Reactions to The Pioneer Woman's New Book

If you read my blog yesterday then you already know that I received an advanced copy of PW's new book Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: A Love Story. 

 I have decided to write about my reactions to Ree's novel. Don't worry, I will not be telling any spoilers. I want everyone else to be able to have the same experience reading her book as I did. 

Ree's love story is sweet, sad, hilarious, frustrating, and "Aww" inducing. Yes there were several times an audible Aww came out of my mouth. Many times I laughed out loud. The statement "Honey, she is asking if you have farted today!" comes to mind.  I laughed for 5 minutes when she wrote an entire page about a simple question about farting.  Sorry I wrote fart so many times. If it offends you, well, I'm just keeping it real. 

There are few times where her stories seem somewhat scatter brained and not fully completed.  Like there could have been more to that story than what she was telling. I felt like it was missing something. But I felt like these tales of romance were coming from a real person in real life situations.  

Now, I am no literary critic at all.  All of these opinions are my own thoughts. I encourage you to go and read the book and love it as much as I do. When you are finished maybe you will see the cowboy in your own man or just find your wrangler wearing cowboy. I know I did, just without the Wranglers. I wonder If I can get SL to wear chaps...

Ree's book comes out Feb. 1st. Go and get it, or buy the ebook. You will love it. She is also going on a book signing tour.  Go to The Pioneer Woman webpage for days and times in you area.

A suprise from the Pioneer Woman

Back in May of 2010 a friend of mine on Facebook sent me a link to a recipe on some lady's blog about a sandwich called "The Marlboro Man" sandwich.  I thought this must be some crazy lady to name a sandwich after cigarettes. My friend swears it is the greatest sandwich EVER! I thought she was a little crazy too, but she was my friend and I gave her a chance. I read the post about this miracle sandwich, and I was intrigued. I read a few more posts and recipes. Ok, I think I like this site now. However the true test will be to try out some of these recipes on SL. He says he is not a picky eater, well, I say HA!




Ree the Pioneer Woman

 I spent almost an entire day looking at The Pioneer Woman's blog. I thought this lady was strange telling the world about her husband's wranglers and her fascination about his forearms.  I tried to stop reading, but it was too late and I was hooked. (As I'm sure many of you are also) Silly me, I thought I had come across something new and great. Little did I know that she had been around the blogosphere for 4 years. I was even telling my mom and dad about this great new place where I get loads of new recipes to try out. My dad laughed and said "Well yeah honey. I 've been reading her site for almost a year now" 

A year! Really? A year? Where was I? Was I under a rock? Was my head in the sand? Where was I? I know I've been raising my two year old but I'm not that far out of touch with the world. I was a little, NO a lot, late to the party. But at least I got there right?

About 2 months ago Ree (the Pioneer Woman) told us about her new book that was to be released in Feb. It will be called Black Heels to Tracker Wheel: A Love Story. This was a continuation from her online posts about her whirlwind romance with a cowboy she loving calls Marlboro Man.  I decided I needed a good read, so I spent the entire evening reading all her posts about old boyfriends, the death of one sweet pug, and her fasted paced courtship. It was great! I found myself laughing out loud and crying about Puggy Sue. (Poor Puggy Sue). I wanted more, I thought how can I wait for Feb. to finish the whole story.

Well, last Saturday this came.

Yep that's right, and advanced copy of Ree's new book. Sent straight from the ranch. Now, I was not the only one to receive this gift. It was sent to 4 others as well. I was so excited I started reading it right then and finished it the next day. I had to pause to go to church because well, I am a minister's wife and it may look back to not see me there. I know some of those old ladies would ask my sweet SL where I was. He wouldn't be able to lie (lying is bad, very bad). It would probably sound bad to say "Well, she is at home reading because she couldn't pause to come to church. Yes, I know it is bad, but you go tell her to get dressed at come to church!" As soon as I was finished with lunch and put the little down for a nap it was back to the book I went. I finished that afternoon.

This is turning to be along post so I will write what I thought of the book tomorrow (hopefully).

One more thing, look...

Yep, she signed it.

Man those are bad pictures of me. It was late Saturday after a full day of looking at sofas with my mom. Hopefully your eyes are not burning and turning red. Sorry if they are.

Love, The Bored Minister's Wife

Love Bears All... Do I Gotta?

Valentine's Day is on the way in a few weeks.  Love mean different things to people. There are different levels of love: agape, phileo.... more levels, all the levels I learned while getting my degree in Religious Education. (That sounded really snotty. Not my intention.)


Heavy



So I was thinking about love and went to the Bible. I read 1 Corinthians 13 , the love chapter.  So today I focused on what love does, or more importantly, how I show love. Not just to my husband or son, but everyone. Tough one.

