Let the learning begin!

So I don't know how many people read my blog regularly or if anyone reads it at all... Usually I blog just to share my photographic experiences... which has been a learning process for me.  But I will be sharing my new adventure on here from now on also.  On Facebook I have been sharing my newly acquired equine friend, Solomon.... We brought him home just 2 days ago.  Let me just say...I'm delighted and tickled, and so anticipating our journey together.

I have been married to a horseman for (gasp!) almost 27 years... am I really that old?  In all that time, I have never joined him completely in his favorite pastime.  Yes, I love the horses, I've ridden with him a tiny bit (mostly unsuccessfully), and I go to all the clinics he attends and learn quite a bit by watching.  But I've never felt lead to "join" him or my two horsey daughters in their passion.  This past year has been pretty difficult for me, with some family issues that I won't get into.  I've struggled to keep my eyes on the Lord and try to feel that "joy" that I'm supposed to feel no matter what trials I face.  But for the first time in my life, I have had a very hard time accomplishing that goal.  I've felt discouraged, depressed and just plain sad for a good portion of this past year.  I cover it up quite well with my smiles and busy-ness... but in private, my pain has been deep and abiding.  (Gads..it's hard to even type this without bursting into tears, but what will that accomplish? )

So, Mike, my darling husband that I adore, has been searching for a kind hearted horse for me for quite some time.  I believe God has perfect timing, and was holding off on letting Mike find the right one for me.  I needed to be in the right place mentally, for one thing, and I needed to NEED a horse.  Everything that I have tried to ease my mind and heart has failed lately.  Finally, Mike took me to see a little Icelandic gelding named Thor.  I fell in love with him...mostly because he was so kind and sweet to me... We decided we would get him... but alas... a few days later the owners decided to keep him.  Mike was devastated and didn't want to tell me.  Fortunately, God prepared me, and I was totally fine with not getting him... feeling like he must have not been the right horse for me, but knowing God put him in my way so that it would open a door for me.  Something happened to me when I sat on that little horse.  I felt  like, for the first time...I could do this!  I'd never gotten excited at the prospect of owning my own horse or starting the journey of building  a relationship with one.

A few weeks went by and we found another Icelandic...a mare.. that we though maybe we could go see.  She happened to be on Orcas Island. Knowing Ron is the only vet on the island, we decided to ask  his sweet wife, Maggie, if she knew of the lady and her Icelandics... she did and shared what she knew.  We made plans to go visit... but meanwhile...Maggie's wheels were turning (I think someone up above was influencing her, myself! )  She had a horse that she thought would be perfect for my situation.  I was tickled when my friend, Jeanie, told me about Lir (now Solomon)... I never thought it was within the realm of possibility that I could own a Gypsy Vanner Horse.  We went to visit them a week or so later and he was everything Maggie said he would be.  And more.

I can't explain how my heart feels when I am just standing next to this beautiful creature...the way he looks at me, how gentle he is... I have always been afraid of failing at this "horse thing", especially in a family with a farrier who is a very good horseman, and two daughters who know so much.  But mostly...just my own fears getting in the way of my learning something new.  But my life is requiring me to try some new adventures and fill my life with good things.  I just can't believe (though I should KNOW) how perfect God's timing is!  Oh it's going to be a glorious year.  I'll try to share my ups  as well as my downs as I learn  from and with Solomon.  Some of it will probably be boring to read about, but every little step is ridiculously exciting to me.  I was proud that I mucked today and even haltered him by myself! (I can never figure out which way to hold the doggone thing!)

So...yeah...here we go!  Thanks for reading....and if you feel so inclined... your prayers are welcomed...for me and my family... I hope this encourages somebody....

PS... Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Love, Deb

A Winter Chill... and Down Time to Reflect...

So last week Jack Frost blew a winter chill our way and most of our area was completely shut down... Here's the run-down for our family...

Monday: Snow arrives...Whee!  No coop, so I had an extra day off.  I didn't set foot outside, and actually enjoyed getting caught up on some house cleaning.  I love it when being confined forces me to stay home long enough to get stuff done.

Tuesday: No more snow, but reports of icy roads keeps me home.  I'm not a brave driver, so I'm waiting for the rain to come.  I don't believe there will be an ice storm, so I can manage to stay home one more day.  I spend my day putzing around the house, and bake Mike's favorite Pecan Sticky Rolls AND a yummy dinner.  Mike is happy.

