Happy Trails to you...Until we meet again

I am blessed in this life of mine....blessed in many different ways.  I feel its because of the people that have been put into my world....for seasons, reasons, or perhaps a lifetime.

It is with a saddened heart that one of those individuals has left his life here on earth to join the angels. The hearts he has touched remain on an endless list...his smile has left an impression in so many minds...and the good that he brought to everything he did will never be forgotten.  As my prayers go up for Justin, his family, and all his friends...my hope is that blessings of comfort, strength...and maybe a bit of grit...come down to find your heart.

Justin Reed....I've known you for what seems like forever.  From a distance, I watched you grow.....from that skinny, long-legged cowboy at the Pomeroy Rodeo...to an even taller, stronger young man.  Although I only shared my heart with you for a little while, I found out that was long enough to see just how big of heart you had.  We've laid down a small book of stories...that will always stay stacked in my memory.  Even though our paths had different plans, I prayed endlessly you'd find peace and a happieness in your heart.  And though it is just way too soon, I now know that peace has found you.  You were in my life for a reason...a season...and that will stick with me for a lifetime.  God's Rest Justin Reed Kelly...until we meet again.

Now there's one less tornado in Texas and a saddle that's empty tonight.

There's one hell of a cowboy in Heaven

At the big rodeo in the sky -- Chris LeDoux

For the birthday boy...

So you know that thing called 'TIME'.  Yeah...I'm really good at letting that stuff slip right through my fat fingers!  I had plans to show you this post probably a week ago...BUT...that didn't happen and today is a much better day to post becaaaaaaause...

ITS JARED'S BIRTHDAY!

Yes...my big kid is growing up.  HAHAA! Just kidding...he's only a year older.  We like to leave that 'growing up' stuff to the normal people.  And we, my friends, are far from the norm.  Sadly, Jug is away in California playing under helicopters (I'll post about this heart attack another time).  What I would give to have him home.  Not just today...but all the time.  Despite his ability to always somehow get in my way while I'm in the kitchen...or how he looooves to listen to his Pandora Radio on full volume while I'm spatula-deep in a Foodnetwork episode...

I just want him home.  'Cause I miss him.  Always.

So for Jug's birthday this year, I decided to go a slightly different route.  The kid is HARD to buy for.  He already has a whole hardware store full of tools in the garage.  I got him a smoker/BBQ last year.  So...this year, I was going to take it easy for his birthday and try to spoil him on Christmas.

You know those moments as a child where your mom says "I can't wait until you have children JUST LIKE YOU...".  We'll I'm yet to be a parent, but Jared has made me eat WAY too many of my momma's words.  For example, the dresser drawers and closets.  A lady named OCD lives in our house...and she can't stand seeing clothes all amiss and thrown from one corner to the other.  He's just a big kid.  A big kid thats a boy...I'd keep telling myself.  But a solution was needed...and a solution was found.  We have a guest room that has a full sized closet AND vanity dresser that was previously occupied by both our winter clothes and random objects.  Why not just give Jug his own "room" and I can have our bedroom a place of peace (a place where he only needs to sleep and not play dress up)?? Genius? Yup.

And so the move was done.  And I am thoroughly enjoying the fact that I can simply just shut the guest room door and not know/see/perhaps smell what goes on in there until it needs cleaning for company.  Best. Thing. Ever.  This whole move is what inspired Jug's birthday.  Since that room had become 'his' (and my own personal little blessing), I decided to make the decor 'Jug appropriate'...No more black and white daisy-stills and frilly, flowered pillows.

We love to fish.  Its one of our favorite things to do...on a lake or sitting on our shore...we find peace together here.  So....my mind and heart went with it!  And it turned out awesome....Here's Jug's new room

J & L

I found these adorable hooks at Hobby Lobby (my heaven on earth)...and those are our favorite fishing poles

How cool is the netting?

A fisherman lives here with the catch of his life (You bet your buns he does :))

And there we have it...Jug's new room

Happy Birthday to my favorite :)



Warm Fuzzies...

