The Grass is Greener

This picture has little to do with my blog subject but it is so darn cute of my son, Steve and his granddaughter Alyssa. Alyssa is 14 months old and has had 3 open heart surgeries. Not so many years ago Alyssa may not have made it to 14 months old. But thanks to modern medicine her heart has been repaired and she is gaining weight and looking really good. But I also thank God for her health for he guided the hands of the surgeons. She hears better than they said she would and that is by the grace of our loving Father.

I like this picture a lot. Alyssa is flirting with the camera and Steve's face and eyes tell their own story.

I have heard it said all my life that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. If you have live stock you will know exactly where that phrase comes from. There has never been a farmer that hasn't encountered his livestock out of the pasture where they belong.

Michael you are going to love this blog. It is for you and Merry Christmas. Hope all is well in your part of the country.

I have my horses behind electric fence. The fence I have is safe for horses and it keeps them in pretty well. But we have large herds of deer and the fences get pulled down by deer jumping them and branches falling off of trees and landing on the fence. It is safe however and cheaper and easier than putting up woven wire fence. So that is what we have. We had a lot of woven wire fence at one time. We, of course, had to check it and cut trees off of it too. Unless the fence was just really down most of the cows stayed put and could be depended on to stay in their pasture. But usually there was one rogue cow. Sometimes it would be the bull because of his testosterone.

My dad often told of a bull they had that regularly went visiting. He would cross the river to get with another herd of cows. Dad told me about taking his shot gun and putting bird load in it and sending the bull back across the river. The bull seemed to have a pretty long memory of that unpleasant experience because he never crossed the river again.

We had a bull that did the same thing except it was across the fence into the neighbors pasture with his cows. The fence was never very good between this neighbor and us. They were absentee owners with other farms and they used their farm neighboring to us to run replacement heifers for their dairy. They didn't worry much about fence because the neighbors would fix it most of the time.

So Bill borrowed a page from Dad's book and took the shot gun and we went over to the neighbor's field and sent the bull home. It worked beautifully and he also had a long memory and didn't want to repeat the experience.

To built our herd and to have extra calves to sell, Bill and I bought baby calves from a cousin that had a dairy farm. He bred his heifers to beef bulls and he sold us the resulting calves. He also sold us his Holstein bull calves which we bottle fed and sold as steers when they got some weight on them. We happened to get a Holstein heifer from him once that we raised and turned out with our beef bull. She produced a big nice calf. She was a really good mother. It came time to wean the calves and hers was extra nice because of all the milk she produced. But in raising her calf, she really lost the weight. She was putting everything into her milk and it didn't leave much for her.

She wasn't a problem until we weaned her calf. Then she started finding her way out of the field we had her in. Suddenly the grass was greener on the other side of the fence. Often I would look out the kitchen window and she would be in the garden or in the yard. That really got on my nerves. We would put her back into the pasture and fix fence. A couple of days later it would be the same thing with another part of the fence. She was not only getting out of the pasture, she was tearing down fence to do it.

So drawing on past experience, I loaded the shot gun one fall afternoon and walked out to where she was grazing. I put the gun against my shoulder and pulled the trigger. The gun gave a load report and to my utter amazement, the cow dropped like a lead balloon. She was dead. I looked at her and I looked at the shot gun. I could not believe what had just happened. I was totally beside myself.

Now Bill was down on the river pumping a gasoline barge and we were getting ready to go to the field to pick corn. The children had just gotten home from school. The boys were getting a snack and changing their clothes and here I stood looking down at a cow I had just shot.

I did the only thing I knew to do other than cry. I called my Daddy. He said he would be right down to the farm to help me. The boys got the tractor and put the lift on it. Dad got there and we picked her up and took her to the barn. We skinned her out and hung her to chill. Yes, I know how to skin a cow. (Move over Sarah. You aren't the only one with a skinning knife) My Daddy bless his heart helped me do all that and told Bill he could see no reason that cow should have died from the shot since none of the bird shot hit anywhere that should have killed her. He maintained she had a heart attach.

Dad went home and took Mary Beth with him. Mike, Steve and I went to the field to pick corn. We came in about dark and Bill had been home for a little while. He had been out for hours so he went to bed and went to sleep totally exhausted. Debbie told us what happened when her Daddy got home.

The conversation went something like this.. Bill ask where Momma and the boys were. She replied that they were in the field picking corn. Next he wanted to know where Mary Beth was. Debbie told him she went home with Granddaddy. He asked why Granddaddy was here. She told him that Granddaddy came to help skin the cow. Well that was a surprise to him of course. So naturally he wanted to know what cow. Debbie in all her honesty and 7 year old voice told him that it was the one Momma shot. That was news to him. That was the first he had heard of a cow being shot and skinned.

To my surprise when Bill got up the next morning he said nothing about the cow that was shot and skinned and chilling in the barn. Two weeks went by and nothing was said about the cow. I wasn't talking about cows and neither was he. About that time we were at my Dad's house and I asked Dad if it was about time to cut the beef up and put it into the freezer. Bill innocently ask what beef I was talking about like he had never heard anything about it.

It was an incident that has followed me through life. Bill and I had several good laughs over it and my daughter, Mary Beth will tell the story every time she gets a chance, right Michael.

She does embellish and leaves out some important facts but her story always gets a lot of laughs. And she even tells her patients at the hospital about it to entertain them while she is working with them.

So as the grass that was greener on the over side of the fence led to that cow ending up in our freezer well before the usefulness of her life was over so bad choices can lead to heart ache and heart break for us.

I was recently in Stanton Ky to be at church when a dear friend was baptized. Her husband had also rededicated his life to Christ. It was a glorious day for their family and friends. But while there rejoicing over the turn around in their lives I heard about 4 young people that had lost their lives due to overdoses of drug they were using illegally. Somehow the grass looked greener on the other side of the fence to them.

Although not all lives will end like those, can't we all relate to the grass looking greener over the fence. A class mate has a bigger house, drives a nicer car has children that are successful and outwardly looking like they are living a life we may have dreamed of. But what is their heart ache. What has broken their hearts.

A friend lives in a big beautiful house, has travelled the world and has friends in high places. But they haven't been able to have children. That is a heart break for them but to look over the fence it looks like they have it all.

Sheep, cows and horses do not lay down in green pastures unless they have everything they need. A cow especially will not lay down and chew her cud if she is not full and content. So if we follow Christ and rely on God to give us all we need, we do not have to envy the grass on the other side of the fence. In Christ, we have it all.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May God bless and keep you in his loving and tender care.

Regards

Mary

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, he maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters

Psalms 23: 1-2

I must have been deep in thought. Bob snapped my picture when I didn't expect him to do it. Is that a horse magazine I was readig. Is there any other kind?


We had guests last week. Wendy is from Oregon and her son and daughter-in-law live in Indiana. They were really delightful people and by the time they left, I felt like I had known them all my life.

They had come to see the horses. That is itself makes for a good visit. It was cold then as it is tonight. We invited them in the warm house for coffee and some hot soup. There is nothing like sharing a meal with friends to make a day complete. I had made blueberry muffins and had coffee ready as well as a good pot of bean soup.



Of course the talk was mostly of horses and the horses we had just visited in the barn. It is a really good time when people come and admire one's horses. I was pleased to share pedigrees and accomplishments with them. Wendy was very knowledgeable on the breed and shared her stories of riding. It was a wonderful day.



But when it is all said and done we go back to the barn to feed the horses. The last two days have been terrible winter days. I look out the windows and see the rain falling and it is ice. I remember in January and early February of 2009 that the ice broke power lines and tree limbs and we were without electricity for nine days. So one just has to wonder if that will happen again.



Since then the power company has been here trimming trees back away from the power lines. So hopefully it is taken care of and we will be ok.



It is catch up time. There is a ton of paper work to do. Horses to register. Pictures to take. Papers to fill out and checks to write. It is time consumming but must be done. Soon it will be time once again to pull out all of the cancelled checks and receipts to file taxes. But for right now Christmas is just around the corner and pushing at the door.



Everyone ask the question, "Are you ready for Christmas." This year my daughter and granddaughter decided rather than spend money on each other and buy things none of us need, we would pitch in and buy gifts for soldiers that are overseas and away from home and family for Christmas. I think that was a good idea. I have so much that I really don't know where to put anything else. I have nicknack's that are stored away in boxes in the closet. I don't know what else I could possibly want or need.



