So I've Been Told.....

So I've been told, recently, that all I talk about is my puppy and traveling. Well, if that's all I know, besides family, church and work then what else am I supposed to talk about?! And, I really can't talk about my immediate family to my immediate family because I'm not telling them anything they don't already know anyway. Who wants to really carry on a conversation about work outside of work? That's called take work to work and leave it there.

Many people talk about the weather to start a conversation. I admit I'm guilty of the same when I don't know what to say. "So, how do you like this fall-like weather we're having?" To answer myself, "I'm loving it!"

What am I supposed to talk about if I'm not involved in 'it' or know anything about 'it'? You carry on a conversation about what you know. This is what I know: my church, my family, my puppy, an occasional trip somewhere. That's what I know so that's what I talk about.

To my friends who get an excessive low-down on any of the above; sorry that I have nothing more to talk about. It's not that I'm self-absorbed and can only talk about me, and it's not that I want to look better than anyone else (because believe me I'm not), but that's all I know. Many times I'm hesitant to discuss my latest travels unless I'm asked first. Simply because I realize I've been very fortunate and blessed to have done so or get to. I pray that I never come across snotty our proud because I'm neither and that is never my intention. I'm just a small town girl who never thought she would have a career she could be proud of or that she'd go anywhere outside a few close states. Some days something will pass my mind and I still can't believe I've seen several areas of the US and Europe. That's just something in my wildest dreams I never thought would happen.

I know it is all God so I must share what God is doing in my life. Without God I'd, first of all, not be here in the first place and would be lost in sin with no hope for eternity. Without God I'd be nothing, nowhere, zilch, nadda! I'm called by God to share and show how good He is. He does great things in my life and sometimes it's hard for me to comprehend why and why me. There are times I even think too hard and think that God might take it all away (He could you know). I always want to praise God for ALL He does in my life; good and bad. Believe me, I have storms of life too. If I don't praise God and show others His love then I'm not listening to God or answering my call. Not listening to Him can get you in big trouble!

So, anytime I'm talking about a trip; it's all God's doings and I LOVE to share about his beautiful creations I've been so fortunate to see across the globe. GOD IS HUGE!!! So, anytime I'm talking about much of nothing about my family; it's all God's doings because He has blessed me with such a wonderful and loving family. So, anytime I'm talking about my puppy Jasper; it's all God's doings because He's punishing me with having an awnry (spelling?) dog....just kidding...Japser has the potential to be a loving and sweet dog, but he's very much into that puppy phase. So, anytime I'm talking about my church; it's all God's doings because I'm very much involved with the church family and I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO LEAVE THIS WORLD LOST IN SIN AND UNSAVED!!!!!!!!! GOTTA SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS!!!!!!!

If I don't talk about what I know then I'll be talking about something I don't know. ???????

Until next time . . . how's the weather?

Fall is in the air...at least today it is!

***breath in***breath out*** That's what I did this morning as I stepped onto my front porch. I opened the door to what seemed like a season change in the works! Fall was in the air this morning indeed. I stepped out this morning shortly after 6 AM (I overslept) to go for a walk with my darling (SPAZ) puppy, Jasper. The moment I stepped out I was instantly when, "WOOO-booshy!" It was a tad chilly. But then I immediately began to take in/out deep breaths to soak in as much of that cool weather as I could. It was wonderful. Then, went around the house and found an already feisty puppy! He was in his pen raring to go. Let him out and he exploded with energy. Jasper didn't know which direction to run the fastest. He was here and there and back here again in about two seconds. Let's just put it this way....he was running so fast down the dirt road that he as slinging gravels! Oh man, what a fireball young Jasper is.

I'm already loving fall and it's still August!

Until next time . . .

Fog's in August - FOG UPDATE

Okay, so there have been 3 fogs in August. I was home for two of them, but was unsure if there was fog while I was on vacation. According to neighbors we had ONE fog from the 7th to the 12th. So, three fogs so far this August.....and it's the 24th!

