A Panhandle Sunset

“There's a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they're absolutely free. Don't miss so many of them.” ~Jo Walton

A lot of people don't care much for the panhandle of Texas or the plains of Eastern New Mexico. "I'm sorry" is a common response when I tell people that's where I grew up.  

It's dry.  Windy.  Dusty.  In the winter it snows a lot and I-40 inevitably shuts down.  In the summer the temperatures reach over 100 degrees. It's never green.  It's flat.  There are virtually no trees.

But.....there are the sunsets.  The ones that allow you to see for miles toward the horizon filled with pinks and reds and yellows and purples and oranges. 

Photo via Carrie Flanagan

 Oh, those sunsets make up for all of that other stuff.   And then some.  So for the people who tell me they're sorry that I grew up here?  I'm sorry you didn't.  You should be too.

We Haven't Done This In A While....

Let's do some Blog Q&A.  You ask the Qs, I'll give the As.  You have until Tuesday to come up with some good ones and comment below!

I Said Yes

“There are an infinite number of reasons to say no. Instead, try to focus on one good reason to say yes. 
” ~Jarod Kintz

Not that yes.  Everyone calm down.  (I have zero doubt I'll get multiple text messages about this later today.)

But, one year ago tomorrow, a cute boy asked me on a date. 

The Boy from Texas:  I mean, uh, maybe I could come over and take you to dinner sometime.
Me:  Well that sounds almost like you're asking me out.
The Boy from Texas:  That's exactly what I'm trying to do if you'd shut up and let me do it!

It wasn't so conventional.  But neither has anything else been in our relationship.  Three days after he asked me out, I took a job 9 hours away.  Our first date involved taking horse reasons at a judging contest and going to an NRA banquet along with my parents and every gun-toting redneck in a three county area (I love those rednecks, don't get me wrong!).  I spent a couple of weeks before he asked me out trying to set him up with another girl because I'm an idiot.  Our second date involved a SWAT team.  I could go on and on.  We don't do things conventionally.

What I can tell you--conventional or not--is that saying yes to that request one year ago was probably the best decision that I ever made.  Had you told me on January 25, 2013 what my life would look like on January 25, 2014, I would have said you were crazy. 

So...all this to say, say yes.  Take more chances.  Try new things.  Get out of your comfort zone.  You never know what might happen.  Say yes.  Especially if that yes involves a cute, boot-wearing boy and the promise of a steak dinner.

Blonde Oklahoma Girl Has a BIG Announcement!

Today, my blog is being taken over by Blonde Oklahoma Girl who has a big announcement to make.  Stand by.

 

Right after Thanksgiving…and I mean, like the day after, I had been telling Real Cowboy how I wanted to go look at the Christmas lights sometime this Christmas season in Chickasha. I told them that I had heard about them from all my volunteers and how they said that it’s just beautiful and we have to go. There is a place back home that is similar to this place that just goes all out on Christmas lights and I had really missed getting to go during Christmas time, since moving here. Fast forward to the week before Christmas and we still had yet to go see the lights. Little did I know, that Real Cowboy, had this plan for a few weeks now…because I was started to get pretty fussy about how we only had like a week left to go look at these dang lights.

 

I kind of knew he was up to something, when one Saturday, I had work stuff going and he said he wanted to go Christmas shopping by himself, he never answered my phone calls all day long. So not like him. I knew he was Christmas shopping, but he could have still answered my phone. It just went a little downhill from there. The week following his mysterious Christmas shopping…he wasn’t himself. We talk about everything, and this entire week, when I would ask him about his day or just your everyday banter…he would ignore me. Like, not talk to me at all. Obviously, being the girl that I am, I was starting to get quite annoyed. I even mentioned to my mom and Nana a couple of times, how the Real Cowboy is starting to drive me insane by not talking and he is asking me all these questions about my schedule. For my job, I have different meetings a lot of evenings…so I can understand why he would want to know what I am up too, but in the one year that we have been dating….he has never been that concerned. In fact, he forgets most of the time where I tell him I’m going to be that day. That week, he must have asked me a thousand times what I was doing on Thursday, what the last thing it was I had going on, I mean, like a million questions…I got a little mad. Finally, Thursday came and I had a meeting in OKC…before I left that morning, he told me that he thought we should go look at the lights when I get home, since that weekend it was supposed to snow, that this was the best day to look at the lights since it was warm. He told me to make sure I was home by 5, so we can be there promptly at six. Then I assured him, I am pretty sure there is not a set time on when we have to look at the lights, and I will be home when I get home…..in hindsight, I probably should have not said that J

 

At work, before I left, I told the girls that we were going to look at the lights finally and I was so excited and they started talking about, what if her proposes…and I was like, umm..ya, I highly doubt that.