But I have been Christmas shopping just the same. At church, we have a Christmas store. The members of the church take a shopping bag home. It has the age range of a boy or girl. We are to spend up to $25 for a child that age. The gifts are then placed in a large area and families can come and shop for their child. It is so much easier than trying to buy a gift for Sam or Sue age 12 or 8 etc. The parent gets to pick three gifts for their child. It was really a great idea that some one had to do it that way.



Our Bible study class has some men who come from prison for Bible study. One of them didn't get to put his children's names on an angle tree soon enough and ask for a little help for his youngsters. The class turned out generously for the family. I am very proud of what our class did for those children.



Our class is a kind generous group of men and women. Recently, we lost a member of our class. One of the members sent out emails to let us all know of his death. Soon Gloria had everyone organized to bring food for the family at the funeral home. Right after that, a member lost his mother. Once again Gloria went to work sending out emails and getting food brought for the family.



We get so wrapped up in what to buy for each other and decorating the house and preparing for a big meal that we can easily forget why we celebrate Christmas. Society has tried its best to take Christ out of Christmas. People get offended by someone saying "Merry Christmas" They have tried to get us to use "Happy Holidays". I am offended that anyone would try to take away my right to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.



One of the best celebrations I had this year for Christmas was to go to church with dear friends and see one of their own baptized and profess Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Do you know how much rejoicing there is in Heaven when one of the lost is saved. More than we can imagine. We certainly rejoiced over her new birth and her husband's re-dedication of his life to Jesus.






As I write this the dogs are all over the house sleeping. I think my house has surely gone to the dogs. I have been allowing Mike and Natalie's dogs to come in to my house until one of them gets home from work. It is so bitter cold outside and they are more used to staying inside. So Erica is asleep on the couch. I lost that battle and I now just put an old quilt on the couch to save it from dog hair. Tex is at the foot of the bed sleeping on a rug and Cassie is sleeping out in the sun room. It is one of those nights out that Steve will allow his dog to come into the house.






God has blessed me with a nice home. The furnace is running and seems to never cut off but it keeps the house warm and we are comfortable. I sometimes just take it all for granted. Warm place to live in the winter. Cool house in the summer. Warm clothes to dress in to go to the barn. Warm socks and shoes. We have a little heater in the feed room and when we go in the feed room is nice. We can go in to warm up a little from the cold barn. I get into my truck to drive to the barn. It is warm. God has blessed me so abundantly.






If I did not have any of those things in life, I would still be blessed because Jesus died on the cross to cover my sins. If I could do enough good works to get to heaven on my own, Jesus would not have had to die the terrible death he died. But I can not do enough good or be good enough. I am blessed because I have been saved by grace through the precious blood of Jesus Christ my Lord.





St Paul was content where ever he was because he had the assurance of his salvation. So I will be content with whatever God chooses to bless me with. Where ever I am.






God bless and keep you in his loving care. May you pause to reflect on what Christmas is really about.







Regards







Mary







By grace are you saved through faith, not of yourselves, lest any man should boast.







Romans

Thanksgiving

God bless our dirty dishes

they have a tale to tell

While other folks are going hungry

we're eating mighty well

with home and health and happiness

we shouldn't want to fuss

for by this stack of evidence

God is very good to us

From Dear Abby

Many years ago but still as true today as it was then.

Have a happy Thanksgiving

May the Lord bless and keep you in his loving care.



Regards

Mary


Oh give thanks unto the Lord of lords for his mercy endures forever

Psalms 136: 1

Follow the Light

The sun had already cast long shadows and darkness was beginning to take over the land when we realized one of the fillies was not with the herd. Bob drove around the field on the tractor and found she was on the hill side outside of the fence. She had found the fence down and had stuck her head through because the grass IS greener on the other side of the fence.

I grabbed the lead rope and we got into the truck to get as close to her as possible by road. We saw her up the hill and just outside of the fence. I insisted that I could get her and got out of the truck to climb up the steep hillside to where she was standing. I had just enough light that I could see the deer trail leading up through the thick brush and steep hill side.

It was tough going. I half crawled up the hill grabbing onto small trees to both pull myself up and keep from falling backward. Thorn's from wild roses grabbed at my clothing and caught my bare skin a couple of times. But I was able to slowly make my way up the hill to where Masissah was standing. She didn't wait for me to catch her. She bolted back through the fence and gaited to the rest of the herd where she walked over to the bale of hay. I found her there innocently eating hay like she had been there all the time.

I instructed Bob to unplug the fence and I walked a stretch of it putting wire back on the insulators to hopefully keep them in the field and out of danger. It was now completely dark. I was across the field from the house. I did not have to make my way back down the same hill. I climbed through the fence and walked toward home.

The night was quiet and peaceful. The only sounds I could hear was the sound of my feet as I walked across the field toward the comfort of home. Despite the darkness that surrounded me, I could see enough in front of me that I knew where to step to keep my footing. I had already noticed the lights at the house shinning through the darkness. It seemed they were there to guide me home.

Then I started thinking about the true light of the world, Jesus Christ, and how he lights our path as we head toward our home in heaven. Behind me was darkness and the hill I had just climbed. It was steep and had I not been careful I could have fallen and landed at the bottom. I had some light then but what if I had turned around and decided to take a chance on going back down that hill away from the light.

Isn't that what we do when we take our own path and decide we know best. Instead of following the light, we take the path where danger lurks at every turn. We take one step after another until we are on that hillside in the dark and not being able to see we fall. But even then Jesus Christ is there to save us. Even then we can cry out to him and tell him we need him. We need his light.

In this life we are walking in darkness if we try to live as if there is no God. Without Christ the world in a scary place. In our ignorance we say to ourselves, I can do it myself. I don't need Christ to save me. I am too smart to fall for that fairy tale.

Have you ever tried to put something together and not read the instructions. We usually laugh and say that when all else fails we will read the instructions. And usually we do find that we have to get the instructions and read them.

I have decided I want mail delivery out on our route. I get some mail addressed to my home address instead of my P O Box and sometimes it is a letter I would have like to receive or needed to have. So I bought a mail box. I thought I was surely smart enough to put the mail box together. Yes, some assemble was required. I put some of it together and found some things about it that I couldn't decide how it needed to be done. So yep, I got out the instructions.

We do that every day when we don't read God's instruction book, the Bible.

May your paths always be lite by God's perfect light and may you always be guided by the light that leads you home to Jesus.

And may God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards,

Mary

Look deep into my heart, God, and find out everything I am thinking. don't let me follow evil ways, but lead me in the way that time has proven true.

Psalms 139: 23-24

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.

Proverbs 1: 32-33

And Then There Is Rascal

First picture is WOF Ann's Mt Treasure. She is a yearling filly and is getting ready to compete in trial obstacles at the KMSHA show. Second is WOF Dock's Velvet. Velvet is 3 years old and a daughter of Choco Dock. She is a beautiful bay mare. Third picture is Vanessa Crowe showing Dixie Belle. She is a beautiful Chocolate Palomino that is 2 years old and is just put under saddle last summer.

Rascal is the newest member of our family. He is not a horse for a change.

Now I don't mean to offend people who own and love cats but I really don't like cats for pets. They are too ___________. You know cats so you fill in the blank. It is not that we have never had cats for pets.

We had two house cats at one time. My daughter had gotten a kitten (thanks to her children) for a pet. They named their new kitten Bob. It seemed like a suitable name until Bob got older. Bob was part minx. As most of you may know Minx is a breed that has no tail. They are also shorter in the front than in the back legs. Bob was a beautiful cat. and Bob had kittens. So now we know Bob was not exactly the best name for her but Bob she was and Bob she stayed.

When Bob had kittens my grandchildren really thought we should have one of them. They were really cute as young animals always are. So I finally agreed to have A kitten. Not kittens but a kitten. My mistake was that I let Bill and one of the grandchildren go to pick out the kitten. They came home with two kittens. Some of the grandchildren liked the female cat that was calico color. She was long haired. Some of them liked the short haired white cat that looked like his mother. And he was a very beautiful kitten.

