Worth The Read/Listen

I've collected a few great blog posts, articles, and a song for your listening pleasure!

*  Opening Up.  My friend Lori wrote a beautiful blog (click here) about raising her sweet son who has some developmental delays.  She is honest and loving and this post is just beautiful.  There is one line in there that just rang so true with me and that I think everyone should read and think about.  "I believe that my son sees things differently because the world needs people who see things differently...Your kid is exactly who he or she needs to be - and maybe together, all of our 'different' kids will take the world in a 'different' direction that it truly needs to go."

*  We Said Yes Too. This article (click here) was written by a Catholic mama who has suffered multiple miscarriages.  She discusses how she has to deal with judgment and negative comments because she does not have more children.  I've had good friends who suffer with judgment for the opposite reason, folks thinking they have too many children.  The bottom line is that we never know what someone is going through and instead of commenting or judging, we should just be loving and supporting them.  Period.

* 5 Years, Yo.  My sweet College Roomie recently celebrated the 5th anniversary of her first date with her husband.  I am proud to have been a part of their meeting.  She did a great job of telling the story of that fateful meeting and following first date.  It's hilarious and I'm a genius.  To read her blog, click here.

*  Jayton and Jill.  Zane Williams has my very favorite song right now called Jayton and Jill.  I love everything about it.  The music, the story, his voice....everything.  When I went to go pull a video so you guys could listen to it, I learned that he wrote the song after taking 10 random words from his fans and putting 9 of them into a song.  The words?  121 North, Bearcats, Jill, Oil, Ephesians, Jayton, sarsparilla, flamboyant, 4th of July.  He couldn't make the 10th word (roller skates) fit.  Amazing!  Give it a listen here.

Inspiration for your Friday

I've come across several great quotes and articles about faith lately, so I thought I'd share some of those with you all today.

* Nicole Kidman and Jimmy Kimmel's Story.  You may have seen the video of Nicole Kidman talking about meeting (and liking) Jimmy Kimmel years ago, who had no idea she was interested.  After watching that blog, Annie Downs wrote this amazing article.  Go read it right now (and watch the video because it's hilarious).

Her point is that God is always in control, and his timing is always perfect. In light of that, we should thank him for the missed opportunities in our lives.   A few of my favorite lines.

I needed to be reminded that God’s sovereign hand is tightly gripped around my little life.

God knew all along.

We will never know how many near misses and misunderstood stories and random circumstances all had to dance together to get us right here, with the right people, at the right time.  But He knows.

* Let Them See You.  I've had this song on repeat for a week.  I just think that it's not only a beautiful song, but such a perfect prayer.

Let them see You in me let them hear You when I speak
Let them feel You when I sing
Let them see You, let them see You in me

* Baylor Quarterback Gets It.  After Baylor lost the Cotton Bowl in terrible fashion....letting Michigan State come back from like 21 down....BU quarterback, Bryce Petty, made the following statement.

* Burn the Candles.  I think this is maybe the best New Years advice I've ever read.  I'm a total saver.  I don't wear my favorite jeans because they'll wear out.  I don't burn my favorite candles because I can only buy them in the fall (thanks Bath and Body Works).  If I'm honest, I waste days thinking they are not special enough.  Every day is a gift.  Every.single.one.  So we need to stop saving up our best candles, our best attitudes, our best things for special occasions.  The fact that we are still here on earth means it is a special occasion.  I am going to consciously work on doing better at this over the next year!


What would would it look like for you, this year, to burn your candles, to allow yourself to be as loved and worthy as the people around you believe you are? What are you hoarding away for another day, for someone else, someone more deserving or special or fancy? What have you been given that you won’t allow yourself to enjoy?

Open the jam, the journal, the wine. Slather that fancy lotion all over your feet. Put on those sparkly earrings even if you’re just going to the grocery store. Because someone gave them to you out of love. Accept that love. Burn the candles.

Family Farm Friday #90: Things We Forget

One of my favorite songs is Things We Forget by Mark Wills.

  

Here are a couple verses:

I forgot how much I loved that smell of dirt fresh off the plow, 
that tailgate rattle, tires on gravel, I sure do love that sound.
And I can't believe I spent so many years running from this.
It's slow and it's small and it's life at a crawl but it's everything I missed!

Where we come from, where we're goin', how to live right here in the moment.
How to love somebody let 'em love you back.
When to let go and cry, when to lighten up and laugh,
 slow it all down and take a long deep breath, man the things we forget.

