Category Archives: Goals

The Heart Behind STS Ranchwear

 

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THE SMITH FAMILY

 

For those of you that know me at all, you know I spend a lot of time on Facebook.  I have  been introduced to a lot of wonderful friends, ministries and businesses.  I was scrolling through my page one day and found STS Ranchwear on my Facebook  The first thing that caught my eye was the cross.  I believe in supporting Christian Businesses with all my heart so when you mix the Cowboy Lifestyle and that together you have won my heart over for sure!!

 

I started following STS Ranchwear and I realized they are way more than a clothing line.  STS is about sharing Stran and Jennifer Smith’s Faith with others through their own lives.  You will find Ranchwear, Fashion tips, Recipes, Fitness tips and Testimonies of God’s love on their website and Social Media.  We all need encouragement from one another and I sure know I need help with fitness and fashion.  LOL…..

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I am all about Dreams and encouraging others in theirs.  This is one of my favorite things about STS and the heart of Stran and Jennifer Smith.

 

THE HEART BEHIND STS RANCHWEAR

Jennifer and Stran Smith are best known for their long standing careers in professional rodeo. Stran has 11 Wrangler National Finals Qualifications and was the 2008 World Champion Tie-Down Roper. He is best known for overcoming hardships in and out of the arena.

Jennifer was Miss Rodeo America and worked as a television correspondent in the western & equine industry for 15 years for networks such as ESPN, CBS Sports, and Outdoor Channel. Jennifer also spends time as a designer and consultant in the Western fashion industry.

What is not highly publicized is their background in ranching. Stran and Jennifer strive to carry on Stran’s 4th generation ranch in Tell, Texas. When not on the road, Stran, Jennifer, and 3 children, Stone, Scout, and Selah raise Black Angus cattle on the family ranch.

 

I am very honored to share with you a few questions and answers  with Stran and Jennifer.  A look into their heart and Dreams.

What inspired you to begin STS Ranchwear?

The combination of growing up on a 4th Generation ranch and spending the last 20 years in the rodeo and western fashion industry, we have an idea about what we want in Ranchwear. When we went looking for it, there was nothing on the market quite like what STS Ranchwear is today.  Our partner, Chad Fairchild with Carroll Original Wear has spent years perfecting the quality of outwear and sourcing quality leathers that fit the true western buyer’s standards.

The handbags were a vision of passion as well.  I wanted to create a line of bags that not only utilized luxurious leathers and western design, but also had all the organizational needs of today’s western woman.

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What is your vision and targeted audience for each of your blogs? 

We love EVERYTHING about the western life that we are so blessed to have been raised in. We feel it’s important to honor a legacy of the true working cowboy and family life, educating on skills, equipment, livestock, and wildlife. We, more importantly, strive to emphasize the principals that this country was built on:  HONOR and INTEGRITY while being TRUE to your faith, your family and yourself.   Anyone that is or just wants to be cowboy can find great stuff on STSRanch.com.

http://stsranch.com/strans-blog/

http://stsranch.com/jens-blog/

 

How has faith played a role in your family, being on the road rodeoing and running a business?  

In every way, Faith is the center of our life.  In every venture in our life, whether it’s rodeo, ranch, and especially our family we want to be in God’s will.  We wouldn’t attempt to do anything with out His confirmation… not just in our business, but in every part of our life.

 

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What three tips could you offer to tell us how to stay focused Spiritually, Mentally and Physically?

A goal without a plan is just a wish.  It is very important to have a plan so you know what direction to go.  Write down your goals and look at them often. Be consistent and stay the /coarse.  It is a marathon, not a sprint.  It is so important for us to have a Purpose in our goals beyond “us.” Like we’ve said, if God is at the center of everything you do, you have a bigger purpose and responsibility in obtaining your goals.  You never know who is looking up to you or who you will inspire in the meantime.  Stran said it best in his interview when he won the World Championship.  If your heart is still beating than God’s has a plan for your life.

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Thank you STS Ranchwear (Stran and Jennifer)  for this great interview.

 

To learn more about STS Ranchwear and Stran and Jennifer Smith please check out their website below and be sure to follow them on Facebook.

 

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CLICK HERE TO ENTER STS RANCHWEAR

Dream Catcher 3:20

Cassie Gilman

 

 

 

Interview with Dave Powers

I have been doing interviews for a few months now.  I have to say it is one of my favorite things I have ever been blessed to do.

My sweet friend Richard Frazier introduced me to a great Southern Gospel singer named Dave Powers.  I feel very blessed to introduce Dave and his ministry and music to you.

