Welcome to Cowgirl For Jesus!!

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God bless!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Sunday Stills -- Food

Today's Sunday Stills challenge is Food...to which I said, "Yeehaw!!!" You see, I have an odd habit of photographing what I eat. Yeah I know, some people think it is very strange, but it's just one of those things. Anyway... :) These are all from the archives of 2009, and they all have stories behind them.

January. My birthday, at Claim Jumper restaurant, with my parents. Steak, mashed potatoes, etc. Mmmm.

July. Texas. Sonic with my Aunt M.

September. California -- Long Beach, to be specific. We had gone out as a family to see the Aquarium of the Pacific, but first we had breakfast at a restaurant called Bake N Broil, a place very special to my parents. This was blueberry pancakes -- and to the side you can see the hash browns!! :)
October. Arizona. Bread made by my Lebanese grandmother.

October. Arizona. Meal made by my Lebanese grandmother and aunt. I don't know the spellings of the names of these foods, so forgive me if I spell them wrong. Kibbe, a meat dish, with leban, a kind of yogurt-like sauce. A kind of rice, I don't know its name. And stuffed eggplant, I don't think it has a special name. Let me tell you, I could eat this stuff ALL.DAY.LONG. Yummmmmm.

Also October. Arizona. My favorite restaurant in Phoenix, called The Chino Bandito -- it's a mix between Asian and Mexican. I know, it sounds kind of weird, but it's actually really, really good! This is my favorite thing there, Pork Carnitas on rice. This, obviously, is a closeup of the dish, including the chopsticks!!

October. California -- home. My mama made a special treat one morning, a real country-style breakfast of eggs, bacon, and biscuits (with orange juice). Ohh my oh my. Soooooooo good.

That's all for now!

...you can wipe that drool off your chin now... ;)

Friday, January 1, 2010

OK, I really don't feel too good. Actually, I feel better than I did at about 2:45ish today. I think I got hit by some kind of flu-type buggie. Not fun. I hate throwing up -- with a passion. I can deal with a lot of physical, um, issues...but throwing up is not on the list. I don't like it. Like, really don't like it. Like, really REALLY don't like it.

After which I had a popsicle and promptly fell asleep. Which was a good thing. I've been consistently getting 7 1/2 to 8 hours of sleep, but last night, what with the church New Years Eve party (of course we stayed up till midnight) and all that...well, I got about 6 hours of sleep last night. So I was really tired. And I slept...and slept...and slept.

So then I got up a little while ago, and I was hungry but my stomach can't decide whether or not it's still upset. I ate 6 saltine crackers, and another popsicle... And obviously now I'm on my computer :)

I figured as long as I was on here I'd better be useful. Below is my poem for this week's Simply Snickers. Oh and by the way, you may have noticed a few surveys on my sidebar. I'm trying to decide whether to switch from Internet Explorer to Firefox as my internet browser. Can y'all give me any feedback on which one you like better (or if you use something different and better than both of them)? Also, I have had some issues this week while using Firefox, it will not let me leave a comment on some people's blogs. So if you haven't heard from me in a little while, I'm not being rude or anything, I've honestly left several comments each on about 3 or 4 blogs and none of them show up :( I'll have to figure out what's going on, maybe there's a setting wrong or something. It's only blogs that have the comments embedded below the post that I'm having trouble with -- blogs that the comments are a popup or that go to a separate page for the comments are no problem. This is kinda frustrating, but one way or another we'll figure it out. :)

OK, so here's the poem. Copyright 2009 (I just gotta say that to make sure nobody would do something rude like steal it or anything like that -- I know y'all would never do that, but who knows who might find the blog and try to do something like that?) First are a few photos I found on the internet (no I did not take them), and I'm sure they're probably copyrighted somewhere too, I just don't know where. I would credit their source but I'm not even quite sure where they came from, so I can't do that. Forgive me.
Wheatfield

