Don't cry over ruined cupcakes...

11:45 this morning this was the goal:

By 4:40 this afternoon this was the outcome:

Yep I know, I nailed it....

As you can see these cupcakes didn't turn out (obviously). After multiple hours working on them, I was to a point where I was almost in tears over...over cupcakes! Something that wasn't worth my tears, but had seemed to get the best of me. After snapping back into reality that these were just CUPCAKES, and they do not need to control my emotions. I realized there are way more things I should be worried about instead of these dumb cupcakes. And they are not that good for you anyways.

So next time you let the little things get to you, re think what you are letting control your emotions. Because let me tell ya, cupcakes DO NOT deserve your tears. 

I am going to enjoy these awful looking, but oh so yummy cupcakes.

The Dirt Road Daughter

Dirt Road Lessons

Life in the country is anything but boring.

By growing up in the country I have learned multiple things. Of those the most important is...(drumroll please)


1.) Hard work = happy life. End of story. 
The harder you work, the most satisfying it is when that hard work pays off. I remember spending my summers, need i remind you that 112 degree weather, walking pigs, working sheep, and training cattle. But when you get that purple banner at the show, you know the time you put in payed off. I would never, ever, ever trade that time in for anything.


2.) How to go from dirt to diamonds in less than 30 minutes. This really pays off when you wake up late for classes...just FYI
     The weekends are always spent out at the barn. Usually from sun up to sun down. That means you have a long period of time to get dirty. Which is not that hard anyways. But that also means, if you ever wanted to go out, you had to bust your bum to get things done. Usually that means there not much time to get cleaned up. I have mastered the art of getting completely dressed and ready in 30 minutes or less.


3.) If you have time to boss your sister around, you have time to do it yourself....its usually easier too.
     The fights me and my sister get into usually have something to do with one bossing the other around..usually. By the time you give her an order, argue about her doing it, and her finally doing, is much more time than if you were just to do it yourself. Soo, save time and just do it yourself.

4.) You can work more muscles by clipping pigs, unloading feed, and working animals, than any amount of time you spend at the gym. 
     Clipping pigs is more than just 'clipping pigs'. Whitley: Catches Pig, Snares Pig, Clips Pig, Unsnares pig, Pick up pig, Unleash pig into its pen. Its pretty much a one person show (a;though my sister thinks she helps). But these pigs weigh anywhere from 20-40 pounds. So 40 pounds times 15 pigs..well you do the math.

5.) Family is most important...always.
    My family has ALWAYS been there. From my 4-H days, my FFA days, my sports, shows, fairs, conventions, conferences..ect. I can do anything with them right by my side. END OF STORY. 


I couldn't imagine my life any different!


Stay Precious,

The Dirt Road Daughter

I Am Agriculture Proud

As I am filling out a leadership application one of the requirements is to write a one page essay. I'm supposed to  "Identify a current leader in any field or endeavor that you admire. Explain why you hold them up as a role model." Well thats much harder than you think. As I go through the list of people in my head, one seemed to remain constant. The man that shaped me into the leader I am today, my agriculture education teacher, Mr. Jones.

This man; ohhh the times we've had! From his ridiculously cheesy jokes, to his positive attitude, to his competitive spirit, I look up to this man and his family more than anything in the world. But why you may ask? 

This man has been there to push me to do better, he has been by my side when I'm so nervous I cannot even see straight. I know he's just a phone call away if I ever need anything. He has taught me to be there leader I am, which has shaped me into the person I am today. 

I will never forget those countless hours I have spent in the ag shop, practicing, reciting, decorating, and whatever else there is to do. But those are the hours in my life I will never regret spending there. Those are the hours that have created my work ethic, morals, values, positive attitude, competitiveness, and above all else; me.

Without this man, I can guarantee I would not be the person I am today. I wish I could repay him for the time he spent to make me into the person I am today, but I know there's not way. So I will say a simple "thank you" for making me Agriculture Proud.

 

Faith in God Changes Everything.

Never Ending Questions.

As children we are full of questions. Questions about anything and everything.  Look at the picture of the following letters wrote to God by children, (I apologize if its too small to read). 

