sArAh PaLiN, "ThE wEsT", & ChaRacTeR

As a young 25 year old woman I admire Sarah Palin more each day. I find myself more akin to a Sarah Palin than an Angelina Jolie and for that I am truly grateful. As a gal growing up in the "WEST" and growing up on the frontier of our own, the Palin family could be found amongst my family's friends and my own friends from college. Perhaps it truly is something about us folks that are from the western United States and grew up learning to be self-sufficient and working in nature because I only see a woman I can truly relate to and look up to as a woman when other folks are using their own insecurities to challenge your success. Her career, family, and personal values are something that all young girls should be reading about instead of famous Hollywood actresses, singers, or a few other choice female politicians. I grew up working hard on a cattle ranch, never really experiencing family vacations instead spending summers farming and irrigating and holidays spent at home with hungry cows & calves to feed, one parent was in a lengthy coma by the time I was 15 with years of brain injury rehab to follow, and my father passed away after a 6 yr battle with stage IV cancer. I paid for college with student loans, and the government didn't hand me free money even though my family's combined salary would appall the post-man. FOLKS-this is real life...Not exaggerated or made up. Sarah Palin's life is what we tax-paying, church-going, Jesus Christ believing, hard working families experience every day. She has a son in the miliarty-gone to battle for all of us, a daughter who made a mistake that most of your children have probably already made-just didn't get handed the baby card, and her youngest baby has Down Syndrome. She has worked HARD, her husband has worked HARD, they don't come from Old Money, private schools, trust funds, OR welfare. Is that truly so hard to believe? It’s not for me or everyone else I know. Leadership and serving has been a part of my life and my family's since I was born....because it’s just the way you are raised out in the country. You help out your neighbors, your family memories are experienced WORKING alongside each other not on a vacation, digital or flat screen TVs are rare, spending money on cable or satellite doesn't make sense. So, when you ask if any women support Sarah Palin the answer is YES!!!! Sarah Palin is the type of woman I have known all my life and would invite over for a steak or burger and ask how her and her husband are raising their youngest to be included and a part of their family just like their other children and how as a woman and mother she has been able to withstand the lies and attacks on her character. As a 25 year old painfully honest, grounded, right from wrong thinker, driven in faith, leadership, and values; I am an image of a Palin supporter and others like her.  I am a woman thankful for finally having a "famous" woman of Sarah Palin's CHARACTER to lead and inspire us in this world.
(This was something I felt drawn to post online in regards to a forum that asked if any women actually supported Sarah Palin. I am not one to respond to those type of things, but I couldn't be stopped!)

What traits do you admire in people? Do you find yourself getting more involved when the world seems to be slipping from ethics? Would love to hear from what drives you each and every day!

Blessings, Jenna

2013

Only thing better...if one day I was in these shoes!!! :)

No Rest for the weary....literally

Luke 6:20-49 

²⁰Looking at his disciples, he said:
   "Blessed are you who are poor,
      for yours is the kingdom of God.
 ²¹Blessed are you who hunger now,
      for you will be satisfied.
   Blessed are you who weep now,
      for you will laugh.
 ²²Blessed are you when men hate you,
      when they exclude you and insult you
      and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
 ²³"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
 ²⁴"But woe to you who are rich,
      for you have already received your comfort.
 ²⁵Woe to you who are well fed now,
      for you will go hungry.
   Woe to you who laugh now,
      for you will mourn and weep.
 ²⁶Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
      for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

Love for Enemies

 ²⁷"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹Do to others as you would have them do to you.  ³²"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. ³³And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. ³⁴And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Judging Others

 ³⁷"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  ³⁹He also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
 ⁴¹"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴²How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit

 ⁴³"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. ⁴⁴Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. ⁴⁵The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

The Wise and Foolish Builders

 ⁴⁶"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? ⁴⁷I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. ⁴⁸He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

Blessed this Christmas...difficult yes, but everywhere we turned there shone the Lord

Amarillo Sky

Such a great tribute to America's Farmers, "Amarillo Sky" by Jason Aldean...hard to get tired of listening or watching this one!

Christmas Poem of the West

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the West

The people were struggling to do what was best

The Century farms were tucked in for the season

The hay piled up high; feeding cattle the reason

But the families have had to split chores don't you see

'cause one of them's making the flight to D.C.

To the un-ending work on the farm they now add

countless hours to lobby, just to prove they aren't bad

With a nation that's led to believe, by some quirk

That their food comes from Safeway and requires little work

And thus disconnected from food, they assume

Regulation won't stop all that food they consume

And the timber producers lay snug in their beds

And hopeful solutions all danced through their heads

Would a new forest plan finally bring needed sense

To the tinder dry forests, overstocked and too dense?

The moon on the fresh fallen snow is a sight

Feeding hopes that low water won't start a new fight

And we gaze at this vision and pray for good cheer

And for better relations in the upcoming year

But what to our wondering eyes should appear, but

A red-cheeked, round man on a brand new John Deere

Thinking its Santa, we give out a yelp

But he's here from the government.... says he can help?

Dear Santa, won't leadership finally see?

The solution to Oregon's economy

Is don't give us some brand new idea to endorse

When we're rich in traditional natural resource

So let us exclaim, or we'll fade out of sight

Merry Christmas, and trust us, we still do this right!

