Perception

 I have written about my wrestle with perceptions before. 

I find myself re-visiting this topic and, maybe, with more insights than I had before. I just gave a speech, where I found a different way to explain the reality of perceptions.

I asked the audience to look at this picture. 

I shared how some people will look at this picture and the first thing they will notice is the dirty, muddy, road. I have a friend that is allergic to everything and not about ANY creepy crawlies. I would bet my hard-earned money those would be her first thoughts. 

Some people will get excited OR nervous about what could be at the end of that road or driveway. Will they need to make a decision? I can feel the anxiety building.... Will the view be so spectacular they are left in awe? (Two different perceptions right here.)

Some people will be drawn to the light, which then allows them to appreciate ALL that the light is shining on. It may cause them to truly study the picture and the beauty in it. 

What is the truth? All of them and none of them, all at the same time. We form our perceptions based on our life experiences. EVERY perception we make as humans if from a limited vantage point. Therefore, how great would it be if EVERYONE moved through life knowing that there is moRE to EVERYTHING. I think we would see more second chances, more conversations, more respect, and A LOT more grace for one another. 

One of the many things I have wrestled with in business, is the general perception of others. The perception of the general public, my clients, bidders, non-profits, family, and friends....the list could go on and get broken down even more, in some regards. I wrestle with it, even though I KNOW the above..... That there is moRE to everything. There are things that I don't see. There are things that I don't understand, and the same for others. 

Over the years, I have had to learn the finesse of living with the one overall truth, which is that: Our perceptions are reached by our own experiences, which are true - BUT, all of our perceptions are limited. Thus, not the ULTIMATE truth....which is the only one that really matters. I think this is one of the major reasons grace, mercy, and forgiveness are so important to God and are in so many of His messages to us. Our perceptions will ALWAYS (until maybe when Jesus comes back) be limited. That is a fact. The more wisdom He deposits in us, the more we will know, and (most likely) need to ask forgiveness for. 

I could write a book about the role perceptions have played in the growth and restructuring of my business. However, what I REALLY want to leave you all with is this truth....this explanation. As you see changes happening around you and you feel the feels on whether or not you like it, whether or not it's "right," whether or not it is "fair," whether or not it was "handled properly," JUST REMEMBER - everyone's vantage point is different and NONE of them see the full picture. 

I am a firm believer that The Holy Spirit ebbs and flows at God's command. I am also a firm believer that The Holy Spirit is mysterious and thorough in His movements. I promise you, that our God knows each one of us so intricately. He knows how hard certain things are for us to let go. He knows our hearts in such a way, that He removes what we will not. He cuts the rope of what we keep hanging onto. He places just the right people in our path at just the right time, and removes the influence of persons, places, or things that are NOT part of His plan for our lives. So much of it won't make sense, but we want it to. 

It is why grace and mercy and forgiveness are bypassed for judgement and condemnation so often. We want to understand. We want to make it so. We want to have some handle on why things are the way they are. Yet....this is why He asks us to Just. Have. Faith. in Him. We can't. He can, and He LOVES us so incredibly and fully....WAY more than we love ourselves. Buck Up Baby! & have a little faith. You know what you know, but there is SO much you do not. Trust Him. 

Also...be sure to put perceptions where they belong. Rest in God's truth and the wisdom He has blessed you with. Doing this files off the rough edges that brush against you when experiencing the limited perception of others. 

Power in Words & Deeds

 There is power in your words and even more power in your actions. In almost every situation, every decision that has to be made you have the power...yes YOU have the power to either encourage, enhance, motivate and show kindness OR partner with the enemy and seek to steal, kill, & destroy (John 10:10). It really is that simple. If that decision is grounded in the love of the Father, it will be LIFE-GIVING. 

Review your day.... Think about decisions you made: conversations you had, speaking without considering how the other person may receive it, posting something, not communicating an important update.... What were they grounded in?: love, hope, faith, or fear, anger, self-seeking desire, money... Think about it folks. 

There are a lot of people that have done and said and posted things lately and I'm not so sure they understand the POWER of their words and/or actions. Stop telling people what they should do, how they should do it, using people, manipulating people and situations and think that you have the authority to do it! GOD gives each and every one of us free-will and we should do the same for each other. 

You are either dividing or bringing together. You are either encouraging out of love, out of fear, or out of selfish motives. Love the people you want to love on and leave everyone else alone. 

When you operate in a place of fear, anger, money, jealousy, self-seeking desires.....you are partnering with the enemy. You are allowing the enemy to use you. 

Have you guys seen what's going on in the world???? Nobody's got time for that. There is plenty of hate and fear in the world right now. Buck Up & GET. IT. TOGETHER. 

For real....we all have many, many choices every single day. Choose who you want to work with (Jesus or Satan). Your decisions show your heart. The wonderful, wonderful, BEAUTIFUL gift God has given us in Jesus, not only gives us power, but also gives us the blessed gift of FORGIVENESS! Did you make a decision rooted in sin? Guess what......turn your heart to Jesus, repent, & it is TOTALLY FORGIVEN! WIPED CLEAN!!! If you get bucked off....BUCK UP BABY & RIDE WITH JESUS! He will get you back in the saddle over and over and over again.....as many times as you need to build  YOUR trust in Him. 

Rhythm

About half way through last week I realized I had gotten out of rhythm. Let's be honest, we are all a little out of rhythm with our "normal" being interrupted. I noticed the NEW rhythm was off.

My husband works shift work and I am SUPER grateful that his position is still essential, but getting used to his shift schedule was an adjustment. I felt like I was finally getting into a rhythm with it & THEN.....Covid-19.

I learned that things are relatively consistent when he's off or working days, but those night runs.... The effect it has on me is....I wear myself out the first couple days & then I FINALLY pick my head up and realize that I can't do the same amount of work those days as I do others. I'm not saying that is how it works for everyone, but that is what it's like for me.

Then....what I felt like I was FINALLY getting a handle on was: not completely loading my workdays up on Kyle's off days. That was a bad habit I picked up, but not on purpose.....just trying to balance my workflow.

I really had to be a student of it for several months before I learned these things & then....many times...I'd get halfway through a night run before I realized it.

