The Pfizenmaier Tales

The Extra Player

2016-10-18T10:49:00.000-05:00

What if each and every team that our town supports could have an extra player? That player could really help pull those wins that our hearts most desire. For that team that has the talent but just can't seem to pull it all together at the same time. The team that has a few players that are always toeing the line and the rest of the team sits and watches....waiting for the coach to do something about it. To pull what is off center...back to the center. That team morale. Would it not make such a difference with that extra player to come in and help support those who need an extra boost? The team member that helps support and guide. A member of the team that can help give that extra shove when needed. A team member who always gives hope, never any criticism that derails everything the coach was trying to build. To push that other teammate into driving harder. Running faster. Jumping higher. Playing with such passion that any player from another town wonders....where does that team get their spirit? Their passion? For them to say, I want our team to play like that.

What if I told you that there always IS an extra player on the field or court and just what if I told you that extra player is the crowd.

The parents and family that come to each and every game. The entity that should be a team themselves, but rarely show up to cheer on the whole team. For why would a parent cheer for a kid that 'doesn't deserve to play'? Or the one who shows off and is full of him/herself? Why should the crowd be on the team? The crowd truly has the ability to make or break a team. You might argue that with me and that's fine. I would argue though that the parents at home are what make a player coach-able or not coach-able. The criticism that goes on at home about any member of a team they are playing on (which includes the coaching staff), is a direct hit to team unity.

What a coach is trying to build at practice, the parents have the ability to tear down at home.

The older my kids get the worse this scenario gets. Have I found myself being that parent at home? Yes, I have and it went south for me real quick. I noticed a huge change in my nameless son's attitude towards the coach and the team. I don't know why we place our kiddos in that position of pleasing the parent or pleasing the coach. But, we do. It's completely normal and natural to have negative feelings but it is our responsibility as parents to stay positive and help our kiddos learn from controversy, differences, and disappointments. Isn't that what life is full of? More parents need to say to their child "I'm sorry this is what it is, but get your big boy panties back on and get out there and give your all, nothing less." If we all did this, they would soon learn that the outcome of their games has to do with the passion, heart and attitude behind their motions. We as parents just need to be the parents. The players need to just play. The coaches need to coach.

Skewed view....

2015-02-19T21:58:00.002-06:00

So I have this thing for sunglasses. Like some do shoes, purses or clothes. I've been known to have 3 or 4 pair at one time in my vehicle and a few on the shelf at home. I know why stores put the sunglasses in the front of the store. For people like me to get lured in and sink a few bucks on their merchandise. It's hook, line and sinker for me. Sigh....

The thing about sunglasses and the reason I have so many are the fact that they get scratched up so easily. I mean you have to take precious care of them to preserve the unscratched lens from becoming scratched and obscuring your view. One small careless handling will result in a annoying scratch. Who wants to look through a skewed view of your friends, a ballgame or even the road as you drive? Not me. I like a clear crisp view of things when I have my eyes open.

This of course made me realize that sometimes life is the same. Sometimes a careless mistake of a word spoken to someone or about someone or even listening to someone who is being critical can skew our view. Too many times we allow the opinion of others, shape ours and skew our view. Too many times we 'listen' to ourselves and justify actions that will result in a skewed view. We have to take precious care of our lens' too. Protect our hearts and our view of life and people. Do what you can to keep your view crisp and clear....

Decluttering....

2015-01-15T21:24:00.000-06:00

For some weird reason I decided to take a weeks vacation from work to stay at home and completely gut and declutter and clean our home. I'd say it's a form of 'spring cleaning' but it's only January so it must be a New Years itch? We moved into our house 10 years ago the end of this month. 10 years. This house was an answer to prayer at the time. I had been praying specifically for 3 things (good water, basement that wasn't 'outside' for storms and a christian friend). He heard my prayers and in His time answered all three at the same time. Our house had become available through a sheriff's auction right around Christmas 10 yrs ago. It had been sitting vacant for over a year I believe. We were able to purchase it for half the price that it had been trying to sell for and get this. It had Longford water. I mean the best water in the state of Kansas is pretty darn good and an answered prayer. (we had BAD well water at our other house and I used to haul water in) Then it had not only one basement underneath the house but two. I say that while laughing for one is a dirt floored basement and the other is concrete but you only go down there unless there IS a storm. But....that is exactly what I had prayed for. Not to have to go outside during a storm with little ones to go into a shelter. The third request was fulfilled within weeks of us moving in. My neighbor Shallyn and her missionary family moved directly across the road into another farm house.

So with 10 years of being in a old house that really has NO storage, you over time begin to store things in the corners of every room. Of course with intentions of moving it or going through it SOMEday but that someday never comes around. Well, it did this week. Someday finally came. The last several months I have been very overwhelmed by the 'junk'. Feeling like it really might open it's big mouth and eat me alive at any given moment. Or one of my kids. Which I might have or might not have wished at certain moments would happen. ;) Just kidding, but really, do you know the feeling I'm talking about? The feeling that your house is holding you captive because of what needs to be done and the time that is NOT available to do it? It all started with taking down the Christmas tree this year. I just wanted to keep on throwing things out the front door along with the tree. So that's exactly what I have been doing this week. Throwing out unneeded 'stuff' and giving away the rest. Here's a pic to prove it. This is the give away pile. I am too embarrassed to show you the trash pile. It was even bigger.

So then, as I was laying in bed this morning, before the sun even came up (son #2 had 545am practice) it dawned on me that this is what I do with my faith also. In the last 10 years I have been doing enough house work to 'get by'. Not really attending the 'big' stuff, for "I didn't have time". Doing enough though to make the house look presentable when needed. More of a surface cleaning. I've been doing the same with my walk with Jesus. Doing just enough reading/praying to 'get by'. Doing enough to make me feel 'spiritual' but not really attending the 'big' stuff in my heart. Not digging in each day and making the time to do it. After completely turning my house upside down and putting it back together I feel like I'm free from the feeling of being overwhelmed and captivation. I feel liberated from the clutter. I feel free and feel like I will have more time to do some of the things I've been led to do but have avoided because my home had me feeling captivated with everything I needed to do there. What I love about Jesus is he meets you where you are. He doesn't expect you to change first. He wants to be the one to transform you to be like Him. And He met me in my terribly cluttered home and heart. He will do the same with you....

