Days 16 - 17

Day 16 is a Picture of someone who inspires you - easy. I'll even pick someone that I'm not related to/consider family. In fact, I'll pick 4 someones that are incredible to me. Then, of course explain myself.

Stacy Westfall.

She is SUCH an incredible horsewoman. Her reining performance with her horse, Roxy, makes me cry every time I see it because it so perfectly illustrates what riding your horse is SUPPOSED to be. Pure trust & partnership. GOD I love her.
Westfall Horsemanship

Chris Cox.

This gentleman inspires me just because his training style is very much like the one that I was taught to use. He explains things differently than I do, but I love the man's style and after meeting him, I have to say, he really IS the class act he appears to be. God Bless 'im.
Incredible gear, and dvd's can be found here: Chris Cox Horsemanship

Ree Drummond

The Pioneer Woman. Radical rambunctious redhead of Oklahoma. I found her website quite by accident, before all the hubbub about the cookbook, and love story came out. About 6 months before, so I can't really say that I was a fan from the get go. I found her site by finding her love story. That was the first exposure to PW for me, and I was hooked from the story --- and then I saw her recipes!!! I never .... NEVER try other folk's recipes. It's just not me, but I tried hers, and she is good. She cooks in a style similar to what I'm used to, and I have learned from her website - some cooking, but mostly photography & PS tutorials. Thanks, PW, even though you do not know I exist. :D You can find her at The Pioneer Woman

Maggie Dammit

This woman right here..... this woman is inspirational, strong, and OH, so supportive & sensitive. She is the founder for Violence Unsilenced. It is another blog that I found quite by accident, but it totally changed my outlook. It helped me in ways I didn't know I needed help, and let me speak out as well. Thank you, Maggie. You are so loved by so many. Please, keep up the great work!!! She also bloggs at Okay, Fine, Dammit.

Day 17 is a pictureof someone who has made a huge impact on your life. Well, that's easy too. Only, I don't have pics of all of those folks. All I can do is name them: Larry, Larry, David, Daddy, Ma, Gramma Flash, Grampa Clyde, Gramma Lil, Grampa Harry, Gramma Valenti, Dona, my MIL - Barb, and FIL, Larry (though I never did get time with them before they passed), my sisters - Laurie & Jennyfair, my BFF's Jennie, Deanna, Nikki, Jenn, Blondie, Amy & Crystal. Mrs.Ball, Alex & VK. Huge, important people, and there are so so many more. I have been blessed.

A Break In the Picture Challenge. Good News & Bad

A break was required. So, I guess I failed the 31 day picture challenge. Boo. That's OK. I have good reason. Good news, and bad news.

First, the bad news, so I have a way to look up.

At the very tail end of February, my Grandmother, as pictured in the post immediately before this one, had a massive heart attack, followed by a very abbreviated stay in the hospital. Abbreviated, because she refused any and all invasive treatments. Basically, if it wasn't treatable with medication, she wanted no part of it.
So, she went onto hospice, and came back to my folks house. That was on Sunday. She passed away early the following Friday morning.
So, I have been trying to grieve. And not doing such a great job at it. Partly because, well ... she lived and died the way she wanted to. She was 89/90 depending on what record you believe.
I had to keep it together. For the family. And, for myself. You see, I pushed myself to try and speak at her funeral last Monday.
And, I did it.
Kind of. I did speak, though not eloquently, and not to the degree that her memory deserved, but I gave it my best shot, and did well enough .... until I spotted her coffin. I lost my voice, and my composure.
But, not one other person in the church that knew her could even try, so I think I did well enough.
God bless you, Gram. I know you're OK now. I know your wait to see Grampa Clyde is over, and you're together again. And, that 51 year wait to see your firstborn son is over now too. The three of you are back together, and I promise I will do my best to keep mom & dad happy enough.



Now, the Good news, and ironically, something that I would like to think Gramma would have been proud of me for.

I spoke out.

I spoke out against violence on women. Actually, I did this months ago, but now it's my turn to be featured on THE most incredible blogs I have had the pleasure to read.

I heard from MaggieDammit - the genius behind Violence Unsilenced that it was my turn.

I am honored to be a part of this incredible movement. Maggie is inspirational, as are all of the folks that have been guest speakers/authors/survivors on Violence Unsilenced.

Now, I will try to warn you that although I do not have as terrifying or heartbreaking a story it is still an insight as to WHY I am the way I am. It was certainly a pivotal moment in my childhood that I can't quite get out of my head. It was a moment in time that damaged the way I view men that aren't part of my family. But, it's also a moment that I constantly remind myself of .... that it could have been worse. It could have been horrible.

Please, support the brave souls that speak out, and back them up. Even a few kind words can be all the difference.