Hey, My Darling Siestas! How’s your weekend been? You guys that keep up pretty well know that I blogged last on Wednesday while we were on our way six hours northwest to our acreage in the middle of nowhere. We are now heading back to Houston so once again I’m writing you from Keith’s truck. My man of 31 years is driving next to me, singing to 60’s music and our two dogs are snoozing in the back seat. (He just stopped me and held my hand for a minute because the song was so sweet that he felt romantic.) We got to be away for four nights. The perfect amount of time! I wish I could say it was vacation but I had to take a ton of work with me. That’s ok. At least it was from a different venue and that can help a lot.
(I just got a text from Travis with a picture on it of his youngest son who just lost two teeth. Just living a little life here. Had to stop and text back and tell Levi how cool he looks.)
My heart is full where you are concerned and full with the last four days of life out in the country with Keith. And that’s why I’m going to share a little of it with you: because I love you and love how we can share so many parts of our lives with one another. This is going to be one of those posts when the girls (Amanda or Melissa) might say, “Are you sure you want to share that? You might get hit by somebody for that.” We, the girls and I, provide checks and balances for one another. If we’ve written anything at all besides your garden variety kind of post, we usually run it by one another. Sometimes we talk each other out of an entire post because we’re afraid someone will get offended or out of sorts or just take the opportunity to be ugly or critical. It happens in the blog world which many of you know from your own blogs.
Other times we just talk each other out of a few sentences or a paragraph or two. Most of you should wish you’d seen Melissa’s original Song of Songs Valentine post before I talked her out of a whole chunk. (Yes, we did have a few little words over it. Not a fuss. Just a good, healthy discussion. All four of us are strong willed and opinionated. We just speak our minds back and forth, work through our differences, and, a whole lot of the time, end up making a private family joke out of it.) Those who wouldn’t have wished to see Melissa’s original post are the reason none of you did. (Laughing and with much love.) There was nothing wrong with it. It was just extra colorful – kind of PG13 – because the Scripts happen to be extra colorful – kind of PG14 – in that particular book.
I’m not complaining one iota. To tell you the truth, we get so little ugliness from our commenters. You guys really are so loving and encouraging and patient and understanding and leave ample room for several generations to express themselves here in very different ways. We think we have the most amazing community in bloggerville but we’re not immune, of course. Sometimes we just flat out ask for it and don’t even realize it. Other times we expect somebody may take exception but we just decide it’s worth the risk.
This is one of those times. I’m about to show you guys some pictures – poor quality ones just off my i-phone – to give you a small taste of Moore life out at the acreage our family has. I know in advance that I’m setting myself up for someone to say sarcastically “Must be nice” but I’ll just sigh when I get it and, if it doesn’t get too ugly from there, post the comment anyway and wish she hadn’t misunderstood. The thing is, I love biographies. Glimpses of people’s real lives. Parts of their stories. For instance, every time I talk to Georgia Jan, I wish I could see her surroundings so I could picture her better. Know her in her own world. Every time Mom of Eleven (actually has 12 now, we learned at the SSMT celebration) comments I wish I could see a picture of all of them. It’s one way we, scattered all over the place, take a virtual stroll through a mile or two of one another’s worlds.
Actually, the world I’m about to share with you really isn’t my world. It’s my man’s. But once a couple has been married over 25 years, you really can’t know the one without knowing the other. You can no longer tell for sure where one stops and the other starts. This isn’t land I would have chosen in a thousand years but it’s what my man chose and I chose him. SO, when I talk about us heading to what I call our cactus land, this is the kind of place I’m talking about. I’ll describe it a tad first then I’ll stroll with you through some shots.
It’s a place where your cell phone won’t work and your land line is likely not to.
It’s the kind of place where Keith and I use (or misuse) English in a way we’d never do it at home. We don’t do it to make fun. We, for those few days, say it like we mean it. Like that’s who we are. Like, for instance, just this morning on an early ride with Keith in the old jeep, I heard myself say, “We ain’t seen deer one.”