A story from Grady

2014-10-12T21:15:00.001-05:00

For the last 8 years it as been crazy we have been running around back and forth. But I know that it will be non crazy hear pretty quick and i know God has plains for us but it has a good thing and bad thing about it . The good thing is that you can see your son hit a home run or you can see your son make a touchdown . the bad thing is you and your son get there late and your son has to sit out for part of the game. but then a good thing happens and that thing becomes a home run and you stand up and cheer for your kid and the whole team comes up and puts him in the air and then they stand in a line and the coach gives him a GOLD metal and then you go and take pictures of him with his metal.Your son comes and tells you that that was his best day ever and on the way home you look back and he is asleep and you say ice cream and he wakes right up and he tells mom that he is ready for ice cream.So they got home and he was asleep so she had to pick him up and she put him in bed
. She went to bed 1 hour after her son. the next morning her son had baseball practice the coach told them how good they played after the ball game. so they practice the rest of practice and thin practice was over so his mother came and picked him up and she said in the so how was your practice? he said great in a low voice. his mom said what is up? he said I didn't even get to bat oh... Well i bet you will get to bat next time. No i will not get to bat next time coach yelled at me today so i am not going to bat next time. well it lest you get to play infield I saw you play a little bit at first. they got home and eat lunch and thin he went to his bed. she looked up and called him he did not answer so she went up there and he was asleep so she closed the door and let him sleep .The next 3 mornings he went to Kansas City for state they played at 9 am so they got up at 7 am and they got dressed and left they. they left with there cousin they got there and they were nervous since they were in Kansas City and they were in the champion ship, one game after another. it came down to the last game. it was the bottom of the last inning the batter hit it to 3 base and they throw it to 2 base and got a player out and thin they throw it to 1st base and they had a double play and that was the game. WE WERE THE CHAMPIONS

Grady pfizenmaier

Who we are.....

2014-09-28T22:36:00.001-05:00

Recently I have noticed that so many people out in the world struggle with 'who they are'. Seeing people struggle through situations in life that trip them up thinking that this situation is defining them. Realizing also that we all tend to think that 'who we are' is wrapped up in our circumstances, finances or even social status. In reality, what vehicle we drive doesn't make us a better or even less of a person. Our finances also do not make us a better person by being able to 'keep up with the Jone's' or an 'average' person by living pay check to pay check. Our circumstances consisting of the choices we make throughout the daily grind of our lives do not make us better or worse. Being single or married or even divorced does not define us in any way. Another way to look at it is 'the world does not make us who we are'. We are all human. We all bleed red. We all will die someday and take absolutely nothing with us. But, we continue to live life like all these things define who we are.

The only thing that does define who we are is the very fact of knowing the Creator who created us and knowing the Love that lavishes us with His Grace. Realizing the Mercy that is extended to us when we deserve the consequences of our choices. It's His Love that defines us. Nothing more.

If one does't know the Creator, then I can see why so many people can't help but define themselves by the ways of this world. You will always come up empty handed, for the world is constantly telling us we are not 'good enough'. It will always tell us you need 'this' to be prettier. You need 'this' to be popular. You aren't squat if you don't have 'this'. You are less than human for all those choices you once made. The world is ugly and the world is heavily weighing in on our choices we make.

The older my boys get the more I realize that parenting is oh so very difficult. Teaching our many offspring (the next generation) that who they are is not wrapped up in this world is oh my so hard. They're always wanting this or that because it'll make them look better or because so and so has it. They are constantly looking for that 'thing' to define them as better. Having a girlfriend or not etc. How difficult this is, if us parents still have not figured out that very thing! It's is a daily choice to see ourselves as the Creator created us. He created us in His image. We will always have a longing for something greater than ourselves and it is found in Him. Until you make that choice to find yourself in Him, you will always be succumbing to the ways of the world to find yourself and you will continue to feel empty.

Now off I go to share with my offspring who they really are......after I remember who I really am.....

From Beth Moores Blog

Stop listening to yourself.....

2014-07-14T20:43:00.003-05:00

Today is the day to stop 'listening' to ourselves and being overwhelmed by our circumstances, But instead 'talk' to ourselves and be overwhelmed by the Cross.

Last week I found myself completely overwhelmed by my circumstances. My mind had been over taken by all the things that needed to be done. I was 'listening' to myself--allowing myself to become captivated by my undone duties. It came to a head one morning when I lost myself in a 'loud complaining session' that my Cowboy walked in on. He just stood there looking at me like I was nuts. And truly I was. I had become so captivated by circumstances that I had absolutely NO joy. I was choosing this emptiness over joy because of the way I felt. For it is always a choice. Everyday that you wake up you make a choice. Taking the time to reflect the Cross and what Jesus did for all of us. Or immediately get sucked into what needs to be done and being 'behind the 8 ball' all day.
Seeking the Lord in the mornings has always been a challenge for me and it always will be as long as I breathe. Romans 12:2 tells us "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind". That my friends doesn't happen without making a choice when you wake up. Seeking the Cross or seeking circumstances of life.
If you ponder the Cross and what took place on it---and really have no emotion that flows--it is time to take the time and truly ponder what took place on that Cross. As CJ Mahaney writes "We let our feelings tell us what's true, instead of letting the truth transform our feelings." Take that extra few minutes to let the truth of Jesus taking YOUR spot on the cross and allow it to transform your feelings. You will find many emotions in that spot if you take time to "Be still and know I am God" Psalm 46:10. You will feel overwhelmed by the Cross and not those circumstances of life waiting for you......#foreverpreachingtomyself