13:7 bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.



Bears all things. Supports, never gives up, protects, all different versions of the word "bears".  But what does it mean to bear all things.

Many of us believe that to bear a burden is of course the right Christian thing to do. But truth be told it is probably one of the most difficult things to do, simply because it requires us to put aside our own emotions and feelings in order to care for someone else.  Whew... heavy.

When we truly love someone we need to learn to be there for them whatever trials they are going through. This includes your husband, children, family, and even your brothers and sisters in Christ or strangers.

Bearing all things means sticking by the ones you love and encouraging them even if you are frustrated with them. It is doing what’s right, especially when we don’t feel like it, because you love them and you want to honor God.


Giving up on someone you love is not the way to honor God.  Now, if the situation is dangerous you can still love, pray, and bear their burden from a distance.

Jesus was the greatest example of loving everyone no matter their burden or sin. Jesus ate with the sinners, washed their feet, forgave them, and the ultimate He died for them.

Jesus showed us what it means to "bear all things" to show His love for us, and for our Father. Bearing all things with require some sacrifice, might be painful, and could possibly just suck. However, when we bear each others burdens we are loving those around us the way Jesus showed His love to the world.

Sometimes I can get so caught up in how the other persons problem is making me feel that I forget to consider THEIR own personal struggle.

Love one another as Jesus did, and encourage others to do the same this Valentine's Day.

January Reading

I don't read many books. If it is not about cooking, crafting, or a blog I probably don't read it. I LOVE Better Homes and Garden mags and yes, I have read all the Harry Potter Books and the Twilight books. I enjoyed them. Recently I started reading The Host but I never finished it.

So I have decided to read Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen.

Several months ago people all over blogland and facebook were saying just how much they loved the book. I'm a little late but at least I made it to the party.

My main reasoning for reading this book is that I want to see the movie when it comes out in April. Two of my favorite actors are in this movie, Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson (swoon...sorry SL). I have watched the trailer a few times and am not satisfied with the 30seconds. I NEED MORE! So I have turned to the book. 

If you have read Water For Elephants tell me what you though of it.

Wall Art for Less

There are days when I wish my living room looked differently. I have all these ideas I want for our house. However those ideas cost money. So I have decided to make my own wall art.

Now hear me, I am no artist.  I like to think that I am some what creative. Poor SL has to hear all of my ideas. I can always tell when he is really listening to my harebrained ideas.  He gets this glassy look in his eyes.  I think he has this special place in his mind that holds all the things I tell him. He pulls it open every time I tell him I have a new idea. He keeps it closed until he needs it so that there is room for the important things in life. 

I had a blank canvas left over from a double pack that I wanted to do something with so badly. I wanted to paint. I love to paint things. I just repainted a frame that holds an old hymnal page. I wanted more! Here are the steps I took.



Well, this is what I ended up with. I'm not sure what else to do with it. If you have some ideas please let me know.

Sad Day

It is another sad day for our small town. A funeral for someone who died way too soon. We have all heard that everything is in God's timing. Which is easy to say, but hard to accept. 



Since SL and I have moved to this town 3 1/2 years ago there have been 5 teenagers pass away. All of these have been a shock to our community. I have never seen anything like this before. 5 teens dying in the span of 3 years all from car accidents.

So as I type this my hubby is at our church attending the 5th funeral of a students he knew as the student minister at our church.  Many of our students don't understand how God would allow this to happen. We don't have eloquent words for them. All we have is that we don't understand God's timing. However we have to continue to have faith that God is in control and that these tragedies are all apart of God's plan.



This tiny town has had it's share, plus more, of tragedy.  Many unexpected deaths, serious drug problems, failing economy, and even a devastating fire.

In April of 2009 a massive wild fire came to the very edge of our town. It burned down about 6 houses and completely destroyed a manufacturing plant right outside of town. The fire reached the main intersection of town and burned the shoulders of the road.  The fire was so large and because the winds were blowing the smoke filled the city. I took my son covered his face with a wet clothe, grabbed my pets, our important papers and our computer. I picked up my husband and we tried to find a way out of town. We reached the neighboring town were my husband's grandmother lived and stayed there until we received word that all was ok later that night. We returned home to a very smelly town and house that smelled like burnt peas. Terrible. The plant never recovered and moved to another town. 50 people were now out of work.

All of this to say, God we continue to rely on you. We don't understand why these things keep happening to our town, but I have faith that you have big plans for us. As it dangles on the edge of collapse, I know you are in control.



Please pray as you read this for the family who has lost their son, grandson, brother, and friend. They will need it in the coming days.