Love Is....

Love Is....

Monday, October 28, 2013

Life

"Today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."  ~Psalm 118:24

I about broke down in CrossFit this morning as I was not able to do the workout because I pushed to hard last week.  Even by taking the weekend off, my hip was still bothering me this morning.  So, I had Jeremy modify it for me.  I was able to do pull-ups with the small blue band instead of the thick purple or black bands.  This is a big improvement which is why I like CrossFit.  There are always ways to improve on my personal best and not compare to anyone else.  It’s a great feeling to be getting pushed and motivated on a daily basis in those early morning classes.  This is just want I needed during this stage in my life.  It is about the only thing that is keeping me sane at this point in time.

After our Monday Morning Meeting, I went to pick up a part for Bridgeport.  On my way out of the parking lot at work, Whitney called me.  What a great and welcomed moment!  I had been really wanting to catch up with her and had not made it a priority to do so.  I am so thankful that she decided to pick up the phone and call me today.  There is nothing better than a great catchup session with a girlfriend!  She is someone who knows me through and through as we grew up together.  So wonderful. 

I am so very thankful for my family and friends and all the support they give me and have given me throughout the years.  It is incredible to such close friends.

Today, my steer got out so we had to round him up with the pickup.  We charged the fence tonight.  As Heath was tossing them some hay, he found a petrified snake in the hay.  Awesome.  My favorite.  When we got home, I noticed that my chickens were outside of their coup (but still within their fence).  Turns out the rainy drizzle had iced up and my girls couldn’t get up their ramp to get inside and get warm.  I had to lift each of them up into their house so they could get warm.  Oh the life of a country girl!  Never a dull moment!

Tonight, exhausted and beat, I took a hot bath (hot water heater is broken) and cooked some fresh eggs from the girls.  Then, I decided to paint a few more of my old outdoor faucet handles for my kitchen knobs.  After doing so, I was looking through my closet to find something to wear for Wednesday in CrossFit as they told us to dress up for class for Halloween.  While doing so, Briggs came in and laid down on my white carpet.  I kindly told him he was very dirty.  So, he quietly and politely got up and left the room.  I few minutes later I went upstairs to get ready for bed and he had taken it upon himself to go upstairs and lay in his bed.  By the time I had gotten up there, he had already started giving himself a much needed bath.  And some people don’t thing animals are smart.   He is awesome!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

CrossFit


I just consumed 3 pieces of homemade french toast, 3 eggs, 4 pieces of bacon, and a huge glass of milk!  I was super hungry this morning!  Ok, I started writing this blog at some point a couple weeks ago, but WOW does CrossFit make me hungry.  This is one of the best things that I can be doing right now in my transition.  I have heard and read alot about CrossFit in the past couple of years.  Always fascinated by it, but too busy training for my halfs, tris, swimming, biking, running to add another thing to my workout schedule.   Tomorrow I will be finishing up my fourth week with CrossFit.

I have been in a slump with my workouts trying to find something that I enjoy that doesn't hurt my  hip as I patiently, or not so patiently, for several doctor's second opinions.  Well, I saw on Facebook that someone had mentioned that Scottsbluff had a CrossFit gym.  WHaT!?  Are you kidding me?  I wasted no time in finding their website and called immediately.  Surprised, someone picked up on the other end.  Awesome!  I saw their hours and didn't expect to get to talk to someone, but I did.  It was a sign.  We had a nice conversation and she told me to just show up and watch for the first day and then participate the next day.

5 am Monday morning, I was there!  'Watching' didn't work very well for me as most of you who know me probably guessed.  As soon as George asked me to go ahead and try it, I was there.  I did a few things with them and then finished up the workout (modified at the Y and then did some pool therapy)!  :)  I went to the early class three days that first week, 4 days the second week, 3 days last week, and the Lord willing, 3 days this week!  It is offered  Monday through Friday several times throughout the day to accomodate everyone's different lifestyles.  We are all so different, but all come together with one common goal.  To improve!