There are lots of things about home that I never forget and always miss.  The smell of fresh cut alfalfa.  Seeing baby lambs everywhere.  Branding.  Cool mornings.  People that have known me my entire life.  Dogs swimming in the stock tank.  My mom's green chile enchilladas.  County Fairs.  Setting irrigation tubes.

But while I was back home for a few days last week, I realized that one of the things that I had forgotten was the sky.  It's just bigger and brighter at home than it is other places.  Here, in the crock pot that is Central Texas in the summer, it's hard to get a good look at the sky.  There are clouds and trees and hills that block the view.  But not at home.  There, you can see for miles.  And until I left and lived somewhere without this luxury, I didn't realize how much I loved it.

Not sure how I was able to forget something that beautiful, but now that I remember, it sure made it harder to leave!

American Country Music Awards

At the risk of sounding like an 80 year old grandpa, country music ain't what it used to be.  There were several songs (and outfits) that made me sort of cringe watching the ACM awards on Sunday evening.  But there were a couple of winners in my book.

1.  Tim McGraw and Faith Hill sang "Meanwhile Back at Mama's".  I love them, I love this song, all good.

2. Blake Shelton and some girl from The Voice that I don't know sang  "My Eyes"  I do love me some Blake Shelton.  I think he's super good looking, hilarious, just enough of a bad boy, and I really do love almost all of his songs....with the exception of that stupid one about chewing tobacco and spitting.  What exactly was that crap about anyway?

 3. George Strait won Entertainer of the Year.  Do I really need to say anything here? He looked genuinely shocked. He kissed his wife.  He bragged on his fans.  Mentioned his family.  Thanked God.  And did it all whilst rocking a black hat.  Sigh.  That, kids, is why he's the King.

Who You Are

"Sometimes I don't know, I don't know what You're doing, but I know who You are...."

Sometimes in the midst of all of the uncertainty and question marks and sadness in the world, you just need a little reminder.

A Few Songs for Your Friday

I failed to get enough blog posts written for the week.  Sometimes, that happens.  Sometimes is probably going to be more than normal over the next three wees as I am studying for the bar, so bear with me here kids.  (No lie, I just had go google to see if that was "bear" or bare" there...)

Anyway, I figured I could at least share a few of the songs that are currently gracing my headphones.  As I look at these, I realize it looks like I must have relationship problems.  Never fear.  The Boy from Texas and I are just fine.  Apparently, I just like the tortured relationship type music.

Here ya go....Happy Friday!

If I Loved You by Delta Rae.  I learned about this song from Super Mom's blog.  It's so catchy that I kinda forget it's sad and depressing.


Compass by Lady Antebellum.  This one is happy and upbeat.  I like it.


Say Something by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera.  No mistaking this one is depressing.  But I love it for some reason!


And now, onto the Texas Country selections.

Diamonds and Gasoline by Turnpike Troubadours.  I have a nephew (Little Cowboy) who loves Turnpike.  When we were home for Christmas, every time we were in a vehicle, he'd say, "Hey The Boy from Texas, play some Turnpike!"  I had forgotten about this song and was reminded how much I like it.


Dirt Road by Bo Phillips.  Song about falling in love on a dirt road.  That's all you need to know.  Got this song from Almost Gypsy Soul---her blog is currently featuring a whole playlist of dirt road music.  Check it out!


Small Town Love by Casey Donahew.  See, here's another song about love.  Good, I'm balancing out things with these.  Love me some Casey Donahew!

5 Favorites

Well I was a bit short on blog content this week, but Super Mom to the rescue with a link up she does each week.  Here are a list of 5 Favorites this Wednesday!

1.  I am obsessed with this song, which I learned about thanks to Super Mom's Five Things post last week.  Seriously, it's been on pretty  much every second I have not been studying for the last few days.

2.  This article about things you should never say to childless women.  A-freakin-men.  There are just some things that are personal and that other people shouldn't inquire about.  Why someone is still single and why they do not have babies are two of those things.  I'd like to send this to about 100 people I know!

3.  This post by Meg Fee, one of my favorite bloggers.  First off, it breaks my heart for her and I'd like to knock the crap out of this guy.  But that's not why it's on the list.  I love her way of analyzing whether this is the right guy...when you've got a kid in the backseat on the way to the ER to get stitches someday, is this the guy you want next to you?  It's easy to get caught up in all the love and romance and whatnot of a relationship, but in the end, finding the guy you want with you on the way to the ER to stitch up a busted head is probably far more important.

4.  We've started up a website and a Facebook page for our show lamb business.  There are some pretty good photos that you all might enjoy.  So check out the website here and go like the Facebook page here!

