Snow Day Again! February 2, 2010

When I was growing up in central Arkansas, we only had snow every other year or so.  This has been amazing!

It can be calm and peaceful…..

…or exciting and energizing!

(That is what happens when you spend most of your life in the stall.)

When we bought her, she became a horse…in the pasture

This is probably Spirit’s first time to play in the snow, too.

Notice the snow around his lips.  He ate it off the fence rail.

Trigger, however, has seen it all before.

Nothing like a dingy horse in brilliant snow!

This girl knows what to do!

She learned it from her brothers….

This one built a fort from carefully constructed snow blocks.

This one just wants to get on with the snowball fight….and

he’s not waiting on anyone!

The sun is going down and everyone is headed inside.

Almost everyone….sorry guys.

That’s My Book! January 6, 2010

Meredith helped wrap packages before Christmas. She would wrap and tie bows as long as I supplied her with boxes and tape.  There was one present I asked her to save till last, The Pioneer Woman Cooks.  I wasn’t quite ready for it to be gone from my life forever!  I had looked through it several times, so proud of my gift choice.  A couple of the recipes were actually doable in my kitchen without going to the store.  I thought I might try some of the recipes out before we wrapped the present….They were delicious!

I told Meredith she would have to come and take the book out of my hands to wrap it up.

She came and got it and several minutes later she calls out,  “You’re going to have to take this book from me, too!”

Alas, I gave the book away and felt like I’d lost a friend.  (I know, quite the Christmas spirit…anyway…)

Mine came in the mail last week!  I love it.  I wish I could have written that book.  It’s full of recipes, photography, farm life, and joy.

She has a website called The Pioneer Woman.  It’s fun to go and look around.

I recommend the cinnamon rolls, the chocolate sheet cake, and the mac and cheese.  That’s all I’ve had time to cook so far, but if the snow days come along as promised….Look out kitchen!

Last Minute Shopping December 23, 2009

There are others like me. I heard on the Today Show that there are a substantial number of people who wait till the last week to shop for Christmas presents.

Here are my Top Ten Reasons why I don’t shop for Christmas presents early…

10. My children grow at unpredictable rates. What I buy in May will not fit in December.
9. I would miss the exercise. This way there is never a parking spot close to the door.
8. I would return Nike, and buy Adidas.
7. The less time between buying and giving, the less time I have to worry about whether or not they will like what I got them.
6. My children’s Christmas list is apt to change.
5. The longer you wait to buy electronic gadgets, the better and cheaper they are.
4. I shop better under pressure.
3. There are too many choices early on. If I wait, there are fewer decisions for me to make.
2. I will forget what I bought and where I put it. I’ll find it in April, just in time for Easter.
1. I’m living one day at a time. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own…

Merry Christmas!

Village Creek State Park February 20, 2009

Our Valentine date at Village Creek State Park was a huge success!  We had a lot of fun and were able to relax and enjoy the weekend.  We spent the night in our horse trailer and rode for about 4 hours on Saturday.  Several other riders were on the trails and they all wanted to stop and chat.  The weather was perfect, crisp and cool.

Scott didn’t push me to trails that made me uncomfortable.  We only did the easy trails and saw lots of beautiful country.

Walker

Timer

our trailer where we spent Friday night

camp stalls

There are no pictures of us or on the trail.  Here’s why!

• Scott is not wild about his picture being taken
• my pockets were loaded down with water, granola bars, GPS and cell phone  (yes, I was a site!)
• I have missed far too many events in the life of our family because I was BEHIND the camera, it’s not the same as being there….fully….in the moment
• I wanted to be ready for that run-away horse!  He really did spook at a branch that slapped him in the side, he sprang into high gear, and about lost me.  But, since I had both hands, he calmed right down and went back to his nice slow walk!

Thanks for asking!

Valentine Plans February 12, 2009

Horses have always been a part of my life. As a child, I always had a horse somewhere that was my very own. I rode all summer long.

My husband and I met when I was the horseback instructor at a Christian camp. By the time we married, I was in between horses and had filled my life with other things. However, my life with horses had always intrigued my husband who had grown up in a big city.

Several years and children later, a friend of ours had a new colt on his farm and asked my 10 year old son if he’d like to help halter break it. We were all game. Eventually, we bought the colt and began our adventure as a family with horses.

But I was the most reluctant to get back into horses. I knew the work and expense involved and my sense of adventure had waned since giving birth. More than waned…I think it slipped out with the baby.

Gradually I have become more comfortable with our horses, have started showing my own horse, and can watch my daughter barrel race without gripping the closest thing to me.

For Valentine’s Day Scott wants the two of us to go camping. Just the two of us…with the horses.

When he shared this with me, I held my breath and went to my safe room. (bathroom, whatever you want to call it) It struck me with fear. All of the what-ifs came bounding into my consciousness..tornadoes, run away horse, crazy person on the loose…and the children at home…

He showed me the brochure of this beautiful state park with stalls for the horses and wide gorgeous trails. We will have hook ups for electricity and water. The trails are well marked with similar ratings to a ski trail. Before you go onto the trails, you have to register with the park and then be off the trails by dark.