It’s a place where men are not limited to inside facilities…but I’ll not elaborate on that.
It’s a place where our favorite show is “The Duck Commander.” We laugh our heads off…and, perhaps most worrisome to some of you, totally get it.
It’s the kind of place with a VERY small town nearby that I have fallen head over heels in love with. It has one real grocery story, a “Super S,” and just yesterday while I was picking up a few items, as I live and breathe and without one hint of exaggeration, the woman at check-out got on the microphone for the store and said over the loud speaker, “Mr. Brown, your wife called and wants you to pick up a bag of potatoes.” Ain’t no doubt in my mind he got some. I was so happy I nearly got some, too.
It’s a place with a LOT of these, hence the name:
It’s a place where a woman (even a non-hunter like yours truly) sometimes dresses like this on an early morning ice-cold jeep ride (with no windows in it) with no make-up on:
It’s a place where, if the temperature’s right, a woman would be wise to wear snake boots like mine:
It’s a place where your man’s taller than usual and where manliness can sometimes be gaged by how old and beat up your vehicle is: (For those of you who can’t fathom it, that’s a corn feeder on the front of the jeep for feeding wild life. You guys just have no idea what my life is like at times. Or his, because of mine.)
It’s a place where your man’s favorite hot rod looks like this:
It’s a place where the gate might latch with a horse shoe:
It’s a place where that tiny one hundred year-old German farm house that I told you about in So Long Insecurity resides. My man went to great pains to restore this thing back to its original look. Every window and door in it is a century old.
It’s a place where the sunrise this morning from my little porch looked like this and this one’s not even an especially good one:
It’s a place with, I reckon, my favorite place of all tucked right in it. I swing here and think about all sorts of things and sing hymns and pet Star:
It’s a place where a woman can take her spirals and practice them loud without a single soul hearing or caring:
It’s a place I wish all of you who wish you had one, did. Maybe one day, when you’re older like Keith and me, you will. It’s a place others of you might be bored out of your mind. Maybe your wish list would be a tiny little bay house instead. It’s just all a matter of taste. Sometimes not your own.
It’s a place where my man seems to love me a lot.
So it’s a place I love to go.
God's not so little dutch girl 
Thanks for sharing like you do! So neat to see your home away from home.
observation after reading some 400 comments . . .
we siestas in our 50s and up are sure "mama bear" protective of our sweet siesta Beth (and Amanda and Melissa, too). Just had to smile at that. I could hear the "blood boiling" at the mere thought that someone would dare post a sarcastic comment about your "land" or how God has blessed you.
If you didn't know you were loved and appreciated before, this post alone should put you over the top. Thanks so much for being "family" because y'all are, to so many. . .
Beverly
Stayton OR (but soon a Virginia mama)
I live out in the country. We are building a logcabin in the up state of SC. We started on it in June of 1998 and we are still working on it. To get away from things most people think they can't live without we take the kids backpacking in the mountains. It give us time together we can't get at home.
Thank you for sharing pictures and giving us a glimpse into your wonderful weekend away with your hubby. It looks beautiful and special! There is something really amazing about tagging along with your husband while they are doing something they love and are so passionate about. I guess that's why you'll see me during certain hunting seasons walking through the Black Hills with a shotgun or rifle in my hand too (and a fishing pole in the summer:). We hope that someday we'll have a small piece of remote land where we can disappear to also…
Thanks for sharing! Have blessed week!
Oh Beth it is really beautiful. Getting away from the city is a true blessings to our spirit, soul and body. Here in Wyoming well at my house anyway we see the mountains and will go for a drive. Do we dream of a place like that. You bet ya. My man just loves living here in WY and is happiest in the wilderness. I love it too because it makes him so happy. Quiet is bliss and nature is so wonderful.
