Jude Stringfellow's Blog, page 118
November 27, 2017
Day 4 ACV Diet
November 27, 2017 and all is well in this corner of the world (for the most part). I don't start my job until December 11, two more weeks, but I can handle it. I have a great son who paid for my living expenses; Laura is paying all the major bills, and both my car and rent are being pushed back with the permission of the two creditors. This is good. I wouldn't ordinarily mention all the personal stuff, but to be honest with you, having stress in your life keeps you fat. It has kept me fat for a very long time. The stress starts with not being able to pay my bills, losing my job, having to give up the horse(s) that I love because I lose my job and so forth. In my life I have been fired 5 separate times by 5 separate school districts for 5 separate reasons. Every time it was unwarranted, and every time I fought back. Every time I won my severance with the exception of Tindley Accelerated, but I was able to prove my innocence, and I was able to have the school investigated. I was also able to go on unemployment until I could find a good job again. Stress has been an enemy of mine for quite a while. Two doctors have told me I need to cut the stress out of my life. I wonder if they have some sort of a magic pill for that, or if they should just be slapped upside the head for even suggesting that it can be so readily taken care of.
My son is being deployed to Afghanistan; another deployment for him, another stresser for me. My daughter and her husband rock back and forth financially because he seems to have employer problems as well. He'll catch the company up on their work, and they save money by letting him go. This world is nothing if not unpredictable. You can't be loyal, it neither pays, nor is it a good plan! My other daughter Laura lost her job due to no fault of her own, and here we have sat for months now trying our hardest to find good work. She's actually working for a temporary agency for a few weeks until she also can be hired permanently. At least that's the plan, so maybe the stress is beginning to ease.
Today I woke up at 8:10 and had my ACV drink. I chose lemon, tea, cinnamon, and honey this time. My morning bathroom break was good, nothing too exciting happened. I think I went a 2nd time, which is a bit unusual for me, but not for anyone taking in more ACV and citrus. It's normal from everything I read. I took the opportunity of being alone to read a book; "Hiding In Plain Sight", a biography about Raymond Burr, one of my all time favorites. Around 11:30 I ate a small plate of chicken and rice, I had a little bit of pineapple with it as well. For an earlier snack I had a small piece of chocolate chip cake! I downed that with a 1/2 cup of coffee with creamer but no sugar. The cake had enough.
Around 12:00 I went on my walking spree. I hit the Penn Square mall for the first mile, then went up to Target on Penn for the 2nd. I hadn't quite walked the 2nd, so I drove over to Hobby Lobby where I finished up; a total of 2.5 today so far, and I think that will be fine for now. I'm not trying to out do myself, or over do anything really. I'm trying to cut back on calories, have an up take on the exercise, and do the ACV 2 times a day. We'll see if it works out. I have specific goals in my mind, I'll add them to my calendar as well as here, as I want to keep track of them.
Goal #1: Finish the first week without any hitches.
Goal #2: Add walking and/or bike riding into it (2 or 3 miles a day is good)
Goal #3: Lessen the calorie intake to around 1000-1200 a day
Goal #4: Pray and seek God's will about the entire diet, I don't want to screw it up.
Weight Goals: 140 to finish, and date goals would be fluid, nothing in stone. I'm looking at losing 10 pounds by Christmas, 10 more by Valentine's Day, another 10 by Easter, and another 10 by end of Spring. I will still have 20 more to go, but that will be a slower process. By this time next year I hope to have my goals met 100%.
I can do this! God will help me.
My son is being deployed to Afghanistan; another deployment for him, another stresser for me. My daughter and her husband rock back and forth financially because he seems to have employer problems as well. He'll catch the company up on their work, and they save money by letting him go. This world is nothing if not unpredictable. You can't be loyal, it neither pays, nor is it a good plan! My other daughter Laura lost her job due to no fault of her own, and here we have sat for months now trying our hardest to find good work. She's actually working for a temporary agency for a few weeks until she also can be hired permanently. At least that's the plan, so maybe the stress is beginning to ease.
Today I woke up at 8:10 and had my ACV drink. I chose lemon, tea, cinnamon, and honey this time. My morning bathroom break was good, nothing too exciting happened. I think I went a 2nd time, which is a bit unusual for me, but not for anyone taking in more ACV and citrus. It's normal from everything I read. I took the opportunity of being alone to read a book; "Hiding In Plain Sight", a biography about Raymond Burr, one of my all time favorites. Around 11:30 I ate a small plate of chicken and rice, I had a little bit of pineapple with it as well. For an earlier snack I had a small piece of chocolate chip cake! I downed that with a 1/2 cup of coffee with creamer but no sugar. The cake had enough.
Around 12:00 I went on my walking spree. I hit the Penn Square mall for the first mile, then went up to Target on Penn for the 2nd. I hadn't quite walked the 2nd, so I drove over to Hobby Lobby where I finished up; a total of 2.5 today so far, and I think that will be fine for now. I'm not trying to out do myself, or over do anything really. I'm trying to cut back on calories, have an up take on the exercise, and do the ACV 2 times a day. We'll see if it works out. I have specific goals in my mind, I'll add them to my calendar as well as here, as I want to keep track of them.
Goal #1: Finish the first week without any hitches.
Goal #2: Add walking and/or bike riding into it (2 or 3 miles a day is good)
Goal #3: Lessen the calorie intake to around 1000-1200 a day
Goal #4: Pray and seek God's will about the entire diet, I don't want to screw it up.
Weight Goals: 140 to finish, and date goals would be fluid, nothing in stone. I'm looking at losing 10 pounds by Christmas, 10 more by Valentine's Day, another 10 by Easter, and another 10 by end of Spring. I will still have 20 more to go, but that will be a slower process. By this time next year I hope to have my goals met 100%.
I can do this! God will help me.
November 26, 2017
Day 3 of the ACV Diet
It may turn out to be good that I number the dates at the top of each post so I can keep track of the progress I'm going to make. I can already report on some of the unexpected (and expected) things that happened to me while doing this "diet". I really don't like the word "diet", but it is what it is, I'm combating my fat with a change in my diet, so it is a diet. Are you ready? There will be GROSS information in this blog. I'll use the words "WARNING: GROSSNESS" so you know when it starts.
My son is in the Army, to be more specific, he is in the Oklahoma National Guard, and is serving another tour coming up this next month. He was in the regular Army for about 6 years and made it to Specialist I think, but then when he went Guard he was given his E5 status. He's had it too long, but since he's about to deploy they're going to make him wait on the E6 so he's not out ranking so many of the men he's been training with. It's an Army thing. Mom's like to see their son's promote. Why am I rattling on about my son? Well, when he comes home for any reason he starts in on me. I expect it, and this time I was ready for him. I had already started the process, he was just going to be there to support me, not complain about what I was eating, or my lack of exercise. Usually he turns to me and says "Let's go shopping!" That means he's about to walk me through 100 stores at a fast and brisk pace. He'll pump up the steps on my Fitbit and he'll feel better about having helped me rather than watching me sit around the house. Ha! I was ready for him this time!
We went Christmas shopping for the kids, his niece and nephew, my grandbabies. We went to 5 stores total, but we walked the mall a few times to get from one to the other, then we went shopping for him, and naturally that meant we had to go to 11 more stores, walk a few more miles, and get only a couple of things that he didn't really need, but it makes the trip that much more enjoyable. He usually feeds me during these treks, and of course we eat very very healthy food when we stop to re-energize before round two. WARNING: GROSSNESS. One of the stops was Cabela's Sporting store, and I usually end up losing him almost as soon as we go into the store front. I typically go to the bathroom, and he's either in guns or camping. This time the urge to go to the bathroom came out of nowhere, but it wasn't that overwhelming. I knew I had to go, but I didn't have any idea HOW badly I needed to go. When I got to the toilet I found out. Thank God there was no one else in the bathroom, and I was free to literally poop my guts out. I filled up the freaking toilet with poop and water from that same area, I was not urinating; so naturally I was a bit surprised. I flushed literally 3 times, not because I had to, but I'm rather nice that way. I didn't hurt, there wasn't any pain or cramping, I really do not know why my body reacted the way it did. It may have been the 2 cups of ACV tea, it may have been the nearly 5 miles we had walked, I'm not sure, but it was something! That was very unexpected.
