The Old-Style Outhouse is Ready

My cousin Jeff and Uncle Al built a brand new "old" outhouse for the Kelsey Marie Ranch. It's amazingly well done with lots of well constructed details!!! Thanks guys!!! They used old fence boards, so they had to piece the door together from different size boards so it looks very authentic and old. It has a slant roof made out of tin and three creative vents/windows to help air out when needed. There's a back door to help with the monthly cleaning-up job. The last things needed are a lime bucket (helps with the smell) and a push light (it's a little dark with the door closed).

Andy and I are getting more and more excited to have people out to see our little get away. We have another picnic table and a swing, and still working on clearing out all the brier vines and debris from the base camp. There's still lots of other things we want to do but it will take time. I'm sure there will always be some project out at the ranch.

It's also been a blessing to work with my family out there, they love being outdoors and not afraid to work hard. Thanks!!!


The new "old" outhouse.


Thanks Jeff and Uncle Al for a job well done!!!


Here's Uncle Al and Jeff having a little fun.


The inside of the outhouse...you can see one of the windows in the back, it closes up so when not in use it prevents things from getting inside. On the left side you can see the window opens a little but still keeps things private.



Another view of the very creatively constructed vent/window.


The tin roof and the back/cleaning door.


Under construction.


The latest picture of the bast camp, the outhouse is in the very back. Andy and I are looking forward to seeing how ranch looks with leaves on the trees.


I know I'm spending a lot of time on this blog about an "outhouse", but Jeff and Uncle Al spent a lot of time making sure this outhouse was good enough for the ladies, I mean women, to use. I say women because I think it takes a real women to use an outhouse when needed. And, I'm proud to say I was the first person to use the outhouse. So, thanks guys!!!

Patti

Memories of Snow and Kelsey

This past winter we have had the most snow ever in Dallas, Texas. The first time it snow was Dec 2nd, this was during the special time our sweet Kelsey girl was home with us. Next, it snowed on Christmas Eve, that was the first time I had ever had a white Christmas in Texas. It snowed just a little on my birthday, Jan 29th. We had gone up to visit Kelsey that night and had to wait in the waiting room because they were putting in another chest tube. While we were waiting it started snowing just a little out the waiting room window. Then in early Feb we got the most snow I have ever seen in Texas at one time. Anywhere from 8 to 12 inches in places and it stayed for several days. And then last night, exactly one month from the day Kelsey died it snows again. We got about 4to 6 inches. This was a special winter for snow in Dallas and Kelsey was a special little baby, so it's easy to think of my sweet Kelsey girl when I see snow in Texas. In the car on the way to church this morning, Andy said the snow was so clean, pure and angelic just like our sweet Kelsey.

After church, we went to visit Kelsey's grave, I wanted to see it with the snow. It had already started to melt and it was very cold, but it was good to visit and think of Kelsey today, especially since I thought of her a lot yesterday (March 20th). Then, we went home to play in the snow. Keeton wanted to make a snow angel for Kelsey, then he wanted to make a snowman and have a snow ball fight. The UP family did it all and had a blast. But mama's not as young as she used to be, I got cold fast and wanted to go in before Keeton. Keeton got a little upset because daddy wanted to go in too. Luckily, Andy stay a little longer and Keeton played snow baseball. He made baseballs for his baseball T and hit them, while Rowdy chased after the broken up snowballs and ate them.

This last month without our Kelsey girl was hard, we miss her so much. But God was faithfully with us every step of the way. For me, I'm still at the point of a day by day, moment by moment dependence on God...but then isn't that how life should be anyway.

Patti

This was our back yard this morning, we got a lot of snow. Rowdy enjoys running through the snow.


This is Kelsey's temporary headstone. It was one month yesterday we lost our sweet baby girl.


Kelsey's grave is located in Lullaby Land and just to the right and a little behind the tree in back.


Here's Keeton making a snow angel for baby Kelsey.


Keeton giving his snowman a hug. He's so sweet!!


Here's Keeton playing snow baseball. He's saying "Watch this momma".


What a hit, Keeton!! Momma's so proud!!!

The Kelsey Marie Ranch March 2010

Here are some before and after pics of the Kelsey Marie Ranch. Remember, it's a work in progress...but there has been some progress. Lots of people have joined us in clearing out a place for our base camp area. We have a big container, picnic table and meeting area. The container is filling up with "boy toys" and supplies. We have a four wheeler that's a lot of fun and a mule that can hold 4-6 people (depends on how big the people are, kids vs. adults). My Uncle Al and cousins (Jeff and Greg) have helped tremendously, clearing out all kinds of trees and brush, making the four wheeling trail, putting up a deer feeder, cutting fire wood and building the all important "out house". Others have come to help also...My Mom and Aunt Mary brought the guys lunch the last two weekends. All three little Ringle boys have been out to help...Ben, Sam and Jon. Andy Thompson went down with Andy Saturday to work and Tina and I, with the boys, came down a little later in the day to help, too. It's been fun to see the progress and just get dirty and work hard. Later Saturday, some friends came to see the range and we had our first night time dinner with the Thompson's, Mills' and Wyatt's. It was nice to get away and just have fun. We look forward to many more weekends like this and everyone that wants to come visit let us know and you're welcome to join us.