Love and God's peace,
Darcie (sheridan, wy)
Beth,
Glad you got to get away! I
prayed for you a ton this weekend, that you might get some rest. How's your back? Thanks for sharing the pics. I am a visual person so I have been trying to picture it since I read about it in "So Long…" My man would LOVE to build us a house on a bunch of land someday. I don't know if it will ever happen, but I will be happy to go with him where ever he goes.
I love you so much! Have an Awesome week! Joan
My parents have a "place",the Red Bird's Nest is what we call it, and they are so kind and generous to let my brother and I use it just as though it were our own. We're a family. Plain and simple. I can't begin to tell you the solace and comfort it has brought us the last few very sad years, to be tucked away safe and sound on the side of a NC mountain. When we talk about it, my dad always says, "We're just so thankful the Lord would see fit to allow us to use it for a while." I sure do love him. And Him. So much.
I praise our LORD who inspires you to write/share what you do. The spiral verse you shared was JUST what I needed this today. There have been some struggles in my life recently and I have had to keep repeating "I am who God says I am" and "God can do what He says He can do". Psalm 67:2 was His answer this morning to the cry of my heart. Thank you, Beth, for being so real and obedient. Bless you!! (p.s. – "see" you in 11 more sleeps in Toronto!)
I have been humming a song all morning and then it came up at 9:52AM ~
~ I just LOVED
the comment from annonymous at 9:52am
"I'd rather live in his world then live without him in mine."
So Great! Praise GOD!!
For pete's sake I LIVE there with my man, it's not a place we go visit. He's happy here, healthy here, at home here, and it's good for my babies. It's 4 miles to a town where there's a school (and that's about it)and 30 miles to get to the town with the Wal – Mart. Right now we drive on a road that's trying to decide whether it's mud or ice. It makes for interesting driving. My boots are not snake boots, they're mud boots, but the boys killed a rattler in the driveway and I jogged over top of a copperhead last spring so maybe I should get a pair! Not sure how the jogging would go! The house was built in the 1800's and we completely understand. 'Nuff said about that. In the meantime, my man is building me a brand new one, one piece at a time. It will take a while because he's paying as he goes and doing it himself. It's been 3 years and we'll move in to the basement soon! In the end, he will have done it and God willing we will grow old in the home he built for our family. Here it's a different kind of brush in our fence rows but I still sing my hymns and memorize my scriptures at the top of my lungs and the cows and kids don't seem to mind! We play our fiddles outside too. We have a green tractor with a loader sitting in the fence row same as you. And instead of an old jeep we have a 1987 Ford Ranger which we call Hot Rod. Yeah, baby. I will agree with you – my man loves me a lot when he's in HIS element. So here we are, for better or worse, taking in all those beautiful sunsets. Thanks for sharing!
Beth, your post is like manna from heaven – answered prayer indeed! I have been seeking guidance from God, and He provided great insight to me through your post. I praise God for your faithfulness and your transparency with this blog community. You are such a blessing!
My mom lives on 67 acres in NC with a view of the mountains from the top where her house is tucked away from the road and I love it. I like to walk through the fields and down into the woods to the little creek and talk to God and cry if I must and I am comfortable in doing so since I know that it's just me and Him. Sometimes my mom and I sit on the roof outside my upstairs window at twilight and listen to the crickets and watch the fireflies. There's nothing like it!
I'm glad you have a place like this for you and your husband and you and your God!! Thanks for sharing!
I'm so glad you felt like you could share this. I too love to learn more about other people's reality, and especially love to look at pictures!!!
