Sometimes things go differently than we thought.....

The last year has been a rollercoaster to say the least... Financially, we all lost.... Emotionally... some of us lost... Spiritually, some of us grew because we lost.

Looking back.... I realize how blessed I have been, how blessed I AM, how great this life is, regardless of the peaks and valleys of every day. We are all truly blessed, regardless of the hurts, pains, sufferings, injustices, wrongs... we are all loved by Someone. All those things that feel like they're gonna kill us, somehow make us realize just who we are. And truly, how many times do we think something... life.. is going one way, when it changes in the most beautiful and wonderful way.... Looking back is good, but only for perspective, for clarity, for vision. Faith is what it's all about. Tomorrow will come.. with it's joys, it's beauty, it's sorrow, but in faith, we can know that we are blessed beyond what we deserve, graced with joys that overwhelm us,.. the thunder, the rain, the snow, the sun on our face... all for FREE. The "sad/bad" things in our lives are necessary, to help us enjoy more, live more, choose more. "What profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" (ref: The Bible). " The more you embrace that thought, and realize the true joys of life, that you may be missing the "now" of your life... it's humbling.... it's real.

I think of Chica... a year ago she didn't know us, we didn't know her.... today... she's one of our precious jewels... better than riches, sweeter than spice... her life, gives life to us. Watching her walk on a leash like an "owned" dog brings us such joy.... her receiving her first "bed", and refusing to get off it was FANTASTIC and almost FREE... it cost $14.99 from Ross... but thank you God, and thank you Ross, and thank you Chica. It was priceless... and every night, to watch her sleep... is amazing. And of course, there's Syd... she's ALWAYS the bomb. Best dogs I've ever had.

But, through all the snow (and rumors of MORE snow through May) we we're able to watch our (very short) spring... and today.. WE HAD SUMMER... it finally arrived!!! In all honesty I would not have been so dismayed to have one more "snow-day" this year.... the hills are green, deer galore.. Lace and I took a rigoruous trail ride off property... She's the bomb.... we killed the hills...saw the vistas... and tried to keep up with Hannah and her Arabs. All is good. All is God. I am so very blessed, and happy. Those things I miss, I must release, for I shall see them and have them all another day...today... I shall have peace in knowing.

After the snow, the thaw, the surrender......

So, as you may be enjoying your Spring, and probably have been for weeks, we have been waiting for the snow to melt, the ground to become dry, the "Sping" to show up for the few weeks it will, before Summer sets in. Between the blizzards, travels, new family members, and everything else, I've been having "Horse Deprivation" Syndrome.

I have been trying to get someone to "babysit" me while I ride my young horse. She is a wonderful, solid, patient horse, but last August, on a windy day, she spooked, I fell, and my backside....well, my back, basically told me how old I am. Since then, I've been afraid of re-injuring my already injured back. I'm not afraid of my horse, just afraid of my "seat" and possibly falling again and being alone.

Well, I had a hard time getting anyone to commit to help me, so I had a talk with God. He said "pray believing", so I did. I said, "I can't wait any longer. I need her, she needs me, she's a great horse, please bless me and keeps us both safe." I committed to ride her on Sunday, whether someone was there or not. By Saturday night I had three people ready to babysit me for my first Spring ride. Hannah was the one. She was going to be there riding her horses after a trail ride.

Lacy was a DREAM. She remember everything I had taught her last year, and we did "scarry training" before I got on her. Horses have a hard time learning what is and isn't a "cougar" to them, everything scarry is a cougar. We rode, walked, trotted, cantered, had a grand time. She was the very respectful horse I've enjoyed. Needless to say, it was great to be back in the saddle again.

Bottom line... when you trust God, He always provides. You ask, you receive. You surrender and let go, He provides.

During the blizz

Chica and the man

After the Blizz

I went into work last Monday to pick up some work before the blizzard hit us. We spent the next day and a half hunkered down in our house. The funny thing is that Sunday before the blizzard it was a balmy 78 degrees at our house. Now, we had a gorgeous Saturday and Sunday morning and as I type, another Blizzard Watch is on until 6 pm tomorrow night. It may be another snow day for us tomorrow.

