Keeping it Sacred or Getting It Back, Just One Drop

I am a very blessed woman. I have an amazing man. We have been through hell and back in our short marriage, but I promise, there's not one person on this whole planet that I'd rather walk through hell with. That's a fact.

I hear trucker's wives talk about how they are afraid of their man cheating, or how they can't trust him, or how he has done this or that or whatever. Oh. My. Goodness. I guess I have my Grandma and Papa to thank for my view that marriage should be forever, no matter what it takes. Grandma died many years after Papa, still signing her name Mrs. with his initials and last name. Am I saying that you should stay if he cheats while out on the road, heavens no, only you can decide that. I just have chosen to do what it takes to make sure my marriage is strong and healthy. I can't control what he does when he's not here. Heck, I can't control what he does when he is here. I can; however, choose to control me. I choose to treat him respectfully, uplift him and pray for him daily. I choose to be the wife that God created me to be. When I make mistakes, I do my best to learn from them and go on. When he makes mistakes, I do my best to do the same. I don't know how I would handle infidelity, and I pray I never have to. I choose to be faithful, honest and true. I know that goes a long way.

My husband is my hero, my soul mate, my very best friend. The 6 months we were separated were the longest, most painful days of my entire life. I did what I had to do, I prayed for that man every single day. I prayed that God would show me where I had done wrong and compel my heart to change. I prayed that God would heal both of our pain and allow us to grow in Him and in each other. I prayed that God would make him happy, no matter what that meant.  I never once took my ring off, I tried once because he told me to, but that didn't even last an hour, it was wrong and I knew it. I never flirted with another man. I never acted single. And I never, EVER, gave up hope.

This video from Plumb helped me through some of those dark nights. It still picks me up on days when I miss him.

But now, he's home - well, when he's home, he's home - but when he's out on the road we do things to keep our marriage sacred and strong. We write notes, we send videos, pictures and cute texts to one another. We both love music so sending videos is a great way for us to uplift one another. He reminds me every day that he loves me and wants me and I do the same for him. We talk about what is most important, and about silly things that don't matter to anyone at all. We do our best not to argue, fight, or jump to conclusions. We communicate and build one another up. We read together and pray together. Above all, we do our best to respect one another.

I pray that no matter who you are, that you have someone amazing in your life that you can share it with. If things are hard, I pray that God will bring healing. It only takes one drop. If I can pray for you or with you, if I can help you in some way to find that one drop, please let me know. If you don't want to post a comment, drop me an email, ThatTexasLady@gmail.com.

Where Do You Stand?

In the light of the recent tragedy in Newtown, CT, I decided to remain quiet for a time in honor of the lives lost. Now that some time has passed (and I have stopped crying) I would like to address the issue.

Several years ago, I had the word "Stand" tattooed on my ankle with the scripture reference Galatians 5:1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

If we are to STAND in our liberties, I believe that we have a responsibility to protect life. This is why I choose to lawfully and responsibly exercise my 2nd Amendment right to bear arms.

As I discussed before, I was employed at the time for the local school district where I lived. My biggest concern was that we, as employees, and many of us CHL holders were being denied our Constitutional right to protect the lives of those innocents that we were charged with.

I wonder how many staff at Sandy Hook would have willingly undergone armed crisis training in order to defend their precious charges? I wonder if Victoria Soto would have done whatever possible to protect innocent life lost....oh wait, she did...and to a tragic end. Perhaps if she had a legally permitted firearm concealed on her body, she would be here with us today?

No one knows what could have happened, point is, it didn't. How many school shooting have happened at Harrold ISD in Texas? None. How many times have you heard of a Harrold ISD teacher leaving a firearm where a student could find it or accidentally shooting someone. None. How many knows which teachers at HISD are in the Guardian program. None. They keep it secret. They keep it safe. They keep their children safe. That's all I know.

It's all about life. It's all about STANDING for what we believe. I believe that human life is precious. I tell people about Jesus because of that. I got licensed, I train, I practice and I carry because of that. I love people, truly and I will continue to do so, no matter what crazies try to do to change it. Stand for your rights, friends. Stand for what you believe. Stand for the love of human life.

Reader Question Tuesday - Why do you carry?

So, here's the million dollar question "Why do you carry." Asked by a reader and submitted for reader questions Tuesday (if anyone can come up with a better name for this series, I'd love to hear it!"

