What happened in these parts on Father's day...

See these average looking work boots.  They are dirty, brown, and a Wal-mart special purchased on the fly one day when we were making a Wal-mart run in town (Waco) and hubby remembered he needed some replacements.  But here is their most important quality...

STEEL TOE.  Because of this feature my David still has his toes....thank the Lord.

Sunday, yes, Father's Day, there was no big celebration (we usually lay low on Sundays anyway), our oldest girls were spending the day with their mother's father and so David headed out for a few simple tasks in the pasture with our youngest cowgirl in training, Sophia.  They had been out for a few hours and I was just expecting them to get home when the phone rang.  As I picked it up, I could hear grunting, and then David yelling out "Jenny, my foot is pinned down by the trailer get Allen and come quick!!!"  I ran out our front door and saw Allen (David's brother) and my nephew Nick (16 yo) just heading into their home (our two homes share a driveway out here in the boonies) and I called out, "There is an emergency and David is hurt out in the pasture!" 

In no time we reached David, (Allen flew the mile and a half down our rutted dirt road)  And as we arrived I noticed that the part of the two wheeled trailer (loaded with a 500 gallon FULL water tank), the neck, that usually is attached to the ball hitch of the truck was pressed firmly to the ground pinning my husband's left foot so hard to the ground I couldn't make out his foot underneath it.  The three of us (well, mostly Allen, and Nick) started to try to heave the trailer neck off his foot, only to painfully budge it up before it pressed down again.  David howled, and next Allen took a steel bar (part of the jack that had given way and lead to the trailer on the foot) and dug it under the trailer neck as Nick, David and I, again lifted the trailer only about three inches up, but enough for David to pry his boot off the neck and out of the way. 

Only then did I notice our silent still Sophia, standing two feet away looking startled yet dry eyed.  Allen, the closest to her, grabbed her and handed her to me and Nick helped David into the truck and we were off again....to the small town ER only a few minutes away.

As Allen again flew down the highway into town to the ER, poor little Sophia let loose with bawling.  David grimaced and grabbed his boot in awful pain but was quiet.  When we arrived in the ER, and I signed papers (it must be done, you know), I finally was able to take in the state of us.  Allen, just before the emergency, had just come in from the pasture and had on his most breezy jeans (with more than 8 holes plus some patches) and his sweat and dirt covered ratty old work shirt,  Nick was in the midst of getting dressed and had on an old dirty t-shirt, new shorts and dirty dusty old work boots, and I with no make up, no comb through the hair, an old t-shirt, and shorts plus neon blue Crocs.....lovely. 

But thankfully for a small town ER, they got David back quickly, and then it was boot removal time.....For what we had seen in the pasture, we all felt that toes might be lost, but as the boot came off.....Hallelujah!  The sock was intact, and only a pencil sized dot of blood was to be seen.  Then the nurse cut off the sock and immediately we were faced with two deep purple near black toes (big toe and adjacent toe).  David, who rarely takes any type of medication, asked the nurse, "Please, can something be done for the pain?" But he had to wait as he was whisked off for x-rays, once he was in a room, the morphine came and helped some, but then the word was quickly in from the x-ray...his second toe was fractured and had to be reset...yikes.  It seemed the next moment the capable country doctor was putting in a local and in 1 minute it was set and immediately pinked up.  Ahhhh. 

David was thankful for the local, as it eased the sharpest of the pain, and then it was one more x-ray....which showed the toe to be nicely back in place.  During the times in between the x-rays David told his tale, and we looked over the boot that had been on the injured foot.  As you can see the boot is a bit mangled and torn, the thick sole on one side even showed that the impact had cut it somewhat, but the steel.....not bent one little bit.  Job well done boots!

So now, David is home for the week, foot less purplish, propped up and healing albeit painfully.  We have all reassessed the importance of safety in the pasture.  And even last night Sara and I got a good dose of hearty farm work in by pitchforking hay from the thankfully small section of pasture David had just cut before his accident, to the barn for winter. 

