It's GiveAway Time!

It's that time! I have 100 followers plus right now....I'm so blessed!  Why in the world so many of you are in the least interested in my ramblings, I'll never know but I'm so thankful to have so many wonderful fellow bloggers out there.  Ya'll are amazing with all your sweet and caring comments.  I don't get every opportunity to sit and return comments but I pray that the ones I do will give a little bit of happiness  and/or entertainment. 

Psalms 23 tells us "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

I'm here to tell you that "my cup truly runs over with blessings!"  Through all the good times and the bad times, my Lord and Savior has been right there beside me to see me through.  Abundant blessings!  And what started as journaling for me has brought 100 and more followers.  Now how can I bless someone else? 

Acts 20:35  "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

This isn't much but I want to say thanks to everyone for being a blessing in my life.  Each one of you mean so much to me to let me be part of your lives and open up your world to me.

John 6:35  "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me will not hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst."

I would like to bless someone with one of my favorite spatterware bread pans.  This is why I did a road trip all the way to Lipan, TX, because I knew they had just what I wanted.  Included is a colorful napkin to cover your bread and a recipe keeper to save all those favorite recipes that are so generously shared through blogland.

GiveAway Rules:
1) This is open to all followers - Old ones and those that are still contemplating - so jump on the wagon and throw your name in the hat!

2) Your name goes in the hat when you leave me a comment telling how you've been blessed in your life.
BONUS:  Your name will get tossed in again when you add to your comment how you can turn around and bless someone else.  But follow through with that...it doesn't have to be big.  God knows what's in your heart.

3) Another way to add your name in the hat - blog about it on your blog - Share the Blessings!
    Be sure and tell me in your comment.

4) Deadline:  midnight, July 25th.

How uplifting is this gonna be when we can read about everyone's blessings!  We've all got our hard times but Jesus Christ is right there with us to see us through.  Accept His grace and His blessings.
Happy Trails...
Berte

GiveAway Coming Soon!

Sorry for the delay in posting my giveaway but it seems so much has been happening around here that keeps me from being able to sit at my computer for any length of time.  But I will definitely be posting (God willing) the giveaway later this evening so be sure to check back in.
Everyone has a blessed day!
Happy Trails...
Berte

Road Trip

Early Friday morning road trip on the backroads of Texas from Caldwell, through Rosebud, Moody, Crawford, Meridian, Glen Rose and ending with a purposeful destination in Lipan, TX.

I love taking pictures of water towers and old court houses.  Okay, a picture of some huge river rocks got thrown in there...

I had to throw this one in.  We were cracking up laughing...this guy was trying to pull off (or tow) a Dodge truck with a lawn tractor!  It took the muscle of a couple folks to push. 

This road trip was dual purpose.  We went to Lipan, TX, to pick up something I want to include in my GiveAway.  This store is also Home of the World's Largest Cedar Rocker standing at almost 26 ft.

The other reason we were on the road was to watch our daughter and granddaughters run barrels Friday night in Cleburne.

Here's Theresa and the youngest one warming up before the start. That's them on the big grey and the little pony.  Get this!  The Future Champions (for the younger ones) started at 8pm and Theresa drew #120 out of 195!  We crawled in bed at 3am!  Ugh!!  Saturday morning we loaded up again, took another road trip ending up back in Cleburne for the second night.  Even though she drew #69, it was delayed a couple hours due to rain.  She ran at 11pm.  But all was good and everyone had a great time.

I wish I could have captured a better shot of the courthouse in Hillsboro because it was beautiful.  The last of the long road trip.
Well, I can't wait to show you what I found at an antique store AND post my GiveAway. 
Happy Trails...
Berte

Upcoming GiveAway

I know now what I'm going to give away.  We're taking a little road trip today so I'm going to get part of my giveaway and be able to put it together soon.  It might be Sunday or Monday before I can post it.  So stay tuned...
Happy Trails...
Berte

It Happened!!

100 Followers!  So it's official.  I will be posting a GiveAway very soon!  I've got to come up with something...

Last Saturday we had our second playday in a series of four out at church.  Somehow I didnt' get any pictures of Jacob.  He did so much better than the week before...he just needs more time in the saddle.
My daughter, Theresa, and her three girls were there.  Here she is with the two older ones.

All these kids are trying for buckles.
It's funny. I was out taking pictures of a bunch of kids for our church website.  Just about every horse was falling asleep!!  I don't know who this kid is but she is adorable!

This morning we took Buddy's horse, Cinch, in to the vet to get shots and get his back checked.  Thought it was out of whack but I guess Cinch just had a case of the BRAT syndrome because he checked out okay.  He must have had a bad day....yeah, right...
Here he is in La-La Land at the vet holding up this pipe rack-

He still had a little of that BRAT syndrome left over this morning because every time the vet tried lifting his back legs, Cinch would kick at him...so Mr Cinch got sedated.  He has got all his weight leaned up against that rack.  So he got his shots and back home we came.

Well, stay tuned for the GiveAway...I'm thinking...
Happy Trails...
Berte

Hmm..My Thoughts are Whirling

As I sit here reflecting on my blog, I notice that my following is almost to 100.  I would think that calls for a giveway!  Since I do not advertise my blog, it has taken a long time to get to 97 so I feel extremely blessed to have this many folks interested in what ramblings I have to say.  Not sure how much longer it will take to reach the 100 mark but it gives me time to think of something to give away.  I'm rearranging my sewing table once again back to my bedroom in hopes that the construction man will call me back soon to finish out our back room where we enclosed the back porch.  In the meantime, I've commited to Mandi over at Herban Homestead to make some softies for little ones so I need to get busy on those.  But I can also work on something for a giveaway. 
hhmmm.....what will it be and when will it be......
Happy Trails...
Berte

A Day Remembered

All my blog readers might just have to put up with my journaling today but this post is not for entertainment but it's a time of reflection for me.  Today is July 2... a memorable day in this mother's life....the day designated for my first child's birthday.  It was October 1971, my husband was in the Special Forces, stationed at Ft Devens, MA, and had been out on maneuvers in Germany for a month.  I remember his return.  Being a military wife placed in a far away strange land from Texas, a month seemed like an eternity.  Homecoming was welcome and my first child was conceived.  Over-The-Counter pregnancy tests were not introduced at the time and this first time mother had no idea of expected pregnancy symptoms.  But within a couple months, my husband had early discharge from the military and we headed to Texas as fast as we could.  So much for taking two weeks of the scenic tour back!  We were so ready to be back home with family.  It wasn't until we were back in Texas that I finally went to the doctor and pregnancy was confirmed.  Now I was finally putting together all the changes my body was undertaking.  Making a very long story much shorter, I was midway through my fifth month when my doctor informed me to pack a bag and head for the hospital.  He knew at that time that my baby had died.  Since my dad was a doctor and my obstetrician was a friend of his, I don't know if I was being "protected" or what but I was never informed of the baby's sex.  Is it a mother's instinct to know in her heart?  To me, I had a son.  What I do know is that my child is in Heaven in the loving arms of Jesus along with his Dad.  I have that to look forward to...seeing my child.  I might be totally surprised to know that I had a little girl!  For a very short time, I got to experience that precious baby from God.  The Lord gave and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.  Job 1:21
 I don't dwell on this as a loss. I give God the glory for my child.  I praise God for a gift!
Happy Trails...
Berte