So Bill compromised and brought both cats home. So now we were a two cat household. We owned the usual cat stuff. The liter box, the liter, the little scoop etc. The cats eventually grew up as cats do. They had some lessons along the way. For instance, they wanted to sleep with us. They kept getting put off the beds in a very firm way until they learned their lessons. But they never learned not to get up on the furniture.

I had a nice feather duster that I really liked. One day I came home and the duster was turned into piles of feathers all over the floor. I guess they thought it was a bird and decided to tear it to pieces.

These two cats were good mousers. One morning as I was getting ready for work I heard a mouse in the heat vent. Before long the male cat had caught the mouse and he was very proud. I was getting my clothes on when I heard some growling in the dining room. I walked out of the bathroom and the female cat was growling like a dog at the male cat. She took his catch over and let him know it was hers. He backed off.

They had not been out of the house for their whole lives and I decided that they needed to go out. I was tired of the liter box and the male cat always managed to get in the box but he hung his back end over the box and missed it. So I was left cleaning up his mess.

My husband and daughter tried to put them out one day and they hung on the back door. It was so funny. Both cats hanging on the back door. So they came back in and weren't put out for awhile. One day they were sitting in kitchen window. I opened the window and pushed both cats out before they knew what had happened to them. They tried to get back in but couldn't jump high enough to reach the window. So they stayed out during the day but came in at night.

One morning I noticed fleas in the house. I sprayed the house and we gave the cats a bath. After that the male cat became known as flea bag. The female had already become known as hair ball because of being long haired she had the problem of hair balls. This was Bill's names for the two cats.

When we went on vacation one time Bill took them to the vet for boarding. They asked what their names were and of course he told them Fleas Bag and Hair Ball. They had a good laugh over that at the vet's office and promptly gave them more normal names but around our house they were always Flea Bag and Hair Ball.

Flea Bag liked our dog Hannah but Hair Ball hated dogs. Flea Bag would curl up beside her and they would sleep together. Hannah never minded him being there. Hair Ball would wait for Hannah to walk by a chair and she would jump on her and attach her. Hannah was very confused. She didn't ever know (kbb whjm mjj Erica is helping me write) why she was attack. And there was no reason she was mistreated in such a way since she never bothered the cats.

One day Flea Bag disappeared. We could only guess what happened to him but we thought he maybe got too friendly with Coyotes. We had Hair Ball a bit longer but one day she disappeared as well. So we no longer had cats and I did not want another cat.

And then just recently Lucy and I had a girl's day out and we went to Stanton to the Van Bert Farm. It just happened a little kitten had appeared from nowhere on that particular day. It had a broken foot. It was really a rather ugly kitten. He had been shaved around his neck and his hair was shorter there than anywhere else on his body. He had fleas and was under weight even for a young kitten. He looked like he should still be with his mother. But there he was in Van Bert's barn.

Vera came out of the office and announced that cat had to be taken care of because she was fearful the dogs would kill him. By then he was climbing up Lucy's pant legs and she was already hooked. But as she explained, she already had a couple of cats and she couldn't take another one home. So guess who got talked into taking the cat home. You guessed it. Grandma. But then I do have the coffee cup Lucy gave me that says "The most sweetest Grandma Ever!" So I guess I am pretty easy.

We got home with him and she gave him a bath to get rid of the fleas. We wormed him and put him in the milk room at the barn. Vera had given us cat food so we promptly fed him and tucked him in for the night.

He is such a sweet little thing that he worms his way into your heart. Mine included. So now I am once again a cat owner. I do not say "cat person". But I do like Rascal, as I named him. It really does suit him.

Well now you know how it is. When children and grandchildren are involved you can own dogs and cats you really thought you didn't want and they become part of your life and then you don't know what you did without them. (That is also how I got Erica) That is another story for another day.

There is a lesson to be learned from animals. Any animal if we look for it. I can always relate our relationship to Jesus from animals I own or have owned. The little kitten is not perfect. He was a rather ugly little thing when I first saw him. He had a broken foot and walked funny. He was wormy and had fleas. We took care of the worms and fleas and he is getting prettier. He has grown so fast with good food and TLC.

Jesus took us in at the point in our lives when we were ugly in our sins. He cleaned us up and forgave us unconditionally. Our sins though scarlet are wiped out by his precious blood. He has saved us once and for all by us just asking for his forgiving grace. We can't earn it. We don't deserve it. It is a free gift that cost him a terrible price. The price was death on a cross. Shedding his blood. He was pure and innocent but shed his blood for you and me. We are clean but until we die and see him face to face in heaven we will still sin. We will still have that broken foot, so to speak.

Do you know my Jesus? Have you told him you need him more than life itself? Have you committed your life to him. Have you accepted that free precious gift he died to give you?

May God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards,

Mary

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Blog from the Bog

We just returned home today from Van Bert Farms in Stanton Ky. We had a wonderful time. The Van Berts always do things in a classy way. And this was no exception. We stayed at the Cottage overlooking the farm. I love that cottage. Vera has it decorated so cute. Of course there are a lot of horse pictures and the best is the view of the farm. Yesterday when we got up the pastures were completely covered with fog and the sun was barely able to peek over the horizon. The fog lifted as everyone started to gather for part 2 of the ACTHA competitive trail competition. Most of the horses and riders who had been there on Friday returned for the more difficult ride on Saturday.

I competed in the Friday ride but did not get to compete Saturday due to birthday parties for a couple of special girls. My granddaughter Lucy and great granddaughter Melissa.

Friends met Bob, Eleanor and me at the cottage on Thursday afternoon as we were about to unload the three horses we were using for the ride. Bob took Satin, Amigo went for Sheri and I took J R. He is Eleanor's horse. Bob, Tom (Sheri's husband) and Eleanor got on the three horses and went for a good ride on Thursday evening. They had a wonderful ride. I don't know who enjoyed it more, Eleanor on her horse or Tom on Amigo whom he calls the Cadillac. They rode for a long time and finally just before it got too dark to see, they returned to the cottage to show me how Amigo and Satin could come up the steep hill in the back.

Friday morning was cool and windy. I stated that my two goals was to stay warm and to finish the ride. I got it half right. I did finish the ride. I even made a decent score on most of the obstacles even though I came in last in the field. So what happened to staying warm you may ask. I was sure dressed warm enough. I wore a heavy sweat shirt and a wind breaker. I wasn't going for best dressed obviously.

The ride went really well. I had a couple of anxious moments when J R argued with me about whether he should be allowed to graze while we were waiting for Sheri and Amigo and Bob and Satin to finish one of the obstacles. But I did get his feet to moving and he didn't try eating again for awhile. We finished the witches fingers with scores of 8 for each of us. We did the cape with an eight for each of us. We did a good job crossing the river. And again scored 8s for both of us. And we made it up the hill just fine. All went well until the fifth obstacle.

The fifth obstacle was a downhill. J R was once again stomping and doing little crow hops. We were at the top of the hill and Bob had already gone down and so had Sheri. J R sometimes wants to go a little fast down hills and he was getting anxious to not be left behind. I elected to let someone lead him down the hill and I dismounted and walked down. Thus getting a zero on the obstacle. Doug Spier helped me remount at the bottom of the hill. So far so good.

That when it all happened. There was a narrow pass that the horses had to go through to get back to the river. It was wet and had been churned up by all the other horses that had already gone through it before me. It was not just wet, it was a bog. J R stepped in and immediately went up to his belly in the mud. He was churning his feet trying his best to get through it when he lost his balance and got over on his left side like he just laid down. He really couldn't help it.

I lost my seat and I fell off into the mud. J R regain his footing and bless his sweet heart stood there right by his fallen rider. I love that old horse. He is a good hearted gelding. Doug came over and helped me out of the mud. Someone else led J R out of the bog and Doug once again helped me mount. J R and I finished the ride. We were both covered with mud and wet. I was a little cold but pleased on two fronts.

That is the first time I have ever been able to remount when I took an unscheduled dismount. We finished the course. J R and I were working good as a team on the last obstacle that they called "stirring the witches brew". I had to pick up a broom and place it in the barrel and ride my horse around the barrel. I did not ride quiet far enough around so we both got an 8 on that obstacle. But we finished.