OK NO MORE GROSSNESS: Earlier in the day, in fact when I had just woken up, I had what I can only describe as a head fog. I wasn't upset, I didn't have a headache, but my head was really foggy and my thoughts were as if I were still partially asleep. I had taken the first ACV tea in the minutes before, and was starting on my coffee. When I finished my coffee I noticed I felt better, but I had not experienced that in the past with dieting. I wasn't light headed, it was just foggy. I stretched and forced my way through the feeling(s), but for the most part I thought I was just going to have to deal with it. I looked up side effects of drinking ACV and lemon, and there it was: brain fog is what they called it. It happens when the candida or bad bacteria begins to die off inside your body when you douse it with apple cider vinegar and lemon juice all at once. These little bacteria balloons blow up and release toxins into your blood stream. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, and that's a good clue that you've done too much too fast. It can be counter productive, so you need to back off a bit if that happens.
After shopping and eating, and more shopping, and more walking, we finally decided to go to the Army/Air Force Exchange and do more walking and shopping. Inside the base department store we ran into a man in Reuben's unit. Unlike Reuben this man was in uniform, and he was looking for gun pieces and parts so the two of them chatted it up while I made a bee-line to the furniture side of the store and took a 10 minute break from the Task Master. When they found me Reuben explained to his buddy that he'd walked me a bit. I checked my Fitbit, he had walked me 5.8 miles in just under 2 hours. King, the man in uniform, looked at me and said "It doesn't surprise me, he does that to us all the time." I love my son, he only has my best interest at heart, even if my fat body can't hardly handle it. I'll start my work out soon enough, and when he comes back from Afghanistan we'll see if his old mom can keep up without complaining!
My son is in the Army, to be more specific, he is in the Oklahoma National Guard, and is serving another tour coming up this next month. He was in the regular Army for about 6 years and made it to Specialist I think, but then when he went Guard he was given his E5 status. He's had it too long, but since he's about to deploy they're going to make him wait on the E6 so he's not out ranking so many of the men he's been training with. It's an Army thing. Mom's like to see their son's promote. Why am I rattling on about my son? Well, when he comes home for any reason he starts in on me. I expect it, and this time I was ready for him. I had already started the process, he was just going to be there to support me, not complain about what I was eating, or my lack of exercise. Usually he turns to me and says "Let's go shopping!" That means he's about to walk me through 100 stores at a fast and brisk pace. He'll pump up the steps on my Fitbit and he'll feel better about having helped me rather than watching me sit around the house. Ha! I was ready for him this time!
We went Christmas shopping for the kids, his niece and nephew, my grandbabies. We went to 5 stores total, but we walked the mall a few times to get from one to the other, then we went shopping for him, and naturally that meant we had to go to 11 more stores, walk a few more miles, and get only a couple of things that he didn't really need, but it makes the trip that much more enjoyable. He usually feeds me during these treks, and of course we eat very very healthy food when we stop to re-energize before round two. WARNING: GROSSNESS. One of the stops was Cabela's Sporting store, and I usually end up losing him almost as soon as we go into the store front. I typically go to the bathroom, and he's either in guns or camping. This time the urge to go to the bathroom came out of nowhere, but it wasn't that overwhelming. I knew I had to go, but I didn't have any idea HOW badly I needed to go. When I got to the toilet I found out. Thank God there was no one else in the bathroom, and I was free to literally poop my guts out. I filled up the freaking toilet with poop and water from that same area, I was not urinating; so naturally I was a bit surprised. I flushed literally 3 times, not because I had to, but I'm rather nice that way. I didn't hurt, there wasn't any pain or cramping, I really do not know why my body reacted the way it did. It may have been the 2 cups of ACV tea, it may have been the nearly 5 miles we had walked, I'm not sure, but it was something! That was very unexpected.
OK NO MORE GROSSNESS: Earlier in the day, in fact when I had just woken up, I had what I can only describe as a head fog. I wasn't upset, I didn't have a headache, but my head was really foggy and my thoughts were as if I were still partially asleep. I had taken the first ACV tea in the minutes before, and was starting on my coffee. When I finished my coffee I noticed I felt better, but I had not experienced that in the past with dieting. I wasn't light headed, it was just foggy. I stretched and forced my way through the feeling(s), but for the most part I thought I was just going to have to deal with it. I looked up side effects of drinking ACV and lemon, and there it was: brain fog is what they called it. It happens when the candida or bad bacteria begins to die off inside your body when you douse it with apple cider vinegar and lemon juice all at once. These little bacteria balloons blow up and release toxins into your blood stream. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, and that's a good clue that you've done too much too fast. It can be counter productive, so you need to back off a bit if that happens.
After shopping and eating, and more shopping, and more walking, we finally decided to go to the Army/Air Force Exchange and do more walking and shopping. Inside the base department store we ran into a man in Reuben's unit. Unlike Reuben this man was in uniform, and he was looking for gun pieces and parts so the two of them chatted it up while I made a bee-line to the furniture side of the store and took a 10 minute break from the Task Master. When they found me Reuben explained to his buddy that he'd walked me a bit. I checked my Fitbit, he had walked me 5.8 miles in just under 2 hours. King, the man in uniform, looked at me and said "It doesn't surprise me, he does that to us all the time." I love my son, he only has my best interest at heart, even if my fat body can't hardly handle it. I'll start my work out soon enough, and when he comes back from Afghanistan we'll see if his old mom can keep up without complaining!
Too Fat To Admit It
So, about this time every year it seems I really take a hard look at myself physically, and I vow up and down 10 times over that I'm going to do something about this added packed on fat. I won't call it a pudge because to do so would be to lessen what it is. I'm a fat woman. I have noticed that I intentionally avoid mirrors and I don't glance at myself as I pass by a shiny window either. I know what I'll see; a fat woman. I tried the "Paleo" diet, and I won't say it didn't work, I will say I didn't work it well. I did however learn things from it, and I will incorporate that into my new diet and life style plan. I just don't think a person can diet without changing their life style; I can't anyway.
I didn't go to Thanksgiving dinner with the family this year, opting instead to stay at home with my daughter Laura. We ate a smaller, more reasonable dinner consisting of baked chicken, yams, green beans, grand biscuits, and a piece of pumpkin pie. We drank water. You can't get too much water. If I had been at my mom's I would have eaten 3x as much as I need to, and I would have had the belly aches to show for it later. Sometimes the hardest things to do when you're dieting or changing your eating habits is to avoid loved ones. My family is fat, I'm not going to be kind about it; there are many more obese people in my family than there are healthy. I'm throwing myself in that ring as well. My kids are all healthy, my sister Linda, my mom, and my sister Andie is healthy now, having spent a great deal of money on stomach surgery after many years of over eating and neglect. I was thin for many years, well into my early 30's, but when I lost it, and began eating and not working out, I really put on the pounds. I've been heavy now for 10 solid years I know, and off and on the 10 years before that. It's time to stop the madness.
I could make up the best excuses, and there is truly a kernel of truth to them all, but the bottom line is, I need to lose 60 pounds. I'm hovering 205 pounds at 5'7" tall, and that's simply too big. I wear size 18 jeans, XL dresses, if I wear dresses at all, and I can't put a belt around my waist, I wouldn't even know what size of a belt I would need to buy! I'm not kidding, it would be a 42 inch belt I'm sure. All that changes now!
