welcome back, me

Hey, hey, hey! Guess who's back home from vacation?

Me! That's who!

Don't have a lot of time to write now, but I promise to later this week. In the meantime, here's a few pics from the trip. I did a photo shoot with my nieces and nephews at my Grandma's house. Beautiful fall colors, beautiful kids!

Enjoy!

 

my 4th of july weekend

As I sit and write, I feel like my whole body is saying, "Wheeeewwww!"

I feel like I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I guess 4th of July weekends do that to a girl. We had a good weekend, even though much of it didn't go accordinng to plan. The rain certainly put a damper on things. I can't remember when the last time it rained on the 4th! It's usually blistering hot, with no merciful clouds in sight.

This year, as we were out on the prairie, attempting to have a picnic and get in some shooting time, it started to sprinkle.

No big deal. We read the weather report before we went. It said 40% chance of scattered thunderstorms.

I think they meant to say 95% chance of solid downpour with clouds that scream "Run for your life! A tornado is coming!"

We sat in the car and watched it sprinkle for about forty five minutes, while listening to the Rockies win a baseball game in what I believe was the 14th inning, and the longest game in the history of Coors Field Stadium.

Then the rain began to come down a little harder. We looked to the heavens and noticed the seemingly harmless clouds had taken on a mind of their own and evolved into one big, dark rain cloud, hovering over our honey tree picnic.

"That doesn't look good," I said to Shaun as he took a bite of his hot dog.

"No it doesn't" he agreed.

Without saying much more, we loaded up the targets, grill, food, etc. and hightailed it out of there like this mama cow decided to follow through on her threat to kill me if I came any closer to her baby:

However, we did get in a few good target practice sessions. And we left with our bellies full. Nevermind the heartburn that followed due to eating greasy bratwursts and running from the cloud of doom simultaneously.

A few pics of the whole weekend:

We were bombed. ;)

This one reminds me of rain and palm trees!!

Old Glory!! The next four pics are our view before the fireworks started. I know ... it's a tough, being out here where scenery is scarce. ;)

What Jessie does when she sees a bumble bee ....

Shooting on the prairie

Hope you had a great weekend celebrating the birth of our country. It would be easy to lament about how much freedom has been taken away from us up to this point. But choosing to focus on how much we as a country are blessed with, even in these tumultuous times, produces a happier, thankful heart.

God bless America, land that I love!

Single Sentence Saturday

Courtesy of Photobucket

"It is by the goodness of God that we have in our country three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either." ~Mark Twain

Winning Pic

Thanks so much to each one of you who voted on my last post! It was interesting to see what everyone liked, and I think all y'all have similar tastes to mine.

The overriding fave was pic #15, with Jessie and Peter on their way to find work the dirt path.

However ... when choosing a picture for the sidebar, I think visitors might want to see their cute little faces.

Just a hunch.

So I'm going to go with the second place winner, which is pic #12.

I am totally in love with this picture, because it really does their cute little faces justice. And here on Prairie Tales, justice is high priority.

That's why I'm so ticked off about the signing of the Obamacouldntcarelessaboutthewellbeingofthiscountry Obamacare bill going into effect.

But that's another post.

Thanks again for participating, and for blessing my socks off in general.

~Brenda

Book Review: Rediscovering God In America

If you love U.S. History, God, and America, get this book!

One of my goals in life is to tour Washington D.C., but until then, this book served as a sneak peek of what I will find when I finally make the trip. Beautiful photography by Newt Gingrich's wife, Callista, is all throughout the book, giving the reader a second best tour of many of the main historical monuments and memorials. From the Lincoln Memorial to the Arlington Cemetery, Callista's photography is eye candy worthy to behold.

The book's main theme is to remind us of our rich, Christian heritage. Through Callista's photography, and Newt's vast knowledge of the sites, we are given a history lesson of how God, Providence, and Christianity are common themes throughout the rising and upkeep of our nation. If you have any doubt as to whether our country was shaped by the belief that we are a nation under God, read this book. You'll discover that there's no denying that our forefather's (and many recent presidents) believed that religion is an essential component to our nation's survival, as is seen on the permanent etchings throughout the sites of our nation's capitol.

This book will renew your love for our nation, and your resolve to preserve our precious freedoms.

~Brenda

You can learn more about and purchase Rediscovering God In America, by Newt and Callista Gingrich by clicking here.

In God We Still Trust

I'm amazed that so many American's want to get rid of God in every way they possibly can. Removing God from everything. Our speech, our money, our schools ...

I even understand where they're coming from. Denying God and His existence is part of being a fallen human being. And even though I am a child of God, I still live my life at times as though God isn't here, isn't in control, isn't numero uno in my life.

But that doesn't mean He's not any of those things.

He is.

Whether I acknowledge it or not. Whether you acknowledge it or not. And whether either one of us live like it or not.