The Cycle of Faith & Wheat

2014-05-02T08:59:00.001-05:00

I was driving to work one day a few months ago and was noticing that the wheat was starting to turn green from all the beautiful weather we have had. It dawned on me that a christian life and the life cycle of wheat are somewhat alike. For me anyway. :)
At some point in the life of a believer of Christ, a seed (s) are planted in your heart. Someone in your life shared the ultimate truth with you let it be a parent, friend or even teacher. Nevertheless it was planted and if something is planted it usually grows. A farmer drills his seed wheat with faith that it will also sprout a root and grow. It is never known when this seed might sprout and grow for the moisture of the soil has to be present. As so a heart that has a 'seed' planted, it is never known when the seed will sprout a root and growth of faith will take place. Sometimes a farmers field is just right when drilling. Sometimes it is as dry as a bone. As so are our hearts.
All seeds need moisture and it comes in the form of rain. Sometimes that rain is in the form of a 'storm'. Just as we have 'storms' in our lives. Storms are not fun for they can be scary and be damaging changing the way things look afterward. We don't get to choose how the moisture comes but the moisture is needed to make things grow. It is the same as our faith. 'Storms' are allowed to pass through His hands and into our lives. Things may look different for us but God uses 'all' things for the good of those who love him. It's the change of a heart after a storm that produces growth of faith. For how deep any roots grow depends on the moisture received. Roots can be shallow or deeply rooted.
Once the seed is planted and sprouted it grows into a nice stem of green growth. This also reflects a new believer in Christs faith. It grows pretty rapid and is full of excitement. Wheat can grow fairly big before the cool weather hits and then it goes through a period of dormancy. Webster defines dormant as "not doing anything at this time; not active but able to become active". As so our faith. We can allow ourselves to go through a period of 'not doing anything' with our faith. No active growth what so ever. So the wheat that was a beautiful growth of green has now changed into an almost dead looking plant. As so our faith can look 'dead' to others during this time by our actions and choices. In faith terms this can last for years.
Spring arrives and the wheat plant starts to green up and grow from the spring rains and storms. It continues to grow until it's a tall beautiful green plant deeply rooted in the soil from the moisture. It continues to mature into a golden head of wheat that will be ready for harvest. When harvested it will help feed a multitude of people. As so our faith. By the grace of God our faith can come alive from that dormant stage and grow deeply rooted in the foundation of truth until we're ready to be harvested by God. What you leave behind can help feed a multitude of people too.
Where are you in this cycle?

Sweet 16

2014-02-02T19:18:00.000-06:00

HaPpY SwEEt 16 BiRthDaY to our oldest of our many offspring!! You've been driving for years and here is proof!! Been through many firsts throughout the years. First trucks, first black eye, first medal, first friend & cousin, first birthday, first family pic & first born son! (& too many more to list) I didn't want to embarrass you on Facebook so I thought I would here on the ole blog! :) You are a sweet young man and have a huge heart. You also have the bluest eyes I've ever seen. :) We love you Colton!!

Taken today :)

One of our greatest obstacles......

2014-01-31T08:52:00.000-06:00

Apparently I've been on a 'sabbatical'. Not much has been going on (thankfully!) except being 'busy'. Busy Under Satan's Yoke. It's funny but it's true. We don't like to look at our busyness that way but when your not seeking Jesus because you're too busy...then that is what it is. That'd be the story of my life the past couple of years when I look back. I came across a few verses awhile back that has been my motto. Not in a good way per say but a reality check. (read it slow, there are a lot of do's) lol

Romans 7:15 NIV For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find the law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched (wo)man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So actually I've been MIA because I've been at war with my soul. But Thanks be to God through Jesus! Jesus says in John 16:33 "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!!" What hope we have in Him!

I've felt like a hand has been on my forehead holding me back even though my arms & legs have been moving. If you haven't noticed by now, hindsight is always 20/20. But, we live in the present and not the past. So, I'm choosing to not look back to where I have been but choosing to look ahead to where I am going. A few things in life have revealed to me my true heart. I'm hoping that I'll allow God to shape me into a woman he intended me to be. He never gives up on us, even though we tend to give up on ourselves.

One of our greatest obstacles in life is ourselves.

We limit ourselves through self doubt & self condemnation. If we would daily choose to see ourselves through Christ's eye, then & only then can we see ourselves for who we are meant to be. No doubts. No self condemnation. I don't know why we choose to tear ourselves up for it puts us in fluffy feather mode. (That would be self defense mode.) From there we usually unknowingly tend to tear OTHER people down around us to make us feel better about ourselves. And to just think, this goes on because of our disbelief of who we are in Christ. Once you get a hold of the truth & believe it day after day you'll start sharing the love you feel from Christ to others. The whole world could change from this one thing.

Where is your heart this day?

Things we learned on vacation.....

