Are You Vested?

When I first asked Jesus into my heart I lived in a small town in the high desert of central California. I didn't have a church at the time and not growing up in a Christian environment I didn't know what having Jesus in my heart meant to those who did or looked like, so I asked around and began going to The Church of the Nazarene wanting to surround myself with like minded people.

Week after week I would attend the mid week service, both Sunday services and a women's Bible study. I would watch the way the people would talk to one another, how they would solve the problems of the church or in each others lives, plan for events but mostly how they conducted themselves in day to day living. In the months that passed there was one woman in particular I found myself watching more than the others. Bea Connally had a certain "something" that I loved seeing. Always mild mannered, respectful to her husband and others, never ever judgemental or having a bad word to say about anyone. More than that though she possessed a certain calm, a peacefulness, something I wanted to claim as my own. Once when I asked her about it she told me it was the Lord and to feel His closeness I must be in His Word and know Him.

Well, over the years I have spent many hours in God's Word getting to know Him, persistently in quest of that higher level of peacefulness or calm I witnessed in Bea, concluding that there were only a few certain individuals who could know that closeness. Today I attend Calvary Chapel and continue to surround myself with godly women some of whom are great teachers of the Word, some servants, some shepherds, all selfless, wonderful Christian women that have close personal relationships with the Lord spending countless hours pursuing His holiness. Within these women the Lord has sent one to stand out in my eyes as possessing the calm and the peace of Jesus that I once witnessed in Bea Connally.

A couple of years ago while attending a women's retreat this beautiful lady was called upon to teach. When she got up to share with us what the Lord had placed upon her heart she recited from memory an entire book in the Bible. Not just a chapter but an entire book. My head snapped up when I realized what she was doing. I was in aah with what I was witnessing for it was more than a woman reciting scripture, you can ask anyone who was there, they will tell you it was truly the Lord speaking through her. It gave me chills and I felt honored to have been able to be there.

From then on I began watching her, the way she talks, what she talks about, and her genuine love for all she comes into company with. She glows as her love for Christ oozes from her very being. She cannot teach on Jesus without tears filling her eyes as the love she has for Him consumes her as if she could feel the very pain He suffered for us.

I recently learned she has now committed seven books of the Bible to memory. Knowing how much time she has spent so close to our Lord in doing this, holding His hand as he guides her gives me cause to admire her and I'll say it...a little covetous. I hear her speak of how Jesus guides her in areas so remote I could never fathom and yet He answers her. And I have to tell you coming from any other person I would raise and eyebrow in scepticism, but to know her is to know there is no doubt she hears directly from the Lord.

In watching her I have come to believe that that level of intimacy with the Lord is attainable to anyone who will stand at the door and knock not just a chosen few. My friend is vested in the Lord. She knows His Word, She falls prone in prayer seeking His guidance in all that she does.

She is not side tracked by useless things of this world and her reward is a familiarity so personal so completing.

Therefore I ask, how vested are you? How much time do you give learning our Lord Jesus Christ? Is there anything you won't give up to experience a oneness with Him so exclusive so everlasting? I know I now long more for Him and less for the world cherishing every whisper I am blessed with from my Abba Father.

Psalm 144:18, 19 says; The Lord is near all who call on Him. To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him. He will also hear their cry and save them.

Happy Birthday

Today is the birthday of Andrew , Julia and Natalie. Join me in wishing them a very Happy Birthday.

When I think of Andrew I think of one of the finer young men I've ever met. I have always known him to be loving, helpful and compassionate not to mention brilliant and handsome. At a family gathering or any time he will always make sure his ninety plus grandmother is comfortable and he has a very attentive ear to what his grandfather has to say. I also have it on good authority he is an excellent worker having been in his father's employ for many jobs, he is incredibly responsible and a real team leader. Always respectful towards his mother he would be there in a heart beat if he even thought she needed him. I love you Andrew...Happy Birthday!