5.  I mentioned this before, but one of my dearest friends is currently in jail.  (Long story that just gets me on a rant about what a jacked up criminal "justice" system we have.)  Anyway, over Christmas several people were so kind as to send him Christmas cards and he absolutely loved it!  He said it made his day opening cards from people he didn't even know.  I am hoping to rally the troops and do the same thing for Valentine's Day.  It seriously means SO much to him, so if you could spare the time to drop him a note, card, letter, little kid Valentine, whatever, just shoot me an email and I'll get you his info.  (Those of you who have it from last time, nothing has changed but be sure you put your NAME and return address, otherwise he can't have the letter until he gets released.)  Thank you in advance for your kindness to my buddy!

Seven Quick Takes

My friend Super Mom links up for Seven Quick Takes every week, so I figured it was time for me to join in the fun!

(1)  I could not be more excited about this weekend.....I have 9 of my favorite ladies headed to town today to celebrate my birthday (yes...I'm still celebrating two weeks later...don't judge)!  We've got lots of fun planned, but the big event is watching my OSU Cowboys beat up on the Texas Longhorns tomorrow in Austin!  CANNOT WAIT.

OSU v. Texas game circa 2009...this ending best be better than that one!

(2)  Last Thursday, these arrived on my desk.  My favorite flowers.  And a precious card.  That boyfriend of mine......I think I'll keep him around.

(3)  I am in love with Compass by Lady Antebellum right now.  If you haven't heard it, listen right this minute.

(4)  I'll be spending Thanksgiving Day with year with The Boy from Texas and his family.  Now, being a good country girl, I knew I had to cook something to take.  But, well, you all remember about how I almost burn my house down and what not when I try to be domestic.  However, Super Mom came to my rescue with this pumpkin crunch recipe that I will be whipping up for the event.  Wish me (and all of those who consume said cake) luck!

(5)  Let's talk about how much I hate Fantasy Football right now.  I drafted good teams.  I am literally projected to win almost every week.  My records in the two leagues I'm in?  5-5 and 3-7.  How does this happen, you ask?  I have had at least 5 guys out with season-ending injuries, Aaron Rodgers' collar bone is making me lose sleep, and don't even get me started on what a colossal flop my first round pick Trent Richardson was.  Oh, and for those of you who recall a little bet about who will be moving to be with whom based on Fantasy Football....The Boy from Texas has now officially beat me twice.  By like 50 points each time.  Yea.

(6)  One of my favorite bloggers, The Single Woman, recently wrote a book.  She also wrote a blog explaining why she decided to take on the book writing task.  If you're single....or were single....or know someone who is single....read this blog.  She understands both the downside and the upside to being single long after everyone else in the world seems to have a husband.

(7)  I'm excited about the Virtual Turkey Trot that Almost Gypsy Soul and I are hosting!  To read more about that, click here.  Basically you just have to run or walk a 5K over the week or so around Thanksgiving--whether an official race or just you jogging down a dirt road, which is my plan--and let us know.  You can email us photos or can do your own blog about it.  Here's the best part.....if we get participants from 10 states, we are making donations to the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots!!  So help some girls out here!

I'm In Love With This Song....

Amen, amen, amen!

WILW

Happy Wednesday, kids!  We're halfway through the week, which means I'm that much closer to a weekend at the lake with the family and the Boy from Texas.  Cannot wait!  I haven't done a What I'm Loving Wednesday in a while, so here we go!

1.  The great feedback and attention my Texas Agriculture Law Blog is getting.  I appreciate all of you guys who went over and subscribed.  If anyone else wants to sign up, just click on the link above, enter your email address and you will get an email to open and confirm your subscription, and you will get every blog sent to your email address.  We're really trying to push the blog this month, so please pass the link along to anyone who you know that might be interested!

2.  This article called "All That Is Right With 4-H."  Go read it.  If you were in 4-H or FFA, you lived it.  I've been both the little kid getting the help and the big kid giving it.  There are no better organizations for kids than these two.

3.  This song I heard on the radio a couple of weeks ago called "Single Rose Kind of Girl."  Precious.

4.  This article giving advice to 20-year-olds on things that the should know/do in the workplace.  I think this lady is spot on.  Except for the being more productive in the morning.  Not this girl!

5.  This article about why our generation is leaving the church.  I think that she hits it right on the head.  It's not about fancy bands or coffee houses or political agendas, it's about seeing Jesus and living lives that point to Him.  My favorite line from the article:  "We want churches that emphasize an allegiance to the kingdom of God over an allegiance to a single political party or a single nation."

