Renaissance Rescue Ranch


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The Horses





Their Mission




Renaissance Rescue Ranch

4305 HWY O

Farmington, MO 63640






Emerson, Politics and Myself


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I call it “The Rock of David”.

“The teaching of politics is that the Government, which was set for protection and comfort of all good citizens, becomes the principal obstruction and nuisance with which we have to contend… The cheat and bully and malefactor we meet everywhere is the Government.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerson writes in his essay on politics that an ideal government, advocated for the growth of the individual and would be able to protect one’s individual rights.  Once an individual became completely independent and self-reliant they would be ready for democracy and the government could be abolished.  The richest asset one could have is the mind and the intelligence needed from each individual would triumph over politics and business interests.  He also valued personal rights over property rights.

He tells us that “The law is only a memorandum.” and his most popular quote was “The less government we have the better.”  Emerson had complete faith in the individual but he does a turn about on his views toward nations.  He goes as far to write, “Every actual state is corrupt.”  Political parties are “made out of necessity” out of the time period and not of any underlying theory.  He was not satisfied with either party at the time and hinted to the natural inequality the system adhered to and its effects.  Even back then he didn’t trust the pulpit and the press.  This is from Essays: Second Series published in 1844.

Now fast forward to 2017 and hold on to your arse.  Less government is certainly out of the question and there is very little trust for the press and the pulpit.  Our government has become enormous.  The thing that fascinates me is that we Americans put our trust in a group of people who steal from us (i.e. Social Security) and unless you have a rather large sum of money to invest in a campaign you aren’t going to get elected.  The majority of most of these elections are won by the person who had the most money to spend.  No, I didn’t say always I said most.  The average John Q Public has no way to be successful in a bid for a US Senate seat or House of Representatives.  The qualifications are easy enough.

Senate: 1) at least 30 years old  2) a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years at the time of election to the Senate  3) a resident of the state one is elected to represent in the Senate.

House of Representatives: 1) be at least 25 years old  2) have been a resident of the United States for the last 7 years  3) be (at the time of the election) an inhabitant of the state they represent.

Wow!  We trust these people to do what  is best for us?  Not even a high school diploma or GED required.  The real kicker, why would someone spend a million dollars to procure a job that pays one hundred seventy four thousand to two hundred thousand dollars a year?



I see the bad moon arising, I see trouble on the way………


“Every actual State is corrupt.  Good men must not obey the laws too well.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I don’t know what the future holds but I personally think trouble is on its way.  We are a country that instead of taking a problem head on we just pass another useless law.  Representatives that make promises and never follow through.  Both parties promise the moon and deliver nothing.   Both sides still refuse to acknowledge why the election of 2016 went the way it did.  Fact is that Americans are fed up with the whole mess and demonstrated that in the voting booth and democrats and republicans still refuse to acknowledge it.

In my heart I truly believe the framers of the constitution tried their best to protect us from the greed of politicians.  Greed however is hard for humans to overcome and very hard to defeat.  The corruption within our government and political system iseventually going to be the death of a once great nation.  It is been there a long time but it seems the new politicians are bolder than those before them or maybe they aren’t as smart as their predecessors, because they aren’t doing a very good job of hiding it.

I hope Americans remain awake and keep sending a message to politicians that we have had enough.  They work for and represent us and it is time we quit keeping them in office when they don’t have our best interests in mind.  Ok I will shut up now.  I know I am beating a dead horse.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  I really don’t like to write about this particular subject however I just needed to get it off my chest.  I am tired of seeing my friends and family arguing over a bunch of thugs, yeah I called them thugs, that don’t give a rat’s patootie about them.  Be sure to spread the love.

Logic vs Emotion



How can you not like these little creatures?


First I want to make it perfectly clear I am not taking sides with the actions I mention below.  All I am trying to do is get people to look at these two conflicts through logic and not emotions.

At the moment this nation is so wrapped up in emotion that it has forgotten to use logic.  It doesn’t seem like anyone can think clearly and it is really starting to show.  Is there any end in sight?  Folks are flying off the handle and doing things without thinking and having to live with the harm caused by their actions.