2013-08-12T08:31:00.000-05:00

1) It seems that most people in Wyoming have their own junk yards. (later I realize we in KS have trees to hide our junk lol).
2) If you don't want your (metal) roof to blow away you just put old tires on top of it!
3) It doesn't seem that Wyoming towns have neighborhoods with houses sitting close together. It appears that everyone has their 5 acres (hence the junk yards). I guess you could call them acrehoods??
4) Boys love snacks!
5) Mountains are still beautiful.
6) Ponds wear boys out!! Kayaking & boating in the sun all day. They went to bed easily & slept great!
7) Boys don't fight when you play movies. If they got restless I'd just stick a movie in. It was wonderful.
8) You do need reservations for a place to sleep near Yellowstone....unless you want to drive a few hours into the night. *sigh*
9) There are Taco Johns all over Wyoming!!
10) It appears the only thing that grows in Wyoming is hay. That is only if you irrigate it.
11) Little boys' bladders are that.....little.
12) You can get sunburned in Wyoming. Makes sense since your 6600ft closer to the sun. Sorry boys!!
13) Just because you fish in a 'stocked pond' doesn't mean you will catch ANY fish. :(
14) When someone says that part of a trail ride is "a lil sketchy".....it really means you might die. Rocks & horses going down a mountain is NOT fun. Especially if your horse goes off trail!
15) When you're on water all day (kayaking & boating) you still feel like your floating when you go to bed that night.
16) My many offspring are really kind of humorous. We laughed a lot!
17) Walmarts in Wyoming have milk for $2.30/gal. (Concordia, KS is $4.50/gal) ????
18) For some reason you gain weight during vacation.
19) We need to vacation more often. This was our 2nd family vacation!
20) Expired Benedryl (by 2 yrs mind you) still works!!
21) You need a vacation from vacation when you get home!
22) I seem to eat out of boredom.....(see #18)
23) Even though Cowboy enjoyed our vacation (& had fun) he still hates being couped up in a vehicle for hours on end. (especially with 5 other people!!)
24) A little boy, whose name I won't say, asked at least every 2 hrs if it was time to eat again. :)

A beautiful KANSAS sunset to welcome us home!

If anything good .....

2013-08-09T08:17:00.000-05:00

With the recent loss of a class/teammate of one of my many offsprings, it seems to have a way of changing the way you look at things. Suddenly, nothing else matters. The everyday stuff. The drama between friends. The activities that you need to tend to. The dirty laundry. What does matter is the relationships around you. Loss has a way of reminding us who we are. And who we are not. It can remind us of what IS important and what really is not.

If anything good can come from something so hard & tragic to comprehend, it is the reminder to love. Love is a verb. An action. It's something you do, not necessarily say. For we all know that actions speak louder than words. Words can be empty but when they are said along an action they can mean so much.

If anything good can come from something so terrible let it be living life to the fullest each and everyday just like Tommy did. He loved to fish & hunt & hangout with his friends. He loved to be ornery & have fun. He lived fully. We are not promised tomorrow so let us live each day like it is our last.

If anything good can come from something so hard let it be the inspiration to find your gift that each and everyone of us have and use it. Tommy's gift seemed to be the game of baseball. He put his heart into it. He lived for it. He practice frequently for it. Let us find ours and do the same.

If anything good can come let us learn from his mother how to be thankful in the hardest times. She is suffering through the hardest time of her life, but yet has time to send Thank You's to everyone who has sent them a card. She wants to do it. It is helping her deal with her heartache. What a heart she has! "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thess 5:18

If anything good can come, let it be to slow us down and realize what life is all about. It is about who you live life with. Your family. Your friends. Even your enemies. Matthew 22:39b says "Love your neighbor as yourself. " We are commanded by Christ to LOVE your neighbor which is defined as a member of one's community. It doesn't matter if you LIKE them either. :)

If anything good can come Lord let it be Love between all of us. Help us reflect the love you give to us to the ones around us.

Somethings you just can't understand....

2013-05-20T14:21:00.001-05:00

After looking around at the after math of a storm you usually see all the big stuff first. The obvious things that are not right. It isn't until later when picking up debris that sometimes you notice the small stuff. Which I believe to actually be the 'big' stuff because it's things that usually stumped you. You can't figure out how in the world did that happen or even not happen. Those are the things that point you to a higher being that us. Here are a few things that I have seen that I can't make sense of. A few are goofy but interesting.

The leg of the table dented in the door of the grill. Not that odd but it sure did have to fly hard because the table was less than 5 ft from it. Then I found a green wheat head. We don't have any wheat planted around us except from the east & the storm came from the SSW. So if the wind was so crazy why did the light weighted wheat head stay & not blow away? Weird.

So the green hole is our septic tank thingys and the lids are SCREWED on. The wind took one lid off. Follow the line and that is where we found the it. (left the other on alone though)

Here is one of the broken pieces that keeps the lid screwed in. What I can't figure out is..how in the world was there so much force/wind/suction that caused the lid to fly off but left my house intact?? Look back at the other picture, the house is 15 ft away.??

The semi trailer was blown over which I sure could happen easily but it also has openings on the sides to let the air move through. There was a pick up & flat trailer parked right beside it & it didn't move. My wonder is how did such a force tip the trailer but leave our brand new shop untouched? They are not that far apart!!

This is Rowdy's water bowl that was sitting on the deck off to the left where the leaves are. It must have been quite the force of wind to wedge that bowl in between the 2 pieces of metal. It was tucked in there pretty tight.

I guess I really do know why our house & shopped were spared. Because I truly believe that God had his hand over them and protected them from any harm during this storm. We are so thankful for what wasn't damaged. It truly could have been worse. I thank everyone for their kind words on Facebook!

Cowboys Dad's farm....

2013-05-19T12:13:00.000-05:00

In the 21 years I've been with Cowboy I have never seen such damage to the farm. It made me cry to see the machine shed that I've pulled up to so many times to see my man broken into pieces. They had huge trees that were just snapped in half. These photos are for my family who can't be here to help or see.

Lots of people out to help! THANK YOU!!

The Storm Damage

2013-05-19T08:02:00.000-05:00

Well it was a short night last night. We went into Tailgators to eat around 9:30pm and should have probably stayed home. It took about an hour to drive 7 miles because of all the trees and power lines that were down on the Clifton road. I have never seen such a devastation with my own eyes. Some poles were just laying over on the road. Some were just at a 90 degree angle. Some were completely broke off but still hanging in the air. Made us scared to finally get to our house and see if we still had one & of course that brand new shop we built that is up on a hill. Not sure if it was straight line winds or a tornado. Here are a few pics that I took for the insurance guy. :) We are discouraged by the work that needs to be done but very thankful for the damage that wasn't done!! We have our family, a home & Cowboy has a shop!

