Reflection

  The end of the year always brings much reflection.  I try to do that throughout the year but end of the year always get ya to thinkin of what you want in the New Year.  It has been a rough couple of months the last of this year.  Most of which I cannot share yet:(  But it has been VERY hard.  True colors came out in unexpected places.  It really broke me.  Not much left to break to be honest.  But I have been praying and thinking and I am not going to continue to let others drag me down or make me feel bad about my life.  I want to forgive, grow and move on.  I want 2015 to be a GREAT year.  A pivotal life changing year.  I want to be happy, healthy and enjoy every moment.  That won't always be easy but I am making a conscious choice to change and to take control.
   So far this week has been a great start to look forward to the new year.  We finally sold our 5th wheel so we got rid of that payment:) YEAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! and without that payment we signed me up for health insurance.  Yes FINALLY health insurance:)  So now praying for great doctors and great answers. I know it is still a long road but at least we have started down it:)
   Our biggest challenge is that we really don't know where we want to be in life:(  It is hard when part of your heart is in soooo many different places:(  But we both know since we have moved here we are definitely not as happy, we don't like the hustle, we don't like the overcrowding and high cost of living.  So we are probably not going to stay here permanently.  We both LOVE South Dakota soooo very much and that is at the top of the list.  Truthfully if it hadn't been for my old horse we would have moved this year, but I couldn't leave her behind and I don't think she can make it in such harsh weather.  So we put it on hold.  We have thought of eastern Oregon so I could be closer to family but not so close I am submerged in the family drama.  That is another thing we are both choosing not to participate in.  Which can be hard at times.  So we are just hoping for clear answers and the way to make things happen.  We would just love to have our own place someday!  We do miss the ranches desperately and have thought of going back to that also.  So who knows what 2015 will bring!!!
   Life is short! To short to be so full of hurt, sadness and worry!!! So wanting to live each day to its fullest in 2015 and everyday after:)  Hope everyone has an amazing 2015!!!

#christmasinthecountry2014 gift

I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas!!! 

  I got my Christmas in the country gift on Monday before Christmas:)  My camera broke right before Christmas so I wasn't able to get any pictures:( SOOOOOO very sad:(  But it was a beautiful little package from Jenn over at http://thesouthdakotacowgirl.com.  I LOVE her photography and it was a package full of it:)  I got a calendar from her own photos, some beautiful note cards and some stunning magnets all of her photos.  I love them all. Such a cool gift!! Thank you miss Jenn:)  This was a TON of fun!!! I just wish we had a little more time to make stuff and think things out.  17 days during Christmas season little rough:)  But I am excited to participate again next year:)

#christmasinthecountry2014

A Cowboy's Christmas Prayer

I know I post this prity much every year.  But I just love it!! May your Christmas be TRULY TRULY BLESSED!!!  May we all remember Jesus is the reason for the season! Merry Christmas all my blogger friends:)

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 on its way.....

So my Christmas in the country gift is on its way to its new person:)  I am sooo excited for her to get it.  This was a ton of fun.  I am already looking forward to next year:)  I would like a little more time to get a present done though:) 17 days this time year hard to get something special done that quick:)  I did make one thing and then added few little things to it:)  This is just fun and a great way to get to know others around the globe:)  Can't wait to see all the fun things sent to everyone for #christmasinthecountry2014:)

Date Night-Christmas light edition:)

Saturday night my husband wanted to just have some us time.  We don't get much of that anymore between his 70+ hours a week at work and family and friend functions so I was excited:) We are both exhausted so we decided a night of checking out Christmas lights sounded fun and relaxing and would help get us in that Christmas spirit.  It did:) It was a wonderful evening together.  Drove around and looked at ones along the road,  Found a neat one done by a local business that even had snow machines, and then walked around a big local one near home.  The one near home does it every year and it gets bigger and bigger.  They do it for free and ask for food donations.  They give away hot drinks, and do fun things.  We went on opening night so they did camel ears(elephant ears small style:)), all hot drinks, caramel apples, corn dogs, nachos.  It was full of food, fun and some beautiful light displays.  Below are some pictures:)  Hope y'all are enjoying the Christmas season:)

