NO compromise!

Most of my life has been wrapped around other peoples' opinions, I wanted to please my parents, I wanted to please my friends, I wanted to please my fellow church goers, I wanted to be ACCEPTED!
Of course, the older we get the more the word "compromise" becomes important. As we grow, we realize there is no gray area, only black .... and white. Acceptance to people gives way to God's will. I don't want to live in that bleak gray area. I want to be shining in His light. I want my life to reflect the light of the Son in a blazing white light of glory!
There have been many times I've given way to compromise. I will negotiate with my husband on this matter  ... or that, I will give in to a later bedtime for Cowboy on a special night. But there are things I will NOT compromise .......

God is first. What He says, what He tells me to do, and His promises .... this will always come first. I know if I follow this, all will be well with me and mine.

There are times, when so many things come as an onslaught, that we tend to forget our first love, our priorities. With every problem, every distraction, every worry that is brought before us, it's easy to loose sight of our first love, our first commitment. Eventually, our joy will be lost as well. And what is life without joy? It's toil, it's existence. I don't want to merely exist, do you? NO! We want to LIVE!

It is our choice to accept the things that would bring us down and separate us from our first love. Problems .... sure, we all got them. It's not the lack of troubles that makes us live, but rather how we LIVE while we are in those troubles. A tree is known by its fruit. But does not the soil have to work and toil to get the minerals in which to live? YES! And so must we! We must seek and search after our God, our source of nourishment, we must choose to live in the abundance of grace and love that has been provided for us. It's all a choice.

So choose you this day. Will you succumb to the wiles of the enemy who would desire to bring you down, discourage and destroy you? Or will you choose to reach higher, love greater, forgive 70 times 7, and receive the blessing of the Most High?

I choose life. Not just the breath of an eternal body, but everlasting life. I choose His life over my own fleshly desires. I choose to live.

So if I seem strange to you, like I don't quite fit in ..... that 's ok. This ain't high school and I don't care what others think of me. This is eternity. I know where I'll spend it, do you? And guess what, I want don't want to slide in by the skin of my teeth. NO! I want God to look at me and say, "Well Done MY good and faithful servant!"  You can call me weird, you can say I'm an outcast. It's all to His glory for I AM peculiar person and NOT of this world. I am honored that you perceive me as different, it means I'm doing something right because I don't blend in! I do not and I WILL not conform to this world.

Stand Tall ye of faith! Give praise to the One who has made you! For He knows the number of hairs upon your head, how well yet, does He not know where He leads you? Go forth, without fear. Go forth in faith. Fear not, for He is with you!

NO compromise.

Stupid Banana Bread!

Feeling I was doing a service to my hubby, taking his very busy schedule in mind, I told him this afternoon, "I'm getting the winter clothes out this week so I'll be washing A LOT! Just wanted to give you the heads up that we'll probably need an extra load of water this week."  He said, "Well BABE, you can haul water too!" A little hurt that my consideration was so rudely thwarted and misunderstood I replied, "Well yes, I can. And YOU can wash dishes and clean the toilet too, can't you?"

Silence called a truce.

For those of you who follow my blog, you understand the water situation. Our well has turned out to be seasonal, after ALL THAT! But the well is not the point of this story.

At times in marriage, there tends to be a ping pong argument of who does what, who does more, who makes more, and who's most important. Now be honest, even if silent and never spoken, the subject comes up .... if you're lucky, without a word!

I spent the day today buying winter clothes for Cowboy, grocery shopping, and running errands. My day got a late start because after he said he was headed out to work, my darling hubby came in 2 hours later to announce, "I've been working outside, kinda hanging around and thought maybe you'd have one of your famous omelets made for me." I said, "Ummm, I thought you left, but if you want breakfast I'll cook it for you if you have time to wait." He said, "I guess I could play around with the backhoe a little while longer before I HAVE to leave."

Breakfast made, kid hog tied, bathed, and dragged out to the vehicle in all his reluctant desire to GO yet one more time ..... I finally headed to town just before noon. By the time I got home it was after 3. Having been sick for a few days, the "mom affect" has been absent from my home, therefore leaving it ......  as is. Clothes, paper plates, and glasses littered evident areas while dust, dirt, and smells seemed to seep in and occupy every crack and the most remote crevices that 3200 square feet can offer. Laundry challenged the ceiling and lets not even get started on the plumes of fume in the restroom! I had survived over a hundred hours of hard labor with 4 strapping boys, years of puking, pooping, and countless sleepless nights, yet as I looked upon what awaited me after the ill timed influenza that marked my 46th year of birth, I felt I simply could not go on! And twas at this time I made my very considerate "heads up" announcement to my darling hubby.

Now MY HUBBY, Winston B. Yates .... or Winnie as I call him .... what can be said? All my life has been spent in blissful servitude to children, family, and others. Winnie however, had only ever lived for himself until I met him and we married and began a family. We had lived two totally different lives up until that point.  Needless to say, the sparks are gonna fly! God has a way of complimenting you with what will strengthen your weaknesses.

Hours later (truce called), supper was done, dishes washed, and I set to salving my frayed nerves with some baking. There's nothing like combining a little of this and a bit of that, no matter how odd they may seem, to create something tantalizing and delicious. It looks like muck going in, but oh the aroma of the mingling together! As the oddities blend they create a fine result that draws all those about, doing their own thing, thinking their thoughts, and dwelling in their own justifications ... towards the warmth, glow, and unifying smell of agreement. It draws us ......... together.

At some point during my teaching Cowboy how to bake banana bread, I recognized the low hum of the backhoe and realized Winnie was outside working on the pond. Always, always, in percute  of doing better, doing more. As I, in the kitchen, fulfilling that long awaited request of banana bread from hubby, and he outside doing his best to better our life .... I felt the unity then. Though apart, separate, it was there. Each doing their part.

I realized yet again, it's not about who does what that keeps us in the ranks. For without each other, if one stood alone, there would be no ranks at all. It's about giving. When we focus not on what we can get or who's job is most important,  but rather what I give, what I can do for another (Yes, HIM, your husband) and how I can bless him, and not focus on "look how much I do," or "I do this so much better, or so much more," then that is when we are truly blessed. If each spouse is MORE focused on the needs of the other, there is no lack for either.

So should I run out of water earlier in the week than usual, I'm committed now to fetch it myself. Not because I want to, I HATE hauling water, not because I'm the bigger person, and really, honestly at this point, not entirely just because I want to help my hubby. It's because now I've been convicted. Now I KNOW (or rather I've been reminded) that it's the right thing to do, to take care of HIS needs before my own. To help before it's needed because I know it will cause distress should I request it of him. I'm accountable now and the only thing to do is what I know is right.

Sometimes I really hate that I think this stuff through, ha!

So let us give, and it shall be given. Without thought, expectation, or want, let us give.

It Is What it is!