My parents worked very, very hard to get to where they are financially. It's easy for people to judge when they see their beautiful home, nice cars, or hear about all the ways that they give back. But what they don't know is that growing up, there were many years that we did without~ no newspaper (back in the day, that was the ONLY way to get your news!), cable television, shopping at thrift stores and even picking which school dance I would or wouldn't attend based on funds. They were faithful tithers and recognized right off the bat that the money they had was indeed not theirs, but God's. You have been entrusted with much, Miss Beth, but truly you both had to have been great stewards of what was given to get to where you are, otherwise you wouldn't have been entrusted with it at all. Remember that the next time someone who may not be as secure in their finances tries to make you feel bad about it. You have nothing to be ashamed of <3
Love you!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Gee, "must be nice". hahaha – Sorry couldn't help myself. I love this post. I love the fact that you are sharing a little of your 'sanctuary' with us. I think it's so very special that you and Keith go out there and share such quiet moments together. I don't think enough people take this kind of time for silence; when sometimes silence is food for our souls. In a world of such noise and chatter – cactus, trees, sunsets, various wild life are opportunities that shouldn't be missed. So thank you for the posts and the pictures. I love them!
It looks like a refuge….a place you get recharged and blessed by seeing God's creation all around.
Thanks for sharing with us.
That looks like a place I could quite happily spend all of my days. But then I think I'm such a people person, I'd lose my mind for sure. 🙂 But I'd save a lot of money, so it might be a wash. 😀
Beth,
That was so beautiful! For a variety of reasons.
I identify with a man who wants to appreciate and engage with God's creation. My man is in the corporate world, but would love to leave it all and live in the middle of no where with a degree in counseling to help other men learn to leave the baggage behind. He has worked through a lot himself, at great lengths. He has laid down much of his pride, allowed God to survey the walls of his heart and found that he really feels closest to God on the hunt and in the middle of His creation. I, honestly, am just so thankful he has found healing in the power of Jesus. God has used Breaking Free and Believing God in his life. I had learned and grown so much through them that I couldn't help but share, in light of his circumstances and passion to give the next generation a "promised land" of their own.
Thank you for sharing so much of your life in so many ways.
Jina
You enjoy that place with your man!!! We are in a ministry family as well and know what you are feeling!! It is hard but as long as you are at peace with God who are we to judge!!
Thank you so much for sharing your life with me/us, you are just such a precious person and God uses you in a mighty way. You always make me feel so special when you allow me a small glimpse into your personal life. God bless you !!!
Also, you rock in your hunting gear, the scarf really pulled the whole outfit together. Grin.
I so can relate, beautiful post. Hmm, I wish it wasn't so cold here in Northern California, I would ask my man to get the jeep out (no top)and take a little ride through the canyon and watch for deer. Praise the Lord for his wonders and the men that he brings to us as partners for life.
Geneva
Reminds me of a place my husband & I went a few years ago for a spiritual retreat (he's a pastor; seeking God's direction for the coming year kind-of-thing). It was called Grasshopper Acres. The house looks very familiar, though it's in the "wilds" of Florida. Thanks for sharing your life with us.
Thank you for sharing. I had tried to imagine what the little farm house looked like when I was reading So Long Insecurity. I'm just so glad you are NORMAL and down to earth and not afraid to post a pic w/ NO make-up on!!! You rock!
Thanks for sharing a little part of your week, Beth. I have a husband that wants to retire to Bracketville, TX, which looks very similar even though it is very much south Texas. God's Country is what he calls it. So glad you were able to get away and have some very special couples time to be 100% yourselves.
Thank you for sharing this, Beth. I love getting to know you via these posts. This place brought back memories for me of a little town in northern Nevada where my husband and I lived about 27 years ago when we were "newly married". There was one little restaurant about 10 miles down the road,and a local grocery where we could pick up a loaf of bread or a carton of milk. But, the big shopping was an "event", part of a weekend in Reno. One evening, we drove 90 miles just to eat pizza! When I look back on that place, I see it where my hungering for God began. The journey since then has covered a lot of geographical territory, and a lot of changes in my life and heart. Hopefully, someday we can find a similar place to be "quiet" and sit on the front porch and "watch the chrome bumpers rust". 🙂
Like you, I am ALWAYS wondering about people and their daily lives away from the public. I love that you shared that with us. We too have a place at a lake and my man is happy, contented and back to the man I fell in love with when he is there – away from the pressures of a career. I can absolutely relate!! Thank you for sharing – and it is a beautiful cabin by the way!!