Football.  Used to be America’s past time.  The operative word is “used” because I think its popularity is waning.  The debate can go on all day over whether or not the taking of a knee during the National Anthem is disrespectful or not.  Debate all you want.  The real problem I have with the NFL is not sticking to their guns.  Kaepernick said he took a knee to bring awareness of racial injustice in the United States.  Tebow took a knee to profess his faith.

The Dallas Cowboys made a request to the NFL to allow them to wear a decal with the words “Arm in Arm” on it during the season.  Their reason was to pay tribute to the five police officers that were killed in an ambush.  NFL said because of their strict rules concerning uniforms their request was denied.  Really?

Then let me see.  Seems some NFL players wanted to wear some cleats with a special design commemorating the 15th anniversary of 9/11.  Williamson, a linebacker for Tennessee Titans was told he would be fined.  Now keep in mind Kaepernick had worn some “pig socks” and the NFL said nothing.  Six players, including Williamson wore their shoes any way and the NFL decided against fining them because of public outrage.  Interesting to say the least.

Last but not least, Kaepernick was at work.  He was representing a team he had been hired to play football for.  Why should he be allowed to protest in this manner and be treated any differently than the rest of us.  That was not the place or time to do it.  He could have used any other venue not related to his job and he would have been a hero.  Again because someone reacted with emotion instead of logic he has hurt a good cause and drove another wedge between individuals in this nation that could have been avoided.


However they can become pretty aggressive around food.

Hollywood, News Media, and Politics:  All of a sudden women are coming forward making accusations against prominent men within society.  I in no way do I condone any of the actions they have been accused of but at the same time I have to ask why?  Some of these accusations are 40 years old.   Why not come out against them when it happened?  It would certainly add more credibility to their accusations.

Most of these accusations are so old you will never be able to prove right or wrong and what consequences does the accuser face?  None.  Nada! Nothing.  If they are true I would like nothing more than see the perpetrators staked to an ant hill, in the hot sun with their genitals covered in honey.

However what if the women are not telling the truth?  What happens to them?  There are people who have lost their jobs over these accusations and their lives ruined.  Yes some have admitted to wrong doing so justice was served but what about those that deny it ever happened?  We are now ruining peoples’ lives by just saying it happened and no way to really prove it happened or didn’t, because of the time lapse.  Sad thing is if they are telling the truth, I shutter to think of all the women’s lives that were ruined because these women remained silent.

Maybe I am screwed up but in my mind by these women not coming forward when it happened are just as guilty of the wrong doings to the women that followed as the man himself.  Yes I have heard the argument that it is hard for them to come forward when it happened and it would have had a negative impact on their careers, I get that.  Why is it any different coming forward now than it was then?  Oh please don’t tell me it is because society has changed and blah, blah blah.  The time to correct that wrong doing is when it happened, not 10 or 30 years later.  If they are guilty then they need to be punished.

I hope I didn’t offend anyone.  That was not my intentions.  My whole purpose of this blog was to hopefully show readers how this country has become a nation of emotional thinking/reacting and doesn’t even seem to recognize logic anymore.  If I did offend you I am sorry but I just call ’em like I see ’em.  I try to stay away from controversial subjects like this but I thought it was something that needed to be said.

Thanks once again for taking time to read my blog and I hope you enjoyed it.  Remember, spread the love.

Note:  I used the pics of the hummingbirds I had taken because it shows how sweet they can be but we have to remember how aggressive they can be and the chaos they create around the feeders is representative of the climate in our nation at the moment.






My Take on Self-reliance




Just me and my dog Kate



Merriam-Webster defines self-reliance as reliance on one’s own efforts and abilities.

When I hear “self-reliance I think of the early pioneers and the hardships they had to endure.  They were pretty much able to take care of themselves.  They raised and hunted their own food, played doctor, teacher and were carpenters.  They had to be that way in order to survive.

In today’s world self- reliance seems to have left the building.    Sad part is that children of today aren’t being given a chance to be self-reliant.  The parents  just don’t want to take the time out of their busy schedule to teach them.   Grandparents have it in their minds that they  have to do everything for them, be their best friend and by all means don’t hurt their feelings.  Both sides argue that the child isn’t responsible enough but at the same time they aren’t teaching the child responsibility.  All of this is done with good intentions however, the child is the one who is losing and will have no ideal how to do things for themselves.  They grow up expecting people to do everything for them and .  When I look into my crystal ball I don’t see a very good future for them.