I got off in the barn and J R got sprayed off to wash the mud off of him. I felt I had over come a lot in that ride.

So the rest of the story. When the winners were announced for the Pleasure class, Bob won first and Sheri won second. They were riding horses owned by Whispering Oaks Farm so I had reason to celebrate besides both being friends and family. When best dressed was announced, Bob won that one too and he won the jackpot as the rider with the highest score that had contributed to the jackpot.

It was a good day for our group, the farm and for me. I have finally overcome a lot of my fear of being on a horse and riding. Going down the hill will come soon. I am better at down hills than I was last year. I started getting that under control last winter when we were riding around the farm.

First several rides, I avoided the hills as best I could. But I started getting braver and started riding down hills in places I could have just as easily ridden around. Like I mentioned before I still have some hang ups on that account but I will learn how to do it and do it well.

I stayed until the winners were announced and then I went and took a good hot shower.

I looked in the mirror and I sure was a mess. I was covered with mud. My clothes were muddy and even my helmet was muddy. I was very thankful for my helmet. It was new, never been worn and it now has scratches on it. That would have been my head had I not been wearing it.

But I got to thinking as I took that shower and felt the good warm water wash over my hair and dirty skin. We would look that way to God if we were not washed by the blood of the lamb, Jesus Christ. God can not look upon sin for he is a righteous God and our sins separate us from him. But Jesus died for us and our sins have been made invisible by the blood of Jesus.

Today we went to lunch with H T and Wilda. Jamie and Carly and her daughter Angel were there as was Greg and Valarie. Before we left I went up to pay for our lunches. When I got to the cash register the lady told me we had already been paid for. When I get to heaven Jesus will say, "Her sins have already been paid for". I thank Jamie for paying for lunches but I thank Jesus each and every day for paying for my sins. Jamie paid with hard earned money but Jesus paid with his life and his blood which was shed for me and for you. So that when we stand before God and are accused by Satan, Jesus will say "Paid in full."

May God bless you and keep you in his loving care.

Love to you all and thank you for reading my blogs. Welcome to my new follower, Steve. Steve is married to my great niece Crystal.



Regards,

Mary

For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whomsoever should believe on him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3: 16

The first picture is a tree root that has been exposed by water running through the branch. No water now. It is so dry but the water has washed away the dirt over the years and have left this root exposed. It is an interesting configuration. The second picture is Mt Girl and me. She had just had a bath and then her mane and tail were combed out.

The third picture is a view from the top of the hill on the farm. The barn is hidden from view but the silos are standing tall and proud from behind the trees that nearly block the view.

Our trail ride was a great success. We had pictures in our local paper and a nice story about the ride. I made sure it was a good story. I wrote it myself. They published it word for word.

Our day started with a brief rain that blew in. It was an answer to our prayers. It was hot all summer. I am sure no one has forgotten that. Bob and his grandchildren and my grandson had worked in rotation all summer cutting trails. Because of the extreme heat we had decided to get as much of our trails through the woods and in the shade as we could. About seventy five percent of the trails were in the shade. But the rain came through and cooled everything off several degrees and then stopped after about 15 minutes. Someone called and ask if we were going to go on with the ride. Of course we were. Rain was not going to stop these riders.

And rain did not dampen the spirits of the 35 people that turned out for our ride. The riders started off in small groups every fifteen minutes that took a hour to see everyone off. The first obstacle was a mail box. My friend Sheri with whom I worked at the post office was the official judge on that one. Almost no one connected the name on the mail box to the little house that sets across from it. The name on the box was "Wiley E Coyote" Think back to the "Road Runner" cartoon. We have often noticed the horses get a little uneasy when they pass that old house. So we have finally decided they smell coyote there. We have seen them around that house so it is altogether possible that is what is going on. Hence the name on the mail box and the letter addressed to same in the mail box.

The next obstacle was the drag. More people had trouble with that one than any other. I don't really know why but we had several that timed out on that one or could not complete it. It was two barrels set up with a rope on the first one. As the title indicates there was a block of wood that had a rope tied to it and the rider had to drag the wood from barrel A to barrel B.

The third was a gate. Even H T was temporarily stumped by that one because we ask the rider to open the gate from a different direction than usual. H T had to study that one for awhile. But many of the riders got it and scored well on it.

The fourth was maybe my favorite. It was a downhill ride and across a wooden bridge. The bridge was built just for that ride and is of course still there for riders on the trails to enjoy. I have not tried that one yet because the horse I have been riding likes to run down hill and I really have to hold him back. So I am hoping for more strength in my arms. It is really a neat obstacle and most of the horses did it. The judge on that one was amused because one of the horses walked down the hill and to the bridge so nicely and then turned and ran back up the hill thus refusing to cross the bridge. He said the horse made a perfect U turn. The rider dismounted and walked him down the hill and over the alternate route.

The fifth was a water obstacle. We had to haul some water for that one. We did have the rain so there was not so much water to bring to it as there would have been had it not rained. That was a huge success. The horses were suspicious of that one. Of course a horse will almost always think they will drown in a puddle. But many did the obstacle. Some refused it.

The last obstacle was the easiest. Not one refused the uphill. All that was required of all riders that their horse go up a steep incline. So it worked out nice that the last was the easiest. After a long ride, horses and riders were ready for an easy one.

Each first place rider was awarded $100 by Whispering Oaks Farm and the Lipginski Family. Second place received $50. Ribbons were awarded for six places as well as prizes awarded by ACTHA and local sponsors.

We considered the day a great success. God certainly blessed us with the quality of horses and riders that showed up for the event. The weather couldn't have been better. The farm was complimented over and over for how beautiful it is. I think the riders enjoyed the various scenery that they encountered. There was the woods, open fields and views from the top of the hills. The open fields had a fine crop of soy beans putting on their best show.

We plan to have another ride next spring. The trials are already cut and ready to have another ride. We will have it before crops are planted so there will be other trails and of course different obstacle.

I like trail riding the horses. It is training they can't get in an arena. We have already seen that my horse Velvet has a different view of things outside of the barn and the arena. She is fearful of my dog if she runs up behind her. Erica often does that and none of the horses that have been here and been ridden worry about her. Velvet will learn to not react over time. Other than that, Velvet is a very brave mare. She doesn't encounter anything that bothers her. She will climb piles of dirt and do any obstacle asked of her. She is a very nice mare that makes me proud to own her.

Velvet has learned over her three years that she can trust people. She has never been asked to do anything that would hurt her. Over these past three years her faith in humans have grown to the point where she will willingly do what is asked because she has learned that the person on her back is her herd leader.

In the Bible we are referred to as being like sheep. We need a herd leader or as in the case of sheep, a shepherd. Jesus is referred to as the good shepherd. We often see pictures depicting Jesus carrying a lamb in his arms. Sheep know their shepherds voice and respond to it. I have often said in these blogs that horses teach us a lot. They keep teaching. There is so much difference in each horse.

Some learn early to trust the herd leader. The human. Others have bad experiences in their formative years. They learn to distrust because of mistreatment. They learn to strike out and fight becaue they have learned this is what they must do for survival. Others have had no experience with humans.

So we learn from horses that they are many different kinds of reactions to God and his son Jesus Christ. Some learn early in life that God is their friend. He has sent Jesus to die for us. Jesus had a choice but he who was without sin and tempted in all manners as man died for us in obedience to the will of his father. We start by learning from our earthly father. But some are very unfortunate and have no human father who shows a picture of our heavenly father. Some are mean and abusive. They learn to distrust and believe if this man who is suppose to love and protect them is not a good person then how can they trust God whom they have never seen.

Still others have no early experience in church or with anyone who tells them about God the Father and his son Jesus who died for our sins. All of this we can see as we study and relate to our horses. Which one are you? I hope you are the one who had the earthly father that showed you a picture of a loving protective God the Father who loves perfectly.

May God bless you and keep you in his loving care.

Regards,

Mary

Oh Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth.

Psalms 8: 9

Family Reunion and Other Things

I got the same picture on here twice as you can see. How do I remove it? I don't know so there is the picture twice of some of the children.

The third picture is of one of the fire trucks that came to put out the field fire that started from the combine that was harvesting the crop of soy beans that was raised on my farm this year.

It has been hot and dry. Very hot and very dry and the residue from the beans was dry fodder for the sparks that flew from the combine.

