My Riding Journal-- May 25, 2011

Q: What do you do if your horse starts bucking?
A: Raise your right arm.

Relationship 101: Rule #1

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." John 15: 12-13



   My thirteen year old son's aunt was graduating from college one Thursday evening and I had given him the choice to go with us to help her celebrate or to stay home. He was busy fixing up his room in hopes of getting a new computer over the weekend. He told me he was having a hard time deciding whether he wanted to go and help her celebrate or stay home and finish his project. He decided to stay home. "There are no do-overs," I said, "She will only graduate once."
   I got ready to leave and when I stopped by my son's room to tell him goodbye he jumped up and told me he was going with me. "I wasn't going but when you said there were no do-overs I realized my room project would still be here tomorrow but I could never go to her graduation again."
   The first thing to emphasize on any study about relationships is that relationships take time. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." You have to give up time to yourself to make time for others even when it is something you'd rather not do. Sometimes just being with a friend is what they need. Maybe you sit quietly while they sleep in a hospital room or you sit in the audience at a service or program where all you give to them is a hug in a receiving line or a wave from a distance giving them only the fact that you showed up. How much you give will determine the depth of your commitment to the relationship.
   When my late husband was in the hospital I got a lot of phone calls from friends wanting updates and sending their best wishes but my best friend sat with me in the emergency room all night. She laid down her life for me so I would not have to go through the night alone. It wasn't comfortable. We slept in waiting room chairs. It certainly wasn't fun. I didn't feel like talking or joking or playing card games. I am sure she had a million tasks she put off to be there for me. But I can not imagine going through that without her there.
    My friend and I have always been good about dropping our lives to reach out to each other in crisis but as mothers of four kids trying to find time to enjoy each others company was more of a challenge. It is important to lay down our lives for each other in crisis as well as time to build the relationship in good times. When you need a helping hand moving, or a shoulder to lean on, or child picked up during your work day, a friend lays down their life and jumps in to help. Friends help celebrate the milestones and hang out in the quiet times, too.

     Rule #1 about relationships; Be there! Show up for the crises and the celebrations.

My Riding Journal- May 9, 2011

      The best move I ever made was to change my regular schedule-- instead of riding after all my work was done I decided to ride first, then ranch work. Amazing how much I can accomplish after a ride and actually get my ride in because I am not too exhausted to ride. Thus, got a nice ride in today during the cool of the morning on my grand-horse, Apache. Our first ever ride, went well. I had heard he can be a little stubborn and I did have to use my encouraging stick to keep our transition smooth but he was amazingly willing to try to figure out what I wanted.
     I made our first ride short and sweet. We worked on walk-trot transitions and once he got his balance and realized I meant it he kept quite steady. Additionally, my goal was tempo. He seemed very concerned about the tall grass and the dog playing nearby but relaxed when I counted cadence at both the walk and the trot. Eventually, he relaxed and kept an even tempo when I didn't count out loud.
    Our transitions, which were quite rough at first, became smooth and more balanced as we practiced on the short sides. Tracking left I would prepare him with a little jiggle just before M, ask at M, and up my phases until I got a trot. At first he balked, stepping up into the trot on cue but only taking a step or two and then acting as if he crashed into a wall (I assume it was the bit he was fighting with). Not sure if he was used to riding with close contact on the bit. I practiced a few times giving him the reins and letting him move forward until he was comfortable with a little more contact during the transition. With a little encouragement from the crop, we began getting transitions on cue, with a steady tempo, and a continuous trot along the short sides until I asked for a walk at H. Repeating again preparing with the jiggle at K, asking at K, and on this side a little reminder at the gate, A, to keep him from stopping at the gate. Sometimes a little more encouragement at the quarter-line to get him to continue the trot around the corner until I asked him to walk at F. Of course, we repeated the exercise tracking right: preparing just before F and H, asking at F and H, and transitioning to the walk at M and K.
      The trot to walk transitions were a little troublesome although we had several good ones. Many of them were before I asked or taking too long to respond. I suppose I need to use a little more rein but then he would do a dead stop. Which by the way his walk down the centerline to a halt at X, was very nice, on cue and fairly straight.
      Thoughts for next time: work more on the walk-trot transitions and trot-walk transitions. Continue working on steady, tempo at both gaits and work on straight lines and adding circles to practice the bend. Apache needs a lot of saddle time to build up his balance. He was tripping all over the place and losing his balance and stumbling. I don't think it is from his foot because I see him playing and having no problem in the pasture. My guess is he is just not used to carrying a rider and needs to build up some new muscles and balance. One reason I'll keep our rides short this week.
       