You can either get on the Facebook page and see the posted workout of the day (a.k.a. WOD) or you can wait and be surprised!  I have done it both ways.  I kind of like being surprised, but also like to look to see how I can modify it for my hip.  That is what is so great about these workouts, you can get cardio and lifting all in during one workout.  I can modify to still push super hard and be super sore without hurting or putting stress on my hip.  Anyway, we have a warmup and then our WOD.  Sometimes you have a series of exercises that are timed sometimes you have to do as many reps as you can in a certain time period, it's different all the time.  Always being pushed to do the best you can and I will tell you what....it is your own fault if you don't get in a good workout.

I love it!  I am done with my workout before the sun gets up, then I get to go to my house to shower, and eat my second breakfast.  No more packing a bag everynight!  It's awesome!  Then, of course, I get to watch the sun rise.  Briggys went with me this morning and slept in the car while he waited patiently for me to finish my WOD.  True supporter!

Check out the website: http://crossfitscottsbluff.com/.  We are located off the side of a gas station, nothing fancy, alot of body weight stuff, but I tell you what, there are WODs that make me sore for DaYS!  Muscle confusion and healthy eating, lots of water/hydration and sleep and taking care of yourself all one and the same!


Photo of the 6 pm class, I think.  From CrossFit's FB page.

Oh, and one other really cool thing about it is that we do workouts for fallen people in honor and memory of them.  What an awesome accomplishment!  You go girls!

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

* Live * LOVE * Laugh *

Well, life as I know it is crazy at the moment.  I just do not have any idea where the time has gone!  It is almost October already.  Football and cross country season!  The air is sooo fresh!  It feels wonderful to wake up with the windows open so crisp!  Justin had his sophomore Homecoming football game at home, in Mitchell, last Friday night.  He got to play on varsity!  Some of my favorite pictures of him in his uniform!



Andrew had a cross country meet on Saturday that we got to watch.  Heath has it worked out so that we split up our crew so that we each work one weekend day and get to rest on the other one.  This past weekend, Heath and I traded JoAnn and Danny for Saturday so that we could watch Mr. Andrew run cross country in Alliance on Saturday.  I have a few pictures that I would like to share.



As most of you that know me, know that I do not know a thing about football.  It was a social event for me in high school.  So, now being a proud cheerer of the Mitchell team, I need to get learning!  I am more knowledgeable in running, so I look forward to being able to help coach and motivate Andrew.  Both of the boys have a good build for the sports they are doing.

*B*L*E*S*S*I*N*G*S*

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

My New Logo


I hope you like it!  This has been a long time in the making!  I am super pumped!  Now with new camera, new logo, new website, and a beautiful life to live, I am going to tell my story!  :)

Surprise

I just learned something I didn't know.  Sweet potatoes = way different than Yams.  I just cut into my secret stash of extra food in my desk, to be totally surprised by the white flesh.  Now, I have had tons of sweet potatoes lately and I have never seen one like this.  After talking to JoAnn and a little internet research, I found that I am eating a yam.  Some twist between a sweet potato and a regular white potato.  F.Y.I. sweet potatoes are way better although I am very thankful for the snack as we wait on our last pea truck for the day!


Saturday, July 27, 2013

~*RUN*~


The view from atop a hill about half way into my first real run since surgery!  5 miles!  So beautiful!  In the mountains around the base of Horsetooth Reservoir!  Felt SooooOOO good to be back.  Triathlons are my thing from now on, so as to ease up on the jarring of hips/knees, etc. from running.  The low impact of the swimming and biking in there will alternate different muscle groups and challenge my endurance.  :)

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Harvest

So *GratEFuL* for a wonderfully made, fresh, bountiful harvest from my garden!  So very blessed!









Friday, July 5, 2013

Mid-Week Surprise

Ok, so I'm not going to lie, I really liked having Thursday off.  Today felt like Monday, but it was Friday!  What a fantastic present!  Daddy got here tonight and we were able to go to dinner with him.  We look forward to a great weekend of working on the house and bonding!  He is such an amazing teacher!