The fire department showed up with several trucks and the fire was soon out. The man raising the beans apologized today for causing such an uproar during my family reunion that was by the way held at my house but I am sure the family at the reunion are still talking about the events of the day.

We had a really nice crowd at my home that day.

Our family reunion on Bill's side of the family was started the day of Bill's funeral. His nephew Brian opined that we only got together only when there was a funeral. It was true. The last time we had seen all of them was at Brian's Father's funeral. It is a shame to only see family you love and care about on those occasions.

So Brian and Theresa put together our first official reunion in November of 2007. They had a good event planned. They had a video of family pictures. They had t-shirts made for each of us. They made calendars with family pictures for every month. They did a really good job.

The next year it was here at my farm. I had a carriage ride and a hay ride for everyone. The carriage was pulled by my three year old mountain horse, VBF Blue Ridge Mt Girl. She was amazing and everyone had so much fun. The day had some chill but it was sunny and pleasantly warm. That evening we had a big bon fire.

I had coffee cups made with the family reunion date and Whispering Oaks Farm with a horse on it for everyone who came. I also had ink pens made up with Whispering Oaks Farm as well as the same horse. Each cup was filled with wrapped candy. It was a huge success.

Last year my niece Vivian planned the reunion and she rented an old log cabin that had been made into a guest house. It was really lovely. It had old pictures, quilts and many other antiques in it. It had the old style kitchen with enough modern conveniences that made it very nice. And of course plenty of food.

This year we really didn't have entertainment planned and it had been such a busy time for us that I barely got the day together. This three times a week for Physical Therapy is taking a lot of time. Tomorrow I go back to the doctor and hopefully I will be nearly finished with Physical Therapy and doctors until my annual check up next spring. My family has already told me that I do not get to leave the house next May.

My husband died in May. I got pneumonia in May and broke my arm in May. So I guess I can see the logic behind their thoughts.

Despite the fact I didn't have entertainment planned the day took care of that. After dinner we were all on the deck visiting and having a pretty good day when someone noticed smoke. It was the combine fire. All the men got in trucks and headed to the field to help in whatever way they could. Most of it was stamping out fire to keep it from spreading. Soon the fire trucks came rolling in and the thick smoke started to dissipate.

Later we teased one of the nieces, Theresa whose birthday fell on our reunion day that the fire department had come to put out the fire caused by the candles on her cake.

We had a really good day together. Steve and his family came from Mississippi. Rita and her daughter came from Michigan and there were several who came from Indianapolis. So there were several who made an effort to be here for the day. I am thankful to God that we all like and love each other so much that people will go to that much effort to be here.

I had told my brother Bob one day that I had some unfinished business with VBF Blue Ridge Mt Girl. I have been grooming her and I gave her a bath one warm day. I have worked on her mane and tail to make them pretty and she is getting some grain now to put extra shine into her coat. She is getting very pretty.

I told Bob that the last time I was on Mt Girl in 2008 I fell off of her. See my last blog. I said then I would learn to be a better rider and ride her again. She and I had some unfinished business. It has taken this long. Did you know that in the Bible the phrase "Fear not" is used 331 times? I have been trying so hard to overcome my fear of riding. I kept running into those two words. "Fear not".

I have prayed, read the Bible and tried to overcome the fear that welled up in the pit of my stomach when I mounted a horse. A friend observed my discomfort and told Bob that "Mary is not having a good time riding". I had an unreasonable fear that the horse would do something unexpected and I would land on the ground. I really dreaded getting hurt but my worst fear was that my family would have to take care of me.

I was really uptight when I got on a horse. Of course the horse knew it. I could feel the horse tighten up and I would get even more afraid. Last spring I confessed my fears to my friend Wilda and she and her family prayed me through the horse show in North Carolina. I had a decent ride but I was still fearful.

Bob, Lucy, Melissa and I went to the trail ride in Stanton in May. I was going to ride but I was pretty much uptight again. I had a decent ride the night before the actual trail ride but I was still fearful. I was on Rocky Top Rebel. She is really a nice mare and she was very calm even though I wasn't. I wasn't looking forward to the trail ride the next day.

The next morning Van Bert Farms put on a clinic. I was part of the clinic. I led my colt, Saga of Snowy River into the trailer and back out. He was well trained. He was doing what I asked him to do. Then we walked up on a small rise. It was actually used at one time to back a truck up to it to load live stock. The was an uneven spot on the ground and I stepped into it, lost my balance and fell really hard on my left arm. I heard it snap. I knew it was broken.

I didn't get to ride for four months. During that time, I had a lot of time to think. A couple of weeks ago I got back on a horse. It was J R. My sister Eleanor owns him. He is dead broke. But he can be hard headed sometimes. His favorite gait is walking and then only if he is chasing down some grass. I rode him in the arena the first time. He tried some foolishness with me but this time I was determined he would do as I ask him. So I used the dressage whip a couple of times and he started to get the idea that I would not be putting up with anything out of him on this ride.

The only anxious moment I had was when he ran down a little hill with me. I made him walk down the rest of the hills. He also tried to turn around and go back off of the trail. I again used the dressage whip on him. He jumped up off of his front feet a couple of time but once again I turned his head and used the whip and he got over it. He walked calmly on down the hill without further trouble.

Today I rode him about three miles and he walked down the hills and he went where I asked him. Once he did try to scrub me up against a tree but we settled that too and I am getting more confident in the saddle.

This afternoon Bob took Mt Girl on a long ride through the trails and she is getting better and better. I rode her in the arena and never had one twinge of fear. A couple of times she wanted to try me out. She thought she could stop when she wanted but that didn't happen. Then a couple of times she thought she would turn the way she wanted to go but I let her know that wasn't happening.

Why do I go over all of this. Many of you probably thought I was a fearless rider. I wasn't. I prayed for God to help me learn to ride so I could have a good time riding like everyone else that was riding my horses around here. I could tell God was showing me he would take care of me but I am really hard headed so finally God used my broken arm to show me that I could get hurt not even being on a horse. Everyone assumed that I fell off of a horse and broke my arm. I didn't. I fell leading a weanling because I was not watching where I was putting my feet and I fell. I fell in the barn on the concrete a couple of times. Once my yearling filly knocked me down when she ran into the barn. Even then I didn't get hurt.

Once one of the horses kicked at the dog and barely missed me. I knew God was taking care of me but I just couldn't get over my fear when I mounted. I saw others that overcame terrible riding accidents that were riding again. My friend Wilda for one and a lady named Sarah Patton for another and I couldn't see how they could do it.

So what is the moral of this story. The moral is what ever you want to see in it. There are a couple of ways you can go with it. But what I take out of it is that God does answer our prayers. It may not always be the way we want it anwered but it will always be for our own good. God used my broken arm to teach me that I could get hurt other ways than riding and yes my family may have to come and take care of me but they love me and they will.

I don't need to have a pity party because of it. No one is willing to party with me if I am throwing a pity party. And God is taking care of me.

May God bless you and keep you in his loving care. And may you always trust God. May all your lessons be easy ones.

Regards

Mary

"I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."

Jer 29: 11

Blue Ridge MT Girl

Many of you know that VBF Blue Ridge Mt Girl was my first horse. Since then I have bought several horses and I have had 5 born on the farm.

Our first born on the farm was WOF Stephen's Blazin Star. He is a son of Sam I Am and out of my mare by Storm Warning. Blaze is pictured here in the halter class shown by Natalie Wright and trained by Cool Shade Mountain Horses.

The second horse I bought was a filly named VBF Butterfly Kisses. And then there was WOF Dock's Velvet. I love all the horses I own and some I don't own but I guess my all time favorite is Mt Girl. Sometimes I just call her MG.

I rode MG when she was still showing and in fact rode her in a show. I was terrified I would fall off and make a fool of myself. I have since gotten over that. I have embarassed myself because of my lack of riding skills several times. But on with the story.

This year MG blessed me with a black colt by Venture's Black Fury. These Fury babies are really nice. While I was nursing my broken arm and staying in the house away from the horses, Bob and several assistants were teaching the two weanling colts to lead, load and do obstacles. He was separating the colts from their mothers for a time every day. He was giving the mares a break but also teaching the colts that they had an alternate source of feed and it came from him in a bucket a couple of times a day plus all the hay they could eat.