Thanks so much for sharing the pictures! It is so nice to see you as a regular person not just the bible teacher that I see on DVD.
The ranch house is so cute! I love old houses!
When we needed to relocate, because of the economy, my man moved us back to the old house I grew up in because he new it I loved it. Built in 1797. Our daughter is the 7th generation of Williams decendants to live in our house. We also did some restoration but not to the extent that Keith went to. We worked hard to keep it looking old though.
Thank you for sharing a piece of your life. Now, I can picture you there in your surroundings. You are precious to me. Thanks for being you!
Grew up in Texas but never saw anything that looked like this. Thanks for sharing your life, even the private parts, with us. I feel so loved and a part of you.
Glad you had a good time and time to get away, even if you had to work.
Jan
It is absolutely beautiful!! Your place speaks to the deer hunter in me. I love it. Although I am a Tennessee girl and love the hills and hollars!! I hope you enjoy it!
Just yesterday I was feeling so blessed by God to live where I do…not because of it's beauty (north Texas looks a lot like your special place) but because we are so blessed by the people in our church. We moved here because my husband was called to pastor a church here…I am more of a hills and trees girl but the beauty of the people and small town life trump my need for the hills and trees. I was overcome with gratitude while I drove home from church..it's my present time special place.
you are awesome and even more awesome that you wore camo and took a picture and shared it with us, you just reached a whole new ministry group of women! Thanks for sharing your life with us girls! and most importantly your love for the Lord! He sure is proud of you!
Hi Beth,
Thanks for sharing. I love the swing and your picture brought back fond memories of wiling away hours, daydreaming in the swing that hung in my grandma's front yard.
I'm in counseling to deal with a number of personal issues, not the least of which is deep-seeded, untended pain. If at any time I choose to give in to my flesh, that pain will most often find its outlet via a sarcastic quip. The more I'm focused on my pain, the more vitriolic the quip. As my pastor has said more than once, "hurt people hurt people." I'm not trying to make excuses, just risking bing transparent enough with my own experience to shed some light on sarcasm, as I'm very familiar with that particular MO.
Healing is coming and my Abba is being more tender in ministering to me than anyone deserves.
I'm looking forward to and praying for LPL at Idlewild in April.
Much love,
Patti Hayes – Lutz, Florida
Looks like home to me!
That was just too sweet!
I loved it…and my man who happens to share that name Keith….he would love it too.
Since we have been here in the mountains he has not gotten to spend time on the farm like he would like…his guns are getting lonely.
And since we have been here that big green toy he loves has only been used to move snow and grate a road or two.
The land meets a need for him….and when my man is happy…his lady is oh so happy.
Thanks for sharing girl!
I just read the description of the farmhouse last night in Chapter 6 and how nice it was to see a picture of it today! I'm glad you all have a place to get away!
Beth,
I do thank you for the pictures. I, too, like to know where to visualize someone when I'm talking with her. I also totally get marrying a man who'd take you on adventures you'd never dream of or choose for yourself. I married a hunter who's also passionate about fishing. He'll drive 4 hours to fish, which means leaving home around 3:30 am! Well, sure I get up early the day after Thanksgiving to get some deals, but I know I can refuel at Starbucks. Not so on the river. The 100 yr old farmhouse IS something I would've dreamed about. I think it's fantastic you restored it. And I've wanted a swing like that forever. I have the porch, but never got the swing. I'm so glad you have a place like that to go. Have a great Monday! Love you!
Well aside from the snakes (UGHHH – do the boots really work?) I love it, the swing got me too!
bless you sweetheart!
Thank you so much for sharing so much of yourselves with us! I so deeply appreciate the depths of your honesty and openness with us. What a privilege and treasure!
And I totally get the "hot rod" comment. My man has serious tractor envy. "If it runs like a Deere, his eyes light up!"