INTRO OBJECTIVES (USDF):

• forward with steady tempo in all gaits
• elastic contact with independent hands (light, steady contact except during freewalk)
• correctly balanced seat
• proper geometry of figures
• straightlines on rail and down centerline
• correct bends in corners and circles
• 20m circles @ working trot rising
• 20m circle developing canter in first quarter of circle
• smooth transitions
• working trot rising to halt through walk
• halt to working trot rising
• working trot rising to med walk
• med walk to working trot rising
• med walk to free walk
• free walk to med walk
• working trot rising to canter
• canter to working trot rising

A Circle of Wagons for You

    Sometimes when you feel like life is attacking you straight on, you have to regroup and circle the wagons. The wagon train is a symbol of fellowship and protection. It represents folks doing life together. They travel together, share meals together, and share their resources with each other. When they set up a base camp, they form a circle of wagons around  a common use area to serve as a defensive barrier. Children safely play inside while the wagon train provides protection around them in all directions.
    You can not circle the wagons with just one wagon. Even two wagons can not provide protection from attacks in all directions. If you are not in fellowship with other believers, you are leaving yourself and your family open to attack on all sides.
    Who are the travelers in your wagon community that are traveling alongside you. Who is it that you are doing life together with? Are you sharing your resources including gifts and talents with each other? Do you have a strong community that can circle around and provide a barrier for each other in times of attack?
    If you are like a lot of us who are traveling down this road too fast, too busy, and too distracted by a string of trivial pursuits you may be saying, "I don't have enough wagons in my group to protect us on all sides." If that is you, then it is time to get out and build up your wagon train again. Building a community of strong friendships and fellowship takes time and effort. For some of us who are not super outgoing socially it can seem like an insurmountable task. A strong community of believers helps minimize attacks and gives you the advantage when you are attacked.
   Over the next few posts I am going to offer some ideas on how to go about building up strong relationships and meaningful friendships that can eventually lead to a stronger community that you can do life together with.

My Riding Journal

      Even though we have been having a lot of winter weather, we have gotten a lot of riding in. However, I haven't been keeping up with the riding journal. Have been riding at Tally Ho EC under the instruction of Amara Packwood. The first lesson was an impulsion lesson on a almost 17 hand slow to go beginning lesson horse. Trained to stop when his rider is off balance, I spent the whole lesson trying to get a 'go.' Guess I had some balance issues to work out. I did learn how to offer impulsion cues with my legs while posting. Additionally, learned which muscles I use posting that apparently I don't use for anything else.
     After that ordeal, I starting riding Sugar. Sugar also is happy to stop on the dime if you are off balance but very senstitive to cues. Unfortunately I do a lot of cueing that I am unaware of. After three weeks of riding Sugar, I have learned to maintain a better seat, keep my shoulders balanced, use my inside leg to keep her on the rail, avoid crossing my reins over the whithers, and to maintain a soft contact. In addition to the continuous implusion cues with my legs. Needless to say my thighs and calfs love me!
     This week I continued my work with canter departs from the posting trot. Did not realize that I need to stop posting, sit, and then ask for the canter depart. The trick is to sit with impulsion...LOL! In other words, sit while asking for forward impulsion so that the horse doesn't stop trotting. Then ask with a half halt (which I call a rein jiggle) to prepare the horse to listen for the next cue and then ask for the canter. The ask for canter is outside leg slight behind the girth and inside leg on the girth and check your hands to make sure they are soft then squeeze and let your hands go slightly forward making sure you don't brace against the reins. With Sugar I also have to encourage forward impulsion with a crop. Just a tap on the shoulder immediately after I squeeze usually does the trick. I then transition back to the trot and try to keep the impulsion. Working to keep or regain my balance and actually keep him from cutting the corners with my legs.
     My lessons to Opie transition was not as encouraging as I had hoped. Possibly because Opie just came out of the paddock after a long rest and wasn't listening very well at all. I expected to start up where we had left off-- a very positive note on our last ride in January. That didn't happen. It was obvious Opie wanted to be back at the hay bale just slightly barn sour. He even took off on me once when someone opened the arena gate. Our ride back to the barn wasn't much more impressive as he took off and cantered down the hill to the driveway and almost hit my car.
     I was much more encouraged after this week's lesson though. I felt I had a great sense of balance, I was able to stay balanced during the posting trot and keep Sugar on the rail with leg cues. The trot to canter transitions went well and I really didn't feel like I was going to come off during the down transtions even if he took a tight corner unexpectedly. I must say I was pleased and as an added bonus... I could still walk the next day. 

