Missing Italy at lunch

Maybe it’s the weather or maybe it is just time for a little getaway. Either way, I started thinking about my trip to Italy two summers ago. It was a fun trip. I wish I was there now…..

Some of my photos from our wonderful trip.

"What if we went to Italy a suitcase of books and one bag a piece for the summer? I don't speak a word of Italian except for Campari and soda for two, how much is a Lire. Yes, a villa will do and a breeze, in Tuscany please..."

Tom Butler Memorial

I promised myself when I started this blog that I would make a point to update it at least once a month. Well, as you can see that has not happened. Here is my effort in sufficing that goal for myself this month. Technically I took these pictures in October. Though it has taken me a month to post them, I still think this should count for both months.

Fall is my favorite time of year! I love the cooler weather, the changing leaves, and especially all the fall smells. Every year my fall “officially” kicks off with the Tom Butler Memorial Bronc Riding. The TBMBR is always so much fun! The weekend is always jammed packed with some great bronc riding, as friends and strangers get together for a wonderful cause in memory of a great guy. In 2009, we raised enough money to give 27 scholarships to graduating seniors. http://www.tombutlermemorial.com/



Below are a few of my pictures from this year’s event.

“We focus so much on what we're waiting for that we miss or forget to appreciate what we have.”-Tom Butler

Oh Say Can You See!

The 4th of July has always been my favorite holiday. I love just love the feel of that day. I’m not a big fan of summer as a whole but this one day is the exception. I love spending this day with my family, walking the square, visiting old friends, swimming, eating watermelon, going to the ranch rodeo, and the FIREWORKS!!!! God Bless the USA!

"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"

Friday morning I awoke to the sound of Stoney LaRue singing Oklahoma Breakdown. This meant that one of my dear friends from out of state was calling. Enthusiastically I rolled over and grabbed to phone. “Wakey, Wakey,” I heard on the other end. Now I will spare you all the dialogue from that morning conversation and cut to the chase. He was calling to tell me he had quit his job and was planning to go live in Brazil for a while. He had gone to Brazil earlier this year and I was privileged to hear about this wonderful trip when he came to Texas for work and stayed with me. Even the day after his return from Brazil he was itching to go back and see more. Since college he has made quite a name for himself and has had no problems moving up the ladder of success. So leaving his job created an open door to experiencing the inner happiness he already has. He told me how all of his friends thought he was being crazy and after my 20 “motherly” questions I congratulated him for doing something that HE wanted to do. I’m proud of him I mean, heck he is 26, what better time to take off and do something you have dreamed about.

After we got off the phone I let this whole idea of quitting your job and moving to a different country resonate within me. What courage that must have taken for him to go in and tell his boss he was resigning and then to tell his parents about this new life path he has chosen. Now granted I don’t envy him for having to do all of that but deciding to set out and doing something for himself. I mean how often in life do we get the opportunity to chase something that we think is just a dream. Now following through and actually achieving it and living it!

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined."--Henry David Thoreau

Though the thought of him in a different country makes me a tad bit anxious, I am so happy for him. If you could have heard the freedom and relief in his voice as he was telling me about this new chapter in his life, you would have encouraged him to take this chance as well. Granted I am going to miss all the free pens and gloves. But hey, having a friend in Brazil means a free place to stay when I decide to pick a vacation spot! Good luck my sweet friend.

Live it, Reap it!

Getting started

The idea of this blog has been growing for quite some time, too long actually. I know you’re thinking “Hannah, it’s just a blog, start it already and move on.” However, I struggled to find the purpose and motivation behind those writing efforts. I don’t necessarily want to tell a story, but just to provide an outlet for my crazy thoughts and ideas. No other forces but my internal, probably irrational expectations of what “my” blog should represent have been the delay in my writing. I felt overwhelmed to make it perfect, word everything just right and to be inspirational, just like so many others I read. And of course I wanted to do all of this with a lovely balance of cleverness and wit! So, I decided to write as though letters to dear friends simply explaining my own thoughts, imperfect, irrational or otherwise in hopes that they will accept them for what they are... Just thoughts. My thoughts.

Nothing’s impossible so here it goes!

~If we ever make it home there’ll be peace like we’ve never known.~