Tuesdays Child…full of GRACE!
This little princess just makes my heart melt. I have had the privilege of taking her photos since she was a teensy-tiny little one and she just gets prettier every time! We had an absolute blast taking her one year pictures…always ready with a smile and the gleam in her eye….just as pretty as her sisters and momma! Her daddy and big brothers better start working on how they are going to handle any future boyfriends 🙂
No more delays….meet sweet little Miss C
Weather is fickle here in the Ozarks. Much like it was on the Great Plains. If you don’t like it, just wait a few minutes and it will change. This morning brought a cloudy, cool morning and as I pondered life this morning while looking at our vista, it dawned on me that life on the ranch is fickle too. We were scheduled for a much needed Grandkid fix this weekend and due to circumstances on the ranch, we aren’t going to be able to delight in giggles and hugs of those precious grands.
I could be mad, sad and have a hissy fit (which I have done in the past) and be totally and unnecessarily angry with Cowboy Bob, OR, alternatively, I could just embrace the situation and look for the positive. What is the positive? Well, maybe the big guy upstairs is trying to tell us something. Maybe we are both just too exhausted to travel this weekend, maybe we are needed here for something, maybe we are needed back with the family at different time. Who knows?
So, what is there to be grateful for? Well, for one, the wisdom that brings peace. It doesn’t do a darn bit of good to be upset over things you can’t control. We are needed here this weekend. The momma cows and baby calves need us. They are the lifeblood of this ranch and really, without them we would not exist here. Okay, maybe that is dramatic, but seriously, if a ranch doesn’t produce something it will cease to exist and that is just a fact. Without proper care and tending our livelihood would go right down the pooper. And, we are not ready to be town dwellers anytime soon. We love this life, so that in turn means we love the cows, so we must do what the Creator has asked us to do and care for His creatures and land.
Is there more to be grateful for? Absolutely. The list grows every time I pause and give it a little thought. I am grateful for the visit we had last night from two very precious littles and their mom and dad. Nothing like letting a sweet little one sit on your lap and tour the ranch to make it all right with the world. Filled a space in my heart instantly. I am grateful for this life. I have the freedom to be able to spend a rainy morning in the nice warm house catching up on the phone with a dear, dear friend first, and then my baby girl who lives FAR too many miles from her mother. I got to network a little this morning with a blogger that lives a few states away.
Mostly what I am grateful for though today is the peace that has come into my life since we moved. This move has allowed me the space and the silence to gain wisdom and a greater relationship with Nature, the Creator and even myself. All of those things helped create a place for me to become wiser (I think) and more at peace and in turn, learn to roll with the tide.
One look over the valley that is filled with colors of Mother Nature, listening to the gentle moos of the cows, hearing the baby calves call out to their moms, the tom turkey talking to the ladies and you can’t help but realize that life is miraculous and there is a plan for you. Slow down, listen and pay attention to the signs that are put in front of you…it makes the fickle-ness of life easier to deal with….
Still going to miss my littles this weekend, but, here’s to some serious Grandma/Grandpa FUN when we see you next ….
BIG hugs and love…
a
730 days ago Cowboy Bob and I took a huge leap of faith. We left everything we had ever known, and moved an entire ranch (no one said we were sane) FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE miles. South. South to a place that neither one of us ever thought we would ever live.
In the last 730 days, things have been crazy. Crazy, wild, fun, sometimes sad, but always BLESSED. It was a HUGE decision to make, to leave our families, our lives, our friends and basically everything we had known since childhood behind and move~ but we did it because we had to. Our lives had reached a point where it was nothing but drudgery in a place that had served us well in the past, but was not serving our highest good anymore. So, off we went, 2 semi loads of stuff, 6 dogs, 3 cats, a couple of houseplants and we transplanted ourselves in the heart of the Ozarks.