That little farmhouse is DAR-LING. I don't use that word often but there is no other way to describe it. Love it. DAR-LING (you must say it with the pause "-" to get the full effect of saying it that way).
Some day I'd love to have a place like this but MY man would be bored stiff – he's totally social and needs stuff to do. Me, not so much. So, we'll need to find another place where my man will love me a lot and so I will love to go there a lot.
Thanks for being real, Mama Beth. Love the big picture of the cactus. Reminds me of home in Arizona. The greenery and trees don't so much though . . . you'd need a palm tree or two (or 12).
Love you,
Laura P
in Califonia
This post is why I love you & your family … and all of my Siestas! A safe place to share our lives and just be girlfriends. And I'm especially thankful that you and your man have this place to get away from it all. With the life you live, girlfriend, you deserve it!
What a wonderful place! I am so happy that the two of you (and your family) have a special place to go to relax and enjoy the Lord and each other. I hope you had a great time and get to go back again soon! Thank you for sharing with us.
Ahhh,love Texas! Oddly enough, the picture I loved the most was the horseshoe latch. It may be common in that neck of the woods, but I think it's pretty creative =)
I love, love, LOVE everything about this post and your wonderful little piece of 'Heaven on Earth'. Reading about it made me want to see it so I can picture what it looks like…and you heard me! I so totally get why you enjoy it so much and why you have such special times with Keith at that very place. My darling husband of 20+ years would love a place like that, too…and I would love it because I would see how it fills him with such joy. We have 10 acres in Washington state that boasts incredible views of forest land and 2 mountains so, no matter if you look to the north or south, you have amazing sights to behold. We haven't built on it yet and have no idea when that might happen with the economy the way it is but I thoroughly enjoy going to our little piece of land and marveling at the beauty…not to mention enjoying the peace and quiet!
I am so happy you have these blessings in your life. You and your family deserve every good thing that happens…you put Jesus first, give Him all the glory, and have every right to enjoy every blessing He bestows upon you.
Thank you for your transparency! xoxo
Shelly E
Portland, OR
Thank you for sharing pieces of your life with us. Relationships – even online ones – are built that way.
~ Cindy in Raleigh NC
This makes me smile:)
thanks for sharing "Outdoors Beth" with us;)
I truly think it's awesome that you did!
xoxo
ang
So sweet! I love that you have a place to get away… and I totally get that your getaway place can be yours even though it actually reflects your husband's tastes/ interests.
We actually don't have our own version of a cactus ranch, but maybe it's because we're in our early 30s, my husband's a minister, and I'd much rather stay home with our boys than work right now! But I'm okay with that… Maybe one day:)
I long for a place like that in my dreams. I love your swing, I'd be on that thing alot too. I bet the night sky is beautiful with all the stars on display. Enjoy the blessing of your special get-a-way. thanks for sharing.
Beth, Your fashion-able clothing looks beautiful on you! The special "German" place is nice.
My husband would love the tractor looks like a John Deere. I especially, like the swing. Now, that brings back alot of memories. My family had 65 acres, a big barn, a small guest house and the house we lived in. My family moved into a white, block home that my father helped build when he was 13 or 14 years old. There a swing on the front porch and I loved to go out there just to sit for hours. I would pray, read my Bible and enjoy nature. This is the only place I ever called home. My dad retired from the Air Force and we moved back to my parent's home place.
I think I am getting Home-Sick. I miss it so much, although I do love my present family_it would be nice to be closer to my past home.
Your have a wonderful family and beautiful place to spend time with God. How wonderful!!!
Shaminder
36 & Married
Toronto,ON
Your ranch is so lovely & looks so cosy (at least from my point of view since I don't see the ratlers ). As I was reading this week's reading, I wished I could see how your precious farmhouse looked. Thank you Beth for sharing with us.
Beth, the way you started your post I thought you were going to show us some pictures of some dead bloody deer, or trapped furry creature, or some skinned snake or other. I scrolled slow and with one eye closed.