For the past 3 days I've been on my diet and changing my ways when it comes to food and exercise. I'm 56 years old as of 4 days ago, and it's time I start helping my body, not hurting it. I've been drinking tea with apple cider vinegar at least 2x a day, and I add lemon or lime to it. I add honey, cinnamon, and even clove oil. I think I drank 3 cups the first day, and 2 yesterday, I'll have 3 today total. That's the start of the "change" from drinking regular water. I never drink sweet drinks like cola or sweet tea, or even Kool-aid. I really only drink water and I'll have a coffee in the morning. My food portions are way down, 1/2 of what I used to eat, and I don't miss it. I don't. In fact, yesterday I ate something I shouldn't have, 1/2 a cheeseburger from Freddy's (and fries) and I thought I was going to vomit. Thank God I was able to eliminate it today! That's another good thing, you will eliminate a great deal more with this "change" of drinking ACV and either lime or lemon. I drink about 8-10 ounces hot in a tea, sometimes adding a tea bag as a matter of fact, and I put 1 tablespoon of honey, and 2 tablespoons of ACV with a 1/2 lemon or whole lime. Good stuff.
So, what I will do, and I'll make myself a promise so I do it, I'll write here every day and just sort of go over what happens and what I feel. I may turn it into a book - - you never know. If I get too gross, or talk about poop to the point that you don't want to read my blog, don't. It's MY BLOG. I won't apologize for that. I will say that I will get nasty at times, so you may want to read with caution. Well, that's about it. I'm on day 3 so it's not that exciting yet. I did have a moment, but I'll talk about it tomorrow and put up a warning sign first. LOL
I didn't go to Thanksgiving dinner with the family this year, opting instead to stay at home with my daughter Laura. We ate a smaller, more reasonable dinner consisting of baked chicken, yams, green beans, grand biscuits, and a piece of pumpkin pie. We drank water. You can't get too much water. If I had been at my mom's I would have eaten 3x as much as I need to, and I would have had the belly aches to show for it later. Sometimes the hardest things to do when you're dieting or changing your eating habits is to avoid loved ones. My family is fat, I'm not going to be kind about it; there are many more obese people in my family than there are healthy. I'm throwing myself in that ring as well. My kids are all healthy, my sister Linda, my mom, and my sister Andie is healthy now, having spent a great deal of money on stomach surgery after many years of over eating and neglect. I was thin for many years, well into my early 30's, but when I lost it, and began eating and not working out, I really put on the pounds. I've been heavy now for 10 solid years I know, and off and on the 10 years before that. It's time to stop the madness.
I could make up the best excuses, and there is truly a kernel of truth to them all, but the bottom line is, I need to lose 60 pounds. I'm hovering 205 pounds at 5'7" tall, and that's simply too big. I wear size 18 jeans, XL dresses, if I wear dresses at all, and I can't put a belt around my waist, I wouldn't even know what size of a belt I would need to buy! I'm not kidding, it would be a 42 inch belt I'm sure. All that changes now!
For the past 3 days I've been on my diet and changing my ways when it comes to food and exercise. I'm 56 years old as of 4 days ago, and it's time I start helping my body, not hurting it. I've been drinking tea with apple cider vinegar at least 2x a day, and I add lemon or lime to it. I add honey, cinnamon, and even clove oil. I think I drank 3 cups the first day, and 2 yesterday, I'll have 3 today total. That's the start of the "change" from drinking regular water. I never drink sweet drinks like cola or sweet tea, or even Kool-aid. I really only drink water and I'll have a coffee in the morning. My food portions are way down, 1/2 of what I used to eat, and I don't miss it. I don't. In fact, yesterday I ate something I shouldn't have, 1/2 a cheeseburger from Freddy's (and fries) and I thought I was going to vomit. Thank God I was able to eliminate it today! That's another good thing, you will eliminate a great deal more with this "change" of drinking ACV and either lime or lemon. I drink about 8-10 ounces hot in a tea, sometimes adding a tea bag as a matter of fact, and I put 1 tablespoon of honey, and 2 tablespoons of ACV with a 1/2 lemon or whole lime. Good stuff.
So, what I will do, and I'll make myself a promise so I do it, I'll write here every day and just sort of go over what happens and what I feel. I may turn it into a book - - you never know. If I get too gross, or talk about poop to the point that you don't want to read my blog, don't. It's MY BLOG. I won't apologize for that. I will say that I will get nasty at times, so you may want to read with caution. Well, that's about it. I'm on day 3 so it's not that exciting yet. I did have a moment, but I'll talk about it tomorrow and put up a warning sign first. LOL
May 9, 2017
Switching Gears
OK hey, it's been quite a while since I last wrote. I have been doing so much, and just haven't gotten around to doing more writing. I'm thinking hard about changing all that, not only because I'm unemployed again, but also because I think the world is about to come to Jesus! I should actually clarify that, and say that Jesus is about to come to the air, where He'll take all of His Church! When that happens you can bet your ... well, your anything you care to bet, that the world will be mourning not only the loss of their loved ones, but also the babies, the children, the special needs people, and mostly those who thought they were going to go UP will realize they didn't go up with the Church. They will probably mourn the most! People, it could be in a matter of weeks, months, or days. We don't have time. We do not have the time that Satan wants people to think we have. We DO NOT have that kind of time; so get it through your hearts and heads now...it's time to SWITCH GEARS and kick it into overdrive!
Christians..STEP UP. Tell people. I doesn't matter if you'll lose your job. God will provide for you. YES, it sucks! It sucks really really badly, but it's time to tell the world that if they don't take Christ as their own personal Savior, there will be hell to pay - literally, HELL to pay.
With the 2 major signs coming this late summer and early fall, you can't help but know that God is fulfilling every last prophecy He ever said He would. He told us He would, and He even said in John 14 that He was telling us (them) that these things would happen, so that when they did happen we (us) would not be taken off guard. We (us) would see the coming of the Son of Man in the sky and we would meet Him there (rapture). What signs? Well, the Moon will be turned to blood, which we saw already, but there will also be a darkening of the Sun before the day of the Lord, which is the beginning of Jacob's trouble, or the Tribulation. THIS August 21, the Moon will eclipse the Sun and there will be a nationwide eclipse over the U.S. and many other gentile nations. That will be one sign. The 2nd will be on September 23, 2017, which is the Revelation 12 sign. THE GIANT BIG FAT SIGN that will tell the world, the WHOLE world, that Lord is God, and He will not tolerate the continued mocking of His word.
Revelation 12 talks of the star constellation in Virgo with the Moon at her feet, clothed in the Sun (during the day) and 12 stars above her head. That's 9 stars of the constellation of Leo, and 3 roaming planets: Mars, Mercury, and Venus...all lined up perfectly, with JUPITER between the legs of the virgin about to be "born". The BIRTHDAY is September 23, 2017. Jupiter (which has been in the belly of Virgo for 42 weeks at that time) will exit. This HAS NEVER happened in the history of the history. NEVER has this constellation and/or sign ever happened, but God said it would, and He said it would in the LAST DAYS people. If you don't hear anything else, pay attention. That day may be too late for you if you are not a Christian. I'm not saying it WILL happen, but there are a lot of reasons why it may. These reasons would include, but are not limited to, the fact that Israel is 70 years old after May 12 of this year. Some think it will be 69 after the May 14 celebration, but God's calendar is 360 days, not 365 days, and since the day Israel became a nation, there have been 70 years of 360 days...so she's 70. The Bible says THAT generation, the one that sees Israel become a nation, will NOT pass without these things happening, and it is not passing - - things are happening.
Of course there are signs such as wars, rumors of wars, famine, earthquakes, etc...that's the beginning, and not we have more birth pangs. THIS IS IT people, and I don't care how religious that sounds, it's Biblical, not religious. There is a difference. Now, that being said, Jesus is NOT bound by the Feasts dates to show up. He could come at any minute...any minute at all. We are to live our lives accordingly. We are to occupy, and to plan for the next years to come, but not expect to live here for them. We know this generation will not pass. We are there!!!
Please, to know more, to hear more: Go to YouTube and look up the following preachers and/or teachers.
