Today's lessons...

So today was my day off **Yay me!**...got my nails done by "Tina," renewed my car tag, grocery shopped, bank, post office, pharmacy...you get the idea. Daddy did school today. While they completed their assignments, I think the after school activities gained them much more wisdom...fishing, pulling a calf, etc. Sounds like more fun to me...and more learning that will stick. My 11 year old knows more about birth than most men when their first child is born! So it felt like a really good, really productive day here at the Tolar house....until....

Boy did I learn and get reminded of some lessons this afternoon through a not-so-fun phone call. Knowing that many people may see this and not wanting to do any more damage...the call shall remain very vague, and I will only detail the lessons I learned and was reminded of today from my receiving end....

1. NEVER assume anything.
2. ALWAYS be kind...stand your ground when it's worth standing, but do it with kindness and dignity. You will likely face the person again in other circumstances.
3. Don't judge motives of people you barely know, especially in an accusatory, condescending tone. It gets you NOWHERE FAST!!!
4. Everyone makes mistakes...even you. Own up, fess up and move on.
5. Just because someone makes trivial choices that you don't prefer, it doesn't make their choices wrong and yours right. {NOT referring to morality issues, just day to day preferences.}
6. Sometimes silence is best. Remember what your mama said "If you can't say something nice...."
7. Maybe they are having a bad day and you were the last straw...benefit of the doubt is a good policy.
8. You don't always have to prove that you are right to actually be right. ;)
9. A kind word and a listening ear is invaluable --and tears never hurt either :*)
10. Even mama bears get their feelings hurt.
11. Don't mess with my cub...grrr!!
12. God's grace and His people can heal many, many hurts--big or small.

I will no doubt encounter my offender again. Today unfortunately was our first conversation. :( I plan to be kind, but still stand my ground and next time, I will be guarded, but prepared (spiritually speaking).

No coincidence that our verse this week on our board is Colossians 4:6 "Let the words you speak always be full of grace. Season them with salt. Then you will know how to answer everyone." I can't help but hope in my flesh that 'she' will think twice before she speaks to others as she chose to deal with me today.

Fort Worth Stock Show CXV = Little Canada?

This past weekend was spent at the 115th annual Fort Worth Stock Show. It's truly one of my favorite places to be. This year above other years will hold such a special place in my heart...not because we won Grand Champion or any other placings in particular, but because of the friendships that were made and solidified.

Our stall area was fondly coined "Little Canada" this year as we had many Canadian friends along for the ride!

In November, Tony, Owen and I traveled to Canada to the Canadian Western Agribition. It was such an amazing experience to see the cattle and Agribition itself as well as the country of Canada. We met some really neat people and have carried out relationships with many of them through Facebook, etc. , and successfully persuaded them to visit us and experience Texas at it's finest...BOY did they! The weekend started out in the 60's and mid 70*F and finished up at a whopping 4*F with ice and snow...typical Texas.

One of these precious people was Justine! FW stock show was on her 'bucket list' and so she joined us at FW this year. What a TREAT!! The kids absolutely love her...as do their parents ;) Such fun to get to know her and build on a friendship that will likely last for many, many years! We'd love to think we'd make it to her wedding this summer...need to use those passports, hey? I would be so honored to be there for her big day!

Justine helping the little girls (left)

Justine and Chloe after Tony has won reserve division champ (right)




The Blairs.Ag crew sent Kelly and his family along to help get their heifer sold. Chloe and Hadley enjoyed each other, and Justine showed them some great grooming skills!

We were also fortunate to have our dear friends, Clint, Angela, Laurie and Layne along as well. Having just met Clint and Laurie last January I'd say our friendship with the family is growing quickly and well. We were blessed to have them come to our place and stay a couple extra days--or three due to the snow/ice event :\. The boys made fast friends...all five of them ;) and I certainly enjoyed Angela's company. While the ice and snow were a pain, we were able to get some time in before it's arrival and check out the herd and the ranch.

I do love being a part of the Red Angus community and the fact that it has afforded me and my family far reaching benefits and relationships. SO many people I have met and enjoy here in our area. These precious Canadian people would still be strangers were it not for our reds...but now they are friends. How blessed am I! Whatever God's purpose is in our new-found friends, I look forward to the future He has for us....

Graciousness....

This precious little one is our first of the 2011 calf crop...he just decided to come a wee bit early...5ish weeks! Our former show heifer--Jolene--birthed the sweet one along with his sister(who didn't make it) on Tuesday morning. We labored with her all day Monday, all through the night Monday and in the wee hours of Tuesday morning catching glimpses of the total lunar eclipse along the way! Fearing the the calf wasn't alive we were prepared to take her to have a c-section--yes, they do that on cows too-- NOT at all what we wanted to see happen. I prayed that Tony would be spared the decision of what to do to help/save her and that in God's mercy even with our herd, He would make things very clear. When Tony got back to the barn around seven am Tuesday, the babies had been born with no help. This little guy weighed a whopping 27 pounds! For my noncattle friends that would be like having a 3-4 pound infant. LITTLE guy he is, but he is standing already and able to nurse with some help! We really didn't think he would make it. As He usually does in His ever so merciful way, God reminded me through the birth of this baby calf that He alone is the giver and sustainer of life. We have so little power. He is gracious to whom He will be gracious to and merciful to whom He will be merciful to! (ref Exodus 33:19) Praise Him for the gentle reminder that it is He who decides the numbers of all our days. I am so blessed to live where the miracle of birth, as well as the complete circle of life, is so visibly evident. I am truly a country girl at ♥.