 

I get home at the exact time he wanted me to, and sure enough we get in the car and drive to the lights. There was no talking the entire time we drove there…so not like Real Cowboy. We finally get there and he starts sprinting to the horse drawn carriage rides, saying we have to be the first ones there. I am trying to hold him back, because I am trying to take pictures of all the lights and I think at one point I even yell and say, “I am pretty sure, the horses aren’t going anywhere, what’s the big freaking deal.”

 

We get to the horse drawn carriage to take a ride through the park and look at the lights, as we get on, I notice that there are like three rows, room for lots of people to get on. Our horse starts to take off, and I ask the lady, who’s in charge of the horses, “Shouldn’t we wait for those people to get on?” and she says, “When you are the first ones here, you get the ride all to yourself.” And Then I say, “But we are not the first ones here, there are other people waiting to get on.” At that point, Real Cowboy is telling me to forget it and be quiet and of course, I, continue to argue, that even though I love having the carriage all to ourselves, it’s not fair for the others to have to wait for us to get back.

 

We go through the park, looking at all the lights, once again, I am trying to talk to Real Cowboy, who at this point is just frozen, like not talking at all…little did I know, that he was about to pop the question and was nervous as all get out.

 

We turn the corner and there I saw it…..written in red Christmas lights, were the best words ever….”Will you Marry Me, Lyndse T” and after I saw it and it sunk in that it was me, I said, “Are you Sh*tting me!” Not sure why, Apparently it’s my go to phrase.

 

 

Then Real Cowboy is on one knee and I cried and laughed (because that is also my natural reaction?) and the same lady that I was arguing with about why we got the carriage ride to ourselves, is standing there taking our picture.

 

 

It was perfect. Everything a girl can dream of….and it makes perfect sense why the Real Cowboy had been acting so crazy. He did so well, I mean…the planning it took to get that to happen was amazing in itself. He was quite proud that he thought of the perfect proposal. Now, we can go there every year and look at the lights, and someday take our children there too.

 

I mean, seriously.  Could that have been more precious?  So excited for them!  Oh, and for all of you who are currently screaming at your computer "what about the ring?!!?!" I got you covered.  Bam.

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!

You Don't Know...

via Pinterest

A Christmas Eve Sermon

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” ~Kevin Max


I really like my parents' preacher.  He wears wranglers, talks with a twang, usually plays the guitar during church, and always has a funny story or two in his homily.  His Christmas Eve sermon included this little nugget.

I was on a flight from Florida back to Dallas and had on my cross and flame necklace.  The man next to me said, "Oh, so you must be one of THOSE United Methodists."  I responded, "Well yes I am.  I don't see anything on you proclaiming what you are, you embarrassed of your outfit or what?"

I mean how can you not love a preacher like that?

Anyway, he went on with the story to say that the guy engaged in a conversation with him about when Jesus is coming back.  Now apparently there are three camps of belief in this (I am totally not well versed enough to really understand them) and this guy was just sure his camp was right.  Apparently this is a common theological debate, one that churches have even split up and created new denominations because of.  The preacher then said the following line, that really made me think.

We are so busy fighting about when Jesus will be coming back, all the while there are people in the world who have never heard that Jesus came the first time.

Ouch.

It's so true with religion, isn't it?  We get so caught up in the details....from theological debates to building fancy new churches with fountains and comfy chairs, to arguing over whether we should support a political candidate, to what songs we should sing on Sunday to laser light shows during the worship to what we are going to feed the kids at the youth group....that we forget the whole point of this.....showing people Jesus.

Jesus called us to be his representatives on earth, to use our feet to spread the good news, to show love and kindness and compassion.  People should see him in our lives.  People should know him because they know us. 

And if we screw that up and they never know Jesus, does it really matter if we win the theological debate over someone on an airplane?

Thoughts from an Outsider: Healthy Eating

So because it's the New Year and I've got some sort of death wish or something, I decided to join in with some friends on this fitness/health/wellness challenge.  We're almost 2 weeks into things and I thought I'd share a few thoughts and some things that I've found that work well for me (well and one that really doesn't fall into that category, but you'll see that soon enough).

1.  New running shoes are the best $100 I have spent in a long time.  Maybe ever.  No, that's not true, I bought a cow once that I liked more than these shoes.  And several show animals.  I wonder what my favorite show animal ever was, now that I'm thinking on this....  But anyway, the point here is that my runs have felt like I'm running on a cloud with my new shoes and it makes it SO much more fun.

2.  I struggle with eating yogurt.  I know it's good for me and I really want to like it, but I just don't.  Until I found Muller Fruit Up.  Seriously, y'all.  This is not regular yogurt.  It's goodness in a cup.  It has 140 calories, 7 grams of protein, and more sugar than it should probably have, but listen, you do what you can.

3.  If you don't put spinach in your smoothie, shame on you.  Seriously, it's amazing, you don't even taste it, and there's a whole serving of veggies right there.  Thank you magic bullet blender.

4.  When my sweet tooth comes calling (let's be honest, that's about all the time), I've discovered the amazing wonder that is instant, sugar free, chocolate pudding.  Some saint came up with this stuff, I'm telling you.  I usually add in some fat free cool whip and it's like a mousse.