Wednesday: Power goes out!  Argh!  More snow, freezing rain... Mike doesn't want me to go anywhere,  daughter can't drive, so she's freaking out.  Her awesome boyfriend comes and gets her and takes her to and from work FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS! What a catch he is!  I'm okay with the power out.  We have a generator, an oil stove, and our internet and phone are working.  We also have 1500 gallons of reserve water for our four horses.  We sit in front of the stove and watch movies all day... Mike is home and mostly watches the news.

Thursday: Power still out... Mike has to go out to get us some food and stuff.  It takes him about 4 hours.  We are still cuddled up in the family room with our four yorkies, and the stove.   All is good.

Friday: Power still out... It's annoying, but what amazes me is we are all still getting along just fine... I love that about my family.  Ian, the awesome BF, has taken to sleeping on my living room floor so that he can get up with Ci at 4 am to drive her to work...(He lives an hour away, so it's more reasonable this way).  The road trips they take last longer than usual...Ian stops along the way to cut down every tree in the road and help anyone who is stuck.  Our admiration for the boy young man is increasing.  We have now lost our phone and our internet.  I venture outside to take a few photos (pictured below).  My heart breaks as I walk around and  view my baby trees, newly planted this fall.  Especially my variegated willow, which is still in the pot.  It is bent to the GROUND... Ice encases every tiny branch and bud.  We're talking about 1/2" of ice.  On every single part of every plant I have.  I'm certain I will lose all that we planted in October.  And yet, I'm fascinated by the way everything looks and the way the snow is so crunchy I have to stomp my feet to walk around the yard.  Awesome photo ops!

Saturday: Power still out...It thaws enough for us to venture to my brother's house and shower.  Ian is still driving Ciara.  He also has to move today... Fun.  So they are driving extra back and forth trips to get his stuff done.  But the good news is we get to go to our normal church service!  The girls and I are tickled.  We enjoy the worship and get home about 9:30, only to hear that we have now run out of water.  Shoot. We can't go without water.  The four horses will colic and could die.  So Mike and I ponder how we will get water in the morning.  We will have to find some drum barrels and go where there is water to fill them up...

Sunday: 5:30 am...pitch black... I wake up and my first thought is the water.. I start praying.  "Lord, please let the power come on this morning...please please please...".  Mike and I get up and he goes out to turn on the generator... I gaze out the window and notice the neighbor's outdoor light is on!  GLORY HALLELUJAH!  I shout to Mike through the window, over the now-running generator, "The power is on!  We don't need the generator! "  After about three tries, because Mike is hard of hearing, he looks up and gets the message and turns the generator off.  He goes to trip the panel and turn the house back on, and says, kind of in a daze, "huh, the power is on.".

So here are the awesome things that happened this week.
1. I realize once again, that I have the absolute best family in the world.  We can spend days together and still enjoy each other's company.... I love it...
2.  Ciara has found an awesome, godly young man who, if they stay together, I will have full confidence will be able to take care of her, and she him... Thank you Jesus!
3. God is merciful and gracious.  Just when we were at the end of our rope and beginning to worry, God took care of all our needs... not only did the power come on in what I consider to be a timely fashion, but all those baby plants?  They have all sprung back!  Not one of them broke off, unlike many of the large trees and plants I have driven by.
4. I have learned to completely appreciate modern technology, including the power and internet and phone!

God bless you all... hope you fared as well as my family, if you live in this area!
Deb

Beginnings....

It's a new year, a new week, and I'm looking forward to this year's journey!  As I'm reflecting on what is coming up this year, those things that I know of as well as the unknown, my heart does little flip flops.  Sometimes it's a feeling of excitement and anticipation, sometimes a little trepidation and worry.  This year one of my personal goals is to have more excitement and anticipation and very little trepidation and worry.  How will I do this?  I won't!   But with God's help I can learn to rely on him more and more and know that I can trust the outcome of each new day!  My life verse:




Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, and with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace that passes understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!   Phil. 4:6-7




.... and on another note, here is what I've been shooting lately... Beautiful girls... so sweet! 

God and all His Splendour....

Man oh man... Sometimes the Great Artist just blows my mind.  Actually this happens to me almost always when I'm looking at the sky.... whether there are high puffy clouds and clear blue all around, a stormy gray sky with severe clouds holding vast amounts of water, or a soft watercolor sunset.  And today...a fiery glorious sunrise....wow.  How can I doubt the greatness of a God who can do such amazing things on a blank palette like the sky?  He knows every detail of my life and those I love.  I anxiously wait to see what amazing feats He will accomplish in my life and theirs this year, 2012.  I place ALL my hope in Him.

Happy New Year and Blessings to you all...

deb