When I was five years old, a stranger called to me from my grandmother's yard. I did not know that I wasn't to talk to strangers and I had no reason to fear anyone. This young man, who knows, probably a teenager, did things to me that should never happen to anyone. I learned that day to fear. I learned to fear men, I learned to fear strangers, I learned to fear sleep for the dreams that would haunt me for decades.

My entire world changed that day and I could not go back, I could not change it. The stranger promised to hurt my parents, should I tell anyone, so I never did. Not for fifteen years. Not one word to anyone. Sent to a therapist as an older teen, I was slapped with the label PTSD after having shared my experience and was prescribed Prozac for my ailment. I knew there had to be a better way to combat my fears.

Always being a resourceful girl, a began researching the underlying condition and what could be done other than mind-numbing medication to better my well-being. I prayed and sought counsel from women at my church and I was reminded of my family law enforcement background and shooting with my cousins and sisters as a child.

What was my fear? Being hurt. Strangers. Being alone. Being HELPLESS. My fear was being unable to protect myself. By this time I was married, I had children so my fears were compounded, my fears were not being able to protect myself or these precious babies that God had entrusted to my care.

How could I remedy it?  Become a police officer? WHAT!? Are you kidding me? As a child, I dreaded every day, the day the school police officer would come to my classroom and tell me something bad had happened to my father. Most police officer's children experience this fear, moreso after it happens once. I had it happen twice (once when he had to shoot an addict high on LSD during a foot chase, and once when he had a car accident). I could not subject my children to fear, that is what I was trying to protect them from. So police officer was out.

So what was left? I knew how to shoot, I knew what the law said, so I bought a gun. Okay great. I can protect them and myself in my car and in my home, but I'm not always in my car or in my home. Now what? CHL. Hmmmm, now you're talking.

I took the CHL, I train, I practice and I teach my children. Owning a gun may not stop bad things from ever happening to me and my kids. Owning a gun has not even stopped all of the bad dreams. But owning a gun, training, and being aware of my surroundings has offered me a better chance against someone who is bigger and stronger than me, against someone who is armed, and against my fears of ever allowing myself to be victimized again.

Refusing to allow myself to be made a victim again. THAT, my dear friends, is why I carry.

Can I really run if I have to?

I was reading an article this morning on The Woma about keeping physically fit for hunting. Dawn makes many valid points in her article for physical fitness in hunting, but one that summarizes why I have begun working on getting my body more physically fit. She states, "The more fit you are, the faster you can run from predators."

In her article, Dawn is talking about bears and other wildlife that you may encounter during hunting. But what about the wildlife that we may encounter in that parking lot after dark on our way to the car after work? What about the wildlife that may be walking down the alley when you take out the garbage? If I were to encounter a situation where I could run instead of having to draw my weapon and shoot someone, would I be physically able to?

It makes me angry when someone says, "Don't worry about it. Adrenaline will kick in and you can do anything." Okay. Sure, we know that adrenaline makes more things possible, I remember running a half mile home in minutes in junior high school to get my father when my sister got hit by a car even though it took me the whole hour in P.E. But I would rather KNOW that I can do it then to take the chance that I might or might not be able to do it when adrenaline kicks in. And what good would it do if I made it to the door and then passed the heck out? I must be able to protect myself and my children. 

If something happened and my 12 year old son was unconscious or injured, could I carry him? What?! Are you crazy? I don't carry the dog food. I am lazy, I am undisciplined and I would much rather have a Dr. Pepper than a glass of water!

So I have decided to change. I want to play with my grandchildren. I want to ride the horses for hours with my husband and my daughter. I want to be able to run if I have to. I want to feel good about me. Can I tell you something that some of you who know me won't believe? I struggle with insecurity. Before I found something I was good at...this. Writing and shooting. I was sure that I was pretty worthless. This new struggle with my weight as I've gotten older has added to that. The teasing of a child about the stains on her teeth, her glasses, and the fact that she was not one of the popular kids probably added to that, plus numerous other things growing up. I cannot; however, allow it all to keep me there. I am refusing to be a victim. Refusing to be a victim of my past, refusing to be a victim of low self-esteem, and refusing to be a victim of fat and laziness!! I am the only one who can change me. I am the only one who can make myself physically fit.