I bring all this up because we are such creatures of habit. The Covid-19 pandemic has rocked EVERY habit, every schedule, every process, every rhythm....

Even the things that SEEM to have not changed, have changed, because EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. HAS. CHANGED.....which changes the rhythm.

There is something about the awareness I have of the rhythm and the constant struggle I find myself in to maintain the rhythm....when really.....EVERYTHING around me is trying to knock me out of rhythm...that is sticking with me.

I believe SO strongly in Christ....as much as I possibly can & know how to....and I believe there is SO much divine power, in taking what the world sees or perceives & turning it on its end....like the cross. The cross was meant for death & destruction & suffering & punishment & JESUS turned it into LIFE, REDEMPTION, HEALING, & ABUNDANT LOVE & BLESSINGS. Our God colors outside the lines...OR He sees lines that we cannot.

I just finished a meditation course on acceptance. 10 minutes of meditation for 10 days. The words "LET GO" keep coming to mind. The main lesson was: identify what you are resisting & do simply that...IDENTIFY IT & watch how identifying the resistance automatically causes you to accept it.

Listen....with a combination of ALL kinds of things that have been happening & spending SO. MUCH. TIME. trying to create a rhythm....and I mean trying; to the point of wearing myself out.... I think I'm going to BUCK UP & LET GO.

In rhythm or out of rhythm....something is gonna happen. For once it is "okay" to not be what others expect you to be OR what you expect yourself to be. It's okay if you are, but its also okay if you're not....because we are ALL trying to figure it out. You wouldn't think that accepting is as hard as it is. In fact, it doesn't really make ANY sense to TRY & create a system....we should just allow it; let it flow from us and trust that we are equipped to handle what comes next & not try to plan for a future calamity, but more for the here and now. ENJOY IT. What can we each do here & now?

ALL

What a BLESSED, wonderful morning! God is good!

Today, I want to share with everyone MY WORD for the year. I have tried finding my "Word for the Year" in the past & although I picked one, I can't recall it EVER jumping out at me, much less it sticking with me throughout the year.

This year was different. God has really placed certain things on my heart & one of those things is to really, truly work on loving myself the way HE loves me. He's been sending me reminders lovingly & so when a prompt in one of the Facebook groups I am a member of asked what our chosen "Word for the Year" was, it was so, so clear to me.

My word is ALL. What that word is to me is a reminder that God loves ALL of me. My husband & my kids love ALL of me. My friends love ALL of me. I can be so, so critical of myself & hard on myself when I don't meet the expectations I set for myself in the time I want to meet them. If I can learn to love ALL of me the way God & those closest to me do I truly believe that a peace will consume me, like nothing I have ever experienced & that peace that God blesses me with will pour onto EVERYONE around me in a way that I could never ever do on my own & what a blessed beautiful gift that will be.

Go to wordart.com to make your own image.

God is just so good. As I reflect over the last couple of months He has sent me to scripture, and articles & encouraging places to remind me that He loves the things I almost loathe about myself. He loves it, because He will use it. Those things will be connectors for Him.

Photo cred to Myers Jackson

Something God taught me this morning as I was praying is that we will have to wrestle with sin. As I'm laying in bed, but waking up, TRYING to pray intentionally, I was hit with the things I am normally hit with every morning. I'll start out with the plan of what will free my mind & as I feel like I'm getting somewhere & connecting, the devil tells me: "You really need to be thinking about this." "You really should be better at this." "If you don't do this, this will happen." "You should be doing this a certain way & you're not, so you suck." You get the picture. It took a little while, but I was determined this morning. I had and still have enough time to get my day started how I need to & it was like The Holy Trinity came in with a beaming light & cleared my mind. All the mind critters left. I even had a similar situation like I described in my last blog: "Accept the Compliment", where I wanted to retreat & God bless my Interpersonal Communications class, because I knew to let the wall down & to soak it in. Let the truth soak in, to the fact that there was absolutely NOTHING I could do to make God love me anymore than He already did in that moment.

Buck Up Baby & let's make 2019 a FANTASTIC year!! God bless!

Just live.

We are edging closer to our upcoming fundRAISING auction that will benefit Mrs. Judy Mikeska & help her pay for her ever-mounting medical expenses. I had the opportunity to sit down and visit with Judy's supervisor & FRIEND that is organizing the fundraiser & simply asked for an update. 

Judy (currently) is cancer-free from the head down EXCEPT her lung, which will cause her to move to Temple for 6 weeks, where she will undergo an intense round of chemo treatments. 

Her supervisor shared a story about how they are supposed to fill out an end of year plan & how Judy's was filled with plans & goals & she said the last time they talked Judy made the comment..."Maybe I should wipe all that off that paper and write...'Just live.'"

It struck me somewhere when she said that. JUST live... 

This blog has challenged me a little more than most. I'm thankful that I haven't had to endure the cancer journey like so many of us have. My Daddy did have cirrhosis in his liver & they did find a tumor, but with his transplant was BLESSED to not have to endure the walk that so many others do. I don't want to sit here and type like I KNOW what she's going through. I have personally wrestled with WHY God allows things like cancer to happen...even exist...along with tragedies, hardships, abuse....

When Erin said... Just live...it took me back to a place when we found out that my Daddy would need a liver transplant to LIVE. I remember not really thinking about much else, except HOW can we make that happen. 

As I've grown older & am sloooowly coming to the realization that we CAN achieve things, but what God wills to happen WILL happen....I reflect back on that place that Judy & I both apparently came to & that is to JUST do the next best thing we can, where we stand. 

I've recently read & am currently reading 2 books (The Shack by Wm. Paul Young & Wrestling with Wonder by Marlo Schalesky). It took both of them to get me here... I've learned that doing the next best thing is all God really CALLS us to do. He doesn't call us to fix all the problems, accomplish the unachievable, or move any kind of mountain. He doesn't ask us to NOT feel the hurt, NOT show our emotions, NOT dream & will & hope. He just asks us to move forward WITH HIM, one foot in front of the other...holding His hand. 