When I started homeschooling back in the early '90's, the concept wasn't as widely accepted as it is today. If I told people I was homeschooling, they mostly looked at me like I we was an alien and I felt this immediate need to justify my decision.

Everyone who chooses to homeschool has their own reasons. Some for religious views, some for academics, perhaps they have a special needs child or one who excels, others homeschool because their child is problematic. For whatever reason, most people who commit to homeschooling have a conviction and purpose. Those who strive and push through the toughest of times, are convicted right down to their soul, literally.

My personal reasons to homeschool was a mixture of convictions. I wanted to raise my son in a Godly atmosphere, with Godly morals and character, I also knew he was exceptionally smart and I wanted him to be able to reach his potential. It started with just one child, but God had so much more in mind.

I bounced back and forth between public school and homeschooling for 2 years. Any 'seemingly' little problem sent me running. I saw later, they were excuses, not just for my lack of confidence in being able to teach, but also the desire to "fit in' and not have to justify my actions. When I finally came to obedience, I was truly blessed.

That first year was tough, just like for any first timer. Not just the actual schooling and getting into the mentality and rhythm of balancing life, home, and lesson plans, but also on my pride. That need to justify myself resurfaced again and again. And isn't that why we need to justify ourselves, for the sake of pride, in proving that we are right?

After that first committed year, I was hooked. I got into the lesson planning, excited about what we were learning, and most importantly, I enjoyed the time I had with my son, watching him learn was a privilege. I needed no more justification after that. Sure, people would still comment or look at me funny, but by this time, it didn't phase me. I simply didn't care what people thought. I went on to homeschool all 3 of my boys for many years.

Today, having another child late in life, I find myself back where I started as my 3 older boys have turned into young men and make their way in the world. My convictions are not just the same as before, but stronger, deeper.  It's a different world today. I look around and see nothing of the seemingly 'simplistic' life of my first 3 children.

I have enjoyed the acceptance that homeschooling has in today's society (relatively speaking). I almost got down right comfortable with it. But I had a reminder the other day, that there are still severe critics out there, critics of free thinkers and individuality, people who are content to go with the flow, despite where it takes them.

Let me interject here, that I don't think every parent is called to homeschool. For most, it's simply not an option. Economically speaking, most households require 2 incomes, and ours would surely do much better with 2! I've been in the place where I had to put my boys in public school because I had to work. I truly believe some are called to homeschool and some are not. There's no judgement or criticism for those who don't.

A retired military person said to me the other day, "Homeschoolers do the absolute worst at our training camps for kids (military summer camps). Of all the kids, they have the hardest time with someone getting in their face and screaming at them." I said, "Well, I admit, no one in our house is even a 'yeller' let alone a screamer. Sam has never been screamed at in his life. With the proper discipline, mostly with the parents, a person doesn't need to scream to be heard or obeyed. I know I don't like to be screamed at by my husband, do you like your husband to scream at you?" She looked at me kind of funny and said, "Well no, it pisses me off ."

WELL, DUH!

The fact is, anything that goes against main stream society is going to be frowned upon by most. In general, people are usually too polite to say what they really think. In the '50's and '60's, women who worked outside of the home were considered rebellious in some way, today if women stay home, it's considered lazy.

You can tell me my kid isn't getting the socialization he needs, and I say, "Look at our society." You can claim he's sheltered and fragile and I say, "He earns his own money and will stand up for what is right in the face of adversity." You can persist that his education is lacking academically and I say, "Check out his level of learning and test scores."

For me, there is no more justifying and and proving myself. It is what it is, you don't have to like it, agree with it, or support it. I don't care. The question is, why do THEY care so much, to prove me wrong?

Memories That Bring Us Home

Summer. Some of the best memories children remember are made during the nostalgic, hot, summers of their youth.

Last month when I had to cancel our trip to Colorado to go to Oklahoma, I was so disappointed. Not for myself, I have been many times ..... but for Sam. He was so looking forward to going, to seeing "real" mountains and the top of Pikes Peak where America the Beautiful was written. I felt like I had done him a disservice when our plans changed.

Now that we're home and have fallen back into our summer routine, it's feels good to finally enjoy our time off. An unspoken ritual happens every night, and this evening, I watched closely, this child I had been feeling I had let down. I went outside after supper, to water the garden, just like every night. Like clock work, Cowboy came hopping and skipping not far behind, taking his usual, habitual path ..... first by the blackberry bush for a little snack, a hop, hop, hop on top of the big rocks, up the hill and to the strawberry patch that's conveniently located right by the pond. After he hunts and picks the good strawberries, he stripped down to his skivvies and into the pond he jumped!

I smiled, to see such contentment and joy the simple things of this life can bring. I am thankful for a child who can grow up with them and appreciate them, knowing he helped put in the strawberry patch he picks from, and the tomatoes and banana peppers he loves so much, grow because he helped prepare the ground.

I started to think of my own childhood summers, and as I went back, the memories were not of summer vacations and youth camps, but my fondest memories were swimming in that nasty water at Fulton Beach, riding my bike to get a snow cone, running barefooted on the blacktop, desperately searching for a patch of grass to land in and hoping it didn't have stickers. Those are the memories that make me of think of home.

So tonight, I've realized, I'm not doing that bad at all. Yes, I still want to take Cowboy to Colorado, and there's a million other things I want to do with him. But his memories will be the adventures we have right here, in our own back yard. Hot, sticky nights, battling mosquitoes and critters, so he can sleep with his pup in his tent, eating the fruits of his labor, the pond where he truly learned to swim, splashing in the creek, and running free on HIS mountain, with his faithful dogs. These are things he will remember, these are the memories that will bring him home. And isn't that what every parent wants?

Train up a child .....

On the job training. It can apply to working at Whataburger or running a government. On the job training is essential to real life experience and knowing how to deal with and conduct yourself in every situation.

Train: Teach (a person or animal) a particular skill or type of behavior through practice and instruction over a period of time.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

When we see the above scripture, we always think of this in a spiritual context (and rightly so) as if we train our children in the ways of the Lord, although they may fall away for a time, they will return. Today it occurred to me, that there are all sorts of training.

By our words and actions, we train our children everyday. Training is not just through instruction, but practice. We practice our morals, ethics, and values in everything we do with our kids. Are we training our children to be patient, because we are patient? Are we training our children to respect authority because we've created boundaries and consequences for crossing them and because WE respect those in authority over us? Are we training our children to be forgiving because we are quick ask for it ourselves, even if it means asking it of your child? Are we training our children to love, because they see us love others and to be thankful because we show and express gratitude? Now think of the opposite of everything I just mentioned, and imagine the harvest. 

I guess my point is, yes, if we train our children to sincerely love the Lord, I believe God is true and faithful to His word, and they will come back to Him. Would it not also be true of any life training we give our children? If we train our children with impatience, disrespect, discontent, bitterness, etc, will they not do as they've been trained and follow this path? Will they have relationships, behaviors, and raise their children in this way?