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Dave Powers, Southern/Country Gospel Singer
Dave is spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through songs and personal
testimony.  Dave was born and raised in West Chester, PA, and now resides in
Lemasters, Pennsylvania.  Dave has been singing for over 25+ years.  He grew
up singing in his home town church and fell in love with the “old time”
hymns that the church sang.  In his teen years,  he heard many southern
gospel singers and began to love the sound of the quartet style music.  He
attended a Gold City Quartet concert that was made up of Brian, Ivan, Mike,
and Tim, and knew during that concert he wanted to sing for the Lord.  At
that concert, he prayed that the Lord would use him to spread the gospel in
song.   When he moved to Chambersburg, PA, in 1988, he started singing bass
with The Towne Singers, a local vocal group.   With the Towne Singers,  he
had the opportunity to travel over seas and do many concerts.  Then in 2003,
he began singing background with David (King) Grove doing numerous “Elvis”
concerts and had the honor to share the stage with the legendary
Jordanairres.  In 2005, he continued with David, but they were led by the
Lord to do outreaches to win souls for the Lord.  When David accepted a
pastor’s position in 2009, Dave continued on his own because he loves
singing about his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  In 2013, Dave was asked and
honored to open up for the respected southern gospel quartet, The Kingsmen,
at the 38th PA State Singing Convention.  In December of 2014 he had the
opportunity to travel to Nashville Tenn. To record Amazing Grace with Doc
Holiday and his A-team production company.  2015 is shaping up to be a great
year of sharing the Gospel in song.

INTERVIEW WITH DAVE POWERS

How long have you been singing Southern Gospel Music?
A: Pretty much my whole life,  I fell in love with it when I was around 12
years old  but started to really sing it on my own around 4 yrs ago.

What artist would you say has influenced your music the most?
A: The Kingsmen Quarter was the first group I ever listened to, but Gold
City and Mr. Tim Riley  has been a big influence on my life.  Mr. David
Grove (King) my pastor has also been a big influence in my Ministry.

What was your first song to hit the air waves? And which station started
your adventure on air?
A: The first station to ever play my music was WURL 760 AM out of Alabama.
I befriend DJ Richard Frazier from the Richard Frazier Show via Facebook.
He included a song of mine on his hour program and for the first time ever I
heard myself singing “Thanks To Calvary”.  Needless to say, I did tear up
and thanked God for that moment in time.

What would you say was the defining moment in your music ministry that you
knew that this was what you wanted to do?
A:  I have been singing pretty much all my life, in Church choirs, groups
from around our area and then on my own, but felt God’s calling to sing
around 14 yrs ago at a Southern Gospel Concert in Lancaster Pa. sitting in
the back row I really felt God’s calling on my life to go and share the
Gospel in song.  This wouldn’t happen for a few more years, but believe me
it has been worth the wait.

What motivates you to keep going when your tired?
A:  My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It’s because of Him why I sing.

Do you have any new projects in the making?
A:  Looking at doing a new CD sometime this year.

What’s your current single on the air waves that we might hear?
Right now I have the Song Amazing Grace which I recorded in Nashville in
December.  It is on Amazon music.com and Google play.  Digital download,
with in around 2 weeks going out to different radio stations.

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CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DAVE POWERS

Thank you Dave for this interview.
Dream Catcher 3:20
Cassie Gilman
http://getsalty513.com/

Get Salty!

One of my favorite things in life is to promote others dreams, purposes, ministries and businesses.  I was looking through my feed on Facebook and saw a page called Get Salty!  I stopped and decided to take a look.  I had once done a teaching on being the salt of the earth and the different uses of salt.  God tells us to be the Salt of the Earth in Matthew 5:13.  As I read the about section for Get Salty I realized this was their founding scripture.

I entered a contest on Facebook and won a t shirt with Get Salty’s logo and was so excited.  I asked them to change the size of the shirt so I could give it as a gift to a special friend.  When I received their reply they said they would just send me two.  When I opened my box they blessed me with 4 t shirts.  I was able to bless two other people and get their brand and their vision out there for others to see.

I am so excited to share their vision with you.

GET SALTY!