This is crazy. The bar stool didn't move but all the other stuff was shoved in the corner. The gray box thing was over by the white door & the lid is gone.

Must have weak trees? Or just some strong winds perhaps?

The hay shed in the back ground was bent out of shape & the barn roof torn. Oh and there WAS a shed just behind that tree that only lost a few tiny branches.

Love the flag standing strong. The tree is laying on my clothes line. :(

Yuck!

Oh look. A roof.

This is where the little shed once was.

This is what is left of that little shed.

Cattle shoot is a little bent out of shape this morning. I think I'll drink a another cup of coffee for it. ;)

Well. Can you guess what this is? Cattle pot tipped over. Thank goodness the semi was in the good ole' shop!

Will take some time but it'll all look cleaned up soon!

Well this little trailer was not there last night when we left. It was over by the stack of bales to the left. ??

Big ole' cotton wood tree down.

The hole in the ground was deep! This was as tall as me & I could easily jump in that hole.

Way to go fence post! You keep that tin from going any further.

We couldn't make it down our driveway. Had to drive through the mud & just about got our Yukon stuck!

New season....new beginnings.

2013-03-21T13:11:00.000-05:00

New seasons (spring) have new beginnings......a new building.

Couple of monkeys.....

And new toys....can't forget those. Using hard earned money on fun stuff. I keep telling the boys it's going to be a cold ride to town to school in/on one of these someday.....

Levi's 4 wheeler

Wylie's go-kart (i call it a dune buggy)

Corey's go around toy

I guess you could say I won't be quitting my day job anytime soon. ;) It's been a long winter and spring is more than welcome to start.....it must have forgot to check its memos. It's a day late and I'm a dollar short!

Its what is in between the W and L's......

2013-02-23T23:20:00.001-06:00

For several years now my boys have been on numerous teams. Baseball, basketball, football and even soccer. Many teams, many coaches & friends. Many wins and many losses. My eyes have been opened to the life of sports as a parent in a way that I could not have seen being on the other side as a player. Oh how I miss the game of basketball. To this day, if I see a basketball and a goal......I'll do what I can to get that ball into my hands and shoot some hoops. I'm still drawn to it today about as much as I was twenty five years ago. (that was hard to type, 25? I thought I was 25??) The only difference now is I have to worry about embarrassing my boys in the process. But that is kind of fun sometimes!!

Throughout these last 9 years since my oldest started playing T-ball after his Kindergarten year, life has changed. T-ball was FUN. Everybody won. Then it gradually changed to being more competitive over the next few years. Sports for what I knew changed. I had children playing on teams that sometimes I didn't care for the coach's coaching style. (or attitude??) Which is okay. It can be a life lesson for both you and the child that someday they might have a boss that they feel the same way about but have to respect because it's just what you do. But sometimes it's not the coaches that rub you the wrong the way. It's the parents of the other teammates!! My eyes have been opened to the 'politics' of sports. I never knew that this world even existed. But, now I do. And all I can say is: WOW.

These last few years have actually had more losses than wins. One of my boys' teams just has a hard time pulling it all together. The only common denominator is the boys themselves, for they've had different coaches. Another boys' team had a tough go in baseball playing in a league that was just a little too tough for their first year. It's very frustrating to see your kids have frequent losses wondering what it will do to their ambition. But what I've been trying to figure out is what to do with it all. Some are focusing on the negative aspect of it. Some are trying to focus (and stay) on the positives. There is such thing as positive criticism that I wish more people participated in. I'm learning (long process mind you) that you can't focus on the problem, you acknowledge it. Two different things. Know what it is, figure out how to deal with it and then move on. I think too many people (myself at times) get caught up in the problem and then become part of the problem themselves.

These times are learning tools for life. This is where what is in between the W & L's that really matter.

Wins and losses. They can either define you if you allow it or shape you. Every single one of us as a parent or player has that choice. Are we going to learn what we can from every situation in life (good or bad) or are we going to sit back and complain and let it define us? I had one son who went on a no swinging the baseball bat spree. I even offered to pay him $5 for every swing. (it worked once) Seriously, he never swung the bat in a game after several games into the season. He struggled terribly mentally. I struggled. The coaches struggled. We didn't know what to do for/with him. We couldn't help someone who didn't appear to want to help himself. Reflecting back on all of that I learned several valuable lessons (and I'm the adult!) **Perseverance. To strive in midst of difficulties. To keep on even when you are not performing so well. To not give up! **Self esteem and self confidence. It's okay to think you are good at something (for you are only as good as you think you are). You just can't believe your better than everyone else as a person. If you think you are a terrible player then you play that way. **Team. Together Everyone Achieves More. The kids on the team have to believe they are apart of something that is for everyone. **Trust. They have to trust that their teammates can carry the weight. There is something to be learned in everything. As an adult it is our responsibility to spill those lessons learned over to our children. Most of them are not mentally mature enough to figure it out. The problem is some parents still don't get that. The solution is we can positively influence the other kids on the team with our actions/words. It could be that they don't hear anything but criticism at home. (about themselves or even the coaches).

It'd be great if our boys' teams won all of their games. They would have soaring self confidence. They'd be ambitious. They would have positive self esteem. They would also probably be full of themselves and have a chip of arrogance on their shoulder. Then later in life they might hit a bump in the road and not know how to persevere when life gets tough. They might blame others for their problem and not take responsibility for their own actions. It all boils down to what is in between the W and L's. There needs to be a healthy balance of both for kids to learn the hard lessons in life and build the character that will shape them into young men/women that they are becoming.

Who knew?

2013-01-29T12:31:00.000-06:00

Who knew that 6 years ago today we'd have to say goodbye and that you would pass through the ways of this world and land in the heavenly realms?

Who knew that your 29 short years of life would be the end of your life?

Who knew that you would get to see Jesus face to face but for us to never see your face again?