Giving them tools to live good and right comes in the practical application of how they SEE us treat them, others, and everyday situations.

This thought gave me a whole new perspective in Proverbs 22:6.

In Memory of My First Love, Toush

There is nothing quite so sweet and innocent as the little kisses from a puppy. Living out here in woods, and having the fortune or MISfortune, of 2 un-spade female dogs, we've easily had 50+ puppies grace us with their presence. Out of all the pups, there's not been a single one I was not able to give up. I have mastered the art of detachment. I've become responsible and sensible, knowing my limitations. That is, until now .................

When I was 10 years old, I got my first job ..... a paper route I inherited from my brother, who was moving on to bigger and better things, being a whole year older than I. I held this job of delivering The Rockport Pilot, for several years, until I was opted out for an easier, cheaper means of delivering the local paper in our little town, the USPS.

The highlight of my route was the last delivery on my customer list. Set a block off Fulton Beach Road, was  a blue beach house on stilts, and at this house (I fail to recall the human's name, although they were very kind and wonderful people), lived a German Shepherd Dog named Toush. Twice a week I stopped to play with Toush, tossing a Frisbee, tennis ball, stick ... it didn't matter, he would catch it. And he loved to play! I found myself using part of my paper route money to bring him treats, and riding my bike over to see him even when I wasn't delivering papers. The highlight of my route, of my week, was being able to spend time playing with Toush.

10 years later, I'd grown up, I was married and had a little boy. I was working a Demo job in a little grocery store in Fulton when I happened to see Mrs. Toush in the store. I asked about him. With tears in her eyes she told me Toush had recently passed away. I cried, right there with her in the store. I was heart broken. A German Shepherd was all I had ever wanted from the day I met Toush. He was  the most awesome dog, the kindest and most understanding companion I had ever known. I vowed one day, I would have me a German Shepherd.

20 years later, Winnie was deployed in Iraq and I was alone in Arkansas with Cowboy (Sam). While living at our rental house in town, a German Shepherd wandered in off the street. He was thin, I could tell he had been lost for some time, but he was beautiful! I remembered Toush. I remembered how much I had wanted such a fine dog for as long as I could recall. I temporarily named his Gus, after Gus in Lonesome Dove, my favorite movie.

I couldn't, in good conscience, keep this gorgeous canine. I had to attempt to find his owner who was undoubtedly looking for him. I called the animal shelter to report that I had him, and though no one had reported a missing GSD, they took my information just in case. I put an ad in the local paper, hoping all the time, no one would answer it. No one did. Nor did the animal shelter call. One last effort to salve my conscience, was to call in to the radio show that played every week day morning, that was of ads and offers of things wanted and for sale. I vowed I would only do this one time. I would call in, report I had found a missing GSD, and that was it, I wasn't going to do it everyday! If no one answered the call claiming him, I was keeping Gus! One call was all it took. The owners came to claim "Gus" that afternoon. I was so sad and disappointed. I knew I had done the right thing, seeing how happy Gus was to see them ..... but still, I had wanted to keep him so badly.

A short 6 months later, I was finally able to obtain my dream. I dished out the $250 and proudly took home my AKC Registered GSD! The first night, she was so afraid, I sat with her in my lap all night, outside in the carport. She wouldn't eat, she wouldn't drink. She didn't trust me. After that first night however, she was mine forever, and loyal to me and me alone. Until I introduced her to Sam. Maia was indeed, Sam's first playmate, other than myself. They roamed the yard together, they fought together, and at times, they slept together.

 I remember when Maia was younger, we lived in town and boy did she love balls! Sam was playing tee-ball at the time and I had made him a 'T' to practice on in the yard. He would set his baseball there and go to swing in the clumsy way a 3-4 year old does, and by the time he was set to hit the ball .......  it was gone! Maia had taken off with it! He would get so mad at her, to the point of tears of frustration. But the end of the day would see us 3 sharing popsicles on the front porch. Maia always sitting pretty in order to get her fair share. Despite their differences, Sam was Maia's pup. She knew it was her job to take care for him, and in her younger years, she occasionally attempted to chew on him, haha. Normally, she would follow him around the yard, but sometimes Sam would just exhaust her and she'd end up sitting with me on the porch while he ran and ran. On these occasions I could tell her, "Get Sam." and off she would go to locate him.

Maia was the first dog to roam this property we're currently on. It was hers from the start. The drive out to the property before we moved here was long and treacherous in the back of my Jeep Liberty, as she would get car sick every time. We camped here often, and she loved to swim in the creek and explore the property at the young age of 1 year old. This was HER land. She knew every inch of it. But never would she stray too far, to not be back in time to stand guard outside the door of our tent as we slept.  In the wild woods of Holly Mountain, despite her desire to explore and wander, she lay in front of the tent where her pup slept, she never once failed me ..... or Sam.  When Sam swam at the creek, she would swim with him, and when she tired of swimming, she took her place right beside me on a flat rock that over looked the swim hole, to keep watch .... or sleep. Either way, she let me know, she was there if I needed her.

But don't think for one second, I didn't spoil my baby girl. I spent time with her everyday. I worked with her, trained her, she used to lay in my lap just like that first night she came home with me, and fall asleep. Being new to cold winters, I was worried about her getting too cold at night. I would put her "blankie" in the dryer, warm it up, and snuggle her down for the night in the wash room. She became quite spoiled to having her warm blankie. Even today, if you ask her if she wants a blankie, she will get all excited and do a dance, just as she did back then. 

Happy was the day when I got a truck! Maia took to it like she took to the mountain! Never once did she jump out and run off as we rode through town, stopped at the store, or went through a drive thru. Nose in the air, sniffing and drinking in every smell, sight, and sound. She LOVED going bye bye in the truck!  And good for me because there was no more doggie puke to clean up! She especially loved going to McDonald's because she knew there would be a $1 breakfast burrito or hamburger to reward her patience.

It's been some 5 years now since I've had my beloved German Shepherd. She's given up catching balls and sticks, for jumping high in the air to catch either dog food or small pebbles. Having lived out here on the mountain has changed her, mostly for the good, but some is not so good. She now shares affection, time, attention, and food (but NOT her blankie, she refuses!) with our 2 other dogs, Heelers Bear and Cody. I see her aging quickly.

I never wanted any other dogs other than my Maia. I thoroughly love and value Bear and Cody. They are members of the family, just as Maia is. But it was never my intention to make my Maia share anything. Having the instinct of  the Dingoes, and being subservient to Maia, the Heelers have taken on much of the work and responsibility I had intended for Maia out here in the woods with Sam. I have come to view my Blue Heeler (Australian Cattle Dog) as more valuable in the way of protection. Perhaps it's because he's male, perhaps it's his breed, but where I know Maia would protect Sam and I, I have SEEN it in Bear. It has not, however, lessened the love I have for my beloved German Shepherd.

