Whirlwind

How is tomorrow already the last day of February?  Gosh, I feel like we were just in the midst of the livestock show and knee deep in pig smell all over the house.  

Over the last 6 months (maybe longer as fast as life is going), it has been big on my heart to get away from Facebook and other things that end up sucking my time away from my precious necessities.  I have stopped looking at Pinterest or Instragram when on road trips and my computer (usually) is not turned on until at least nap time.  I used to try to work in between play time or here and there while the kids were playing together, but I stopped that.  No more doing 100 things at once and missing 99%.  Yes, my work is important and I have time lines to meet. Yes, it is important to keep up with friends and family.  Yes, it is important to take care of things throughout the day, but my most important job blessing are my husband and my kids.   I have always been less "technology obsessed" than many of others around me, but it still was a conviction that has been on my heart.  Anytime that I have extra needs to be spent loving on, making memories with, and … dare I say it … sitting still and possibly becoming bored, with my children.  I think I have been so afraid of idleness that I over work myself.  So if you have been missing my occasional "hey there" texts or comments on Facebook, I am super busy just living and loving life.  

 This doe got hit in front of our old house a few days ago .. she broke her leg and ended up hanging out in our pastures for awhile.  Now, for those of you that say, "Why didn't CR put her out of her misery and shoot her?"  he attempted to but Kirby would not let him, so those of you that say, "Awww, just let nature do it's thing" won there.

One afternoon I went in to get Patton up from his nap and the whole left side of his face was swollen.  I honestly thought for .2 seconds he had suffered a stroke … that is what it looked like, all pulled to one side.  Apparently it was a case of pink eye but mainly a "sinus" infection coming out his eye.  Poor guy ...

 Planting season is in full swing … well for a few days anyways, then we ran out of moisture.  Pray for rain.  Rain is a good thing.

 Patton doesn't like car washes much … neither did sister at this age.

 We played photographer for a whole 2 days last week … yes, she is wearing my shirt.

 Cutie in overalls ….

 Big enough to ride her bike, paw!

 Serenity now ….

 Bringing the cows in at night … right before the gate beat me in a battle.

 Working cows!

 Kirby loves to be "photographer mom" as she calls herself; followed by "I'm in charge."

Lord, teach me to slow down.  Teach me to love what I have right under my nose.  Cultivate in me a heart for teaching my children about you.  The rest will have a time and place in my day, if I only remember to put what matters most first.  ~ Your daughter

I highly recommend this book Hands Free Mama to anyone who has a hard time letting go of "socialness".  It has encouraged what I was already praying about.  There are things that she says that we all know, but speaking from my experience, sometimes pass over.  

The Beard … A Eulogy

"You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard."  Leviticus 19:27  

Most years you start off around October and we all say our goodbyes in January after duck season is over.  Last year, you hung around all year.  Well, today you are gone.  You were here just a few short hours ago, being stroked by your master's fingers while he sat in church and tried to focus.  Just a few hours ago you were being pulled left and right by his son, and getting the green eye from men of all ages.  Just Friday your master got "props" and "dukes" at a wedding because you were so magnificent.  People wanted to be you.  Women would uncomfortably laugh at you, while their husbands prayed one more time for a wife that would let them grow such a wild beast of a thing.  But now you are just a memory in our pictures and in our hearts.

You taught me a lot, being the wife of a man with the "most amazing beard in the world".  You taught me to listen to him more … I had to often close my eyes while he was talking, not because I did not want to see you but because you were a slight distraction, going to and fro as he moved his jaws to talk or eat.  I listened.  I heard.  
Here is your life in pictures, my friend.

This is what you looked like as just a goatee …

In November of 2012 you helped us celebrate our anniversary where it all began, back in Aggieland.

 You were here as we welcomed our son, Patton, on January 13, 2013.  

 You were envied by college friends that gathered to celebrate the marriage of Cole.

You made clean eating difficult, yet a challenge your master was ready to tackle.  

 You stood the hardest test of all; farming season …. you made it through!

When we were in San Antonio, we were stopped by a college basketball player to tell us how impressed he was with you … I mean, you got compliments every where we went.

 You drove thousands of miles to get pigs, haul cattle, and make memories.

And you will end up big on a canvas in our living room to commemorate the year of the beard.

And here you are ….

Patton did not know what to pull on when you were gone … he reached, and you were not there. 

 Kirby was the most uncertain … she asked her daddy to "shave your beard back on" before church tonight.

You were fun while you were here, but as an honest wife, I am slightly glad you are gone.   I did tear up a little - not sure if they were tears of joy, tears of excitement, tears of sadness at the fact that all his determination was now gone, or at the fact that I survived and submitted pure love to a man hidden by hair … I am not sure.  But I am sure I am ready to have my handsome back.  You hid so much of my love's face.  I get to see him now.   I can rub his face and feel skin now.  I can lay my head on his shoulder and not have to push you out of the way.  Tonight at church I nuzzled in to his neck while we prayed like I used too and it felt like home again.  I am sure you will be back this fall.  And I would welcome you if your master decided to keep you around again.  Because it is not about what is on my husband's face; it is all about what is in his heart.  His heart is pure gold and has mine captivated for a lifetime of love.  

With love,

Lauren

"Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful."  

Song of Solomon 1:16

Our herd

I think I need to clean my camera on my cell phone … or maybe this is the result of it falling into some water yesterday … sorry for the fuzzy but you can still see the cute.

 She was singing to her cows.  Hand microphone and all.

This is what Patton does while we run and play - soon enough he will be fully mobile.  

Here she was lassoing her cows … she even asked if I could come help her pull the calf.

"He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate-- bringing forth food from the earth." Psalm 104:14