I've also learned that to JUST LIVE can be a lot harder than all the other things we try and pile on top of us. We KNOW how to move to a goal we KNOW we can achieve. We KNOW that we can attend those meetings. We KNOW we can give a certain amount of us to any job, project, function. BUT...sometimes we don't know how to JUST LIVE. I guess there is the blessing in all of this. Why do we try to do anymore than what God calls us to? I believe the answer is because the world has conditioned us that way. Remember what Jesus said to His Father: "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." John 17:16 (I ENCOURAGE whoever is reading this to read all of John 17.)

So....ALL THAT BEING SAID....all any of us can do is walk one foot in front of the other...clinging to God's hand and those around us that are willing to SUPPORT us. I'm not going to ask you to do anything you don't want to do, but if you WANT to come out and support Judy & her family....while they walk one foot in front of the other...there are ALL KINDS of ways you can do that. 

You can donate an auction item. A group of you can donate an auction item. You can buy an auction item in the LIVE or silent auction. You can join together and buy an item in the LIVE or silent auction. You can buy BBQ chicken dinner plates. You can make a donation to the GoFundMe account. You can buy raffle tickets. You can buy a card for the gun raffles at the event. You can come out and volunteer. You can be present. Erin is your main contact and her information is on the flyer below (Email Link: EmWilley87@hotmail.com). If you want to...you have options. 

It just amazes me how The Holy Spirit moves among us. I pray I can be a blessing for this family how so many were a blessing to mine. The power of community and relationships is not of this world either. It goes beyond the rules and our ability to understand.....and it definitely trumps any kind of bad in any kind of form. 

Buck Up Baby! Come out & show your support. I CAN speak with experience in that....this family will NEVER be able to form the words to REALLY express their appreciation for ANY act of kindness & support you can provide. Just KNOW that your support and kindness...no matter how small you think it is... is POWERFUL.

God Bless. 

Heather Schoenst Kaspar

TXL 17037

More Info at: www.buckupauctions.com

BUCK UP!! Scholarship

SOOOO....if you haven't heard yet...The BUCK UP SCHOLARSHIP FUND will award $2000 in scholarships THIS April!!!

I feel SO blessed to be able to foster THIS. 

The vision began with my journey into entrepreneurship. The whole...giving up money & being BROKE for a while, while I grOW my business journey. Boy did my PRIDE get in my way, for a loooooong time. I felt the strugGLE of NEEDING money to get you to the next step & having to ask someone for it...which is something I also took PRIDE in not having to do. So once I DIED to myself in that aspect & moved on with my journey I realized the NEED to CrEaTe a way to HELP others in that regard. I mean...it was a BIG hurdle for me. Totally slowed me down...until I worked through it...

The way I see it....God doesn't put things on your heart and visions in your head - if he's not going to equip you with the tools & people to get you there. It took me a minute to REALLY believe that though. The more you relinquish control over certain aspects of your life, the more you become aware of your fear of the unknown. Everybody has it. I can tell you though...that the REAL journey starts when you Buck Up Baby & turn it loose to God. 

This brought me back to my Senior year in High School... If Ms. Janda was still with us - she could testify to the number of hours I spent at the typewriter in the school library...filling out applications. I talked to someone else who is on a scholarship committee for another organization & they told me the number of applicants go down each year. I think a total of 2 had applied this past year. BUCK UP BABY & GET TO FILLING THOSE OUT. There's people out there that wanna HELP YOU! They just have to know about you. 

My DEEP ROOTED HOPE for this scholarship is that we can make a difference in SOMEONE's life & be a source of ENCOURAGEMENT, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, & GUIDANCE to someone that is mustering up the COURAGE to pursue a dream. This scholarship is open to adults advancing their education also....because....it's just okay to change your mind or add more tools to your tool bag. I want people to SHARE their story too, because that is what ENCOURAGES others...to know that someone else can IDENTIFY with their journey in one way or another. 

I had a BA Degree & a professional career that I was good at, but sometimes your SPIRIT is calling you to MORE.

We are in the process of getting the details together for the NEXT event, so be prepared & ON THE LOOK OUT FOR MORE INFO!! We'll be updating our website regularly, so BOOKMARK it!: BUCK UP AUCTIONS WEBSITE 

So you might wanna know WHO can apply for the scholarship(s) & WHAT it will take to get it & WHEN it will be awarded so.....HERE'S THE DETAILS: (ALL the participating High Schools should have this information also: RTC, Burton, Fayetteville, LaGrange, Brenham, Giddings)

Applicant must be pursuing higher education in any of the following: College, University, Jr. College, Trade School, Licensing School, or Clergy-related education. This scholarship will be open to anyone within the 30-mile radius seeking higher education, which includes the cities & school districts of: Brenham, Giddings, LaGrange, and everything in between (Round Top-Carmine, Fayetteville, & Burton). Proof of residency will need to be provided along with scholarship essay.

Scholarship Monies will be paid directly to the school of choice. The winners will have 6 months to enroll in their choice of higher education.

Applicant must be a graduating high school senior or older. This could be a returning student, adult going back to school or pursuing some sort of license, or a graduating high-school student.

The applicants that are awarded the scholarships MUST be willing to share their essays to the general public in any form that the Scholarship Committee deems as a positive way to share the purpose of this scholarship.

Must also be willing to come to the following year’s event & share the progress of your journey & how the scholarship has helped you.

The scholarship committee is comprised of 5 members from the community with backgrounds in education, leadership, civic organizations & development, & business owners.

If a family member of a committee member chooses to apply for the scholarship, that committee member will step down from the committee & the Buck Up Auctions staff will nominate 3 people for the vacant committee chair. The existing committee will than vote in 1 of the 3 nominees to be appointed as committee member.

As the applications come in, the Buck Up Auction staff members, will number the applicants, so the committee is not aware of the actual person applying, until the winner(s) are selected.

This year $2,000.00 of scholarship will be awarded. The number of scholarships awarded and the amounts will be determined by the committee.

Deadline to submit essay is April 2^nd. Scholarship recipient(s) will be chosen & announced on or before April 30^th.  

