sports

Well it has been too long since I have posted. Not much to say I suppose, or maybe too much to say...
Watched the Colts dismantle the team today. I'm not a Colts fan, but would be a Manning fan, classy guy, great player. I know it's a business, but it's sad to me to see players treated as a commodity. Maybe I'm losing any love I had for pro sports. I have watched a lot of college sports over the last two years since Michael is at IU. Have to say it is hard to watch the pros play for money and be all about the money (not all I know, but too many). The college players play with a passion that is contagious. They give it all especially this time of year.
Watched IU lose to WI today. Have to say WI played an awesome game. Easy when you are passionate about a team, to try to find some reason why the other team cheated, blame the refs, etc. Senior today for WI averages 3 points a game, 3! And today in the Big Ten tourney he scored 30!!  Good game by both teams, WI just played better. Haven't always been able to look at it that way. I got WAY to caught up in wins and losses with my favorite teams. Still do some especially against certain teams, but I'm working on it. Just not worth getting so wound up over things that I can't control, and in all reality mean nothing on the grand scheme of things....

why so angry

Why is it that people get so angry over things they can't control? Been there done that, trying oh so hard to stop. I know a person that goes off the deep end in regard to politics. The evil rich right, does everything wrong, lies, can't be trusted and will crush anyone who disagrees. And everyone on the left is out to save the world, but can't because  Such hate and anger come through in status updates. Deep down a decent person, but I think so full of jealousy and envy that all that is buried. Why is it someone with  a lack of motivation feels entitled to be given assets from a person that has worked hard?
We don't have much, really not much at all, but I am pretty content, do I wish we had more, who doesn't, but don't wish it to come FROM anyone else. Maybe that is the key, being content where we are, do what we can, be happy with what we have.
I have always taught my kids that they can be anything that they want to be, don't pick a career based on potential income, but because it is your passion. If you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life. BUT, if you choose a $40k career, be prepared for a $35k lifestyle. Live within your means, work for what you need, don't expect a hand out, and help others along your way.
Life's too short to get so angry over something that we have so very little control over, and I m going to work hard at no going there anymore...

Response

The older my kids get, the harder Christmas gets. This year Elizabeth didn't have a list. Didn't want to give me one, said there wasn't anything she really needed. While this brings great satisfaction in me, that she is content with what she has already, it also made me worry that she would be disappointed in Christmas, not much to open. But then that is always a worry for me, even though it isn't about the gifts, I want to see that joy on my kids faces, that they are happy. Even though we have taught them early on, that whatever they are given today, is more than they had the day before. Even though I have historically grateful kids, it weighs on me. The last thing I wanted this Christmas, was to focus on the potential disappointment. I don't know that I have ever actually seen them be disappointed, but the fear always seems to be there. The enemy's way of distracting me from the real meaning of Christmas. That Jesus came to save the world. That He left the glories of Heaven to become like us, to know the pain and temptations we face. That He came to get dirty, the King of Kings, born in the humblest of places, came to do the hard stuff. To be with people considered "unworthy" by society. To talk and eat with tax collectors and prostitutes. He didn't seek out religious leaders of the day, they were too busy keeping the law and making sure others knew they were keeping the law, worried about appearances, how they looked.  How often are we turned away because of the way someone looks or acts? Are we willing to get dirty too? We were part of a group that went to Hope Mission about two weeks ago, to work in the shelter, feeding people that had no place to go, to provide worship to those same people. Two days later, a homeless man was found dying on the streets,and later died in the hospital, we very possibly served him one of his last meals. Did we do enough? Did we reach him? What else could we have done? I worry about gifts for my kids, he worried about his next meal. I worry that my kids are have stuff, he worried about staying warm. There are people that would say it was somehow this guys own fault that he ended up there on the streets. Maybe, maybe he did make poor choices...but just maybe he didn't, maybe through circumstances beyond his control he ended up without a home, without a family to turn to, with nothing. Does that mean we show him less compassion? That somehow the REASON he is there, dictates how we respond? That isn't how Jesus responded, it was with grace, and mercy each and every time He encountered someone in need regardless of how they came into that need. We are called to respond with grace, and mercy, it isn't easy, but He didn't promise easy.

30 days of thankful

Going to catch up here, then try everyday for a new one
I'm thankful for
Novemeber 1st, a family tree deeply rooted in faith in God
November 2nd for my family, just the way they are
November 3rd for a text from Michael telling me how much he loved being in Bloomington this year, and listing all the good things that he has going for him. That is an answer to prayer, he was exactly the opposite this time last year and had me worried. LOVE that he is in a better place, and will give God the credit for that one.