December 19, 2010

My Riding Journal- December 19, 2010

     Such a great day today. Almost 50 degrees in the middle of December and mostly cloudy turned into very sunny and beautiful. Opie was excited to come out and play. A little fuzzy and I had to add a few holes to his girth...LOL. We both were overdressed for the weather... He in his fuzzies and me in my silkies and a sweatshirt. Didn't take long for both of us to work up a sweat.
     Things went as planned with the exception of the neighbor's target shooting but I was successful in keeping Opie busy and paying attention to my requests. A little reassuring him that we were doing well and he relaxed.
     First thing on the agenda was to work through the warm-up pattern we're designing for riding school. Worked well for one horse--- we will see how well it will work with six horses in the pattern. Enter on the large track- come in at C and track left to your assigned letter. I used M. Turn right at  your letter and halt on the centerline. Opie was a little distracted at the centerline and kept looking back over his shoulder--but otherwise straight. I think he was more worried about the cackling birds in the trees behind us and the gunshot sounds. After a 4 second halt at centerline, the horses ride on at the previous gait and track left and come all the way around to their letter again. Making a left at their letter and halting at the centerline completes the first warm-up segment. The instructor at this point can request the ride to walk-on or trot-on to the track and track right, repeating the pattern as many times as necessary to warm-up properly while correcting as necessary to get everyone in the proper balanced seat and to help with the transition to halt at the centerline practicing straightness. Today I practice the pattern several times with a mix of walk-trot and practicing the halt on the centerline.
     Then we moved on to the exercise I wanted to practice from The Right Track. "Learning the feeling of the half-halt." Opie was little confused during the exercise and it would have been helpful to have some eyes on the ground to help out. The exercise commenced with posting the trot on the track and asking for a walk for 5 steps at A, E, C and B and then returning to the posting trot. The plan was to continue reducing the steps from 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 until I could just ask for the walk, act like I changed my mind, and then ask for the trot. Well, we did get to the point where I could actually count 5 steps but Opie was a little frustrated and seemed confused at what I wanted from him. A couple times I think we actually were doing piaffes!! That was kind of cool but we sure didn't plan to.
  I practiced the first 3/4's of the Intro C pattern at the walk and rising trot. Could not remember the end and did not have a reader. Also practiced the canter depart on both leads. The left lead went very well and we practiced some 20 meter circles at the canter. However, had trouble getting the canter depart on the right lead. So we did a few serpentines at the rising trot and called it a day.
   It was a very pleasant ride. NOTE TO SELF: no more graining inside the paddock with four horses. So I'll plan to stop by the farm store and pick up a few more hanging buckets for the paddock. Just to keep things a little safer for my fragile human bones. Berry fights for his bucket or two with a powerful hind kick and that is just too close for comfort.
   Jazz was putting a lot more weight on her left foot. I think the bute is also giving her a little more empowerment to fight for top dog. However when all is said and done-- she is a pretty solid third.
   Anyway, it was awesome to have this window of opportunity for a spring weather ride in the middle of December. Another Great Winter Ride!!
   GOALS for NEXT RIDE:

1. Hopefuly will get a chance to ride the warm up with more than one horse so that we can get a feel for how that works.
2. Need to memorize the rest of the Intro tests so that I can practice without a reader.
3. The trot to walk and halt transitions are coming a long great. Still need some work on posting with balance and correct seat. I can see why some dressage arenas have the big mirrors. Definitely would have been of value today to ride by and check my seat.
4. Get with my riding school partner to practice some of the schooling exercises together so we can present them to the classes in the spring.