I surprised him tonight with my chickens:  June (blonde-in middle), Helen (lighter red-leader of the pack), Henrietta (darker red-pulling up the rear).

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Happy 4th of July!

Mom's porch.  Missing home!


Great day at the lake with the boys, fish for all.  Danny took us fishing up on Box Butte Lake in Hemingford.  Took this  awesome picture honoring all of those who have fallen for our country.  Thank you!






After a great day at the lake, we went to the farm and Heath and the boys set water while I checked on my chickens, watered the garden, and painted my kitchen a BEAUTIFUL blue!  :)

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

*W~a~t~e~r* and Monumental Day in Stateline History!

Amazing!  Teamwork!  Yesterday I had a safety meeting at noon that I needed to prepare for and we had a pea grading session in Gering Tuesday morning.  After the meeting, Heath and John headed out to the farm to see if we could receive the water from the ditch rider.  Unfortunately, I had to stay at the office.  Heath had the thought of pea trucks coming into Bridgeport when his guys called and said something broke down while he was knee deep in mud and water at my house.  What an amazing man!  Afterall, we did plan better than this as our water was supposed to arrive Monday evening but the ditch rider got busy.  Heath got it all done in one day, oh and he was in the boot pit all day.  He came to the house smelling like rotten beans, but he had a big smile on his face.  Awesomeness!

Heath calmly took care of it ALL!  Him and Johnny Boy got the water by setting dams and setting tubes (thank you Craig again for the tubes)!  P.S.  The dogs *LOVE* this irrigation opportunity to frolic like little kids in the ditch water, unsetting dams and not knowing the difference!


As we were irrigating tonight, Heath and I were walking back to the house and all of the sudden Briggsy made a yelping noise and we saw his silhouette on top of the hill, against the blue sky, flipping something up into the air.  Do not fear, Mya killed it.  It was a mole....it appears that it bit Briggs, so the woman had to take care of it.  :)  You go girl!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Monumental day for Stateline as we accepted our first delivery of dry edible yellow peas from Double BJ Farms, Inc. from Holdrege, Nebraska on July 3rd, 2013.  How exciting!  Great work on everyone's part as we have reached this point and will continue to grow!  Congratulations!



:)

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

God is Great

This evening I had undeniable sense of what is meant to be, is happening.  That sounds funny as I write it out, but what I am saying is simply, "God is Great!"  I have realized over the past few days this week, that there is a reason for everything.  I believe that God knew that I could not be lame for 4-6 weeks.  I truly believe this as the past few days have unfolded.  During my downtime pre-surgery when I was not able to work out much, I was starting to obsess over this crazy diet thing, which I have never done before now (27 years old and never done a 'diet').  I also had this thing on my phone which tracks calories to the half calorie from what you consume to what you work off.  Needless to say, as soon as I would eat something I would feel the need to enter it into my little food log.  I was starving!  Up until today, I have been entering my food and water consumption and workouts for 6.5 weeks entering into this log everyday.  I did this super strict, crazy 'diet' for 7 weeks which is a way long time and as all diets, it's not the best for your body, especially if you are an athlete.  I cut out all fruit, bread, and dairy.  Now for those of you who know me, you know I love fruit, bread, and dairy-especially ice cream.  I cheated and had ice cream twice during this stint of time.  Of course it is all a balancing act and nothing should be taken to extremes.  I am now back to my healthy, balanced diet of bread, fruit, vegetables, dairy, and protein along with my daily workouts!


What I learned from this whole diet/food diary thing is what to be aware of-looking at ingredients, sticking with raw and fresh, staying away from processed and how my body feels when I eat certain stuff.  I have to say that I feel like I am pretty good about self control and knowing my body anyway.  It's a machine that works for you, you have to take care of it.  Good input=good output!