Then we have the government using public assistance to enslave John Q Public.  Why?  They don’t want us to even entertain the idea of self-reliance.  Keep us from attaining it and we hand them the control that gives them the upper hand if they need it.  Ok, settle down.  Quit laughing so hard.  Maybe I am getting senile but it is happening more and more as folks lose their jobs.  Public Assistance, the New Form of Self-Reliance! by your Congressional Representatives.



We interrupt this program for a message from the turkey above, Please eat more possum.  My friends and family will appreciate it.


I don’t think folks put enough emphasis on self-reliance.  Anyone who lived during the “Great Depression” can tell you how important it is.  Nobody seems to understand it can happen again and seem to be  complacent with the government taking care of them.  My way of thinking is I would rather be in control of my outcome in that situation and trust no one else with my surviving.  Just look how they take care of our veterans.  Still feel warm and fuzzy inside thinking of them taking care of you when the SHTF?

Self-reliance also involves one thinking for themselves and not letting anyone else or the government tell you how to think.  It also necessitates for one to be prepared for whatever comes at them.

“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.  Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.” – Abraham Lincoln (Parents and grandparents should have this one taped to their mirror so they read it every morning before they start their day.  Just saying, if the child is capable of doing it then why are you?)

“If you truly want to be respected by people you love, you must prove to them that you can survive without them.” – Michael Bassey Johnson

Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  It means a lot to me and you and your time are deeply appreciated.  I take this time to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and good times with family.  As you go through the holidays don’t forget to spread the love.













“Tis weak and vicious people who cast the blame on Fate.  The right use of Fate is to bring up our conduct to the loftiness of nature.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fate: the will or principle or determining cause by which things in general are believed to come to be as they are or events to happen as they do: destiny (Merriam-Webster)

Life is what one makes it.  Do I believe in fate?  Good question.  Personally I don’t believe fate exists to the extent of being the only determining factor of the outcome of ones life.  OMG!  That would mean that I am totally responsible for my life.  That would be disastrous for a society that doesn’t seem to want to take responsibility for anything.  Last I heard they were trying to get the word “responsibility” removed from the English language.

Then what is fate?  Well, could it be limitations or situations in our life that we don’t understand but we have to call it something.  I feel there are reasons that two peoples paths cross but I don’t necessarily think of it as fate.

“If we must accept fate we are not less compelled to affirm liberty, the significance of the individual, the grandeur of duty, the power of character.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

If fate dictates what our life will be then why do we even try to better ourselves.  Why do we dream?  I mean if you believe fate/destiny are in control of your life, then your life has pretty much been mapped out.  If you were destined to be poor then why try to be anything else?  Not everyone can be poor or rich, unless you are a member of the United States congress.  There you go in poor and come out rich.


I think of fate like sin.  Christianity teaches that one must repent from sin to enter heaven.  They also teach that God gave everyone “free will”.  In other words it is up to the individual to decide where they want to spend eternity or if they want to play the hand that fate dealt them.

To defeat fate one must do it through power.  Emerson wrote:

“He who sees through  the design, presides over it,  and must will which must be.  We sit and rule, and, though we sleep, our dream will come to pass.  Our thought, though it were only an hour old, affirms an oldest necessity, not to be separated from thought, and not to be separated from will.  They must always have coexisted.  It apprises us of its sovereignty and godhead, which refuse to be separated from it.”

Now I know there are those of you a lot smarter than this here old horseshoer and feel free to tell me if I am way off base.  I think that Emerson is saying that to overcome fate, we need power, a combination of thought and will.  I believe here “will” is truth and the desire to exist or overcome (fate) and when combined with thought one creates the power to write their own chapters in their life.



Through this opening is your Book of Life.  Who is going to be the author?  Fate or you?

