Purpose: the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists; have as one’s intention or objective.

We’re half way through the year, and I’m not sure that I understand any deeper what my purpose is or why this was my year for the word…but, I can tell you what I do know so far. Top 10 things I’ve learned so far in 2018:

1. I’m learning to be purposeful with my time. My emotions. My thoughts. My words. My actions. My prayers. My attention.

2. There is no such thing as a healthy diet. Only healthy eating. Quit using food as a reward or punishment. I grew up in a culture that food brought people together. You ate as a family. You laughed, cried, celebrated, mourned. Food is not the enemy. Your thoughts about it are. Take care of your body from the inside out, naturally!

3. I never thought I’d have chaco tan lines or that I’d enjoy the water as much as I do. There is such peace and tranquility in the water. It really does soothe the soul.

4. I’m okay some days just being okay. Not every day is a rainbow, unicorn, loud, boisterous, jam packed day. Quiet is nice.

5. I’m good with not wearing makeup most days, my hair pulled up/back, and my favorite tshirt on.

6. My peace and joy are mine. I’ve fought a lot of battles to get where I am, and while I can share my happiness with others, I can’t make, pray, or encourage them to fight for their own. They’ve got to want it themselves.

7. I am in love with myself. Now, before you go off… let me explain. I have been picked on, made fun of, mocked my whole life. I have never ever fit in. I spent a good part of my life trying to be better, look better, do better. For what? Validation from others. Until one day I realized, if I don’t love myself, how will anyone else? I’m okay with not posting revealing photos of myself, or that I’ll always have curves, my teeth are small, my hair is big, my laugh is loud. But my love is pure. My friendship is forever. And my heart is on fire for God.

8. I spend a lot of time alone, and have truly come to learn the difference in being alone and being lonely. If you’re not careful, the 2nd will lead you down a path from which you can’t always return. Fortunately, I am developing habits that are making use of my time, including deleting Netflix and Prime video off my phone, monitoring my time on social media, and spending time growing my passions, skills, and talents… and when I do spend time with others, it is with those who make my life better, who love me for me, and encourage and support me.

9. It’s okay to be in a good mood when others aren’t. To have joy when others are sad. To see the silver lining when others only see black clouds. The other day, someone commented (about how I smile at everyone) that I just want everyone to be happy. No, that’s not it. Because some people may never be happy. I just want everyone to know that there is someone who cared enough to look up from what they were doing, make eye contact, and share a second of their time. Some days, those smiles may make or break someone’s day.

10. Leave yesterday’s worries, problems and heartaches in yesterday. Wake up each day knowing you have a clean slate, and while you may be having a bad day, it does not mean you’re having a bad life. Live through it and then let that shit go!

Here’s to an amazing rest of 2018!

Oh. PS.

11. Life, love, sunrises, adventure, and a good waltz wait for no one.

Peace, love, and pie!

RED

Good morning everyone! I hope you are well! Today, I am about to take a step in faith on the journey
God has me on and with that, will begin telling my story…and hopefully, yours. It is time to put a face to the statistics, to change the culture of shaming, and to help inspire and encourage others. You are not just a “survivor” …you are a champion, a warrior!

– Leading cause of death in women is heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease.
– It is estimated that 266K new cases of breast cancer will be seen this year.
– 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner.
– 100 women die each year in Texas due to domestic violence. 12 of those in 2017 were in SA.
-1 in 5 women have been raped.
– In 2016, the military had over 6K cases of reported sexual assaults (the actual estimate is twice that).
-15 to 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage.
– 23.5 million Americans suffer from autoimmune disease.
– Autoimmune disease is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in women.

This will hit ya next Tuesday:

When God remembers you, He

doesn’t remember your mistakes or failures, just His promise over your life. He doesn’t remember your past, He remembers His. God’s past is your present reality but also your future destiny. You can’t live in His victory if you’re living in defeat in your life and memories. Before you had a past, God already knew your future! BAM! – Pastor Duane White

While you were not built to carry the

mountain of fear, pain, worry, or stress …. You were created for an amazing life, full of adventure, love, joy, peace, and happiness. While your journey may intersect with pain and suffering, you were not meant to stay there and you are equipped with everything you need to succeed – financially, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and relationally. It’s time to let go of the past, open your hands, heart, and mind to a new way of life!