Mail information to:

Buck Up Auctions

Scholarship Committee

390 Vogel Lane

Carmine, TX 78932

INFORMATION SHEET

buck up

 verb

:  to become encouraged :  brace up

–Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Buck Up: To rise to a challenge, to do something others are unable to – urban dictionary

Applicant Name:

Address:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

Agree to share your Buck Up Story?

Why are you applying for this scholarship?

Where will you use this scholarship, if awarded?

Please list all organizations & extracurricular activities you are involved in.

Please choose ONE of the essay topics, on the next page, to write about.

Essay Topics:

Please write an essay over ONE of the two essay topics below: (Please keep to 2 pages or less)

1)      Give us an example of an experience where you have had to "BUCK UP" and do something that pushed you out of your comfort zone & how that made an impact on your life & possibly others.

2) Tell us about an area/idea/dream that you have either:  not mustered up the courage for, are currently in the process of, or feel as if you missed out on the opportunity to “Buck Up.”  

Jesus Loves the Little Children...

With all the events that have happened currently & in recent weeks....I felt the need to post. Baby Heath has GRACED us with his presence & Mommy is doing her best to transition from one sweet baby to two. I'm just SO thankful for them...for my husband & our families....for LIFE & FAITH & every BLESSING GOD has EVER granted us. Tomorrow is not promised & I feel like somehow we ALL have WORK to do.

Last Friday...after news broke of the tragedy at Sandy Hooks Elementary this was what I posted: My heart goes out to everyone effected by the HORRIBLE tragedy in CT. I pray that the world we live in finds God again, we as people start to genuinely care for each other & have common respect for human life, & that we all have courage to speak up when things seem "off." My heart hurts for the families. I found this quote: "I guess when your heart gets broken you sort of start to see cracks in everything. I'm convinced that tragedy wants to harden us and our mission is never to let it." We should all hold tight to our FAITH & know that as ugly as these recent events are...those babies are with Christ Jesus in a MUCH more beautiful place.

I think WE are the only HOPE this country, World, HUMANITY has. Guns aren't the problem. PEOPLE are the problem. WE have to set expectations for our youth. WE have to CARE for people. WE have to instill the teachings of CHRIST JESUS in our HOMES. WE have to stop ONLY looking out for ourselves & look out for each other. I can not begin to imagine what those heroic teachers & sweet babies saw, heard, felt.... I CAN say that those children & teachers had FULL lives. They LOVED & were LOVED. They aspired to be more. Let their legacies live on! As we CELEBRATE their lives...let's BUCK UP & BE BETTER PEOPLE! 

A few days ago my dear friend Ali Tidwell posted this: (THANK YOU for letting me share!) I am right on, with her here!

My Wild Country

Yesterday I came home to a sobbing mother. She was watching the memorial service for the Connecticut victims and, the President had just read the names of the fallen. I don't know if there has been a heavier silence. My mother cried for the babies, the families, but she also cried in shame. Because she, like me and so many, had come to expect such violence. She didn't condone nor tolerate but she did on some level accept it. Sadly such acts have become common place as of late.

She said she didn't know what should be done but that something had to be done. Every child can't live as a target and every parent can't fear every school day.
So I will add my voice to the hopeful chorus of change.

I don't know what would have saved those children. I don't know if giving everybody a gun would have protected the innocent or only cost more lives. I don't know if he hadn't had access to a weapon that he wouldn't have found more creative ways to end the hopes and dreams of so many. But I do know that there will be no purpose to such a loss if we use it as a weapon against each other. If we use this tragedy to rip apart the religious, political or moral values of our neighbors then we have failed the angels.
We are from the United States of America and we are losing our unity. There is an ever widening gap between the citizens of this country. Because it is easier to stand behind the lines of our principles, than to speak out and come together. It's easier to roll with the tide and keep to the current. It is a polite and well behaved way to exist.

But we were not born of the meek and mild were we? We were born of the traitors of another land, the rebels of freedom, and the hard knuckled, wide eyed dreamers of a land not yet made. We are where the wild things grow, and we were never meant to fit into boxes and shy away from the different.

Whether the starched and weathered conservative or the bleeding heart liberal. We all cry when we come into this world and we all fight like hell to stay. Black or white, gay or straight, rich or poor, redneck or Yankee. We all watched in horror when the news broke, we all prayed it wasn't true, and the lucky, we thanked God it wasn't us.

My prayer for the future is that we find the united again, and regain the roar and reputation we once proudly showed.

I have never felt such a need to speak my message but I do tonight. I think I will keep speaking this message. And I will try to begin the change I seek.

Hold tight to the ones you love, and pray for the ones you fear. For we are all the wild things.

Then.....as I was reading things on my News Feed today, I came across this You Tube Video: PLEASE WATCH IT!

I have thought A LOT this past week about MY babies & how I can PROTECT them from all the evil in our world. What do I want them to know if they are placed in a dangerous, scary, unimaginable situation? HOW can I help them? Then I came across this video.

The baby in this video has got it! She speaks with CONVICTION! She LOVES Jesus, BELIEVES in Jesus, places her TRUST in Jesus. I want my babies to KNOW, without a doubt, they HAVE JESUS & JESUS has them! 

WE ALL HAVE WORK TO DO! Our leaders need to LEAD. There is SO much this country needs & I PRAY that our leadership can get over themselves & DO WORK. I pray they quit wasting time talking about it & whatever decisions they make are GENUINELY made for the GREATER GOOD, for Americans, for our babies, for our future...

I have come to realize that I can't wait on things to change. I have to be the change I want to see. I will LOVE more, speak up more, care MORE. My dear friends...I want my babies to have this LOVE for Jesus in their hearts, that this little girl has. I want her friends & cousins to have it. I want to share his love with them, so they can SHARE it with EVERY PERSON they encounter. Let us teach them to be God's present day disiples. 

God now has a precious army of sweet angels in Heaven & I am saddened that it took the loss of their lives here on Earth to open up our eyes. We need God in our schools, in our government, in our homes, but most of all we need him IN OUR HEARTS!!  BUCK UP BABY & LET HIM IN!!

A Pregnant Auctioneer

So....How's that work? That was the question I asked myself when I found out I was pregnant with Baby Heath.