   Thank you Connor for coming and being my safety spotter while I rode. I think Opie felt safer with you on post, too!

My Riding Journal- November 28, 2010

     With temperatures dipping to below 30 degrees last week, it was a pleasant surprise to have a sunny 60 degree day after church to ride in. The wind was a little vicious in the corral tacking up but amazingly enough not so bad on the top tier riding in the arena. Had plan to take a try at Training Level with Opie. Training Level introduces the canter into the test and hey, we had a great canter depart and a canter on a 20 m circle last time.
     Warm up went swell, lots of posting and working on the downward transtions to the med. walk. Still need work. Did a little canter work, great departs but not so much going straight in a direction I chose. It was a little difficult to work with all the riders in the arena that the nice break in winter weather brought out to the ranch today. Although other than one near head on collision and one fall, all went well and everyone had a great time. Some may be sore tomorrow but if they are, they need to ride more often.
     Due to the inability to get direction at the canter and the crowded arena, I decided to opt out of starting training level today. Did some modifiied work on the introductory tests. The final Introductory A went well with an exception of riding down the rail from M-F. For some reason, Opie wanted to keep his head turned into the center of the arena when and to trail off the rail toward the center. At the canter that was exaggerated and we did a sort of sideways canter down the diagonal.
     All in all it was a great ride. I don't know if I had any great insights this ride but I did get some work done. Worked on keeping my legs under me and not over-exaggerating my post. I worked on the downward transitions, picking up the pace at the trot, and slowing down the canter without losing it.
     Next ride I need to work on the downward transition to the walk, staying at the pace of the working trot, the canter take off on the right lead and staying straight.
      I was so happy being able to get this ride in; not just cause it's winter but also because we have a long to do list that needed our attention. But at the end of this day I feel blessed to have squeezed so much in. Cleaned the house before church; enjoyed a great worship and teaching, picked up the hay rings, took the youngest to a play date, packed my boarding bag, visited my daughter, put out hay bales, had a post-turkey dinner, and spent a few hours in the saddle! What a sweet, sweet, sweet day at the ranch.

My Riding Journal- November 8, 2010

     Dodging rain and mud and a new chill in the air, I managed to work in a wonderful ride. Practice on the intro A tests went well and though I did not get Opie down to a med walk on command, I did eventually get him to walk from C-M where we picked up the working trot on command. Med walk went fairly well but asking for a free-walk on the diagonal always resulted in anticipation of a trot. After riding the test several times, I practiced the canter depart using the transition outlined in the Schooling Text:

•   jingle the inside lead to gain balance and attention,
•   ask for the canter depart with center pressure on the inside girth.

     The first attempts failed as I do what I always do, as the horse departs I pull back on the reins and restrict the take off. FAIL. I did realize this right off and was able to correct my balance on takeoff. Determine a start point of C for a successful depart, jingle inside lead to set up, pressure on inside girth to ask for inside lead, as Opie lept forward I followed that motion with both wrists forward and let him take that step out into the canter. He lept into a well-balanced canter and I was able to maintain it with control asking for a circle at A. Although our circle was a little larger than  20m as planned, it was just icing on the cake of a great canter depart. I was able to repeat the canter depart on cue and the correct lead on command.
            Was also able to get a recording of part of our ride. The video gave me some insight into my ride especially the fact that I was riding with my legs too far forward. I plan to shorten my stirrups slightly and concentrate on a more forward seat. Also want to try a little less height on posting and more practice on what lead and change reins while posting.

My Riding Journal

Changes

    Jazz's injury changed my whole mindset on riding. I guess it just gave me a lot of time to think about what I really wanted to do and what I would do without her! I was already planning to take her down the Dressage journey but I have to say my mind really opened up to it when I realized I probably wouldn't be riding her. When God closes one door, he opens another and I have been blessed to spend some time riding with my neice. She has graciously offered to let me ride her horse and not that others have not offered their equines for me, she actually has this horsey caught, tacked up, and knocks on my door and invites me out to ride with her. What a blessing this has been!