As a team roper and coming from a ranching family I have heard the slang “Salty” from my granddad down to my dad as describing someone that is good at something. As I was competing at a roping a pro team roper JOJO Lemond ran a super fast time and out of my mouth comes …”that cat is salty”. As I get home I tell my wife that I want to start a rodeo apparel, GET SALTY.  As my wife is a very devout Christian she says sure, but only if it glorifies God. Keep in mind that before I met my wife 13 years ago my life was black and white. I thought life was grand chasing the hwy and hitting all the rodeos I could… Boy was I wrong. She showed me what life was like in color as she introduced me to truly knowing the Lord. As she stated there are several verses in the bible referring to SALT she was reading the bible and came across MATT 5:13 ” Ye Are The SALT of The Earth…” We both thought that was very fitting to our clothing line. As we sell and explain our product we let them know both meanings of GET SALTY…describing ones God given talent and Biblical Reference MATT 5:13 ye are the Salt of the earth… We do not put the entire verse as we hope people will have the curiosity to open the Bible and read further than the remainder of Matt 5:13.
Our vision for Get Salty is to produce a trendy clothing line that will help spread the message of the Lord and praying it leads people to Christ.
Thank you all so much for sharing your vision with me.
Y’all be sure to check out their website and go like their Facebook page.  Order your Get Salty apparel today.
Click on the Photo below to go directly to their website.
http://getsalty513.com/Thank You all so much for sharing your vision with me.
Dream Catcher 3:20
Cassie Gilman

Interview with Steve Roberson

Interview Steve Roberson
Steve Roberson

While doing some PR for Carol Hogner I started listening to and following HLE Radio. I heard a song called Jesus Was A Rebel. I fell in love with that song. Sometimes we can get so caught up in stuffy old religion and forget that Jesus didn’t go with the flow.  Jesus hung out with the Rebels and outcast. He took His Light to them.

 

I friend requested Steve Roberson in October 2013. I realized then he has such a sweet heart and wants people to see the fun loving side of Jesus. Throug out this last year I have watched his Social Media post and peoples interaction with him. This Novemebr I traveled with Carol Hogner to the ICM Awards in Nashville and was blessed to meet Steve in person. Steve is just as personable and fun in person as he is on Social Media. I asked him if he would participate in my interview for my blogs. I’m so glad he said yes.

I hope you enjoy getting to know a little more about Mr. Steve Roberson. Be sure to check out the links I’ve inserted into this blog to listen to his music and follow him on social media.

Bio:  Diversity is the word that comes to mind when the name Steve Roberson comes up. Steve grew up in Montgomery, Alabama with the sounds of Elvis, Buddy Holly, The Rolling Stones, Hank Williams and Tom T Hall flowing through the speakers of his momma’s orange suitcase record player! He had a love for great music of all genres, and you can tell when you hear Steve’s music
Steve is on the road full time performing at venues such as fairs, festivals, rodeo’s, and churches all across the country, and is also a staff songwriter at Oden’s Row Publishing in Nashville, Tennessee. He has had numerous cuts in Southern Gospel, Christian Country and Mainstream Country Music.
2014 has proved to be a successful year for Steve, as he has been blessed with three number one songs on several Independent Country and Christian Country Charts, including the ever popular “Jesus Was A Rebel” and current chart topper “Letting Angels Down Easy”.

INTERVIEW: With STEVE ROBERSON 

 

Q.How long have you been singing Country and Inspirational Country Music?

Steve:  I’ve been singing Country Music all of my life it seems! After I got saved and in church in 2005, I thought that the country side of music was over for me. I knew very little about Gospel Music, but I was asked to audition for the lead singer position in a Southern Gospel Quartet based out of Clanton, Alabama. I sang with “The Samaritans” for about four years. Then for almost another year with “Broken Vessels”. Then in the summer of 2006, we were booked to sing at an outdoor festival near Montgomery, Alabama. And that is where I was introduced to Christian Country Music! Tommy Brandt and Danny Ray Harris were the headliners for this event and I was in heaven! I’m sure that I asked those two guys a thousand questions that day! I ended up with both of their CD’s and Danny even gave me some of his tracks to sing with. In 2012, Danny would also introduce me to playing in Cowboy Churches around the country while we toured together for a year as “The Southern Boys”. I’m forever grateful to Danny, Tommy and everyone else who has had a hand helping me on my musical journey!

 

Q. What artist would you say has influenced your music the most?
Steve:  WOW! That’s a loaded question!! Where do I start? There are so many that I could truthfully say, but I’ll narrow it down to a few. I always loved the smooth, powerful voice of Travis Tritt. He’s still one of my heroes in music. The great Marty Raybon is another! I still get chills hearing him and Shenandoah sing “The Moon Over Georgia”!. The other is Scott Roberts of Broken Vessels. There are so many artists on stage nowadays that in my opinion, are trying to put on a show for the sake of entertaining someone. Scott doesn’t have to do that because he is real. He truly wants God to use him to make a difference in the life’s of others, and it shows through on stage. And I’m thankful for the difference that he has made in my life!

