Another Chance Ranch

Our Graduate!

Today, as I was going through the photos on my phone, I ran across this one. This is my handsome nephew, Garrett and I at his high school graduation.

Most people claim that they have handsome nephews, but I really do!

I went back to my hometown, Seminole, Oklahoma. Actually, memory lane is where I went.

We graduated from the same high school, so I saw classmates, and old former teachers. Before graduation, we went out for a special graduation dinner to the restaurant where I had my first job.It would have been great if he had his first job there too. He could have carried on the tradition, but it died with my sister. She and I worked there during our high school years.

You may remember seeing Garrett on the blog before, but it has been a while. He hasn't changed much. Be sure to check out the old family photos, I was lucky enough to take their family photos for a couple of years. That tradition didn't last long either. Everyone is busy, and we live too far apart. My sister has a beautiful family. Wait, they are my family too. I have a beautiful family! :)

I do have to give a shout out to Garrett's girlfriend, Rachel. Thanks for taking a minute to let me get a photo with Garrett on his special day! XO

The Bible Series on the History Channel

From Executive Producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett comes The Bible — an epic 10-part miniseries retelling stories from the Scriptures for a whole new generation. Breathtaking in scope and scale, The Bible features powerful performances, exotic locales and dazzling visual effects that breathe spectacular life into the dramatic tales of faith and courage from Genesis through Revelation. This historic television event is sure to entertain and inspire the whole family.  (taken from www.bibleseries.tv)

Sunday, a friend of ours told us about this miniseries that would be on about the Bible, and we are so glad he did. We were both glued to our seats, soaking up every scene, and reading the actual Bible during commericals to compare. We were very pleased to see that they had done a pretty good job at staying true to the Word. 

It was great to see how many of our friends were watching it too. If you are watching it, let me know what you think about it. 

I can't wait to see it next week!

Click here to preorder the dvd, and if you preorder I think they are giving you the soundtrack for free. Score!!

The Color of Royalty

Purple

The Color of Royalty

Purple is the color of good judgment. It is the color of people seeking spiritual fulfillment. It is said if you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind. Purple is a good color to use in meditation.

Purple tends to remind me of a few people in particular. My friend, Muncy's favorite color is purple. Anytime I see something purple I think of her. No kidding. Then there are two other people that I think of when I think of purple, Dale & Beverly. They attend our church, and I love them both dearly. They wear purple to church to honor our God, and to show that they are in His Royal Family.

Sunday I sat behind Dale & Beverly in church services, and I noticed (like I do every other Sunday) that Dale smiles as he sings. He feels every single word. He is singing from his heart! That is exactly what we are supposed to do. 

I want to be more like Dale!

Twenty-One Years Today!

photo from the knot

Today marks the day that I have officially been married longer than I have been single. I have now been married more than half of my life! When I start thinking about our wedding anniversary like that it sounds like it's been a long time. I guess it has been a long time, but it doesn't feel like it has been twenty-one years. It feels like it was just last week.

A lot has happened in twenty-one years. There's been ups and downs, curves and cliffs, dips and dung, but we have had the times of our lives together! We wouldn't change a thing. Everything we have been through, good or bad, has made us what we are today. Happy, Happy, Happy!

I have been writing for us both here, but I want the whole world to know how I feel.

I have been undeservedly blessed to have such a man in my life, let alone walk through life with my hand in his every step of the way. He brightens every day, and I am not talking about the glare off his bald head. Sorry, McD.

McD,

I love you more today than I ever thought possible twenty-one years ago. I appreciate you more, admire you more, and adore you more! I thank God for you every day! Thanks for putting up with me all this time. You deserve some sort of award!

I love you!

Julie

 

Life, Lessons, & Love

Let's see, where shall I begin?

I have been living life instead of blogging, and I have really missed it.  I have thought about blogging while I'll be going and doing, but haven't sat down to actually write. 

Hopefully I will get back in the groove.  I've been reading a lot of new books to review, trying new recipes, will be planting a garden soon, traveling, etc.  So, I do have material to write about.  I even have some photos. Imagine that.

Speaking of travel, I recently went to Hawaii. 

It was beautiful!! Rainy, but still beautiful!

One day the sun came out while we were in our room, and as we all noticed the spectacular view I know I heard all of us inhale as it took our breathe away.

This photo doesn't do it justice, but this is the view from our room.  I should say that this photo has not been edited at all.  I resized it, and here it is. 

I learned a valuable lesson while in Hawaii.  Don't go to Hawaii during the rainy season, and expect to lay on the beach. We were able to walk on the beach though, and that was nice.

Something else I learned was that fruit and vegetables taste so much better in Hawaii.  I am not kidding.  Oh, and french fries with truffle oil are delicious!  If you ever get the chance to eat at the Truffle Fries at the Yard House take it!

I absolutely positively love these two ladies. 

This is my seester, Jenn and my Granny. 

I will tell you more about our trip next week, but I wanted to profess my love for them both here today.  They already know how much I love them, but I wanted you to know too.  Plus, I like this photo of them.

