Transplanted in Texas

We're twenty six months into this decades long adventure called marriage. And what a ride it's been. Here are some things I've learned. Be very, very sure that the person you're marrying is the one you want seeing ALL sides of you. And then be willing to change yourself, without losing that spark that attracted your spouse to you, to better fit your spouse's needs. If you have been dating for more than six months and you still don't know if you want to marry this person, WHY ARE YOU STILL DATING?! On the flip side, if you're of marrying age after six months of dating and you do want to marry this person, WHERE IS THE RING? When your spouse gets angry, don't assume that s/he is angry at you. Remember that all the tough moments will pass. Don't spend extra time moping because of them. Get up, do something, and put a smile on your face! Read/listen to informational books. Especially those about marriage and children.

Last weekend, Kmarie of Dreamer's Essence  was here to hang out, go over wedding stuff with me (I am a bridesmaid in her August wedding), and catch up. She hasn't been out here in a year. She showed up Friday night and left Saturday evening, so she could be back in time to get some sleep and play piano for the church choir back home. And, of course, be home for Mother's Day. So, we started Saturday off by eating waffles (Yance was delighted), and then rode Jack and played with Dingus (video here ). Yance even got his first real ride with me! After that, we went over some wedding stuff, then she made us salad for lunch. D was off helping family with firewood gathering and that sort of thing, and didn't get back until closer to 4pm. We made chicken parmesan for supper, and soon after that she was on her way home. I thoroughly enjoyed the day, and can't wait to be back in her area to see my family and hers next month. Sunday was Mother's Day, and D got me a

Springtime isn't cool and pretty with some showers down here. Nope. It is crazy, with days in the 50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s and nights in the 30s and 40s and maybe 50s. And then it suddenly decides it's summertime, with 85-95 degree temperatures ruling May. And lots of wind blowing the pollen around. Awesome. I'm glad we don't have crazy allergies. Whew. June means 100 degree weather starts getting here - or maybe it is just a continuation of May. Either way, June 1 means summer, even if it doesn't officially  get here until late that month. Springtime in Texas means pouring rain, crazy weather, green grass, blooming flowers, babies of all species, and unpredictability. Also it means Yance wants to spend all his time outside. We went to our first reenactment in a year last weekend, and Yance thoroughly enjoyed spending 36 hours or so outside in the sun and shade. We had fun, too, with D ending up on a 3 mile march with his group on Sunday. I cooked brunch on

Debt. It's a cloud many carry, and most couldn't care about. It comes in the form of credit card debt, student loans, mortgages, financed vehicles and equipment, and ranch loans. Then there's medical bills/debt, a totally different story, but the way to conquer them is the same way you conquer all other debt - aggressively. "For the rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." Proverbs 22:7. We have had a loan over our heads for over two years now. My then-fiance, now-husband, got a cattle loan in January 2016 so he could provide a home for his future family. At the time, he was making very little, and our only hope was to pay off the interest every year, with perhaps some extra to put on the principle, and re-sign. With help from my family, we landed with our feet on the ground but little thought given to the prospect of actually paying off the debt. In June of 2016, he got his first real job, and suddenly we had an enormous inco