We weaned the colts a couple of weeks ago. They are doing fine and don't seem to miss the mares at all. Although one does whinny when another horse goes through the barn. Today he confused the gelding with his mother and whinnied to him. It was a case of mistaken identity.

But the main story is all about Mt Girl. She is a beautiful black mare with three white stockings. Two on the back legs and one on the front left. She has a really beautiful long mane and tail and a white star on her head.

I have had three unscheduled dismounts from Mt Girl. The first was at the training facility when her trainer almost fell over the fence. I was a bit too relaxed and when Mt Girl spooked because Chris lost his balance and was waving his arm as he tried to regain balance, she ran out of fear. She went one way and I went the other. It knocked the breath out of me.

My daughter was there with me. She ran down to the arena and started talking to me. Was I ok. I nodded yes because I couldn't speak. She started instructing me. "Breath Mom, breath" "In your nose, out of your mouth." She was talking in a rhythm when she suddenly stopped and turned to those around us and said, "I am a respiratory therapist. I know these things." We still laugh about that but I was thankful she was there to help me regain my breath.

The next time was a little more serious. MG and I were riding in the barn with a friend. The barn was a different design from most. The stalls are in the middle of the barn. So when we were riding around the stalls we would lose sight of each other. I had stopped MG and was backing her up and asking her to stand. In the meantime Sheri and Hershey had ridden around the stalls out of sight. When I gave MG the signal to go, she took off like a shot out of a gun trying to catch up with Hershey.

She rounded the curve at the end of the barn but I didn't make it with her. I fell and hit the barn door so hard I broke it. I must have been pretty tough because I didn't break anything although I did go to the hospital to get checked out to make sure. It isn't any fun to look up and see horse hooves going over your head. I was wearing a helmet. I always do. I don't know if it is true that a horse never steps on a fallen rider but she didn't step on me.

The next spill came a few months later. I was in Tn at an UMH show and was going to ride in that show. I was somewhat apprehensive about it but I figured I could do it. So I went down to the practice arena and was riding around. We were having the best ride of my life. MG was calm and she was gaiting around the arena. It was like sitting in a rocking chair and I was getting very comfortable. I don't know what spooked her. It may have been the dog that suddenly ran across the arena toward her but she went one way and I went the other. It was a very soft landing.

The very small rock that made up the footing in the arena was wet and soft and it was a soft landing place. Jamie helped me up and took me to the wash bay and sprayed all of the rocks off of me. I was covered with rock. Then I went to the motel room and showered and changed clothes.

So I have not ridden MT Girl since then. I have in fact had a very hard time getting on a horse. Then I broke my arm. Before I broke my arm, I think God was trying to show me I could ride and I should not fear riding. I kept running across scripture that used the phrase, "Fear not"

I felt shame. God was trying to teach me I could trust him when I rode and all I could think of was to not do anything to make the horse throw me. The more nervous I got, the more aware the horse was that I was nervous. That was counterproductive. Even J R got to where he was taking advantage of me. That was terrible. J R is an old gelding that is too lazy to do very much. His favorite gait is walking and he doesn't much like to do that unless his head in down eating. If he reared up, it would be in slow motion.

So now it has been almost four months since I last rode. I had a decent ride the night before I broke my arm. I was riding a mare called Rocky Top Rebel. She is a beautiful black mare that is very calm. We had a pretty good ride and she would even allow me to smack the flies that landed on her. She learned I was not trying to hurt her just kill those pesky flies. I rode a little while with my brother and then we headed back to the cottage. The next day I was planning to ride in the competitive trail competition but everything changed for me.

Many people ask me if I was riding. I had to admit I wasn't even on a horse. I was leading a weanling colt and stepped on uneven ground, lost my balance, fell and broke my arm. I hoped so much and prayed a lot I would not have to undergo surgery to fix my arm but I did.

On Facebook I wrote Roman 8:28. "For I know all things work together for good to those that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose." I think that may be my life's verse. I cling to it often. I quote it to myself when I am going through something hard. It is written on my heart as a wonderful promise. It tells me that no matter what I am going through today, I am going to have something good will come my way even though I am having a hard time in that period of my life.

There is nothing that can happen to us that God can't use it for our good. Steel is tempered by the heat that is placed on it. It hardens it and makes it strong. Gold is purified by heat. Both of those metals are beautiful and useful. God doesn't promise that Christians will have no trouble or go through trying times but he does promise he will be with us.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31: 6

Today, I got back on a horse. I was not afraid and my stomach did not get tied in knots. I was not the bundle of nerves I often am. I was way more agile getting on J R. I am stronger now than I was before even though I still don't have the same range of motion. I will be riding again tomorrow. So because I had to have surgery and physical therapy I am stronger in my legs and arms than I was 4 months ago.

Now about MT Girl. I am grooming her and giving her a lot of attention. She follows me in from the field and still leads as well as she did when she was showing in conformation. She comes to me when I approach the gate. I will ride her again. She is in foal but I can still ride her for several more months. It has been my goal to get back on her. She hasn't been ridden in about two years. The last she was showed was in 2008. I know I can ride her. I know she will allow me but just in case you think I shouldn't get on her the first time myself, I will be letting my brother ride her first and then I will ride in the arena for awhile.

Life is a journey. We may not know what is going to happen to us tomorrow or in the next few minutes but we can be sure as Christians we are not on that journey alone. The God that made us, loves us and wants only the best for us. But we live in a fallen world. Bad things happen to good people. But the God who hung the moon and stars and fashions the rainbow after a rain is with us through it all.

May the God of love and peace be with you and keep you in his loving care.

Regards,

Mary

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy one of Israel, your Savior."

Isaiah 43: 2-3

I Got Fired

I always thought there were some jobs I couldn't be fired from but I finally found one. It was from my own farm too.



OK picture this. Where have I heard that before. Oh yes, Golden Girls. I won't be nearly as funny as Estelle Getty but here's my story and I'm sticking to it. I've heard that before too. Humm.



We were at the World Show in Winchester Ky. I don't have stable hands like the regular stables. It is just my brother Bob and me. I haven't been riding in any of the shows this summer. Broken arm and all. But Bob has ridden in almost every show this year. He has shown Venture's Golden Satin. Oh yes that is another story. She was called SATAN in a couple of shows. I straightened them out on that one and they went back to calling her Satin. Last show they called her Venture's Golden STAIN. Hello out there, it is a very simple word. Satin. You know like they beautiful material wedding gowns are made of.



But I digress. I was talking about the job I got fired from. Well every one who rides in a show needs some help. Hold the saddle while the horse goes through DQP. Hold the horse. Adjust jacket for the rider. Brush off the coat, pants and boots for the premadonna on board the horse. They really do get big headed when on the horse. Especially the Amatuer riders.



Sable boy, in my case, girl has to know what the rider needs even before he or she thinks about needing it. Fly spray for the horse. Rag for wiping the shoes off. Leather punch in case it is needed. Bottle of water in case it is hot and it is needed. Extra shirt in case the premadonna gets a little stain from horse slobbers. The list goes on and on.



And let us never forget the all important cell phone.



The last of the show, I was doing my stable girl duties. I didn't think of the leather punch. I got the wrong shirt from the trailer, I didn't have a rag and had to borrow one from my friend Michael the ultimate stable boy. When our premadonna got to the show ring I was in big trouble. I had left my phone in the truck and he could not reach me.



Later I was crying the blues to my friend Michael and begging for lessons on being a good stable girl. I like to do everything the best I can. He was almost ready to give me classes until I mentioned I forgot my cell phone and left it in the truck. Now he won't even give me lessons. Later Bob came to the spectator area and told me I was a failure as a stable girl and I was fired.



I have fired him a couple of times but he has never fired me. And from all things, stable hand. I guess it is just not as easy as Michael makes it look. I bet he wasn't so good when he started out though.



Just recently I bought a beautiful Chocolate Palomino. She is a two year old and really something special. She is very naturally gaited and is going to be a really big mare. We have not shown her before the world show. Larry was talking about showing her in conformation and I agreed. I asked Bob if he would mind showing her. He said he would but I know he really doesn't like to show conformation.