Honestly, at times I am at odds with the demands of the livestock and the land.  David LOVES the land, the work, and the livestock.  The girls have grown up learning skills (putting up fences, clearing pastures, putting down seed for hay, running a tractor, shots for healthy cows, cutting calves for sale, putting out feed daily, etc) that are invaluable.  So, in light of the scare on Sunday I prayed and considered our priorities.  And I watched Monday as Sara, my niece Alyssa, Sophia, my sister-in-law Michelle and I moved cows from the waterless pasture (this is not my normal at all....I'm still learning here) under David's direction, to the area with a tank and was moved by the family teamwork.  Then last night I saw Sara put herself to some hard work, non complaining, sure of what she was doing and stepping up to help.  It is hard, there are ups and downs with cattle prices, feed cost, seed cost, and time invested but how special that we are in this together, learning as we go. 

Thoughts about Fatherhood

Yesterday morning on the Today Show they had a segment on a special "Fathers and kids" football/sports camp that works at encouraging men as fathers and leaders and providing a time for some Father-child activities.  All of a sudden I was tearing up watching the kids hugging their dads and tromping around playing with them and Sophia was looking at me so concernedly.  I hugged her and told her that "I'm just happy to see those daddies with their little kids" and she broke out in a smile. 

I grew up knowing I was loved and cared for by my mom, dad, and step dad and all the dear family that we were raised near.  My parents divorced when I was 9 years old and my sister was 4yo.  We saw my dad about 3 times a year, and talked to him about once a month.  Our step dad came into our lives when I was 13 going on 14 and was very good in caring for us and being a steady character in our lives.  I loved my step dad but the sense of easy affection was something that wasn't comfortable until I was in college and better appreciated the man he was (he just passed away this April).  And my dad does love on us, but again the everyday sense of Fatherly affection was not something I was accustomed to.  And this would seem to be a small matter until one weekend getaway in college.

I was a sophomore in college, and in our first weekend of Spring Break six of us from our Bible study group (we had met weekly for study since our first month of college the year before) decided to have a getaway at one of the girl's family ranch in Brenham, TX.  The weather was great, we got along so well, and my friend's family was completely welcoming and friendly.  We had been there the whole first afternoon when my friend's dad arrived from work to surprise his girl at our campsite in the pasture.  He called her name as he approached our group, with his arms open wide and she jumped up and jogged over to him and they embraced.  We all got up to meet him, yet I kept myself at the back of the group because I couldn't help that I was crying.  I composed myself enough to politely greet him and then he gallantly showed us around the property.  But I couldn't believe how overcome I became in that moment.  How that greeting resounded with me. 

We had a sweet time at the ranch with her family but I would get a catch in my throat when I thought of that moment.  Around this time of my life I prayed for the hope I had in my heart of being married, and the blessing of children.  And, I prayed for the Father my possible future husband would be and the mother I should be.  I would say around that time is when I offered hugs to my step dad more often.  I was urged by the Lord in my heart to call my dad more.  And God provided changes for good but I still hoped that I would see the same wonder of Fatherly love with my own little ones one day.

And, Praise God!, I have.  David is a wonder of a Father.  When I first met him he was already a dad (Anna was 5, Sara 3) and a serving, loving, strong, responsible one at that.  And we have been further blessed with another little one (well she is 3 yo now, maybe not so little) and I have been gifted again with seeing him father from "scratch". 

And I have seen him open arms wide to his girls and sweep them in a big embrace.  I have seen him take care of hurt hearts and scraped knees.  He has taught them truth, and the meaning of hard work.  He has held their hands in protection crossing the road, and clapped his hands cheering them on in all they try.  He has prayed alongside them and over them, even at times they do not know.   He strives to be the Father that God has called him to be with much grace, forgiveness and love. 

So I wish my David encouragement on Father's day to continue to be the protector/provider he is to our girls. And I pray that should a Father/child moment ever cause their heart to catch it's breath it would be because they know so well how their own Father (both earthly and heavenly) loved them full well. 

French-y getaway/giveaway

This is actually going to be a brief post. Dear Frenchy at Le Chateau des Fleurs blog hosts a monthly French Obsession Party linking Franophiles to new interesting blogs and generously sponsors a giveaway the 1st of each month.  Stop over at her site:

French Obsession Party

and enter the giveaway by simply commenting or just join in the fun by visiting the links (hint, I added a link to part of our June '08 visit to Paris).  Happy June and Summer dear bloggy buddies!