You are who you want to be, so it’s time to step up buttercup and be the person who makes you proud!

This is dedicated to my Grandfather. The world’s greatest cowboy, rancher, grandfather, father, husband and friend. Without him, his love and support I wouldn’t be half the person I am now.

Everything I need to know I learned from my Grandfather
Milo E. Wilson Jr.
1919-2004

There are not enough hours in the day to relive all the wonderful memories, good times, and stories he had to tell. His life story was the making of a best seller Louis L’Amour book, his love for his wife a hundred country songs, and his honor as a man countless cowboy poems. Milo was an amazing man…with his gentle manner and twinkly eyes you just knew there was something special about him. He was down to earth, modest to a fault, friendly, and always had a hug, kiss, or pat on the back for you anytime he saw you. Some of the things I’ve learned about my grandfather and the truths he taught me about the real world:

• He didn’t fancy labels or titles, his family called him Milo , and his buddies called him Wilson.
• He liked the finer things in life such as smoked oysters, a good prime rib, and three fingers of whiskey in his glass.
• There was never a problem too big a peppermint lifesaver or tic tac couldn’t cure.
• There really is such a thing as true love.
• Real cowboys know how to waltz, take their hats off when they dance, and always stand up when a lady enters the room.
• He loved to go for a drive…anywhere, anytime..and that’s when you received history lessons that you’ll never read about in a book.
• He taught me to always bet on the gray horse.
• I learned to play gin rummy before I knew how to count.
• He never talked to be talking, well unless he had just a useful little bit of trivia to share.
• Respect is earned.
• Brownies were made to hold up the chocolate frosting, and potatoes were created to hold up the gravy.
• The surest way to get on Milo ‘s bad side was to eat the corners out of the brownie pan (that’s where the most frosting was).
• It took more than a good tee off to beat him at golf, and the Canadian geese on the green really didn’t care that they’re sitting on your golf balls.
• I learned respect for the land.
• He taught me that you take care of your family even if it means swallowing your pride or your hurt feelings.
• It’s not what you are in life; it’s who you are.
• Some things in life you don’t skimp on just to save a few cents, such as good work gloves, soda pop, or cheese in a can.
• The best things in life aren’t things.
• You can always find a story and a friend in the face of a stranger.
• You’re only as good as your word.
• I learned he remembered not the times I’d failed, but all the good things I’d done and the person I had become.
• When you’re as smart as Milo was, it’s ok to do the crossword puzzle in pen.
• He taught me a man’s worth is not measured in gold or silver, but in the family and friends he has.
• That I am my mother’s daughter.
• And that no matter how much you’ve prepared yourself to say goodbye, you never are ready to let go.

To know me is to know my grandfather, or about him at least. To know my grandfather was to also know the most amazing woman, my grandmother Ann, or at least hear stories of the love affair of the century that all started with that kiss in second grade. To ease our own grief, we believe that my grandmother has spent the last 5 ½ years getting things ready, preparing Heaven, and finally decided it was time for him to come home.

In honor of their memory:

The Cowboy’s Last Ride
“Grandpa’s Poem”

By Diane Baumann

The cowboy strode up and mounted his horse,
and turned his tired head toward the hills.
He didn’t feel the wind, nor notice the cold,
he’d many times suffered worse ills.

He rode and he dreamed of a time long ago,
before he was left all alone.
The Colorado * sun shone and the flowers all bloomed,
but that was before she was gone.

He closed his eyes as he rode and could feel her touch,
just the way that it all used to be.
Now he’s riding alone, to find her again,
together once more, he and she.

He bode no ill, but he couldn’t stay here,
away from the one that he loved.
He had family and friends that would miss him he knew,
but he needed her love from above.

The weather got worse; it got harder to move,
but he knew that he must stay astride.
His longing for her welled up in his soul,
and he knew that this was his last ride.

He spurred his horse on and picked up the pace,
for he felt that his time was now near.
He whispered her name as he galloped along,
and he knew that somehow she would hear.

She opened her eyes and looked down from the sky,
and she smiled when she saw it was him.
She couldn’t see his face, but she knew who it was,
by the shape of his beat up hat brim.

She reached out her hand and she grabbed hold of his,
and she helped him to sit by her side.
With a smile on his face and her love in his heart,
the cowboy completed his last* ride.

• Originally written as Montana

• ‘Last’ was not in original poem