So ten days ago I started an exercise regimen. I am eating better (most of the time) and I am exercising. I met yesterday with a trainer and got a workout plan for the next month. I am going to cut the fat and build lean muscle. I am going to strengthen my arms as the virtuous woman should "She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. (Proverbs 31:17)."

I have asked for and received some great ladies to hold me accountable and I am keeping up with everything on Anytime Health. I will post from time to time and let you all know how I am doing. Let me know if you would like to join this journey with me.

Have a wonderful day, friends!

Lady's Biblical View On Concealed Carry

Already, in one day, I've had someone ask, "How can you call yourself a Christian woman, with faith in God, and carry a weapon?" Instead of a quick retort, I thought I would share with you all my views on what the Bible says. This is simply my opinion, you are entitled to your own. Praise God for free will.

I want to start out with the most commonly used Biblical arguments against carrying, "turn the other cheek" and "Thou shalt not kill."

Turn the other cheek
"And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also" (Luke 6:29). At the time of Jesus, striking someone deemed to be of a lower class with the back of the hand was used to assert authority and dominance. If the persecuted person "turned the other cheek," the discipliner was faced with a dilemma. The left hand was used for unclean purposes, so a back-hand strike on the opposite cheek would not be performed. The other alternative would be a slap with the open hand as a challenge or to punch the person, but this was seen as a statement of equality. Thus, by turning the other cheek the persecuted was in effect demanding equality. By handing over one's cloak in addition to one's tunic, the debtor has essentially given the shirt off their back, a situation directly forbidden by Hebrew Law as stated in Deuteronomy 24: 10-13. By giving the lender the cloak as well the debtor was reduced to nakedness. Public nudity was viewed as bringing shame on the viewer, not the naked, as evidenced in Genesis 9: 20-27.

Turning the other cheek, makes me an equal with the one who would do harm to me. If a man, most of them being bigger than me, wants to do harm to me then me having a way to protect myself puts me as his equal. I don't plan to carry a "man killer" weapon that would most definitely fire a shot to kill. I simply plan to carry a small weapon that could cause my would-be assailant enough pain to leave me alone long enough to provide for my escape.

Thou Shall Not Kill
Exodus 20:13 states, as we all know, in the KJV Thou shall not kill. The Hebrew word "תִּֿרְצָֽ֖ח׃" or "ratsach" literally means to murder. Even the Webster's dictionary has different definitions for the words "kill" and "murder".

Kill: to cause the death of, put an end to

Murder: the crime of killing a person especially with malice aforethought

In carrying a weapon for self-defense purposes, I have no intention of murdering anyone. I honestly have no intention of ever killing anyone. The gun I have that I will carry would take many shots and pure intent to actually kill someone. I pray every single day as I strap on my weapon that I will never have to draw it. I pray every day that I will never have to use it. I will protect my life or the life of another if it is necessary, but I pray every day that that never happens.

We should always trust that God will protect and provide. But there are stupid people out there, angry people out there and, just as He gave it to us, God gave them free will. As much as He would like to protect us from it, He has to allow them to make their own choices too. Prayer for safety every day is our first line of defense. Some say that they won't carry because it means that they have no faith that God will protect them. If you look in Luke 22, you will see that two of the disciples carried swords to the Last Supper. Even Christ instructed the disciples that if they had no swords for self defense that they were to sell their clothes to buy one. The disciples said that they have two swords and He said it was enough. In verse 40, He reminds them to pray that they not enter into temptation. The Lord instructed the disciples to carry protection but to pray that they not have to use it.

If your husband or yourself lost a job, would you sit on the sofa and watch television and wait for God to knock on your door with a job? No you go out and turn in resumes and actively pursue new employment. You should take the same proactive approach on protecting your life and the lives of those you love. Just like Jesus and the apostles, carrying a weapon to protect life, to protect the temple of God (I Cor. 6:19-20) is not only prudent but scriptural. If your life is truly His, if you live to share the Gospel, then you should protect that life. Protect that temple. But pray that you never have to.

Again, this is simply my opinion. You are surely entitled to your own.

Have a great day, thanks for stopping by,



Here is a link I received with more views: Christians Bearing Arms
I also enjoy Kathy Jackson's view at Cornered Cat