Finding My Way

Well what can I say.... I finally know what "Friday Night Lights" is all about. The Friday paper took a 2 page highlight on the "Football players as well as the lead Cheerleaders". The people in these 2 towns are really "die hard" football fans. Everyone in the town goes. I thought that the only people who went to football games like that were "Lake Travis" fans. But guys I have to tell you these people will give you a run for the money. On Friday nights you can count on most all of the kids at the daycare being gone by 4:30/5. They pick them up to attend the "Pep Rally" prior to the game; even the whole town attends that.

As far as work goes it still is a bit "tense" every now and then. But I'm holding my own for the most part. I get up and pray for work, every morning. So I know that God is listening and it sure helps my attitude. I just go and be me. I go in and always say something "cheerful". They all like the "good morning sunshine". And I let them know that I am glad to be there. I even have the kids on the bus singing. Our favorite song is "The Wheels on The Bus go Round and Round". I told you, I will do all I can to make life fun. I believe that is what God would expect. To enjoy where I am at. To show how to live for him. To leave "positive footprints" in everyone's life. To have people look and want what you have. I want to be that person. It would take me pages to describe the many types of parents I encounter every day. And yes there are a few where you just want to ask; why.....why are you a parent? But inside the best thing I know to do, is to love those kids with all my heart. I get lots of hugs now. Even from the older ones. One of my favorite "little ones" is Jayden Doss ( and he will tell you straight up; "I am Jayden Doss"); I tell you this because despite all; he is a happy child and he brings laughter to my everyday. He has a light complexion with "rusty red" curly hair; he is from a "mixed marriage"; and a beautiful little boy. But the things he says for a 3yr. old just blow me away. He talks so "big" and yet he is this little boy. I must confess one day I did have to call Mom at work because he refused to mind. But once he knew I would go through with this threat, he was much better. He told me that I was a "hot Mama", this was said while he was doing a little dance; I fell over in laughter. There is nothing better for me than to work with kids. And to know that I get a chance to maybe make a positive difference in their lives. What a mind blowing experience. Having little ones run up to you at the "local" grocery store, just to give you a hug; I try to always be grateful for those moments. I'm sure you have all experienced that time in the store, where you have your "little ones" hand; and they break away to give that "teacher" a hug. I want to be that safety net for those children. While it is true that the parents here don't really care one way or the other; I am happy knowing that the kids are. I do miss "my parents" in Austin they are the best there is. And I always felt appreciated and needed. That part is not here. But I have my memories.

I have often felt like I have fallen into a "time" period. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love "clothes" and dressing nice. But here it doesn't seem to matter. But I still do anyway. For me. I do love coming home and changing into my "country attire" and get out there and mess around with the horses. To sit on the front porch and watch the horses and cows hang around. Dale has trained the cows to come up and eat out of our hands. They are so funny. If you don't pay any attention to them they will stand there and "moo" until you do. Even "Karen" comes up for treats. Now in the mornings and evenings you can expect to find Dale and at times me standing in the middle of a herd of cows with 3 horses feeding everyone by hand. This is everything I thought the country should be. We have not made any friends. Not the kind you hang out with. We spend allot of time by ourselves and at times with "family". I never thought I could or would be able to be happy like this. But I am. I enjoy so much all that God has provided and I just want to be the best "person" I can for God. I can't get enough of the sound of "silence". No more sirens. Or people "poking" at the dogs when they walked by. We live far enough from town that I really don't want to go. But when I do; I make a list. God is very close to where I am; and he knows what I need in order to keep on going. And I know I say this allot but Dale has really found his "nitch". He makes a great farmer. And I never tire of watching him be "happy". I hope that all of you are doing well; and you know if you ever need me just call. I love all of you.

Hugs and Blessings,

Karen

Thankfull!

Well all I can say is "man"; what a life. I would have never dreamed at this time last year that I would be coming home to feed my "horses". And to be able to sit and just pet them for as long as I want to. I love the smell of horses. And their noses are so soft; and if I yawn at mine they yawn back. All in all they make my day!

