Another Chance Ranch

It's Time For A New Adventure or Two!

Oh boy, do I have news for you!!

There are so many new things going on in my life that I just have to share! Seriously, I am so excited that I can't hold it in anymore!

It all stared in September. A friend of mine posted something on Facebook about a new Christian Contributor Blog looking for contributors. I just scrolled right past it, and went on liking every post I could. Two days later, there it was again. I began thinking about it, wondering if I should send in something to be considered for one of the spots. The third time I saw it, I decided to started praying about it. The next day I replied on their post advertising for the open positions, and I told them that I would be praying about it. I ended up sending in a few samples of my writing, and the wait began.

Fast forward.

September 24, I prayed that I could hear something soon from the Sweet Jesus Ministries gals. I walked in the house, dodged the dogs all the way back to the computer, and opened my email account. There it was just sitting there in my inbox. It was sent at the exact same time I was praying. How cool is that? The only thing left for me to do was open it. Just open it, easy peasy. It wasn't easy peasy for me. I was filled with doubt! I opened the email, and then I opened my eyes. The first word I saw was Congratulations! I took in a deep breath, and literally high-fived the sky! In my mind, I was high-fiving Jesus!

I was so excited! I am still so excited! I hope you will be excited too!

Let me give you a few links so you can check out the Sweet Jesus Ministries.

Check out the Sweet Jesus Girls!

Courtney Smith

Courtenay Gueta

Cristi Young

Nicole Hutchison

Diane Klettke

Joan Gallagher

Julie K. McComas

Katie Westenberg

Michelle Moore

Misti Coker

Pam Pegram

Sharon Burleson

Stephanie K. Adams

Each of these ladies have their own blogs, so please check them out as well. There are links in each of our bios. Be sure to like Sweet Jesus Ministries on Facebook, follow the @SweetJesusGirls on Twitter, pin with us on Pinterest, and subscribe to receive our post via email.

Adventure Number Two

I've been blogging here at Another Chance Ranch for six years, and I've decided to move on. I felt like I needed to rebrand my blog to feel more like me. I won't be blogging here anymore, but I will continue to blog. Check out my new dot on the web, Julie K. McComas.  Be sure to subscribe when you get there so you don't miss one new post!

A Light Bulb Moment

Just the other day I had a light bulb moment. Have you ever had one of those? Some times I feel brilliant after the light bulb goes off, and other times I feel kinda slow. You know... the why didn't I think of that sooner thought.  On this particular day, I felt kinda slow.

Let me explain a little bit.

When I first started blogging, a long, long time ago (2006), I tried to stay away from the touchy topics like religion and politics. I mean, aren't those the topics we avoid most of the time? I know we do at all of our family events, and even church groups. Sometimes it is best to just talk about the weather, sports, or ailments. It's just safer! No arguments, no hurt feelings.

All of that was okay when I first started blogging. But now, the blogging world has blogs about faith/religion, and I feel compelled to write more about my faith, or what God is doing in my life. I want the world to know, and what better place to shout it out than the World Wide Web/Internet/Cloud/Whatever you call it! (I am SO not a techy person!)

Don't worry, I am not going to even try to touch the whole political topics. I just wouldn't know where to begin! The only political advice I will ever give is this...are you ready?...Vote! There ya go, you've got my political advice. 

For the longest time I felt like I shouldn't dip my toe in the religious/faith-filled blog posting because, well, I am not a perfect Christian. (Screeching halt!) Wait! No one is a perfect Christian. No one! 

I felt like I wasn't far enough along in my walk with Jesus. Wait, wait, wait! This might be true to some, but to others I might be a lot farther on my walk than theirs and hopefully we could chat on our walk.  Aren't we supposed to help each other?

Why shouldn't I write about something I am excited about? Why shouldn't I share all that God has done for me? Why shouldn't I step out of my cramped little box where I try to please everyone? You know, it really is comfy in there though. I'm not staying in that little box anymore. I'm taking a leap of faith.

What are your thoughts? Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?

 

Podcasts & Pinterest

Podcasts are my newest addiction. Oh my goodness. I get in my pickup to go to town, and the first thing I have to do is pull up my podcast app so I can start the latest episode.

Serial is the first podcast I have tried, and I'm hooked. Hook. Line. And Sinker. Hooked! Let me tell you a little bit about the podcast and the current story.

Serial is a podcast from the creators of This American Life, and is hosted by Sarah Koenig. Serial tells one story - a true story - over the course of an entire season. Each season, we'll follow a plot and characters wherever they take us. And we won’t know what happens at the end until we get there, not long before you get there with us. Each week we bring you the next chapter in the story, so it's important to listen to the episodes in order, starting with Episode 1.(taken from the Serial website)

"It's Baltimore, 1999. Hae Min Lee, a popular high-school senior, disappears after school one day. Six weeks later detectives arrest her classmate and ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, for her murder. He says he's innocent - though he can't exactly remember what he was doing on that January afternoon. But someone can. A classmate at Woodlawn High School says she knows where Adnan was. The trouble is, she’s nowhere to be found." (taken from the Serial website)

If you like reading mysteries and/or watching shows like NCIS, Criminal Minds, etc. then you will be hooked too.