He has seen my list of what-ifs.

He knows I love the out-of-doors and my horse. He is making me feel safe and protected. I love him!!

I checked with Mom. She could be on call.

We will have a wonderful, romantic weekend. I can’t wait!

The Lord is my strength…I will not be afraid.

Family Time January 3, 2009

The holidays at our house start out with great anticipation.  We look forward to our time in Lubbock regardless of the 12 hour trek…..Lots of cousins, aunts and uncles.  The morning of our departure, the younger kids get in the car a full hour before we leave.  We all have books and games and fully charged iPods.  This will be so fun! By the time we arrive, the books and games have missing pages or pieces.  The iPods are dead.  The snacks are gone or have turned to crumbs.  We are tired and grumpy.  Ahhhh….family time.

I Corinthians 10:31  “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 

I just hope that in everything I do, whether I am full of energy and organized or tired and worn out, I will bring honor and glory to God.  Some times are harder than other times to fulfill this scripture.  I am so thankful for God’s grace and mercy on me.

Sometimes I feel like this baby, I just want to lay down and cover my eyes.

By the time we left Lubbock, my patience was about gone.  I was ready for everyone in the car to be silent and happy…or at least asleep for our 12 hours home.  It was the hardest time for me to reflect the love and grace of our precious Savior.  I felt like this baby.  I was done.  I had nothing left.

What about you?  Did the holidays leave you spent or energized?

Santa Sleeps December 30, 2008

It’s Over!

Our little family Christmas is tonight.  I’m looking forward to the basin of warm water for my tired toes! or maybe a hot bath…

I hope you all had a wonderful time with your families.  My favorite family time was sitting at the table for long periods of time, after everyone was through eating and recalling events and funny stories.  They are the same stories year after year with a new one or two thrown in for good measure.  I love the story Scott’s mom tells about 6 or 7 year old Scott, decked out in a cowboy hat and boots, playing chase in a church building with his cousin during a family reunion.  He burst into a darkened room, running at full speed and fell right into the baptistry.  Our kids love that story, too.

What is one of your favorite family moments this holiday?

Sneaky Santa December 29, 2008

For about the past 5 years, the extended Adair family has been trying to tweak our Christmas gift exchange to fit our changing families (sooo many of us now) and lifestyles ($$$).  We have tried drawing names, buying gifts only for the children, and Sneaky Santa.  Sneaky Santa is our name for the gift exchange we are all familiar with where you take an anonymous gift from under the tree, open it or steal one that has already been opened. This year was the Sneaky Santa experiment.   I must admit it was a little difficult to get into the spirit of giving when I was eying others’  opened gifts and wondering how I could interest one of the children in the toy I had unwrapped so that  I could snatch an item from a satisfied participant.  For the record, acting disinterested was completely ineffective with the children.   The lure of the wrapped gifts under the tree far outweighed the desire of both grade-school boys for a Dallas Cowboy action figure.  I’m sure they will use their respective LED flashlight and Adult XL embroidered sweatshirt.  This is the gift I brought home.

Any ideas for next year?

———————-

My 3 favorite presents as a child were:

1.  Velvet – my cocker spaniel puppy

2.  a sleeping bag my mother made me by hand

3.  an Easy Bake oven

What were 3 of yours?

Oh, Christmas Tree! December 23, 2008

Hang in there ladies!  Just a few more days of shopping frenzy and then we can all sit back and relish in the belief that at least we know the real meaning of Christmas and next year we won’t do all of this crazy preparation.

This year we are spending Christmas week in Lubbock with Scott’s family.  We normally spend the week with them because my family lives in Searcy and we have Christmas anywhere from November 23 – January 2.   This year we have not put up a tree.  I know….how could I?….

Last year we got the tree out of the storage room a couple of hours before heart group came to our house. We had grand plans of a cozy Walton – esque Country Christmas (John Boy, Mary Ellen, and the whole Walton’s Mountain gang).  Meredith, Locke and I were quickly decorating when we heard a thump at our feet and saw a little warm body scoot across the floor and go behind the piano.  I squealed and Locke and Meredith ran towards it and finally chased him out of the house.  I firmly stated that a tree on our large front porch would be beautiful and they agreed to help me get the tree outside. Just in case our little friend had a little friend.  As we were dragging the tree across the floor….we heard another thump and watched another warm, brown body run into the wood box.  The tree eventually blew over from a strong December wind and the dogs used it as a bed.  We then hauled it off to the dump.  Oh, Christmas Tree!!  The story gets longer, but I think you can see why MawMaw’s tree will have to do for this year.

Do you have a Christmas story that brings back vivid memories?  I would love to hear them!

Enjoy the frenzy,

Amy