A few things this week going on. I did realize that while living in the "country" is like a world all its own; you still need to go "to town" to get groceries and to work. Speaking of work; it has gotten better. I have decided to give ALL my energies to the children. So now my life is much brighter. I laugh with them and tousle with them. We are all laughing allot more. Even the bigger kids that I take care of more often, asked me why can't I tickle them and get down on the floor with them. That statement proved to me what I already suspected; and that is that parents here are still (for the most part) into "hanging" out with friends and having fun for themselves. Yes their kids are with them; but if you listen to the kids talking; you soon learn that their weekends and week nights are filled with being switched from "parent to parent" and then to Grandparents. Having fun for them is spending time with their parents friends' kids; only. I have to wonder if anyone ever likes doing just some "one on one" with their children. A few of the women I work with, believe the same as I do about parenting and school. They put allot of their time with a few select friends; but mostly they are with their children. One of the ladies that I work with said today that sometimes work is not even "High School" level it is more like "Jr. High". I have been blessed with some pretty neat ladies to work closer with than the others. These are ones like me. Except no one is as "loony" as I am. I enjoy; enjoying life. And if I am going to spend allot of my day at a place, I am going to have fun doing it. So this week I decided to start out going in and saying to all I meet "Good Morning Sunshine"! At first they all just thought I was being annoying; but by the end of the week they all look forward to it. Not bad for a new comer. As far as the "small town" goes, you better get to town before 10; because after that everything is closed. I am still amazed at how an entire town manages to close up on a Friday night for a High School football game. I did wear my "new purple" shirt today in honor of the team. So at least I fit in. From babies up to adults all wear purple on Fridays. I am amazed at how "into" a high school one whole town is. I mean I was used to Lake Travis when I lived in Austin; but they even make them look small.

This year marks the end of Dale's 12yrs. of fighting off "Hep C". The original diagnosis was that Dale would not live past the 12th year. So far all his tests are negative for any action on Hep C. So keep him in your prayers. This is one of the main reasons that I agreed to move here. Dale deserves to be healthy and happy. For this I am so thankful to God. I think as long as his lifestyle is healthy and wholesome he will be around for a very long time. And I'm sure we all agree when it comes to loved ones, there isn't anything we won't do to make life better for them. So I personally am looking forward to a very long life here in the country with my Hubby.

Be Blessed in The Lord,

Karen

Today is Labor day; and I am sitting here and resting and gazing out at all that God has allowed me to be a part of. You see God often (very) allows his children to have dreams come true and be happy. But just as often we also venture through some extremely deep valleys in life. I have been blessed to have some incredible people in my lifetime. Ones who have shared and taught me things that I ordinarily would not have thought had anything to do with what MY life was about. And yet if I will be still long enough and listen I can hear God's voice. He does lead me beside still waters; and he does walk with me in times of distress and worry. They are simple worries to an outsider; but to me they are the worst. We often feel that if it is not about or close to us; we give it little or no thought. Oh, but when it hits close then we are "astute" and ready to do what ever we need to; in order to get through this just as fast and "mark free" as we can. But God may not have us going through this fast; or in what we would consider a timely manner. No instead he sends people to stand beside us; to give us the physical hugs that we need. I have two very special people in my life right now that are in the "deepest valley" that I could ever imagine. One I pray is doing good. The other needs a miracle. Of course my wish for both is that their situations would disappear as suddenly as they appeared.

It is being close to these guys and their families that makes me thankful for where I am at. Do I have a right to complain? No.....well.....maybe. But about what? That I am blessed to have the ability to work so I can pay bills? That I am able to live my life to the fullest extent that I can. Just like in the song; "You Lift Me Up". Yes God lifts me up to the best that I can be with him. And for that I have no right to complain. He has lifted me up high....higher than I deserve. I also pray that one day the 2 ladies that I care about will one day "dance". That they will look forward to getting up in the mornings. I can only imagine that their lives are so "out there" right now; that they feel lost in a sea of emotions.

Well as you probably can guess Labor Day has come and gone. This past week has flown by in a frenzy of long hours at work. And coming home cooking dinner and going to bed. We have experienced at work; allot of ladies out sick this week. I will say this; working at this church is a whole other world. I think for the most part the "women" I work with are "refusing to graduate" from High School. And I am experiencing difficulty in "fitting in". After going out of town to a conference with them, I have decided that for what ever reason God might have in mind I am to be right here. It's not like I have allot of choice. I wish I did. But these women make any "High School" kid look like an adult. Either that or I'm just used to working on my own. Please pray for them and me. I will continue to be helpful and nice; no matter what. I have come to the conclusion that I am here for the kids; not to win a bunch of friends. I just pray that I am who and where God wants me to be.