Western sky a dusky pink
As slowly sets the summer sun
Amidst the wispy cloudy streaks
Another Kansas day is done

Stalks and stalks of waving wheat
Shimmer in the sunset glow
Proud the farmer’s heart now beats
Gazing o’er the golden flow

The hearty sun and gentle rain
Diligence, and the hand of God
Nurtured wheat on the open plain
Blanketing the gritty sod

The day is done, exhausted now
The farmer rests his aching bones
Wearied from the scythe and plow
And summer’s heat and winter’s cold

But first he stops to proudly stare
The wheat is waving in the breeze
His heart lifts up a simple prayer:
“Lord, help it grow, I ask Thee, please.”

The sun has set behind the wheat
The earth in stillness gently rests
Peacefully the farmer sleeps
His heart content, happy, blessed.

Copyright 2009 Rebekah N. Yeah, you know that already. But repetition is a good thing, even if it's redundant. :)

Well, that's all for now. I think maybe I'll go lay down or something. I wish this stomach would settle down. I'm actually pretty hungry, but I'm not sure I dare eat much for fear of...ehem...seeing it again. You know what I mean.

So I'll be back later. :)

Monday, December 28, 2009

I Kicked A Chair

Which is rather an odd title for a post...but not quite as odd as if I had titled it "I Kicked The Bucket"...now that would be an odd title.

Now what was I doing?

Oh yes...I kicked a chair. Accidentally, of course. I was reaching into the fridge to retrieve my water bottle while simultaneously executing a grand battement to the rear. I like to multitask, OK? Anyway, I just forgot the chair was there behind me, that's all. Not very comfortable, but no damage done -- to the chair or to the foot. Now, if it had been a grand battement to the front...that might have tipped the chair over, not to mention hurting my *pointed* toes. :)

Have you noticed this is a random post? Yeah I know, I'm way overdue for one. Used to be I did one like every few weeks...now I'm doing good to do one every few months. *Sigh* Life has gotten more complicated...which of course is the natural turn of events, but still......

I kicked the dishwasher door once too... I was pirouetting around the kitchen, and the door was lying open at about ankle height... Yep. Didn't know ballet was so dangerous, did you?

Speaking of which, I'm not taking ballet again this next semester. :( I will really, really miss it. But I can't afford it. Taking it as a class is not very expensive, except that the time is right during the time that I'm at work...y'all know that I work for an elementary-age daycare, right? So yeah, it's been costing me quite a bit to be at the class twice a week. When you only work 2 1/2 hours a day, working only three days is a whole lot less moolah in your check than working five days. And I can't afford to go to a studio to take lessons, so I'm stuck. Guess I'll just have to keep chasse-arabesque-ing around the house, and repeating my cabrioles at the kitchen counter. Ballet has helped me a lot in becoming more graceful and balanced.

On the other hand, I will be taking voice class again, which should be fun. I do like to sing, especially when I'm warmed up and can correctly hit the notes!!! 'Course, if you believe the old cowboy saying, everyone can sing - just not everyone can carry a tune! ;)

Change of topic: Went to the dentist today.

Now, if you happen to like going to the dentist, would you please leave me a comment? You deserve an award or something. Personally, I strongly dislike going to the dentist. It's nothing personal, really. In fact, my current dentist is a very nice gentleman...actually, the entire dentist office is very nice, from the receptionist to the techs to the hygienist to the dentist himself. They're all very friendly, smiley, and chatty. Like, very chatty.

The main hygienist is a sweet, tough little lady from New Jersey who has more stories to tell than you can shake a stick at, and can usually manage to keep up a running story the entire time she's in your mouth -- I think it's intended to take your mind away from what's going on. It's either that or watch the television two feet away from your head. And I'm sorry, but there's rarely anything worth watching on tv...but that's a whole 'nother rant. :)

The dentist is a very nice gentleman. Likes to banter and make you smile. However, he has a habit of asking questions while his fingers are in my mouth. Which I usually end up answering with a 'uh-huh' or 'uh-uh', because what else can you do with someone's fingers in your mouth, short of biting them?

