over the past two weeks we have really been trying to get one. It was AWESOME and perfect it was just a couple acres with a really nice house and like 3 miles or so from Eric's work. But then finally yesterday we got the call that said they were not allowing horses as when they subdivided the 80 acres or whatever into 4 parcels they agreed not to allow livestock of any kind. REALLY!?!?!? so I am beyond bummed. But my husband still wants to rent the house and board the horses which I am REALLY not keen on. I would rather just find a different place all together. But we will see what happens. So it has just been looking places, physical therapy and waiting.

Its SNOWING on October 6th WTF?!?!?!

So yes it is October 6th and it is snowing here. It isn't sticking right here but just about 1500 feet above us is. It is beautiful and I love the snow but it is so hard on the animals especially the horses to go back and forth from warm to cold, etc. Next week will be upper 60's and 70's but 30's at night. Pringle coliced this spring and since he wasn't impacted or anything my guess was just the crazy weather changes so now it makes me nervous. So I am watching them carefully!!! Its gonna change whether we are ready or not:)

Missing riding sooooooooo much!! Feeling a tug!

I have really missed riding A LOT!!! I of course haven't been able to do anything with my horse other than look at her and give her treats and a few pets since I have been injured but it has been longer than that since I have really ridden her. She is older and has some soundness issues that I really don't feel comfortable putting my fat self on her for long. I need to get a vet out and have her looked over and see what they think but really she is only going to be an easy rider if that. I miss REALLY riding! I use to ride all the time. That was my thing to keep my peace:) I loved showing and barrel racing and all that fun stuff. I am feeling a Tug to want to get back into it. A huge part of me just feels dead. But right now we just can't do it. So I guess it is just more incentive to take care of my arms so they heal properly and to really be disciplined in spending and such to try to set it up so we can get a couple of good, broke, ready to enjoy horses and be able to give them everything they need. I would love more than anything to do a drill team for rodeos or even the simplest to carry the flag at the opening of the rodeo, that is a huge dream for me:) I know so silly but I LOVE IT!!! I also would love to ride in parades and such again. So for now dream, dream, dream:)

YAY its October:)

I love, love, love October!!! I love the warm days and cool mornings and nights. I love the color of all the leaves and brush and such changing. I love HALLOWEEN!!! Yes Halloween in is my favorite holiday. I love to dress up and be something I am not for a day:) This year we are going to be pirates! I had to pick something "manly" husband said so he was good with the pirates:) Plus my favorite anything is Pumpkin-pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin coffee, etc so it is a good month:)

Our 2nd anniversary!!

So Monday was our 2nd wedding anniversary. I love that man more than anything and more everyday!!! We have a plan to visit a different state every anniversary. Well since we really couldn't afford to do much we did our Colorado one this year:) Guess good thing we moved to this state:) Sunday we got up early and drove up through Glenwood Springs to Carbondale and drove to Redstone, marble, and went on a dirt road to Crestted Butte and then around Gunnison, Montrose and back up to I-70 and home. It was an amazingly beautiful drive to take this time of year. All the brush and aspens are changing colors and it just made it stunning. We stopped at a few of the little towns and just enjoyed the atmosphere and learned some history in marble, co. Which is where the marble for the Lincoln memorial and other federal landmarks came from. It was just nice to get away and enjoy each others company. We truly truly LOVE each other, but more than that we LIKE each other:) Now we are working on 3 years:) and have many, many, many more to go!!!! Thank you LORD for putting this man beside me in this life!!

I love aspens!!! They are just the prettiest when they change color and I love the sound as the leaves dry and clank together. So I took a TON of pics of them:)

Eric standing in the doorway of what use to be one of the 70ft. marble walls to keep fires from spreading if they were to break out at marble, CO.

on a dirt road between paonia and crested butte area.

pinnacle cliffs on the gunnison reservoir. It was just such an awesome view!

A LONG shot on a great place for us.....Maybe a home finally?