6.  A video my friend Jen shared of a birthday surprise for a little girl.  It's not all bouncy houses and princesses and that kind of crap when you live in the country.  Check this out.  I love it!



7.  This blog about not being afraid to tell people your dreams and to go after them.  Favorite lines:  "Too often we rob ourselves of the joy of dreaming because of the fear of failure and judgment.  Don't you think it's time to start chasing your dreams?"

7 Quick Takes

Hey hey! Happy FRIDAY!  Woo hoo!

First things first, thank y'all so much for your sweet comments on my House Tour post yesterday.  I had so much fun decorating, but even more fun hearing that everyone liked it (or those of you who didn't kept your mouths shut!)

Today I'm joining a new link up that my sweet friend Super Mom does each week called 7 Quick Takes.  I thought I'd share 7 things I've enjoyed this week!

1. My current favorite song called She Ain't Leavin'.  I am absolutely in love with this song.  In love.  So precious.

2.  This quote.  Haha......totally me and several of my friends!  (Ahem...Blonde Oklahoma Girl and ND Friend....ahem!)

I found it from this website.  Favorite it.  You'll thank me later.  Hilarious.

3.  This article about parents bringing children to church.  If you have kids, please read this and feel better.  If you don't, please read this and don't be a jerk from now on. 

When you are here, the church is filled with a joyful noise. When you are here, the Body of Christ is more fully present. When you are here, we are reminded that this worship thing we do isn’t about Bible Study or personal, quiet contemplation but coming together to worship as a community where all are welcome, where we share in the Word and Sacrament together. When you are here, I have hope that these pews won’t be empty in ten years when your kids are old enough to sit quietly and behave in worship. I know that they are learning how and why we worship now, before it’s too late.

4. This amazing blog about kindness and listening to the pulls God makes on our heartstrings.  Such a wonderful post!

How often do we ignore God’s pullings and tuggings on our hearts because the thing He’s telling us to do doesn’t seem safe, or convenient, or sensible? I think we so often go through life looking for signs and angels and touchstones to point us in the right direction that we miss our opportunities to be those things for someone else. What if we’re not always supposed to be on the lookout for our guardian angels? What if that’s not enough? What if we’re supposed to actually BE that for someone else?

5.  This article listing 10 decisions you can make that will change the world.  I really like all of these, but this one is my favorite: 

Ask yourself what in the world today most breaks your heart and offends your sense of justice. Decide to help change that and join with others who are committed to transforming that injustice.

6.  This photo of me and Loud Oklahoma Girl after we finished our half marathon.  We were happy girls to be DONE!

7.  All the new recipes that I found on Pinterest lately.  I am excited to get to cooking them again now that the whole oven fire incident is behind me. :)

WILW

"Sometimes the most ordinary things could be made extraordinary simply by doing them with the right people." ~ Nicholas Sparks

I'm in Europe.  Loving every minute.  And every good dessert. And old church.  And lots of amazing food.  You get it.  Here are some other things I am loving today!

1.  Baby Chocolate Brown.  I finally got to meet her last weekend and she is precious and beautiful and perfect.  The Chocolate Brown family honestly is so good looking, I'm almost intimidated being in their house.  Except that they're so darn nice and I forget about it.

2.  Speaking of adorable children, I can't leave out SoulMate Friend's boys.  I had a blast spending a couple of days with Little Linebacker and Little Fullback.  I think I had two favorite parts of the weekend--first the fact that Little Linebacker can now clearly say "Aunt Tiff" and second when he played his dad's tuba.  It was amazing.

Me and the newest addition to Aunt Tiff's football team

3.  This list of 100 things you should tell your daughter.  My favorite?  "A strong man is never threatened by a strong woman."  Amen to that!

4.  This blog about the Boston Marathon attacks.  And how horrible it was to bomb the people who watch marathons because of what they mean to the runners.

5.  ND Friend's blog all about her 30th birthday gift.  The picture of the St. Therese quote....the one that is written in handwriting that might belong to a third grader....that was from me. :)  You might remember my blog about my small part in this project here.  It was an amazing and perfect way to ring in her 30th year!

6.  Mrs. F.'s response to my text that I finished my half marathon.  What did she say, you ask?  "You know that you can stop doing things just to prove that you can do them if you want to."  She's a smart lady, that Mrs. F.  I'm pretty good at doing things just to prove that I can.  Half marathons included!

7.  This song called Messin' Around.  Adorable.



8.  This video of Vince Gill and Patty Loveless singing Go Rest High On That Mountain at George Jones' funeral.  Beautiful.

