MOTHER'S DAY, SPLASH DAY, RODEOS and everything in between!

Sweet Zack set his alarm for the middle of the night, got up, took his flashlight and the dogs down to the pasture and picked this gorgeous bouquet of wildflowers for me, for Mother's Day. When I came out to the kitchen in the morning, there they were in a Mason jar of water. He also made me a card to tell me how special I am to him! Ahhhh, he made my day...my week....my month....my year! 

Jake was very sweet to call me on Mother's Day! It was great to hear his voice! I also talked to Talia, earlier in the morning - she is such a wonderful girl! They are both staying up in Canyon for the summer to work. It will be strange without Jake here this summer! Hopefully, he'll come home now and then!

        MECHANIC JAKE AND ZACK                  
Jake and Cory came home for RODEO WEEKEND! Cory's uncle had an old boat that was not being used, so they decided to haul it back to Canyon as a lil' project to work on after work...It certainly will be a project as it needs a new floor, seats, tires, paint job, and apparently some work needs to be done to the engine. Jake called in a panic last night looking for Dyke....something about the boat motor being on fire....I didn't ask any questions............Oops!

                                                                   MECHANIC CORY

                          Now, there's a sight!   3 Stooges in Boat Mechanics 101

The Rodeo parade kicked off the 2012 Santa Rosa Rodeo weekend! The Palamino Club was decked out in all their glory.  They were invited to ride in the Rose Bowl parade last year!

All kinds of floats, horse groups, teams, scout groups and queens graced the streets in the parade! A typical small town parade affair!

Of course, the starch-white-shirted Waggoner Ranch cowboys were lead by Weldon and his grandson!

Pat Green played in concert after the rodeo! It was great fun and a beautiful night to be out and about!

As part of the end of the year Lion Rally - the party for the kids who had good behavior during the last 6 weeks, we had SPLASH DAY! The fire truck came and 2nd and 3rd grade classes had 10 minutes of spraying time from the big ladder truck! The kids LOVED IT! I did too - of course, I had to get out in that myself! It was a blast!!!!

The sports banquet was also held recently and Zack won awards for being a freshman on the Varsity Football and Track teams! Woo-Hoo for Zack! I was so proud!!!

As you know, I'm a quote person. I love a good quote, or a unique way of saying something...found these two and wanted to share them.  Oh so true!!

THE END IS NEAR.....or.....IS IT JUST THE BEGINNING?

 The school year is nearly completed and a new chapter is about to begin in so many lives.  For some, it is always a difficult adjustment, for others, it is a gift.  I embrace it as a gift and allow a renewing, deep breath to integrate my head and my heart. An opportunity for reflection, recognition and reclamation. A piece of light. A thread of wisdom. A rock of truth. 

A resolution that I have clung to for a couple of years, is to read more books, and get to a place in my life where I can deepen my sense of value: not overestimating myself or underestimating others.  Where there is a breathing space to light a candle for others and shine value upon every person.  I truly believe everything that comes at us, is doing so, as part of a plan that is destined to make us better.  Someone once said, "Our brightest light can only shine after we accept our darkness." That stuck with me and has become part of my story, my fabric, my legacy.  That if we all have the courage to chip away our outer shell, the very layer that protects us from the world, we will reveal the gold that is within us. For some, the shell locks in and paralyzes their ability for  "real" forgiveness. For some the shell hides self-shame from the eyes of the world.  For others, it's a thick wall of protection from even more pain.  I think your greatest expression of yourself is to use your past to help you reclaim your light. Ludwig Von Beethoven was a living representation of exactly that.  He went deaf from an illness, suffered from a brokenheart, all the while, embracing this immense passion to create...look at what he did with his pain. His darkness was actually his enlightenment and I believe that we all harbor that ability within the depths of our soul.  

I recently journeyed across these sayings. I felt a connection to them and wanted to share them with those who happen across my blog. 

Taken recently in Florida, (my parents and my Aunt), I wanted to include this picture in honor of my amazing parents, who instilled in me, at a very young age, that my worth was bigger than the planet, and that my life's dreams mattered.  Their constant love, support and belief in me carries me along every step and every breath that this journey we call "life", allows.  There are no physical words to accurately speak the language of my heart for what they mean to me.  

Another picture from Florida (my Aunt and my mom) which represents such a powerful analogy for the pulse of this blog posting.  Stretching out into the endless horizon is a pier for each of our lives. Straight, solid, secure, but finite. Some choose to journey solely on that pier, and others choose to use the pier as a guide,but not as to limit the landscape of their lives.  How can we know courage, if we haven't known fear? How can we know happiness, if we haven't known sadness? How can we know light, if we don't know darkness? Allow yourself true freedom. Venture off the pier, but keep it in sight.  Feed your heart. Cultivate your innerself.  


May God's rich blessings drench your soul today.

SPRING HAPPENINGS!

Zack and his buddies went to cheer on Josh, their other buddy, at the Varsity Baseball Playoffs!

Zack made it to Regionals in the discus! We went to Lubbock (Texas Tech) to watch him throw. Here he is with Coach Stevens.

He did a GREAT job and I was so proud of him! Especially since he's only a FRESHMAN!!!

Jake and Talia came down from Canyon to see him too! It was Jake's 20th birthday on the same day...April 28!

As planned, once Jake and Talia left Lubbock, I headed toward Canyon, myself! I had planned to surprise Jake! Cory had moved up to Canyon that very day - as he got a welding job in Amarillo.  Cristi, Chris and Cole were up there too, so I was excited to have a good time up there!  The drive was arrow straight and nothing but good ol' Texas plains!

Talia had already made reservations at Ruby Tequila's in Amarillo and made a "Better Than Sex" cake...which they allowed her to bring into the restaurant!!!

13 of his good friends were able to make it, so it sure was a fun time getting to know them and making Jake's day special! Cristi and Chris went as well and it was a lot of fun!

The next morning, Cristi and Chris and I went to see the Palo Duro Canyon (The Grand Canyon of Texas). It was really NEAT! We drove down into the canyon on the loop road.  Everything in Canyon is so flat as you drive, and all of a sudden the earth opens up and this gorgeous canyon appears!

Pictures at the overlook!

In the summer, a live performance of Texas! is put on each weekend. We went to see the outdoor amphitheater, which is down in the canyon...It sure was neat!!!

OTHER THINGS GOING ON....The wheaties are slowly rolling into town. Our wheat is golden brown and ready to be cut! I hope the price is good this year!!