Ok so it is a HUGEEEEEEEEEEEEE long shot but we found a place listed here for 189,900. It is a 2002 hud manufactured home with 4 bedrooms and actually is really nice for a mobile home which I usually hate. But I LOVEEEEEEEE this one. It is on 35 acres. It is only about 15 minutes from erics work and a little ways out of town but not hours from everything. Now that seems like a lot to people like us from S.dakota, Nebraska:) but around here this price is UNHEARD of. Everything with 5 acres or more is averaging 299,900 or more. We have been looking and it is crazy. IT also has the most amazing views. Now with or credit and such it is prity much impossible, but GOD does great things. So we are going to atleast see if there is anything we can do. I mean if not atleast we know we tried and what we need to do to make it happen later. But I am absolutely in love already!! I know bad, bad, bad. But gotta start somewhere to see what we got to do. First we have the personal loans and then this. So we will see what happens. I am putting some pics from the website but they don't do it much justice. Just lots to work with over the next years to make it a real home for us and all the critters:) I know it is a long shot but just got try. Never know:)

The side of the house

The couple little sheds for eric storage-plus you can't see it well but a dog run that is prity good sized and actually has a door to the back part of the right shed that has a little dog house built in.

Just part of the amazing views from here. It is such a beautiful place and walking thru the junipers and sage was so nice. There is already some parts cleared and ready to make a pasture and as time goes we can improve and plant more pasture and cut trails and such. It is just such a cool piece of land in a perfect spot for us.

The simple joys in life

I have always been the most bubbly,upbeat, easing going person in life. But the last couple years have really beat me down. One thing after another, after another, after another...you get the point has taken its toll on me and more specifically my joy and attitude. I don't want to keep having that problem, life is way toooooooooooo short!!! I need to remember the simple joys.
This morning when I woke up I looked out into the pasture and seen my baby girl Shar standing there sleeping in the morning sun. I just love that horse. It is so hard to see her getting older and not to be able to ride her, show her and compete on her like the old days. I trusted this horse with my life and truly felt the most amazing peace and joy when I was riding her. So I put some treats in my pocket and walked down to love on her and spoil her. Which I haven't done enough of since I hurt my arm. It was just the perfect fall morning and her sweet soft muzzle against my hand made me smile. It made me realize how much I truly miss the horse world and being involved with horses daily. I even love cleaning stalls just to be around them. They bring a joy I can't explain and I know you horse girls understand:)
I just want to spend more time enjoying the simple. I just wish I could do more for her. But I am going to enjoy what I can do and love her. And Mr. Pringle:)
Thank you LORD for the everyday in our lives. Please help me to see it all more and to appreciate it and love it and see the joy in it all:)

cleaning up our mess and making a future

So last night I found a listing on line for a house near erics work and it had 35 acres with it. So for fun we went and looked at it. NOT a good idea because of course we really really liked it and it is actually pretty affordable for this area:) But it did really help us to decide we really need to look into things and how to go about getting our future in order. Our past is a mess full of huge mounting medical bills and a foreclosure from all of it. So it is a mess. I am an open book so I don't try and hide things and some of it was just plain sh*$ty luck and some was bad choices I am not about to blame all our trouble on life. But it is frustrating and now we find ourselves wanting to start to really build a future to have a place that is home that we feel like home. We are paying way to much in rent where we are. It was a great place at the moment as we didn't have time to go looking and be picky. But we don't want to saddle ourselves with it next year. We want to be able to put money away for a down payment. With our foreclosure it looks like it will be minimum 2 years before we can really look at anything so for now we just need to put our nose to the grindstone. And before even that we have some private loans to some that WE WANT WANT WANT to get paid back. Those are my priority and with me out with my injury and eric out with his appendix for so long that really put a damper on income for those sooner. But I don't care what it takes those got to get paid ASAP. So private loans first, emergency funds, medical bills, and such. We just want to get where we are not worrying all the time. Get our cars fixed from all their problems, have emergency money for things and the animals:), Get enough hay put away for winter, etc. We just want to be responsible and enjoy life not dread what is around the corner.
I just want to share these things to look back in a couple years and hopefully see a huge change in things in our life:)

Drastic Change!!!