~Colleen MacLeod

This poem was written by Colleen MacLeod of LaGrande, Oregon.  She is a former Union County OR Commissioner and former staffer for Congressman Greg Walden.  She is currently running against Rep. Greg Smith in Oregon's House District 57.  A passionate agriculture advocacte for Oregon, friend, and WSU alum sent this to me and I had to be sure to pass it on for others to experience!

~Merry Christmas~

The Charge of the Light Brigade

This weekend I went with my mom to the movie, The Blind Side.  I'm certainly glad she asked me if I would go with her to a movie because this was without a doubt the best movie I've seen in a long time.  One website said, "It has a clear vision of compassion". The story was amazing but actually left you feeling really great, not too heavy, sad, schmultzy or anything else! It is about Baltimore Ravens football player Michael Oher.  Here is a poem that was read in the movie by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.  (Oh and try the book too, I think I'm going to add that to my ever growing reading list!)

Half a league half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred:
'Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns' he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

'Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd ?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd & thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack & Russian
Reel'd from the sabre-stroke,
Shatter'd & sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse & hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!

A Farmer's Prayer...........

Although I may not bow my head as often as I should, I'm thankful for the life I lead in this farming neighborhood.

I love the feel of a warm spring shower, and the soft green grass in May. I say thanks when I feel bright sunshine drying out the fresh-mown hay.

I am thankful when I look upon a field of tasseled corn. And I love the sounds of harvest on a frosty morn.

It's such a good feeling at sunset when a long day's work is done, and I like the hours when I work real hard but am working just for fun.

There are times in the life of a farmer when things don't go our way, but although I may not bow my head I am thankful every day.

US Ranchers wRaNgLiNg over LIVESTOCK

*** Yakima Herald-Republic Nov. 28th article featuring local Yakima Valley dairy "George DeRuyter & Sons" and Washington Cattlemen's Assoc Exec. Director Jack Field discussing Livestock ID***

GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic

Celso Alvarez attaches an identification tag to a cow at the George DeRuyter & Sons Dairy in early November 2009. The tags contain a wealth of information that allow the cow to be identified and tracked throughout its life.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yakima County is home to an estimated 286,432 meat and dairy cattle. It's also where the nation's first confirmed case of mad cow disease occurred six years ago. That discovery helped prompt efforts to develop a national system to track diseased animals. Reporter Erin Snelgrove traveled to Australia and reports today on how that nation developed such a program and how efforts are progressing here.

CLONCURRY, Australia -- Dust billows in the sun-drenched sky as 600 cattle charge through the chute. They act as one, a writhing mass of legs and hooves. Flies swarm in their wake, and ranchers stand on alert, ready to jump into the fray if needed.
As each animal passes, its ear tag transmits data that's entered into a national database, allowing authorities to track each animal from birth to death.
In a global economy, where mad cow, hoof and mouth and other diseases can crush a market overnight, the ability to track cattle can be crucial.
In Australia, where 65 percent of all beef is exported, it's especially critical.
"It gives us lifelong traceability," said Ray Campbell, who owns a 26,000-acre cattle operation in Cloncurry. "It gives us the edge in the world market. Australian beef is known as clean and green."
In the United States -- where discovery of a single case of mad cow disease at a Mabton dairy in December 2003 prompted Japan, Korea and others to ban U.S. beef imports for more than a year -- some see the Australian system as worth replicating.
Since 2004, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been attempting to develop a program similar to Australia's.
But not everyone likes what the USDA has been proposing. .........read the rest of the Yakima-Herald Republic article.

THANK YOU fArMeRs & RaNcHeRs ThUrSdAy!!!

WATCH aWeSoMe AmErIcA'S LAND commercial!

(Click picture or link below!)

America’s farmers grow our economy, care for our land and provide for us every day. They ship nearly $100 billion of crops and products to many nations. They provide more than 24 million jobs in the U.S. They grow more food now than they did just a few decades ago – using nearly half the energy and fewer resources for every bushel produced. As farming grows, so does our quality of life. We’re all connected through agriculture, so take a few moments and thank your farmers for what they’ve provided for you and your loved ones – your food, your fuel, your clothes.  (Monsanto)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RPQqGIL9SE

Blake Shelton..........new celebrity face for FaRmErS & rAnChErS??

Folks we do catch a break every now and then-I promise! :)  I've been following Blake Shelton on Twitter for some time now.  The reason?  Because I like his music? Well, I do like his music, but since I'm not quite as obsessed with Blake as I am his GF Miranda Lambert that wasn't the reason!  The reason is this is the best (anti) celebrity we have making it "cool" to be anti PETA!  Win for farmers & ranchers everywhere.  Every other celebrity out there tries to make it "cool" to support PETA---not Blake!  "Hey PETA, dad says to let him know when y'all are finished bitchin' about this.. So he can blast another! http://yfrog.com/1dczwj " "Hey Jace... Do you like PETA? http://yfrog.com/1efbdj " Just some great examples!

WARNING: at times he may not have the most Child appropriate tweets to put it delicately......but we'll take it! :)  Thanks BLAKE and keep up the good work....hey have you heard of this silent killer group called HSUS???  They are WORSE than PETA.....what do ya got for us???

Blake Shelton Taunts PETA with Tweets

"Blake Shelton and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have been locked in something of a bitter Twitter battle lately. Blake, who's notorious for his frequent -- and frequently sarcastic -- Twitter updates, directed a few choice 'tweets' at the animal-activists group recently, with his comments resulting in his getting banned from receiving the group's updates on the social-networking site." ....Read the rest of the article here

'Nuff said! :)