Julia is 10 years old today. I have not had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with this beautiful girl. I do know she is a girly girl loving the dresses and already experimenting with make-up, dances and dare I say....boys. YIKES!! She is a very smart young lady and a huge help to her parents with her little sister. Always sweet to talk to and very appreciative of all you do for her. I love you Julia...Happy Birthday!



Natalie, what can I say about this 3 year old. She is a very determined little lady full of pee and vinegar. With so many older brothers she is well acquainted with with the term "Cowgirl UP!" as there is no crying in Texas. I love you Natalie...Happy Birthday!



When I was growing up my favorite birthday song was from the Sheriff John's children show, allow me to share the words to express my Birthday wishes to you:



Put another candle on my birthday cake
We're gonna bake a birthday cake
Put another candle on my birthday cake
I'm another year old today


I'm gonna have a party with my birthday cake
Come on and take some birthday cake
Put another candle on my birthday cake
I'm another year old today


We'll have some pie and sandwiches
and chocolate ice cream too
We'll sing and play the day away
and one more thing I'm going to do



I'll blow out the candles on my birthday cake
and when I do, a wish I'll make
Put another candle on my birthday cake
I'm another year old today........



Happy Birthday to you
You're another year old today.





I pray all of you will have a very special day and that the up and coming year is good to you.



Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
John 13:1

Meet Max

For as long as I can remember I have had absolutely no use for a lapdog. You know the ones I am talking about, they look like something you would have seen with a bobbing head in the rear window of your grandfather's car. They couldn't possibly pass for a guard dog, nor could they chase away the occasional coyote you could actually consider them bait plus they are continually under your feet.

Lapdogs were originally bred to provide warmth for the wealthy and to be used as fashion accessories. Lapdogs were also used in earlier times to attract fleas away from their owners. Some lapdogs were developed as pets while others, were first bred for active work.

I now find myself the caretaker of Avery and Makenna's new little friend a lapdog named Max.

Max is a 3 month old miniature Dotson , he weighs 2 lb. 14 oz. and is 18" from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. He is a very smart little man, he has quickly learned to fetch, come, seek and get in his kennel when asked. He has also learned that scrambled eggs is his favorite thing to eat. When I start to prepare them for his evening meal he will run as quickly as his inch long legs will move him at first whiff all the while doing the happy dance until the eggs are placed before him.

Maxwell loves it when the girls come over, he wiggles and giggles and dances with glee at the very sight of them. He absolutely adores all the hugging and loving they lavish on him. Loves chasing them across the yard snapping at their heals and yipping to slowdown. He has experienced the trampoline (although I am certain he was not a big fan of that), the slide, the swing and suffered the humiliation of being stuffed into the basket on the bike with a look that begged me to rescue him.

Max also thinks he is as big as a 50 Lb. dog. He loves they power he has to chase the chickens around the yard, he is also quite pleased with himself when he can chase the ducks back into the pond. He will pursue Perry (huge long hair cat) until he is politely asked to stop with a hiss. He can't quite keep up with the bunny as it zig-zags across the pasture to flee from the little pup who is still trying to figure it all out but that doesn't stop him from giving it his all. And when the big dogs stretch out in the sun to take a rest you'll find Max right there with them.

I am surprised with how much personality this little man has and how much I have grown to like him. He is a funny little guy and every time I look at him I think "It's just wrong for a dog to be that small" but this is his home now and here he'll stay. We're thankful for Max and the joy he has added to this farm.

God bless you and thanks for visiting : )

The Circus

Last night was Makenna's graduation ceremony from pre-school. All week she has been making sure I would be coming to the service. Several times she asked me am I excited for the service, is Papa going to come to the service, reminding me when the service was. She even proudly informed she would be wearing her trick horse costume for the service. I thought "costume?" that's a bit odd but made a mental note to ask Karin about it later.

Like I said before this went on all week when finally I said to her "You mean your graduation ceremony, right?. Of course I will be there." She said "No! I mean my circus, I'm going to be a trick horse rider at my circus." Well, now I am really confused and attached this confusion to my previous mental note.

