December Musings: Day 12

Do you ever have a moment where you stop and ask yourself, "How did I get here?" 

Well I have them. 

I have them quite often. 

A few weeks ago, I looked around and found myself sitting at a rodeo and really, I mean intensely, excited about watching "mutton busting" and surrounded by amazing people. 

That's right, click that link to find out what mutton busting or mutton bustin' as it is more accurately pronounced is.  I tried to explain it to my girlfriends a few days ago, and they looked at me like I was crazy. 

"You strap your kid to a sheep?" was the reaction that I got. 

So as I was there, drinking beer and cheering on bareback riders and bull riders, and I stopped and realized that (as odd as this sounds) if I have children I would like for them to be exposed to all sorts of things, including rodeos. 

Then, as we were leaving, Big Mike and I proceeded to laugh more than we had in a very, very, very long time.  We spent the rest of the evening with Big Mike's best childhood friend and his wife, doing grown up things and drinking grown up drinks.  But before we left, I snapped a few funny shots!  Enjoy! 

Mike hanging out with the broncos..

Mike teaching Trisha the proper way to feed a bull...

Jon and Mike hanging out after the rodeo in the ticket booth...

December Musings: Day 11

I looked at this stamp all day on Wednesday, and smiled. 

What is it?  It's a stamp to prove I was at The Mint in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. 

Why does it make me smile?  Because when I see it, bits and pieces of the concert come back to me in musical and love-filled bursts. 

Burst of lyrics such as "my first love was a wicked, twisted road" or "God bless America, but God damn Uncle Sam" or my personal favorite, "I still do" which is a tribute to a man's guitar (but a kick ass love song!).

 The one, crappy, cell phone, blurry photo I got of Reckless Kelly.  Boo hoo.  Oh well!  Enjoy!  Look them up on iTunes!  Go to their website!  Enjoy! 

December Musings: Day 10

For you...Happy Holidays!

December Musings: Day 6

This is a quick shot I took yesterday at Crossroads.  As some of you may know, I moved a few months ago and I was sort of scouting around for a new church.  I've recieved invitation to a few churches, but I've seen a few things that didn't really make me want to attend them for one reason or another. 

Then I found out that the pastor that brought me back to the Lord and is a main reason that I was baptized back in 2001 had switched churches, and he was now closer to me! 

Needless to say, my friend & I have been attending the church together and we are literally moved to tears every single time that we go.  Her son is enjoying the children's ministry, we've both loved the different musicians that lead worship every week, and overall the messages have been absolutely amazing. 

This Sunday, Momma Bug & I were blessed to recieve the message of ex-mobster Michael Franzese.  It.  Was.  Fantastic. 

So there it is, I think I've found a home, a congregation, a place to get spiritually fed again.  I find myself excited to go each week, and honestly I was sad to have to skip a week due to a bad cold last week. 

December Musings: Day 4

Do you know what this is? 

Do you understand the glory that I've just discovered? 

Do you know how smart this person is? 

This is a picture from this blog right here, about holiday crafts.  This girl rocks.  She makes all sorts of things and bakes and photographs and has style and well, she's basically cooler than I am. 

But here.  In this one single photo, she's solved one of my major dilemnas: What to do with holiday cards? 

She cuts a circle from them (encompassing as much or as little of the card as you'd like) using a stencil and she sets them on ribbon with clips to use as holiday garland. 

Genious! 

Unbelievable! 

I'm going to do this since I hate throwing away cards and we need a little garland around our new home.  What a perfect way to remember Christmas past! 

Now...who's going to send me my first Christmas card in our new home! 

I cannot wait!

December Musings: Day 3

So it isn't one picture today, it's two. 

A before. 

An after. 

A little girl whom I do not know, but a mother who's words delight me. 

Ready?  Set.  Click.

See?  Wasn't that funny?  I think the shot of her running down the driveway in her skivvies just gets me everytime.

I know I'm not a mother, but I can see this happening to me someday and I can imagine myself taking two steps to grab my child and then stopping and saying "I'd better just take a picture for blackmail later." 

Good job Whispering Writer...

December Musings: Day 2

I saw this yesterday at the LA Times website.

So yesterday, I'm flipping through an LA Times article about Christmas presents for pets and I stumbled upon this little beauty! 

I happen to have 2 Boston Terriers, a 10 year old brindle and white male as well as a 1 year old red and white female.  I've mentioned them multiple times, but just in case you need a visual:

So there I was, faced with a dilemna: These things are $599 each?!?  Okay that's more than a dilemna, I would have to be mentall ill to pay that much money for a coffee table with a pad in it. 

Scratch the word dilemna, I'm no longer even contemplating these things. 

However if I win the big lottery, expect to come to my house and see coffee table/dog crate combinations all over my insanely large house.  That's the only way I'd ever own these things. 

December Musings: Day 1

This is a very important photo to me.  A few months ago, I'm putting around reading my usual blogs and I came across this one: the remnants of a fire that took a house. 

Not just any house, but the house of a woman whose blog I read quite often.  See the original link here.

It took my breath away.  Their house.  Their belongings.  Their identities. 

I read her blog.  I got tears in my eyes near the end when she says, "Finally, I want to tell you that even if everything you’ve ever owned is gone, it’s not the end of the world. It gets easier" because I honestly cannot imagine it getting easier. 

She originally told the story of the fire here, and I cried when she said that her son Tim re-entered the home to save his grandmother who had been sleeping upstair. 

As we enter into this holiday season, think of this picture.  Think of this family.  Think of everything you have in your life and throw a little gratitude up to God. 

Last, but not least, follow Ivory Hut's instructions in her blog about how to prepare for something like this.  Insurance will only get you so far, you need to have a plan...

Live gratefully,

Kipp

December: The Beginning

I'm running around and making all of the necessary arrangements for a wonderful Christmas with my family, but I want to take a second to share with you my list and maybe you can tell me what's on your list?  I need to know if I've missed anything! 

• Put up the Christmas tree. 
• Buy the holiday table trimmings. 
• Hang the stockings by the chimney (with care!). 
• Set the Christmas dinner menu (I am dead set on a prime rib this year, and I don't know why). 
• Take the holiday pictures. 
• Buy the Christmas cards. 
• Start picking up gifts for everyone. 
• Mail the Chrismtas cards. 
• Wrap the gifts for everyone. 
• Start buying the holiday food based upon the afore mentioned menu. 
• Cook the food, give the gifts, sit by the tree, read the cards!  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! 

Am I missing anything?  Did I skip a tradition?  I need to know!  I need to get it right!