Betty Crocker thee II here.....baahaha who am I kidding.  Its just ME.  The one who gets all my tips from Food Network, allrecipes.com (the site thats always recommended in my google search), and my mum.  I have a recipe to share for a holiday drink that is sure to warm your heart after a long, long day.

You know...the kind of day where you wake up late. So late that you hardly have time to feed your turtle, let alone make yourself presentable to the public.  The kind of day where you battle EVERY incompetent driver on your morning commute, continually screaming "Well BLESS YOUR HEART" to each and every one.  The kind of day where you encounter every spit wad...every intentional bite...and every eye roll from the all knowing teenager.  The day where your pay check arrives later than you would like, causing you to damn the Christmas shopping gods for sneaking up on your procrastinating self.  AHEM...oh........uhhhh thats just MY day.  That is often repeated on a daily basis :)

So...the recipe.  Its rather simple. 

Apple Cider (size and brand of your choice)
1 medium orange
Cinnamon sticks
Whole Cloves
Spirit of your choice (For those who need that stiff sip after being screamed at by parents and kids all...oops sorry...me again.  I'll stay focused)

-Add the cider to your pop on the stove.

-Throw in 2-3 cinnamon sticks (amount depends on if you're willing to share and the size of your batch)

-Grab the orange.  'Pin' the whole cloves into the peel of your orange.  Make er' look like Hellraiser

-Slice orange in half.  Squeeze orange into cider.  And then throw them on in.

-Steep your cider on desired heat until nice and hot....and then pour yourself a mug.

I have had this with rum...and my newest go-to-booze pick is Pumpkin Pie vodka.  So good.  But in all seriousness, this is good all on its own.  The spiced cider warms your heart.  And the added touch of citrus is just nummy :)

ENJOY!!!! And lemme know what you think!  Oh! And obviously, with some more guidance, I figured out how to use pictures :) I win !

The FUN has arrived...

I know you've all been waiting.  Waiting for me to make my debut.  Ok, well probably not in the least...BUT...I, Lindsay Lea Lundquist, have had my eye on this whole blogging adventure for a while now.  And I'm pleased to say that I finally figured it out.  Yes...my technological skills are nothing (no really) to brag about. But with the help of a few select family and friends...I have succeeded at connecting into this wild world of blogging.

So...my whole plan is to just keep my friends and family in the know about my life's adventures.  Because OBVIOUSLY I have a life worth knowing about. HA! Thats hilarious in itself.  But I can assure you...it will be quite entertaining for any and all audiences.

After 5 years of laying down some serious blood, sweat, and tears (all three in the utmost literal sense), I FINALLY landed myself a commendable education and jumped right into the working world as a Registered Dental Hygienist.  And I've thoroughly enjoyed allowing my parents the freedom of supporting me in life. HA! Another joke. Although financiallly, I am now a hard workin' woman, I continually rely on those two amazingly selfless people for a LOT of things.  Oh you know..."Mom, how long do I boil an egg for again?"..."Daddo, where is my hide-a-key? YES AGAIN, I know"...the typical stuff.  In all seriousness though...I rely on the love of my parents everyday.  Mum and Dad are remarkable people.  So lucky to have them.

So...there I was...just minding my own business as a young adult...When all of a sudden, LOVE slapped me upside the head.  I hasn't looking for him...but God has a funny way of giving you things when you least expect them.  I met Jared in April 2011 on a snowy, spring evening.  The kid stands 6'6" and is as blonde and blue eyed as can be.  And I love him.  His smart ass competes quite well with my own, and constantly reminds me of my daddo with his quick comebacks and relentless sense of humor.  I'm gonna marry that man someday......

Together...we have made a house a home.  And we share that space with two children.  You know...the four-legged, drooling, shedding kind.  Can't forget the tortoise or the fish...but they keep to themselves most of the time.  I can't help but feel so blessed to live the life I lead.  I have dove head first into a world of domesticity and unconditional love...and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

So stay tuned for posts about yard work, cooking disasters, Jared and Lindsay moments, and all the lovely things that can (and will) happen in the life of little Miss Lindsay Lea.  Oh...and pictures.  I'll hope to figure out how to post pictures