Removing Him from our culture does not remove Him. It's simply a denial of Him. I could deny that oxygen exists too, because I can't see it. But that doesn't mean it's not there. Oxygen, whether I believe it exists or not, will continue to be there and keep me alive. I don't have to believe in it for it to be real. And so it is with God.

Denial of Him is your choice, of course. But if you could see in advance what that denial would bring, or know your history and see where it has taken other cultures, I would hope that you would have the sense to turn that denial into belief.

So I'm shouting from the rooftops of my little sod hut house today for America to wake up and leave God in the equation. Know your history, folks. See for yourself how intertwined God and the forefathers of this country were. God made this country great, and it's only God that can keep it great. And when we think and act contrary to that ... well ... that's when it all starts to crumble.

This crumbling, this tearing down of our foundation that was built on solid rock, only to replace it with quicksand is a painful ordeal to watch.

Do I think it's too late?

No. I don't. And my prayer is that we'll see our mistake before that solid rock foundation is completely replaced with the quicksand. Because we all know that building on quicksand won't hold what we're building upright. We'll fall, and we'll do it because we thought we knew better than God ... in fact, we thought we were God.

The following song is something my brother sent to me via email. I hadn't heard it before because it's been shunned by major radio stations. Labeled as "politically incorrect."

It's a simple, true, and convicting message about still trusting in God. Keeping Him in the equation. And being wise enough to keep Him as our solid rock foundation.

So sit back, turn the volume up high, and enjoy these awesome lyrics, music, and pictures.

And ... you might want to bundle up ... so folks don't see your goosebumps.

The song you are about to listen to is from a Las Vegas Diamond Rio concert. They received an immediate, resounding standing ovation, and continue to do so everytime they perform it!
Sadly, major radio stations wouldn't play it because it was considered "politically incorrect." Consequently, the song was never released to the public. So, America, see what you think.. If this offering speaks to your heart and you feel you want to share it with friends and loved ones, please do.





~Brenda

Blessings and Bummers

There's a blog carnival going on over at Fort Thompson. The idea is to post an oldie, but goodie. Or I should say re-post and oldie, but goodie. I chose this post because I think it's good to be reminded of our country's need for prayer, and to remain thankful for the freedom's that we do still have.

So without further adiue ... my oldie, but goodie ...






Happy 4th of July to all my Lovely Lurkers!!!

I hope your day is filled with thankfulness for your country, your freedom, for those who have sacrificed and are sacrificing so much so that you can have that freedom, and most of all, for the freedom to worship as you so choose.

I have to confess that I write this post with mixed feelings about my country. While we are so incredibly blessed, I believe we are also experiencing some major bummers where the good ol' U. S. of A. is concerned.

We are blessed to have so many freedoms. But I am bummed that some of those freedoms seem to be slipping away from us.

Government is becoming more and more of an influence in our lives, sticking its nose in where it shouldn't, and controlling things it has no business controlling. I wish more people understood that the government is here for us. Not to control every aspect of our lives, our children's lives, our parents lives.

And I am bummed about that.

I am bummed that Mr. Obama is in office.

There. I said it.

And I'm not even sorry for it.

I was bummed when he was elected. I'm not shy about saying that I had high hopes for Sarah Palin. And if I had to commit a necessary evil by voting for John McCain to get Sarah in, then so be it.

However, I still have high hopes for Sarah Palin.

Maybe you heard she resigned as Governor of Alaska today? There's lots of speculation as to why she made that decision, but my hopes are that a 2012 presidential run win is to blame. I can't say I agree with everything Mrs. Palin says and does. But when it comes to major convictions, her and I are nearly two peas in a pod.

And that is not a bummer. That's a blessing.

It's a blessing that people like her can still run for office - and do quite well. Remember, Obama won electorally, but it was a close race where the popular vote was concerned (69,456,897 to 59,934,814, to be exact).

Whether you know and agree with it or not ... our country needs a Sarah Palin. Someone who can stand up and not be afraid to say that murdering unborn children is unacceptable. Even when they're diagnosed with Down's Syndrome, or any other ailment (who lives and who does not is not our decision - it's God's). Someone who is not afraid to say and live the belief that less government is a good thing. Someone who is not afraid to lower taxes. And someone who is not afraid to keep God at the forefront of her life, family, and country.

More than needing a Sarah Palin, our country needs God. God the Father, God the Son, Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit.

The blessings we are experiencing in America today are a direct result of two things:

1. Our forefathers building the foundation of this country upon Biblical principles and values.

2. A God who is slow to wrath. Gracious. And forgiving.

It is a blessing that I am able to experience the incredible freedom that I do, over 200 years after those incredibly wise forefathers penned our Constitution.

It is a bummer to see that slowly, but surely, slipping away. But I have high hopes that the people of this country will heed these wise words found in 2 Chronicles 7:14:


If my people, who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

A precious promise, a simple solution, and an incredible challenge.

But what a blessing it would be if it came to pass.

~Brenda

**Photo courtesy of Luiz Castro on Flickr