long time, no blog

I'm a terrible blogger.  I'd like to think that's because I'm so busy living a full life I don't have time to blog about it.  Well, let's hope that's the case....  Anyway, Lots has happened over the last couple of months.  So here's a recap...

Christmas...
We spent our Christmas in Mississippi this year.  It's the first time since Owen was a baby that we didn't sleep in our home on Christmas Eve!  It was a challenge, but so good to be with our sweet family...and we got to see them ALL! ♥

Ken and Jennifer and their kiddos were at Mama and Daddy's with us.  Such a precious time.  I miss them so much.  Praying my kids cherish their time at home together.  It's over so quickly.... Great to be together! 

♥

Waiting for Ken and fam...watching 'Miracle'

Emma and 'her friend Truett' ♥

Borden and Owen...good to have a boy cousin!

Daddy fixed Ken's guitar...precious for him to play for us...

Favorite moment!

 While at the Tolars we got an extra special gift!  Mrs. Jan and I took the kiddos to Krispy Kreme--HOLLA!--  They (I) loved it!!  While we were there we learned that Baby Maddy was about to make her entrance into the world!!  She arrived  the afternoon of Dec 21! What a sweet gift to our whole family!! Congratulations Uncle Trent and Aunt Melissa!! 

Randa, holding Baby Maddy Rose and her sweet sister, Abby!

Crazy Tolar kids!

 January...
Enter Stock Show season!!  Once again, Ft Worth Stock Show and Rodeo did  not disappoint!  The kids did an awesome job...I am one more proud Mama!  Owen had Reserve Division champion with A-1 Ms Stony and won Intermediate Showmanship.  Miss Chloe had Division Champion with A-1 Miss Mia 9Y and was Fourth in Junior Showmanship.

Our Crew...Team Tolar

My favorite shot EVER...love this boy!! *photo by crossbphoto

My ballerina cowgirl ♥*photo by crossbphoto

February...
February brought the FW open show.  We were able to share that experience with Nathan Jensen, our friend from Alberta, Canada and with Cody Maske, our Spring intern from MSU--Holla, again!--
Such a great time...Nathan was fun for our family and such a great helper.  And thanks to Cody for his hard work, day in and day out!! 

my favorite showman ever *crossbphoto photo

not long little man, not long...HE LOVES MIA!! *crossbphoto photo

17 years of bliss ♥  *crossbphoto photo

 Oh! I almost forgot...somebody had a birthday ;)


March...
Then comes March...Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  We left at midnight and drove ALL night.  WOW! What???  It was a blast. Kids thought we were crazy, but secretly we all loved it ;) Owen and Chloe each won their classes.  So proud of their hard work.  We were able to stall with good friends and had such a great time!  So thankful for the friends our kiddos are making. AND the friends we are making...lifelong memories!

    

Then on Monday after we arrived home from Houston, A-1 hosted the Mississippi Collegiate Cattlemen for a tour... Great group of students. Tony and I got to reconnect with former MSU classmates who were the chaperones for their tour.  Great day, cold, but great! 

 So there you go...now I'm all caught up and can get busy living life to blog about later....

Overwhelmed....humbled...loved

Today we visited Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) to view the exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls. I knew in my heart it would be really cool, and I'd be glad I went since the exhibit will be over this month. But, oh my! We loaded up the whole family and headed to the city we adore, Ft Worth, aka Cowtown. Never is there a trip to that city that we don't stroll down memory lane... it's the place that became home when we left Mississippi--the only home we'd ever known; it's where we met and bonded with some of our closest brothers and sisters from all over the world; it's where we lived when we began our parenting journey; and in so many ways it's the place we lived when we began to experience the definition of true communion with the God of this universe through His people and our personal journeys.