1. Charlie Garrett of The Superior Word in Sarasota, FL
2. J.D. Farag of Calvary Chapel Kaneohe, HI
3. Perry Stone Ministries
4. Pastor Paul Begley
5. Thomas Ice
6. Lamb and Lion Ministries
7. www.gotquestions.org is a good one for Bible questions.
I just want you to be SAVED. I want you to know Jesus really really is the Son of God, and He really did die for you, and He really will forgive you. REALLY...have I said REALLY? OK. I love Jesus, and I know you will too once you find Him and know it's not a joke -- this world as we know it is coming to an end; why not leave it and join Jesus in eternity, in peace. I pray you do.
Christians..STEP UP. Tell people. I doesn't matter if you'll lose your job. God will provide for you. YES, it sucks! It sucks really really badly, but it's time to tell the world that if they don't take Christ as their own personal Savior, there will be hell to pay - literally, HELL to pay.
With the 2 major signs coming this late summer and early fall, you can't help but know that God is fulfilling every last prophecy He ever said He would. He told us He would, and He even said in John 14 that He was telling us (them) that these things would happen, so that when they did happen we (us) would not be taken off guard. We (us) would see the coming of the Son of Man in the sky and we would meet Him there (rapture). What signs? Well, the Moon will be turned to blood, which we saw already, but there will also be a darkening of the Sun before the day of the Lord, which is the beginning of Jacob's trouble, or the Tribulation. THIS August 21, the Moon will eclipse the Sun and there will be a nationwide eclipse over the U.S. and many other gentile nations. That will be one sign. The 2nd will be on September 23, 2017, which is the Revelation 12 sign. THE GIANT BIG FAT SIGN that will tell the world, the WHOLE world, that Lord is God, and He will not tolerate the continued mocking of His word.
Revelation 12 talks of the star constellation in Virgo with the Moon at her feet, clothed in the Sun (during the day) and 12 stars above her head. That's 9 stars of the constellation of Leo, and 3 roaming planets: Mars, Mercury, and Venus...all lined up perfectly, with JUPITER between the legs of the virgin about to be "born". The BIRTHDAY is September 23, 2017. Jupiter (which has been in the belly of Virgo for 42 weeks at that time) will exit. This HAS NEVER happened in the history of the history. NEVER has this constellation and/or sign ever happened, but God said it would, and He said it would in the LAST DAYS people. If you don't hear anything else, pay attention. That day may be too late for you if you are not a Christian. I'm not saying it WILL happen, but there are a lot of reasons why it may. These reasons would include, but are not limited to, the fact that Israel is 70 years old after May 12 of this year. Some think it will be 69 after the May 14 celebration, but God's calendar is 360 days, not 365 days, and since the day Israel became a nation, there have been 70 years of 360 days...so she's 70. The Bible says THAT generation, the one that sees Israel become a nation, will NOT pass without these things happening, and it is not passing - - things are happening.
Of course there are signs such as wars, rumors of wars, famine, earthquakes, etc...that's the beginning, and not we have more birth pangs. THIS IS IT people, and I don't care how religious that sounds, it's Biblical, not religious. There is a difference. Now, that being said, Jesus is NOT bound by the Feasts dates to show up. He could come at any minute...any minute at all. We are to live our lives accordingly. We are to occupy, and to plan for the next years to come, but not expect to live here for them. We know this generation will not pass. We are there!!!
Please, to know more, to hear more: Go to YouTube and look up the following preachers and/or teachers.
1. Charlie Garrett of The Superior Word in Sarasota, FL
2. J.D. Farag of Calvary Chapel Kaneohe, HI
3. Perry Stone Ministries
4. Pastor Paul Begley
5. Thomas Ice
6. Lamb and Lion Ministries
7. www.gotquestions.org is a good one for Bible questions.
I just want you to be SAVED. I want you to know Jesus really really is the Son of God, and He really did die for you, and He really will forgive you. REALLY...have I said REALLY? OK. I love Jesus, and I know you will too once you find Him and know it's not a joke -- this world as we know it is coming to an end; why not leave it and join Jesus in eternity, in peace. I pray you do.
January 25, 2017
Losin' It!
Oh, the time has come to proclaim it...I'm LOSIN' IT!! By "it" I mean my weight. YEA. It is happening. I don't know the exact number, it is between 2-4 pounds, but I can say honestly that I feel lighter. My pants are beginning to slide around a bit when I walk; not a lot, but a bit. I can say I have more energy than I did a week and a half ago. I am also able to say I'm not where I need to be, or where I want to be. It's coming, but it's taking it's time.
I buy a lot of my clothes online through a consignment shopping site called Swap.com. I love it actually, and I decided to do myself a big favor. I bought several pieces of clothes that I found really appealing, and they had to be just a little tighter than the clothes I'm wearing now, so that when I do lose a bit of weight I'll have something to wear to work without looking frumpy and dumpy. No one wants to look frumpy or dumpy, and everyone wants to wear fine new clothes! Gotta say, it's a WIN. So, I have a new pair of size 16 Levi jeans that are new without tags. They still had the little tape strip down the front though. I'm in between the 18 and the 16 at this moment. I was a 16 for many years, and somehow it just got away from me. These jeans are awesome, and I'll wear them in about 2 weeks. I can't wait to do that because not only will I have these new jeans, I have about 12 pairs of nice dress pants that I forced myself to keep when I gained weight. I typically give the old clothes or tight clothes to Goodwill. NOT THESE...I paid full price for most of my dress pants. I just couldn't see the value in letting them go. When I go under the size 16 I will have the strength to give them away, and I will give them up to charity. I will feel good about it, and someone will be happy. They really are nice.
It's been 10 days officially. and I'd bet I am right there in the middle of where people are who go on this diet. I'm not one to lose weight too quickly anyway, so I'm OK with just having lost a few pounds. That's a few more than I had packed on, and it's a few less than I have to shed now. I'm hoping to keep it up, and shed 4 pounds every 10 days for the next...say...100 days. I'd like that a lot. By the day Spring hits I'll have lost 15 pounds for sure, and then another 15 by Summer. It can happen. I can be PRETTY and SLIM FIGURED again - - YEA!! (too much?)
I buy a lot of my clothes online through a consignment shopping site called Swap.com. I love it actually, and I decided to do myself a big favor. I bought several pieces of clothes that I found really appealing, and they had to be just a little tighter than the clothes I'm wearing now, so that when I do lose a bit of weight I'll have something to wear to work without looking frumpy and dumpy. No one wants to look frumpy or dumpy, and everyone wants to wear fine new clothes! Gotta say, it's a WIN. So, I have a new pair of size 16 Levi jeans that are new without tags. They still had the little tape strip down the front though. I'm in between the 18 and the 16 at this moment. I was a 16 for many years, and somehow it just got away from me. These jeans are awesome, and I'll wear them in about 2 weeks. I can't wait to do that because not only will I have these new jeans, I have about 12 pairs of nice dress pants that I forced myself to keep when I gained weight. I typically give the old clothes or tight clothes to Goodwill. NOT THESE...I paid full price for most of my dress pants. I just couldn't see the value in letting them go. When I go under the size 16 I will have the strength to give them away, and I will give them up to charity. I will feel good about it, and someone will be happy. They really are nice.
It's been 10 days officially. and I'd bet I am right there in the middle of where people are who go on this diet. I'm not one to lose weight too quickly anyway, so I'm OK with just having lost a few pounds. That's a few more than I had packed on, and it's a few less than I have to shed now. I'm hoping to keep it up, and shed 4 pounds every 10 days for the next...say...100 days. I'd like that a lot. By the day Spring hits I'll have lost 15 pounds for sure, and then another 15 by Summer. It can happen. I can be PRETTY and SLIM FIGURED again - - YEA!! (too much?)
January 20, 2017
Nothin's Kickin' My Butt Yet.