I do the first thing I thought of & Googled it. What did I find.....NOTHING...except pregnancy symptom sites. So....I looked a little harder and found all kinds of things about breathing devices & an older blog post from a female auctioneer (not pregnant & not about pregnancy & auctioneering). Then I think.... "Well....who could I talk to?" All my mentors are men & let's face it.... They just won't GET it or they think I can't handle it... OR they just giggle and congratulate me like my teacher did.

So folks....Here it is.... My EXPERIENCE as a PREGNANT AUCTIONEER.

LOTS of emotions were felt. Right timing? Can I still call bids? Will I have to stop the bigger I get? Could it hurt the baby? What will the auctioneers I'm working for think? What will this do to my progress? How will it limit me? Can you tell I worry a little?

I'll start from the beginning. Right Timing? What have I come to see? PERFECT TIMING! This was a personal question....that had LOTS to with other situations besides auctions. God's timing is ALWAYS PERFECT! We prayed & still PRAY for a happy, healthy baby & wanted Kylee to have a sibling. We were ready to try, then a few uncertainties with work arose & we thought maybe we should wait, but OBVIOUSLY that didn't happen :).

Baby Heath @ 31 weeks :).

Does what is going on with your full-time job REALLY matter...in the GRAND scheme of things? I KNOW GOD has equipped me & my husband with the tools I need to SURVIVE & SUPPORT my family in ANY situation. Everything in his plan is PERFECT & has a PURPOSE.

This is my favorite pic. Some people see & some don't, but it looks like he's looking at the camera. His eyes are open & you can see his sweet little cheeks & chin :).

As far as all the specific worries about being a PREGNANT AUCTIONEER.....it will all depend on your body, what you're used to, what you health is, BUT....for me.....I kept on keepin' on. I called bids in Odem up until I was 5 months pregnant. It kind of worked out as a good stopping point b/c we had to move for my full-time job. The auction in Odem is A LOT more INTENSE than some of the FUNDRAISING & EVENT GALAS I have continued to do. You're, pretty much, on your feet from 9AM until about 4 or 5PM & your catching bids, calling bids, answering questions from LOTS of bidders..... I miss it, BUT it was good timing.

I made the personal decision to keep it quiet. For several reasons.... BELIEVE ME.... I'm sure I THOUGHT about things TOO MUCH. This industry is SO different & so PREDOMINANTLY MALE that I just didn't have the energy to deal with ANY negativity. I REALLY want to do the BEST I can & DO NOT want to be looked at as WEAKER, LESS CAPABLE, SOMEONE to WORRY ABOUT....any of that. Now let me tell you.....The folks over at ELCO Auction are some of the BEST you will find.....not just as an AUCTION COMPANY, but as PEOPLE. I had only been helping them there since January & was JUST getting to know their regular bidders & to be honest....IT MADE MY LIFE EASIER....by handling it the way I was MOST COMFORTABLE with.

Lookin' a little large there :).

ANOTHER REASON I decided to keep quiet is.....working in the CORPORATE WORLD...(no matter what ANY handbook or company policy says) you have to PROTECT YOURSELF as a WOMAN in the WORKPLACE. EVERYONE looks out for NUMERO UNO & we should too! REMEMBER that ladies. I was in the middle of a potential work transition  & I didn't WANT anyone to think I was LESS CAPABLE. This is a WHOLE 'nother blog post....BELIEVE ME.

Carmine Church Auction.

There were a couple of potential auctions I was turned down for. I can't say for sure why, but if the auction was relatively close to my DUE DATE (5 months +) I would be UP FRONT about it.

I could & can PRETTY EASILY handle auctions that last a couple hours or so. At about 5 months....BABY HEATH was getting HEAVIER and my LUNGS had LESS ROOM to move, so (A LOT OF TIMES) I got winded. LUCKILY....at MOST of the AUCTIONS I've done after 5 months....I've had UNCLE MELE there. I also got a little warmer than normal :).

Again....your HEALTH & the HEALTH of your BABY are the MOST IMPORTANT things. I've been EXTREMELY BLESSED to not have to battle high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, or any other complications - Thus far & have a HEALTHY, GROWING BABY!!

Besides my Doctors...the only person I could REALLY talk to about the whole AUCTIONS & PREGNANCY thing is my VERY GOOD FRIEND & FELLOW AUCTIONEER..... Mrs. Stephanie Womack out of Nachadoches, Texas. If you're ever in that neck of the woods be sure to stop by Liquidator's Auction. She's got a sweet little girl too & will one day....probably have to go thru this same experience. It AMAZES me how the GOOD LORD puts certain people in your life....

I was worried about my progress as an auctioneer. This should probably be a whole 'nother blog post, but I'm dumping it all RIGHT HERE. GOD has a way of keepin' us on track. At the time we may not understand it OR agree with it (so foolish, but true). In this journey I have encountered A LOT of unknowns, opportunities, crossroads, questions, & have figured out A LOT about who I want to be, don't want to be & what I want to do. POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES turned into MOTIVATORS, but not necessarily the opportunity that I expected. I'm still at a few of those CROSSROADS & still have UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, but realized....I'm dealin' with GOD's TIME & MY TIME. I don't have to make some of these decisions b/c somone tells me to OR go a certain direction - until I figured out what is RIGHT for me and MY FAMILY. That took havin'  A TON of DIFFICULT DECISIONS dumped on me (at once) to figure it out....

Last question I had for myself...will I need to quit the bigger I get? Well...I can't say my experience will be the same for everyone. I called bids at 2 auctions this weekend. My due date is November 18th & GOD-WILLING, (if I'm not havin' a baby) I'll be calling bids at one on November 10th. Granted....I WILL NOT do a big auction alone...BUT I sure as heck don't feel like its too much. I still work on regulating my breathing & SUPRISINGLY being PREGNANT has helped me with that.

FOLKS! 2012 has been a RoLLer CoAsTer of a year for me. Sometimes it's hard to have a blog titled "Buck Up Baby," when you feel like runnin' off to a FAR away land.... That's NOT exactly what I'm all about, but the idea has been TEMPTING. It has been a real MiX of REALLY GREAT things, NOT SO great things, & CoNfUsing & DiFFiCult things....and all of them having a pretty SIGNIFICANT impact on our lives. BUT...like always...the WORDS ring TRUE: BUCK UP BABY!!