I got a better idea that would work for him too. I asked Vanessa Crowe to show Dixie Belle for me. She readily agreed and was delighted I had asked her. Bob walked into the office just after I had asked her and before I could tell him that Vanessa would show Dixie Belle, Larry Patterson informed him that he had just been fired. They made such a big deal over him being fired. You just can't imagine two grown men crying and carrying on like they did.



So I guess world show was get even time for me when he fired me from my job as stable girl. It really didn't pay very well anyway. Michael gets a raise from time to time. Judy has double his pay a couple of times and he still make 0, zip, nadda. I guess he doesn't have to worry much about the tax on that pay check.

A New Day in Transportation

I hear all the time about the new airport security. When I had surgery on my arm, I knew that I now had metal in my body that might set off the security alarms. So I took precaution. I took the time to go to the Doctor's office and get a card that said I have a metal implant to take to the airport with me. I was now confident that if I set off the alarm that I would just produce the card from the doctor and all would be ok.

I really did miscalculate that one. Sure enough I set off the alarm as I went through security. I was asked to step into a booth of sorts that had locks on it and I was told to set down in the chair. Of course I already had my shoes off. Remember the shoe bomber. I was beginning to worry about the underwear bomber and how that might relate to me now that I was getting extra attention. I very confidently handed her the card that the doctor's office had given me. I was told that meant nothing at all. "Anybody could get one of those", she said.

So she ran the scanner over me and the scanner lit up and made a terrible racket. I was sure everyone in the airport was looking at the new suspect. I sarcastistively mentioned that I didn't fit the profile of a terrorist. I was curtly told that "everybody fits the profile" I can understand that. The terrorist on the planes on 9/11 were after all white women in the late 60s and early 70s weren't they? Wait it is coming back to me. I remember there were no women among the group of terrorists of any race or age. So why am I a suspect?

But suspect I was. She assured me it would all be over with soon as she started scanning every part of my body. The buzzer went off as it passed over the rivits on my jeans and of course over my arm where I have the metal to put my arm back together as I told her it would. She asked me to show her where I had surgery and I started to pull up my shirt sleeve. Oh no, they didn't want to see any skin just point to the place where I have the metal. I was cleared and sent on my way with the good news that this was mild in comparison to what I could experience at some airports.

I found out what she meant at the Norfolk airport when I was boarding for my flight home. I once again set off the alarm as I walked through. I was once again directed to the "lock up" to be scanned by another charming lady that works for homeland security. My little card was once again rejected as being meaningless. This time I was treated to a complete pat down. I do mean complete.

I have learned about the new rules on flying to avoid trouble going through security. First I will never again wear shoes that tie. I will wear sandals even if it is below zero. That is a hassle. I will however continue to travel with my computer. It is too handy to have along even though I always have to take it out of the computer case. I don't travel with a bag that has to be checked. I won't travel with a bag with rollers. They have to be checked through.

I will not wear jeans. They always have a front zipper and rivits. It is embarrassing to be standing in a booth in full view of all the airport being patted down. I won't bother with the card the doctor's office gave me. That is useless. Sleeveless is good. They can readily see the scar and I hope to be more convincing. And last of all, I will no longer wear certain kinds of bras. You ladies know the ones. The one with the under wire. That was very embarassing to have a pat down because of my bra. Hope I didn't embarrass any men. Sorry if I did.

So I have thoroughly learned the new rules of travel. I already knew not to have a knife in my pocket or bring knitting needles to knit while on board. I surmised a Crockett needle would not be good news either and would probably be confiscated. Of course I knew that I would not be allowed to bring a gun aboard. That was a no brainer. I never thought my choice of bras would be an issue. It never occurred to me that jeans with rivits and zippers would cause the embarrassment of a pat down. And I will just throw that card away with all the rest of the stuff that is useless in my purse.

On my final journey on this earth I will not have to worry about airport security or embarassing pat downs on the most sensitive parts of my anatomy. I will be on that final journey with no airport security. It will be the journey everyone takes alone. I will however have a big welcoming committee waiting for me. I will have many loved one who have already gone on that journey before me.

Most of all I will have Jesus, the Son of the Living God waiting to meet me as I reach my final destination. I don't care what is said at my funeral as long it is about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and what he how he saved mankind from the pains of hell and the eternal separation from God. I don't care what songs they will sing as long as they are worship and praise for my Jesus. All I want to hear is the Lord of Lord and King of Kings say "Well done, my good and faithful servant".

May God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards

Mary

Motels I Have Known

In my life time, I have stayed at a variety of motels. Some were very nice and the one I am staying in right now in very nice. We, my son Steve and I, are staying in the Hampton Inn in Virginia. We came here, he from Mississippi and I from Kentucky, thinking his daughter's baby would be having open heart surgery today. So we both flew in from different directions and met at the Norfolk airport and checked in here to stay.

But Alyssa's surgery has been delayed now until Monday. I probably won't be able to stay for various reasons. But Steve is making arrangements to stay as I write this. He knows he more than anyone needs to be with Sarah.

It has been a difficult year to say the least. I broke my arm in May and still in therapy to try to get the range of motion back. We have had several horses with various illnesses. We had one horse that we had a difficult time to get pregnant. I made the statement that if it had been a cow she would be on the way to the stock yards. But this is a valuable horse. So it was several treatments and vet bills and success, she is pregnant by my stallion, Code of Honor.

Monday I had a frantic call from my dear friend Sheri. Her daughter had gone in labor and went to the hospital to deliver her full term baby. The baby boy had no heart beat. So Jesse went to surgery knowing the C-Section she was about to have would deliver her son but he would never draw a breath of air. Sheri was asking for our prayers. Of course, she had that instantly. We already pray for her and her family every night by name. We had prayed for Jesse and Dave and their family as well. So Sheri and her family are going through the heart break and grief that only a family could know that has suffered such a loss. It is heart rending to go to the funeral of a new born baby. I have been to two and they were both my great grandsons. So my family knows from personal experience.

We were still praying for her family and trying to deal with her loss which was a loss for the community as well when I boarded a plane to come to Virginia to be with my son and granddaughter as her baby went into surgery. That was suppose to be today but now the surgery will be on Monday.

I was in the airport in Charlotte N C waiting for my connecting flight when I called my brother to give him the news that Alyssa's surgery was delayed until Monday. He was breathless, hardly able to speak. There had just been an accident on the farm and one of my boarders had an accident with a horse and was laying unconscious on the ground. My blood ran cold. She was stat flighted to University of Louisville Hospital. Her condition is stable but she still is not awake.

It was a sleepless night for several of us. Her family most of all I am sure. So we have several on our prayer list right now. Sheri and her family, my great granddaughter Alyssa and Debbie (not my daughter) who was the rider that had the accident.

But I was talking about motels I have known. I have stayed in some very nice motels and I have stayed in some really crummy motels. The one that comes instantly to mind is one here in Virginia. It was in Virginia Beach and Bill and I were here to see our son. We stopped at a Motel 6 on the beach and it was very nice but being on the beach it was very pricey so we went next door and checked into the motel. They had sign all over that said they were remodeling so without looking at the room we checked in. The lobby looked ok and it was pretty late so we were tired. And the price was reasonable.

We got to our room and it was truly awful. I repeat, it was awful. There were no safety locks on the doors. We put a chair under the door knob to make sure we had no intruders during the night and Bill slept with the gun under the mattress with his hand near it all night. The plumbing was exposed and ran on the outside of the walls instead of inside the walls. The paint was cracked and peeling. The carpet was dirty. I checked the bed really well before we got in and it seemed to be clean enough. But I still had my doubts.

But God gave us a beautiful sunrise the next morning. The sun flooded our room and when we got out of bed we walked to the door leading to the beach and the sun was just coming up over the ocean. I will never forget that sunrise. After taking in that breath taking sunrise, we checked out and never went back.

We also checked into a motel rather late at night in San Diego California that we thought was close to our son's Naval Base. It turned out we were close to the wrong base and we only stayed one night but during the night, I heard screaming and running and all kinds of unnerving noise. Bill and I decided to move on to another motel the next day. We found a nice Mom and Pop motel that was actually close to the Naval Base in San Diego where Steve was about to graduate from Boot Camp. It was very clean and nice and the owners were so friendly and we enjoyed our stay.

