Startin' to Tackle That Mountain!

I've been wanting to do this for quite some time now & the week of Thanksgiving I took the first MAJOR step. Believe me....there were quite a few little steps I had to take to get to that point, but it's done.

I gave the company I work for my 30 day notice & for the first time in my working life....I don't have another JOB lined out, but I do have a PLAN & a mighty exciting one!

I won't lie. This is probably the SCARIEST thing I have EVER done....EVER.

I want to share a small piece of the journey that brought me to this point, b/c I'm well aware that some people will have their opinions & some...quite frankly....may not get it & that's okay. That's what makes this world go 'round.

My overall MAJOR plan is to pursue my auction career. I have a plan, but having worked with MANY businesses of all shapes & sizes over the last 7 years I KNOW that certain elements of that plan will have to change, happen sooner, happen later, happen differently, not happen at all... So for now, until I get more of the details panned out, I'm pursuing my auction career.

It has been a little bit of a mental roller coaster for me for several different reasons. Here are the MAJOR ones:

1) I have a VERY strong faith & I pray A LOT. This whole auction journey adventure all started while in prayer & for a while now - I knew I needed to act on it, but I didn't know how. I didn't know what I wanted to do EXACTLY. I didn't know how I'd help support my family. I didn't know how I'd replace my income. I did not know HOW.

2) It is hard, Hard, HARD to step out into the unknown. SO hard...& SO ScaRY.

3) I have dealt with NEGATIVITY for years now from all kinds of different personalities: prospects, co-workers, clients, bosses, business personnel, patients, families.... & for all kinds of different reasons like: money, power, work loads, territory,  protocols, end product results....or literally having NO interest in what you have to say. BUT - This step  COULD  mean managing negativity from some of the people that I LOVE most & it took me a little bit to MENTALLY PREPARE myself for that.

4) Knowing that IF I made this move there would be A LOT of change. Finances would tighten up. That means that life as we are living it - changes & we won't know exactly how - until we get the ball rolling.

5) Getting the support from  my husband & my uncle. - THIS was the scariest for me. I hold SO much weight in their opinions & NEED their support. I NEEDED them to hear the plan, see the plan, understand the plan, know why I want to take this HUGE step & have them aware of the way life COULD change - positively & negatively. I needed them to know that I wasn't just shootin' at this thing half-cocked. It went almost SPOT ON to what I expected. Once they had a little time to work through it - JUST LIKE I HAD TO - I had their SUPPORT. ONCE I HAD THAT - All that was left to do was ACT on it, so I did.

6) Right now the hardest part for me is finding out the WHERE & I'm workin' on that.

I have been BLESSED to have family & friends PUSH me & SUPPORT me & ENCOURAGE me. I am BLESSED to have professionals of the field offer their guidance, help, & support.

I am BLESSED. When I was praying that early, EARLY Sunday morning - wanting a change, wanting an option, wanting a way to love my husband, raise my children, & KNOW that if I worked hard I would be rewarded ALONG WITH my family. BECOMING AN AUCTIONEER was TOTALLY NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING, BUT - by God's grace I called my loud-mouth Daddy that told my Uncle Mele (even when I told him not too) & it opened up a whole new world of opportunity for me & totally unexpectedly. There is so much more out there than any of us would have ever thought.

I gotta tell ya! I know I've been a little dormant in the blogging world here lately, but it is some kinda tough to have a blog called BUCK UP BABY! when I KNEW that I needed to BUCK UP in a much bigger way. It is all a process. I truly think we are conditioned for what is to come. We are put in certain situations to learn from them & add a little something to our toolbox.

Well here's to more AUCTIONS, FAITH, BLESSINGS, & BUCK'N UP BABY! Prayers welcomed.

PLUM CrAZy!

Well, well, well.... Last Sunday marked the 1 YEAR anniversary of the day I ACTUALLY made the move to embark on my AUCTIONEER journey. I spent the day 1p-7ishp calling bids & spotting bidders @ the Plum Catholic Church Feast in little ole' PLUM, TEXAS.

It's SO funny to me. As I was riding over there in the truck with Uncle Melvin - I remembered how NerVouS I was just 1 year ago. I talk A LOT, so we weren't short of conversation, but last year I was saying my auction chant, asking him if I sounded okay, asked him what I needed to do if THIS scenario happened or THAT scenario happened, or if I just lost the bidder (which did happen the 1st year :)). Then he told me what we were going to do and what I was going to do first. This year those worries were LONG gone :). Thank goodness! PLUM CraZy how things change with just a little bit of experience...