What a wonderful bloggy world! Thank you so much.

Do you wanna know how I feel when I share stories (delightful, touching, funny stories)  with my family and they ask "where did that story come from?" and I say "so-n'-so's" blog?  I feel like I am telling them tales from my imaginary friends.  Not because my blog buddies are not real (because so much y'all share is so very very real), but because my blog life is still so foreign to my family (not one family member reads it, I tell them everything anyway) and the looks on their faces are like "Aw, that's nice for you".  Now, don't get me wrong, I am blessed with a supportive family in so many ways but for some reason "blogging" does not compute.  What gives?

Well this last week I have been in the midst of the awful "yucks", AGAIN (in the form of a blazing sinus infection).  And while I have been laying low in the posting department, I have been joyfully keeping up with the blogs I love.  Yet, I have noticed that I wasn't sharing some sweet gems from my favorite blogs with my family as much, like Elizabeth's everyday (yet extraordinary) walk through her 'hood of Cornwall,England

or Corey's exquisitely photographed week in Paris inspired by blog readers requests,

or even Debi's fabulous Kensington Palace fancy dinner in London! 

I imagined that they (family) might get a bit tired of me speaking about people and places that I did not know in the flesh.   Then two things happened this week to peak their interest.....

In the mail direct from Scotland, I received my AWESOME collection of hand crafted goodies from Karon of Dream Country Chat!:

She has a website that features her homemade goods of tea towels, sachets, cards and tote bags (fabric designed by her), and on her blog she hosted a giveaway of her "Brocante" line of items and I was lucky enough to be chosen. 

Brocante items: tote, card, post card, herb sachet, and tea towel!

 My family was quite impressed and intrigued in how I knew Karon.  When they found it was blog related it seemed to add a new dimension to my bloggy interests.  Thank you so much Karon!

This thistle was at the foot of my mailbox the day your package arrived Karon!

Then, two days later, and very much a sweet surprise to me I found this in my mailbox:

Oddly enough, my first postcard from Paris (yes, I have had the joy of being in Paris, but I never had anything sent to me from fair Pah-ree). 

The CULPRIT: Anne in Oxfordshire!

Thank you ,thank you Anne!  Little did you  know what a pick me up your card would be and what curiosity it would raise in my home.  Again came the questions, "So how do you know this person? Why would she send you a card? yada, yada, yada.." I told them that one of Anne's hobbies is sending and receiving postcards from everywhere and that she also blogs so well about her enjoyment of travel and favorite destinations of Paris and Italy in particular.  And I was happy to share that by blogging, I have had the extraordinary gift of forming new friendships/acquaintances with women (as far as my experience goes, it is just ladies) who may lead very different lives from me, but share the same delight in putting their experiences, hopes, dreams and observations in an open forum.  I have honestly received such kind words and encouragement and caring from my fellow bloggers and feel very grateful and humbled. 

So, from boonies-country Texas I send y'all a big Thank Ya! Happy Blogging and God Bless You.

Teeny, tiny confession:"it's on like Donkey Kong!"

First off, a great big thank you again to all my blogging friends who have left dear comments and have kindly checked in on me/us.  My mom is doing as well as she can and her friends and family have been keeping up with her and loving on her too. 


Last night, after a family busy weekend (cousins, in laws, fishing, grilling, hanging out) I sat back a moment and watched some TV with my family.  And my confession?:

I love the Amazing Race.  I have watched it every year since it started and was totally involved in the premise of 12 couples on a world wide scavenger hunt for a million dollars.  Unlike my unfave: Survivor, these couples don't just sit around, have game show challenges, and fakey tribe meetings.  Typically the pairs (marrieds, dating, friends, siblings, parents/children..whatever) perform a challenge, find a clue, search for historical sights that fit the region/country and spread their wings personally and culturally. 

But this year David and I have a favorite team that has become one of our all time faves:
Jet and Cord McCoy:

Twenty-something cowboy brothers from small town Oklahoma that race in cowboy hats and jeans, constantly have each others' backs, are encouraging to each other no matter the situation and above all find humor and good in times of testing.  They have "it" people, they are men of "good character". 