Recently Maia had a litter. As usual, these are half breeds with Bear. Smart, beautiful dogs as always. But one .... one stuck out. He had a single white tip at the end of his tail. At 2 weeks old, 2 WEEKS, he would bark fearlessly at what his mama barked at, before his eyes were even open. I noticed, but I refused to touch, cuddle, or comment. They would be given away. Period.

As the weeks wore on, I noticed how my Maia looked so tired. Being on patrol, Sam duty, chasing and catching critters of all sizes, and having 4 litters of pups, has drained my baby girl. This is not the life I wanted for my beautiful GSD. I've been spending more time combing her, talking to her, just letting her lay her front legs on my lap, as now, that's all that fits. She can no longer snuggle neatly in the folds of my legs. And still .... there's this one little pup ..... as he grows, he dominates. He fearlessly follows Mom where ever she goes, he eats from the bowl first, he wins every scrap with his siblings, he gets first pickings off the nasty armadillos Maia kills ........ and he looks just like his Mama. I dismiss it. At least, I try to.

Yesterday as I walked across the yard, as usual, all the pups crowded my legs, making it difficult to make a step. After much chewing and nipping I finally decided enough was enough. I sat on the ground and as they bit and clawed at me, I firmly tapped each pup on the nose with my finger and said, "No." Several times with each  pup I did this. A few lost interest and left after a few minutes, but I noticed, one pup, with a white tip on his tail, nuzzled my hand instead of biting. I dismissed it. Later that day I was sitting outside and was again, attacked by puppies, nipping and biting. I held up my finger and firmly said, "No." One pup, nuzzled against my hand.This one pup, sought my hand, but did not bite. This one pup, that looks just like his mama.

Today, as I sat outside, I looked for this one pup. All the puppies came to nip and wrestle, but he waited on the way side, until they were done. Then and only then, he came up to me. He licked my hand, he exuded "Pet me, love me." I did. This one pup is temporarily named Tippy, for the single white tip at the end of of long tail. When we went to the creek today, I opened the tailgate of the truck to allow the dogs to hop in. They know where we're going. Maia was first and Tippy sat on the ground barking and barking, wanting to tag along. Although we had never taken such a young puppy to the creek, Sam pleaded Tippy's case and won. He held him in the back of the truck, but after a minute or two, Tippy was wrestling to be free. He confidently rode, with no crying or running to Maia.

At the creek it was a different story. It's a cold and scary place for such a little darling. At first, he followed Maia without complaint, down the hill to the creek and through the cold water. When Maia raced up the other side of the mountain however, he started to cry. His little legs couldn't make the jump to follow after. I called him over and without hesitation, he came to me. He climbed up and sat on the flat rock next to me. He leaned his body into me and whined a little, watching his mama do what he couldn't do. But he was alert and on guard. After a few minutes, I told him, "Go. Go with Mama. Quit your whining and find your way up." Danged if he didn't hop down from that rock and find a way to get to Maia. He followed her all over the mountain. After the big dogs explored and swam with Sam, Maia took her usual place beside me on the flat rock, while Tippy lay on the other side, snuggled up against me, and fell asleep.

Never before have I seriously considered keeping a pup. I have 3 dogs, I don't need a 4th. But this little puppy is his mama's son. Spitting image, smart, ready to obey and please, and as fearless as his 7 weeks allows him to be. It may be sentiment, it may be a fear that I won't have my Maia forever, it may be that I'm just a sucker ..... but whatever it is, I think I've fallen in love all over again. I do believe the newest member of the family will serve us as well as we serve him.

I have named him Toush.

Your Dandelions are Numbered, Use with Care

When I left the house just before noon today, for lunch with hubby and maybe a trip to the library, on the way out I grabbed a button up shirt to throw on with my jeans and t shirt because it was a little chilly (to me).

After lunch Cowboy and I headed to the dollar store for a pair of floaties because one of his had sustained a blow out a few days before. Before I set for home, a moment of insanity struck me. I asked Cowboy, "Is there anything you want to do while we're in town?" As the words spontaneously tumbled from my mouth I was struck with a sense of half horror, half surprise. What was I thinking? Am I crazy? Trying to keep pace with Cowboy is like trying to catch a race horse on foot! But it was already out there. I done said it. "The park, the park!" he said. Off we go, to the park.

I'm determined to have a good time with my boy, but as we drove to the park, the clouds had given way to a blazing hot 1:00 sun, and all I'm thinking is .... "the library has air conditioning." We pulled into the parking lot and both of us realized the same thing at the same time ...... it was deserted. Not a single car or person in sight. I couldn't help but to think it was because sane people don't come to the park after a heavy lunch in the heat of the day, ha. But Cowboy's cricket imitation (it was so quiet all we could hear were crickets) jostled me out of my negativity and made me laugh.

With no other children to play with, well ....... what is a Mama to do? We started out on the swings and our toes touched the tops of the trees time and again, as we played 'I Spy With My Little Eye.' On the kiddy merry go round with the horses, we raced as fast as we could in the Kentucky Derby, winning by a nose .... while the big kid merry go round swept us into outer space where we conquered evil aliens! A trip to the water fountain proved to be fatal as it produced poison that sparked a dramatic and horrible fit of spasms and sadly, finally .... mock death. So tragic!

Having quickly and miraculously recovered from the treacherous waters, we played butt bumpers on the see-saw, drove the school bus through a war zone, where I was ultimately blown to bits, and ended up sitting on the play tractor for a breather. As I sat there, I remembered how this very tractor used to be Cowboy's most favorite thing in the park. I remembered our first trip to this park, he could barely walk. He wasn't big enough to reach anything, or for the swings, to climb on the jungle gym, or go down the slide all alone. It seems like yesterday. I was shaken from my bittersweet memories when Cowboy tumbled off the top of the tractor. As I rushed to see if he was ok, I'm asking, "Where does it hurt, what got hit?" He's hopping around, and in a laugh/cry he's trying to say something ......... "Just ... just ..... AVENGE ME!" Hahahaha! He's so good natured :)

By now the sun is really hot, at least in jeans, boots, and 2 shirts. I'm shucking off my long sleeve, and I'm about ready to head home when Cowboy says, "Hey, lets walk around the track!" Seriously?! The track is a mile long! (I think) "OK! let's go!" I said. Off we go.

As we passed under the overpass, for the first time ever, I let him climb the slope high enough so he could touch the underneath of the road. He was thrilled! We stopped at the Outdoor Classroom, read the signs about all the plants, looked at the goldfish and cooled off for a bit. Our trip didn't just take us around the track along the river, we also explored every baseball field, played imaginary baseball, laughed, talked, and shared about anything and everything. We did our part in repopulating dandelion seeds by making lots and lots of wishes blown to the wind.

