A 30 Year Tradition - The Oklahoma State Fair 2014

(Our kiddos: This has become our traditional "stop for a picture" spot - in front of the Centennial Building.) 

This past weekend we attended the Oklahoma State Fair, a tradition that began 30 years ago.  In those 30 years, we missed one year - the year our daughter was born - 20 years ago. Wow!  

As I walked around this year, I thought of how many times we had been there.  I miss the stroller.

(I'm trying to make sure we get pictures of us together because some day that will be really important. I failed at getting all six of us together!)

Not so much having to manuver a stroller through crowds of people, or even the whole aspect of having toddlers (though I do really miss that stage), but mostly because we always had a place to store our stuff! :)

(Joe tried to make the hammer bang hard enough to make the little ball thing hit the bell on top. He didn't do it, but it went pretty far!)

Traditions are huge to me. They are huge to our family. This tradition is important to us.  Not that we "have to go to the fair". But we know that on one weekend in September, we will be together - at least for a few hours - doing something we've always done.  The important part is being together.

There are several buildings that bring back memories of the kids being little.  Their 4-H entries, pumpkin entries, table decorating contests, showing goats, and even the new car building. For some reason I remember holding my babies and sitting on the benches in there.  Such sweet memories!

One thing we never did when they were really young was ride rides.  But it's become a tradition for a number of years, and the kids had fun doing a few of them.  This one went round and round.  The little one didn't want the empty front row seat by his sister! He went to the back, but it still lined up where the picture was perfect!

The slides are always fun.  I remember them riding these from the time they were little bitty on.  Sometimes they rode on our laps if they weren't big enough!

The boys were racing!

"Disney on Ice" was a "Let's Celebrate" theme. I loved it! It was great!  The boys really liked it, but my daughter didn't quite as much. There were a few non-Disney things thrown in, maybe to make the show long enough.  I just liked it having so many characters.

I've noticed that it's extremely hard to get a good picture of Mickey and Minnie (especially Mickey). They move around so much and so fast that they are rarely still enough to snap the shot!

This is true even at Walt Disney World!  But these aren't too bad.

This was celebrating Valentine's Day, and of course, Mickey and Minnie were each others' valentines.  Of course. :)

Special effects are amazing at the show.  This ring of fire was right on the ice.  It was the Hawaiian theme using "Lilo and Stitch".  I need to watch that movie. It's probably the only one I've never seen.

The skaters were great this year!  Here's Ariel being spun around by Prince Erik.

This is my favorite princess from my favorite show, "The Princess and the Frog".  Tiana! Pretty neat that I have a niece named Tiona now!  I just thought of that recently! :)

The celebration ended with Christmas. Aren't those cute costumes?  

Mickey is covering up his pretty knitted snowflake sweater, but maybe you can see them a little bit.

Joe missed the ice show. He had to go perform a wedding ceremony.  

So we offered his ticket to our daughter's roommate and best friend. She was excited!

Thanks for the memories, Oklahoma State Fair!  It's been 30 great years!

The TRUTH About 4-H and FFA

Interesting that I should see this post...not five minutes since my 16-year-old son came home to rescue our goats. A few of them had gotten out of their pen and the huge Boer buck was trapped in a knot with a halter on his hoof.  He was lying there looking dead when I ran out to help.  I thought he was dead, all sprawled out and not moving.  He was scared, and if he could have talked, I'm certain that he would have said, "Thank You" if he could have, once he was freed.

And then this:  CNN'S article asking, "Does 4-H Desensitize Kids to Killing Animals?"   It's amazing really, that people really believe 4-H hurts kids or could hurt kids.  It's amazing too, that so many that cry out about animals being killed for food, actually do eat animals themselves, or animal products.  The article does show positives and negatives, so it's not totally bashing 4-H.  But, in this post, I'm focusing on those who are against it.

What people like this don't realize is that God made the animals for PEOPLE to use.  He provided them for us. That was his plan. Too many in the world have mixed it up and think that PEOPLE were created for ANIMALS.  Completely, completely false.  God said for man/woman to rule over the animals.  Care for the animals. Tend to the animals.  And after the flood, to use the animals for food.  

The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.  Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. Genesis 9:2-3

God set man/woman apart from the animal world.  Man/woman have souls.  Animals do not. Contrary to the popular movie, "All Dogs Go to Heaven", no they don't.  In fact, NO ANIMALS go to heaven. Heaven is reserved for God's people - those who have become followers of His Son, Jesus.  

