This cowboy's hat is hung up with care and waiting till the return on his owner. It will hang on the wall until this cowboy/soldier returns back to swap his combat boots for his cowboy boots with the spurs. This cowboys hat will hang and think about all the times it and his cowboy/soldier has had and think about the fun times they will have when he returns. Sometimes this hat has to sit and hang out by itself while all the other cowboy hats get to go out to hit the rodeo circuits but there is something special about this cowboy hat., it's not like all the other cowboy hats, his owner is out there protecting and defending this great nation so other cowboy hats can ride the open range, chase them lil doogies, ride them wild bulls, but he knows his owner will return home one day. His owner will slap him on his head, and out the door they will go. So see, this cowboy's hat knows he is different then all the others, for his owner is not only a cowboy but also a UNITED STATES SOLDIER. So until the day his owner returns this Cowboy's hat will hang there on the wall with pride and honor.

HE IS HERE

Wednesday July 22 at 5:25pm ....we welcomed Kaleb Micheal into this family...He weighed 8lbs 6oz and was 19in. Lamar is holding him in the picture and I just love this photo of grandson and granddad. So it's official now I have joined the ranks with alot of you gals on Grandmother hood...Man, i'm loving it...

DO WHAT????????????????

Last night started our rodeo weekend here in Pontotoc. As you know I am on the drill-flag team. For the past couple of years us gals has always carryed the different flags of the military branches. Last night when we got there , got all dolled up, got our horses saddled and ready to groom, we got informed that this year we all would be carrying the flags to the different events in rodeo. WHOA NELLY!!!! DO WHAT?????????? You mean to tell me that now the Pontotoc Unit is deployed out and these guys need to know that the county is behind them and supporting them, We Are Not Carrying The Military Flags?????? Man, that's is just wrong, bad wrong! Then we get told about 30 minutes before our preformance that our routine has changed. Some of us gals was wondering just exactly what Robbie had been smoking? There are 3 of us who is the ones who is one the team every year...our position never changes then we have 3 different ones every year...let me explain...there are us 3 who is on the team and we stay..then every year the new ones who have been crowned the rodeo queens like MRS. RODEO, MISS RODEO, and TEEN MISS RODEO(only if the winner is an excellent rider and capable of handling her horse). Us older ones(the ones who never changes) knew we could hit our marks without praticing but we knew the new ones wouldn't. I'm the first one in so I had chatted with my sisters and we decided we would keep our old routine and between us old gals we would put the news ones in between us. So when those gates opened last night...we done our old routine. Every one hit their marks. Tonight we ride again. I'm not running this weekend...just didn't have the desire to.

Like I stated in the earlier post....my computer died and now I'm on a borrowed one. Still trying to figure out how to use a laptop. thinking the next one I buy may just be one of these. I chatted with JB this moring. It wasn't a long chat but just hearing something from him makes my day so much better and sweeter. He is doing good.
My garden is coming along. Or rather everything but my tomatoes. I have been buying them from the amish. I have not really had time to ride. I started a new job about 3 weeks ago and I have been putting in some hours. I work anywhere from 7 to 11 hours Mon thru Thru and all day on Fridays. It has really helped not only the paycheck but keeping my mind busy.
I may not get to visit each and everyone of you. It's because I had saved your blogs on my old computer but now with this one....I can't remember where you all are at....Could I have some help over here please.lol

I'M STILL A LIVE.....OR SO I THINK....

my computer had crashed...then i forgot my email and password to this.....I know...Just have had a lot on my mind. JB is in Iraq. He is doing ok. The days are long and lonesome here. I have my moments where all I do is cry..

the day he left....I didn't want to let go

the day he left.....

Guess you can tell that I'm very proud of Jon Brandon and I love him

THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR BABY'S SMELL....

The other day when it was time for JB to leave out he called and told me to meet him in town for he had left his cap and wanted me to bring it to him. I only had about 2 miles to go to where I was meeting him. All the way there, Yes, I did do it, I smelled his cap.

You remember when you had your child and the moment the nurses laid that sweet bundle of joy in your arms and you lean down and that child has this sweet aroma? You just lay there and inhale that aroma like you are memorizing it. And as that child grows, they still have their own sweet smell. It doesn't matter if they have just had a bath or been outside and grubby and nasty, that smell their own smell is there. And as that child grows up and into adulthood that aroma is still there.

So see that day I was taken back to the first time I held my child and inhaled that sweet aroma. It brought back memories of when he was growing up and me just holding him to get a whiff of his smell.

It was like I was trying to get all his smell to last me through this next year till he returns. You know what? Sitting here, I can still remember his smell.

WHEW......DIDN'T KNOW IT HAS BEEN THAT LONG.......

