One of My Favorite Thoughts

I was going through papers today when I ran across this quote/poem. I feel that it really describes experiences I've had with people, particularly this year. I've had opportunities to make new friends and grow deeper friendships with friends made since moving here to Wyoming. I truly believe that they have come into my life for specific purposes before some of them have moved on. To all of them "thank you" for being there for me.

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They may seem like a godsend and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it, it is real.
But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must
build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

TODAY
THANK THE PERSON WHO IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER HAVE BEEN PART OF YOUR LIFE
Even if a small way you can make them feel
That you are indeed thankful for their
Presence as well as the beautiful moments that they have given -
No matter if they are your reason, season, or your lifetime. :)

Special Gifts of Christmas 2010

I got two presents this year that mean a lot to me. I know that the women who gave them to me have compassion and understanding of the things I have encountered in the last year. They both told me when giving me the present that these things had special meaning for them also.

From Anne...
Each stanza begins with Be Strong!

We are not here to play, to dream, to drift.
We have hard work to do and loads to lift.
Shun not the struggle: face it. 'Tis God's gift.

Say not the days are evil, - Who's to blame?
And fold not the hands and acquiesce, - 0 shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God's name.

It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong.
How hard the battle goes, the day, how long.
Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.

But my favorite gift was from my friend, Trina. She gave me one, as well as Joe. As you can see from the picture there is a clear Christmas ball with a white feather and tiny crystal-looking beads. There is a little note attached which reads:

I am an angel feather sent from God serve to serve as a reminder to you of His precious love.

I am from your guardian angel that God has sent to you. It fell out in her struggles as she protected you.

Each time you almost stumble, each time you almost fall, Thank God and all of his angles for answering your call.

Christmas Presents 2010

Santa was very good to us this year in the way of presents. Some came a little early and some came on Christmas Day. I received this pocket camera. I know, I know, I already have a really great camera with a couple of zoom lenses that takes wonderful pictures, but this one is very small and fits into my purse. It can be used spontaneously since it goes with me every where my wallet goes. Joe wanted a cassette tape recorder so that he could listen to "books on tape" while he is at dialysis to help him pass the time. He now has a library card and is able to check out these tapes on a regular basis.

I got me a "notebook" recently which I am really enjoying. I had been wanting one since last year and finally took the plunge and got one. After Joe spent so much time in the hospital this year, I decided it was time to get one to help pass the time while sitting in his hospital room. It's also come in handy when waiting on car repairs or anyplace I know I'll have to wait. I also got it connected to my Skype account last week since it has a built-in web cam and was able to show Mom and Dad what the snow looked like outside our home. I look forward to the opportunity to share other parts of our lives outside and around Casper.

Joe also got some new slacks and sweaters that he can wear to church. He's lost so much weight in the last few months that his suits no longer fit him. I felt he needed some new clothing that fits him to help boost his self-esteem. He also got new long-sleeved shirts that are essential when he goes for dialysis as he has to wear shirts that button down the front to have access to his "ports".

We also now have a telephone in every room of the house, including the bathroom. I purchased a type that has a talking caller ID, lights flash when it rings and it is very loud. That way Joe has access to a telephone in case someone calls and/or he needs to get to a phone quickly.

I also got some new cookbooks that I'd heard about. These books give you the recipes to some of the great dishes or items served in national brand restaurants i.e. Applebee's, Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Red Lobster and the list goes on and on. I am looking forward to trying out some of my favorites.

I also got this cookbook that has crockpot recipes for diabetics. I look forward to making recipes for Joe and I using this book.
My greatest gift this Christmas though is knowing that Joe wasn't and hasn't been in the hospital for the entire month of December *as I quietly type this*. He is slowly gaining strength mentally and physically and that's worth more to me than all the things listed below.

Field City

After leaving Newcastle, we girls passed through the site of Field City. (Click on picture and read sign). This town was created in 1889 and before the year was over, it had gone bust.

