Killin' time Saturday night

Another rodeo season has come and gone. We made our second visit to attend finals with some friends. Mutton bustin' and the calf scramble weren't in the night's line up, but we did get to see the best of the best compete for the big money. The bull riding event had me on the edge of my seat as rider after rider got thrown to the ground. I think only about half of the contestants held on for the bone jarring eight second ride. It was a nail biter, y'all.

The main reason I chose this date was because Clint Black was the performer. His debut album "Killin' Time" always reminds me of my husband when we first started dating. Clint's toe-tapping song "State of Mind", released in the fall of 1993 off his "No Time to Kill" album, takes me back to the husband's first year in law school. We made some good friends through the married student group at Harvard. I became buddies with the sweetest girl named Brenda from Hereford, Texas, whose husband was in the class ahead of ours. That first summer when the husband headed to Texas to work in the DA's office, I stayed in our apartment to keep my job on campus. One weekend Brenda and I drove up the coast to Maine to enjoy some shopping and a fresh lobster roll. On our drive back into the city at dusk, "State of Mind" came on the radio. A true blue Texas girl, she cranked it up and we sang along as Clint's vocals poured out of the open windows. 

I have some great memories of Brenda. She settled with her husband in Dallas before we landed in Fort Worth the following year. We stayed in touch for a while but then drifted apart as moves, jobs and kids demanded our attention. When Facebook got going and we all started looking for old friends, I searched for Brenda. That's when I discovered her obituary. She passed away from cancer at the age of 39 about six months before. I sat at my computer and cried like a baby. 

When Clint played what I always think of as Brenda's song on Saturday night, I went into rapid eye blink mode to hold back the tears as I fondly recalled this precious Texas belle, in the very best sense. She left behind a husband who adored her and precious son who finished growing up without his momma. The power of music is undeniable. "Aint it funny how a melody can bring back a memory, take you to another place and time, completely change your state of mind."

Urban Cowboy flashback

We're headed to rodeo finals tomorrow night, so running across this Texas honky tonk and bull riding classic recently while flipping through channels had me waxing nostalgic. It's hard to believe John Travolta and Debra Winger were 25 and 26 when this movie was made, which is smack dab between our daughter's current ages. Boy does that make me feel old. I knew every word to every song on the movie soundtrack as a kid because we had the 8-track tape that would get played while we were riding in mother's Ford Thunderbird or dad's Chevy Silverado.

I remember well how my dad had one of those western belts with your name on the back that became all the rage when this movie was released in 1980... mainly because I got spanked with it a time or two. And I'm pretty sure my momma went to Gilley's at least once back in the day to scoot a boot for ladies night after my parents were divorced. Don't get me started on that single wide Bud surprised Sissy with on their wedding day, y'all. I had the same humble upbringing in a tin can tornado magnet. It wasn't always the good old days, and yet it still brings back tons of memories when I was a carefree young teen who enjoyed the thought of riding around with that cutie pie John Travolta as Bud in his pick up truck.

Transporter: Momma hits the road again

I don't mind cold or mild weather, because anything beats the heat. Sweaters and scarves are always preferred to tank tops at my age. What I do mind this time of year in Texas is the wildly fluctuating temperatures that plague us. Today the high is 43 after a cold front blew through overnight. By mid-week, we'll be topping out in the low 80s. This is why I keep a pair of flip flops on my shoe shelves all year instead of rotating them in and out with the rest of my seasonal footwear. If it's not currently warm enough for flip flops, just wait a few days.

Earlier in the week I noticed steam rising off the pool on a cold morning after a day of full sun. Our silly little terriers always seem invigorated by the colder temps. It's pretty common to see them racing around on our crunchy frost laden grass when the temps are more bracing. 

With the purchase of our law student's sporty new Lincoln Corsair SUV Monday afternoon, I made my second road trip to Dallas in as many weeks to deliver it to her. We hadn't planned to get her something new until the summer when she's interning at a local company's legal department. However, our niece's car died recently and she needed some sort of transportation. Therefore, we did the car shuffle so that both girls have a reliable auto. I'm a firm believer in blessing others because the Lord has blessed our family in so many ways. Luke 12:48 tells us, "... From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted much, much more will be asked." In helping our niece by giving her our daughter's car, we are called to be a blessing for those whom God has placed in our lives. 

I couldn't resist snapping this quick pic as I was zipping along I-35 to get back home, the exit sign for Holland and Florence. In both instances, they're just wide spots in the road. However, the signage made me feel like I was exiting to a whole other country and should have brought along my passport. The funniest part of that is I'm actually traveling to Holland to visit a friend in a few weeks and actually DO need to have the husband open our safe where we keep important family documents to retrieve my passport.

 

Let's rodeo, San Antonio

Our younger daughter took a break from her law books to visit us and attend rodeo recently. She invited one of her friends to join her, and so I got to tag along as designated driver in case they wanted to enjoy a drink or two. As usual, I was eagerly anticipating the fun of mutton bustin'. Then I got a death grip on my seat and may have covered my eyes a time or two during the bull riding. It makes me oh-so-anxious as the cowboys get tossed around in a teeth rattling ride.

I couldn't help but notice how these professional rodeo folks are getting younger and younger every year. Because it can't be me aging, right?! Sure enough, there was a young man who hailed from Winnie in Southeast Texas, the area where I grew up. He was all of 20 years old, y'all. I was immediately all awwww, he's just a baby. But then he climbed up on the back of that bucking bull and held on for eight seconds. 