Who knew that your children would never see your face again but we would see you in them forever?

Who knew that time would so quickly fly by when we couldn't imagine another day going by without you?

Who knew that even though we can't see you, we can forever hear you and see you in our hearts?

Who knew?

God knew.

For God placed on Solomon's heart in Ecclesiastes 3 that "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, and time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and time to dance......".

You are laughing and dancing in the heavenly realms but we all miss you dearly Melissa Marie Ringquist Fahey..

Just Enough......

2013-01-23T08:01:00.000-06:00

I'm discovering (again) that I am just an unmotivated person ~~at times~~. It's really hard to think of yourself that way, but reflecting back through the years (and they are starting to add up!!) I can see it's very habitual for me to do 'just enough' to get by. Rather it be at home or work, I'll do just enough and consider it good enough. It seems I either a) don't know how to go above and beyond what is required or b) have no desire to do so. Maybe I'm just realllllly laid back? I know some people would say they are the same way, but why do we keep on walking down the same path?

It would seem that I also have 'just enough' doubt and fear to squelched my dreams and motivations. Any doubt or fear is actually too much. Doubt can keep me from doing too much at home for why should I clean that when I'll just have to do it again tomorrow. Fear can invade for an hour or days and keep me frozen in my tracks. Fear also squelches any motivation or desire in a matter of seconds.

I'm trying to live in the present and not the past or future. For why would God give me any inkling to what might or might not happen? Why live in the past and recreate emotions that don't belong in today? Why on earth do I borrow from the future what may not even be mine? Why not live in today and live it to the fullest?

I recently read a quote on a friends Facebook status that said this: "Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being positive about what could go right." (Author not quoted) Man how could this Facebook status be speaking directly to me? That my friends is the. story. of. my. life. So I printed it out and put in on my bathroom mirror.

A lot of people have New Year's resolutions. I don't bother because I feel any day of the year you should try to be better at something and not wait. So today I resolve to stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being positive about what could go right!! Life is all about how you look at it and then what you do with it. The Bible says around 365 times to not be afraid or to not fear. Hmmm, something tells me that I'm not the only one that has suffered from this ~~stupid~~ problem. That's enough for one verse a day! God knew what our weaknesses would be. It only proves to me that "The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" Hebrews 4:12

The Book of Life is truly a book of life. It has life changing elements and actual directions if we would take the time to read it. Read? Oh my. Not my cup of tea. I struggle terrible with reading the Word of God. Its not that I don't want to.....its just I don't have enough..... motivation. But I found what does motivate me is my thought life being taken over by fears and doubts. I can not live this way and my ~~new found~~ stubbornness refuses to let me. Thank you God for a stubborn husband because he has rubbed off on me. (Opposites do attract like they say. I just feel bad for Cowboy on whatever I rub off to him. :) )

Just know you are not alone in your struggles of life. We all have different ones. We all have a cross that we bear. I love the cartoon of the person asking to trade his cross in for another because his is just too heavy to bear. When he enters the room of crosses he realizes that his is actually the smallest one in the room.

Please Lord let our struggles be small in our thoughts and you be the focus of our thoughts. AMEN.

What are we to do?

2012-12-20T07:40:00.001-06:00

The last week has been incredibly heart wrenching for many people. Many people are wondering 'why' there is so much violence. So much violence has caused a discussion of many topics of gun control, mental health and God.

Where was God you might ask. Well He was in that school supernaturally holding many innocent children with His mighty hands. His eyes were probably closed for He hated to see this evil act committed that He allowed. Why did this have to happen? We'll never know 'why'. There is such a big picture to this that we as humans can not wrap our brains around it. God is not evil but we live in a sin saturated world. We were born into sin. We live with 'free will'. It is our choice if we believe there is a God or not a God. That is a choice only you can make for yourself. If you don't believe there is a God because how could God allow these things to happen, well then read on. Time was created around the birth and death of a pretty important person. BC and AD. Time is labeled this way rather you believe in God or don't believe. B.C. stands for "Before Christ". It was a time of terrible violence. Kings would kill just to kill. In Exodus 1:16 The King of Egypt ordered all the male babies to be killed at birth by the midwives and let the female babies live because the Israelite's had become too numerous and it was thought they would join their enemies and overtake them. The books of 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles in the Old Testament are loaded with tales of the Kings and either their evil ways or their faith in God. Not all those Kings believed in God. Horrific tales are in black in white in these books. Times have not really gotten worse. Times have been worse than they are now. In the states we don't see that kind of mass violence daily or even monthly. We didn't live back in these days so we can't really compare times but earth will always be a place filled with violence. Always.

A.D. stands for the Latin "Anno Domini," meaning in the Year of our Lord. A common thought is it means 'After Death' but Christ was really born around (they are not exactly sure) 4 or 5 BC, thus his years on earth would be about 4 or 5 BC to AD 30. Why would they mark time around a person if he was just a prophet or just a good person? He was so much more than that! Time as we know it was created around Christ!

So you wonder what in the world can we do in these terrible times? Three things come to mind. Christ tells us in Matthew 5:14 that "You are the light to the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden". Go and be a light to the people around you. When you have a darkened room and you crack the door, a ray of light shines through. Be that light in this darkened time. Second is Pray. Pray that you can be a vessel that God uses to move others to the light. Pray that God's will be done and submit to Him. Pray for His perfect timing in all things. Pray for the Fruits of the Spirit to be a part of you daily. Pray for those who have lost a loved one in this terrible tragedy. Third is to daily make the choice when you wake up to live in the Spirit and not the flesh. For when we wake up and don't make that choice consciously, we're actually choosing to live for ourselves. We can't be A light when we're too busy trying to be THE light. Next to raising children, this is one of the hardest things to do. Ever. God doesn't call the prepared, He prepares the ones He calls.

