It's a bikers dream!

Awe, the joys of the bike search!  (*tongue in cheek)

In our nearly 12 years of marriage, we have owned 4 Harley Davidson motorcycles; a red, a black, a chopper, and a blue.  One was a Heritage Springer Softtail, one a Crossbones, the third; a custom, and the fourth... not sure, possibly a Fat Boy.  You see, I'm not the Harley expert.  This man is:

Proudly stands beside the rat bike - Number 3!

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The bike we rode while dating was, truly, his dream bike; a Springer Softtail.  He has kicked himself for years for getting rid of it. 

I can tell you exactly where we were when I knew I had fallen in love with this man.  We were on this bike coming back from The Buckhorn Opera House.  We stopped at the Flame to shoot some pool with my brother, Todd.  I fell in love on the back of my husbands beautiful red and black Springer Softtail. Trading this bike off broke my heart for both financial and sentimental reasons. 

I wanted so badly to ride that I attempted it for awhile.  My sweetheart rode a Greyhound bus all the way to Tennessee to get me a bike.  She was a BEAUTY!  A black sportster, all decked out with fringe and silver conchos.  I loved her.  

This was when my honey was riding the Harley Crossbones.  The Crossbones was, indeed, a super gorgeous bike and together we made a pretty SEXY couple, if I do say so myself.  What an adventure!

During a time of personal famine... Heavenly Father blessed us with the ability to sell my bike for the exact amount needed to purchase a car when I desperately needed one.  I know that this was one of God's tender mercies, even though it stung at the time. 

We also no longer had the Crossbones so sometime later, we traveled to Tucson and purchased the custom chopper.  Our son, Nelson, went along and the two of them rode back like Los Pirados with the wind in their hair and leather on their back!

Unfortunately, like most customs, this bike let us down time after time.  It might have nickel and dimed us to death had we not finally sold it. 

Soon after, enter rad blue Fat Boy (?).  Found Blue at a pawn shop for a smoking price.  Hubs paid cash and rode it home.  It was seriously reliaqble and more than worth the $$$.  Kinda, wait! No, terribly sad to see it go, however, it provided the down payment on our place.  Once again, Heavenly Father blessed us through a Harley!

Every time my husband sells a bike, for whatever the reason... need cash, not happy with it, car needs work, or washing machine dies... he makes a sound position that he will never want for a bike again; that he could easily die a happy man without a Harley. Nevertheless, I married a die-hard, true-through-and-through biker.  Not the kind that comes with a beer gut and multiple tattoos, or that needs a near naked, foul-mouthed chick hanging off the back. He is not the biker that rides 10 miles and downs a six-pack before returning to the saddle.  He does not need to impress or pretend to be anything he is not.  He is merely a man who loves the ride... not the stop.  He is a God fearing family man.  He wants to feel the wind, hear the roar, and be one with the road.  This man was born to ride.  It is his saving grace and his birthright. 

For this reason his emphatic and prophetic proclamation only bears well for a few months.  But then the search begins!  Hours on Craigslist, Facebook, and Cycle Trader.  Hours and hours and hours...

 
Our desktop wallpaper changes virtually daily with, yet another, favorite motorcycle from one of these advertising sell sites.   A virtual wish list, if you will.  It's possible his very sanity rests on knowing that he will ride again. 

The search has been more difficult this time.  As we have carefully budgeted in an effort to eliminate our debts by retirement, our market is limited.  There are some crazy, sexy, beautiful bikes out there.  The right one will come along.  Meanwhile, we wish.  It pains me to see him want so badly but I also believe that the perfect motorcycle will come along at the perfect time.  My handsome biker and I will throw on some leather and you will hear the roar of our Harley as he takes me down the road for a Dr. Pepper.  We WILL cruise life at it's pinnacle without a care in the world...

Missing Bike 4 - Blue

Taking a New Direction

 Today, I decided I need to head myself upstream!  As I have floated, following a current that may be wild one day and peaceful and smooth the next, I have somewhat lost myself.  Today, I swim, with all my might, against the current.

In several areas of my life, I must decide where I want to go... and take the road that will most likely lead me there.  These areas include getting healthy, working on my spiritual self, disallowing negativity to swallow me, prioritizing my everyday activities, and remembering how much I love the things that I love! <3 nbsp="" p="">
So let's see... what can I do.  First I'm going to identify my target behaviors that create guilt or discomfort.  I'm going to use positive affirmation every morning.  Why shouldn't I?  I am the most awesome person today!

Let's reinforce good behaviors and let go of the ones that self-sabotage!  I AM NO FAILURE!  I rock.  

And tomorrow I'm going to wake up and start my day by loving the most important people in my life! 

The Greatest Family on Earth!

Toxic Sludge

Toxic people scare me a little.  Not a physical fear... or a fear of danger or death.  But a toxic person can do more harm to one's soul than all the evil in the world.  I read something today.  "You either get bitter or you get better.  It's that simple.  You either take what has been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down.  The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you."  The author credited for this quote is Josh Shipp. 

