You are my Strong Tower....

We all have that one thing.... that one person... that one being,..... alive or inanimate, that is our muse, our constant thought, it holds our hope, it holds our souls, it holds our hearts. It's our Strong Tower.

God knows that He is my Strong Tower. He is my Rock.

I have always loved rocks. I've loved how they feel, how solid they are, how natural, and beautiful, and unchanging they are. I love to slowly caress them, and I am never surprized at how cold they are on hot days, how hot they can be on cold days, and how ever smooth, inviting and comforting they are all the time. He's that way to me.

Think about the "worry stone". A tiny piece of comfort people would rub to take their worries away. Rocks remind me of all the things I love. They're solid, like my faith. They're natural and beautiful like my very closest friends. They're virtually unchanging.... only water, wind, and time, only the very most gentle things can slowly, and patiently, change them, much like myself. And, like my faith, my true friends, and who I am discovering I am in this earthly coccoon, I find great comfort in those few, precious things I can count on.

The best in life is free. The best things in life aren't things, their gentle spirits who dance with us on this magical earth, navigating the way to something far better than what fills buildings, stores, expectations, and dreams. The best in life shines light on you, gives you what you need to press on, rubs shoulders with you when you feel like you're going to fall down, and lifts your head to look up, when you've fallen and feel like all hope is gone. Love those who love you. Really love those who know no love, so they too may experience what only you have the power to give.

Love people, use stuff. Do you're best to never get those things turned around and you will find that the whole world might not be right, but your world will be.

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....