9.  This article written by a daddy to his little girl about her future husband.  The idea?  All of the articles we read as women about how to be sexy and fun and whatever to keep a guy interested are crap.  The guy should be interested because we are interesting, period.  Love it.

Playing a Little Catch Up

“Life is about moving, it’s about change. And when things stop doing that they’re dead.”  ~Twyla Tharp

My life has been a total and complete whirlwind over the last couple of weeks.  I've been updating  you via my daily photographs, but I wanted to share some of the awesome things that have been going on in more detail!

A Surprise Party



College Roomie got me.  She got me good.  She threw me my first ever real surprise party.  (She threw me one or two more in college, but she always let me in on the secret and I just acted surprised.  We were cool like that.)  But this time she and McCain picked me up to go to dinner at Casa de Benevidez, this Mexican food place in town that College Roomie raves about.  No, seriously, she's even blogged about their sopapilla burger.  Anyway, we walk in and I see one of my friends from law school and her husband.  I think to myself, "Wow, what a coincidence."  Then I glance around and see someone who looks like my friend Miss Texico.  I looked back and realized it was Miss Texico and Pharmer Girl.  At this point, being the genius I am, I still don't get it, and say, "This is amazing, I know everyone here!"  And then it snapped.  College Roomie had gathered up 15 of my friends for a surprise going away party.  It was perfect!  (You can read her recap of the events here.)

The Cowboy Rides Away Tour

George Strait.  Final concert tour.  Cousin Whitney, Aunt Evil Kineval, Aunt Delta Dawn, and three of their best friends.  Honestly, words don't do this event justice.  We seriously had the best time.  George was amazing, as you would expect.  He played for over two hours and still left out a ton of his great songs.  College Roomie figured out that if he played just all of his number ones (mind you, that is just the #1s and would leave out songs like Amarillo By Morning) he would have had to play for like 36 hours or something insane!  Listening to the 1.5 hours that he did play (which included lots of his old hits, was the perfect way to spend a Saturday!)

Me and the aunts.

The whole group.

Me and Cousin Whitney waiting for the action to begin.

This lucky $#&@& has the best job in America...she gets to stand behind
George every single night and listen to him sing.

George and Martina singing "Jackson"

Where the Cowboy Rides Away.

A Bridal Brunch

College Roomie is seriously one of the classiest people I know.  She's a total Audrey Hepburn.  So when she had a bridal brunch, I knew that it would be amazing.  And it was.  My favorite part was when her Aunt Jewel was explaining to one of the groom's friends how the family tree worked.  When she got to me, she said, "That's Tiffany.  She's, well, she's just my niece."  (Mind you, we're not blood related, but I love the fact that I've been adopted into the fold!)

The hostess saw me poking at this and came over
to tell me that they were real and I could eat them.  Oops!

Donut kabobs!

Conception Quiche....the single girls stayed away from these!

Me and Aunt Jewel

College Roomie and the mamas.

The Bridesmaids (minus one who lives in Phoenix)

Can't wait for the wedding day!

Road Trip!!

One of the things that I have been most excited about my move was the fact that College Roomie offered to road trip with me to Texas when I went down for the first time.  I was seriously beyond excited about this event!  We used to road trip back and forth to OSU all the time, so we totally got to re-visit those memories.  We stopped in Amarillo for lunch with Sister Lisa (College Roomie's little sis) and The Boy from Texas.  And then we continued on for another 8.5 hours in the car where we ate ice cream, analyzed life, discussed every relationship that you can imagine, listened to old school cds (yes, that's right, cds, not iPods), and generally had a blast.  There is nothing like 13 hours in a car with your best friend!  The road trip ended when we arrived in Texas and I got to see my new house!

  

Show Lamb Sale

Next up was my family's annual show lamb sale.  You've read about those sales before here and here.  This year was our best sale yet.  Even with all of the work and stress and dirt, I have to say that these are usually three of my favorite days of the year.  Getting to visit with old friends and look at lambs.....you really can't beat it!



His Greatest Contribution

"His greatest contribution is the ones he leaves behind..." ~Alan Jackson, Small Town Southern Man

Last week during Uncle Jody's funeral, Alan Jackson's song, Small Town Southern Man was played.  It was a perfect and fitting way to remember my uncle.  

After the funeral, we all went to the museum in town that honors our family's general store.  The one opened by my great grandparents in the 1920s.  It a butter churn, antique cash register, and a metal Bible from WWII.

Yet, as I looked around, the song rang even more true.  Yes, the antiques were cool.  But they were not what matters.  Family is.  We are his greatest contribution.  We have been left behind and it is up to us to ensure that his legacy lives on.    

What a great responsibility with which we have been entrusted.