My seester and I haven't spent a whole lot of time together, so this trip was super special for me.  We shared clothes (a first), make-up, she painted my toes (another first), laughs, looks, etc.  We will never forget this trip that Granny was kind enough to take us on.  Hopefully it won't be the last trip we all take together.

Be sure to come back tomorrow.  I am having a giveaway that you won't want to miss. 

(Hint: PW)

A Valentine's Day to Remember

Tuesday was Valentine's Day, and I am sure each and every one of you acknowledged it in some form or fashion.  I love Valentine's Day, but I don't know why.  I guess because it is a day where we can profess our love to the special people in our lives.  This year I have changed my mind about Valentine's Day. 

Let me explain.

We attended a funeral on Tuesday.  Yep, a funeral on Valentine's Day.  As I stood there listening to the scripture reading, I watched the deceased's nephew tell us how he knew his uncle is now in Heaven.  It was the best scripture reading I think I've ever heard at a funeral.  Next came the eulogy, and it was the longest eulogy in the history of eulogys.  Don't get me wrong it was a great eulogy, but I was standing.  Standing in heels, mind you.  It was nice to hear things about our friend that we never knew.  Funny stories, accomplishments, and orneryness.  I think everyone learned something new about him the day he was laid to rest. 

During the scripture reading, I remembered the videos that my sister sent McD and I that morning.  The videos were of our nephews wishing us a Happy Valentine's Day.  As I watched this grown man's bottom lip start to quiver just the slightest bit, something hit me.   At one time, his uncle was probably one of his Valentines.  When we were kids everyone was our Valentine.  We didn't just give one Valentine, we bought packages of 20 or 40.  We gave them to our aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. 

Let me tell you, it is hard to watch someone you care about stand in front of a congregation reading scripture and talking about his uncle.  It is really hard to watch as his lip quivers.  Thank goodness my feet were hurting.  I would have lost it right then and there if I didn't have something else to focus on, because all of these thoughts swirling around in my head were not helping.

I watched the children, step-children, grand-children, nieces, nephews, brother, and wife sit there and mourn the loss of their Valentine. 

Funerals always seem to make me want to hold my loved ones closer, see them more often, and let them know that I love them, and this funeral was no different.  The fact that it was on Valentine's Day did change the way I will look at that particular day. 

I will continue to send Valentine's to the kids, don't get me wrong, that part won't change. 

I'm getting ready to call McD out here, sorry McD. 

This V-Day McD forgot all about it.  Romantic, huh?  At first I was a little upset.  I mean, a couple of days before V-Day he was telling me about what the guys at the office were doing for their wives and kids.  I just assumed (yes, I know I know) that he was planning something too.  Nope, he forgot.  That's okay, really.  I was disappointed at first, I won't lie.  But after thinking about it I decided that we don't need no stinkin' Valentine's Day!  We celebrate our love every day.  I don't need to get a Hallmark card from him to know that I love him.  He may not be the most romantic guy I know, but sometimes he does things that are kind of romantic in his own way.

Just the other day it was snowing huge, beautiful snowflakes.  Huge, I tell ya!  He opened the door after feeding the cows, and told me to get some shoes on and come outside.  By this time, it was dark and cold.  I put my jacket and shoes on and joined him out in the middle of the yard.  He through his head back, and told me to do the same.  He wanted me to experience the same thrill that he got from seeing just how cool it looked seeing the snow coming straight down on us.  It might not be romantic to you, but it was to me. 

Then he opened his mouth and started catching the snowflakes on his tongue, and that wasn't terribly romantic, but it was fun!!

So, I said all of that to remind you to make every single day Valentine's Day.  We don't know when we will lose our Valentine. 

Important Things We Teach Our Kids

Yesterday morning, as I sat in the church pew something hit me.  At our church, we often sing Jesus Loves the Little Children before we dismiss the kids to Children's Church.  Then, when the kids are in Children's Church they sing songs that teach them about God.  The adults are in the auditorium singing songs/hymns as well, in fact great ones.  The ones that we sing are more reflective. 

What hit me was that we, adults, should probably be singing some of the childrens songs again. 

Just some of the songs (with lyrics)  that we should sing would be:

My God is So Great

My God is so great, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do.
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do.

The mountains are his, the rivers are his, the stars are His handiwork, too.
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do, for you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jesus Loves Me
Jesus loves me, this I know, For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong, They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me, The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me, He who died, Heaven's gates to open wide,
He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.   

Jesus loves me, loves me still, Though I'm very weak and ill,
From His shining throne on high, Comes to watch me where I lie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've Got the Joy

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, (where?)
down in my heart, (where?), down in my heart,
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, (where?) down in my heart to stay.

Chorus:
And I'm so happy, so very happy.  I've got the love of Jesus in my heart.  And I'm so happy, so very happy.  I've got the love of Jesus in my heart

Additional Verses:
I've got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart
I've got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, down in my heart
I've got the wonderful love of my blessed redeemer way down in the depths of my heart

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I May Never March in the Infantry

I may never march in the infantry, Ride in the cavalry, Shoot the artillery.
I may never fly o'er the enemy, But I'm in the Lord's army. (yes, sir!)
I'm in the Lord's army, (yes, sir!) I'm in the Lord's army, (yes, sir!)
I may never march in the infantry, Ride in the Calvary, Shoot the artillery.
I may never fly o'er the enemy, But I'm in the Lord's army. (yes, sir!)   