On the home stretch of the track, Cowboy asked me what I had wished for. I said, I wished that we would always have fun together and that you're never too far away. He stopped, picked a dandelion and a few flowers, handed me the dandelion and said, "You have to wish again." I asked him why? He said, "Because you don't have to wish for that wish, it's already true." Aaaahhhhh! What a little sweetie! That would melt any Mama's heart! After I made my other wish, he handed me the flowers he picked and said, "That's for being the bestest Mommy ever!" We stopped back by the Outdoor Classroom where Cowboy tossed his shoes aside, soaked his feet in the pond and tried to get the goldfish to nibble on his toes ....  while I sagged on the bench, praying for enough strength to make it back to the truck.

As we walked back towards the park, I'll be honest, I felt a little guilty that I had started out on this adventure with a negative attitude. We had had such a great time together, doing nothing, but doing everything. I can see the truck in view now and just as I'm about to let my mind wander back to the real world of adult issues, Cowboy says, "Oh Mama, let's go play at the park again, ok? Just for a few minutes?"

Well ........ what would you have done?

Pinky Swear!

Pinky Swear! What does it mean? Two little fingers, coming together as one in agreement. What's the big deal? We have promises, laws, we have amendments and a constitution! What's a Pinky Swear compared to that?

Recently, the Pinky Swear has become an evident "thing of honor" to my Cowboy. He saw it on 'Full House.' Immediately he understood the reasoning and meaning behind the simple gesture of the two smallest, seemingly unimportant phalanges we so carelessly take for granted. At lunch time yesterday, when I promised him to play the horrid "Super Mario Bros Brawl" before bedtime, he made me "pinky swear." Now, should I be insulted, that perhaps he doesn't believe I'll keep my promise? .... or is he merely searching for a unified connection of the heart for commitment, because he knows how much I HATE this game, haha. Is he looking for something more? I wanted to know, so ...... I asked him, "What makes a pinky swear more important than a promise?"

He informed me ..... "You always keep your promises Mama, but your are careful about what you promise. A promise is good. But a pinky swear is like your heart touching mine, 'cause a pinky is small and can be hurt easy like a heart. And I know if you pinky swear, you would never, ever, hurt my heart."

So there you have it. The Importance of ..... THE PINKY SWEAR! I would never EVER, intentionally hurt your heart, so let's PINKY SWEAR ♥

Growing Up is SO Hard to Do!

Gracious what a roller coaster day it's been! After waking up to 6 inches of slushy, muddy snow, which took out the satellite tv, still no progress on my stove and I had to break out the dang gas stove to cook something other than fried foods or fast food (ack! tired of it)! I was feeling a bit low this morning.

But I bucked up, put on my happy face and started counting my blessings. TV came back on after it started to thaw, the snow is disappearing fast, although leaving behind a weekend full of muddy floors, and hubby assured me he'd put more effort into finding that repair man. So off to school we went!

For the past month, poor Cowboy has been dragging to school. He has spring fever, BAD! I know this, because I do too. But I'm holding out until the first week of April to take our break so we have a better chance of sunshine since winter refuses to DIE in our part of the world. Almost everyday, when he's come back from break, he's whining, he resistant, and having a bad attitude, "He doesn't want to go baaaackkkkk to school!" Finally, I told him Monday, if he didn't straighten up his attitude after break, I was going to take the break away because it just making the remainder of the day harder. And granted, it's not been EVERYDAY, but dang near!

Today, it being Friday and all, he started in again after break. I simply told him, "Monday, there will be no break." Oh boy! You should have heard the fuss he made! He said I was being unfair, and mean! and on and on and on he went about how horrible I was being, for a good 3 minutes. I let him get it out of his system and asked, "So, you think I'm just being mean, is that it?" "Yes ...," he said. I said ok, then go. Just go do whatever it is you want to do.

He looked at me, cocked his head all puzzled like, waiting to see if I was kidding. Which I wasn't. I said, "Go on if you want to. You won't get in trouble. If you think I do the things I do just to be mean, then maybe you should call the shots and do what you think is best for you."

He sat there for a second, got up and went to his desk and took out his writing page. I didn't say a word to him. I let him do it, which he did, VERY diligently. He promptly went back to his desk and took out his math page and worked the review side of the page, asked for his speed drill, did it, then asked me to teach him the new content side of the page. I did. He turned his page in, got out his poetry book, reviewed his poem twice. He then did his end of day procedure of putting away his books, turned in his work folders, but he didn't give himself a "challenge sticker" which is a reward for good behavior. He turned on the TV to NCIS (hahaha, little buddy). I asked him what he wanted for lunch, and went to make it. A few minutes passed and he came into the kitchen and asked what he should wear to go play in the snow and I said, "Whatever you want."

He started crying and said, "Mama, stop it! I don't want to do what I want, you're not being a good Mama by letting me do that! I'm nothing without you, I know you only make me do things because you love me, you've never been unfair, I promise! And I'll do whatever you want and give you anything if you just be my mommy again!"

OK, lesson learned :)

I told him, baby, I don't want you to do anything except be obedient and have a good attitude, even when you have to do things you don't want to. That's all I want. You could give me all the money in the world and never fuss about my watching NCIS again, and those things mean nothing compared obedience and a good attitude. You have to have both in this world.

He threw his arms around me and said, "Ok, ok, ok, that's what I'll do, I promise!"

Wowsers, I hope that's the last time we have to do THAT! It broke my heart to watch him learn this lesson, but let's hope it's learned well :)

Fetch a Pail of Water. Jack and Jill Got Nothing on the Yates'!

Wow, it's been almost a month since I've posted! I've been incredibly busy with an avalanche of tasks, I daresay, I am over taken by the onslaught!

Lots of things have happened since my last post. Most importantly, after several years of waiting, and a seemingly failed attempt to drill a well, (at $3200) almost 2 years ago, we finally have water!

In the summer of 2010, we had scrimped, sacrificed, and saved for about 6 months in order to drill a well. During this time, hubby had researched and gotten advice and counsel from different sources. After a painstaking process, he finally picked a spot to drill. Going on an ole' timer from Holly Mountains' calculations, which were less than 5-10 yards from Winnie's calculations, the day finally came to drill the well. I was SO excited. No more harsh water conservation! No more hauling 400 gallons of water (which is approximately 3,336 lbs in the back of your truck!) down this ski slope we call a driveway. This is a very scary task during and after a rainstorm, I assure you! Doing laundry and washing dishes whenever I wanted, wow, what luxury!

Many hours passed and after 250 ft. and $200 over budget, we came up dry. I cried, bitterly I cried. I was SO upset. Not only was there no water, but all that money was wasted!  After the shock and disappointment wore off, hubby's wheels began to turn in his head. He's ingenious and creative that way :) About 6 months later, he started putting together an idea to "jump start" the well we had already dug. He was certain we were very close to a water vein and had missed it by a mere few feet. Long story short, he worked on it a little every week until he had created a pond at the well sight and a drainage and natural first filter system. Now, I'm not going to pretend I know how it all works, I have an idea, but I'd be lying it I said I understood it all!

