The words here are about my life as the wife of a now retired Soldier. I live on a small ranch in Texas, and my experiences here craft the words I use to express my life. The sacrifices, challenges, and the deeply satisfying rewards of being the wife of such a man influence them as well. I live in a beautiful and peaceful place, and it is great solace and comfort when I face life and the challenges of a complicated and stressed world. So I have titled my writings "From the Ranch."
From the Ranch
Showing posts with label Soldier's Heart Ranch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soldier's Heart Ranch. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
No Matter Where You Live, or What You Believe, They Are Coming for YOU!
I am publishing a link to a story that keeps me from sleeping. This breaks my heart, and as difficult as it is to publish this, I have to, for the sake of us all. Evil has boiled up from out of hell, and it is shaking it's fist in defiance of the entire world! We must do all we can... prayer, and doing whatever God lies on your heart is not optional... These Yizidi women and girls are growing too tired and brokenhearted to go on.
The terrorists have given these women and girls their cell phones, and then encouraged them to tell all the world what is happening to them. Of course the reason this is being done is to strike fear in YOUR heart. Their message is: they are coming for you, and you will embrace what they tell you to embrace, live as they tell you to live, or die...
The terrorists have given these women and girls their cell phones, and then encouraged them to tell all the world what is happening to them. Of course the reason this is being done is to strike fear in YOUR heart. Their message is: they are coming for you, and you will embrace what they tell you to embrace, live as they tell you to live, or die...
As the young 17 year old girl expresses, many things are worse than death!
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
I Am Writing a Novel
I
am writing a novel, I wanted to share the introduction here, and
perhaps the first chapter. This is the first half of the introduction.
The book is loosely based on a collection of experiences and stories I
have heard from Soldiers over the years. Being based in actual
experiences, the book writes itself, I just change details, names, and
of course, strive to protect the innocent... for the guilty I have no
compassion...
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
They Get a Bad Rap
As I was working outside one day at the ranch, I saw something I had never seen before, and will probably never in my lifetime see firsthand again. Of course I remember having seen something close on the Discover Channel, but never in person. We have red ear turtles that live in our pond, at first there was one, then gradually he began having friends over and they just moved in permanently... Now we have dozens. When I feed the catfish their morning cat food, (that is a story in and of itself,) they see or hear me coming and dive off the bank and the logs they are sunning on, swimming as fast as turtles can, which contrary to their reputation, (due to gossiping rabbits,) is pretty fast. They love dried cat food, it floats on the top of the water, making it easy for them to eat.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
On a Light Note...
I found this on facebook, and I was just wondering... since it worked so well on feet... if I put it on my face...
Probably not a good idea...
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Wow, What a Ride!!!
I am working on a house we are putting up for sale, and I stayed in the Candlewood Suites, Texas City, Texas for two days, please if you are looking for a pleasant stay with honest people, pick another of the fine IGH hotels. You will be treated much better. May I recommend the League City Hampton Inn. The rooms are just gorgeous, and the service is superb! They are right off I45 as well, so much more convenient!
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
You Know all Those Commercials That Claim to Promote a Life Changing Product, Phoey on That!
"I sincerely believe that we honor God and ourselves when we carry out our personal, mental, and verbal commitments. But we strengthen the chains of dishonor when we refuse to take our commitment in a vice-like grip and demonstrate it to the world."
Monday, February 3, 2014
I Made Italian Chilli for Supper!
It is so easy, and perfect on a cold and wet day!
Just take a one pound roll of Jimmy Dean Regular Sausage, mix with a cup water so when you brown it in a couple tablespoons of butter, it comes out very fine, not in big lumps. Add chopped onions, red peppers, and green peppers. I like McCormick's Red Pepper and Garlic seasoning, plus salt and pepper. When that is all nice and brown, pour in two #2 cans of tomato sauce with zucchini, and one can of tomato paste in your stock pot. Then two cups of water, stir and then simmer for 20 minutes. Next bring the chilli to a rolling boil, add three fourths a cup of water with three tablespoons of corn starch dissolved in it, stir in until smooth, and simmer an additional 20 minutes. Sprinkle a little grated Parmesan on top, I didn't have any tonight, so I used mild cheddar, I love cheddar! Add a green salad, and if you are not on a diet like me, Mrs. Schubert's rolls are great with it!