All that being said, how fitting to see the pieces of the original manuscripts of the book that so shapes us. The exhibit is well done for sure. I expected nothing less. We began walking through and learning about the terrain and geography of the Qumran/ Dead Sea area. Then into an area of artifacts that had been gathered in the area...alabaster jars, oil lamps, pottery, ossuaries (limestone containers for the skeletal remains of families) which were found in the burial 'caves' so to speak. We then moved through an area of facsimiles of the scroll fragments enlarged to see. This was followed by a short film on the discovery and procurement up until today. And THEN the ACTUAL fragments themselves. I thought it might be emotional just because that's how I am, but oh.my.goodness.gracious.alive! Y'all, I thought I might lose it a few times. To think that a 'random Bedouin shepherd' 'stumbled upon' these in a cave in 1947. Seriously!?!? It wasn't random at all...it was FOR us to be affirmed of what He is consistently trying to get us to see. He has done everything to show us Himself, His Truth and His love. This is one more thing. "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13 ESV). Looking over those papyrus pieces that are parts of Paul's letters I wept, truly I did. Those pieces could have been handled by one who walked with and touched the Word in flesh!! And there I stood gazing upon it. He preserved it to show us...His love, His way, His Word--that Word that is alive and active. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:12, 13 ESV) And He preserved it to confirm that it is in fact Truth for our benefit. "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16, 17 ESV)

I have read that whole love letter over this last year, and today I SAW pieces of it in its most primitive form...and was reminded that all His ways to reach us are so vast and so detailed. And more obvious than often we wish to admit. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:16, 17 ESV)

I truly hope you take the time to see if ever you have the opportunity! It's not necessary but oh, so beneficial!
#renewedpassion

Into the "Spotlight"

So I've always been a girlie girl... who loved cattle. I love beauty pageants, pretty dresses and lots of fluff. Ballet and dance was never a part if my life. My performances came in the form of band, choir and the show ring. I feel as though I was/am quite well rounded. My well-rounded daughter has followed and enjoys much of what I have introduced her to...pretty dresses, music, and cattle.  Today I stepped into a whole new world led by my favorite dancer on the planet. Chloe Jane moved up a step in her dancing starting today. Pointe shoes...and a new door opens....Y'all I think I could get crazy with this!!!!

We headed to Lewisville to THE dance store, Spotlight.  We were warmly greeted and informed as first-timers we needed to watch a 30 minute video to learn how to care for our shoes, etc.  So we watched.

Movie watching

Then our fitter, Lauren, had Chloe go to the barre and warm up her feet/ankles while she fetched a few pair to try.  She returned with a basket, and quite honestly I lost count after the 8th pair.  These shoes must fit PERFECTLY...no growing room, no slipping, no wobbling, P.E.R.F.E.C.T!  I was beginning to wonder if that was an elusive idea for this slender footed angel, cause well, she's got a LONG, NARROW young foot.  BUT they do make such as we soon found.  There was a 'maybe' pile and and a 'no' pile of shoes.  Once we made it through the tries and moved into our 'maybe' pile, little girl's pinky piggy was crying, 'Wee, Wee, WEE!'  Being the darling she was, Lauren offered us a break for Chloe to remove her toe spacers, toe pads, etc and just flex and rest her feet.  I worried that maybe her ankles etc aren't ready and then remembered 1. this is THE first time ever for her feet to be in THAT position repeatedly, 2. her teacher totally knows whether or not she's ready, and 3. I'm a mama and worrying about details is what we do.

My FAVORITE shot...pointe shoes and Wranglers...THAT'S MY girl.  From the barn to the ballet floor!

 SO after our break we went back to the 'maybe' pile in hopes of finding the 'yes' pair. And that we did.  They are beauties, as were every pair we tried.  They are Russian Pointe made by Aleksandra Enterprises.  Lauren told us that she felt like they were the pair for her from the beginning of the session.  (I think they were the 3rd pair we tried.)  So that long narrow foot is adorned with its first pair of pointe ballet shoes.  And the girlie sporting them is beaming as is her mama [who will need a job to support this lovely sport ;)--that being said, I'm thankful it isn't hockey equipment I'm paying for!!  $ vs $$$$$$] Now if I can successfully sew her satin ribbons and elastic on....