Thank you Ms. Stephanie Antosh for the pics!

The people there are SO nice. Every community is close, but the thing that stands OUT about Plum (to me) is how PROUD everyone is of their community, church, people, kids, grandkids, other peoples' grand kids, feasts, food, business owners...YOU name it! If they like ya...they'll let you know and anyone that will listen know. Keep in mind...they know EVERYTHING about ya (if you're part of the community)...like, if you have a boyfriend or girlfriend, how you got you're butt whooped by a tree limb, what political office you're runnin' for, old debts from 10 years ago that finally get paid off, what you got your college degree in, what families need to be biddin' on baby quilts :)...I mean...NEVER, EVER short of entertainment or knowledge.

I was walking to the truck when I had a little break...around 5 & finally ate something (BTW-They feed you some kinda good. I'm pretty sure I'll make 3 meals out of their one plate.) Anyways....the ground is dry, we are all literally ENGULFED in HEAT (PLUM ridiculous how HOT it was) and I see some younger girls in their shorts & tank tops & it just brought me back to how BLESSED I feel for growin' up the way I did. I mean...It was HOT! Have I told you that already? Yet...supporters of the CHURCH stuck around to bid on items, drink a few brews, and dance a little jig...instead of headin' for the house, their AC, and the boob tube :). It was COUNTRY LIVIN' @ it's Finest and I'm glad to be a part of it.

It was good to see some kind, familiar faces & meet some new people too. It's also nice to reflect back & I have to say...I'm pretty stinkin' PROUD of myself for BUCKIN' UP and gettin' on that stage & callin' bids. Folks...It all started right there...in PLUM, TX. It (surprisingly & unexpectedly to me) opened up a whole new world & a whole new vision. I'm still not quite sure why it took me as long as it did, but you know TIMING can mean a whole lot & only the GOOD LORD knows when things are right

Funny to think that before this auction business... the last memory I had of Plum, TX was learnin' how to dance & gettin in an EGG & food war at a friend's house. Now that....was PLUM CrAzY....and pretty disgusting, but we all had a BLAST.

I want to say a BIG thanks to everyone that showed up at the PLUM feast: the bidders, donors, volunteers, & patrons. THANKS also for welcoming me back! EVERYONE should go PLUM CraZY every once in a while.

BUCK UP BABY! Do what you want to....as long as you ain't hurtin' nobody! You'll be glad ya did! God Bless! Until next time....

Heather Kaspar
Licensed Auctioneer
TDLR LIC#17037

Thankful Thursday: My Sweet Little Family

I feel like I must be the most BLESSED girl in the world to have an awesome, strong, chill, good-lookin', rock of a husband, like Kyle. Really....he knows how to press my buttons and pester me, but he also knows how to make me laugh, when to give me a hug, when to cook dinner....you get the point. This May will be 10 years, that we've been together. HOLY FREAKIN' COW..... That is a DECADE!!! I could go on for days, but bottom line....I LOVE him with all I am! The best blessing of all that Kyle and I are part of together is our sweet little Kylee Jo.

I just absolutely LOVE her. She makes a rough day BRIGHT. She makes a mess seem...not SO bad. She tells the most ENTERTAINING stories. She tells us to STOP being MEAN to each other - even if she THINKS we're bickering. She makes every situation seem so MATTER OF FACT. She LOVES her family, friends, and teachers. She is just SO MUCH FUN. She is loving, fair, entertaining, kind, determined, and just plain AWESOME.

No matter what happens with work, or finances, or anything....they both are just such HUGE blessings in my life that brighten my day! Thank you JESUS for THIS life, with THESE people, and all the wonderful FAMILY and FRIENDS you have surrounded us with!

Livin' Like a Gypsy.... EVERYWHERE!

First off....I want to wish everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!! We all have SO much to be THANKFUL for! This year has been a pretty GREAT one!

My little munchkin turned 2 and has also turned into a BIG-TIME Mommy's Girl. I just LOVE her and that she LOVES me so much!!

I LOVE my little family!!

My PRECIOUS little DOLLFACE!