   We have been discovering the joys of Dressage: a classical development and training of the horse and rider. I have found Opie to be very responsive and willing and at the same time able to point out  the mistakes that I make on every horse I ride. He responds to both my direct and indirect requests and as such teaches me the cues I give when I don't mean to. The patterns help me ride with purpose and encourage me not to give up on a gait when I get tired and often just let the horse stop.

  Yesterday, we rode warm-ups and apparently he realized I was tired and just stopped and I would say, "fine, go ahead and stop." When we started doing patterns I knew exactly when we wanted to stop, so I pushed myself to keep going, as well as, asked Opie to keep going. Another benefit of using exact patterns for training is you know exactly what you are suppose to be doing and for how long. So you also know when you aren't doing it.

    The first day Opie kept surprising me. We'd be on a circle at the working trot and all the sudden we were walking. So I asked him back up into the trot and he responded fine. The problem was our working trot circle was a trot-walk circle. The next time we worked on that pattern I began to sense when Opie thought about stopping, I asked him back up into the trot. I thought, "I felt that-- you thought about walking didn't you?-- keep on trotting." What a major breakthrough! We actually made some pretty nice working trot circles. I actually felt the horse--- it was like "Ha...I can read your mind." What a boost in our partnership!

     Well, when I am not riding. I am studying the patterns and movements in classical dressage training in anticipation of putting my new found knowledges to the test. This is pretty exciting stuff!!

   

R4C Ranch Trail Riding Fellowship

This blog has moved to R4C RANCH TRAIL RIDING FELLOWSHIP  seeking after the heart of God through equestrian and outdoor adventure.


The Mission of R4C Ranch is to mentor, inspire, and equip individuals to live passionately for Christ in their families, communities, and corporations.

Please join us at http://www.r4c-ridersforchrist.com/ for Christian fellowship and discipleship training.

Riders For Christ's purpose is to follow the one called "Faithful and True."
as inspired by Rev 19:11 "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True." and Rev 19:14 "The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean." Because Christ purifies us, it is our desire to be called to follow our leader riding white horses,dressed in fine linen. Where fine linen is defined in Rev 19:8 as the righteous acts of the saints; we want to be riders that are dressed in fine linens; Riders For Christ, ready to ride when Christ returns.

You can't do what you're not doing: According to Connor

"I don't know why you keep asking me to do things I am not doing. If I start doing things I am not doing I would not be able to do anything because I'd be doing things I am not doing."

Tips for Portion Control

1. If you eat in front of the TV or on the go, only take with you the portion you intend to eat. Put one serving of chips on a plate, don't take the whole bag with you to your chair.

2. If you enjoy going back for seconds, only take a 1/2 portion on the first serving. Then enjoy going back for seconds, taking only another 1/2 portion.

3. When eating for one, make and put your servings on your plate then put the food and ingredients away before you sit down to eat.

4. Read the labels. A good snack serving is 100-140 calories. Take less of your snack if necessary. Begin replacing higher calorie snacks that only let you get a taste of them with lower calorie snacks that allow you to enjoy more.

5. Begin replacing less nutritious snacks with those that pack more nutrition in them per calorie. Alternate your favorite less desireable snacks with more nutritious alternatives and make a note about how you feel afterwards. A few bites of chocolate cake for 10 baby carrots. Which one makes you feel more energized?

