Life in the fast lane...

This summer has gone by way to fast!! Traveling profusely, whether the miles are on the truck, my feet or counted by air they were all spent well!! As this daunting senior summer closes so does most of my traveling. That is except for our family vacay!

 Sitting here in the Admirals Club waiting on our plane has sunk in that A. senior year is right around the corner B. there will be many decisions made within the next year and C. how exciting this will all be and that I need to take advantage of all my opportunities. Talking to mom one thing she gabbed about was everything that was accomplished this summer! I'm not one to discuss what I do because that's not who I am but I was encouraged to put out there what was done so I am:) the best way to take you through the crazy schedule is to start when school was released! As soon as school was released I was headed to Bruceville/Eddy right outside of Waco at the Greene Family Camp for State Leadership Camp!! Not only was that an amazing experience but I have friendships that will last a life time!! While at SLC I was chosen to be co-chair on our State Issues team with Jackie Lee which was an honor!! Moving onto the next fabulous event, brought me back all the way up to Denison, Texas for our State Junior Shorthorm Show!! It was very successful and I was elected the TJSA 2012-2013 President and the 2012-2013 Lassie Princess!! Next June 11th/12th and the 18th/19th were our Area V Officers Area Leadership Camps!! Area V has the second biggest voting delegate power at state convention so we have numerous people that came through the wonderful camps put on by my fellow officers!! It was something that I was looking forward to this summer!! After that was all wrapped up I went right into my TJSA officer and director retreat in Grapevine, Texas at the Gaylord Texan Hotel!! Great memories and progress was made in educating my fellow teammates and myself!! Rolling right out of our retreat, I was headed to Grand Island, Nebraska for our National Junior Shorthorn Show!! I have always been told you will have fun but it was one of the best showsI have been to in my entire life!! It was great to have fellowship with surrounding Shorthorn breeders mixed with awesome food and fabulous competition! I did place 4th out of the Intermediate Showmanship division which was one of the highlights of my whole year. Knowing that my heifer, Lilly and I could do that was mind blowing and breathtaking:) Coming back from Nebraska there was no slowing down for me because I was off to Austin, Texas for my Ford Scholar Leadership training!! Being chosen for FLS is a high title in the FFA world. 10 of my colleagues (including myself) we underwent hardcore, intense, rewarding leadership training that has made me a better person today. We traveled to Austin, San Antonio, Brenham and Corpus Christi! I have made 9 friends for life that will be in my wedding. All I have to say is keep calm and merk on:) Ending the FLS training in Corups began our kickoff for our 84th Texas FFA convention!! Being an area officer at the state FFA convention has always been a dream of mine and it was finally coming true. Well it did and I wouldn't trade the experience for the world. It made my passion for this fabulous organization and my love for our awesome members that much deeper!! STCO was the time of my life and I can't wait for convention next year!!

Finally wrapping up with convention leads me right back to where I started and that's here in the airport waiting for our flight to Alaska!! So stay tuned for the results of the upcoming Alaska trip!! Thanks for reading~

Fingertyped with *LoVe*,

bLUeBoNnEt bLoNDe 

Warrior Wednesday!

Warrior, Wacky and Warehouse Wednesdays will be a new tradition on Bluebonnet Blonde's blog! The fabulous W's will be rotated every Wednesday...warrior wed will feature an outstanding person no matter their walk of life and they will be show cased and uplifted! Wacky wed will display something out of the ordinary, unique and vibrantly colorful in taste! Last but not least warehouse wed will expose a few of my favorite places to shop, no matter the store!!

arrior Wednesday!