Living out in the country does give me allot of peace of mind and I so love getting home. The "girls" are most always around and willing to give me hugs. As best as any "horse" can. Dale and I were driving me to work the other day and came across a snake. Guess what Dale did? Go ahead can you guess. He stops the truck and goes to see what kind of snake it is. It was a "cotton mouth". Yes he killed it; the snake was in front of a house that has little kids. No he did not leave it in the middle of the road. Then I found someone's calf roaming around on the side of the road. It was a "great day" in the neighborhood. I do love the smell of the land after a hard rain. You can smell the freshly bailed hay and the earth. Even the dirt smells good. I am looking forward to starting a garden and riding my horse. But first I have to find a saddle and bridle. In the meantime I just love giving them hugs. Lots and lots of hugs. One of the neatest things that God has given me; is the gift of "nature". The other day I saw a "hummingbird" sitting still on a phone line outside my window. I have never seen one completely still. And as we all know God can have a sense of humor; which he decided to show me a part of; I was walking through the meadow and "grasshoppers" were everywhere. As I walked they would jump in, on and around me. I do not like bugs; of any size. But I did survive. I do love listening to elderly people here in town; they are always was. I love being home and just hanging out. I hardly ever go anywhere; don't want to. Being here with the animals is good enough for me. It is very relaxing.

Blessings and hugs,

Karen

Great Day In the Neighborhood!

Today is Labor day; and I am sitting here and resting and gazing out at all that God has allowed me to be a part of. You see God often (very) allows his children to have dreams come true and be happy. But just as often we also venture through some extremely deep valleys in life. I have been blessed to have some incredible people in my lifetime. Ones who have shared and taught me things that I ordinarily would not have thought had anything to do with what MY life was about. And yet if I will be still long enough and listen I can hear God's voice. He does lead me beside still waters; and he does walk with me in times of distress and worry. They are simple worries to an outsider; but to me they are the worst. We often feel that if it is not about or close to us; we give it little or no thought. Oh, but when it hits close then we are "astute" and ready to do what ever we need to; in order to get through this just as fast and "mark free" as we can. But God may not have us going through this fast; or in what we would consider a timely manner. No instead he sends people to stand beside us; to give us the physical hugs that we need. I have two very special people in my life right now that are in the "deepest valley" that I could ever imagine. One I pray is doing good. The other needs a miracle. Of course my wish for both is that their situations would disappear as suddenly as they appeared.
It is being close to these guys and their families that makes me thankful for where I am at. Do I have a right to complain? No.....well.....maybe. But about what? That I am blessed to have the ability to work so I can pay bills? That I am able to live my life to the fullest extent that I can. Just like in the song; "You Lift Me Up". Yes God lifts me up to the best that I can be with him. And for that I have no right to complain. He has lifted me up high....higher than I deserve. I also pray that one day the 2 ladies that I care about will one day "dance". That they will look forward to getting up in the mornings. I can only imagine that their lives are so "out there" right now; that they feel lost in a sea of emotions.
Well as you probably can guess Labor Day has come and gone. This past week has flown by in a frenzy of long hours at work. And coming home cooking dinner and going to bed. We have experienced at work; allot of ladies out sick this week. I will say this; working at this church is a whole other world. I think for the most part the "women" I work with are "refusing to graduate" from High School. And I am experiencing difficulty in "fitting in". After going out of town to a conference with them, I have decided that for what ever reason God might have in mind I am to be right here. It's not like I have allot of choice. I wish I did. But these women make any "High School" kid look like an adult. Either that or I'm just used to working on my own. Please pray for them and me. I will continue to be helpful and nice; no matter what. I have come to the conclusion that I am here for the kids; not to win a bunch of friends. I just pray that I am who and where God wants me to be.
Living out in the country does give me allot of peace of mind and I so love getting home. The "girls" are most always around and willing to give me hugs. As best as any "horse" can. Dale and I were driving me to work the other day and came across a snake. Guess what Dale did? Go ahead can you guess. He stops the truck and goes to see what kind of snake it is. It was a "cotton mouth". Yes he killed it; the snake was in front of a house that has little kids. No he did not leave it in the middle of the road. Then I found someone's calf roaming around on the side of the road. It was a "great day" in the neighborhood. I do love the smell of the land after a hard rain. You can smell the freshly bailed hay and the earth. Even the dirt smells good. I am looking forward to starting a garden and riding my horse. But first I have to find a saddle and bridle. In the meantime I just love giving them hugs. Lots and lots of hugs. One of the neatest things that God has given me; is the gift of "nature". The other day I saw a "hummingbird" sitting still on a phone line outside my window. I have never seen one completely still. And as we all know God can have a sense of humor; which he decided to show me a part of; I was walking through the meadow and "grasshoppers" were everywhere. As I walked they would jump in, on and around me. I do not like bugs; of any size. But I did survive. I do love listening to elderly people here in town; they are always was. I love being home and just hanging out. I hardly ever go anywhere; don't want to. Being here with the animals is good enough for me. It is very relaxing.