Today a family member sent me horrible and atrocious messages via Facebook.  I was hurt and appalled.  They came out of the blue.  But I'm okay.  I'll survive.  I did not spend over 50 years on this planet for nothing.  I have faced toxic sludge before. 

What sent me reeling is when my daughter, who I love more than life, received much worse texts.  Someone said... well, he's probably drunk.  It does not matter.  No person anywhere at anytime has the right to say the kind of things he said.  Family or not, he has overstepped... 

I certainly have enough sludge in my gall-bladder.  I do not need the B.S. that he has brought to the table.  Be off with you!

I look forward to a better day tomorrow! 

"...Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction" Jacob 3:1

Up and Onward

For the last four years I have poured myself into a full time education... one that my husband never thought I would complete.  Well, I showed him.  I will graduate in May, 2015 with a BS in Psychology and I have never felt more proud.  I have to confess, completion has surprised me a tad as well.  

For economical and family reasons, I cannot pursue Psychology at the Master's level.  It would entail leaving my home and family for the next few years and that is not an option for me.  However, I decided to take the world by storm, to follow the advice of Gandhi:  "In a gentle way, you can shake the world."  

I applied to the Masters of Social Work program.  Everyday the excitement mounts.  And now the icing on the cake; a letter of acceptance!

I will be a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) by May of 2017, barring any catastrophe or unexpected calamity.  Please, End-of-the-World, hold off!  

Some of what I've learned:

*You are never too old to dream - More importantly, you are NEVER too old to FOLLOW a dream!

*A life without a goal is hardly a life at all!

*If I can do this, ANYONE can!

"You have brains in your head.  

You have feet in your shoes. 

You can steer yourself any 

direction you choose."  Dr. Seuss

   

Lost blogger returns!

I haven't blogged in so long, I've forgotten how!

I apologize.

My baby turned 13 yesterday.  The last of 5 teens I've had the privilege of borrowing from Heavenly Father to teach, enlighten, and guide through this earthly life.

Life with Gavin has been different.  As an older mother, I had more patience. I am more flexible.  I am a better communicator.  My older children probably think he is just "one spoilt brat!"  The truth is, I am different.  I am a much better mother with him than I was with them.  And I am sorry for that.  I am sorry that with my older children, I was young and quite stupid at times.  So many times, I wish I could go back and do things differently.  Unfortunately, that is not an option.  But, really, if I had done things different, I might not have this to prize:

This picture is fairly recent but there have been additions.  I love them all.  I'm so very proud of them.  They teach me life in ways I could have never imagined.


But today, I have another teenager.  I want to do this right.  I want to teach Gavin to be kind to all he meets.  I want Gavin to appreciate the good in everyone.  I want Gavin to love life and to live every minute fully.  He is such an incredible kid; full of happiness and vivacity.  He has truly been a very special gift from God.  I hope that, in my mothering, I never smother or diminish his spirit. 
Gavin is my person.

Losing Casey

(Madison and Casey ~ 2011)







(Jadyn and Casey ~ 2009)


In September we lost a part of our family; a very large part. Casey, my beloved boxer, went to doggie heaven. It was a very sad time. In 2001, my four oldest children gave me Casey as a Valentine's gift. She was a very wonderful dog.




From the moment we brought Casey home, she was family. Being single at the time, she became my devoted companion. Although she was mine, she loved the kids with all her heart. She never had a mean bone in her body.






(Jarren and Casey ~ 2009)






In fact, the grandchildren could climb all over her and she never made a sound. She was Jarren's footstool. Even if he used the top of her head to climb onto the couch, she just let him... then she'd move on.







(Jadyn and Casey ~ 2008)



And above all else...
She became Gavin's best friend. They both entered our home in 2001 and they were truly devoted to each other. Sometimes she would chase Gavin down the hall, knock him over and nibble on the top of his head; Gavin giggling all the while. Boxers are so docile and loving.






(Gavin and Casey ~ 2008)
















(Gavin and Casey ~ 2009)















(Gavin and Casey 2011)


Although she was truly my dog... in every way, she loved the kids with all her heart. She wanted to be where they were. She loved the grandchildren as well as the family she had grown up and known her entire life. Today, she rests peacefully under the cottonwood tree in the back of the pasture. We've found a new dog that we are already learning to love. But, still, I miss Casey every day. I <3 you, my Casey dog!



(Casey 2008)


My Casey Dog
RIP
2000 - 2011

DIY simple Idea

My son decided he needed a quick room update! He is 10 now and tired of the stuffed animals, the "cutesie" spiderman comforter, and the neon green dresser. After a trip to Walmart where he chose the paint color, we got started.




















I found sports decals, Dad helped put up the airsoft guns in a great display, new comforter, a little elbow grease, new poster and Viola! a perfect pre-teen room.







One of my favorite tricks came when I was trying to think of some way to display his baseballs. It dawned on me; the perfect baseball display were some crystal votive candle holders in my china hutch. They were ideal!