SOMETIMES....you SADDLE UP, climb on & WHOOP & RIDE & PULL that head around, but you JUST GET BEAT. I don't know about ya'll....but I learned from little on that - THAT was ONLY ROUND 1. You pick yourself UP, dust off, & CLIMB on again (a little MORE DETERMINED, pissed off & MEANIN' BUSINESS). You keep at it long enough & you'll wear'm out. PERSISTANCE my friends... The LONGER you go at it - the more you'll WIN. LIFE is a MARATHON just PREPARIN' us for that FINAL JOURNEY. SO....BUCK UP BABY & give it all you got!

STAY TUNED!! UPCOMING BLOG: Martinis, Minks, & Manure GALA!!! Sounds like a BLAST doesn't it?!

Goodness Gracious! Thank You Jesus!

Hello Everyone!

The end of last year and the beginning of this year has been....(and still is) filled with some mental turmoil about a few important things that I have NO idea what will happen with them, where we will be, and how we will be effected. One thing that is FOR SURE is that there WILL be some sort of change....soon.

I PRAY....all the time. I say short prayers all throughout the day, but let me tell you....the devil is at work...CONSTANTLY. In 100% honesty I have been WORRYING  about the current situation I have found myself in NON-STOP. I've been praying and asking for guidance, strength, needed knowledge, etc. The one thing that I HAVE NOT been doing, is actually TRUSTING the GOOD LORD to let the HOLY SPIRIT work in my life. A beautiful ANGEL friend made me quite AWARE of this -this past weekend. Let me tell you....sometimes you need to have someone take you and SHAKE YOU!

I sent in something that would exhibit my strong interest in something that seems like it could, positively, affect our lives - and after I sent it....EVERYONE in the room PRAYED over it. My sweet friend, her sister-in-law, my sweet little girl, my husband, and myself. It was APPARENT that the HOLY SPIRIT was in that room, right there with us. We all felt it! Yet somehow... I found a way (with the devil's help) to  continue to WORRY about the situation that we just GAVE TO GOD TO HANDLE.

I'm the kind of person that likes to be PREPARED. It's important to know that I DO NOT have control over anything, EXCEPT my actions and reactions. So...I trot into my friend's sewing room and start asking her what MY next steps should be IF this doesn't happen, or if THAT happens, or what the result COULD be.

She stops me and reminds me of the prayer we just had, the presence of the HOLY SPIRIT. She flat told me....YOU NEED TO LET IT ALONE AND LET THE GOOD LORD TAKE CARE OF IT. If this situation doesn't pan out like I would like it to...that door will close and another will open. I know that. I need to act like I believe it!

Let me tell you....I had an OVERWHELMING feeling of PEACE yesterday. So much so....that it felt like something was OFF kilter. It made me realize how much WORRY was in my life. I actually stayed up until almost 11pm letting Kylee make me dinner (with her play food and kitchen). I was also able to see things a little clearer. I FOCUSED on what I DO know. The things I don't....I won't worry about.

I've also found myself on the edge of a REALLY interesting place that I always wanted to be....that place where you THROW all the WORRIES, EXPECTATIONS, what people think you HAVE to do/be to be successful OUT THE WINDOW!! (Watch out, so you don't get knocked in the head.) This has to do with ALL of life, not JUST the current situation.

Life is TOO short to WORRY about all the things that COULD be. The bottom line of it all is: What will be, will be. I need to ENJOY life and TRUST that we will be okay...no matter the outcome. I DO know that, I just have to start acting like I BELIEVE it and LIVE it.

It takes quite a bit for me to get OVERWHELMED. I was there. In ALL situations KNOW that GOD is the end all, be all, ALL-KNOWING SAVIOR of this world and YOUR world.

I want to leave you with a few quotes that have helped me rein in my thoughts a little over the past few weeks. Thank you TWITTER! GO FIND ME!!! @hdskaspar :) That would make me happy.

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty not knowing what comes next. - Ursula K. LeGuin

"Someday could be one moment away." - Disney

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

"I want to feel my life. I want to stop agreeing to things I don't really want." - from Living Out Loud (1998)

"Let no man pull you low enough to hate him." -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"Know that the pain will pass, and, when it passes, you will be stronger, happier, more sensitive and aware." - Mel Colgrove

"Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

"Ambition and love are the wings to great deeds." - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

"In the long run the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip." - Daniel L. Reardon

"Don't go through life, grow through life." - Eric Butterworth

"The most important persuasion tool you have in your entire arsenal is integrity." - Zig Ziglar

"Keep your chin up." - Disney

"Man imposes his own limitations. Don't set any." - Anthony Baily

"A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with. A man is what he makes of himself." - Alexander Graham Bell

"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." -Mae West

"Strong reasons make strong actions." - William Shakespere

"I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it." - Maya Angelou

"A little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men." - Roald Dahl

"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." -William Arthur Ward

"You cannot live your life to please others. The choice must be yours. " -Alice in Wonderland (2010)

"People may forget what you said but they'll never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it. " - William Arthur Ward

I live my life with the constant thought to BUCK UP BABY!! Be aware that sometimes our RESPONSIBILITIES, FEARS, DRAMA, UNCERTAINTY...can CONSUME us - before we even know it. Stay steadfast in PRAYER and look for your ANGELS.

GOODNESS GRACIOUS, THANK YOU JESUS...for being a presence in my life and guiding me when I feel lost!... "but the path of the just is like a shining light: it advances and increases, even to the day of completion." - Proverbs 4:18

I have 2 fun (at least they are fun to me) blogs coming out this week yet. Stay tuned and thanks for reading!

MC of the Tropical Christmas Pet Pageant

 Need I say more? Can you imagine the EXCITEMENT goin´ on at this event? I was the MC of the 2nd Annual Rockport Tropical Christmas Pet Pageant...benefiting the Humane Society and Adoption Center of Rockport/Fulton. Here´s their Facebook Page too!
I put a little blurp about me moving forward and getting my auctioneer´s license on the Wonderful Women´s Network a few months back and I was contacted by one of the Humane Society volunteers to be the MC for their pet pageant! I agreed :).