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Christmas Brings Out a Deep Longing of a Special Gift for My Family
I have always loved Christmas, and since childhood been taught by example the true meaning of this celebration by my dear parents. The mystery of God's love made flesh to dwell among us in the perfectness only God is possessed of, and then to offer Himself a sacrifice to buy my adoption into His forever family is the heartbeat of my life. I know and realize that holy and precious gift no more at any time of the year than at Christmas.
God is our parent, and as it says in Hebrews 12, the one who He loves he disciplines and instructs. As a parent myself, I consider so often now how my behavior must sometimes disappoint and wound my Father God, who is the one who loves me most. That realization creates in me daily a new and more powerful resolve to live as my Father desires and commands. I consider too how carefully I should parent, and be a grand-parent, as it is one of the highest callings on my life.
Family
Love of family has always filled my heart, and the riches of my life are about such.
Longing grows daily to see each one often, look in their eyes, and feel their touch.
Memories of my own gentle childhood endlessly now float ever sweeter in my mind,
Realization of the depth of blessings and love I have known increase with time.
My mother and father's sweet faces I now see appear softly as I close my eyes.
Having raised children myself, their own wisdom and goodness I deeply realize.
I pray God will forge my own efforts at love for those lives He brought to me,
So that in the end they will have seen in me the love of God lived as best could be.
Missteps and flaws I made as a mother often haunt the edges of my consciousness.
Sometimes guilt and worry taunt, and a searing pain they create threatens to be endless.
Why I did not always do exactly the right thing, when with true devotion only that I sought,
Elude my reasoning, or now plainly perceived, point out things my actions should have taught.
God's grace, it is promised, has a way of turning to strength the failures of a servant's travail,
I pray for more years His wisdom my weaknesses to shape, and blessings to each of them avail.
For never will my life be anything to me, but this great and burning desire to live,
Exactly as the Savior would direct and guide, and all my heart for those I love to give.
Merry Christmas to each of you, and God's
unfailing blessings and wisdom for the coming New Year.
Friday, December 13, 2013
A Warrior Mother Waits for Her Warrior Son to be Home for Christmas, a Conversation Worth Eavesdropping in On
My friend Judy and her husband served in the military many years before retiring. I saw for awhile the flag symbol which hung in her window and was her profile picture on facebook, its' history goes back to WWII. For every loved one you had serving there was a flag with the appropriate number of white stars, which would hang in the window.
The flag was red when they were actively serving, and the flag had white stars. If the flag was red with gold stars, you were a gold star mother or wife. That is an honor no woman ever desired, for that meant your loved one had died in service. Judy at one time used a red flag with three white stars. She had a husband and two sons serving.
Her husband has since retired, and one son has completed his service in the Marines. One son still serves in the Navy, and he hasn't been home in over a year. The two brothers who are three years apart in age, haven't seen one another in three and a half years.
Judy's Navy son will be coming in today. She is excited... Everyone should pause to thank those serving, and their families as well. You can't imagine the sacrifice if you have never made it. Here is a conversation Judy shared on facebook. It warmed my heart, and the joy and love of Christmas swept over me. Christmas is about the Christ who was willing to lay down His life for each of us. That baby Jesus whose birth we celebrate was born to die... for each of us.
The flag was red when they were actively serving, and the flag had white stars. If the flag was red with gold stars, you were a gold star mother or wife. That is an honor no woman ever desired, for that meant your loved one had died in service. Judy at one time used a red flag with three white stars. She had a husband and two sons serving.
Her husband has since retired, and one son has completed his service in the Marines. One son still serves in the Navy, and he hasn't been home in over a year. The two brothers who are three years apart in age, haven't seen one another in three and a half years.
Judy's Navy son will be coming in today. She is excited... Everyone should pause to thank those serving, and their families as well. You can't imagine the sacrifice if you have never made it. Here is a conversation Judy shared on facebook. It warmed my heart, and the joy and love of Christmas swept over me. Christmas is about the Christ who was willing to lay down His life for each of us. That baby Jesus whose birth we celebrate was born to die... for each of us.
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