A near miss on my list of terrible motels was in Georgia close to Ft Stewart. It was when our son Mike was returning from Saudi Arabia after a very successful Desert Storm. Bill never wanted to make a reservation. It was his plan to always find a place to stay when we got to our destination. But that time it was a very bad plan. Everything was full. We even stopped at a place that would make the Bates Motel look nice. Debbie, my daughter and I went in to see if they had a vacancy despite our misgivings and we were both very thankful they were also full.

Debbie was 7 months pregnant with her youngest son. We ended up sleeping in the car and found a nice motel with a vacancy the next day.

Another near miss on a bad motel was when we drove to California to close Bill's Aunt's house after her death. We had our dog Holly with us. Bill was figuring that Holiday Inn would not let us stay with a dog so we stopped at this motel he figured would let us stay. I went in. It looked dirty even in the lobby. When I mentioned a dog, the lady at the desk sniffed and said, "no dogs". We ended up checking into a Holiday Inn that welcomed us and our dog. And it was nice.

Holly was always good to travel with. She caused us no trouble at night. She didn't bark during the night and she never made a mess. She just loved being with us. And we had a good night at a nice motel.

I know all of you have probably had some experience with motels that were not as nice as you expected.

This blog seems to be all over the place and nice motels versus bad motels doesn't have anything to do with our troubles this year with broken arms, lost babies, babies with heart surgery and injured riders. I don't know that they really do but this I know for sure. God is with us in all our affairs. I know he protected us in the crummy motels. He is with Debbie while she is unconscious in the hospital room. He is holding Sheri and her family close to his heart as they grieve for their lost baby. He is of course lost to us but he is with Jesus as we grieve his loss.

King David suffered a loss of his son that he had with Bathsheba. The baby was sick and King David was beside himself. He sat in sackcloth and ashes. He prayed for the return to health of the baby. Finally the baby died and his servant were afraid to tell him thinking the grief would be more than he could stand.

But to their surprise, David got up, washed himself and seemed to return to his former state before he was overcome with grief over the illness of his son. He told all of us that his son would not come back to him but someday he would go to his son.

God doesn't see our exterior. He doesn't care that we have beautiful faces or great looking bodies. He doesn't see the clothes we wear or the cars we drive. He doesn't care about the price of our house. He looks at our hearts. He asks that we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. He tells us that when Jesus died on the cross it was for our sins. The price has been paid once and for all. It is better than going to a fine motel or restaurant and have someone say to us. No charge, the bill has been paid. The bill for our sins is paid in full. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and for you. Thank you for caring about broken arms, lost babies, people who are injured but most of all than you for dying for us.

May the God of love and mercy be with you all. May he keep you in his loving care and may you feel the warmth of his love in your deepest troubles. And walk close to him every day

Regards,

Mary

My Other Life

Welcome to my new follower for this blog. Glad you like my blog Jennifer and welcome. It was such a pleasure and honor to meet Jennifer, her husband Christopher and their three boys. The last Postmaster I worked for was Jennifer's sister, LaDonna Brown.

I admire LaDonna a lot. She is a person that is doing the very best she can in a very difficult job. I don't know just how many people are working at the Prospect Kentucky Post Office but there were 13 routes with 13 carriers and almost that many subs when I worked there three years ago. Plus there were 5 clerks and a Supervisor. That is a lot of people with that many personalities and more problems each than I could count. And then there was the customers. I could write a book about our customers.

There was a carrier that had to be on the floor constantly. She was the first one at work each morning, the last one out on the route and the last one to get in from mail delivery. She had a lot of difficulty staying focused to say the least. She had an issue with each and everything that went on in the office. She was definitely a busy body.

Then there was the drama queen. You know the type. Everything was high drama with her. She never had a simple problem. It was always complicated and it was all about her. Bet you know several like her. One day she encountered hunters out on her route. They were in an open field and had rifles. But she was sure they were going to shot at her. It was a complicated story to hear her version. It had all the little twists and turns and of course the obligatory high drama.

I also worked with a carrier with whom I still maintain contact. He is so much fun. He has a big male ego. He has a lot of big talk but he walks a more gentle walk around his wife. He adores his daughters and is so proud of them for their talents and accomplishments. My favorite story about this carrier is his run in with a dog out on the route.

It was during our window hours. There was a knock on the door and I went to answer it. This lady who was very upset wanted to talk to me about one of our carriers. She was nearly in tears as she relayed her story about the carrier that had sprayed her dog. I didn't really have to ask her where she lived. I already knew who her carrier was by the story she was telling. It seems this carrier had come into her yard to deliver a package to the door. Her dog was barking at the carrier and he sprayed the dog. It really upset her because her dog had cancer and the vet had removed one of his legs to stop the spread of the disease.

When Pat got back in that afternoon, I asked him about it. I told him he really shouldn't have sprayed a three legged dog. His reply was he still had all of his teeth and I should have seen how fast that three legged dog could run. Pat and I still laugh about that and with each telling of the story it gets better and better especially with the spin Pat puts on it.

Then there was a carrier that was forever pushing the envelop as some would say. This carrier was a very congenial sort but he always took every short cut he could to get finished as quickly as he could. He drove too fast and he didn't close the mail boxes which really made the customers angry. If it saved time you could count on him doing it. One day a customer called to complain about her carrier. It was on the route this particular carrier served. I asked what the problem seemed to be. We had a usual litany of complaints. Some carriers you could just count on what the complaint would be. We had a lot of complaints that a carrier didn't come to the door or didn't attempt to deliver an item and this carrier was no exception. But we often learned he really did just leave a notice or left a package out in the weather. ETC

This particular day the complaint was that the carrier didn't come to the door. I ask the usual questions to try to learn if he really didn't go to the door. Now the houses in that area are huge. I can imagine a person being in one part of the house and not seeing the carrier or not getting to the door in time. But this lady assured me he did not come to the door to deliver her parcel. I asked her how she could be so sure. I have heard a lot of stories but this one surprised even me. It seemed she was standing where she could see the carrier as he came up her driveway. She had a driveway that curved up by the door and without having to turn around one could go back down to the main road. She had seen our carrier come up the drive, throw her package which landed on the second floor balcony and drive away. I guess he really didn't go to the door.

My job was working the window. I was a "Sales and Service Associate" If you want to know what that means, I was a window clerk. I loved my customers. They seemed to like me as well. I had one who loved pineapple upside down cake. I found that out one day when I had made one to celebrate one of the carrier's birthdays. So I gave him a piece of the cake and he was thrilled. The whole neighborhood knew about my cakes by the time he got home. He was also acting mayor at one time and I made a cake for his birthday. The police department apparently got in on the cake too. I heard a lot about it and when I retired I got a bouquet of flowers from City Hall.

My customers also had the usual array of health problems and family problems. There were deaths in the family and new life being celebrated. I saw pictures of the new baby and often met one or the other of them. I grieved for those that lost loved ones and I often knew those people too. And they grieved with me when I lost my husband. Often one or more would come in and tell me they met my daughter when a wife or husband or other loved one was in the hospital. Mary Beth worked in oncology at Baptist East Hospital. They would tell me how wonderful she is and how caring. When she learned they were from the town I worked in she would always ask if they knew me.

The funniest answer she got was "Well everybody knows Mary" It was a sweet expression of the relationship we had at our post office.

I never thought that I had any thing special to offer our customers. I just treated them with respect and often admiration for their talents and abilities. I tried very hard to offer any help I could for those that needed it. I offered my God given talents to those who visited my window every day. I had a sincere interest in them and I did my best to show them the love that our Father in Heaven has for us. I wanted others to know my Jesus because they know me and in some small way I could introduce them to him through my actions.

I know I am not beautiful like a movie star. I don't have a figure that people envy. I have lines and wrinkles and gray hair. But more than a movie star figure, people value honesty and empathy. Most people don't want us to feel sorry for them. But they do want and desire respect.

God loved us before our parents even knew who we were. The Bible tells us that he knew us when we were formed in our mother's womb. Don't we have an obligation to spread the love he has for us to others we know and meet along the way. We are all strangers in a foreign land. Heaven is my real home. Life is awfully short and eternity is a long time.

May the God of peace and love and mercy bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards,

Mary