I´m not sure if I blogged about this, but I know I´ve told lots of people that sometimes....when I help Uncle Mele at these benefit auctions I feel like I´m in his shadow and I don´t really loosen up yet like I know I can. It is kind of hard to explain really.... I feel in my element when I´m calling bids (not really intimidated with that anymore), but when it comes to being creative and funny and pickin´ on people....I feel like I´m a little stiff...all business. I know some of it is b/c I know he knows a lot of people better than I do-and it´s easier for him to pick on´m. I know a lot of the people at most of the auctions I´ve helped out at, so I´m a little guarded also. To make a long story short... I thought this kind of thing would be good for me. I´ve got no one else to lean on. I was the only person with a mike. You get my drift...

Me in my "Tropical" duds...mike in hand!

I´m VERY HAPPY and RELIEVED to say that it was a SUCCESS!! Keep in mind that going into this the only people I knew were a few of the contestants and the girl that had been emailing me back and forth (never met her before that day). She´s a pretty cool chick by the way. Anyways...I had some really AWESOME feedback.

Ruckus...part of the 1st place Reining King Duo!

Reining King Duo Member...Pickles!

I wish I had a video to post, but ultimately a contestant would walk down the runway (dog and his escort/owner). I read the contestant cards (some didn´t really have very much written) and commented on their outfits, actions, spunkiness you get the drift.



These are the 2nd place winners. The Dachund was wearing a little life jacket with his Santa hat and was wheeled (part of the way) down the runway in his Christmas Kayak. The Boxer-mix was ready to ride some waves with his surfboard!



The 2 large dogs in front of the Tropical Holiday Santa (my friend Jack) were the 3rd place winners. Ms. Penny was a reindeer (one of the most BEAUTIFUL dogs I have ever seen) and the FAMOUS Freon...the SUPER COOL AC dog :). Santa Jack and wife Lynn are their owners as well as owners of J/M AC Company!

Well...I like to be somewhat prepared ESPECIALLY when I don´t know what to expect. So....I bought the book: 7 Steps to Fearless Speaking by Lilyan Wilder. I didn´t read the whole thing yet, but it had this little exercise in it that made me pick an object....the first thing I saw... and talk about it for a minute...nonstop. BOY...Am I glad I did that. The first contestant...had an accident ON the runway. LOL! Let´s just say I had a lot of time to fill. It really did help.

Here´s a picture of the 1st contestant. After looking at this pic I have NO IDEA how he did not make it to the final 3. How cute is he?! He´s even got a Santa beard and gift sack!!

It was an experience that I VERY MUCH enjoyed. I met some REALLY neat people...who I know I´ll be working with in the near future. I figured out that I´m pretty good at something else. Most importantly I learned (will be different for everyone) that if I´m thinkin´ it...go ahead and say it. Sayin´ something is better than saying nothing (most times). It sure is more entertaining.

If we could have taken this puppy home we would have! His name is Domino. I went in Monday morning to try and adopt, but someone already beat me to it! Kylee and him just hit it off. They told us he went to a REALLY good home!

Here all the dogs were lined up on the runway :)!

Here´s a pic of some of the dogs that need a home! Be sure to check out their website and Facebook page if interested. I believe the 2 smaller dogs found homes!

FOLKS! I´ve got some really EXCITING things coming up! I still just sit here sometimes and ponder how/why this decision to pursue something in the auction industry has caused certain things to happen like: new opportunities, new friends, new talents... I can tell you one thing WHOLE-HEARTEDLY. The GOOD LORD has it all planned out. Things happen and are supposed to happen for a reason... The good, the bad, and the ugly. I´m feeling pretty BLESSED right now!

Coming up in January (28th to be exact) I´m going to be at an auction for the Round Top Education Foundation. That´s my Alma Mater!! All you Cubs and Cubettes can talk to anyone at the Elementary about donating items to the auction and learn more about the foundation. There will be an auction, dinner, and dance on Saturday at the Round Top Rifle Hall. Friday night will be Homecoming and Alumni Games!!

Mid-February I´ll be at an auction here in Rockport. I can´t say a whole lot until more things get final. Just be sure to keep your calendars open February 11th and 12th. It´s gonna be one heck of a GOOD TIME!

I´m kinda at a place right now where I KNOW I can´t be SCARED, INTIMIDATED, CONFUSED, FLUSTERED, SECOND-GUESSING... I´ve got to bare down, make some decisions, and get goin´ with things. It is LITERALLY time to BUCK UP BABY!!

I want to THANK everyone that continues to be part of my POSSE :). May GOD BLESS you on your travels!!

I´m a Rockin´ Rural Woman!!!

Hey Everyone! I have been featured on the RURAL WOMEN ROCK page and am MORE than honored. Please be sure to check out the post below (which is also on their site) and be sure to check out the otherAWESOME feature stories!!

For all of you new readers...If you want to watch a video of me auctioning something off - you can check out several of my blogs. I´ve put links to them below:

A Little Constructive Critiscism

Kinda Sorta Hittin´ My Stride

Auction School Day 2: Bid Calling

Auction School Day 7: Quizzes and More Bid Calling

Buck Up Baby: Heather Kaspar

Sales Account Executive/Auctioneer. I love how Heather is mixing it up- chasing her dreams, and doing what she loves. Rural women are doing some amazing things! Quoting Calamity Jane:"I figure if a girl wants to be a legend, she should go ahead and be one."
 Heather says, “I want to make a difference and I want a STRONG legacy when I leave this world”. Knocking your socks off  from: http://buckupbaby.blogspot.com/

Meet Heather Kaspar!