#christmasinthecountry2014

Finishing up my gift:)  Few last things and then get it wrapped and shipped. I am excited for this.  The only thing I wished is that I had a little more time to pick presents or make things.  Two weeks just is a little hard to get something worked out but I think I got it and I hope my person likes their gift:)  This is a fun thing and I look forward to joining next year:)  May everyone have a truly blessed Christmas:)

Make a difference this Christmas Season

http://www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org/ranch-life/2015-cpyr-calendar-order-form/

It is time again for the yearly ordering of the Crystal Peaks youth ranch calendars. If you are not familiar with this organization you need to check out their website.  It is an amazing place that does amazing things.  They have been through so much and have helped so many.  The calendars are free, they just ask for a donation.  This is a great chance to help out an awesome place.  You can make a difference even in small ways.  Every little bit helps out!!!

To see how this place changed my life see the following post.
http://aranchlifeondreamsandprayers.blogspot.com/2012/06/day-15-shakin-faith.html

Finally a diagnosis

So our poor old kitty girl Target has been sick since August.  Sneezing uncontrollably at first.  Took her into vet and they thought allergies so we put her on prednisone and 2 days later normal self again.  Wean her off of it and month later sneezing and wheezing back horribly:(  Put her on pred again this time no fix and her whole face swells up. So call vet they can't get her in for few days, so I call the other vet and they get her right in.  They check her over and find she has an abscessed tooth and a cracked tooth so we get her on antibiotics and schedule a dental with yet another vet that has dental xrays.  SO we have the dental done, she has 9 teeth removed(poor girl:( ) But two weeks later still swollen face and not feeling well.  So we change antibiotics and swelling finally goes away.  But the sneezing and wheezing still there.  We try the prednisone again and then Thanksgiving her face swells up yet again and she is sneezing horribly:(  Next morning I get up and she starts sneezing blood all over:(  I couldn't get her in to our regular vets so I decide try a vet a couple towns away.  And I am soooooooooooooooooooooo glad we did, I wish we had gone to this vet when it started. Lucky all the blood she was sneezing was just a broken blood vessel from sneezing so hard. She did more testing that the other vets said they couldn't do and then she thought it could possibly be cryptococssis.  It is rare here but she thought it was a big possibility so we pulled blood and sent it in.  It took 5 days to get it back but it came back positive.  That stinks but I was happy to finally have an answer!!  But the poor girl is lucky to be alive.  So then they had compound medicine in Texas and mail it to us overnight.  So we started her on it Thursday.  It will take a while to do much good and it is something she will be on at least 3 months but could be on it the rest of her life possibly.  So now just praying to much damage wasn't done and that she responds well to the medicine.  Just thankful we know what is going on and can get her going in right direction. Praying she will be feeling A LOT better by Christmas:)

SOOO Excited I got my person:)

So I got my person for the Christmas in the country gift exchange yesterday.  I am sooooo VERY excited about this:)  Now to figure out what I will send this person as a gift.  This is such an AWESOME way to get to know others and interact with fellow bloggers.  

Thanksgiving weekend

Well our Thanksgiving weekend started wed so it was long weekend:)  It was my sister in-laws first time hosting so she asked if I would help so we made it a fun family sleepover:)  We had a great time cooking together, had our yummy dinner and watched some movies:)  Friday wasn't the funnest of days as my old kitty that has been having the sneezing and swelling issues started sneezing blood all over and we had to rush her to vet.  Luckily blood was just some broken blood vessels but we are still trying figure out why she isn't getting better. We took her to a new vet and they are going a different route.  We are waiting for blood work back so praying tomorrow finally brings us an answer.  She is the sweetest, toughest girl and even through it all has been lovey and even playful at times:)  Saturday we spent some time cleaning up the mess outside from all the wind and trees, and then we got the Christmas lights up:)  Sunday was AMAZING we always go out in the woods and cut our own tree.  So we took a drive up in the hills outside of where we live and got to see some amazing, amazing views.  Some I couldn't get grate pics of but in one spot we could see 3 mountains and of course all the hills.  It was stunning!!!  It was VERY cold but it was sunny and the snow was so so beautiful!!!  We didn't get the tree up last night since it was so full of ice and snow it is still drying, but tonight we will get that decorated:)  I will post some pics of our Sunday drive:)