It took about 4 months for the pond to fill (as he dug it in the dry season). And then several more months to see if the well would fill and retain water. Winnie faithfully checked water levels in the well pipe every week. It seemed to be maintaining a good level during the dry season and was overflowing during the wet season.  Finally, after more scrimping, sacrificing, and saving ..... he was able to buy the actual pump, filter and a bunch of other stuff I know nothing about, to actually get the well working ..... another $3800. This time, I did not allow myself to anticipate. I decided, if it works, it works, if it doesn't, I'm no worse off.

I was actually gone when the first trial run took place. I came home to a full tank of water! We have another 400 gallon tank connected to the house. The water from the well actually pumps into this tank and then into house. This way, the water filters twice naturally, and once more by a bought filter, and we will always have 400 gallons of water in reserve. So, I'm all excited, the first thing I decided to do was take a long, hot, DEEP bath in my big, big jacuzzi tub without the guilt of wasting water! I put in the plug, turned the water on and left the restroom to get my essentials. As I'm gathering all my things I'm basking in the joy of no more saving tub water to flush the toilet, no more washing dishes just once a day, and all the long, hot bubble bathes I can handle! I walked into the restroom and was stopped in my tracks! There, in the tub, was not the crystal, clean, beautiful water that flows in my creek, but this light mustardy yellow, cloudy stuff that was wet like water, but was a scary rendition of the substance!

I cautioned myself not to panic. OK girl, just ...... smell it. Yeah, smell it. That's a good first step. OK, no smell, it has no odor ..... big sigh of relief, that's good. Feel it, see if it's slimy or grainy or something. OK, so I feel it. Feels fine, feels like water, smells like water, but it doesn't LOOK like well water, it looks like Cowboy's mud hole (ok, that's quite an exaggeration, it's not that bad, haha).  I'm talking myself into this ...... I've bathed in the creek on camping trips, I can do this. At least it's warm .... and deep :) I took my bath and came out smelling good and clean, so I'm not freaking out. But I know I'm not about to drink and cook with this water. Cautiously, I approached Winnie, so not to appear ungrateful and picky .... and showed him the color of the water. Much to my relief, he didn't seem surprised by the color at all and I released a big, deep breathe that I was inadvertently holding. He assured me the water would clear up, not to worry.

After almost 2 weeks there has been only a slight improvement in the color of the water.  Winnies wheels have once again been turning and he believes he knows why, and of course, my resourceful man, has a plan. Today we will add or change something on the pump (I think) of which I get to help, yay. And once again, we will wait and see.  I've been washing our laundry (whenever I want I might add) dishes, and bathing in this water, and it doesn't seem to have any negative effect. The whites come out white, the dishes don't have a dingy film, and no one has gotten sick. This is a huge plus for us :) After our adjustments today, we're going to test the water for yuck and stuff, and see where we stand.

So, while many, many events, changes, and adventures have occurred in the past month, this is the one that's prevalent on my mind today. Hopefully tonight, I will be drinking the water we're pumping!

The Trilogy of: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Guy!

"Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrow will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets it's death.
And when he shakes his mane we shall have spring again."
'The Chronicles of Narnia' C.S. Lewis

As we read through Chapter 8 tonight, this poem was a topic of discussion. Now in the first book, 'The Magicians Nephew,' Aslan had created Narnia. Here, talking about what it meant for "winter to meet death," Cowboy came to the conclusion this was in some way, how God was going to defeat Satan. We talked about how man brought "evil" into Narnia in the first book, and he made the connection there of the fall of man, although that's of course, not how he put it :) Eventually, he bridged that fall of man and "winter meeting it's death," with the only logical thing, (to us) the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

"So .... " I wondered aloud, "The poem says that Aslan is the one who will break winter and bring spring. If that's Jesus, then what's up with this? Isn't Aslan also the one who created Narnia, so wouldn't that be God? If it's Jesus who will defeat the winter, then why does it say Aslan?" Cowboy said, "Oh Mama, you're forgetting about the trilogy! (He meant 'Trinity", haha). He said, "It's God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Guy!" hahahaha ...... True indeed!

I was so impressed he remembered this :) And then could actually explain and connect the two. We learned and talked about the Trinity last year in First Grade. Now believe in the Trinity or not, that's your choice ..... it's MY blog :)

The part in Chapter 9 that peaked his interest was this ..... It talked about how Edmund had made the decision to go looking for the White Witch (as in leaving the comfort, warmth, and company of) the cabin which he had been in, to go where he most felt comfortable. We had a brief discussion of the hardship of the journey, but how his hate, desire for revenge, and promise of power, kept him moving on ..... and also, how deep in his heart, he knew the White Witch was bad. This was a good bridge to the open gates .....

Cowboy asked me specifically, why the gates of a castle (the castle of the White Witch) had been, not just, unguarded, but wide open. Even a 7 year old knows the gates of any castle are protected. So I asked him, "Do you think that the devil cares who enters?" He said, "Well YEAH! If it's God, he would be afraid!"
I said, "Yes, but why would God chase an enemy who is already inferior and defeated? Is there any reason for him to enter the devils' castle?" "Oh, I guess not," he said. (We have not talked about the 3 days of resurrection, keys of hell, etc yet, too deep at this point!). So, I asked, "Why would the devil leave his gates open?" He said, "I guess because he wants everybody to come in!" Lesson achieved!

So Chapter 9 basically ended there, and as I sum up, I'm facing a difficult situation (as most of us are and do at some point), on standing firm. One of our scriptures this week is, "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit IN HIS SEASON, his leaf also shall not wither, and whasoever he doeth shall prosper." Ps 1:3

When it seems like all the world is against us but we know that we know, we are being faithful to our calling ..... although our full season has not yet come, sometimes, we get a little morsel, a bloom, of the fruit we are producing. Cowboy is my fruit. His little spirit man growing, learning, wanting, and needing ..... God. My leaf will NOT wither, and what I'm doing SHALL prosper! In Jesus name .....

Can You Hear Me Now?

Do you ever feel like you go through a period where you hear the same teaching and read the same message over and over again from completely different sources? Sometimes we may be in a particular circumstance, and it applies right now. Other times, you keep hearing it, and you're not quite in it yet.

For me, it's been a message of perseverance. It's been about keeping to my calling, protecting my anointing, and not letting anyone or anything distract me from, or dictate God's will for my life. Although resistance in this area has been relatively low lately ...... I picked up on the consistency of what God has been trying to tell me. I was like, "Oh NO! Not again! I don't want to DEAL with this again! I can't, I can't go through this again!"

Ha! The enemy is a slick, slimy, booger-head isn't he? Fear. That was my first reaction. About 5 minutes later ..... I remembered something a pastor of mine used to say, "I'm telling you this, not to scare you, but prepare you."