Truth

It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not, truth is truth. The truth doesn't change because you don't believe it. Obviously many people have different beliefs than you or I, to varying degrees. We all have a set of beliefs based upon our experience, our family traditions, our studies, our own sense of logic and intuition, or the people we believe to hold the wisdom to explain the truth to us. Sometimes what we believe is evident but sometimes our beliefs are hidden even from our conscious decision to believe them. I say that because sometimes you say you believe one thing but totally act like you believe another. This can be true for Christians as well. You may intellectually believe the tenets of your Christian Faith but then act in ways contrary to that belief. Maybe you know what you believe but have no idea why you chose to believe it. You based your life on a set of beliefs and when challenged you have nothing to offer sufficient to back up your claims.
God offered a lot of evidence in the new testament to attest to the fact that God was behind all of the miracles recorded there. In the old testament God encouraged the use of reason and logic and offered signs to give evidence to lead people to faith in him. A faith he commanded to be evident by their changed lives.
Does your life evidence the faith claims you espouse? Do you know what you believe and why you believe it? Can you stand and make a defense for you faith?
If you believe the bible is true, is the inspired word of God for instructing your life, and contains your Hope for an eternal life, then are you prepared to defend it as the true, inspired word of God? 1 Peter 3:15 (RSV) says, "Always be prepared to make defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you."

JOY UNFOLDING

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.

You have taken away my clothes of mourning and

clothed me with joy,

that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever." Psalm 30:11-12

The greatest Joy I have had as a beleiver is watching God's joy unfolding. Even when it seems He is far away and nothing is happening like I wish it would, I know that He is working out the best for me. Through trials and even suffering, I know that God will never leave me. When I cry out in despair and when I sing praises of Joy, God is there. When I feel forgotten and alone, I know that God is there.

When I look back I see his presence. When I look around I feel him near. When I look ahead I hear him calling. I unfold the wings He gave me and I wait upon my Lord. I feel his breath touch my spirit and soon I know His power is coming and I will soar upon His wind.

USA - Forever His

"Son of man, you live among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear. For they are a rebellious people. ... Pretend you are being sent into exile for they will be driven into exile as captives. ... The time has come.
Evil prophets deceive my people by saying "ALL IS PEACEFUL" when there is NO PEACE at all. It's as if the people have built a filmsey wall and these people are trying to reinforce it with whitewash.
You have discouraged the righteous with your lies, but I did not want them to be sad.
You have encouraged the wicked by promising them life, even though they continue in their sins.
False prophets and those who seek their guideance will be punished for their sins.
But you will be my people and I will be your God.
You have taken your vows lightly by breaking your covenant,
Yet, I will remember the convenant with you when you were young and I will establish an everlasting convenant with you." Ezkiel 12:1-16:60

I found this post 2008 Elections bible reading suggestive of the signs of the times. The excerpts above just struck me as significant to the Christians in this country today-- living among those who refuse to see or listen, who mislead others, who are discouraged by the direction the country is taking, and Yet put their trust in God for all their hope and strength. Their peace comes from Christ not the promises of men or governments. I believe this country was built upon a convenant with God and though we might not be able to keep it -- with God all things are possible. Sometimes it may seem that the country has drifted very far from the faith of our founding fathers, I think last Tuesday night God showed us enough to encourage us that He has not forgotten the convenant he made with them when this country was young and He has not forgotten us. He is still our God and we are still His people.

Quiet Voice Heard Loudly

When you hear the quiet, still voice of the Holy Spirit screaming in your ear, the peace of God envelops you. Game on.

The moment you hear from God it seems Satan attacks. He wants to steal that peace, veer you off the course God laid out for you, and seperate you from the Joy God has given you.

At the beginning of the week, I was struggling with the fact that a friend of mine's daughter was going to college, something I had always wanted my children to do. But the dream had waned as I struggled just to get my kids through High School. The older kids went off and made other choices and so did I. I bought the ranch. Now I was no longer in a position to fully fund their college.

With rising fuel expenses and numerous repair bills piling up at the ranch, I was feeling great heartache over not being able to pay for my son's tech school. He is a gifted mechanic and impressive welder. Tuesday morning my soul was overwhelmed with grief about not being able to pay for his school and then compounded by the "what ifs" if my other children would have decided to go to college, and a little self-indulgence about how much traveling and financial freedom I would have without the ranch. Before I got into too much turmoil over it, I stopped to pray about it. So glad I did!

In the quiet, still voice the Holy Spirit started unfolding God's answer to my prayer. The first thing I found was a career webpage about welding and a mechanic's career path and how very few of them go to college. The path of choice is an apprentice program where they learn on the job. When I got home, my son told me about a program he had found for a certificate at a lube shop he was interested in. He is also checking into other programs offered at body shops that would allow him to use the welding skills he learned in High School. Okay-- Thank you, Lord, for that reassurance.