 I've over-delivered my annual sales goal by 10%. I've gotten my AUCTIONEER'S LICENSE, broke into the BLOGGING world, been a part of 4 sets of my VERY GOOD FRIENDS gettin' hitched, finished my Bachelor's degree, caught the biggest Bull Red I've ever caught, the most bass I have EVER caught at one time, had the opportunity to VOLUNTEER and SERVE with several Non-Profit Groups and Organizations: Rockport/Fulton Mentor Program, TOWN Rockport, The Humane Society, Lions Clubs, VFDs....just to name a few..... I've had the OPPORTUNITY to work at some VERY UNIQUE auctions and with all this.... Met some GREAT NEW FRIENDS and made some GREAT MEMORIES with our long-time friends!!

Pohl Wedding in March!

My BEAUTIFUL best friend (cousin-in-law-ish now :)) where I had the HONOR of being Co-Matron of Honor!

My other BEAUTIFUL friend Brittany! (We are kinda cousin-in-law-ish now too!)
(P.S. I haven't gotten any pics from the last wedding yet, but I was just as HAPPY to be a part of it!)

100 White Bass! We all caught our limit! Had so much fun with Dayna, Dean, & David! (Cousin & Uncle-in-law).

My 1st Bull Red! Thanks Joey!

Along with this....I've kinda been LIVIN' LIKE A GYPSY....on the road!

We've been on the road all over the state it seems like ALL THE TIME! I'm not complainin'. I'M JUST SAYIN' that if you've EVER been to my house this year I hope you UNDERSTAND my Dis-organization. I was on the phone with a friend/client yesterday afternoon and he told me "You don't over-analyze. You just ORGANIZE your thoughts." I told him that I'm glad I can at least organize those because my office is a FIRE HAZARD, our pool table has turned into a LAUNDRY BASKET, & my car looks like I LIVE in it!

What can anyone expect when WE LIVE LIKE GYPSIES.... out of a suitcase...

We' ve spent A LOT of time back home which includes places like: Carmine, Round-Top, Walhalla, Warrenton, Fayetteville, LaGrange, Giddings, Burton. I've been to Bachelorette Parties in Austin, Port Aransas, San Antonio, and San Marcos. Then I spent a little over a week in Waco, some time in Houston. Kyle's been goin' to Sweeny Switch quite a bit (I went once) plus...he's been to South Texas on a bow hunt. I'm constantly on the road with work to places like Corpus Christi, Rockport, Portland, Sinton, Port Aransas, Odem, Ingleside, Taft, Gregory, Aransas Pass, Victoria, and Kingsville. Not to mention our "pretty much annual" FRIO trip to Concan! Robert Earl Keen said it best when he said "The road goes on FOREVER and the PARTY never ends." I'm just glad I've got myself a hardy TOYOTA!

Me and the bride at her Bachelorette Party in Austin!



Me & Kaysie Night #1 in Port A.



The entire group night #2 in Port A!

Night #1 of Brit's Bachelorette Weekend...havin'  a time at High Hill store.

Night on the town at the Riverwalk in San Antonio!

FRIO! We're a bunch!

I give FLIP CUP lessons! Lindsey's a CHAMP now :).

I'm tired just looking at this picture. Simpson & I "wrecked shop" until the wee morning hours.

H2K BABY!! (Heather, Kathryn, Kaysie)

The remaining FRIO survivors ;).

This stuff actually happens people! I roped Steph with the cooler rope that was tied to the tube!

I kind of beat myself up about my un-organized house and I spent a little time REFLECTING on WHY I can't get it together. It all makes sense now ;). What I am the most sad about is I didn't put up my Christmas tree this year. I know....GASP! Here's what it normally looks like and I've always been pretty proud of it.

Just as soon as I slowed down enough and thought about putting it up....Kyle brought to my attention that we would be hittin' the road again in a few short days......

No worries :). It may not be as FLASHY as I like, BUT KYLEE has to have a CHRISTMAS TREE!!

Tree with JUST Kylee's presents.

I dig my fish!

Kylee's 1st Ornament...

Last year's ornament. Slacker Mom still hasn't let her pick one out for this year...

Gotta have my peacock feathers!

Our little tree with EVERYONE's presents for all 4 Christmas gatherings we're going to in the next few days!

This year's wrapping paper...picked out by Kylee :)!

We can't forget about Patrick...

Or...Micky Mouse! If you guys see her, you should ask Kylee to say "Micky Mouse." It's pretty cute!

Folks....2012 looks like it could be full of EXCITEMENT and CHANGES just like 2011. You all better BUCK UP BABY if you want to go along for the ride! GO BIG OR GO HOME....or maybe do both! Who knows?! ;)