Choice

Been a while since I have posted, I guess I'm looking to be profound, so many good great blogs out there and I feel a little intimidated. But when I set out to do a blog it was more about writing my thoughts down so that someday I could print a blog book for my kids, maybe even grand kids, that they would have something concrete that they could read about what their mom/mammaw thought, what life was like for her.
I'd like to think that I will pass things on to my kids, my faith being one of the most important things. And maybe it's time I think less of what anyone that reads my blog thinks, which is hard for me as I'm often driven by what people think, and just let this place be a place where I can write what I think, and it is what it is.
There has been a thought that has popped up many times over the last several days. Often times when that happens I think God is trying to get my attention. Repetition works for me. It is the thought that you can chose your attitude. Heard it in a sermon, read it in a blog, and have seen it a couple other places. It's all about choosing joy, choosing to be happy. I can choose to be negative, focus on the bad things, or I can find the positive in it. Man is that hard.
I have lived my life reacting, and letting my feelings control me. Who said they get to be in charge? Usually gets my into trouble when that happens.I stumbled upon a blog that had my attention quick, Sara's story  is a great blog, but take kleenex when you go to read. It stuns me she can go through what she is going through, and yet remain joyful. I have a friend whose testimony I have heard once, because it is too hard for me to listen to more than that, yet is one of the most joy filled people I know. I am certain she has her bad days, but she chooses joy. It amazes me that they can do that, I know why they can, or Who helps them through the bad stuff. Just not there yet for me, will keep working at it, one step at a time.
Today, I choose Joy, tomorrow I'll have to make that choice again, with God's help I will.

Jumping in

Misha, Scooter, and Cali

We have a dog, actually three dogs, two by design, third one adopted us. Cali is bully-beagle. Love her dearly, she is people dog, the best kind. Loves to be with people. She has a habit when food is near or offered, she will without even a sniff grab it into her mouth and go to work on it. Now that's all well and good if it ends up being something she likes, but there are times, she is committed, has it in her mouth and finds out she doesn't like it, or it wasn't what she thought it would be.

Got me to thinking today, aren't we at times like that? That we will jump into things without prayer or forethought, and then realize it just isn't what we thought it would be? Now what? Often times we are stuck, and just have to swallow it. Rare occasions we can get out, and no one gets hurt or disappointed. Other times we are miserable or we leave others short handed or disappointed when we back out.
I tend to be  am a people pleaser, hate to disappoint others even if it means inconveniencing myself (often that is the case, better me than someone else). Have to learn that not everything I'm offered is something I should jump into, wait, pray and listen FIRST, then give the right answer, even if it may be no.

She makes it look easy

Fair is over, was my intent to blog during fair, didn't happen as I'd liked it to. Far too busy, or tired by the time I got back to the camper.
We showed feeder calves on Tuesday, didn't do to bad considering I really didn't sift through calves this spring like I normally do, so it tells me our feeding program is on the right track. Next year we will start with really good calves and that should make a difference.
Wednesday was swine showmanship and the barrow show. Elizabeth was in senior showmanship, the judge worked the kids hard. She made it out of her group and into the honor group. He had them drive, tried to trip them up by walking around their pigs, he put bedding on the pig to see if they had their brushes to clean them up. At one point he had all the kids left, try to get their pigs to stand in one spot, Elizabeth's could stand all day as long as she is scratching him. She looked so relaxed and smooth out there, and ended up winning Senior showman!

Eby and Tuck

Winning senior showman meant she would get to show against the master showman in the club, the best of the best. Showmanship runs oldest to youngest, with senior first, and master last so that the senior winner can let their pig rest before going again. Her partner rested in the pen, while she watched her siblings show. Sara made honor group in Juniors, so happy for her, I think it may be the best she has done in that barn. Jay just missed, had a miscommunication with the judge, thought he was going to talk to her, he wasn't and she cut between him and her pig. Major no no. She will get there I'm sure, just has to wait another year.

Elizabeth's turn to run master showman against two other kids. She was so slow and easy, her partner really worked well with her, did what she needed to do and ended up with this

Senior and Master showmanship winner

 

None of this comes easy. It is work at home that does it. Doesn't matter what your pig looks like or how much money you spend on it, it won't help you win showmanship if you haven't done the work at home. She went on to represent swine club in round robin competition and did so very well. She had to demonstrate showing a pig, and then show a horse, lamb, goat, beef steer, feeder calf, and dairy heifer. She didn't win this time, but now knows what it is like and wants to go do it again.
Proud of all my kids, hard work has paid off!!