I could go on about my beliefs on gun control and mental health. It definitely ties all together. ( I will say though it's not the gun that kills. It's the person behind the trigger.) I will share my belief on why I think these things are happening. When Christ died on the cross 'it was finished'. The day that Jesus Christ comes back is a super day of agony for that fallen angel for he knows without a doubt that he has a horrible price to pay.

This fallen angel is not going to go down without a fight.

He will take anyone with him that he can 'lie' to and convince that being our own god is the way of life. This is spiritual warfare. There is a constant war going on for your very soul. We have a choice to believe God's truth or be deceived by the enemy. We as humans are naturally evil but have to make the choice daily to live in the truth (the Spirit). This is so hard. I've struggled for the last TWO years with this. Life is so busy but we must not crowd out God with our 'busyness'!

So as Ephesians 6:10-17 NIV says "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

We are all responsible for our own faith and actions. We live in a world of blaming it on someone or something else. Own it, confess it and then change it. Dig into your faith like you never have before. Fight evil without mercy. As as Jesus commands in Matthew 22:37-38 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'". Pay it forward. Conquer evil with goodness.

Celebrate this CHRISTmas season with a renewed sense of the coming of the Messiah.

Merry CHRISTmas friends!!

But It's Just My Opinion..........

2012-11-21T07:45:00.000-06:00

We are on to basketball season!! Holy toledo I was just updating my calendar with games and practices. We're going to be sleeping in the bleachers again. I wonder if they would notice a mattress under there? Son #1 has 6:15am practice almost everyday (except game day). Son #2 will start Dec. 10th. and have after school OR morning practices. Son #3 decided to take the season off to be a kid! I did not argue with him. We're already dribbling balls in our dreams. If we had one more to squeeze in, we would only have Saturdays for ourselves.

Which leads me to an opinion that I have. (rare but getting more common the older I get)

I'm not sure why we push these activities at such a young age. Yes I know the spew of 'why' from many people but it just doesn't jive with me. 'It's great to get them exposed at a young age and be better ball players for our middle and high school teams.' Ya, ok. 'It's better to get the team charisma going so that when they are older they'll play better together.' Um, whatever. 'It's good for the community to host events and have increased business from the extra people in town.' Now we're digging. What really is happening folks is that our children are not being children. They are being dragged from one sport to another, practicing several nights a week and having games one day on the weekends. Even on Sunday a supposed to be family day. I guess maybe I'm old fashioned.

What would make all of this not seem so bad is if we had shorter seasons. Youth football starts the last week of July and the last game is the last Saturday in October. We truly go through 3 weather seasons during this period. Summer, Fall and Winter. Then two weeks later we have a youth basketball camp for 3 nights. That wouldn't seem so bad if that is all it was. Basketball starts that very next week practicing for games in Manhattan on Sundays starting in December and goes through the end of February. Well then you know baseball is next. If your child plays on a traveling team you get maybe two possibly three weeks off until practice starts for it. You might be lucky if your child only plays city league. But that anymore has fallen to pieces. The problem is that each sport has a different coach and he is eager to get his team going. He's not burned out from playing the last two sports.

I also feel we take the excitement out of middle/high school sports. What happened to that dream of finally getting to play under those 'Friday Night Lights'? Well we did that back in 6th grade. No big deal. What happened to that dream and total excitement and motivation to finally be on that middle school team? The drive to play isn't there. We've been playing since the 4th grade. And I've notice on my sons' teams that the lack of drive to play is evident. The excitement doesn't exist. Yes, there are a few who are very motivated. A few. The rest are just going through the motions. It's what's expected of them. This is where my opinion comes in. I think.....drum roll please.....that it's because we start them SO young.

Whatever happened to Saturday morning basketball clinics? It was good enough at the time but then became 'not enough'. Parents wanted more for their children. To be the best. Very few people from small town city become sports stars. I can think of one who is a pro basketball star. And for the record, when I was a junior/senior in HS, we taught her the fundamentals of basketball in the Saturday morning basketball clinic. So there you have it folks......it was good enough then to blossom a future star. Why can't it be good enough now?

I've struggled with this for several years and I still feel the same way. And my kids still play. I know you might wonder 'why' I let them do ALL the sports. Well that is true and I don't know the reason why. It's probably because if they didn't play for those 3 yrs before middle school, they'll be 3 yrs behind with fundamentals etc. As a parent you almost feel 'trapped' because if you're going to take the time to watch them play you want them to be good enough to play. (not be riding the bench) I love sports. I even played in a women's basketball league for two years just a few years ago. (I gave it up for my kids' sports) I just wish we could shorten the seasons and allow these kids to be kids, but still play if they wanted to. I don't feel that we should have to pick and choose in the 4th, 5th or 6th grade what sports to do or not to do. They have no idea at that age what their interests are. They have no idea what size they're going to be in 5 yrs. We should just be giving them a taste of what these sports are, not making a season that is actually longer than the high schools. They are getting more than a taste of these sports. They're getting a mouth full. So full that they can't swallow. AKA they're not being able to be kids.

So there you have it. My opinion. In back and white. Rare occasion.

New Bar finally done!

2012-11-01T20:25:00.002-05:00

Well it's been 5 months and I finally painted my new kitchen bar that Cowboy's step dad made for us. It took me forever to find a color that I thought would 'blend'. Well Cowboy doesn't think it 'blends' but it's painted and stained and DONE!! It was just too 'woody' in my kitchen and I needed a splash of color. Although there usually is plenty of 'color' with my many offspring making messes........

Before/After pics

I painted it very lightly so some bare wood was showing. Then it was too painted so I stained the crevices and rubbed the stain all over. Now I just need a few more accent pieces to tie it all together.