Ok,this is totally not the direction I intended to go tonight...so anyway....other than the diet thing-since my hip has healed so miraculously fast, I am able to help Heath out alot more than expected and alot sooner!  I can work at my farm with my Daddy and Heath.  I can also help alot more with pea harvest which is starting precisely, tomorrow!  I feel so totally humbled to know that God knows what is best for me and my life.  I am in the palm of his hand in which he lifts me up in my lowest moments and celebrates victories with me from everyday stepping stones to miracles!

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Sunday

My hay got all baled this morning!  How awesome that Garry and Heath have worked so very hard to piece this together for me!  We had a gentleman from church offer to bale it at 4 am this morning!  The boys are still with their mom, so Heath and I (and the dogs) went to Sunday school and church.  Sunday school was taught by a different person today who challenged us in our everyday walk with Christ.  It was simply amazing!


After church, Garry went with us to Coop for my favorite, salad bar-all you can eat!  I pretty much stuffed myself as I knew we were going to work most of the day on the house!  When we finished, we went to the house and shortly Garry came over to load up his tractor and baler.  Where there's a will, there is a way.  Please see the following photo ---->


Please take note that the baler-3 feet wider than the trailer-is loaded behind the tractor over the wheel well of the trailer.  Also, notice the red shirts the boys are wearing.....these became the "red flags" to warn oncoming traffic of his shear size as he drives downtown to get gas at the mini mart.  Gotta love em!  :)

My ladies had their first egg in their new home.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Farm Girl

Well, I've done it.  I think this makes it official, I have a farm.  I brought on some new family members today.  I now have chickens.  Mr. and Mrs. Craig Henkel have every so kindly donated to me three of their laying hens.  Craig came out to see what I would need for irrigation and when he saw my chicken coop, he placed the offer of some of his chickens.  They have nine, I think, and they are laying tons of eggs.  I have really been thinking about this for a while, since at least before my surgery.  I am super nervous about having chickens!  I have have no idea about them.  He somehow convinced me they are very easy to take care of and the farm fresh eggs are unbeatable...in which I agree.

When we arrived, Mrs. Henkel asked how many I wanted, three or four?!  Ahhh, was this really happening, yes, it was.  

I will get to know them and get back to you with names for these ladies.

After we loaded up my new friends, Craig was getting in from the field.  He was super sweet and donated to me tons of irrigation supplies including 40 1.5" tubes, 4 or 5 wood board dams for cement ditches, and a big fancy dam for the dirt ditches, oh, and valuable tips to go with them.  I am so thankful for this family who have helped me get started with  my farm.  At one point when Craig was starting, I hope someone did this for him.  This means alot to me!

A dozen fresh eggs to go.  WoW! : )

Oh and don't forget the tractor pull I went to with Garry and Heath at the Mitchel County Fairgrounds to top of my day.  Awesome country life!

Monday, June 24, 2013

Everybody Say Y~M~C~A!

I'M BACK!  Today, as the doctor ordered, I was on a stationary bike.  I was on it for 20 minutes and it felt GREAT!  This healing is truly going amazing!  I also tried something new today as this is what my plan was for when I was down with hip surgery for 4-6 weeks...the hand bike.  It's just backwards, you use your hands instead of your feet to pedal.  I was also able to lift again too!  Felt great!  I ate all day to fulfill my cravings for food, what a wonderful feeling, actually being hungry because of physical activity!

First day back to Bridgeport without crutches!  Great day!  Actually went out to take pictures of the new pea bins going up and they have 1 of 4 up now!  Yay!  On my way back to the office I stopped by the warehouse to check on the guys and I got to help them mark bags.  It was a great way to get out to the warehouse and also get some exercise on my hip, standing there.

Playing fetch!

After work, I met with a gentleman to cut my hay and Heath took the rotary scrubber back to Roger.  Great teamwork!  Then, we went back to his place in Mitchell and he started mowing while I got some fish ready for the grill.  He and Justin went to run on the track (don't brag-no running for me yet, but it's coming!  :).  While they were there, I finished mowing the yard, yes, just 11 days post surgery!  Great surgeon!  PRAISES!  :)

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Productive Saturday

When I woke up, I had totally forgotten that I had a nurse coming from the insurance company to do some basic medical tests for my life insurance.  I am so glad that she called to remind me because I was just laying in bed working on my computer.  I got up and got dressed and about that time she arrived.  Good timing!