This week for Warrior Wednesday is someone near and dear to my heart. My moms dad, aka Grandaddy. My grandparents were headed to their friends cabin in Colorado to relax, have fun and get out of the house!! Approaching their drive into the windy paved mountains, my grandfather went limp. Luckily a sweet middle aged woman who was walking her dogs came up on the site, used on star and called in a helecopter. He was careflighted to a hospital hours away and has been making slight progress ever since! It has almost been over a month with my grandparents away from Texas. Grandaddy was diagnosed with a strong stroke. As a family we got through his small stroke earlier that only impaired his speech. Coming to terms with this massive stroke, the speech issue has dissipated (completely AMAZING), but new problems have arose. Swallowing and the use of his body. Thankfully his mind is in mint condition and his strong will and Faith keep him moving!! Recently from minor set backs it was a God gift to hear the other day that they put him on a stationary bike, strapped him in and he went to town!! Keep in mind he was a track star and Texas A&M, competing in pole vaulting and hurdles, and today clears brush, works cattle, mows and maintains their cute farm at his age. I am thankful to have him in my life and the fact my grandmother has stayed with him side by side though all of this, shows her amazing character, what an awesome woman of Faith she is and how I want my marriage to be one day!! Grandaddy is a WARRIOR in my eyes and for that he has future plans to return to Texas! Keep your fingers crossed and send prayers his way! Through Christ ALL things are possible!!

Our first annual Gingerbread Shoot at Twin Oaks Farm!
To keep up with my fabulous grandparents follow Grandmommy's blog on Caring Bridge!!
His website is "hubertnelson1"!

Lilly the Bovine!

June 24th through the 30th, Grand Island, Nebraska...American Junior Shorthorn Association is putting on "Gateway to the West" for numerous exhibitors expanding from countless states and Australia. Mom, Tiffany, state booth display, state basket, arts and crafts, luggage, four head of cattle, tack and gear, myself and snack were all there and accounted for. For one of my heifers this was going to be one of her last select shows. Now Lilly is not a Sullivans heifer by any means but you can not put a price tag on a showmanship heifer. Almost two years on the circuit this heifer has been by my side through it all with a successful career in Texas and we are about to walk into intermediate showmanship competing against the best in the nation. No biggie right? I assume if I make it the first cuts I will be ecstatic! We have 9 heats of at least 15-20 exhibitors in each. Lilly and I really felt like we had the odds in our favor (sarcastic voice). How could the judges not like a blonde hair blue eyed Texan with a velvety roan heifer? While in the show ring I go though my mental checklist...."okay Victoria breathe, happy, calm...oh man dog the judge get his attention...okay pshew, alright profile turn, one...two...three...turn, cow stops, watching back feet, BAM. Yes Lilly perfect! Nope wait let me inspect, feet are scissored perfectly, where is the judge?! It's okay they are just in two different sides of the ring...check the tail, draw the judges attention, wait for it....loin NOW...gone..think cool calm collective.." All of this is preformed in the matter of a few minutes depending on the layout of the ring and the pace Lilly and the ring leader is walking. As I tell myself well mom is content in the stands, Tiffany hasn't gotten on to me for doing anything so I've got this! Well sure enough I did. After 45 minutes in finals they narrowed it down to the top five and I got selected! Later at the banquet Lilly ended up helping me swing a fourth place out of 100 something exhibitors. From calling her name in the pasture and her talking back to mentally knowing when she will move a foot that will need to be fixed in an x amount of time, you could call me a cattle whisperer.

Lilly and I in the final drive!



My little champ grabbing some zzz's...



Top 5!

*Home JuNkIE*

 For most people just sitting around the house all summer is well...all they have accomplished. As for the "go getter" in my blood I have been rolling on the road non-stop since junior year ended! It has been my first WHOLE week home and it is truly weird to not wake up, and make a trip to stand in the dingy bathtub with the hideous shower curtain and to use the skin drying soap, you swear to never use. Instead I am sleeping in my own bed and gladly slipping into my vintage claw foot tub. As this next week approaches it will be my last week home before I set out to chase those yellow stripes and those moist white clouds. As for now I will stick to my couch and two high-strung cats and continuously watch HGTV and USA.

WaTCh JuNK gYpsIeS and keep up with them on their blog!!
junkgypsyblog.com



If your an aspiring lawer...this is a MUST. I'm in love and you should be too! If you have a dry whitty sense of humor go TiVo it!

Cattle to Cocktails

Blogging. There is a lot more to it than you think. If your are an CDO freak...not OCD the letters are not in order...or perfectionist then you would share my pain in designing a blog. My main goal of this journal is to gather ideas, facts, life events and wishful thinking all into one enjoyable bundle that you can laugh at. From cattle to cocktail dresses, I am a chameleon of life (in a good way of course). I love the country and the city and you just might find the perfect balance of both. Thanks for stopping by, stay tuned for some amazing posts with the bluebonnet blonde!