Considering and praying about this made me realize how insensitive my "hearing" can get. I'm so distracted by the many areas I'm growing in (and believe me, I gots A LOT of growing to do!), that I was missing what was right in front of me. When I finally realized God was going, "HELLO! OVER HERE!" waving, jumping up and down, and shouting for my attention ...... I'm trying to cover all bases all the time, when He wanted my focus HERE. HERE, He can prepare me, equip me, encourage me, and give me the strength I need for the coming battle.

How much chance would an enemy have if you knew they were coming and you knew their tactics? NONE!

Just because we face a difficulty once, doesn't mean we won't face it again, especially if it is an area we need to grow in, or dare I say, it's ALWAYS an area we need to grow in. How many lessons are there to learn from one circumstance? Faithfulness, steadfastness, patience, compassion, full dependency on God ...... the list could go on and on. 

And so, I have thoroughly committed my attention in this one area. I have preparations to make, I have battle lines to draw, I have my heavenly strategist to consult, and I have a battle to win! This is war, better polish and oil every kink in that armor of God, and let Him ..... take the lead, I only take orders.

What is your Turkish Delight?

As most of you know, I've been reading 'The Chronicles of Narnia' to my Cowboy. Although I've read all these books before, they surely take on a new meaning when teaching your child the symbolism and practicality of present day. As we summed up and discussed the fourth chapter of, 'The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe,' I must say, I was pleasantly surprised in little man's understanding.

We read about Edmund, the next to youngest child, who was tempted by the White Witch. She promised him power, Kingship .......  mostly, and to his immediate satisfaction, Turkish Delight. A temptation of a fine, sugary substance, that kept him wanting more and more ........ in exchange for his brother and sisters ..... the Son of Adam and Daughters of Eve.

The association between the White Witch and Satan, was no contest for my Cowboy, as it would be for any child deciding between good and evil. But I pressed further and asked him, "What would your 'Turkish Delight" be?" Examining his heart and evaluating how available sugar and Little Debbies are in this day and age, I challenged to push further, and think about the thing that the enemy could use most to tempt him right now. Without a second thought, he said, "Video games."

So I asked him ..... "if you were offered, as Edmund was, the ability to play these games, without "Mom rules" and conviction, and you were told you could play anything at all you liked, in exchange for what was most precious to you, what would you say?" He said, "What do you mean by most precious, what really does that mean?" I said, what matters most to your heart. So, ask yourself, what DOES matter most to your heart, and why? He said, "You Mama, you matter most to me." I said, "Truly, I am honored, but is that really how you feel? I only offer you love and care. What else do we need, what else is more important than that? He said, "Heaven. I want to live with Jesus." I asked him, "Can I give you that?" "No Mama, you can't, but God can." So I asked again, "What is most precious to you?" He looked at me, kinda questioning, almost to make sure it was ok with me, and he said, "God Mama. God is most precious to me."

I smiled and said, "OK, so, if you were offered to play any and all games you wanted, without rules or conscience, in exchange for giving up God and what you know He wants you to do ..... would you do it?" "OH NO Mama! I wouldn't!" I asked him, "Do you think it was easy for Edmund to give up his brother and sisters? Do you think he thought also, 'OH NO, NEVER! I could never do that?" After some consideration Cowboy said, "It must have been hard for him to say that." I said, "Yes, it must have been. But did his desire for his Turkish Delight (which has now been established as sin) over ride his desire for what was right?" "Yes," he said, "it did."

So ....... I asked him, "Now, how do you think the enemy will tempt you? Is he going to use something like Little Debbies?" "Well," he said, "yes, but Little Debbies would be easy to say no to." "BUT" he said, "He is going to try again and tempt me with what is most in my heart. What I want most."

That's as far as we got tonight, all I can say is, God is working!! A little at a time, my baby boy is connecting the dots between living righteously, and what to expect from the enemy. I am so blessed that he has such a greater understanding! God is truly in, and with him!

Hope for the Future, .....HOPE FOR MANKIND!

Before Christmas, hubby was diligently trying to get my kitchen in so I could cook Christmas dinner. I love to cook and especially bake! Living 2 years without a real stove and oven has been terribly painful for someone like me. I learned to adapt however, and I can make some mean Shrimp Croquettes in a tiny little toaster oven! Being numb with inconvenience, the idea of having a fully functioning kitchen was just too much to conceive!

By Christmas, he was good to his word and not only did I have my stove/oven installed, but a counter as well! There are no drawers, doors, or shelves mind you, but who's complaining? I don't have to bend over that low, craft table I've been using to do my choppin' and stuff! He did not, however, get the sink installed. He bought a pretty porcelain sink, put it in the hole of the counter, and that's how it's been since Christmas.

Yesterday, he brought home the faucet and some plumbing stuff and immediately got to work. I had picked out this very nice, touch faucet by Delta. I wanted this thing bad! This kitchen is very small. Like an apartment kitchen, and will not be my main kitchen when my house is done. I call this the downstairs kitchen as we will be living upstairs, someday ...... before I'm old and gray (oops, almost there!) hopefully. My intentions are to use the downstairs kitchen, and the entire downstairs, not just as an apartment for company, but also, I wanted that room where the kitchen is, to double as my craft and project room. It's big and spacious, and a touch faucet is perfect for goopy hands with paint, glue, etc.

So I go into the kitchen after hubby's done banging around in there, and see, not my beautiful Delta faucet, but the most gorgeous, shiny, gleaming in the light, cheap $100 faucet! Now, I could have gotten all bummed out. But you must understand how I've lived for 2 years. I've had to fill my dish tubs in the restroom because there's no running water in the "kitchen." I also had to dump dish water (and anything else like old coffee, noodle water, etc) in the commode. Talk about 100 steps to complete a simple task! If you're gonna wash dishes, make tea, and cook dinner ...... well honey, you might as well call it a cardio workout!

For a long time, I would take my dish water outside to dump it. I didn't want any 'chunky' stuff going down the toilet and into the septic system. One day it occurred to me, "HELLO! "chunky" stuff goes down the commode everyday (if you're lucky, ha!) a few grains of rice or pasta isn't gonna hurt it!" So actual running water out of ANY faucet, is like a river of living waters!

As I leaned against my tile-less counter this afternoon, admiring my shiny faucet (COMPLETE WITH A SPRAYER THINGY!), my eyes glazed over in delight ...... I walked over, and knowing the water pipe hasn't been connected, I did it anyway ..... I turned the faucet on. A smile crept across my face and I imagined clean, running water from a magical source, filling my sink and my heart with hope.  Hope that tonight ...... tonight might be the night ...... tonight I might be able to wash dishes in a real sink, with water, not from a fancy touch faucet, but from a shiny, pretty, gleaming oasis of ready made water! Hope for the future, HOPE FOR MANKIND!

And thus it stands ...... I wait in anticipation for the next several hours for hubby to get home. I wait for my future. Will I bask in the delight of a functioning kitchen sink? Oh the wonder! the sheer joy and convenience of such a thought! Tonight ..... we shall see!