Here is some video of Chica and Syd playing in the yard after the last storm settled down. Chica's not quite sure what to make of the snow but she is adapting well.

Mr and Mrs Jernigan

I returned last Sunday from the Jernigan Wedding. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon event filled with family, friends, love and lots of laughter and good times. The weather was perfect, the company good, and the air was filled with love and happiness. It was great to see family, watch the cooking, laughing, cleaning, cake baking, wine drinking, memory making, "big family" stuff we miss when we're away at our various homes. Brittany rode a rearing horse and a kicking horse, the guys put up a fence in record time, Andrew slept through most of the long weekend, we painted Mandy's (Jen's new Boston Terrier) toenails hot pink for the wedding day. Needless to say, we all ate too much, drank too much, Texas Two-Stepped too much (well maybe just enough) and just had a down-home ol good time. Here are some pictures of the event. I truly love the way Richard and Jennifer adore each other. May God bless them richly in their marriage.

From the moment we arrived .... it was as if she opened her loving arms and wrapped them around us... gently welcoming us into her care. I fell in love in a week... she's a mistress, one I want my husband to meet... one we shall visit throughout the years... me, for the memories I established with my wonderful friend Gina, him for the diving, people, food, relaxation, sheer beauty of beautiful, real people. Isla has so much to offer for those seeking true relaxation, and rejuvenation, true life.

I willingly woke up each day to find the early morning light, and have my time with God. The very first day He sent His four-legged angels my way... one of whom, took up residence, won my heart, and flew home with me. Isla Chica... Island Girl.

We had a wonderful time visiting Isla Animals (http://www.islaanimals.org/) and the puppies, eating the fantastic Mexican food (pictures to follow on future blogs), drinking the beer, eating the "oh-so-fresh" fish and mixto ceviche (craving it NOW), enjoying the walks into town, the beautiful children, the people, their kindness..... It's like a gift I just want to share with everyone I know. Here are a few more pix....I'll write more later....

A World Not Our Own.....

Friday, I'm running away from home. A very close friend and I are headed to Isla Mujeres, an island off the Cancun Coast, to do some soul searching, heart nurturing, and basically escape our worlds for a time. It's good to run away sometimes, so long as you're willing to come back, and face that which is sending you off.

The other day I realized I'm not much different than the little girl I was at age 6, or maybe it was 7. Something happened at home, something that made me mad, something I couldn't control. I decided to run away from home because I was mad. I was packing my backpack/sack, whatever it was, basically my bandanna filled with stuff, tied to my stick, flung over my shoulder. My mom, inquizically asked me where I was going, and I told her that I was running away from home. She calmly said "Did you pack something to eat?" Of course, I hadn't thought that far ahead and replied "No." She said, "Well, let me get you something so you don't get hungry." A spin on her heels and she was off to the kitchen. She returned with some food wrapped in foil, handed my "sustinance" to me, leaned down, gave me a hug and a kiss and said, "You know, we'll always be here for you when you change your mind."

Off I went. I decided to begin my journey down the trail that ran along a small creek behind our house. It trailed behind our neighbors homes toward the main road in our small, Ohio township. If I recall correctly, I got to about the Shennenberger's back yard, two houses down from ours, before I decided I was hungry. I sat down, opened the foil of food only to find my very favorite.... cinnamon-sugar graham crackers. YUM! I indulged myself with the goodness of them, gobbling them up and savoring all their sweetness. Finishing my "meal" I stood up, brushed the crumbs off my shorts, grabbed my stuff and headed further down the trail past two more houses when it occurred to me .... I wanted some more yummy graham crackers, so spun on my heels and headed home, to my mom, who was waiting at the kitchen table, with a glass of milk and the rest of the crackers.

My husband knows exactly how to love me, just like my mom did. He has blessed me by encouraging me to go, loving me enough to let me go, and sending me off with the yumminess of his love. So when I sit down on the island, and gobble up the gift of love he sent me off with, I know I will stand up, brush the sand off my shorts, look to heaven, and thank God for all that He blesses me with... and know that although this gift is a world not my own, I love and enjoy my world too, the greater gift; my home, and all that it holds, and has to offer.