January 16, 2017, just about 5 days (if you include the 16th) I began the Paleo Diet. Some people call it the Caveman Diet, it's where you're allowed all the animal proteins such as steak, chicken, eggs, lamb, ground lean beef, bacon, pork chops, ham, and of course fish of any kind. I don't think crustaceans are on the "allowed" list. You can eat veggies, fruits, nuts, and all the dark chocolate you want (less sugar) and yes, my favorite, coffee. Now, I will have to be honest with you, I cheat ever so slightly on the no dairy rule. I do allow myself about 2 tablespoons of half-and-half in the mornings for my coffee, but after that, I'm good. Five days without bread! Five days without cereal! Five days without binging on sugar and carbs while I type at this very same computer! I'm not lying, I would have a stack of gummi bears, potato chips, maybe a big canister of party peanuts...chomp, chomp, chomp, all night long. I'm fat, I mean, I'm 190 pounds at 5'6", but I'm not grotesque. All that changes! I've already started feeling more energetic and I'm only five (5) days into it. WOW. Imagine what 30 will do!
I went to my kitchen cabinets and looked through them. Did I surprise myself? No, I was the one that bought all the crap I bought before January 16. I was the one driving to the store, parking my car, walking into the store, pulling out a cart, filling it up with things that were never good for me, and going to the cashier to pay good hard-earned money to hurt my body. No body stopped me. Why would they stop me? I'm an American, I'm an adult, I can buy whatever I want. That's the fact...I can buy whatever I want. So, why not buy what I should be buying, and eat what I should be eating, and do what I should be doing, and get off this fat butt of mine, and lose not only weight, but several inches in the process? That's exactly what I'm doing now! (Thank you very much)
I went to my kitchen cabinets and looked through them. Did I surprise myself? No, I was the one that bought all the crap I bought before January 16. I was the one driving to the store, parking my car, walking into the store, pulling out a cart, filling it up with things that were never good for me, and going to the cashier to pay good hard-earned money to hurt my body. No body stopped me. Why would they stop me? I'm an American, I'm an adult, I can buy whatever I want. That's the fact...I can buy whatever I want. So, why not buy what I should be buying, and eat what I should be eating, and do what I should be doing, and get off this fat butt of mine, and lose not only weight, but several inches in the process? That's exactly what I'm doing now! (Thank you very much)
Trumped!
I am not the least bit ashamed to admit that a year ago, in January 2016, I was not sure I wanted Donald Trump to be "my president". In fact, I remember laughing at the fact that he was being serious when he said he would run. I think I was narrow-minded and perhaps thinking too much in the box when I conjured my first impressions of him. It wasn't his hair that did it, but that is a rather strange piece of mop-top (if we had to be honest) now, isn't it? I think what I was thinking at that time, or what I remember thinking, is that he won't make it past the General election, so there's no reason to worry about him. I didn't vote for him in the General, and I was really surprised he won! I was elated to find out this past November that he won the Big Prize, because I don't know if my heart could take it if Hillary Rodham Clinton had won. She is such a waste of space! In my opinion, and probably that of millions of others, she's a murdering bitch piece of shit that don't need to be breathing right now, but that's being polite. If I really wanted to verbalize my opinions about her, I wouldn't hold back.
Trump? Really? Well, OK, let's talk about it. From the day I first heard his name, sometime in the 90's, I thought he was the guy that killed the Canadian Football. He was the guy that outbid every contractor in NYC and he was the guy that started a ridiculous reality show that set people up to be humiliated on air. I watched the show 2 times and said to myself "No, he's rude, he's arrogant, and we can't all be rich and semi-famous for being rich and semi-famous." I wasn't impressed. As time went by, and through this past year, I've become impressed. I've become more than impressed, I've become convinced that he may be the one guy on the planet that can actually do what needs to be done if he can stay alive, and not be shot for his work, words, and deeds. There are so many whack jobs out there trying to make a name for themselves, or trying to push their New World Order agenda, that his life may be in constant jeopardy. We'll have to add a few extra prayers for him now and then.
When the debates came, and he wouldn't (or couldn't) stop harassing Hillary, I was amused. I'm not going to lie. I was Twittering "Bitch stop lying!" and worse. I was screaming at the television and hoping he'd bring up the leaked emails. I was hoping he'd dominate and bust her chops more, but he was a gentlemen and held back most of his disdain for the former First Lady. Sadly, the only time the word "Lady" is every associated with Hillary is when the word "First" is tagged with it. She's no lady. She's a witch, and a practicing one at that. Well, no worries...from what I understand, Pence and Trump are both born again, they can pray a hedge around themselves and the wrath of her kind can't touch them unless and until God wants that to happen as part of His plan. Obama was most assuredly in God's plan. God used him to divide this nation, to bring about prophecy, and fulfill His promises. Just days before Trump stepped up and took office the Satan-lovers in the Obama camp wrecked havoc as they saw fit, but God protected Israel -- and He will always protect Israel.
The ONE thing that got my vote for Trump in the Primary was his stand on Israel. Ben Carson was a good choice too, as was Huckabee. There were a few good people to choose from. I knew I didn't want another Bush. I didn't want Cruz, and I didn't want Rubio. Cruz is a great guy, but he's Canadian born, and I just have an issue with that....since our LAST president was Kenyan born, I have a real issue with it. The stand Trump took for Israel was the clincher. I wanted to believe him. I watched, and I listened, and I cried when I heard that he stood up during this past week's Peace Conference (not at it, but during it) and he said he would do everything in his power to stop the 70 nations from coming against Israel, he wouldn't honor their forcing of a two-state solution, and he wouldn't back the UN in the future. LOVED that...that was that. He will be a good friend to Israel, and possibly spare America from REAL punishment from God. Trump, like me, takes God at His word when He stated in Genesis that He would bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse her.
Mike Pence is from Indiana. I spent 4 good years there. I loved that place. I loved that man when he was our governor. He and the man he replaced, both fantastic! Trump and Pence make an amazing team, and I have to be honest with you, I was short sighted then, but looking toward the brightest future we've seen since Reagan, and I have to add, it may even be better. We're going to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.
Go Trump.
Trump? Really? Well, OK, let's talk about it. From the day I first heard his name, sometime in the 90's, I thought he was the guy that killed the Canadian Football. He was the guy that outbid every contractor in NYC and he was the guy that started a ridiculous reality show that set people up to be humiliated on air. I watched the show 2 times and said to myself "No, he's rude, he's arrogant, and we can't all be rich and semi-famous for being rich and semi-famous." I wasn't impressed. As time went by, and through this past year, I've become impressed. I've become more than impressed, I've become convinced that he may be the one guy on the planet that can actually do what needs to be done if he can stay alive, and not be shot for his work, words, and deeds. There are so many whack jobs out there trying to make a name for themselves, or trying to push their New World Order agenda, that his life may be in constant jeopardy. We'll have to add a few extra prayers for him now and then.
When the debates came, and he wouldn't (or couldn't) stop harassing Hillary, I was amused. I'm not going to lie. I was Twittering "Bitch stop lying!" and worse. I was screaming at the television and hoping he'd bring up the leaked emails. I was hoping he'd dominate and bust her chops more, but he was a gentlemen and held back most of his disdain for the former First Lady. Sadly, the only time the word "Lady" is every associated with Hillary is when the word "First" is tagged with it. She's no lady. She's a witch, and a practicing one at that. Well, no worries...from what I understand, Pence and Trump are both born again, they can pray a hedge around themselves and the wrath of her kind can't touch them unless and until God wants that to happen as part of His plan. Obama was most assuredly in God's plan. God used him to divide this nation, to bring about prophecy, and fulfill His promises. Just days before Trump stepped up and took office the Satan-lovers in the Obama camp wrecked havoc as they saw fit, but God protected Israel -- and He will always protect Israel.