I actually had gone to the dentist last week...bleh. He said I needed to come back today...double bleh. You wanna know why? He said I had 3 cavities...triple bleh, literally!!

I don't know about you, but I don't like needles. Like, I really don't like needles...REALLY don't like. Especially in my mouth. I mean, some parts of your body seem like they should be exempt from needles, you know what I mean? And mouths seem to me to fall into that category.

However, given the choice between the needle and the drill...bring on the needle!

I should say needles...

All three of those cavities were in the same area, oddly enough. The lower right jaw. Maybe I don't brush as well there or something?????

So first he puts in there a roll of cotton soaked with some sort of slightly-numbing goop. And then comes the first needle. And it pinches. Like, really pinches. Half my brain is saying, Just relax. Relax. It'll be better if you relax. While the other half is screaming, There's a NEEDLE in my MOUTH!! GET IT OUT!!!! My whole body tenses, my head pushes down hard on the chair's headrest, and every muscle strains -- some trying to leave the chair, others trying to keep from leaving the chair.

And then he pulls out that needle after like 10 minutes... OK it was probably more like 10 seconds or less, but it sure felt like a long, long time!! He swabs the area, tells me that there will be zero pain -- his exact words, zero pain -- with the next one, that I won't even feel it.

He lied.

I felt it. Granted, I didn't feel it very much -- just a little pain, a little discomfort. But I felt it.

This time he pulled it out and really did walk away for 10 minutes to give it time to kick in. By the time he came back I felt like that needle had been pumping air into my cheek and tongue, because they both felt like balloons. Again -- uncomfortable, but definitely preferable over the drill, all by itself!!

Meanwhile, as two sets of fingers (the dentist's and the tech's) are in my mouth, and all sorts of other tools as well, I'm trying my best to relax. It didn't work. So instead I focused on the tv.

They were playing some show called 'World's Strictest Parents'. It seemed to be this suburban family, mom, dad, and a couple young kids, that takes in rebellious teens and whips them into shape.

Now, I don't know about you, but I grew up in a Christian home, home educated, and usually hung out with other people who were also Christian and home educated. So pretty much all the families I saw were the same as mine: the children were obedient, respectful, and even cheerful with their parents. I sort of figured that was the norm. Then recently I started working for that elementary-aged daycare, and I realized pretty quick that what I was used to seeing is actually the exception! The majority of families don't seem to be very firm about obeying the first time, or being respectful to adults and to your parents, or obeying with a good attitude, or any of the other things that I was used to.

I was watching this show, World's Strictest Parents, and thinking, "Wow, are they supposed to be strict? They look normal to me!" I have never been taught to think that insisting on first time obedience, with a good attitude, and respecting your parents and other people...is strict. It's a foreign idea to me. Frankly, I thought these parents were doing really well, and the kids seemed to be shaping up pretty good, really responding to this kind of parenting. The parents never got mad, never got frustrated, but always showed that every action had consequences. When the teens did well, they were praised, and maybe even allowed to go out for a little while. But when they complained, were disrespectful, used bad words, refused to do the chores assigned to them, etc....there were always punishments. Usually pushups, but sometimes they also had to dig large holes in the ground. Again, when these were completed, they were always praised, and any good behavior was always reinforced with praise.

Interestingly enough, after having looked this show up, the family of the show is actually Mormon. Not too surprising, but I wish they were Christian.

Anyway....

I promise it will not be as long again before I write another random post...or even a meaningful post. When I have little time, I have a hard enough time managing the weekly Sunday Stills and now Simply Snickers. Did you happen to notice that both names have two words, and both words start with 'S'? I'm not ADD at all, now am I?!! :)

Wishing you all a blessed New Year!!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Sunday Stills -- Odds and Ends

Today's Sunday Stills challenge is Odds and Ends, so I took a look around through my camera lens and this is what I found.