When I finally did ask Karin about it she confirmed that yes, the graduation ceremony would be a circus. Hmmm, I thought, what's that about. I have never heard of such a thing. I may have even said those very same thoughts to Karin all the time curious about what kind of "circus" I was in for.

Then came the special day. Makenna spent it here on the farm with me, excitement mounting with each hour that passed all day anxious to get dressed in her costume, get her hair combed, her cowgirl hat on and go to the circus. Finally it was 4 o'clock time to make ready and head on out the door with camera in hand to "The Circus."

Rarely am I as surprised with delight as I was last night. It was indeed a circus. Complete with trick horse riders daring very complex moves on top wonder horse, a hula hooping gorilla, strong men able to lift very heavy weights, tight rope walkers balancing on a single foot while twirling an umbrella, a girl on a flying trapeze where seats had to be cleared during performance for the safety of the audience, elephants, clowns, a juggler, animal tamers with their fiercely ferocious animals and what circus would be complete without a ring master complete with red coat and tall black hat.

It was a marvelous show. Mrs Lane and Ms. Karen did a wonderful job in getting the children into character and knowing their parts. A great time was had by all and in holding with circus tradition there was plenty of delicious foods to tempt us after.

It is moments like these that makes all the "same ole, same ole" of life worth it. I loved it a lot and will never think on the circus in the same way again.

Thanks for visiting.

Please Join Me

I have recently started feeling very guilty and sad for not letting all of you who I know so well and love so much know how often I think about you and how much I do love you. I am terrible at picking up the phone for may reasons, and I am even worse at picking up a pen to write to even one of you. When I think about all the hours of cauliflower ear, or writers cramp it would take to personally communicate with all of you I feel very overwhelmed and do nothing. For this I ask your forgiveness.

I have had this blog spot for some time now and rarely use it, I recently decided it would be a good place to sort of journal my life and thoughts of you as they come up. So please stop by often as I am going to visit here often myself.

Today I am going to start off with a blog I wrote some time ago, for those of you who have already read it I hope you enjoyed it enough the first time to read it again. For you first timers, I hope you will be kind with your critiquing.


The Wonder Of It All

When is the last time life excited you so much that your cup ran over? These times are so rare that when you do experience them you just have to drop to your knees and thank the Lord. You know what I mean. For my friend it was her first trip to Israel, it’s been over a year and still when she talks about it her eyes twinkle and beautiful memories spill out of her. For my husband it’s every time he gets to come home from the boat. With his job he can be gone sixty days or more, longing for the day he gets to hug his family and get back to being a cowboy, and when that day comes he is so full of joy he shines. For my Granddaughter Avery it has been her first trip to Disneyland. I have had the privilege of visiting this magical world where dreams do come true and abominable snowmen eat small boys (so I’m told), through the eyes of a 6 year old. Every day, several times a day, my sweet daughter has Avery phone me and she shares her adventure with so much enthusiasm and amazement bursting out of her it’s infectious. “Nana” she said ” they have tea cups that spin around…FAST, and pirates just like the movie.” “The haunted mansion was a little scary especially when the ghost rode with us.” “They have a submarine Nana, it’s so cool, and I got to ride on Dumbo, and guess what, I met the REAL Cinderella.”

I look forward to the telephone ringing, being able to hear her sweet little voice lay out her discoveries of the day. This is one of the best times of my life and all I need to do is pick up the phone.


I’ve thought a lot about Avery this week and all the new and wonderful sights she gets to experience so many in fact she just can’t find the words to tell me how awesome it is for her. I think that’s what it will be like when we get to heaven. We’ll look around with such wonder and say, “Look at all those awesome colors, what do you think they’re called?” “This is the most incredible music I’ve ever heard, are those angels singing?” We will get to meet the REAL Jesus! Imagine the wonder, and amazement. The loss of words to express the exhilaration and thrill of our new home.


Thank you Lord for the blessings you have showered out on me this week, allowing me to be so full of joy it poured over and out of my cup. Thank you for preparing a home for me in heaven which will surpass any pleasure or wonder I could ever experience here on earth.

John 14:2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you