Wonder what this winter will have in store for us?!

Until next time . . .

Darling Jasper...aka The SPAZ

So Jasper has adjusting nicely to his home in the country. He is right at home, trust me. I was recently gone for almost two weeks. With a 5 month old puppy that made things interesting; I had to get a puppy-sitter plus Jasper was teething (BAD)!! Thank goodness for my (adopted) sister Cristina and her little girl Dora. They camped out on the Collins Front for the first week I was gone. They were good puppy-sitters even though Jasper was a bit of a handfull at times. SORRY Cristina!!! While I was away Jasper discovered one of his, now, most favorite escapes....the old well house. There is no longer a cover over the well house; it is now just a block of concrete. But in that concrete is the space where back in old days the people would keep their milk cold. Now that the top is off the well house the hole holds water. Jasper is a water rat so, yep you guessed it....he found the water hole! Picture above denotes this new puppy oasis! Jasper now has to jump in and cool off practically every time he passes! He's too funny.


Between trips I had about a day and a half to play with my puppy. Then I was gone again. Only this trip my sister and her girls were the puppy-sitters. I think Jasper prefers Cristina and Dora, but shhhhh don't tell anyone! hahaha this was quite the eventful week. Jasper, so I was told, was a complete spaz for Renee and the girls. Can you blame him? He was missing his momma; he is teething; and he is just like a toddler/preteen in a 5 month old puppy body!!! I guess my four-legged furry critter chewed, ripped, and ran into everything in site! lol

After I got home I had to investigate and see if there was anything I needed to replace. I was concerned about mom's new landscaping lights :( EEK! But, Jasper never touched them; knock on wood. As I was investigating Jasper had to show me his new found oasis.....MOM'S FLOWER WATERING POOL!!!!! Noted by picture above. Oh my gosh, when I found him in that pool I was like, "my mother is going to hurt me!" He would just get in the pool, walking over/through the plants, and sit in the middle to rest his rump in the water! What can I say, it was hot and the dog was just trying to cool off.

This pup is a mess, but oh so sweet-when he wants to be. What can I say, "I love my puppy!"

Until next time . . .

Fog's in August - No. 2...by my counts

This morning I awoke to a fog. That's right...a fog in August. Now, by my record keeping that is only #2 and we only have a week and a half left of August. However, I have no idea if there were any fogs while I was away on vacation. I was home the 12th and 13th, but no fog. Who knows what kind of weather we had from the 7th to the 11th? I guess we'll have to just wait and see what this winter brings us.

I've been seeing wooly worms...yes, wooly worms also predict winter weather. The ones I've seen are orange/black/orange/black etc all the way down their bodies. The bands of color are very close and thin as well. What does this predict you ask? Well the orange predicts calm weather and the black, well you guessed it, predicts yucky weather. So to analyze the wooly worms I've seen: we'll have back and forth calm/wintery weather all winter long. I'll keep my eye out for the woolies!

Until next time . . .

It's Vacation time!

At the start of this entry I am on officially on vacation in t-minus 1 hour 39 minutes and 37 seconds! So excited! My family and I; this includes myself, mom, dad, my sister (Renee) and her girls (Shanea, Dee & Jasmine). We are Colorado bound! Estes Park to be exact.

I'll back up a bit...we were supposed to be Gulf Shores, AL bound, but you'll probably recall the BP oil spill of April 2010! Nuff said about that!

So, we're heading to Colorado and getting on the road tonight. We like to drive at night when there are several of us to drive :) We're headed for cooler weather, spacious skies, and those fabulous Rockies! It's not an extended stay, but it's just enough. Plus, when you're with family that's all that matters.

When we get home we have to unload Renee's mama wagon, Maude, and pack it up again. Dear sweet Shanea is going to college! She moves in on Friday the 13th. We're so proud of her and the young lady she is becoming. Wishing Shanea much luck and enjoyment for her Freshman year at College of the Ozarks.