Ok so I did it! I cut my hair. I will be honest that I don't know what I think of it yet. It was just so damaged from everything. I was scared to death to do it. I know why? It grows back right? Well that is what I am afraid of. First time it started to get long was when I had the gas explode on me and burn me all over and burned my hair mostly off and we had to shave it, then it started to get long and I lost most of it with all the cancer drugs, and then since it has fallen out and regrown, and fallen out and regrown because of my thyroid levels being so all over the place. I know it is just hair, but for me it helps me to feel more feminine:) Silly I know but hey. Well it was sooooooooooooo damaged and since I can't use my other arm and my husband can't put hair in a pony tail to save his life this will be easier to actually brush myself:) We will see:)

before and afters

Recovery is happening but slowly!!

Well my surgery was 10 days ago now. It is very painful and then I got pneumonia from the surgery to. So to say it has been trying and frustrating is an understatement. It is like starting all over again. No using my left arm, in a brace, lots of ice, physical therapy and 3 months till I can use it all the way. Then since my other arm was injured also and now has been my only usable arm for 2 1/2 months it is extremely painful. MY doctor says I am not allowed to use it except for basics, eating, etc. OK ya that isn't good as my house is beyond needing cleaned and is driving me CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY. He says my husband has to do everything. I know, I know every woman's dream, well not mine. I hardly even see my husband lately. He is working long, long, hours. I am not complaining by any means as we really need the income. With him being out for surgery, me being out for all this and surgery it REALLY screwed up all our income to get loans paid back and get ready for winter and all that. So now I just have to try and be not so frustrated with the mess around me:(
It is just very hard not being close to any friends and family. It makes it a big challenge. But hey that is life and I am living it as best I can:) I have a few posts I need to do but one handed typing is hard so maybe in a day or two:)

Goes to show impossible is possible-amazing barrel racer

Here is a video of an amazing girl who is paralyzed from the waste down from a car accident and is barrel racing only little over a year later. Makes you think about how much we can truly do if we put our heart and mind to it.




Description:
Amberley Snyder was paralyzed in an auto acccident. This bright young girl is a high school rodeo champion and past Utah State FFA chapter president. The daughter of ex-major league ball player Cory Snyder. She has gone to be an inspiration to many as she makes her comeback to rodeo. She is still paralyzed but is still determined to live her rodeo dream by competing in the WPRA barrel racing.

The 2011 Spanish Forks Fiesta Days Rodeo is part of the PRCA Wrangler Silver Tour series. It attracts some of the top rodeo contestants in the world.

This year's event featured both present and past world champions along with many of the current leaders in the world championship standings for the PRCA.

Its official.....Surgery!

So I went to the orthopedic doctor today and he says the surgery will be done next Wednesday the 7th. I am not happy about surgery but if it fixes my arm then I would be happy. So hopefully it all goes well and hopefully we don't have any complications with the nerves. I wish they would have just done it sooner, but with Workman's comp they have to prove they really tried without the surgery. I will have the surgery and then start all over with the brace and physical therapy. I won't be able to do my regular stuff for about 3 months:( But we will see how it all goes.
I am up for a full time opening in the streets department at work but I am really hoping that I can still get it since I won't be able to be fully useful for 3 months. We will have to see. It would be awesome if I could get the job as it would be full time, decent pay and BENEFITS!!! Yes that would change a lot for us.
I just want to get back on track of trying to get back on top of things financially. We were doing really well and had hoped by today that we would have some personal loans paid and a few bills but with my arm and reduced workers comp salary and then Eric's appendicitis and no work and then reduced work that really gave us a punch in the gut. So hopefully this will be the start of trying to get back where we need to be. We have had some very very awesome people help us out and it makes me very frustrated and sad not to have it paid back and settled by now. So LORD please help us with that:)
I hope everyone has an awesome Labor day weekend. I have my mom, dad and grandma driving in tomorrow and staying till Tues am. So it should be a weekend of fun:)

Heaven is for REAL!!!!