Learning can be fun!

I haven't always thought that learning was fun, but I am determined that my children can experience learning that is FUN! I am learning so much and it's exciting. I'm hopeful that my excitement is contagious!

Today is our last day of school at Academy T.O.L.A.R. until after the Christmas break. We celebrated by having a tea party to remember the Boston Tea Party which is acknowledged by many as the beginning of our quest for freedom. In our celebration and discussion of tea and high tea etiquette, I realized that the actions of the Bostonians were actually born of motivation for change, freedom from oppression and realization that freedom provided a lifestyle of hardship ahead, but a lifestyle worth sacrificing for. It cost the early Americans very much to gain our independence.

Isn't that the way our Christian lives should be? Realization that the change, no matter the cost is worth the freedom in Christ we have once we surrender? I felt earlier today that we should be more "Christmas" focused today--our last school day--and then I realized that in studying the quest for freedom we actually are. Without the birth of our dear Savior, Jesus Christ, we too, would and for some, may still be living in bondage and oppression. True change costs us. Praise His name for coming, at a very high cost. We now can live in freedom under His grace and the price on our behalf has been paid. Sacrifice is when true change arrives. Bless that sacrifice that brings us to be able to "boldly approach the throne of grace , that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need." Heb 4:16

My learning academically takes and costs me time. So does my spiritual learning. That time and effort is a sacrifice that will lead to my change and hopefully be a contagious difference in my family. Learning can be FUN!

Roly-poly, pell-mell, tumble-bumble...

I love reading with my children. I don't prefer to read books over and over...once I've read a particular book, I'm good. I guess I have read a few more than once if I really enjoyed them. Funny how little ones choose ONE book, and it's THE book for all time. Ours is "The Poky Little Puppy." If I've read that book once I am sure I've read it a bazillion times...and so has my mama. It was and still is my favorite EVER! I'm pretty sure I can quote the majority of it..."And down they went to see, roly-poly, pell-mell, tumble-bumble, till they came to the green grass and there they stopped short."..."And home they went, as fast as they could go, over the bridge, up the road, through the meadow, and under the fence." I LOVE THIS BOOK and it thrills me to read it the bazillion and 1st time tomorrow. Love my little T!

Slowing down...lesson in progress

Slow is not my style! I'm always in a hurried flurry. If I say 'hurry up, guys, let's go' once a day I say it fifty, yet I never get more accomplished or get anywhere early--as MANY of you can attest to this truth! I set my clocks ahead only to remind myself that now I have extra time. I cram too many things into much too short time slots. I am beginning to realize, maybe it's because my frenzy is actually an internal problem that manifests itself externally.

Earlier today we took Christmas card photos. Trying to get everyone ready and out the door for the best evening light, we were harried and grumpy--sounds like fun, huh? When we returned and started dinner I realized what my heart has known for some time...It ain't workin'!

SO, tonight I slowed down...I french-braided my baby girl's hair, just because. I sat and watched The Polar Express til the end. I listened, really listened, to my wee one's imagination run wild at bedtime...without wishing he'd hurry up. It felt really good. It's a feeling I want to experience more often than that hustle-bustle I described earlier. I read recently that multitasking doesn't necessarily get more things done faster... in some cases it actually slows you down, as you never complete a thought process or a task efficiently. Just like most of the people I know, I have many things to do each day, and multitasking makes me feel effective, however, I am realizing that while my jobs may be complete, I don't remember many details. I certainly don't remember savoring any feelings other than "Oh, how I wish I was finished!" I want to begin living as though I really realize that at the end of the journey you find that the reward was the journey itself. I want to love this ride, not wish it would hurry up and be over...it'll be over soon enough, and I'll be wishing for another round.

As this Christmas season is upon us...I am praying and planning to slow down mentally and work more intentionally on whatever my task at hand may be. I want to feel and experience this life in a way that I remember and absorb as much as possible. SO if you see me in my frenzy, remind your dear sister to 'slow down and breathe!' I am meditating on Psalms 127(NCV) "If the Lord doesn't build the house, the builders are working for nothing...It is no use for you to get up early and stay up late, working for a living. The Lord gives sleep to those He loves." He's really the only One who can make my heart be still. It's my job to seek that time with Him so He can...Luke 10:38-42 {vv41-42 But the Lord answered her,"Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will never be taken away from her."}

Meditating, pondering, savoring, resting...those are the roots that lead to wings we can soar on.

Forever etched....

Today we celebrate Owen...11 years old. I never, ever dreamed I'd have such a wonderful son. I should have known he'd be a special one when he decided to come into this world 5 weeks early. He was so tiny...5 lbs and 7 oz--itty bitty baby. He's still a small guy for his age, but that heart, oh that heart. What he may lack in size, our Creator God has made up for in his sweet, compassionate, serving heart. He has more room in there than most people twice or three times his age. We were watching "Facing the Giants" a couple of weeks ago...in the scene where the boy, David, is being told by his dad that he has prayed for God to do something great through him and David asks his dad, 'then why did God made me so small?' His dad replies, 'so He might show His greatness through you.' Owen looked up at me with big tears in His eyes....Oh the things that God may do through those who recognize Him and long to be used...WOW!

As if any birthday could be forgettable, God certainly smiled down on my boy today and made sure this one would be etched in our minds forever...he killed his first buck! Manhood is on the way. I'm so proud of him! This is sure to be a day...uh--BIRTHday he'll likely not forget!

Happy Birthday my sweet manchild! Your mama loves you lotta much!