Patti

Before, there's prickly pear cactus all over the place although this patch is now gone.

After, we are still working on this after shot so think of it as a "during" stage.

The kids eating dinner picnic style with lanterns.

The Girls

The guys

The creek crossing, fun on the four wheeler or mule.

The creek again, believe it or not Andy does cross here but only on the 4 wheeler.

Jeff put up a deer feeder near a site we have already seen a deer trail.

Who needs a jungle gym when you can just clime on the mule. I thought I would put a picture of the mule so some of you wouldn't think we really had a mule/animal. Keeton is our little climber and loves to clime on anything.

The kids also played on the tracker trailer that was there briefly, to bad it's gone. Cousin Sam is the one jumping with style.

The First Week Without Kelsey (and Family Around)

There have been so many good things and bad things about the first week without our sweet Kelsey girl. We are still getting cards and encouraging words from family, friends and some we don't even know. It's been amazing to see how many people Kelsey's journey has touched and in so many wonderful ways. One of the things Chris said at the funeral that I loved, and was reminded of this week by a friend, was that "Kelsey touched so many lives and she never even said a word". God used Kelsey's short life to touch so many lives and hopefully change lives for the better (and permanently we pray). Andy and I are blessed to be apart of that and see first hand how God does what he says in Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose". We would love to hear more stories, it brightens our day and memory of sweet Kelsey.

Now, on the bad side of this past week. I think about Wednesday I started missing and crying more and more for my Kelsey girl. The crying started in small moments when something reminded me of her and then I would just start missing her. I'm sure this will go on for a long time but part of me felt like I was holding back some because I'm afraid I would just lose it all together. I kept very busy Friday, Saturday and Sunday with lots of friends, family and fun. And then Sunday night, when I was back home and completely exhausted, I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. Poor Andy didn't know what to do with me but to hold me and love me. After letting go I felt better but I also feel like that wasn't the last time that's going to happen. All I can do is keep praying for God to help me through this time and I know He will. The verse of the day on biblegateway.org was 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “[The God of All Comfort] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” He knows how to comfort me the best and He does it in so many ways and through so many people. This journey Andy and I are on is a long way from being over, it's going to take a while longer for us to adjust to the loss of our sweet Kelsey girl.

But on a happy note, The Up Family now owns some land in Hillsboro, Texas. Andy has been wanting some land to do some four wheeling and shooting and to just have some basic outdoors fun for a long time, and we finally found the right land for all of that and more. Saturday, Andy, Keeton, Uncle Al and my cousin Jeff started clearing a place for a kind of base camp place. They also started working on a four wheeling trail with cowboy Tim and his daughter (I think she's in second grade). They led the way and Andy and Keeton were right behind them, let me say Keeton was having big fun with daddy. But, my favorite thing they did that day was put up the Kelsey sign. We already had the big M Place sign (that's another story) but Andy had the rest of the sign made just for Kelsey, and in hot pink no less. The Up Family loves our sweet little Kelsey Marie!!!!



I'm planning on continuing to blog so keep checking on The Up Family. I'm sure we are going to have lots of pictures from the Kelsey Marie Ranch,soon. There's a lot of work to be done but as soon as possible we want everyone that wants to come visit and enjoy the outdoors with us, Come on!!

Patti

Sky Angel Cowboy Video

Someone sent this video to Andy's dad and I thought I would share it with you. The video says it all!!!! Warning: make sure you have some tissues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0r_FbARIn8

Patti

Sweet Article about Kelsey

Andy and a good friend of his have a hemophilia blog and his friend wrote a sweet article about Kelsey. At the end are some pictures taken the last day we were with our sweet Kelsey girl. Just wanted to share this article and these pictures with you.

Patti

Jenson's Journey

This past week I had the privilege of helping my sweet friend, Kristin, make a blog for her cute little boy Jenson. (FYI I only know how to make a blog because of a another sweet friend of mine...thanks Kristin H.!!!!) Jenson has a rare disease called "histiocytosis" or LCH of both the skin and the GI tract (which is incredibly rare, see www.histio.org for more info). He started his chemo treatments the same week our sweet Kelsey girl was born, and he has been fighting this disease as our Kelsey was fighting, too.

I miss my friend Kristin because she lives way out in California but hopefully this spring I can go for a visit. I'm telling you about Jenson in hopes you will pray for this family just like you prayed for ours. Jenson is a cute little boy with cheeks you just want to squeeze and kiss.

Here's their cute blog jensonsjourney.blogspot.com

Patti