Happiness is....

Happiness is a weekend on the Western Slope of Colorado at the base of Sopris Mountain...with views like this!

Happiness is Wyatt's first cattle event...notice my boys with the black cows in the background. It makes my toes curl with happiness!

Happiness is cow crap on the stroller wheels...is it strange to find happiness in this?

Happiness is a new calving/sale barn at TY Bar Ranch...beautiful!





Happiness is fall with black cattle, and a pumpkin!

Happiness is meeting cousin TIM!

Happiness is taking the long way home, for no good reason (check out this guy on a unicycle going down the pass)!

Happiness is a road trip with views like this.

Happiness is a drive where you are above timberline....







Hey Mark, what are you doing behind the tree? I am sure he must be happier now!

Happiness is a baby so good that he could spend a week under his momma's desk before day care starts!

Happiness is having students who love on your baby, too!

Oh, so much to be thankful for!

A few more...

WYATT

He is so big...it is hard to believe he looked like this just two weeks ago. Don't you love his "male-pattern baldness?" He is losing his baby hair and the new stuff is a lot lighter.

My three favorite boys...a trip into the mountains that was all about the first child - the laborador named BOONE!

Wyatt says BOO!

If only Mom could sleep like this boy.

See how I've changed? I'm this big!

Love to You from WyMan!

A thousand expressions of Wyatt!

I love this boy. He changes each day and adds a new expression that makes me laugh (and a few make me cry). Hope you enjoy a glimpse of what I can't stop taking pictures of...

The Chair

The Chair...

It has adorned my living room since I married its owner 2 1/2 years ago.

This chair that I have threatened to leave on my front lawn with a "Free" sign.

I have offered to have it hauled to the church "Back to School" furniture give away.

This chair that (thankfully) doesn't go with a thing in my house.

This chair that collects cat hair (and won't come off).

The chair that is stained and might even smell a bit funny...

The chair that I try to cover up with a throw blanket, to make it look a little better...

Is the same chair that I remember Mark saying his dad sat in every night.

It is the chair that Mark would sit on the floor in front of and let his dad rub his head (to this day this still puts my husband into a peaceful sleep).

This chair is the same one that we can see in the old home movies and slides - full of fun family memories.

This Chair...This is the chair that I watched my mom and dad hold my son, and love him during the first two weeks of his life.

This Chair...this chair is the one that I fall in love with my husband all over again when I watch him hold, snuggle and feed our boy, Wyatt.

This chair is where Mark took his "turn" holding Wyatt during those first few nights at home when Wy's days were nights and nights were days....and where my boys would drift off to sleep together.

This chair that rocks just enough...has become the most comfortable and my favorite place to be. I can watch the breeze move through the trees outside on the fall day, or watch TV, or watch my son fall asleep after nursing.

This chair which now symbolizes generations, memories, love. This chair will always have a place here...I love this chair.

The BLUE COUCH however....you can have that one!

Wyatt Week Three

Is it true? Could it really be three weeks already? WOW! Our pumpkin is changing so quickly. For the benefit of grandparents, friends and relatives far away...here are the latest pics...I can't help but take pictures when he is sleeping. It is the sweetest thing.... Happy Fall!

Love Others and Live for Their Benefit

Daily Bread today said that we can fulfill the Old Testament regulations by doing one thing - Love Others and Live for Their Benefit. Life is so much better when we take a moment to do this - live for another person.

I have been over-doing it a lot lately. I come home, flop on the couch and stay in a comotose form until I can drag myself up to bed. I convinced myself that I had obligations at work that I had to do. Which I did, but I didn't have to do it in the way that it was happening. It all came to a boiling point this Sunday and Monday. It was our FFA State Contests - and I had to run Ag Mechanics. Me. Ag Mechanics. Why? Because sometime in a weak moment I said that I would. It was rough. My poor, pregnant form wasn't ready for it. I didn't have the stamina that I needed. I came home EXHAUSTED. Truly, as tired as I can remember. I knew I needed to eat, but I could have cared less. Every bone in my body was tired. To my core. I was tired. I couldn't sleep because I ached so bad. I was in poor shape! And I couldn't do anything. It has been two weeks since I made lunch for Mark. Probably as long since I made dinner - but I honestly can't remember its been so long. The laundry is piled, the floors need cleaned, and company is coming next week.

So I wonder why I did it. Is it selfish ambition? I was so tired (and hormonal) that when I went to give my report to all of the Ag Teachers I got that shaky, teary voice!!! Really!!! When I get like that I am no good to anyone. I can't love others and live for their benefit, even those that mean the most to me - like Mark.

So today, after a good nights rest (praise God), I made Mark's lunch. It isn't a great lunch. But it makes me so happy to do this simple act of service for him. Loving and serving others can build us to our very core. Not exhaust us to our very core. It is a huge lesson for me. And the upcoming Bambino. When I find myself tired beyond comprehension, I need to ask, who am I doing it for? I need to search to make sure that serving others is allowed to invigorate me and not wear me out - because otherwise we are like popcorn - one little explosion and no good for the long haul.

Lord, I ask for your forgiveness that I didn't ask for your help and assistance in these projects. Please forgive me for not seeking you to learn what I was to do. Help to learn and constantly be reminded of the true golden rule. Mold me and make me into what you need me to be.
Amen.

"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law of the Prophets." Matthew 7:7-12.