Since I am new to the whole podcast scenario, I am looking for new ones to listen to. Do you have any suggestions?

Now, you might be wondering why this is titled Podcasts & Pinterest. Some of you might have already guessed, but Pinterest is another addiction of mine.  A friend of mine, who is not a Pinterest fanatic like myself, says she can find everything on Google that she can find on Pinterest. I think she can, but it will take her longer than it would if she were on Pinterest. Just my two cents. Plus, I like all the photos. :)

Anywho, if I have some free time to sit down at my computer, I like to peruse Pinterest and listen to my Podcasts.

January 8, 1992

 

First of all, let me just say that this is not a current photo, but it is the most recent photo taken on McD and me. I thought it would be nice to post a photo of us together today, since it is our 23rd Anniversary. This was the most recent I could find.  I didn't feel like dragging out the one where we are both bald. Maybe another time.

January 8, 1992

I will never forget that day. It was our wedding day!

Most of you probably remember your dress, flowers, bridesmaids, receptions, etc. But I remember none of that. Well, let's be honest, I didn't have any of that. Out of all that, I had one bridesmaid. But I bet I had one thing that you ladies didn't, Influenza.

I walked down the aisle wearing Rockies, a cardigan sweater over a white turtle neck, and lace-up Justin Ropers. Swoon worthy, I'm telling ya! McD wore a navy shirt that matched my sweater. Our best man and the preacher are the only ones that wore suit jackets.

I said I walked down the aisle, but really I was leaning on my daddy the whole way. There wasn't any slow or flowy movement down that aisle. I was whispering hurry, let's get this over with so I can lay down.

Yes, yes I was.

After my daddy handed me off to McD, I started leaning on him. I tried not to cough, and I was super glad that the vomitting hadn't started.

We were pronounced husband and wife, and all I wanted to do was get in bed. And not like that! I took TheraFlu, which did not help by the way, and I repeated asked McD not to touch me. It wasn't the great wedding night most girls dream of.

Some people say it was a bad omen, but here it is twenty-three years later and I am still leaning on him. He has been with me through some pretty rough times, and we come out stronger each time.

Thanks for always letting me lean on you, McD! I love you forever!

Flooded with Memories

 

So, what does this photo have to do with me being flooded with memories?

Let me tell you.

This afternoon I sat down to write a little blog post about who knows what, seriously I don't remember, and I started looking at photos I've taken throughout the years. I looked up and realized that I had been going through the photos for hours. I take a lot of photos, and haven't looked at them in ages.

I saw photos of my Rottweiler, Hoss, who passed away several years ago. There were photos of Abby when she was a little puppy, Mia when she was a young dog, and Pepper when she first came to us. There were photos of grandkids, family, friends, and even strangers that had no idea I was taking their photo. There were photos of flowers, fish, birds, frogs, spiders, and snakes. (I am truly an equal opportunity photographer.) There were photos from my mission trip to Honduras, and all of the people I met there. There were holiday photos, silly photos, and blog photos.  And there were lots of photos of the moon and some beautiful sunsets.

Photo, after photo, after photo grabbed my attention. The moon photo just happens to be one of my favorite. It is one of those that I really can't believe that I took. But I did, I promise.  It's one of those photos that makes me want to pick up my camera again, and get back to taking some more photos so I will have something to look at several years down the road. Something to bring back all those memories.

I realized that as I was going through all these photos that I rarely take photos of anything bad that is happening in our lives. I was flooded with good memories today.  I look forward to sharing more memories with you guys!

Finding Mr. Moler

It was a hot Oklahoma morning, and I had just finished getting my butt kicked at the gym. My workout partner and I made our way to the locally owned grocery store to pick up a few things, and just so you know, the grocery store is always more fun with a friend. We were just toodling around, getting close to be finished with our shopping when I saw the aisle of protein bars.

Keep in mind that we had just left our trainer, and he is constantly telling me I need to have a protein bar for a snack. I was looking for a chocolate chip cookie dough protein bar. They have them, and they aren't bad. Sorry, back to finding Mr. Moler. A friend of mine walked up and we started chatting about trying eat better, etc. As he walked off, a cute little eighty-five year old man started telling me that the reason it is hard to eat better these days is because it's too expensive. He had been looking at the Ensure products, and that is something I've never priced before so I just took his word for it.

Picture this.

The cutest little eighty-five year old man was wearing grey velcro shoes with a pair of really light colored Levi jeans, which happened to be rolled up at least twice. The roll on those jeans were a good three inches. He had on a wrinkled white button-down shirt, and had it tucked in all proper like. He wore glasses, and a ball cap.

Do you have him pictured yet?