Before the railroad laid its iron rails, a speculator by the name of DeLoss Tubbs from nearby Custer, SD, took a gamble. Tubbs planned to erect a city along what he believed to be the most logical path for the railroad to follow. Called Tubbtown (in reality Field City), the little frontier community provided a great deal of excitement during its short existence. With few laws and many saloons, Tubbtown was located east of Newcastle near the hand-dug oil well site. One of its more famous visitors was Calamity Jane.

Tubbtown lost its entire population when it was bypassed by the railroad. On September 10, 1889, when lots went on sale in Newcastle, Tubbtown moved lock, stock and whiskey barrel to the new town.

Leftovers from the town...

Included in the town is the sight of the world's only hand dug producting well...

South Dakota With The Girls

Back in September, Trina, Jeannette and I left our husbands at home and headed out for a Girl's Day Out - in South Dakota. It was Trina's birthday and after Joe and I celebrated with her and her husband at a ranch in Montana, we had to do something different this year. So, Trina decided that we needed to go to South Dakota to see Bear Country. Trina's hubby was in working in a North Dakota oilfield and Jeannette and I left our hubbies home.

We left Casper about 7:00 a.m. and drove to Trina's home about 1 hour north. Driving along the road, we spied these birds. I don't remember what kind they were, but they were interesting.

I had no idea that the Texas Trail come up so far until we saw this historical marker...(click on the picture and read the interesting facts).

We passed through a small town just before heading into South Dakota called Newcastle and spied this sign and went to check it out.

The museum was named after Anna Cecelia McMoran Miller, the daughter of a pioneer family, and the widow of Sheriff Billy Miller, who was killed in what is known as the last Indian battle in the area. She was Newcastle’s first librarian, a pioneer schoolteacher and school superintendent

The Jenny Stockade Cabin shown below is the oldest existing building of the Black Hills gold rush. It was also a stage station along the Cheyenne Deadwood Trail.

An outhouse...

Typical school in 1890...

The old school bell...

Typical pioneer cabin...

The 2010 Tifton Christmas Parade

Friday I'd stuck neon pink and green Post-It notes in strategic places in the house. I even put one on the front door so I'd see it when coming into the house - just in case I forgot. Saturday I hurriedly picked up Joe from dialysis so we'd make it on time. There was no time for stopping to converse with the antelope herd standing by the side of the road. There was no time to sit and look at the new cover of snow on top of the mountains. There was no time to sit for long at the one stop sign and the six stop lights before we could pull up in front of the house. It was parade day! It was going to be time to see the majority of Cattell clan family members walking and riding in the 2010 parade edition. It was 3:08 when we walked into the house and we headed straight back to the office just in time to...wait! We had to wait for almost 1/2 hour, but we were ready.

It was fun sitting in front of the computer screen identifying people and places and listening to Hayward and Glenda's voices. How familiar that was. At one time Hayward seemed to have lost the focus and clarity on his picture so I called his TV studio and spoke with Glenda. I have known them both for many, many years, but she was a bit surprised to hear that I was calling from Casper, Wyoming. Upon her return to the street, she mentioned to Hayward that I called and I could hear all that conversation. Ain't technology a wonderful thing?!

So here we are already and waiting for the parade to start...

Then finally there was the family. And there was the flash from my camera on the computer, but there was the family!

And then there were more Cattell clan peoples all in their red tee-shirted glory...

How excited and grateful I was to see them. Though I wasn't able to see and recognize everyone, how grateful I was to see my family. How I wish though that they'd walked slower, driven slower, waved slower so that those few seconds could have been extended.

Thank you family members for doing this. I don't know the reasoning behind this two year tradition, but it brings immense comfort to me since I'd not seen any of those persons for almost seven months.

Thank you Hayward and Glenda for taking the time and effort to do things like this. How blessed I felt when I was able to watch my family because of you.