I am sure there will be those who will not agree with my interpretation of fate so we will have to just agree to disagree.  I like it when I can write something that is thought provoking.  I think there is a majority of folks out there that need some stimulation of the thought process.  I don’t mean it as an insult.  Technology has pretty much created a life where folks don’t have to think as much anymore.

“I suppose that the great questions of “Fate, Freewill, Foreknowledge Absolute,” which used to be discussed at Concord, are still unsettled.” – Henry David Thoreau

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog.   Thank you for taking the time to do so.  You are deeply appreciated.  Remember to spread the love.


A Little Bit About Henry David Thoreau


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Monsanto Lake


I think one reason that I find the work of Thoreau so magical is because of the many things I feel we have in common, I too love to be alone.  Is it indicative of a selfish person?  I would hope not.  I personally don’t consider myself a selfish person.  I would like to think of it as a trait of someone that is independent and a survivor.  I am not what I would call a very materialistic person.  I am just a simple man who isn’t fond of drama and keeps negativity at a great distance.

In 1845 Thoreau built a cabin upon the shores of Walden Pond, a lake in Concord Massachusetts.  For the next two years, two months, and two days he would record his experiences as he learned to eliminate the material and spiritual details that trespass upon our happiness.  I can’t help but think what conclusion he would have come to today in a world dependent on modern technology?  Would he have been able to pull it off?  Yes I think he could have.

Walden: Life In the Woods was published in 1854.  It was a reflection upon the two years he spent living the simple life as a way of declaring self-reliance and independence.  Some folks have even referred to it as a manual for self-reliance.  During this time he wrote his first book, “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”.



Monsanto Lake



I can’t emphasis enough, how envious of Thoreau I am.  In a situation such as he created, I would think that one would learn to love themselves.  I am a firm believer that if one wants to succeed in life they must learn to love themselves.  I have spent two weeks by myself in the woods living the “simple life” and learned a lot about myself during that time.  I can only imagine what one would learn in two years.

I suppose though that this “alone time” could be detrimental to some folks suffering from depression.  It is hard for those folks to be alone and some definitely don’t need all that time to think.  If those people could train themselves to live this time alone and at the same time deal with depression I think it would be very beneficial to them.  Maybe, just maybe it would be a good avenue to use to defeat their demons and learn how to keep them away.

Thanks for reading my blog and I hope you enjoyed it and the pics I shot.  The pictures are of Monsanto Lake located in the St. Joe Park located in St. Francois county near Park Hills, MO.  I could just see myself living in a cabin on the shores of the lake for two years.  Don’t forget to spread the love.



Monsanto Lake





Television or no Television


“Headlines, in a way, are what mislead you because bad new is a headline, and gradual improvement is not.” – Bill Gates

In all reality the best thing we could do for ourselves is throw our television sets out the window.  Problem is, how often do we do what is best for us?

It astounds me the way the news media thinks we need all this news.  The local news repeats itself on the half hour for two and a half hours repeating the same news and weather forecasts.  Then comes the world news.  Does good news make the headlines?  Hell no!  Bad news is the king of the news world.   Good news doesn’t help your ratings or your newspaper circulation.

“The brains of humans contain a mechanism that is designed to give priority to bad news.” – Daniel Kahneman

No wonder there are so many people who suffer from depression in our world today.   We are constantly bombarded with bad news.   Then our air waves are filled with all these people who know what is best for us, even though most of them aren’t even qualified, and how to make our lives better.  Really?

Then for entertainment there is what I call “free for all shows” where people come on the show to air their dirty laundry.  Who is cheating on who, who is the father of my baby, that sort of topic.  They take lie detector tests and paternity tests.  The one I like is the lady who has had 14 different men on the show trying to find the father of her child.  Nope!  Last I heard they still haven’t found him.  If you think you are having a bad day turn on one of these shows and all of a sudden you realize that your day could be a lot worse.

Then as if they weren’t making enough money on advertisement they came up with “infomercials” and they have become quite popular.  I can’t tell you anything about them because I haven’t watched one.

Oh my gosh!  Maybe I was wrong.  Maybe television isn’t so bad after all.  I mean, you get bombarded by bad news all morning and they air a program where some one who can’t control their life, tells you how to fix yours.  Then to make sure they have helped you they air a show who has guests with problems that just turned your mountain of troubles into a grain of sand.  Last but not least they sell air time to someone so they can explain in a half hour why you need something you really don’t need.  Silly me, they were looking out for me after all.