Heath made wonderful waffles, eggs, and sausage for us for breakfast!  It was fantastic.  Justin, Heath, the dogs, and I all loaded up to go into town.  We met with my friend Roger, from Gary's cleaning to borrow his rotary scrubber for my nice hardwood floors.  He gave us a demonstration and Justin loaded it up for us.  We then headed to Clemen's Carpet to get the flooring Mama and I had picked out.  Mr. Clemen's was awesome to work with and gave me the online pricing!  They had just enough in stock to cover my bedroom, how awesome is that!  The rest we ordered and it will be in in a couple of weeks.  Perfect, we have plenty to do to keep us busy until then!

After Clemen's we went to one last stop, Menard's.  By this point, the dogs had had it and the empty space around them was slowing creeping in....plus Mya always splits the difference and does not allow Briggsy to lay down.

I promise children, this is our last stop and then
you can swim!!  :)

Well, once we got to the farm, I fulfilled my promise to the dogs and filled their pool with cold water.  They were forever grateful and flopped ever so gracefully into the water.

When we first arrived, Heath used Roger's rotary scrubber on  my hardwood.  He went through once with the black pad and lots of water and Mr. Clean - spring scent!  It really took that white overcoat off the top, leaving big piles of mud and dirt.  I spent the next several hours going over that flooring with a mop.  I think I went over the dining room, office, and guest bedroom three times!  Each time it removed more and more dirt.  Roger also gave us a red pad which was to be used for the "polishing" stage.  We did not get to this step today.

Before/During
After = BEAUTIFUL and RUSTIC!


We went along the edges of the hardwood with our knives to get what the machine couldn't reach.  Poor Heath was on his hands and knees all day-without knee pads!














Then, the boys got busy on my bedroom floor, first unrolling the blue under floor and then laying the laminate down.  I got "hand-scraped spalted maple."  It is a lighter color than I had originally thought, but after looking at lots of samples, I realized how well it hid dirt, hair, dog, etc.

Hard Work
Father~Son Team



While they were finishing up, I went to pull weeds from my garden.  Justin came out and helped as well and we pulled five 5-gallon buckets full.  Thank goodness Heath hoed it while I was down with surgery.  This was actually excellent physical therapy for my hip!



Despite all the storm warnings, we worked!  We worked, we worked, and we worked!  When the storms passed we went out to Stegall to check on Miss Penney and Tiny and Trav!  Their well went out with the storm, but Heath to the rescue, what an all around AMAZING man!  What a great day that ended perfect!  Thank you God!  :)

Friday, June 21, 2013

God's Hand

Today my boss let me have an easy day.  So blessed!  Yesterday was my first day back to work and even though I was at my desk most of the day it was still 15 hours from when I left the house to when I got home. Any other time, that is pretty normal, but since Mom has been here, I have been pretty quite for the most part with lots of resting throughout the day.  Worked on a few things and work and got the rest of my pictures hung up in the office then headed to my follow up appointment with Dr. Sarin here in Scottsbluff.

Heath took me and he listened to the doc and is my witness to what he said!  HUGE blessings!  Healing is coming along great!  They removed the stitches today and it was a breeze, way better than I expected!  I walked in on crutches since there is quite a bit of walking (even though Heath dropped me off at the front door).  Doc wants me off crutches as I can and then get on a stationary bike on Monday morning!  Just no running, pounding, or jumping at this point, not yet anyway.  He doesn't think I need physical therapy because I can also get back in the pool and slowly start swimming again.  Unless something traumatic happens, I cannot hurt it or make it worse.  We will touch base via phone in two weeks and then I will see him again in a month!!!!  WOW!  Amazing!