I just started and finished this book in one sitting yesterday!!! It is amazing and it changed a lot for me. It is about a little boy who has emergency surgery for life threatening issues and he goes to heaven during the surgery. It is an amazing story and one that will definitely change some things for you. Especially if you have ever lost a baby to miscarriage I would definitely recommend this story. It is a book I definitely recommend!!!

looking like surgery:(

So my physical therapist and the doctor talked yesterday and they are both agreeing on surgery. So I will have my pre-op appt next Thursday and then surgery on the 7th. They said this will be like starting all over again but that it will heal much faster!! SO that part is good, but I am just frustrated with it being so long:( but at least it will be healed proper. There is a lot of complication risks with this surgery but I am trusting GOD to guide the Dr. hand. So we will see how it all works out.



Thanks for every ones comments on the whole kids thing. I am still so confused. Is anyone really ever truly "ready"? Do people not really think about how they will do it? etc? I am just going to pray and if the LORD decides it is time he can make it happen:) Thanks for every ones comments.

Wanting your thoughts! Have kids? or not have kids?

Ok so we are back to this again:) When I was back home for my visit of course everyone is asking when we will have kids. And me I just don't know. Part of me wants to and part of me doesn't. It makes me feel so bad as there are others who would give anything to have kids and can't and here I sit not knowing. I also don't know with my health if I would be able to get pregnant. I am just worried maybe I am to selfish, maybe I wouldn't make a good mom, maybe I couldn't give them the life they deserve, etc. etc. etc. I know my husband would love to have kids but he doesn't pressure me. I just don't want to regret my decision either way. I just feel more pressure now as that I am getting older and also I would want my baby to grow up around those their age and everyone is pregnant now or just had babies. Seriously like 4 babies in last month and 6 pregnant now. I guess my other hindrance is that we are here all alone. I don't want my kid to be lonely. I wouldn't have people I love and trust to turn to if I needed the help as a new mother. I know these are probably things everyone worries about and I know everyone says it is different when you have your own. I know I need to trust GOD and that children are a blessing from him. But I would really love to hear from y'all on this. Kids? no kids? and just your thoughts!!!

GOD has made such stunning places!

(Hanging Lake, Glenwood Springs CO.)

Saturday I decided I wanted to get out and be brave with my arm still hurting:) I figured if I make it worse than it REALLY needs surgery for sure. So I found a picture of hanging lake online and wanted to go. It said about an hour and a half round trip and 1.2 miles. I was like no prob that would be an easy hike. Well I get there and see the sign that says "difficult" well different states have different ideas of difficult:) This state knows difficult.

This is just the first part of the trail all rock and really not much of a trail. But it was an awesome, awesome hike and I was actually prity proud of how well I did it and that I wasn't totally exhausted. And we did it in a quick time. It is 1.2 miles but goes up like 1,102 feet in that 1.2 miles. So it is a lot of switch backs. but it does follow the most beautiful dead horse creek.

Which as you can see here makes some of the most beautiful water falls all along it. I could fill this post with hundreds of pictures of this creek and different falls. It was so clean and clear and the sound was so relaxing.

This was the view from almost the top. Yes we started out below all those cliffs at the bottom where the Colorado river runs so it was a long ways up.

This is the falls that feeds hanging lake. This is called spouting rock as you can kind of see on the right fall it comes directly out of the rock cliffs.





This is hanging lake. It is so beautiful. You cannot fish or go in the water. It has special minerals and such that make it its own eco-system and it would destroy it if people were to get in it or such. It is so clear and it is full of some of the most beautiful trout. Which Handsome just thought was cruel that I would make him watch them but no fishing:)

Almost looks like some other country don't it:)



This the view from above the lake at spouting rock falls. It was just such an awesome day. It helped to remind me that there is so much out there that GOD made for me to enjoy and it wasn't even that far from us:) I want to spend more time enjoying those little moments and spending such awesome time with my husband whom I love sooooooo much!!! It is just nice to get away and enjoy the little things.