I guess by now you have figured out that I am not a big fan of television.  I am old enough to remember when two people had to keep one foot on the floor when shooting a scene involving a bed.  Now days they don’t leave much for the imagination.  Even the children shows have become down right insulting in the name of education and political correctness, that’s my opinion anyway.  Hey, what do you expect from a man who cut his eye teeth on, The Roadrunner (beep, beep), The Lone Ranger, and Looney Tunes?  The sad thing is we know all this yet we keep turning the ole “boob tube” on letting it poison the minds of our children and ourselves.  I will admit it, I am guilty of it too.  What secret powers does this box of circuits, electrodes and other technologies have over us?  I really have no answer.  Next time I get the urge to turn on the “idiot box” I think I will grab a book instead.

Thanks for reading.  Hope you enjoyed it.  Remember, spread the love.




Some of My Pics



Bourbeuse River near Union, MO



Bourbeuse River near Union, MO

This shot I took early one morning and temps were around 42 degrees and the fog was rising.



My childhood friend David Tripp

David and I have known each other since the second grade.  Dr. Tripp is a retired educator who claims two passions, painting and fly-fishing.  He is a very talented artist and writer.  You can see some of both at

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A little dock diving.





Amazing what one can do with the photo software out there.






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New addition to the farm, EJ our little cow bred filly.


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Eros and Kate

I have bored you long enough.  Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoyed.  Spread the love.







Another Time, Another Place


I defy the annals of chivalry to furnish the record of a life more wild and perilous than that of a Rocky Mountain trapper.” – Francis Parkman

Have you ever wished you were born in another time?  I have on more than one occasion.  If I could have chose when I was going to start my journey on Mother Earth, it would have been during the era of the Mountain Men.

Mountain men were most common in the Rocky Mountains from around 1810 to 1880.  They were male trappers and explorers who lived in the wilderness and were instrumental in opening various Emigrant Trails.  Most mountain men worked for a major fur company however a large amount of them chose to be free trappers.

Fur trading companies implemented a system for the mountain men to sell their furs.  It was called the Rocky Mountain Rendezvous, founded by William Henry Ashley, and was around from 1825 to 1840.  James Beckwourth once described the Rendezvous as “Mirth, songs, dancing, shouting, trading, trading, running, jumping, singing, racing, target shooting, yarns, frolic, with all sorts of  extravagances that white men or Indians could invent.”  The Rendezvous is still celebrated yearly throughout the United States in honor of the mountain man.  There are black powder rifle shooting contests, knife throwing, tomahawk throwing and primitive archery contests.  Folks dress the part of the era and participate in primitive camping and cooking.

“A mountain man tries to live with the country instead of against it.” Louis L’Amour

The life of a mountain man wasn’t easy.  It was hard and many didn’t last very long.  They had to be knowledgeable about medicinal plants and be able to treat themselves when they got sick or hurt.  They had to contend with bear, wolves and mountain lions to name a few.  They also had clashes with the Native Americans in the area.  They had to know how to trap, hunt, fish, tan hides, make their own clothes, and build sound shelter.  They had to be survivors.

A few notable mountain men were:

Jim Beckwourth – (1798-1866)  African American who lived with the Crow and attained the position, “war chief”.

Jim Bridger – (1804-1881) Was among  the first non-natives to see geysers and the wonders of the Yellowstone Region.

John Colter – (1774-1812) One of the first mountain men and was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

A few others were, George Drouillard, Sylvan “Buckskin Bill” Hart, John “Liver-Eating” Johnson, Joseph Lafyette “Joe” Meek, Jedediah Smith and William Lewis Sublette.


There have been times that I was floating down the river and would imagine myself as a mountain man and try to imagine what it was like to look upon sites that no white man had ever saw.  They had to be blown away by some of the breath taking scenes they saw.  How they must have felt when they came face to face with a blizzard and endured a Rocky Mountain winter.  They had to feel great accomplishment and jump with joy when spring fell upon the mountains and melted the winter snows.  Pardon my “French” but they had to have “gonads” the size of Texas.  They had no idea what they would face.  No doctors to run to when they got hurt or sick and if something happened to your supply of coffee your were out for a long time and it was a long way to a store to get more.



