Thoughtful people ...

rock. my. world.  God puts certain people in our lives for very specific reasons.  He may use you to encourage someone else, or for them to encourage you.  He uses people to teach us.  He uses people to share His truths.  He uses people to grow us.  He uses 
"... all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28.  I remind myself of this verse all the time.  It goes right along with
 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6.  

Just when I start getting a little homesick out here, He puts something on someone else's heart that encourages me or reminds me it is OK to live this far away and still have a wonderful relationship.  A well needed "thoughtfulness" came today in the mail from my daddy.  I love unexpected things.  Nothing big, nothing costly, just something that reminded me that I am thought of and remembered even this far away.  Just a little something that he knows I would be interested in.  It was just an article from a recent newspaper he read that talked about a blogger and her joys of blogging.  It reminded me that I need to take time to revisit my favorite past-time, even when I am busy.  It helps me to clear my head and my heart and I always get so much more accomplished after blogging.  Weird, but true.  

I know you have people in your life like this.  If you don't, maybe it is because you need to be that kind of person.  Maybe there is someone you know that could use a little reminder that they are loved or that you haven't forgotten about them.  It is easy for us to get so busy, but it will make you feel so much better if you just reach out with a little hello note or phone call.  Not an email, text message or Facebook comment.  Make it as personal as possible and it will touch the heart all the more.  I love technology and the immediateness of it all, but there is nothing that replaces the excitement of going to the mailbox expecting bills and junk and seeing a hand written "nothing much" with your name on it.  Be the first to "Pay it forward" and see what kind of love comes back around your way.  

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him." Psalm 103:13

Now on to Ms. Kirby Rose ... I can not believe she is 20 months!

This picture was actually taken when she was right at 19 months when we were visiting Montgomery for the first visit of three in the last month - yes, I am exhausted!  Just a crummy phone picture, but I loved the sunflower on her head so I had to share.  

At 20 months, Kirby is really getting her own little personality.  Lot's of charm if I may say so myself.  I wish I had a video of how she waves to little kids (even the ones older than her that she thinks are "toooo cute").  She puts her hand softly by her cheek and waves real slowly and carefully.  

We have started the potty training adventure.  Next week we are going all out full force when I get some of those neat, thick, panties.  Right now we just have Minnie Mouse ones that, well, don't hold up well when she has accidents.  She has randomly gone and sat on duck and pottied 3 times.  She likes mommy's dance and the duck's "Whooohooo".

She has some new words that she loves to say:

owwwww

helloooo

no,no,no 

oh no,no, no

hippo

yellow

purple

banana

oh ok

ready

ready 1, 2, 3

She actually has gone on duck 4 times now ... just had to take a quick break and do my dance.  Thank you sweet Lord for allowing me to be at home to be the one to teach my precious gift from God this new concept. It is frustrating and challenging, but that is one reason why we put in concrete floors everywhere instead of carpet!  

I am not sure how much she weighs.  My guess is about 27 lbs.  She wears 12-18 month clothes and likes to help decide what shoes she is going to wear. Her favorite are her John Deere boots.  I will approve a boot fetish instead of a heel obsession any day!

 Finally Mommy and Daddy got to go on a 2 hour date to Aggie Muster in Alice.  Thank you momma for watching Kirby Rose so we could have some time with adults!

 Enjoying the Montgomery County Fair with cousins Kyleigh and Brayleigh.  We got to watch Kyleigh show her heifer for the first year.  She did so well and we were happy to be there.

 She hates car washes.  She kept saying, "No, no bubbles.  Bye bye bubbles."

 Feeding and calling the cows with Daddy Ray.

 We have one pure bred black male pup left for sale.  Please,please let me know if you or anyone you know is interested.  We need him off our food bill and maybe with one less dog we will look a touch less redneck.  Just a touch ...

Eye carumba

I can not believe that it has been an entire month since I have been able to sit down and blog.  And, unfortunately, I am not going to be able to massage my heart as much as I would like to tonight.  Maybe in 2 weeks when I slow down a bit with Route 1Photography.  I will, however, update you in bullets so that you know what has gone on in the past month - way more than I can imagine even sitting here now after we are already on the flip side of the month!