5.  Some days....like one where you just can't take another night of flashcards and Commercial Paper essays made you cry and you just feel like you should probably quit this lawyer thing and go work at McDonalds.....you just have to throw your hands up and eat pizza and cookie dough for dinner.  That happens.

Oh, and for those inquiring minds that want to know, I'm officially down 8.2 pounds since the fall.  Of course, that was before the pizza/cookie dough binge mentioned in #5.....

Cooking With Kimberly Lesson 1: Banana Cream Pie

Well today I am excited to start off a new little series on this blog called Cooking with Kimberly.  You all know Kimberly as "New Roomie."  What you might not know is that she's an excellent cook and her recipes are generally not super complicated and really good!  (She's also getting a masters in engineering, is quite adorable, and completely single.....so boys, pay attention!)

For my big 30th birthday, she made me the best banana cream pie--complete with real bananas and homemade pudding.  Did you know that you could make pudding from scratch?  It doesn't just come from a box?  Seriously, this is awesome.  Since I needed pictures for this blog (read:  I wanted to eat another pie), she whipped another one this weekend and I've been a happy camper ever sense! 

So, without further adieu, here is our first recipe from Cooking with Kimberly.

Banana Cream Pie

Ingredients 
¾ cup white sugar
1/3 cup flour
¼ teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
2 bananas sliced
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 Tablespoons butter
1¼ teaspoon vanilla
1 pie crust, baked

Directions
1. Slice bananas and place on bottom of cooled pie crust.  (You can also use a store-bought crust if you're not quite ready to tackle homemade pudding and pie crust all in one scoop here!) 
2. Beat the 3 egg yolks and set aside.
3. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, flour, and salt. Add milk in gradually while stirring gently. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until bubbly. Keep stirring until mixture begins to thicken and then remove from burner. Note: You have to keep stirring constantly! This is key to making the pudding. (I watched her do this and she had everything measured out and sitting right next to the stove so she never had to turn around or go get something else, which allowed her to keep stirring.)
4. Stir a small quantity of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks and immediately add egg yolk mixture to the rest of the hot mixture. Place back over burner and cook for another minute. Add the butter and vanilla and stir until the whole thing has a smooth consistency.
5. Pour pudding mixture over the sliced bananas into the pie.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Cool in fridge for an hour
7. Add whip cream on top for best flavor.

Photos

Step 1

Step 5
 

Step 7

Girl Between the Lines: Most Valuable Advice Someone Gave You

Today I am doing something a bit difference and joining a link up called "Getting to know the girl between the lines."  Each Wednesday they have a new prompt for people to write about.  This week's prompt is:  "What is the most valuable advice someone gave you?"

Well, in my typical fashion, I couldn't pick one thing.  So I picked four.  But I'm combining two of them into one topic, so it's really like three, which is basically like one, so there ya go.

Work hard.
The very first thing that always pops into my head when I hear a question like this is a comment that my dad made to me while we were at the show barn and I was about 14.  No doubt I was whining about my friends being at the lake or at the movies or whatever fun thing that "normal" kids did, while we were, again, spending 3 hours at the barn walking pigs and working lambs.  My dad said, "Tiffany, we may get beat, but we'll never get outworked."  A similar piece of advice on this topic came from one of my favorite people, my ag teacher, a couple of years later when he went on a rant at a judging contest where some of the girls apparently were more interested in other things.  He said, "Girls, you can't go around in a short skirt with poofy hair thinking everything is going to work out.  Sometimes you have to put pants on, pull your hair back, and get to work!"  Even now, more than a decade later, I try and live my life in accordance with these ideas.

 Finding God.
I distinctly remember a conversation with my mother about how some of our friends went to different churches than we did.  My mom said something that I've always remembered.  "You can find God in a lot of different churches."  I think that this comment has probably shaped my faith (and probably many of my friendships) more than any other statement ever has.  I am a firm believer that God is in many different churches, and whether you can feel him in one where you quietly pray on a kneeler or one where people yell and scream and flail their arms about while they are singing Amazing Grace, the point is that you're seeking him, and that you find the best place for you to feel him.

Relationship advice.
Long before I was in a serious relationship, I heard one of my best friends make a comment that I have always remembered and that I think was a seed of wisdom that I might not have understood at 21, but that I certainly understand and agree with now.  At SoulMate Friend's bridal shower, someone asked her what she loved the most about her husband.  She responded simply, "He's everything that I'm not."  When I was younger, I thought I needed someone exactly like me.  Someone who was loud and outgoing and Type-A and anal and whatever other adjectives you can come up with.  But what SoulMate Friend knew, and I've come to realize, is that maybe what we needed was someone who was quite different, but who could balance us out.  It has worked out for her and her sweet husband, Tuba Man, for sure and was something that I often think about The Boy from Texas.