The ONE thing that got my vote for Trump in the Primary was his stand on Israel. Ben Carson was a good choice too, as was Huckabee. There were a few good people to choose from. I knew I didn't want another Bush. I didn't want Cruz, and I didn't want Rubio. Cruz is a great guy, but he's Canadian born, and I just have an issue with that....since our LAST president was Kenyan born, I have a real issue with it. The stand Trump took for Israel was the clincher. I wanted to believe him. I watched, and I listened, and I cried when I heard that he stood up during this past week's Peace Conference (not at it, but during it) and he said he would do everything in his power to stop the 70 nations from coming against Israel, he wouldn't honor their forcing of a two-state solution, and he wouldn't back the UN in the future. LOVED that...that was that. He will be a good friend to Israel, and possibly spare America from REAL punishment from God. Trump, like me, takes God at His word when He stated in Genesis that He would bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse her.
Mike Pence is from Indiana. I spent 4 good years there. I loved that place. I loved that man when he was our governor. He and the man he replaced, both fantastic! Trump and Pence make an amazing team, and I have to be honest with you, I was short sighted then, but looking toward the brightest future we've seen since Reagan, and I have to add, it may even be better. We're going to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.
Go Trump.
January 17, 2017
Paleo, Paleo, Where For Art Thou, Paleo?
My new life, my new diet, my new way, my new challenges - here we go. My son is a Paleo Diet eater, he looks good, so maybe it won't be so bad. My best friend is a vegetarian, and there's absolutely no way I could do that. I'm not fond of diets, never have been a conformist in any way. I've always had to beat my own drum, even if the beats sound very familiar to someone else's drum. I don't listen to anyone else telling me what I need to do, it has to be MY decision. OK, it's my decision now; I'm going Paleo.
I remember when the Paleo Diet was called the "Cave Man Diet" because apparently you're allowed to eat just about anything they ate back in the way-back day. If they caught it, if it lived, if it was hanging off a tree, or growing out of the ground you can it. That's nice and all, but I'm also throwing out the lectins. Lectins are (according to Google) "any of a class of proteins, chiefly of plant origin, that bind specifically to certain sugars and so cause agglutination of particular cell types." Well, of course they are! Did you catch that? What the hell is an agglutination, and really, I don't care what it is, I don't want my sugars or anything else doing that inside of me. Keep your lectins!
Lectins are found in tomatoes, potatoes, all beans, nuts, soys, any grain whatsoever, and that last one is the saddest bit of news I've ever had to type out in public. If coffee or chocolate had lectins I'd say screw it, and die, but they don't. I can have all the dark chocolate and all the coffee I want! Take that LECTIN!! In your face! But I digress. Giving up grain products is part of the Paleo / Cave Man Diet too, but it allows tomatoes, and it allows potatoes. I'm choosing to let them go; just one more thing to not have to worry about in my digestive system. That area of my body hasn't been properly clean in years, and it's about time to start.
About nine years ago I started the new year with the resolution to lose 30 pounds in 60 days or something silly like that. I jumped feet first into the gambit. I swam in the lies. I was all over it for about a week before my body decided to shut me down with an unforgettable gallbladder attack. Seems you're not really suppose to go cold turkey when you're old, and you haven't properly prepared yourself for that big of a change. What a set back! I was in the hospital for over 4 days due to complications; which of course is an entirely different blog spot, remind me to tell you what happened. I was on really really good drugs for most of the duration and I do actually remember some of the stupid things I agreed to with the nursing staff.
Again, I digress. I'll get around to letting you know how this thing works out, and when I do you'll either decide to do it as well, or you can have fun laughing at me, with me, because of me, it doesn't matter, I'm doing it! I'm not looking to lose 30 pounds in 60 days this time, more likes 40 pounds whenever it decides to come off, but I'm going to chip, chip, chip at it until it does come off...without chips, chips, chips too! I'm going to do it one egg, one side of green beans, an apple here and there, carrots for snacks, and chicken! I'm doing the chicken thing! If I can eat all the chicken and eggs I want I should be good. I was all about those beans and tomatoes yesterday. I couldn't wait to pile on those red chunks and scarf...until I found out that lectin THRIVES in tomatoes and more so in BEANS. What the hell? Well, it's true, and there's not a thing I can do about it. This cave woman is not caving in. I'm not allowing it, I'm saying no, and there's not a gallbladder in me now to argue! Ha!
Tonight Laura and I went to the barn to love on the horses, then we drove to Crest to get a few days worth of good from the Earth eatin'. On the menu for the next few days will be: eggs, turkey, chicken, beef, avocados, apples, carrots, grapes, spinach, salad (premix), pumpkin seeds, walnuts, raisins, dark chocolate, coffee, my one downfall - half and half in small amounts, and green tea. Lots of green tea will be made in the Stringfellow house my friends....strong green tea! Raw honey is good too, but I already have it, and Reuben told me I can eat peanuts, so there's that binge too. I'll allow it as I'm just that much a rebel. I can't do anything 100% properly, it wouldn't be me if I did. There, I have my one dose of half and half, and my handful of raw peanuts. Oh, you don't like raw peanuts? You think they taste like plastic? OK...I'll eat yours, I have no issues with it.
Paleo, here I come!! I'll keep my calendar handy so I can write down any substantial weight loss. Maybe once a week I'll weigh in. Seems like a plan. Keep reading, you'll probably find something you can relate to.
I remember when the Paleo Diet was called the "Cave Man Diet" because apparently you're allowed to eat just about anything they ate back in the way-back day. If they caught it, if it lived, if it was hanging off a tree, or growing out of the ground you can it. That's nice and all, but I'm also throwing out the lectins. Lectins are (according to Google) "any of a class of proteins, chiefly of plant origin, that bind specifically to certain sugars and so cause agglutination of particular cell types." Well, of course they are! Did you catch that? What the hell is an agglutination, and really, I don't care what it is, I don't want my sugars or anything else doing that inside of me. Keep your lectins!
Lectins are found in tomatoes, potatoes, all beans, nuts, soys, any grain whatsoever, and that last one is the saddest bit of news I've ever had to type out in public. If coffee or chocolate had lectins I'd say screw it, and die, but they don't. I can have all the dark chocolate and all the coffee I want! Take that LECTIN!! In your face! But I digress. Giving up grain products is part of the Paleo / Cave Man Diet too, but it allows tomatoes, and it allows potatoes. I'm choosing to let them go; just one more thing to not have to worry about in my digestive system. That area of my body hasn't been properly clean in years, and it's about time to start.
About nine years ago I started the new year with the resolution to lose 30 pounds in 60 days or something silly like that. I jumped feet first into the gambit. I swam in the lies. I was all over it for about a week before my body decided to shut me down with an unforgettable gallbladder attack. Seems you're not really suppose to go cold turkey when you're old, and you haven't properly prepared yourself for that big of a change. What a set back! I was in the hospital for over 4 days due to complications; which of course is an entirely different blog spot, remind me to tell you what happened. I was on really really good drugs for most of the duration and I do actually remember some of the stupid things I agreed to with the nursing staff.
Again, I digress. I'll get around to letting you know how this thing works out, and when I do you'll either decide to do it as well, or you can have fun laughing at me, with me, because of me, it doesn't matter, I'm doing it! I'm not looking to lose 30 pounds in 60 days this time, more likes 40 pounds whenever it decides to come off, but I'm going to chip, chip, chip at it until it does come off...without chips, chips, chips too! I'm going to do it one egg, one side of green beans, an apple here and there, carrots for snacks, and chicken! I'm doing the chicken thing! If I can eat all the chicken and eggs I want I should be good. I was all about those beans and tomatoes yesterday. I couldn't wait to pile on those red chunks and scarf...until I found out that lectin THRIVES in tomatoes and more so in BEANS. What the hell? Well, it's true, and there's not a thing I can do about it. This cave woman is not caving in. I'm not allowing it, I'm saying no, and there's not a gallbladder in me now to argue! Ha!