I guess time just zips past us when we are busy and unaware of the outside world. Excatly one week from today JB leaves out and yes, it's killing me. I just try to stay strong and not let anyone mainly JB see the effects it's having on me. Here is the thing....my family thinks I have to be the strong one while they fall apart. I only fall apart in the privacy of myself.
Things around here are still just as hetic. I have been trying to get my garden plowed and ready to plant. I moved it this year to a different spot. The place where I have always had it just really wasn't the best growing spot. I hope this year with me planting in a different place I will actually have a great harvest.
I have been getting in alot of riding. Went to the rodeo last weekend. Had a great run but wasn't fast enough for any money. I have a NBHA barrel race this Saturday so maybe I have a chance at either getting points or atleast a lil money.
I broke my right thumb last weekend at the rodeo. My mare blows so hard sometimes coming off barrels that when we came off the 3rd she jerked me up and somehow I hit the saddle horn and broke my thumb. I still rode the crap out of her coming out and when I got her stopped I told Chris that I had done something to my thumb. It's not as painful now as it first was.
I'm gonna try and get to everyones blogs today and check on ya.

Below are some pictures that was made the other day for the Send off for the Troops. Also is a letter I wrote to JB that I'm giving him the day he gets on that plane to head out to unknown land. Please keep the 1-98th Calvary in your prayers along with their families. A lot of these guys are very young and some have families they are leaving behind. These young men and women are taking the stand to go into something that we probably wouldn't do. They are going to experience things and see things that would make us grown folks run and hide. I also ask that you dig out your American flag and fly that flag with pride and honor. The American flag isn't just to flown on special days, it is to be flown every day. I know that every day I'm very proud and honored to live in this great America. So, if you would, get that flag out, knock off the dust and proudly hang it so evrybody else will see that you are proud to be an American.

TO YOU SPC.WILLIAMS.................

You will never know the love that is in my heart and soul that I have for you. As I watched you take that step under that Great American flag was like watching you take that step from a little boy into manhood. Oh what joy and pride I had. You have a job to do now and don't worry about the home fires for I will be fine and take care things here at home. You just worry about what you have to do. I just thought the sacrafices that I done for you was big but it's nothing for the sacrafices that you are doing. You don't know the pride and love I have for you for doing this not only for me and your family but for the people of America. I honored to have you for my son and to stand up and be a Mom to a soldier. Words cannot express my gratitude. Go in God's speed and grace, you are in my heart and prayers.
" BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, BECAUSE THEY WILL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD" ---Matthew 5:9
I love you,
Mom

TO YOU SPC.WILLIAMS.................

You will never know the love that is in my heart and soul that I have for you. As I watched you take that step under that Great American flag was like watching you take that step from a little boy into manhood. Oh what joy and pride I had. You have a job to do now and don't worry about the home fires for I will be fine and take care things here at home. You just worry about what you have to do. I just thought the sacrafices that I done for you was big but it's nothing for the sacrafices that you are doing. You don't know the pride and love I have for you for doing this not only for me and your family but for the people of America. I honored to have you for my son and to stand up and be a Mom to a soldier. Words cannot express my gratitude. Go in God's speed and grace, you are in my heart and prayers.
" BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, BECAUSE THEY WILL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD" ---Matthew 5:9
I love you,
Mom

ONE WOULDN'T THING THOSE TWO IN THE BACKGROUND ARE CAPTAINS.......

This is me and Tyler Baby along with the 2 Captains in the background. They honestly just wanted their picture taking with me and this was the only way they could get in the picture. lol

here is a picture of Jb and his little bro David and then a real close friend of ours Tyler a.k.a Tyler Baby. Then here is Jb and the Baby of the family Emily. Emily is having a hard time dealing with Jb leaving along with the rest of us.

THE DOUBLE B'S............

Here is Jon Brandon and Brian. I love this photo of them. You can just see the closeness those two have and one can also see the trouble that those two can get into when they are together. Tell me that I don't know how to raise two good looking cowboys.

SOME HEROES WEAR CAPES BUT MY HERO WEARS COMBAT BOOTS

Here is my Hero. He is the only carrying the 98th flag with his troop. They hung a huge flag up and when each soldier walked under neath it they were considered in the Battle Zone. What a bittersweet time for me watching JB walk under it. It was like watching him go from a little boy to a man. I had so much joy and pride that day but also alot of heartache and tears. Don't my Hero look handsome

THE SEND OFF FOR THE SOLDIERS............

WHEN THE SOLDIERS WALKS UNDER THE FLAG THEN THEY ARE CONSIDERED IN THE BATTLE ZONE. SEE MY SOLDIER? HE IS THE ONE CARRING THE 1-98TH FLAG

oK, it's page 68 not 67 that has Brian's photos on it. Sorry

Sam is on page 53 and then Brian is on page 67 the first and 2 photos. One photo is him riding on the side of the bull and believe it or not, he rode like that for the full 8 seconds. He did end up in 5th place, he was sitting in 2nd until Saturday night then he got knocked down to 5th. Hey, he still brought home a check.lol

WANNA SEE THE PHOTS FROM THE RODEO..........

I thought some of ya'll might want to see the photos from the rodeo that was here in my home town last weekend. It was our annual PCA rodeo. Here is the site www.pontotocpics.com. Then click on Pontotoc rotary club rodeo 2009 Friday night. If you will go to page 40 I'm the 3rd and 4th photo. You can see where I knocked over the 3rd barrel and I'm trying to find my over-n-under. The next photo is funny. I have this funny look on my face, the front of my hat is turned straight up and I still didn't get ahold of my over-n-under so I had to use my hand.lol There is also some pictures of my neice on a page or two after me, the little girl on a gray mare with a black shirt on.