And on the plus-iest of sides they are so funny.  One time, when at the mat with the host, Phil Keoghan, commented to them that a challenge, playing drums, had been fairly troublesome for them.  Jet's answer? "Yea, we don't play musical instruments. The only musical thing I ever played was the radio."

And the Donkey Kong quote, was from Cord on the promo for next week's finale (CBS, Sunday May 9th at 7pm Texas time) when the McCoys race against the last two teams for the million dollars.  They are supposed to do some kind of video game task and thus Cord's response to the challenge said in his distinctive country nasal twang.  I told the girls that, that was gonna be my quote from now on when we have family game nights.   "Girls, it's on like Donkey Kong!" Eyes were rolling all over the place. 

The tender thread

Hello blogging friends.  I hold your condolences and prayers very dearly.  I do have to say that everything has shifted, for my mom most especially. I am so thankful that she has a relationship with the Lord and holds tight to Him in her grieving.  Pete had many health issues over the last 10 years and especially this last year saw many more physical lows than highs, but still his going seemed sudden.  My sister and I (my mom's only kids), have been taking turns staying with her and sifting through necessary paperwork to take care of and of course, packing some of Pete's items.  And when you do that part, memories and truths come out along with the tears. 

 Papo Pete, Sophia, Mimi Louisa

Step family can be a very tender thread and only those in it can truly speak to its dynamic.  My sister and I love our dad but we saw him 2-3 times a year after our parents divorced and so Pete was a father to us in all our everyday needs.  Now, I am a step mom and blessedly our girls are with us half the time (half a week with us and half with their mom) and have a very active mom in their lives.   My relationship with them is as a mom but never in place of their mom, and yes, at times this can be tricky, but love is the constant covering. 

Now, I also know that just the word "family" itself, can come loaded with baggage (good and bad), but recently some of my heartache comes from the facet of being a step-daughter.  Well meaning and also grieving extended family have come up to my sister and I without personal condolences but adjuring us to take care of our mom and understand how much she has lost.  I know so more clearly now that I will never take for granted the losses of others no matter the "title" of their relation to the one lost.  Now, I hope to not be misunderstood in belittling my mom's mourning but as I focus on stepfamilyhood, I more clearly see that no one but us and the Lord knows what was truly woven together to make our family. 

Thanksgiving 2007

Family to me encompasses the earthly relations and those the Lord brings into our lives that complete our spiritual family.  Those kindred spirits and hearts that drop everything to cheer us on, let us cry on their shoulder, and pray for our large and small concerns and for whom we do the same.  The dear "family" that we can call in the middle of the night to air our "worries" or share in our secret joys.  Family means so much. 

And I pray to appreciate even more these hearts dear to me that help me to know more of Jesus and what it means to love as He has encouraged me to do.  I am glad that He brought to mind this scripture that I tripped upon a while back and became overwhelmed by its truth in my life:  

 "I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love;"  Hosea 11:4a

Some things are hard to say

I have pondered this a bit.  I have been blessed with my blog.  I am a stay at home mom way out in the Texas countryside and blogging has been a wonderful outlet for me.  No, I am not the most dilligent of writers/posters/bloggers but I enjoy the little community of friends that I have come by through visits and comments on others' blogs.  So right now when I have been away for a few days and deciding on this post, I knew that much like my own private journaling, I wanted to keep to sharing true parts of my everyday life.  I know I have delighted in posting about our travel adventures in order to share and document trip details and moments for me and anyone else interested, but I had hoped to blog more about our everyday.  And sometimes those everyday's can be hard.

I had a kind and loving step-father, Pete, (for the last 25 years) that passed away this past Thursday night (April 8th).  Today I have stopped by to clean up the home a bit and pack up stuff in order to stay with my mom for a while, but in my habit and as a pick me up I checked my blog and e-mail.  It is very dear to me to see kind catch-up notes from bloggers I have gotten to know and somehow a refreshment to see bright, cheerful, lively goings on of fellow bloggers.  I am very thankful for the respite of this virtual fellowship.  And I knew I just wanted to let those of you ladies, who have been such kind encouragers to me, know why I have paused a bit. 

I certainly would appreciate your prayers for us all and most especially my wonderful mom, Louisa, who is strong in the Lord but aching at every turn.  Thank you and know that "For in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28)