Tonight Laura and I went to the barn to love on the horses, then we drove to Crest to get a few days worth of good from the Earth eatin'. On the menu for the next few days will be: eggs, turkey, chicken, beef, avocados, apples, carrots, grapes, spinach, salad (premix), pumpkin seeds, walnuts, raisins, dark chocolate, coffee, my one downfall - half and half in small amounts, and green tea. Lots of green tea will be made in the Stringfellow house my friends....strong green tea! Raw honey is good too, but I already have it, and Reuben told me I can eat peanuts, so there's that binge too. I'll allow it as I'm just that much a rebel. I can't do anything 100% properly, it wouldn't be me if I did. There, I have my one dose of half and half, and my handful of raw peanuts. Oh, you don't like raw peanuts? You think they taste like plastic? OK...I'll eat yours, I have no issues with it.
Paleo, here I come!! I'll keep my calendar handy so I can write down any substantial weight loss. Maybe once a week I'll weigh in. Seems like a plan. Keep reading, you'll probably find something you can relate to.
January 16, 2017
The American Mustang in My Life: Norman Brock Stringfellow
Ever since I was a kid I wanted a Mustang. I never dreamed I would actually have one, owning a Mustang isn't like owning a domesticated horse. A domesticated horse, such as a Quarter Horse, Paint, Tennessee Walker, or any number of other breeds, have one thing in common: they have been handled by humans since the day they were born. Their parents were born in captivity, their ancestors too, and that can make a huge difference in the social and emotional make up of a creature. Think about this way; would you go out and find a wolf pup to raise in your house? Taking on a non-domesticated animal has certain challenges. I wanted to be up to accepting them without compromising the animal's experience. I didn't "own" a Mustang until I was 55 years old. I don't own him now, I have adopted him. There is a difference.
His name is Norman Brock Stringfellow today, but when he was born he was dubbed #10612979, a bay colt born to a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) captured mare probably under the age of 6. If she had been older than 6 she wouldn't have been kept once she was rounded up. She would have been treated, allowed to foal, and then returned to the herd she came from. Norman's number was shortened to #2979 when he was tagged at the facility where he was born. He was born in captivity on May 11, 2010, at the Herd Management Area holding facility called Broken Arrow in Fallon, NV. He was one of many bay colts; nothing really all that special, and certainly nothing stood out about him as the next few years passed. He was chosen or picked to be trained at a northern Nevada prisoner camp, a place where wild burros and horses are taken to be gentled and adopted out, but Norman wasn't adopted out. Somehow he had been dubbed a "hump back" and was either left untrained, or wasn't given the full training as others were. He was passed up on adoption day, and then returned to another holding facility, and onto yet a third, the Pauls Valley holding facility in central Oklahoma.
Once at the Pauls Valley BLM area #2979 was taken to two more places to be seen and examined by would be adopters. Though he would stand taller than most American Mustangs at 15.2H, and he had both back "socks" of white, as well as a star, stripe, and white snip on his dark bay face, he was not chosen at either. Perhaps it was the hump back that kept him from being picked, or perhaps the BLM had grouped him with more flashy horses and not enough adopters had shown up to pick him on either occasion. I like to think that God had other plans for Norman, and that he was saved for the day I would happen to ramble onto the premises this past October 11, 2016. I think Norman knew something was up before I knew, but however it happened, it did in fact happen, and before the adoption-ending noon bell rang, Norman was being loaded onto a trailer and being carried off to be trained by a professional TIP, or Training Incentive Program trainer. He was adopted by ME and he was no longer a wild horse. He was on his way to being...well, domesticated.
I wasn't going to the BLM that day to adopt anything. I wasn't expecting to adopt, I wasn't thinking about adopting. I was there to look at horses for my daughter Laura who had wanted to adopt one soon enough; she wanted to train one to become her mounted shooting partner. She and I took the day off, the 2nd Tuesday of the month, as that is when adoptions take place at the BLM in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. I went to help Laura. I wasn't going to find the love of my life; it just sort of happened.
When we pulled up to the gates we saw a few others standing around, waiting for the adoptions to take place. We had never been through the process, so we were hanging back and watching. We weren't participating, we were just viewing to see what would happen, how it would happen, if it happened, and why it happened. There was a woman there with her young blond daughter, the girl was about 11 years old. We watched as she galloped back and forth calling to the horses. She was home schooled, and her mother wanted to show her the animals up close, as sort of a field trip. There was a man with his wife as well, she was smallish, and seemed a bit timid around all of the barricaded animals; she looked as if she feared at any moment one of them would jump the 6 foot fencing and attack her. Nothing of the sort would ever actually happen, but she stood close to her husband just in case. Her husband, a wealthy car-dealer from another state, was eager to find the exact horse that would make him happy. He wore an arm sling, a trophy of the effects of finding a horse that wasn't exactly the right horse. He and his wife had decided to bring a horse back to the BLM facility in fact, one that didn't work out for him. The man was open, fun, and smiling at all of the horses, going from one to the other, hoping to make eye contact and know instantly that he had found his match!
There was another set of people there too. There was a man, his wife, and her young adult daughter, who looked to be around 18 or so. The couple were quiet, and moved about, watching the daughter, and listening to the eager man wearing the sling. It became obvious by counting the trucks and cars in the parking lot, that these two couples had come together in a truck with a very large trailer. The fact that the quiet man had the keys in his hand, led me to know that he was the owner of the truck and trailer. This meant one thing to me, he had to be a trainer, the other man was the buyer. The man with the sling bought or adopted horses, and the quiet man trained them. I figured this out about the same time that Norman decided to put his large imposing head over the fence and onto the top of my head without warning! "He likes you!" said the quiet man; that point was obvious to everyone now, as the horse continued to press himself closer to me, and through the rails of the fence. If he had arms he would have reached through the fence and grabbed me, probably holding me against his chest, it was quite interesting how Norman would not allow other horses to come near me. Using his body, his tail, his voice, and his feet, he kept all of the others away, and stayed as close to me as he possibly could. To the quiet man, who was now smiling, and sticking out his hand for an introduction, this meant that #2979 had found his match, whether or not I was obliged to return the sentiment.
"Hi, I'm Tim Brock", said the quiet man now standing in front of the larger than life horse who was refusing to release me from his gaze. I introduced myself, and listened as Tim explained that for the past few minutes he was considering taking #2979 as a TIP horse either for Jeff, the man with the sling, or just because, as he felt that the horse had more potential than others. He hadn't made up his mind, but he was thinking about it. Lauren, his step daughter, who is also a TIP trainer, had a few others in mind, and the boring big bay gelding wasn't one of the ones she wanted. Jeff didn't want him either, he was too big, and there was that hump or high wither that didn't interest him. Laura, my own daughter, laughed at me and said, "You know, you already have your adoption application in the BLM system, so you could take him." I smiled. I didn't do more than that, but I did smile. It was then that Tim explained to me how the TIP program worked. Seems he was being paid by the Mustang Heritage Foundation to train qualified horses at the BLM; ones who would then be adopted. If I wanted Norman, or as he was named #2979, all I had to do was say so. Tim would take him to Missouri where he lived and operated, train him for two or three months, and bring him back all ready to go! It would only cost me $125 to adopt, and whatever to bring him home, but since he'd be back to pick up others, it shouldn't be much.
Was I hearing this correctly? I was being asked if I wanted to adopt this massive 1100 pound horse, the one standing a good hand taller than the tallest horse I would ever want? The horse that for some odd reason found me more attractive than the others at the gates that day, and the one that wasn't even all that...different. He was in fact rather ordinary if you had to be honest about it. The Mustang I had always dreamed of owning would be smaller, around 14.2 hands maybe, and he'd be bright colored, maybe sorrel, maybe roan, he could possibly be a bay, but with a broad blaze and four white socks. This horse was staring at me, and in that moment I realized that he was absolutely perfect. There wasn't a single thing wrong with him; even his hump backed wither seemed to be saying "at least your saddle won't ever fall off". I told Tim yes, I would adopt the horse, and yes, he could take him to Missouri to train. The only thing left to do was to let the BLM guys know, because they're the ones who actually take the money!