Then, on Friday night (the 13th) mom, dad and myself are off to St. Louis. THEN bright and early Saturday morning we're leaving on a jet plane to Boston, MA!!! Oh my, can not wait! We're going to the 2010 Solid Waste Convention...that's not the official name of the meeting, but it's all about recycling and recycled products. They are pretty awesome fun!

So, this is going to be a jam packed adventures 12 days. I'm looking forward to it and am going to embrace life and God. God is so good. Praying now for safe travels, no car trouble, and all attitudes stay in check!

Unless I have wifi on the road I'll be back on the 19th!

Until next time . . .

Election Results

Well, Election Day 2010 has come and gone for another time. Dad ran a very good campaign and had much support, but fell short by a mere 22 vote spread. Considering he was challenging an incumbent and a supposedly 'big to do' name he did very well. Woop-tee-doo on the big to do name; a name doesn't get you anything but the ability to buy people!

Anyway...I won't be negative or a poor sport about it. If one dwells on the negative aspects of this issue one could easily be angered and let anger take control...But we're not because we know the truth behind all the lies! The fact that the guy didn't want to run anyway and told my dad he wasn't going to is one indication he didn't want it. It wasn't until my dad filed that the guy got all on the defense; probably because he didn't think dad had the guts to challenge him. Well, dad did challenge him and had him on the edge of his seat until the final wire; when we came up short on votes. Over half of the precincts wanted dad, but certain clicks are hard to penetrate. And, this guy takes a week's vacation practically once a month and gets paid full salary! Not many people know this probably. PLUS, it must be nice to buy your votes and make all these donations to part of the community right before election; the only part of the community where dad got the least amount of votes I might add. Pretty convenient if you ask me. Oh blah, blah, blah!

But, dad is good and okay about it. This was not part of God's plan. It's simply another puddle in one of life's storms. Yes, I'm a bit defensive about it, but it strikes a nerve; especially when we know why certain people vote against you. They call you friend with one breath and stab you in the back with the next. Even though I know everything happens for a reason and God is in control, some things are still frustrating. We've always been considered by select clicks as lowly, not good enough and not upper crust enough to run with the big dogs. But let me just say....none of that matters. To be frank, I don't want to ever be a big dog. I like it just fine right where I am. I know who we serve and serving Him is the only thing that matters. He (God) will take care of everything. One day the lies will be exposed and the 'big-to-do' name won't matter; doesn't ever matter to God!

Sorry for venting my frustrations!

Until next time . . .

Fog's in August - No. 1

I was reminded this morning that it is August. I've known it was August for 3 days now, but it didn't dawn on me that it was August until I was gripping about the heavy fog this morning. Then my sister kindly reminded me by saying, "isn't there something about the fogs in August?" I said, "YES!" I totally would have forgotten. Thanks sis!

For all who don't remember or if this is the first time you're reading my blog...the number of fogs in August supposedly, according to folklore, represent the number of snows we'll receive in the winter months. Oddly enough this is pretty accurate. Nonetheless it's always fun counting the fogs and then counting the snows. One thing about it...if you had 10 fogs in August once you reach snow 9 in the winter you know (hope) we're almost done with wintery precip!

Get to counting those Fogs in August and happy counting!

Until next time . . .

It's a BIG Day!!

Election Day 2010 is here! There are no words for all that's going through my mind today. I can only imagine what's going through my dad's mind; after all it is his name on that election ballot. Dad's name may be there, but he runs his race as a family. So, behind that name with dad is mom, Renee and the girls, and myself. We are in it together.

To be short and sweet today...much on the mind and feel very close to God today because we've talked so much today! Hopefully at the day's end we'll hear, "Gary Collins has won and will be the next Presiding Commissioner of Ozark County, Missouri."

Until next time . . .