• The Lord blessed Route 1 Photography with a solid booked March.  Actually, over booked, but as I begin this adventure, I want to take on all that my family and I can handle to get my name out there.  Then in a few years, maybe I will be able to decide how busy I will be.  I will not let this business run me - it has worked wonderfully thus far with our schedules.
• My dad came to Patrick Farms' rescue!  We have had our "fun"with trying to keep work hands this year and at the beginning of planting season had no one but our "sometimes, if I feel good Ill come sixty five year old numskull" as a full time employee.  We didn't know what we were going to do, but knew the Lord would provide.  Sure enough, Daddy to the rescue.  He saved our booties and stayed for 3 whole weeks.  He trudged through the nagging hours of "what do we need to do today" talks between the boss men, ran many miles back and forth to John Deere and Beyond, and sat many hours on the tractor planting (and then re-planting) cotton, corn, and grain.  Hebrews 13:16 comes to mind, "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."  Dad shared his time and his willingness to learn and do.  
• Kirby and I made a weekend trip to Montgomery to have bunny and bluebonnets pictures and also 2 family sessions.  That was a busy, busy weekend for pictures, but was such a blessing to me.  I got to catch up with one of my dearest high school gal pals and meet some wonderful people.  Of course getting to see family was great, but I was gone so much I can't even remember where they fell in.
• Kirby turned 19 months.  She is starting to be quite the character.  She really enjoyed her PawPaw being here for 3 weeks.  After he left, she still woke up and went right to the pantry to get the raisins he would give her every morning.  She walked around a few days shrugging her shoulders and saying, "Paw Paw?".  Made me tear up because I missed him just as much as she did.  Here is where she is on things I can remember off the top of my head:
• words she says clearly: horse, pig, momma, dawg, no-no, get, sit, stay, cracker, fish, bird, chich-en, egg, go, bye, hi, hello, phone, yewwow, purple, duck, bear, deer, cock a doo, ball, jump, bubble, seat, sit, down, up, bed, night night, Kyleigh, Granny, Daddy Ray, Daddy, E, Ray, Baby
• new signs she knows: down, Bible, yes
• has teeth coming in (seems like this has been for 2 months now!) on the bottom eye teeth area.
• went potty in the duck one random day.  I decided to do it the right way and go full force when we get back from our last scheduled trip to Montgomery next week.  It already takes 5 1/2 hours to get there; I can't imagine how it would be stopping every 30 minutes when teaching her about potty.
• Likes to go with CR to check on the fields, with Daddy Ray to feed the cows, and with mommy anywhere.
• Is loved so deeply I don't think I can even describe it.  I am so thankful that God blessed us with Kirby Rose when He did.  I am so thankful that He gives me opportunity after opportunity to fund the desire in my heart to stay home.
• CR and Patrick Farms planted 4000 acres.  This means that for 4000 acres not only did they plant, but Lauren, Kirby and Kitty cooked and ran food to the field for lunch and supper for 3. weeks. straight.
• For Easter we were able to go up to Montgomery to visit.  We were so thankful that for the first time in about a year, the whole family was going to be together.

 The blue thing is called a field cultivator.  It is being pulled by a track-tractor.  

 CR's new toy - a 24 row planter.  Totally made 4000 acres doable!  

 Dad found it funny that the new toy was being pulled by a tractor that had rust.

 Kirby delivering supper to her Paw Paw.

 Checking seed levels in the planter.

Kirby's Easter picture.

 Attempt a family picture.  Don't worry, there is a good one in the bunch and I will put myself in there.  Can you see all the wrong with this picture?  Grown adults!

 "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered." 1 Peter 3:7  LOVE. THIS.MAN.

 E and Ray

Her first Easter egg hunt with the Hemken family and all she wanted to do was holler for Kyleigh to come help her.

Psalm 103:17

"But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children."