There's more to the story of course, and I'll save that for another blog post, but suffice it to say that on that day, October 11, 2016, #2979, a big beautiful bay American Mustang gelding became my new best friend; and naming him after the city of Norman, Oklahoma was easy! It was that or Boomer. His middle name is Brock for his trainer Tim, and of course he bears my surname. When Gary, the BLM hand, cut the nylon tag with the number on it from Norman's neck he handed the tag to Tim, who then handed it to me, symbolizing that Norman was no longer wild or captive. Norman was now adopted, I think I cried in my soul. He deserved to be loved, and on this day he demanded it. Thank you God.
Most photos by Karin O'very (Tim's wife)
His name is Norman Brock Stringfellow today, but when he was born he was dubbed #10612979, a bay colt born to a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) captured mare probably under the age of 6. If she had been older than 6 she wouldn't have been kept once she was rounded up. She would have been treated, allowed to foal, and then returned to the herd she came from. Norman's number was shortened to #2979 when he was tagged at the facility where he was born. He was born in captivity on May 11, 2010, at the Herd Management Area holding facility called Broken Arrow in Fallon, NV. He was one of many bay colts; nothing really all that special, and certainly nothing stood out about him as the next few years passed. He was chosen or picked to be trained at a northern Nevada prisoner camp, a place where wild burros and horses are taken to be gentled and adopted out, but Norman wasn't adopted out. Somehow he had been dubbed a "hump back" and was either left untrained, or wasn't given the full training as others were. He was passed up on adoption day, and then returned to another holding facility, and onto yet a third, the Pauls Valley holding facility in central Oklahoma.
Once at the Pauls Valley BLM area #2979 was taken to two more places to be seen and examined by would be adopters. Though he would stand taller than most American Mustangs at 15.2H, and he had both back "socks" of white, as well as a star, stripe, and white snip on his dark bay face, he was not chosen at either. Perhaps it was the hump back that kept him from being picked, or perhaps the BLM had grouped him with more flashy horses and not enough adopters had shown up to pick him on either occasion. I like to think that God had other plans for Norman, and that he was saved for the day I would happen to ramble onto the premises this past October 11, 2016. I think Norman knew something was up before I knew, but however it happened, it did in fact happen, and before the adoption-ending noon bell rang, Norman was being loaded onto a trailer and being carried off to be trained by a professional TIP, or Training Incentive Program trainer. He was adopted by ME and he was no longer a wild horse. He was on his way to being...well, domesticated.
I wasn't going to the BLM that day to adopt anything. I wasn't expecting to adopt, I wasn't thinking about adopting. I was there to look at horses for my daughter Laura who had wanted to adopt one soon enough; she wanted to train one to become her mounted shooting partner. She and I took the day off, the 2nd Tuesday of the month, as that is when adoptions take place at the BLM in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. I went to help Laura. I wasn't going to find the love of my life; it just sort of happened.
When we pulled up to the gates we saw a few others standing around, waiting for the adoptions to take place. We had never been through the process, so we were hanging back and watching. We weren't participating, we were just viewing to see what would happen, how it would happen, if it happened, and why it happened. There was a woman there with her young blond daughter, the girl was about 11 years old. We watched as she galloped back and forth calling to the horses. She was home schooled, and her mother wanted to show her the animals up close, as sort of a field trip. There was a man with his wife as well, she was smallish, and seemed a bit timid around all of the barricaded animals; she looked as if she feared at any moment one of them would jump the 6 foot fencing and attack her. Nothing of the sort would ever actually happen, but she stood close to her husband just in case. Her husband, a wealthy car-dealer from another state, was eager to find the exact horse that would make him happy. He wore an arm sling, a trophy of the effects of finding a horse that wasn't exactly the right horse. He and his wife had decided to bring a horse back to the BLM facility in fact, one that didn't work out for him. The man was open, fun, and smiling at all of the horses, going from one to the other, hoping to make eye contact and know instantly that he had found his match!
There was another set of people there too. There was a man, his wife, and her young adult daughter, who looked to be around 18 or so. The couple were quiet, and moved about, watching the daughter, and listening to the eager man wearing the sling. It became obvious by counting the trucks and cars in the parking lot, that these two couples had come together in a truck with a very large trailer. The fact that the quiet man had the keys in his hand, led me to know that he was the owner of the truck and trailer. This meant one thing to me, he had to be a trainer, the other man was the buyer. The man with the sling bought or adopted horses, and the quiet man trained them. I figured this out about the same time that Norman decided to put his large imposing head over the fence and onto the top of my head without warning! "He likes you!" said the quiet man; that point was obvious to everyone now, as the horse continued to press himself closer to me, and through the rails of the fence. If he had arms he would have reached through the fence and grabbed me, probably holding me against his chest, it was quite interesting how Norman would not allow other horses to come near me. Using his body, his tail, his voice, and his feet, he kept all of the others away, and stayed as close to me as he possibly could. To the quiet man, who was now smiling, and sticking out his hand for an introduction, this meant that #2979 had found his match, whether or not I was obliged to return the sentiment.
"Hi, I'm Tim Brock", said the quiet man now standing in front of the larger than life horse who was refusing to release me from his gaze. I introduced myself, and listened as Tim explained that for the past few minutes he was considering taking #2979 as a TIP horse either for Jeff, the man with the sling, or just because, as he felt that the horse had more potential than others. He hadn't made up his mind, but he was thinking about it. Lauren, his step daughter, who is also a TIP trainer, had a few others in mind, and the boring big bay gelding wasn't one of the ones she wanted. Jeff didn't want him either, he was too big, and there was that hump or high wither that didn't interest him. Laura, my own daughter, laughed at me and said, "You know, you already have your adoption application in the BLM system, so you could take him." I smiled. I didn't do more than that, but I did smile. It was then that Tim explained to me how the TIP program worked. Seems he was being paid by the Mustang Heritage Foundation to train qualified horses at the BLM; ones who would then be adopted. If I wanted Norman, or as he was named #2979, all I had to do was say so. Tim would take him to Missouri where he lived and operated, train him for two or three months, and bring him back all ready to go! It would only cost me $125 to adopt, and whatever to bring him home, but since he'd be back to pick up others, it shouldn't be much.
Was I hearing this correctly? I was being asked if I wanted to adopt this massive 1100 pound horse, the one standing a good hand taller than the tallest horse I would ever want? The horse that for some odd reason found me more attractive than the others at the gates that day, and the one that wasn't even all that...different. He was in fact rather ordinary if you had to be honest about it. The Mustang I had always dreamed of owning would be smaller, around 14.2 hands maybe, and he'd be bright colored, maybe sorrel, maybe roan, he could possibly be a bay, but with a broad blaze and four white socks. This horse was staring at me, and in that moment I realized that he was absolutely perfect. There wasn't a single thing wrong with him; even his hump backed wither seemed to be saying "at least your saddle won't ever fall off". I told Tim yes, I would adopt the horse, and yes, he could take him to Missouri to train. The only thing left to do was to let the BLM guys know, because they're the ones who actually take the money!
There's more to the story of course, and I'll save that for another blog post, but suffice it to say that on that day, October 11, 2016, #2979, a big beautiful bay American Mustang gelding became my new best friend; and naming him after the city of Norman, Oklahoma was easy! It was that or Boomer. His middle name is Brock for his trainer Tim, and of course he bears my surname. When Gary, the BLM hand, cut the nylon tag with the number on it from Norman's neck he handed the tag to Tim, who then handed it to me, symbolizing that Norman was no longer wild or captive. Norman was now adopted, I think I cried in my soul. He deserved to be loved, and on this day he demanded it. Thank you God.
Most photos by Karin O'very (Tim's wife)
PEOPLE Magazine SHOT MY DOG!
Actually they shot all of us!
Brandi Simons (Photographer) and Shasha Gill (Hair/Make-Up Artist) got us ready for a really fun shoot for an uncoming PEOPLE magazine.
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