Decisions, decisions, decisions

Decision made

 

 

For the record, we had another member of our team along for the ride (1.5 hour fitting) and he proved to be more of trooper than I could have ever expected!! Way to go, Truett!!  He doesn't love ballet, but DOES love his Chloe.  And so does her humbled mama!

As proud as this event makes me of her hard work...she's come a long way this semester in particular, it makes me even happier to see her heart growing in her love for others as the Lord has called her...her love for Him is what will make her a beautiful dancer no matter which shoes she wears....

"Let them praise His name with dancing...." Psalm 149:3

Paris...for the day

This weekend we went to the Red River Valley Fair in Paris...TEXAS :)  It was a crazy, rainy day, but memories were definitely made!!

We left at 6 am (whose idea was this anyway?!? 8-/ ).  We stopped at Bayer's for diesel, coffee and donuts. OK so it might be an alright day after all.

 The show was a fun one despite the rain.  We 'just so happened' to be set up right next to the Little Caesar's Hot-N-Ready booth...Whoop! So our rainy day lunch was well, you know, hot-n-ready!!{I realize it totally grosses some of you out that we EAT in the barn...but if this Microbiology grad can do it...then y'all will just have to get a grip ;)}

 The show was good for both kiddos.  Chloe and Mia9Y were Champion Red Angus and Owen and Vanna25Y were class winners.

 

The whole time we waited this dreaded question flew around "WHEN are we going to check out the rides?!?"  So in the rain we headed out to see what rides we could ride. They settled on the bungee jump!  All but Mama participated...somebody had to capture the moments, right?

Once our bungee jumps were complete, and we were thoroughly soaked, we decided to load up the girls and head west!

We had one last stop to make.  Since we were in Paris, we had to see the Eiffel tower, right?  The funny part is that on Friday night at the football game, Chloe's friends were teasing her about going to Paris.  They asked her if there was an Eiffel tower there to which she replied, 'yes, and it has a cowboy hat on top!'  Well, her "guess" was spot on!!

 There really are just too many things to love about this great state!!  This is just one more fun one!

 Tired, wet, stinky but very happy, we headed home!

More commonly you might hear "Vive la France!" in Paris, but this time it's "Don't Mess with TEXAS!"                  

Kosovo to Muenster... via The Gaylord

For our anniversary this year (17 years), Tony and I spent the weekend at The Gaylord Texan.  It's a cool, cool place!  Loved every minute of it.  Our room was fabulous!  We dined in the resort at the Old Hickory Steakhouse.  Fabulous!  You may have seen some of my posts about our Fromager ( the guy with the amazing cheeses!) We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  

For those of you who know us well, know won't be surprised that we made friends with our server.  (gasp, I know) She was a beautiful young girl.  Her name tag said Kaltrina, Kosovo.   So...we asked her about how she got here, etc.  No big deal, small talk.  She was precious.  She shared about the war and what it had done to her beloved country, that she and her friends were here on student work for the summer.  She left our table, and we just couldn't stop talking about her.  Before we left, we had talked a great deal.  Even that night she had sent bottles home with us for Owen.  We left a card with her telling her if she'd like to see more of Texas than Grapevine ( they have no car here) to call.  We'd love to show her.  Well, 4 days later she called!  Long story short, we spent the day with her here at our house and talked on the phone numerous times.  We just loved her!  

Today we shared our last moments together as she flew out to finish her stay in the US before returning to Kosovo and her studies in economics.  We will never forget her, Albina, Lola or Tony.  Sweet, sweet people from far away.  Y'all will always be welcome in Texas, friends!! Hope to see you soon.

...and she loaded Owen with bottles she's been collecting from work :)