Blessings and hugs,
Karen

Woo Hoo#2

Yes, yes I finally did it. I passed ALL the tests. And now I have my CDL (Commercial Driver's License). I can now drive the bus; pick up kids; and help out. I feel so much better. No more testing. I love my job and the kids. It is very different here than what I am used to in Austin. They have so many more "regulations" that they follow. There is not a Daycare in Austin that I worked at, that required or provided constant "training". By the time I get finished doing all they have me doing I'll be able to work at any place. And the nice thing is they paid for ALL of my training. I really do like working. I would not make a good "homebody". I have to tell you on the day I finished my "written" tests; I jumped up and gave a loud "YES"; I passed. And then everyone in there clapped for me. It felt so good to be done with the tests. All I had left to do was the "driving" part. My boss was so nice; she found not just 1 but 2 DPS Officers' to help me out. Nothing like a little bit of "pressure". When I arrived the morning of my training, the Officer "Scott" had parked right next to the bus. I was on my way in the building when a little boy going in told his Mom,"Look Mommy, the Police are here". Again a bit of pressure. So I went in got the Trooper and went out to the bus. I have to say, it was not bad. Scott was easy to talk to and I learned some History about some of the "locals". He said that my driving was good. Later that same day I again had another Trooper; Stacey to take me to get my license. While we were on the way there; while we were at a light; an 18 wheeler "blew" a red light. He said he knew the guy and would be talking to him a little later. It was one of those aha moments; you know the kind when you wish an Officer was around; this was soooo much better. The lady who gave me my test said I did "perfect". On the way back Stacey and I were talking and I learned that he was the Trooper that had arrested my "Brother In-Law" on one of his "outings". The story he told me was incredible. And this same Trooper was going to be in court against Jimmy; in about 1 week. Talk about a "small world". I was very thankful that he took the time to make sure I got my License. We all also go to church together. So what can I tell you; except that God sure knows how to make you smile.
I can't begin to tell you the peace that I am able to have; especially now that I have a job. And people are actually interested in MonaVie. Mostly for their health. Oh, before I forget; Football nights is a VERY BIG DEAL. On Friday just about everyone is wearing PURPLE; the school colors. Little kids and adults alike. In fact at work I think I was the only "worker" not wearing purple this past Friday. So I ordered my school shirt. It is really cool to see the whole town back up their team. Sports here is a very big deal; in fact their soccer team is going to be playing at the Disney World soccer tournament in December. They are so "hyped" up. Of course it is an honor. And even though I don't have any kids involved, you can't help but feel a part of it. This is small town America. I ask God to show me something new everyday; and you know what he does. I don't always like it; but it is a gift from God all the same. What I am referring to is the "jobs" I was unable to get because I could not speak Spanish. I was at first, so resentful, and then I realized that despite it all God is in charge. I can choose to live as I feel God would want me to or I can go around with a "chip" on my shoulder. So for me; choosing God's way is the best. And knowing this helps me to get along with the people in and around my daily life. There are so many different "facets" to people that I see everyday and don't agree with. So I have to constantly watch my mouth; because sometimes it can get me in trouble. But I want to be an example of what a true Christian is. This is what is known as "walking your talk". All in all I am so blessed. Dale is happy and healthier than ever; and has a great relationship with his folks; we both do. And lots of fresh air and quiet nights. Between the animals and the land; I am in " heaven on earth".

Blessings to All,
Karen

Woo Hoo#1

This happened last week. Sorry for the delay.
Yes,Yes,...Yes, I passed the first of 3/4 tests to acquire my commercial license. After I finished the test and learned I passed; I jumped straight up out of my chair and hollered YES! You could have heard a pin drop after that. I was at the DPS taking my test and there were about 6 Officer's and 2 Office workers. They all just looked at me; and I proudly said, "I passed". What the Officer's did not know was that yesterday I failed it. But today I passed.
So far this week has proved to be an adventure that won't soon be forgotten. Monday morning we went too Greenville to get my "fingerprints" done. This is so that I can work at the daycare. Now you have to run a thorough background check on all peoples. From there we went to Rockwall to go to Tom Thumb; known as Randalls to those of you in Austin. From there we went on to PetSmart. We were on our way back when the rest of the day found us. Dale's parents' had a really rough start this morning; as most of you are aware Dale's brother #1a "mental" problem; and with medication and TLC it would be OK; or that is what the Doctors tell us. This morning he passed out. So the ambulance came; and after some "hospital work" he was transported to a place that will work with him. And we learned about ALL of it as we were leaving to come home. This enabled us to be at the place when he arrived; thus saving Dale's folks having to go through this again. The people at the treatment center wanted a person that "knows" him to be there when he arrived. Only God could work out the timing just so.

Blessings,
Karen