We have spent the last 730 days learning a LOT about the area and the way a ranch should operate in the south, but, mostly we have learned about ourselves. We learned that what we thought was a comfort zone wasn’t necessarily so comfortable. Life had handed us a challenge, and we rose to meet it. Do we miss our family? Absolutely. Sometimes so much that it physically hurts. Do we miss our friends? Absolutely. Same deal as the kids, but we for sure have found out who are true friends are. Do I miss Target and Scooters Coffee? Um, yea…probably a little too much. If I could just get Scooters to deliver…
Even without the kids being a short drive away, a hug from a dear friend just moments away, life is good here. We have grown as individuals, as a couple, as stewards of the land. Life has handed us a gift, one that we intend to embrace and fulfill what the Creator has asked of us. Hopefully now that we are acclimated a bit, we will have time to share this great big wonderful lesson and adventure with all of you. Here is to the Sun shining on all of our faces…
Anyone want to bring me a Carmelicious Frappe?? 🙂
Big HUGS and LOVE…
a
Wow! It’s been f.o.r.e.v.e.r since I have posted! A LOT has changed in the last couple of years!! Cowboy Bob and I have made a HUGE life change (we will detail that out another day) and we are finally settling in to a NEW and IMPROVED life…enough so, that I can find time to write, take some photos, and share the love with all of you!
Last Saturday, I had the awesome chance to spend the afternoon with a fantastic couple who are expecting their first bundle of joy….it was a perfect afternoon for capturing the love between these two and their growing family. Oh, wait….I forgot…there needs to be a little disclaimer…it was great for all of the humans. Ozzie, the big brother, was NOT so thrilled to meet the ducks. It was clear that the ducks were evil, and his parents needed protection from them…and yes, there is photographic evidence of this. If I hadn’t been doubled over in laughter, I would have videoed the chaos. There was whining and some very plaintive cries from the poor guy! No worries though. He managed to save us all! 🙂 Ozzie will be a great big ‘brother’…..
With no further adieu…meet the Johnson Family
Lilly eats poop. Oh chillax, Lilly is not a human child, but she is a fur-child (aka-dog). While this is completely disgusting, you really should observe her when she finds these little brown treasures in the yard. You would swear she just found the best thing e.v.e.r
This little treasure hunt got me to thinking—which my husband (affectionately known as Cowboy Bob) always says is a dangerous thing–about the things in life that bring happiness.
I spent a lot of years trying to find that sweet spot—that spot where you are totally engrossed in happily ever after-esque life. Lots of years were spent wondering where, or if, that even existed.
Oh, believe me, lots of different things have crossed my plate-I tried losing myself in my husband, my kids, my friends, my career, pretty much anything that would allow me to avoid taking a good, hard look at WHY I was truly not happy. What I was really doing was avoiding getting to know me—after all, who would actually think I was worth the time and effort, let alone someone who could be happy, or heaven forbid-someone who deserved to be happy.
I tossed around blame, bought totally ridiculous, totally unnecessary crap, did really stupid things, tried a few productive things, still not finding that magic key that was going to spell out h.a.p.p.y. in my life.
So, long story short-no worries, more details will come later—it dawned on me on a hot summer afternoon, just a sittin’ in my yard watching my dog devour a chunk of poop—that happiness is what you make of it—what you believe and what you choose it to be…it’s not a definition or a thing –it’s a choice.
I wonder if they make mouthwash for dogs?
Much love, hugs and many blessings….
2sdays girl….
Today was a break. A much needed break from reality–a day with the girls, aanndd…a little something else. In the words of a dear friend today was a “never in a million years did I ever imagine a girly girl like YOU would….” sort of day. Today I bought a bow- a real life, serious hunting style compound bow. While I will never kill a living thing with it, target practice is some serious FUN! So, here I was at indoor range, purple polished nails, UGG wearin’, peace loving little ol’ me-shooting a bow and loving every second. I was totally out of my comfort zone and it was AWESOME!
This blog was designed to be a place for us all to inspire, encourage and support each other–so it is my fervent wish and hope that all of you can step out of your comfort zone and do something different -step out of the comfy little space that we all call home and do something unexpected –I promise you won’t be disappointed! It will refresh your soul and fill you up in a way that will amaze you!
#FULLofexcitement
love n hugs….
