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By Lesli Nolen
February 2010

If you haven’t noticed, it’s Stock Show and Rodeo time here in San Angelo, Texas. And this has to be one of my favorite events of the year.

Growing up in Ralls, America (a small town east of Lubbock), the annual rodeo was the social event of the year. Our rodeo was in August so it was the last big event before going back to school. It was a time to hang out, watch the cowboys and cowgirls and eat chili dogs, popcorn and cotton candy. But for me and my family the rodeo and its preparation began long before opening night.

My dad was a Lions Club member for 20-plus years. For 14 of those years he was rodeo boss and was rodeo chairman the six years before that. So we got to see all the ins and outs of what it actually took to make the event a successful one. Dad was in charge of  hiring the announcer, secretary, clowns, the stock, etc. He also had to make sure all the jobs necessary for putting on the rodeo were filled, including his job which was pulling the gates for the broncs and bulls. There were times I can remember when as soon as one rodeo was over he was already working on next year’s. And he also had the job of making sure his girls and our horses were ready for the rodeo, too.

My sister and I washed and combed our horses to a shine. Dad would shoe our horses and get them ready for the parade and rodeo. Mom would take care of the other important details, making sure we looked just as good as our horses. She starched our clothes to a crisp, curled our hair and made sure our hats were creased just right. Growing up in the country and being around horses all our lives wasn’t anything new to us, but the rodeo was always special to us for a number of reasons.

By Lesli Nolen
January 2010

The “blind leading the blind” is defined as uninformed and incompetent people leading others who are similarly incapable. It’s origin is found in Matthew 15:14 (King James Version): “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” This was thought to be inherited from the Upanishads which states, “Abiding in the midst of ignorance, thinking themselves wise and learned, fools go aimlessly hither and thither, like blind led by the blind.”

I have heard this saying and have read it in the Bible, but never really thought about its true meaning and I for one never thought I was the blind leading the blind. Boy, was I wrong.

My journey to this self discovery began one day after church service and we were taking one of our church members home. When we got in the car she asked us to drop her off at a restaurant instead of taking her home. We obliged and then decided to join her for lunch. As we got out of the car and I was assisting her up the walkway, going into the restaurant she stopped and told me we were going in a different way that what she was accustomed to. She didn’t remember the water fountain being there. I told her, I was sorry, but I think this entrance will still get us to the dining hall. Add a comment

By Lesli Nolen
December 2009

I am so proud and blessed to have such an amazing group of friends and family. In last month’s article I asked you readers to send me what you are thankful for. I wanted December’s article to be full of blessings. Well, my prayers were answered. I hope you enjoy reading about how God is blessing the lives of so many people. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I can’t wait to see what God has planned for us in 2010.

Amanda Abell—I’m most thankful for the mature realization of how important family is! As an ungrateful, unappreciative teen I was consumed with myself and did not have time for my family. In my 20s I was overwhelmed with being a single mom and so desperately afraid I would spend eternity alone, I was endlessly searching for Mr. Wonderful. However, in the last few years, I have realized I am not alone I have three beautiful children and a grandchild I adore. I am so thankful for my parents for their unconditional love, endless patience and never ending knowledge! I only have one sibling who is always there when I need him even though I don’t see him very often.

By Lesli Nolen
November 2009

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. Then Christmas and before you know it, 2010 will be here. I don’t know where the time goes, but it goes by way too fast. And it is usually during this time of year that most people are busier than ever. Holiday shopping, traveling, cooking, cleaning, work—the list goes on and on. But it is ever so important that this year be a year of giving thanks and counting our blessings.

It is sometimes hard to see everything we have to be thankful for when our world shows us only the dark side. The news, the radio, they remind us daily of how horrible our world has become. The economy: Are we or aren’t we in a recession? War: Should we or should we not send more troops? H1N1 Swine Flu: Do we or don’t we get the vaccine? Health care, crime, murder, greed—its all out there and that seems to be all we talk about.