Happenings on the Ranch

My weekend on the ranch began with bawling cows "pacing" up and down the lane looking for "lost" calves. They knew where they lost them, but they were unaware of the fact that the calves had left the ranch permanently. I didn't think that I would sleep a wink with all that noise, but it is amazing how well one can sleep with the "sound of money" all around. We will go through it all again when we wean the heifers and send the neighbor's calves to town.


I walked into the house and was greeted with a blast of heat. Chip had left the curtains open all day while he was gone and the sun had warmed the house to a stifling 80+ degrees. I opened the windows hoping to cool the place down. I guess we have better insulation than I thought, as it didn't cool down very well.

I decided this week that I "needed" to spend the day at the flea market in Belle Fourche. I enjoy doing it once in awhile. I figured without counting gas expense, I made $0.80, however, I sold a pile of Matchbox Cars that all monies went to a church in Florida and I regained some money for my sister. I was totally amazed how the attitude changed toward the matchbox cars when I informed people that the money was going to a church. I met one guy who owns over 3000 matchbox cars. He has one that is worth about that much in dollars.

It has been one of those weeks where I have felt like I haven't done anything in life worth while. I started counting my mistakes instead of my accomplishments. Definitely not a good thing to do when one has made as many mistakes as I have. Then when I was at my lowest, I thought about my book. There was a time when I was really excited about finishing it, but the publishing company has really run me (us) through the wringer. (You remember those old wringer washing machines?) I started wondering if I should have bothered writing it, but must finish what I have started. The good news is that the latest date it will be printed is November 26th and it should be on my doorstep by December 3rd.

Then to top it off, I decided to dye my hair. Talk about dark! I washed it twice before I would let myself be seen in public. It is starting to look like my normal hair color now after several washings. The students laughed and said, "She dyed her hair and her name is Dye!" Then they had to ask me what color my hair really was. I told them "Gray" and they said, "No, when you were in high school." That was so long ago, I can't remember.

After a week of discouragement, Dr. Jeremiah said in his devotional that even mistakes work for the glory of God. I especially like the quote at the end that says.

Just because you make mistakes doesn't mean you are one. Anonymous