My first reaction was to be polite, but to try to get away. I never know what to say to people, and I end up saying something really stupid. But, this man started telling me that he had to buy food for his seventeen dogs. SEVENTEEN! Wow, I thought three was a lot. He said that they had all been dumped out by his house. He said that he lives in the country, and it happens all the time. Well, he hit my weak spot, so we started talking. We shared stories about our dogs, and then we started talking about cats. This man had lost his wife, I think he said five years, and now his only companion at home is his favorite cat. He pulled out a little book from his shirt pocket, and from that he took a photo out to show me. He was cuddled with his cat. He had also rescued this cat, and all I could think was, what a kind hearted man.

We talked about our families. He was married to his best friend, but they never had children.  He said he didn't want any. I told him that I married into a pre-made family, and I was more than content without having children of my own. I said that I believe God made some of us that way, and there was nothing wrong with it.

We stood in the middle of the aisle talking for approximately ten minutes. I learned that he had lived here all of his eighty-five years. He told me his address three or four times. And he mentioned that his family used to own a pharmacy here in town. Then he told me his name was Ollie Moler.  He was lonely, and he just needed to talk.

Finally, he looked at me with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you for talking to me." I told him that it was my pleasure. He asked me if he could hug me, and how could I say no.

Mr. Moler and I said our goodbyes, and God Bless Yous, and headed for the checkout lines. I thought I had seen the last of him when he stopped by on his way out of the store to ask for my name and address. He told me his address again, and then told me come by and bring my husband. I said okay, and he was gone.

As I went out to my vehicle, I noticed him pushing his grocery cart full of dog food to his Grand Cherokee, and then the next time I glanced up, he was gone.

Mr. Moler.

Mr. Ollie Moler.

I came home that day and told McD about my encounter with Mr. Moler. I told him that I wanted to find his house. I wanted to help him with the dog food, so that he could actually afford the Ensure instead of just looking at it, and leaving it on the shelf. I told him that I think God put me in that store, and on that aisle for a reason.

And now! Now, I can't find Mr. Moler.

The address he told me doesn't exist, unless I only heard part of it. I've driven up and down that road numerous times trying to find him. The other day, I had to just tell God that I didn't know what I was supposed to do if I couldn't find Mr. Moler. And the conclusion that I have come up with is that I wasn't supposed to do anything but listen to Mr. Moler. To hug his neck. To look at his photos. Maybe just brighten his day. I hope that is what I did for Mr. Moler.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still looking for him!

Funny Story!

Well, I'm so out of the blogging practice that I wrote a month's worth of posts and scheduled them to post. Except for I didn't schedule them to post, I saved them as drafts!

I can't help but laugh at myself!

Bad news, the whole time I thought I was keeping the blog current...I wasn't. 

Good news, I still have them all saved!  Yeah Me!

So, be prepared to actually see some new posts coming your way!

Tap, Tap, Tap...Hello? Anyone Out There?

Hello?

Hi!

My name is Julie, and I am a bad blogger! :)

I've really neglected Another Chance Ranch for several months now, and I have got to get back to it. I've been missing all my friends, and fellow bloggers.

Let me catch you up on my little life.

The most exciting thing is that my nephew graduated from the USAF Basic Military Training. We spent the weekend with him in San Antonio, TX and had a great time! It was pretty much a family vacation, with the whole family. Well, except for McD, he had to stay home.

I've been sewing, reading, more sewing, and more reading.

I'll tell you all about the book club a few friends and I started, and what we are reading next, but that will be tomorrow.

I started taking Plexus, and guess what...it works! I have tried nearly everything, but this stuff gives me energy without making me shaky, curbs my appetitie, helps me sleep, and has stopped my weight gain.  Most everyone else will tell you that it is helping them lose weight, but my situation is a lot different.  I have to take Tamoxifen, which is an estrogen blocker - just another part of my battling cancer, but it makes you gain weight. And oh, have I gained the weight!  But Plexus has helped me stop the weight gain, AND I am actually burning fat! If you are interested let me know, or just go to My Plexus page.

I've been testing all kinds of pins on Pinterest, and will be posting those to my PinTest category soon.

Lastly, and most importantly, on May 17th I celebrated 3 years cancer free!!!

I better get off of here so I can finish our book for book club tomorrow. We are reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed right now, and I still have half the book to finish before tomorrow. Yikes!

Have you read Wild? What were your thoughts?

Gotta run! See you tomorrow!

 

A Belated Valentine

Today, we get to have lunch with our youngest grand-daughter!

We are pretty excited!!

I am such a bad grandma! I completely forgot to send all the Valentines out this year!

So we are going to spread the love out over the rest of the month!

February, the month of Love!

Pinning - Lots & Lots of Pinning

 

Pinning, pinning and more pinning!

Today, one quilt might get finished but, no promises. And I will apologize now - I cannot post photos of said quilt until after Christmas. Sorry folks, but I can't risk ruining the surprise.

The other pinning I have been doing is on Pinterest, of course. Check out this board I found, it is so full of "Useful Ideas" that I had to share it with you! We are trying to save some money here in our household, as many are, and this pin was perfect.

Now, I better get off of here and get to the first kind of pinning.

Have a great Saturday!