Lessons Learned

Throughout my life, I have seen God work some pretty impressive miracles. In turn I have stopped asking questions. God's got this. You have got to trust in him. If your still asking questions, maybe you should pick up a Bible and start reading. For when you put Jesus first, Other second, and Yourself last, you will be filled with JOY! Try Jesus, its never too late, you can run from him, but you can't hide from him. 

Faith in God, changes EVERYTHING.

Common People Serving an Uncommon God

This is My Bible

In high school, I vividly remember doing one thing constantly every monday night at my Teen Community Bible Study group. We would raise our Bibles and say the bible cheer. 


'This is my Bible.
I am what it says I am.
I have what it says I have. 
I can do what is says I can do.
Today, I will be thought the word of God.
I bodly confess my mind is alert.
And I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER.
In Jesus Name!"


After four years of repeatedly chanting this, it sorta sticks in your head. As I went on to college, I never forgot about the Bible Cheer. As a matter of fact, I wrote out the cheer, printed off, and taped to my bathroom mirror. Every morning when I'm getting ready I read the cheer to myself. It sets the stage for the rest of my day.


Like my Bible Cheer that is taped to my mirror, God is always there. Always. If you start your day with God, then your setting the stage for the rest of your day to be a wondrous adventure which God has planned for you. We serve a mighty God through each action, word, and thought. Are you living your life to serve God, or are you living your life for yourself? 


Dying for us was the MOST He could do. Living for Him is the Least that we can do.

To Be Womanly Always; To Be Discouraged Never

Chi Omega
This past week I got the privilege to become an active member of the Chi Omega Fraternity. When I first came to college, i definitely would not have guessed I would pledge a sorority. Becoming Chi Omega has been an awesome experience. From the wonderful friends I have made, to the morals and values our fraternity posses, I am in love. Chi Omega is the nation's largest women's organization. I am proud to say i am a member of such a great thing. Chi Omega lives by its symphony. This symphony is what each and every young women strives to be. The Chi Omega Symphony is what I strive to be.


The Chi Omega Symphony
To live constantly above snobbery of word or deed; to place scholarship before social obligations and character before appearances; to be in the best sense, democratic rather than “exclusive”, and lovable rather than “popular”; to work earnestly, to speak kindly, to act sincerely, to choose thoughtfully that course which occasion and conscience demand; to be womanly always; to be discouraged never; in a word, to be loyal under any and all circumstances to my Fraternity and her highest teachings and to have her welfare ever at heart that she may be a symphony of high purpose and helpfulness in which there is no discordant note.


Ethel Switzer Howard Xi 1904 


What do you stand for?

Life at best is anybody's guess

Life at best is a struggle

"Even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years." As many freshman FFA Creed speakers know how many simple questions can come from that one line. As E.M Tiffany had a vision of the future, he knew what struggles American Agriculture had endured and would it would have endured that was going to make it a stronger industry. We are often told "what doesn't kill you only make you stronger." I live by this quote I know the struggles I face and the mountains I climb make me a better person, physically and mentally. Everyone has their own battles and struggles they face, which in turn makes them the person they are. Challenges make life interesting however overcoming them make it meaningful. So next time you think something is to hard, remember there are other people fighting worse battles than you. God's got you, if you have him. To live is to struggle, and to struggle is to grow. 

Life at best can be trouble
Trouble such a simple word with such large meaning. The trouble with life is that there is always an excuse. An excuse to be better, do better, act better, live better. The trouble with life is that often times when things go right the first time, people don't appreciate how difficult it was. Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and when it comes, hold you head high, look it squarely in the eye and say, "I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me." Through life  trouble brings experience, and experience brings wisdom. 


Store up on love, Stay humble

Faith, Hope, and Love but the greatest is love. -1Corinthians 13:13. Love is what keeps us going. If we have love we have everything. Did you know the word 'love' is mentioned in the bible 314 times. Thats not counting the multiple variations of the word. If something is mentions that many times, its has to be important! Love can keep an individual going through the tough times. Love from our family and friends. Store up on love and you'll have enough to go around.

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. -1Peter 5:5. Staying humble is easier said than done, we all know that. However when people stay humble they are often more approachable and easier to relate too. Happiness keeps you sweet, sorrows keep you human, life keeps you humble, success keeps you glowing, but only God keeps you going. Being humble and thankful go along way in this world.

It's all a guess baby life at best