Notes From a Cowgirl

Inner peace is a gift, especially for planners like me. I plan, and plan, and plan. However, plans oftentimes don’t work out, leaving me hanging, wondering what I would have, should have, or could have done differently. And guess what? Inner peace is impossible on my own. I’m flawed. I’m helpless. I’m bound to fail. Those are only a few reasons why I need Jesus all day, every day. Seeking and following God’s desires for my life is the only way to find inner peace, not because it’s my own, but it’s God’s peace covering me. Joy is a similar blessing. Life can be awful; it’s messy, sad, and difficult. Telling myself to “just be happy” is a losing battle, because positive things come and go with the wind. Joy, on the other hand, is God’s assuring voice saying he loves me, has a perfect plan for my life, will help me, and will sustain me. God reveals to me the joy in life and the joy in living life with him as my right-hand-man. I do almost everything with my right hand. My two...

There is no way I could ask for a better mom. Here are a few reasons, in no particular order, why she’s so great. 1) She cares immensely for any student who needs her help and doesn’t stop trying until the student is helped. 2) She’s the kind of person who talks to young people like they’re valuable human beings, not like they’re “just kids.” 3) She will say something is “not good” instead of outright labeling something as bad. (I think that’s her way of giving something or someone the benefit of the doubt.) 4) She has a million and one things to do every day but makes time to help me take care of our animals. 5) Including the animals, she has a million and two things to do every day and usually makes a homemade dinner or leaves instructions about exactly what to do. 6) She encourages her children in our passions and strengths. (For years she told me I should major in something to do with writing. After opening my eyes, I see that she was right all along.) ...