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do Lord (or Way Beyond the Blue)
submitted by Pam Duncan-Pierce

I've got a home in glory land that outshines the sun (HALLELUJAH!)
I've got a home in glory land that outshines the sun (HALLELUJAH!)
I've got a home in glory land that outshines the sun-way beyond the blue

Chrous:
Do Lord, oh do Lord, oh do remember me.  Do Lord, oh do Lord, oh do remember me.
Do Lord, oh do Lord, oh do remember me-way beyond the blue.

Additional Verse:
I took Jesus as my Savior, You take Him too.
I took Jesus as my Savior, You take Him too.
I took Jesus as my Savior, You take Him too,
Yes He's Calling you.

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This Little Light of Mine

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Hide it under a bushel, NO! I'm gonna let it shine...
All around the neighborhood, I'm gonna let it shine...
Don't let Satan pfft- it out! I'm gonna let it shine...
Let it shine 'til Jesus comes. I'm gonna let it shine...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think that sometimes adults forget these simple little songs.  We forget the lessons that we were taught as kids.  I don't mean that we completely forget these lessons, but they don't seem to be remembered very often. We tend to overthink things, when sometimes all we need to do is sing one of these songs.

If you know these songs, I'd be surprised if you said you didn't sing through them.  If you don't know them then I challenge you to learn them.  You can go to Sunday School Sources to download the music for a lot of them.

Feeding with a Four-Year-Old

We always have an extra helping hand when our nephew Lawrence is around.  He was born a cowboy. 

He had to assess the situation before he got started.

The horses are always first.  He tried to do it on his own, but Uncle McD just had to help.

Much better!

Lawrence loves the horses. LOVES them.

Now, to feed the cows! He loves the cows too!

I love to see those little leather gloves on him. 

He is such a hard worker.  If it were any other four-year-old, you'd see them walk away after one bucket.  But not Lawrence.  He was determined to see the job finished.

I forgot to mention that Lawrence LOVES his Uncle McD too. 

When Lawrence was a baby, McD could put him to sleep like no one could.  They've had a connection since he was born.  The only thing that Lawrence doesn't want like his Uncle is his hair cut. 

Finally, finished! 

Time to let the cows in, and then head to the house.

I like to think that when he grows up a little more that he will be staying with us some during the summers.  I already have a list started.

While we were all out there feeding a song came to mind, Just Fishin' by Trace Adkins.  If you haven't heard the song, then you should look it up on YouTube, and then listen to the words.  It is basically about a daddy taking his little girl fishing, and she thinks they are just fishin' but he is making some of his best memories.  He thinks we're just feedin' is what went through my head.

 

A Four-Year-Old's Work Out

A couple of years ago my sister and I started a new tradition.  She and her family come to my house and I take their family photos for their Christmas cards.  I'm no professional photographer, but since I dawdle in photography she seems to think I can take their photos.  Sometimes they turn out okay, and others...well, they turn out.

It never fails, at some point during their visit, our almost four-year-old nephew feels the need to exercise.  Who are we to say no?

He always goes for the speed bag first.

He is quite tall for his age.  He is going to be 4 in just a few days, but he is wearing size 5/6.  He's a tall, skinny dude.

After the punching bags he goes for the Bowflex.  The ancient bowflex.

Nobody get too excited, we have the weight on 5 pounds.  He was tearing through that 5 pounds so fast we had to tell him to slow down. 

That lasted all of a minute, maybe a minute and a half.  Seriously, I was lucky to get a pic or two.

The elliptical was next.  He was a little leary of it at first, but then he figured it out and actually stayed on it for a few minutes.

He was working up a sweat!!

But he wasn't finished yet!  On to the weights!

Again, no one panic, they were only set on 5 pounds, and I think he did half a rep.  But he was determined to try.

He is almost finished with his workout.

And lastly, the Bosu ball workout.  This might have been his favorite.  He played exercised on this for a long time.  In fact, his Daddy and his big brother tried it out too.  Everyone loves the Bosu.

Now, if you are wondering why his shirt is so dirty or why he had work boots on during his workout be sure to check back tomorrow so you can see him at work.

The Return of the Wii Faces

We love playing the Wii when our family is here.  I love taking photos of them playing.

In January of 2010 I posted the Many Faces of Wii.  This post isn't as long as that one, but it is cute!  I liked seeing how much my nephew Garrett has grown. 

Now we have my nephew Lawrence playing.

His dad had to help him out just a little bit.

He was racing his big brother, Garrett. 

Lawrence came in 12th, but in his mind he won! His big brother was kind enough to let him think that. 

I have discovered Just Dance 3, and am using it as a workout. :) I love it! I need to find 1 & 2 now. 

What is your favorite Wii game?