Soon I had an opportunity to be reminded about the acheivements my other children were making. Amanda was explaining to a friend about her career path in Law Enforcement and how excited she was about it. She doesn't know this but I had turn away and wipe away the tears because I knew over hearing that was God saying-- hey I promised to take care of your kids. Lennon is enjoying traveling and touring the world (I do mean the world: Hawaii, Japan, Pennsylvania, Germany, and the not so popular one, Iraq). He is enjoying his travels and his job will open up many opportunities for him if he chooses to get out of the service.
So having been reassured that my kids were doing fine without a college fund, God in his quiet, still voice continued to yell at me. We had an excellent week at the ranch. Shafina's owners have been out working with her and training her to show this fall at the American Royal. Carol's been practicing her Parelli levels and I actually posted on Jazz (this means a lot of things happened I won't go into detail at this point). We have had several open ranch days at the ranch this month and it has been such a blessing to see everyone coming out and enjoying the horses and the retreat. The ranch has blessed so many people this spring; fishing, camping, and horsing around.

On Monday Night I let Satan take a stab at my soul, but . . .

On Tuesday, On Wednesday,

On Thursday, On Friday,








On Saturday, and On Sunday









. . . God continued to show me glimpses of his plans for the ranch and blessings that he will pour out on those who are drawn here. I am so grateful to be a part of it and for everyone who has and are making this dream come true. Sunday, as we cooled off in the shade from an afternoon of fun in the sun, we had an opportunity to talk about more spiritual things. We shared stories of when God spoke clearly to us and witnessed how quickly Satan tries to take those moments from us. When God speaks to you write it on your heart, remind yourself of it often, share it with others boldly, do not let Satan take from you the Holy Spirit's Quiet, Still Voice You Once Heard Loudly - - - think on those great moments often.


"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.(Philipians 4:4-9)"

Circle the Wagons

Time to circle the wagons. In pioneer days, the wagon trains would circle their wagons to form a defensive boundary around their base camp. Children would be allowed to play inside in safety. No matter what direction an attack came from the barrier would protect them.

Ever play "Red Rover?" A game where your team members clasp arms and yell, "Red Rover, Red Rover send Becky right over," and Becky then runs over and tries to decide the weakest link to break through your teams' arms. A weak player is strengthened by their bond to a strong one.

Circling the wagons provides the same type of protection. The team forming what they hope will be a protective perimeter to keep threats away from their precious ones inside: their children. You can not circle the wagons with one wagon. You can not circle the wagons with two wagons and maybe not even three. You need a team, a wagon train.

The wagon train is like a fellowship. A community that comes together to journey down the same path, caravanning together toward the same destination. When there is a threat, they circle the wagons to help protect each other from an attack. We live in a time of spiritual attack, we need to join with other believers and circle the wagons.

It's Just a Tree

We were lucky, we only lost a few trees during the storms last week and having 77 acres we have lots of trees to spare. Many people lost a lot more, entire houses completely destroyed. Although even they were lucky enough to escape with their lives. I am really glad all we lost were a few trees but I am sad about the loss of one tree in particular.

When my husband died in 2002, his family planted a tree in our front yard. An ash tree that grew in that spot for three years. When we decided move to a new home we told ourselves, "It's just a tree," but when the person who bought our house said she was going to cut it down we were very sad. We asked if they could remove it in a way that we could move it and replant it. Since it was only three years old at the time with care there was a chance it could survive the move. In order for it to survive, the tree removal service was asked to cut out around its root ball which is usually the same size underground as the tree growth above the ground. They agreed to try to save the rootball and were to call us and let us know when they would be removing the tree so we could pick it up. We planned to wrap it in burlap to keep the soil around the roots damp.

The day they called it was over 100 degrees. They called us at 3:30pm to let us know the tree had been cut down that morning around 8 o'clock in the morning. Cut in the cool but left sitting out in the heat with no water and very little of the root ball in tact and no original dirt left on the roots, discouraged we piled it into the back of the truck and hauled it about thirty miles. In the sweltering heat we dug a few holes trying to find a place bury this whithering tree.