 

 

The entertainer for the evening was Brad Paisley. I was surprised at how many of his songs I did NOT know when they started playing. And speaking of playing, the man really ripped up on his guitar in a most impressive way. I was happy to sing along to "Mud on the Tires" at the end of his set, a personal favorite. Next in our annual rodeo lineup is old school Clint Black. Since he was top of the charts during my 20s boot scooting days, I'll be singing along to all of these country oldies I fondly recall.

 

Texas road trip

It's always good to get home, but I really enjoyed my visit to the DFW metroplex. This was my first road trip in the new SUV, and I was pleased it was a very smooth ride. I hit the Fort Worth area first to have lunch with one of my mother's dear friends from school. Mother was so happy when they were able to reconnect later in life and got to spend time in each other's company. They made some great trips together, including one over to England while we were living there. Additionally, every December they would gather together with mother's friend's sister as well as daughter-in-law to hang out and enjoy some Christmas festivities. There were lots of great memories made, and so I enjoyed having a lovely catch-up at lunch with the three of them.

A tradition they had adopted over the years was them bringing these cinnamon rolls to any weekend gatherings. With my mother, her love language was preparing food to share with those in her circle. We were always the glad recipient of her culinary efforts. And so mother's friend would bring these amazing cinnamon rolls that I was introduced to when mother decided to host them at our lake house. When they gave me the box of cinnamon rolls at our visit, I was so surprised. They were just as good as I remembered. And our law student was happy to enjoy a couple, too, since I visited her next in Dallas. I add a pat of butter to the top and heat them up in the microwave for about thirty seconds. Deee-licious!

Even though the law student was busy, we were still able to have lunch at one of her favorite local dining options. The menu isn't extensive, but the quality is always excellent. We dined on salads and were way too full to enjoy a big slice of their key lime pie. There's always next time.  

 

286 days and counting

Even though our CPA daughter is in the thick of filing season with her client in Chicago, she found time to message with me and her planner this week about some of the finer points that still need to be decided for the wedding. Though all of the big decisions - caterer, florist, stationer, band - were booked before Christmas, there are still some details that need to be decided so vendors can be secured. 

The stage they need has been ordered. Now it's about prettying up that twenty foot tall white wall that is the current backdrop for the band. Both of the double chandeliers will be draped in greenery and flowers per the florist, so it can't be anything that threatens to upSTAGE that look, as it were. Right now I believe the options have been narrowed to pipe and draping in a pale pink blush with just a touch of florals that compliment the chandeliers, along with muted uplighting to enhance the room's overall vibe for dancing after dinner.

I don't know about you, but I had no idea there were so many choices to be made concerning the draping. The fabric options and colors are extensive. Hanging straight or arranged in a pattern. Velvet ties or floral accents. Of course, this is our first wedding and so I'm definitely learning a lot as we go through the process. The planner is keeping us on track with her spreadsheets and timelines. Admittedly, the CPA certainly has an eye for detail and is doing her part. Still trying not to become the dreaded momzilla you often hear about, I chime in when I'm asked for thoughts on selects and stay out of it the rest of the time. I planned our sweet little wedding almost 31 years ago on a shoestring budget since the husband was about to kick off law school in the Ivies, and so I throw in my two cents when prompted and write the checks for their big day that I just know will be a wonderfully memorable and blessed occasion for all of us. 

 

Sweet galentines celebration

Since the husband committed to a hunting trip all weekend with his work buddies, I found myself free to spend the morning with our Chicktime girls. If you aren't familiar with Chicktime, it's a grass roots movement to support and encourage young women in our communities through a network of dedicated ladies who raise awareness for local women and children's charities. Our Chicktime chapter has put their focus on a local group home that houses girls with emotional and mental challenges who have been removed from abusive family situations. It's such a wonderful opportunity because we are the fun aunts or big sisters that come in to lead activities and fellowship with these girls.

I told the leaders I'd be happy to handle the galentine themed snack charcuterie we'd be serving the girls, and so I had a fun time looking at cute ideas online before making a list and heading out to shop. It was quick work to set it up, and the girls dove in to enjoy. They ate their way through two full jars of mini dill pickles, y'all. Some things never change with the tastebuds of the tween and teen crowd. I bought a couple little heart shaped cookie cutters and went to town cutting out turkey, two different cheeses and cucumbers. I threw in some valentine ring pops at the last minute even though I was afraid they might seem a bit juvenile, but those were another big hit on the table. 

Once I got home, I immediately started thinking about decorations and activities for the Fiesta themed April event I'm set to host for Chicktime. Wouldn't a nacho bar be fun?! I've still got almost two months to ponder and make purchases. It takes time and effort, and yet I love hanging out with these sweet young ladies who have gotten off to a rough start in life. It was no coincidence that this week in BSF we were studying John 14 where Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, an eternally relevant object lesson in how He dignified sacrifice and service to others. I believe we often lose sight of God's great command to us, that we love others. They don't have to be the same ethnicity, tax bracket or political party for us to show our love in real and tangible ways. As I read in Warren Wiersbe's commentary this week, "We must put God's truth into practice. The blessing comes in the doing of God's Word, not just the hearing." I pray in this month of valentine's day, you have an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to love on someone who is in need, just as Jesus modeled for us a couple millennia ago.