 

Q. What was your first song to hit the air waves? And which station started your adventure on air?
Steve:The first one would be with The Samaritans. We did a song called “Joy In The Morning” that got some local airplay at Gospel Station WKLF in Clanton, Alabama. The first one for me as a soloist was a song that I wrote with my brother Frankie called “Pretty, Pretty Angels”, also at WKLF.

 

Q. What would you say was the defining moment in your music ministry that you knew that this was what you wanted to do?
Steve:  Defining moment?…. I don’t think that I can recall one. I’ve just always known that this was it for me!

 

Q. What motivates you to keep going when your tired?
Steve:  There are people out there in the world that are hurting, and I believe that God can use me, and the music that He gives me to reach them, ease their pain and lead them to Him.

 

Q. Do you have any new projects in the making?
Steve:  Yep, a new CD packed with Crank Down Christian Country, and Positive Country is due out in late January with a new radio release to go along with it!

 

Q. What’s your current single on the air waves that we might hear?
Steve:   “Letting Angels Down Easy” written by Randy Finchum and Chuck Oden is still going strong at Independent Country Radio and almost a year after it’s radio release, “Jesus Was A Rebel” (Finchum-Gibson) is still one of the most requested song at a lot of stations! And let’s not forget about “God Gave His Gift To Me” (Finchum-Batts-Roberson) My Christmas single.

 

Q. Can you share one of your funniest memories of Singing on stage or while recording?

Steve:WOW again! I have a lot to choose from! It has to be the time when I was singing at an old country church somewhere in Georgia. The church was in serious need of major repair and stage floor was very unstable to say the least! And to make things worse, I was weighing in at around the 400 lb mark! The service was almost over when the floor busted open and I fell through it into the baptismal tank, a tank that the church had no idea was there! Here’s the funny part. The Pastor said that they had been praying that The Lord would provide them with a way to baptize their church folks! I guess that The Lord does indeed work in mysterious ways!

 

 

Thank you Steve Robberson for this great interview!!!

To contact Steve for your next event….
205-924-9397

[email protected]

www.facebook.com/steverobersonmusic

www.twitter.com/@1steveroberson

 

Above and Beyond

Dream Catcher 3:20

Cassie Gilman

From a Mommas Heart!

 

 

 

From a Mommas Heart

From a Mommas Heart

 

From a Mommas Heart 

 

As a mom of two young adult children I thought it would be very interesting to take a look at what it’s like from a mommas heart to watch her child achieve his dreams. Earlier this week I interviewed Jake Long a 2014 NFR qualified contestant.   Jake is a team roper who is competing at  the NFR this year. Jake’s mom Pam Weatherby is out at Vegas for the finals  cheering her son on.  I was able to interview her and ask her what it’s like to be Jake’s mom and to be there cheering him on and behind the scenes in a mommas eyes.

 

INTERVIEW

 

It’s that time of year again!! The WNFR is upon us. What is it like for you as a momma of one of the qualified NFR contestants (Mr Jake Long), to be out there in all the excitement?

Pam:  It’s just so neat to see Jake fulfill his dreams after all the hard work that he has done. I love taking care of the horses and meeting wonderful people in the rodeo world.

How many years does this make for you all to be out there as participants?

Pam:  This is our 4th year to be out here with Jake.

What is your very first memory of Jake picking up a rope and beginning the many years of fulfilling his purpose and dreams?

Pam:  When Jake was just a toddler he carried around a small piece of rope, wore an old felt hat and he carried it with him everywhere.  Jake has roped in junior rodeos since the age of 6.

Have you found it difficult at times to watch the process of his Dreams becoming reality?

Pam:  No, I haven’t found it difficult to watch good progress he has been his own self teacher at many times he was always had his eyes set on his goals and never took them off.

What’s some key advice you have been able to give him over the years?

Pam: The key advice I used to always give Jake is I would always just tell him have fun and there’s always another roping.

As one mom to another, what advice can you give a mother to help them encourage their child along the path of their goals and dreams?

Pam:  Key advice for other mothers is let your child pick what they want to do if they want to rope that’s fine but if they want to play basketball that’s fine too. But let them fulfill their own dreams not your own dreams do not live though your kid.

Can you share a funny memory that sticks out in your mind of Jake?

Pam:  A funny story on Jake is he is a heck of a barrel racer. He always out ran me on my own horse, but I think doing different events just made a better horseman.

For my last question and probably one of the most important, how has your faith played a role in all of this?

Pam:  My faith has really been tested, I would pray protection,  to have good cattle, and to win good every night.  I would pray and pray. Then finally God said when are you going to let me have control and have faith, and that’s when I finally turned over the reins to the Almighty God.

 

Thank you so much Pam for doing this interview with me.

 

 

 

 Above and Beyond
Dream Catcher 3:20
Cassie Gilman