God blessed them (Adam and Eve) and said, "Be fertile, increase in number, fill the earth, and be its master. Rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that crawl on the earth." Genesis 1:28

Sure animals bring joy to our lives, but they can also teach us things - like responsibility through the 4-H or FFA program. They teach a strong work ethic - something that is missing in many families today who want everything handed to them.  

I remember like yesterday leading my calf onto the trailer to go to market. I cried all the way there.  And then "Sam" slammed me into the side of the trailer, making my shoulder bang up to the metal side with his 1000 plus pound body.  I wasn't happy with Sam for hurting me. I was crying because he was going and crying because he was hurt.  Sam came back home in different packaging than he went on that trailer.  Our family was fed by Sam.  Sam couldn't live forever.  He had served his purpose.  Now the work and feeding program he was on during his life was benefiting my family in his death.

If I didn't care about that animal project, why would I still remember it so vividly?  I wouldn't.  I remember the good times with Sam...and that one bad time of him hurting me.  I remember all of my calves that same way.  

My children do the same with their goats and pigs.  It's a learning experience that they will take with them for the rest of their lives.  They are learning great lessons.  4-H is GOOD.  It's GREAT!  FFA is GOOD. It's GREAT!  

The  4-H and FFA programs are vital to our communities and even our cities.  I think it would be great if those who are so opposed to "farm" and "agriculture" saw how those two entities would affect the very products that are in their homes.  Almost EVERYTHING is tied to agriculture in some way.  If I could snap my fingers and make "their" stuff with ag-related products disappear, they would be shocked at what would be missing!  Ha! If only that could really happen!

So, parents....don't be afraid your child is going to be warped from joining the local 4-H club or FFA chapter.  If anything, it will make them stronger.  It will make them appreciate the things God has given to us - the things He created for us.

From Where Does Your Help Come?

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

What do you do when you get down or discouraged?  Who do you turn to?  Many turn to food, drugs, alcohol, shopping, running, etc., when they are down or discouraged.  Many turn to a spouse, friend, or maybe even someone they barely even know, allowing their bodies to become a way of getting rid of pain...while all it's doing is making the cause of the real pain even worse.

Things will go away.  Hobbies will satisfy for a while, but the zeal for them will fade away.  People will change....or leave.  The only One who will always, always be there is the Lord.  He will be there forever and ever.

From where does your help come?  As David said in this Psalm, may you be able to say, "MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD". 

When Tragedy Strikes

Last Monday, Labor Day, my husband's brother and our sister-in-law had tragedy strike her side of the family.  She can say it much better and in much more detail than I can, so please take the time to read her post HERE.  It's her recount of that day and the week that followed.

My heart still aches for his family.  I'm sure they wake up every day and hope that what has happened has just been a really bad dream.  But it's a true nightmare that doesn't just stop at night.  It continues day after day.

The memorial service focused on what a good, kind man this guy was.  He never said no to anyone in need. The preacher used the story of the Good Samaritan to describe him.  He told about how he could fix anything with his hands.  He worked hard.

One thing that stuck out in my mind as we visited with the ones we were related to is something they almost all said, "Thank you for coming." "Thank you for being here."  We wanted to be there. We are thankful we could be there.

Last Wednesday night I did a lesson in my ladies' class about valuing the individual - being present for the person right in front of you.  I love that thought!

So many times, when we visit the sick, comfort the hurting, or just talk with friends or acquaintances, we are in a hurry.  We have a to-do list and a mission, but it's about what WE need or want.  It's about OUR schedule.  It's about OUR time table.  But ministering to others by just being there is HUGE.  BEING THERE is HUGE.  Listening, serving, loving, caring.....it's all about THEM.

This week you will encounter people who need you.  They need you to just be there.  They need to know that you care.  Give them your time.  Listen.  Love. Care. Serve.  Be present.  Value them.  Show them that you have time for them. Don't be in such a hurry.

When tragedy strikes, or even in just normal everyday conversations, someone is needing you to be there for them.  BE PRESENT FOR THE PERSON RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.  That moment may never come again. Don't waste it.

 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4

Brokenhearted

It's heartbreaking to hear of the tragic loss of life.  Life can change in the blink of an eye and what you had is gone.  It's a reality that many have experienced and one that no one wants to experience.

My thoughts and prayers go out to family members and friends who have lost a loved one.  God can strengthen and comfort in ways that we can't fathom, but that we cling to during times of pain and sorrow.  He is always there.  He is near.  Thank you, God.