Wordless Wednesday

"A doe, A deer, A female deer."

I had told myself, and everyone else for that matter, that I would not shoot a doe. I just couldn't bring myself to shoot a mama, knowing that she had a young one still tagging along or that she could possibly be with bambi (kind of like with child).
I went out to the the deer box six evenings during rifle season. I would arrive around 3:30pm, feeder would go off at 4:00pm and the does would start showing up anywhere between 4:15pm and 5:00pm. Most evenings I would leave right as it was getting dark and would have to scare off the does. Only one time hunting did I not see a single deer. The does and this years fawns were fun to watch. But I was waiting for the big buck to arrive.
Today was the last day of rifle season. I was pretty much over the whole hunting experience and just wanted a shot at a buck. I arrived at the box at 3:45pm, the feeder went off at the usual time and I patienty waited while reading a good book. Finally around 5:00pm the first doe and fawn showed up, followed by several others. At 5:10pm I decided that a big buck wasn't going to appear so I either needed to take a shot or go home. My heart started to beat a mile a minute and at that point I knew I was going to shoot a doe. I couldn't let the anticipation and excitment of the shot go to waste and I couldn't go home empty handed on the very last day of the season. I quietly opened the sliding window, propped my gun on the window opening making enough noise that all the deer looked up and stared directly at me. I sat as still as possible until the deer went back to eating. Then I placed the target on the biggest doe there and took a shot. She took off running but I was pretty sure I got a good shot. I never know for sure because I always close my eyes when I shoot. I watched where she ran and thought I heard her drop. All but one of the other deer had managed to run off but the one still stood there and stared at me. I'm thinking I probably shot her mama...sorry about that. My heart was still pounding and I was shaking with excitement. I called Ryan and our friend Andy to let them know that I shot a doe. After a couple minutes I got down from the box and went to where I shot the doe and saw blood so I knew I hit her. I then followed a trail of blood and walked in the direction I thought she dropped. I found her within minutes. Ryan and Andy arrived and took pictures and then Ryan walked me through the gutting process.
It was another fun hunt and all those sad feelings about shooting a doe quickly went away as soon as I pulled the trigger. Fun stuff.


Madelyn wasn't with me this year when I shot my deer but she sure enjoyed watching me field dress the deer. However, she wasn't too fond of the smell. :)



Thanks Dad for letting me use your gun again this year. It was a great shot even with my eyes closed.

If I had known then what I know now....

I would not have been so nasty and disrespectful to my parents and sister

I would have not been jealous and envious of friends...ever!

I would have taken piano lessons so I would still have that skill today.

I would have taken gymnastics

I would not have had a serious boyfriend in high school and would have just spent the time having fun with my friends.

I would have not graduated college in 4 years. I would have made it last a little longer, although mom and dad's pocket book would have probably disagreed.

I would have taken a pottery class in college.

I would have dated more in college.

I would have gotten married at 28 and not 24. But I still would have married the same guy!

I would not have waited 10 years after high school to reconnect with my high school friends.

I would not have lived with Ryan before we got married.

But everything happens for a reason and if my life would have turned out differently because I did or did not do something different I wouldn't have changed a thing (well maybe being nicer to my parents and sister). I love my life and how things turned out thus far.

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful this sweet child is only behind the wheel when she is sitting on her daddy's lap and they are driving in a pasture.

Wordless Wednesday

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for this man. I am thankful that he is a hands-on daddy and will do anything and everything for and with his daughter. I am thankful that he does at least 50% of the house work, if not more, and all of the outside work. I am thankful that we have financial security because he insists on living without debt and saving, saving, saving (although frustrating at times, I know it will pay off in the future). I am thankful for his sense of humor that makes me laugh everyday. I am thankful for his drive to work, that man never slows down. I am thankful that he lets me do whatever I want, within reason of course. I am thankful that he stays home to take care of Madelyn every summer, spring break, and Christmas break. I am thankful that he is a manly man and knows how to change oil and is the handyman at our house. I am also thankful that he chose me to spend the rest of his life with...poor guy. :)

Wordless Wednesday