Hi there!! I´m Heather and I am really all kinds of things, but what moved me into the blogging world (besides my good friend Kacie over at Pistols and Cupcakes) was my decision to become an Auctioneer. I just got back this week from Auction School. To become licensed you have to take an 80 hour course (amongst other things) to get your license. Now I´m in the process of filling out all the needed paperwork and working on scheduling a date to take my state exam (another requirement). I´m SO excited!! Some of my other titles include: Christian, Mother of a 2 year old little girl, wife to my high school sweetheart, Cable TV Ad Sales Account Executive, Mentor, Texas State University - San Marcos Graduate, and...MOVIN´ AND SHAKIN´ RURAL WOMAN!
I grew up in a teeny tiny community (in the GREAT State of Texas), where I graduated with 20 other people. I was brought up around cattle auctions and started showing cutting horses at around age 12. I was also pretty active in 4-H and FFA where I showed market lambs and commercial heifers. I´ve also (within the last 10 years) taken´ a likin´ to hunting and fishing (husband´s influence).

I sell TV Advertising (on a local level) in a little coastal community close to Corpus (Rockport). We have GREAT fishing! Anyways…I started out in sales in College Station, TX (Home of the Fightin´ Texas Aggies). When I started I hadn´t even finished my college degree, but I paid for most of my way through school (besides a few scholarships and a little help with books every so often) and I´LL BE DARNED if I wasn’t going to have a “good job” when I graduated. Well…to make a LONG story short…I was good at it….still am. This job has given me the ability to learn about ALL KINDS of different businesses and help create marketing strategies that help them grow their client base. The main thing my career has done is show me that I have GRIT. You don´t really realize it REALLY until you look back and you remember where you started (no actual billing client list), notice the number of people that have walked into your life for a short while, and moved onto another profession, and realize the number of people you have helped. It´s always nice when people in a certain type of business ask: “Have you ever worked with a frame shop?...church?...outdoor shop?...mattress store?...jeweler?...restaurant? cattle genetics operation? (you better believe it)....etc.” AND I CAN SAY YES!! Of course it took close to 5 years, but I have learned A LOT about A LOT of things – through this job.
You can really get to know LOTS more about me by checking out my blog  I wear A LOT of different hats and I sit and ponder on how I manage it all and why I am the way I am. When it comes to business I feel like I´m pretty buttoned down…but not stuffy. I enjoy the company of people…ALL KINDS of people! I cherish my family and friends and am SO grateful for all the blessings the GOOD LORD has bestowed upon me. I AM BLESSED! I like to have fun and I REALLY have a hard time tolerating DISRESPECT. There is a right and wrong way to go about any given situation and I think it is important for people to take a step back and look at the entire situation before talkin´ ugly about somethin´.

I have decided that the reason I am the way I am is because of ALL of the different people that have influenced me in my life, like: The people I admire (some have no idea and most people wouldn´t guess that I´d admire), the people that make me realize what I DON´T want to be like, all the people that have taught me some sort of life lesson - whether it be nicely done OR brutally honest. Then...not letting the negativity DEFEAT me, but fight like hell to rise above it. All that started in the rough and tough years of becoming a teenager and not understanding stuff. Ultimately I had a "Comin´ to Jesus Meeting" with just me, Jesus, and God and worked it all out. I figured out who I wanted to be, thought about the people I admired, thought about the people I didn´t, and figured out what steps I was going to take to BECOME the person I wanted to be. God is there, and he guides us all. You just have to be willing to listen and DO! If we all would just DO something the Lord will light our path.

I do want to share (what I think is) the best quality of all rural people. WE ARE REAL!! I have friends and acquaintances of all kinds of different backgrounds and upbringings and I just really appreciate the people that aren´t all about TOOTIN´ THEIR OWN HORN! You know the best way to get to know someone is ask them questions about themselves….NOT tell´m all about how wonderful you are. Rural people are DOERS!! You don´t have to talk about it….JUST DO IT (like Nike says). Actions have a lot more merit (in my eyes) than words and I really think that is what sets RURAL people apart from the rest. Be a Doer….not a Tooter.
I´m sure that some you gals readin´ have had the thought: "I am bigger than what I´m doing." Well I had that thought, light bulb went off, and I made the decision to follow in my Uncle´s (cattle auctioneer) footsteps and become an AUCTIONEER! I was SO nervous at that first fundraising auction, but I opened my big mouth, said I wanted to do it and there was NO TURNING BACK. Luckily...I was pretty good at it. SHOCKED the heck out of me. I was thinking that maybe I´ll just help Uncle Mele and do this on the side. Then 6 fundraising auctions later...I have people telling me to "Keep it up....Don´t quit!" I thought to myself....no one is holding these people at gunpoint...they must really mean what they´re sayin´. I don´t really know where I´m goin´ with all this yet, but I´m gonna keep goin´ somewhere! Let me just say that going to auction school solidified it for me EVEN MORE. I have been given a NATURAL GIFT and I better do something with it. This is ANOTHER way that I can really help people and I am just tickled to pieces about it. Hence…..where Buck Up Baby! began. I was SO overwhelmed with everything that went along with me auctioneering….I needed a place to unload it all and well…The title is literally something I had to tell myself on the ride over to Plum (first auction).

Folks....it really is AMAZING how the GOOD LORD works through all of us - if we let him. Do you know how many of MY FRIENDS looked at me confused and crazy - when I told them I was going to be an auctioneer? You just don´t hear very many people talking about it…much less a young woman. All I know is I decided it was time to BUCK UP BABY! You can´t be scared...well maybe a little scared, but you still have to DO it!!

I found a quote on an AWESOME GROUP OF WOMEN´S website (The Junk Gypsies) . This is what it is:

"I figure if a girl wants to be a legend, she should go ahead and be one."-Calamity Jane

Now...I don´t have a clue what kind of legend I may be one day BUT I KNOW I want to make a difference and I want a STRONG legacy when I leave this world. . I ENCOURAGE every one of you to let every person you meet, every book/article you read, and every situation you encounter leave a mark on you. We learn from each other and we can ALWAYS continue to educate ourselves. The way you handle any given situation builds CHARACTER!! I want to make people PROUD of me and HELP OTHERS. That is really what it is all about!

Ladies! Don’t be scared. Buck Up Baby and let´s show the world how much RURAL WOMEN ROCK!!! I really do look forward to getting to know you ladies and lettin´ you inspire me!!