That thingy on the wall was my color schemer. :) See how woody it all looks? Please leave a comment if you think I should paint the desk too!! I need opinions!! And if you look in the corner of the above pic.....you'll see that my desk stays very clean!! :) lol

Footballlllllllll

2012-10-15T23:01:00.001-05:00

Maybe you've been wondering what happened to me. Then again maybe not. :) Well~ I was taken captive by the bleachers at the football stadium. We just decided to sleep under the bleachers until the next game since we go there all the time. We have been B~U~S~Y watching alot of football. If any of you mom's need to know any of the rules......I might be able to help you out. I still ask Cowboy a few questions here or there but it's mainly just to check that HE really knows what he is talking about. ;) We had 4, yes FOUR teams that we had to keep track of. Do you realize how many numbers that is to memorize? You end up doing a number scan in your head to flip to which group of numbers go with which boys' team. Here are a few pics to show you what my days are blessed with.

Grady and Jonah teaming up on the 'orange' team.

Jonah snapping the ball to Grady.

This shot (and the next two) were captured by Carol Pfizenmaier. Grady spotted an interception......

And he got it!! He's saying.....'get out of my way....freight train is coming'. lol

Then he ran it in for a *TOUCHDOWN*. You can see the smile with the mouth piece in. He might be big but he can run fast!

Wylie is the far right boy. He plays fullback usually on offense.

Not sure what's going on they look confused.......

Wylie loves football for he can bang people up without getting into too much trouble!

Coach Pfitz looking alittle disgusted with a play...or two...or three.

Levi is #21.

This is where football gets confusing to me. It looks like mass chaos at times.

We currently have two kickers in our family. Levi kicks for the 7th gr and Wylie the 5th.

Levi also plays some on offense. Here he is tailback.

Here are the freshman ~~boys~~ guys. Just look how much bigger they look!! Colton is #55 and nephew Bailen is #30.

Wrap 'em up boys and throw them down!! I get competitive at times.

Freshmen again.

Can't forget the cheering section. Tristan, Owen and Grady cheering on the 7th graders!

The blog has a new look!!

2012-08-04T09:56:00.002-05:00

I love messing around with my blog background when I have the time. There are a few sites that are free and I finally found one that I think 'fits' us. Kind of western and rustic.

Today we welcome COOL weather and another chance of rain!! A cool front has come and that gives us a chance for rain?!! I guess. That's what the weather man says anyway! My theory with chances of rain is this: It's 50/50 everyday. Either it will rain or it won't. haha. Anyway it feels like a good day to bake if you ask me! We opened up the house for it's like 70 degrees.

Well~~got to go! I'm going to find something to bake. It feels like fall.......(wishful thinking)

Later~

Lumps on Logs....

2012-07-23T21:41:00.000-05:00

I can tell the good Lord is stirring something in me for I keep having random thoughts through out my days. Today I was making rice crispy treats (what else do you do on a hot day?) and the thought passed through my mind that I'm just a glob. Not in a negative way, but in the sense that we are allll globs. (like the commercial "we allll bundle") lol Anyway we are born as globs. Spiritual globs that is. Like a big fat lump on a log. Some people never ever realize this and go about their life as a glob. Forever. Never realizing the beautiful sculpture that they could be. Some however realize there is more to life than being a glob. They realize that there is a master glob sculptor. The deal though is you have to seek Him to find Him. If you're truly interested He will meet you where you are at and start shaping your glob. Which by the way has a wide mid section and we all know by stereo type this is known for heart disease. The difference is, this kind of heart disease is the kind you actually want. You want this disease to invade your soul, heart and mind. You want it to become your very being. You want it to consume you like a raging fire.

I've noticed that my glob has a few flattened spots that um well came from falling off the shelf. (It probably got tired of sitting there and not doing anything so it rolled off to get some shaping action) Sometimes that happens. It's part of the journey of being shaped into an amazing sculpture. You know sometimes it is the unplanned marks in the sculpting process that makes for a beautiful outcome. It's amazing what God can do with a glob if we would just allow him access to it.

My glob also hardens from time to time but the more it's manipulated the softer it becomes. One might perceive that manipulation as negative, but God is God and can allow things to pass through His mighty hands that will help shape us into who HE wants us to be. It isn't really about what we want out of life. Or who we want to be. He's willing to shape us if we are willing to LET Him shape us.

What does your glob look like? I picture mine with feet so I can follow Him. Sooner or later the rest of me will take shape but until then I have to keep seeking or else those feet of mine will also harden and won't be capable of following very well.

Jeremiah 29:13 NIV "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart"

1 Chronicles 28:9 NIV "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever"

Picking up hay bales

2012-07-22T23:04:00.005-05:00

Yesterday morning Cowboy announced that we had to go pick up more small square hay bales. Thank goodness he was talking straw bales!! They are so much lighter to pick up than alfalfa or prairie hay by many pounds. We all loaded up and went to the field. Our driver for the morning while we were picking up bales was a little 6 1/2 y/o boy. They start young around here! Just so you know the fastest he was going was probably 1 mph. Two at the most. :) AND I was right by the drivers door picking up bales and could get to him if needed. But we didn't need to. He did really well. You have to do these types of jobs while it's cool out. Cool it was. 70 degrees!! It's really sad when you say 70 is cool but after being in the 100's everyday for weeks, it does feel cool. And praise the good Lord that it DOES cool down at night!! Here are a few pics.

Heading to the truck/trailer to hook it up. Look at all those tiny bales.

Cowboy always looks at me like this when I have my camera. Colton looks like oh geez mom put that thing down.

Cranking the trailer down so we can get started.

Yes boys this is a trailer. lol. Actually these are our "Peterson" farm boys. :)

Cowboy supervising aka being bossy. He's good at that. :)

This is how you do it boys........

Thata boy....

Cowboy was going to leave to go bale, but the bales just didn't want to go to the right places so he stuck around.

Tater watch where you are going!!

I took over towards the end and snapped a few shots from the mirror.

Tater working those muscles. :)

Proof it was really 70 degrees!!

The finished load.

They have their football looks on. Must be practicing for the season is starting up soon!

Cowboy in the big square baler.