Don Williams Emmy Lou Harris - If I Needed You (with text)

Meeting Holly Mountain

OK, as we are having a rare day off around here, things are in a lull, but don't be fooled, this is merely the calm before the storm! I wanted to play around and practice this blogging stuff. I still have no idea how people will know that I've written anything as I haven't taken time to add people or send emails, or whatever you're supposed to do. But, I wanna practice nonetheless! So, I shall share with you, our coming to Holly Mountain.

When Cowboy was 6 weeks old, hubby deployed to Kosovo for a year and a half. I was still in Texas at the time and still had 2 of my 3 older (most beautiful, handsome, and awesome) boys living at home (I have 4 boys total). During his deployment, we bought some acreage in Arkansas. We had vacationed there and fell in love with the area. All through his Kosovo deployment, I pictured late nights, sitting outside around a fire with the stars beaming above, planting a garden, canning, growing herbs, living off the land and loving the comfort of my log home with the blazing fireplace and all the hearty smell and feel of natural logs around me.  This, is how it ACTUALLY went down ..........

We had lived in a nice, warm, cozy 3 bedroom rent house in the little town of Clinton, Ar for 2 years. Most of that time, hubby was deployed to Iraq.  So basically, he returned from 18 months in Kosovo, had just enough time to dump me off in Arkansas, and deployed for another 18 months to Iraq. So, there I am, having lived my entire life in Texas, always close to family, lifelong friends, and knowing even the unknown faces in the grocery store, alone, in a place where there only person I knew was ....... my realtor. She turned out to be the most awesome friend too!  Even so, I continued on with the fantasy of my log home. When hubby returned from Iraq, we spent many nights, weeks at a time even, camping at the property. Hiking to the creek to bathe and collecting water to wash dishes and such. It was such great fun!

Hubby got to work on our log home, and although it seemed to drag out forever, one day, he said it was time to consider moving out there. According to my darling hubby, the house was "livable" in one room, and he would get the downstairs done shortly after. Convincing me it didn't make sense to pay rent when we had a "house" to live in, I agreed to move out here. So, keeping in mind, my above visions of glorious mountain living, this is what the actual experience was like.

Wouldn't you know it, we decided to move to our property on Holly Mountain in the dead of winter, a very harsh winter. Cowboy was in Kindergarten in a private school in town. As I started packing and moving a little at a time, I realized what a challenge it was going to be. No running water, no restroom, no TUB, just one room, for all three of us to share. So, we're talking ..... cooking, sleeping, bathing, and day time activities all in one 16x16 bedroom. 

OK, I set my mind to it. I can do this. Sometimes you have to take a few steps back to move forward. For 2 months we hauled water by the 5 gallon jugs, my refrigerator was 2 ice chests, my kitchen was a camp stove, an electric skillet, and a tiny convection oven. Our bathroom ....... well, they guys went outside, in the snow. After his first experience of trying to poop outside, and the horrible ultimate FAIL of him pooping in the potty bucket, (let's not relive THAT nightmare!) Cowboy decided he would wait until he got to school to "go to the office" which is what he calls, doing his poopy business. Yay, problem solved, haha, so long as no one got a tummy virus, ha! As for me, all I can say is, I learned that the body can only produce results between certain ranges of body angles, cold definitely delays results, and privacy is a must, even if you have pucker up and face the elements!

Bath time was an ordeal! We only had 1 room to keep warm in the nightmare of the 'winter wonderland' we lived in, so that wasn't too bad. But, heating the water, using one of those big plastic storage containers, and taking a bath before your water got cold, now that was something! Ever tried to wash 4 feet of hair in 2 gallons of water? I assure you, it CAN be done!

Cowboy loved it! He thought it was a great adventure of camping and living tough (tough = Daddy). But Mom ...... oh Mom, she had a totally different perspective! With a 2 burner propane camp stove and a coffee pot to heat water, it was a scramble to get enough water hot all at the same time, adding just enough cold water, and having more hot water in reserve, just to get one bath going. Bringing the heater in close, preparing soap, shampoo, wash rag and towel all in advance and praying someone didn't open the door and let in a gust of cold air, you were sure to not only conserve water, but to get your junk cleaned QUICKLY! It didn't take long before I learned to take my bath during the few hours Cowboy was in school in the morning! It also didn't take long ....... for this crap to get OLD!

After 2 months of living in the same room, and under these conditions .... after 2 months of feeling like I was taboogan(ing) up and down our drive way that looks like this / in snow and ice and thick, clay slippery mud (when we had the fortune of a brief thaw), one day, the final straw came. It was a simple, uncomplicated inconvenience. I had to clean out the ice chests everyday. It was the weekend and I couldn't get out, we were iced in. My one comforting thought was, I was going to grill us come sandwiches with some yummy, special cheese I had bought, and had just enough left to go with some soup. As I was cleaning the ice chests, I noticed there was water in my cheese container. Looking closer, not just water, but ..... something slimy .... nasty looking. Oh my goodness! You would have thought someone kicked my dog and insulted my kid! I was SO angry! I was doing the Fred Flintstone all over the place, "rockerfeller, dangthe, stupidcrap, downstairsdoneshortly, coldass, freezin'poopin innabucket!"  .......... I was done. I stopped, marched outside in the sleet and snow, and told hubby, "If you don't get me another room, a refrigerator, and above ALL, and frikkn BATHROOM, RIGHT NOW, I'm moving back to town!"

Needless to say :) within a few weeks, not only did I have another room, in which to put a makeshift kitchen (complete with frig) and a bedroom for Cowboy, but I also had a restroom, complete with tub and commode. Some day, I will tell you about our first meeting ....... between my toilet and I. :)

And we're off ......... !

We're going to give it a go! After several people have suggested I blog, either because my over-posting of my stories and adventures on Facebook, or perhaps because they feel I have something to say, I'm gonna give it a shot!

I live on Holly Mountain in Arkansas. Six years ago, my hubby and I moved our little boy, Samuel (aka Cowboy, aka Little Man, aka, Pookie Darling, etc, etc), to Arkansas. Here, we are building a log home (using the term "building," loosely, as that would require the constant act of, which it's NOT) teehee.

To say we are homesteading is pretty true. If homesteading means, living off the land as much as we can, and living without some modern conveniences we previously took for granted, then I reckon that's what we're doing. I do have 2 wonderful luxuries out here ..... TV and internet, both satellite of course :) These 2 things help me keep my sanity on those long stretches of being snowed or iced in, and the simple fact that I live and love the life of a hermit, ha!

The first 2 months we lived on the mountain, we had no restroom. I'll spare you the details, but let me assure you, such an inconvenience is much easier on a man than a woman! The day our commode was installed was one of the happiest days of my life! It was the prettiest toilet I had ever seen, and I have not taken it for granted a single day since!

I hope my stories of living out here, homeschooling Cowboy, and the all around adventure is helpful to someone, or amusing at least. I will be adding some previously written funnies and adventures soon.