It would have been a tough life and quite a challenge but I would have loved to try it.  Failure during that time usually meant a loss of life.  Definitely the “ultimate challenge” that would separate men from the boys or should I say real men from the men?

Hope you enjoyed and thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Spread the love.






































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Just a Few Thoughts


“Its not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority.” – Author Unknown

I was brought into this world in May of 1954, in a far away land called Texas and in that time I have learned a lot, forgot a lot and seen a lot of changes in society.  In the 60s there were a lot more stay at home moms.  My dad always managed to find a decent paying job.  Of course a dollar went a lot farther then than it does now.

My parents managed to put a garden in every year and my mom canned everything we grew.  She also baby sat and earned extra money that way.  She knitted and loved to embroidery.  Her biggest passion was quilting.  She lost to cancer in 2001 at the age of 68.

I came across this quote a couple of weeks ago and it made me think of her.  She always took care of herself and did her best to make everyone happy and she never made her happiness a priority.  I believe she loved herself and her life and did her best to take care of herself.  She never really had just her time other than when she was embroidering or quilting.  She worked hard and took care of her mom and my dad and her also took turns taking care of his mom and dad.  The last four or five years of her life she was basically a full time caregiver.  Everything else came ahead of her  and her needs.  She is deeply missed.


My mom sacrificed a lot to take care of everyone else’s needs.  She sacrificed too much in my opinion but that is the way mom rolled.  We would sit down to a meal and I would ask her who else was coming to eat.  Every year she canned more than we needed and would give some away.  I don’t remember the exact number, but I think my dad said when she died she had over 100 quilts stored in the basement.  She did more than she needed to but that made her happy.

In today’s world it pretty much takes both spouse’s incomes to make ends meet.  I have had several people tell me they do it because they want their children to have more than they did.  So they sacrifice time they could be spending with their children so they can make sure they have a cell phone, the latest designer clothes or the latest must have toy.  A new car and even pay for their gas and insurance.  Karate classes or every sport there is.  Really?

I guess I am an old geezer and set in my ways but I see them sacrificing important time that could be spent as family time.  Time used for talking and actually getting to know your child.  Oh you know his favorite baseball position is short stop but do you know his favorite book?  You know she loves dance classes but do you know who her favorite author is?  Your sacrificing time that could be used to know your child.

Yeah I know I ain’t nobody.  No degree.  Just gray hairs put there by experience of rights and wrongs and I just calls ’em like I sees ’em.  No facts or statistics just life experiences.  Growing up I didn’t get everything I wanted and my parents weren’t afraid to say no.  My sister and I didn’t have everything we wanted but we had what we needed.  WHAT WE NEEDED!

“At some point, if you don’t take care of the roads today, it’s like any other  maintenance issue: you’re going to end up paying a lot more down the road.” – Matt Mead

There is a lot of validity to this statement however in the rearing of our children the child is the one who is going to pay a lot more down the road.  If mom and pop can’t take care of them they aren’t going to know how to handle life.  Their boss tells them “no” and their whole world comes apart.  I hear people say repeatedly, “Kids these days!”  Really?  Who is at fault here?  Let that sink in for a minute.  Parents are preparing their children for some form of Utopia instead of real life.  Even as beautiful as a rose is if not handled properly it can hurt you; such is life.

Before someone gets a burr under their saddle I am not saying everyone does this but sadly I see a large amount of parents who do this and sadly on the other side of the coin there are parents who give their children very little.

My mom and dad always took care of us.  They taught us respect, work ethics and that life wasn’t always fair.  She worked early in their marriage and when we moved to St. Louis my dad was able to get a job that gave my mom an opportunity to be a stay at home mom.  A lot of young mothers now aren’t afforded that same opportunity now days.  The sad thing is that the children miss a lot of good times that they could really benefit from.

Thanks for reading my blog.  It means a lot.  Spread the love.