Here on my computer desk, a broken bracelet that I have yet to fix, sitting on top of a stack of books, notebooks, and textbooks.
On the fireplace hearth in the living room, a pile of cat toys, dog toys, markers, and books.

In my bathroom, the sink and counter, containing the cat's water dish, my jewelry box and earring hanger, hand lotion, mouthwash, a spray bottle for wetting my hair, soap in a soap dish, and a comb.


My bedroom desk, the higher shelf contains all my collections :). But the desk part of it holds a whole bunch of old magazines, and clutter, and the cat's food dish...and, at the moment, the Skeeter-cat!! :)

That's all for now, check the other Sunday Stills contributors for other photos!! :) Have a blessed Lord's Day!

Friday, December 25, 2009

An Award and a Meme

Brooke tagged me for an award! Isn't that sweet?!!


Rules:
1. Thank the person who gave the award.
2. Copy the award.
3. Post it on your blog.
4. Tell seven things about yourself that your readers don't know.
5. Link seven new bloggers as recipients.
6. Notify the winners with comments on their blogs.
7. Keep being awesome!

Thank you Brooke!!

These are really random.... :)
Seven things:
1. I like roses and daffodils and sunflowers best...but I like all flowers, except green flowers. Green flowers don't really seem like flowers at all.
2. Of the four seasons, I like winter the best...but that may be just because I've never lived anywhere where it gets REALLY cold in the winter. If I lived somewhere colder I'd probably like spring or fall best.
3. I enjoy Christmas the most of all holidays...and yet Easter is to me the most wonderful of all. I enjoy Christmas because of giving gifts, the chilly weather, the warm and jolly feelings everyone has...but Easter is the most glorious, because then we celebrate our Savior's resurrection, and the amazing, astounding gift of salvation.
4. I love beading jewelry...but otherwise I'm not a particularly crafty person. I don't really care for sewing, needlework, or quilting, and most other crafts don't hold my interest for very long.
5. I don't think our family could survive without bread. We eat a lot of bread, in various shapes and types: tortillas, store-bought whole-wheat bread, homemade whole-wheat bread, homemade sourdough bread, rolls, flatbread (or pita bread), crackers, etc. etc. etc.
6. I love old movies!! The majority of movies that I have watched in my lifetime were made before the 1980s or '70s...more like the '40s and '50s! I particularly love old westerns, but old musicals -- and other old movies too -- are great.
7. I am a very type-A person... A perfectionist, an overachiever, a worryer/stresser, on organizationalist... I am trying to be better at this, and the Lord is helping me get better at lot of that stuff, but that is what is natural to me.

I'm now supposed to tag 7 people... hmm... just 7? No, I think I'll tag

1. Danielle at A Country Rose
2. Kryssy at Pretty As A Blue Rose
3. Becky at Texan Gal
4. Grace at Grace's Blog
5. My aunt Moira at Quilted Snail
6. LeAnna at Thoughts and Whatnots
7. Jennifer at Ranch Girl Diaries
8. Sara at Lovin' Every Minute
9. Ranch Wife at Musings Of A Ranch Wife
10. Kate at The Days Of My Life
11. The Cowgirls at Trails Of Tennessee

With the award done, Kryssy also tagged me for a meme:

Six Names you go By:
Rebekah
Bekah
Reba
B
Nick/Nicko
Aunt B (by my niece and nephews)

Three things you are wearing today:
White turtleneck shirt (with mashed potatoes and avocado smeared in strategic places, thanks to nephew M!!)
Black corduroy pants
Pink fuzzy slippers (gotta love fuzzy slippers)

Three things you want very badly Right now:
To go to bed
To be with any of my very dear friends
To know for sure God's will for the next few years of my life

Three things you did Last Night/Yesterday:
Exchanged Christmas presents with my family
Made and discussed blessing ornaments (a family tradition -- we make ornaments to represent specific blessings of the past year)
Delivered plates of Christmas goodies to neighbors

Two things you ate today:
Turkey!!
Turtle pie (yes we ate more than just turkey and turtle pie, but those were definitely the most significant!!)