As I watched the last leaf fall from its branches a few weeks later, I tried to convince myself, "It's just a tree." I reminded myself it was not my husband, if the tree survived I would still be living life without him but watching this tree die was very emotional. It reminded me of the last months and the last hours watching my husband's life fade away. The first summer we lived at the new house I avoided spending two much time dwelling on the stick that stuck out of the ground without a single leaf on it. However, I followed the advice of a friend and kept watering it but had no expectations of it coming back. Either it would or it wouldn't and either way, it won't change the fact that my husband died and this stick was just a dying tree.

I managed to ignore the stick in the ground all winter. In the spring, even when the other trees all around it were budding and growing thick shawls of green the stick that stuck in the ground without a bud on never bothered me. To me, "It was just a tree." It was just a tree until the day I noticed something on it's branch, what was that I wondered, "A bud?" It was a bud. The tree was budding, it survived. Within a few weeks it was more than a stick, it was a tree with green leaves on it. Within a few weeks it was more than a tree, it was the center of a wonderful memorial garden for my husband.

For the last three years, the tree has bloomed with a larger and larger bouquet of green leaves. Although always the last tree to bud in the spring, sort of like my husband, always late. The tree has become the center of celebrating how much his life meant to us. Last Christmas the kids decorated the tree with special ornaments they bought for him, each with its special significance to one of his children. It has been filled with chimes they have collected in his memory. The tree is now the center of the prime memorial grounds for beloved pets buried in the garden. As special as the tree has become, when I heard the news that the storm had taken out the tree, I told myself, "It's just a tree." It is not like my husband was taken out by the storm, "It's just a tree."

The kids and I tried to detach our emotions for our beloved husband and father, from this tree. Although we were sad to hear and see the tree snapped in half about a foot off the ground, we knew in our hearts it wasn't another loss of a person but just a tree. With or without the tree, we still miss him. I think even my father-in-law was sad to hear about the tree. I think he was happy when he learned that the tree got moved to the new property and survived. There was something about that tree that touched everyones' hearts. He said we should check the tree and see if had grown any saplings around it.

So I quickly ran out to check,

and there around the base of the tree

was abundant new life.

After I told everyone at least twice about the saplings growing from the rootball of the tree, I realized, "It was more than tree." It was a tree that had touched my heart. Until my husband and I meet again, it is the little things, like this tree, that keep our hearts connected.

Within hours of finding the saplings, a new garden began to appear around the fallen tree.

These words from an Oakridge Boys song ring out, "You are always in our hearts, and often on our minds, we will never let that die, just as long as we're alive"

Campfire Worship Ring Awaits You, Come.

We have our first fire ring! When I got home last night my brother-in-law, Mike, showed me a picture of an awesome fire ring. Thinking he was going to ask me if that was what I had in mind I asked, "Where is that located?" He said, "Right where you wanted it!" Cool, huh! Thanks, Mike.


'Come, Now is the time for Worship!' --- the campfire worship ring awaits you and your acoustic instruments and singing voices. Bring your camp chairs, bring your coolers, bring your flashlights (for trekking back up the hill at night), bring your Backwoods Cutter, along with your hotdogs and marshmellows!

Have you seen Maxwell?

LOST: MAXWELL -- LAST SEEN ON
225th Street, North of Tonganoxie

PLEASE HELP US FIND MAXWELL

It is hard to tell about animals. God gifted each of us with unique personalities and kitties are no exception. We thought if we just got Maxwell to the barn he would enjoy the refuge there. Little boy loves to play on the hay bales and visit with the other cats, not Maxwell. Scooby learned that if he doesn't run it is okay to kiss a dog on the mouth, not Maxwell. Maxwell's story is much different. Even though he had a pet dog at his old home, he freaked out when he met the dogs and they responded reactively making things worse. We did manage to get him to the barn and saw him a few days later under the hay bales. But no one has seen him for several days. There was a report of a cat that looked very similiar to Maxwell on 225th street but he ran away when called. If you have seen Maxwell, please let us know. We miss him!