On the way out, Heath took my crutches away from me and didn't offer to pick me up at the door.  LOL.  So, I guess I am off crutches now!  When I got done, I was exhausted.  Since John didn't need me back at the office I went home.  I seriously passed out.  Heath went to take Justin to "Guys Night Out" at the church and I didn't even hear him leave!  I did wake up to the wind practically blowing the screens in, so I went around and closed all the windows.  By that time Heath got back and had already taken Justin to church.  He started making dinner and I iced my hip.  Pheasant and mashed potatoes!  So lucky to have a man that can cook!

As he was cooking, we were listening to Dan Fitts chase storms around the area.  KNEB kept us up-to-date on where the bad parts were headed.  Lots of hail....some as large as a baseball!  Unbelievable!

As I was relaxing in the recliner (this hardly ever happens! the relaxing part), I saw the neighbors house was  highlighted in the sun.  I grabbed Heath and the dogs and we went out into the front yard and I got to capture this beautiful experience.  A break in the clouds passing through tonight!  God's beauty in the midst of the storm!

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Father's Day 2013

This morning was rough, but after some icing my leg and eating breakfast,  I pulled it together to go to church.  There have been so many wonderful people praying for me and I wanted to be able to thank them.  After church we quickly stopped by to see Miss Connie and Ernie so Mama could meet them.  I always talk about them because I have done 3 Bible studies with them and they are like family to me!

I forgot to mention that yesterday I got bit by a tick on my neck.  Now, I have absolutely nooo problem getting the ticks off the dogs, but I sort of freaked out when I found it on my neck.  I didn't have my contacts in, so all I saw was blood, I screamed a little bit!  Heath came running upstairs from the basement and Mama came as well.  Heath was trying to pull it off, but I just kept grabbing his hands.  I just remember my neighbor getting lyme's disease from a very small deer tick that was between his toes.  Gross, this one was on my neck!  I finally allowed him to remove it.  So far, I'm still alive!  Celebrating my "last meals" with lots of ice cream!  :)


This afternoon I spent with my Mama and Justin spent with his Daddy.  It was great.  They were working on their sprinklers together and Mama and I were laying in the sun.  I am very much unable to do anything that requires focus.  This was perfect.  Then the boys had to go into town to get a part and they brought back ice cream!  How awesome!

Justin very proudly hung this key holder.
His  Dodge keys are on the  right side.

After I left the farm yesterday, Heath sent me this picture.
There are no words!  :)  The dog LOVES water.  We had
called him off the ditch (high current) and we didn't
have his baby pool filled, so he made due with the
horse tank.  I'm surprised he got out on his own!

Happy Father's Day Heath, Dad, Grandpa!  You guys show amazing love for me and Heath for the Boys.  Thank you for your continuous support, encouragement, and help over the years.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

~Great Day~

Slept in a bit today and then Heath made a HUGE breakfast.  I was expecting Mittie Mae and Little Miss Kasey today around 9 am.  He had breakfast made perfect timing and we just sat down to eat and Barb and Garry stopped by and joined us.  It was awesome!  I feel so strongly about sitting down with family to eat; I hold it's importance very high.


Kasey, Mittie, and Mom had not seen my new home yet, so I got my crutches and we headed to the farm.  Heath beat us there and was already hoeing the garden.  I showed them around and then I was exhaused so we headed home.  Time for a nap!  Mama and I worked on flooring ideas from our computers from the comfort of a recliner/couch!  WONDERFUL!


After several hours of rest and recharging, Heath got home.  My friend Ashley is getting married today.  I totally did not expect to be able to go, but due to everyone's prayers and a very successful surgery, I was able to start getting ready to go to the wedding.  Mama ironed my dress for me last night and Heath brought my curling iron from my house and I was able to pull it together.  (My crutches are hiding in this picture!)

Beautiful evening and beautiful weather and beautiful bride and beautiful everything!  ~Ephesians 5:22-33~

Beautiful Bride!
Beautiful mother-of-the-bride! and groom!


Gorgeous everything!