Two People you last Talked to on the Phone:
today I talked to my bro.-in-law D, and my friend K

Two Things you are going to do Today/Tomorrow:
Tonight: go to bed!
Tomorrow morning: sleep in!

Your Three Favorite Beverages:
Water
Apple Cider
Hot chocolate

Now Tag 5 People
ummm...yeah... I don't have the energy to do that all over again... I just tag the people I tagged for the award above...and anybody else who wants to do it!! :)

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!


...remind me next year not to stay up till 11:00pm both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...not the best of habits :)

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Prayer Request

UPDATE 12/25/09: B passed away this afternoon. Although the family and friends are grieving, we all agree: what better way to celebrate Christmas, the remembrance of when Jesus came to the earth to save us, than to go to heaven to begin eternity with Him? And while this will bring a shadow, a sadness, on every Christmas from now on...still it is joyous for B, as now he is in the arms of his Savior. I appreciate your prayers as we deal with this, it is hard but we are very happy for him. Please pray for his wife, daughter, stepsons, mother, and the rest of his family and friends. I can't even imagine the pain his wife and daughter are experiencing right now. But at least it was quick, it wasn't a long-drawn out, slow painful death. There is much to be thankful for. But it still hurts.

Folks, I know y'all are in the middle of Christmas goings-on, but I ask that you stop and take a moment to pray for some friends of ours. A very dear couple that used to attend our church, they moved and have been going to a different church for a while now, but they are still dear to us... We just got the call that the gentleman, B, is in the hospital, the doctors have no real idea of what's going on except that two days ago he got a horrible headache. They tried emergency surgery to see if they could remove whatever's going on but whatever it is has moved into the brain stem. He is on respirator life support tonight and they plan to take him off of it tomorrow. The family of both husband and wife have gathered, so they will be there tomorrow when they will take him off the respirator.

Now the doctors do not know what this is or what is going on. We know, however, that this is no surprise to our Lord. In fact, He could heal B right now if He chose to do so. However, He could choose not to heal him. Oh, pray for strength that we do not question His choice, and that if He chooses to call B home, that even in grief we glorify Him. If it be His will, obviously we request a healing...if this is not His will, we painfully say, not our will, but Yours be done. I'm so thankful that we know B accepted Jesus into his heart as his Lord and Savior a couple years ago, and that if he does die tomorrow we know he will go straight to the arms of the Lord.

I know it's a lot to ask while you're in the middle of all your Christmas festivities (not to mention some depressing news), but if you would stop for a moment and remember us in prayer...for where two or more are gathered, He is in the midst of them.

Thank you, and I wish you all a blessed Christmas!

Simply Snickers - Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve

The night was dark and a cold wind blew
As the worshippers gathered from near and far
The church filled slowly, pew by pew
And the parking lot filled up car by car

Each person here, the young and old
Held candles, lit by a single flame
The church was dark and the lights shone bold
As they gathered to honor the heavenly Babe

‘Twas many years ago He came
In a world so dark He shone a light
God Almighty, born a Babe
Became a man, so He might die

His death and resurrection bought
Salvation for each person here
He was born for this, oh happy thought
Man need no longer live in fear

These were the thoughts of every one
Of the people in the church that night
As they contemplated what God had done
And each little candle shone so bright

They sang the carols, and praised their God
For the bountiful blessings of the year past
Then silently, in reverent thought,
They prayed for strength for future tasks

Bells filled the dark and quiet night
They each one left and went their way
And in their hearts they held the light
Of the Baby born on Christmas day

poetry prompt from Simply Snickers