2sdaysgirl
This weekend was an emotional one-lots happening and eventually I will share it all with you. I ran across a quote this weekend and it really struck a chord with me–we are surrounded by miracles every day, little ones, big ones, miraculous miracles –they are everywhere if we choose to look….how were you touched by a miracle? Celebrate the miracles, ALL of them, from the tiny ones to the ginormous ones….share them with me….let’s celebrate together…
love n hugs…
2sdaysgirl
“Miracles are like meatballs, because nobody can exactly agree on what they are made of, where they come from, or how often they should appear. Some people say that a sunrise is a miracle, because it is somewhat mysterious and often very beautiful, but other people say it is simply a fact of life, because it happens every day and far too early in the morning. Some people say that a telephone is a miracle, because it sometimes seems wondrous that you can talk with somebody who is thousands of miles away, and other people say it is merely a manufactured device fashioned out of metal parts, electronic circuitry, and wires that are very easily cut. And some people say that sneaking out of a hotel is a miracle, particularly if the lobby is swarming with policemen, and other people say it is simply a fact of life, because it happens every day and far too early in the morning. So you might think that there are so many miracles in the world that you can scarcely count them, or that there are so few that they are scarcely worth mentioning, depending on whether you spend your mornings gazing at a beautiful sunset or lowering yourself into a back alley with a rope made of matching towels.”
― Lemony Snicket
Plans, schmans….I am a planner by nature–I plan to do everything. Some may even say that dreaded word…’anal’ about me. Well, in learning to be more grace-FULL today was all about abandoning what I should have been doing and going to the aid of a friend. Normally this would have thrown me into a tizzy about how to get it done, will I have to stay up half the night to get everything done?!? Nope, it is with a grace-FULL heart that I choose my friend, put her needs above mine and the work will wait….it will still be there when I wake up in the morning…..and it feels pretty darn good! ❤
love and hugs….
2sdaysgirl
Ever had one of those brilliant ideas, act on it and then go “uh-oh”…ummmm…..what did I just get myself into? So, that is exactly what happened last night in this house. I have had this tiny little thought in my head for years to create a space to share the millions of thoughts that bounce around my head and heart and apparently yesterday was the day that all came to fruition. 2sdaysgirl is now an official website, has her own facebook page, twitter account, gmail account and pinterest page…I know, right? That is a load of stuff to update! Omgsh…..can it all be done?!?!?
The answer my friends is a resounding YES!!!! It was clearly communicated to me last night (via my ‘spirit team’) that this is going to be a wonderful place–a place where we can all come together to learn from each other, tell each other what is residing in the deep dark corners of our minds and hearts, and most importantly learn from each other how we make it through the days–all while learning how to stand in gratitude, graciousness, and love.
So as the clock rolled over to 3 am — it became increasingly clear that sleep was going to continue to elude until an idea magically appeared for today’s post. So, with no further delay–here it is. In striving for more grace-FULL days I am determined to look at all of the things that come forth in a day. Full -ness of something happens every moment of every day–what we let come to forefront of our minds is what is the determining factor of how that day goes. Some days are full of love, wonder, and imagination–other days, not so much; some days are just full of being, well, full. Tell me what you are FULL of today–whether it is bursting with love and happiness, full of confusion, or simply full of crap–it doesn’t matter–just sharing how you feel can bring a new light to the situation you are in–good or bad.
You can share your FULL in the comments below, post them on facebook or for you tweeters out there–use the #FULL…
For the record–today I am feeling…..#FULLofrelief…..
love n hugs…..
2sdaysgirl
There is an old poem that my Grandma M used to tell me… I believe it is called “Monday’s Child” and it goes a little like this…
Monday’s child is fair of face,
Tuesday’s child is full of grace,
Wednesday’s child is full of woe,
Thursday’s child has far to go,
Friday’s child is loving and giving,
Saturday’s child must work for a living,
But the child that’s born on the Sabbath day,
Is fair and wise and good and gay.
~Unknown
I used to joke that this was a bunch of bs because I was a Tuesday girl and graceful and I were not even in the same room –I was a clumsy one 😀 However, I was listening to a radio show not long ago, and had an “A HA” moment. Tuesday kids are not necessarily graceful but grace-FULL! It only took me most of my 40 plus years to realize that grace not only means moving with ease, style and making things look effortless but it’s other meaning is generous, free, something unexpected and undeserved. Those few seconds on the radio spurred something in me–it inspired me to step out of my head and follow my heart and stand in a place of love.
While that all sounds fantastic and wonderful, I am still human, so this will be a place where I share a little about some things I have learned in my life–lessons hard fought for and some things that still amaze me.
So, welcome, my dear friends–let’s walk this path of learning to be grace-FULL together!
love n hugs….
2sdaysgirl
2sdaysgirl