Just a glimpse to savor...

I found this piece awhile back, and sadly I do not remember the author. Yet it captures my heart feelings on the subject! I thought it would be a fitting thing to post about the rarity of such communication on a day which we see with only great rarity as well. So enjoy...

"I used to write long letters - the old-fashioned kind with postage stamps affixed - frequently.
I had cute stationary and fun cards and stickers and photos to include with my newsy letters.

That was back in the day when I went to bed at 10:30 pm and didn't get up till 6 or 7 am. That was back in the day when the only event I had going on for the week was a family outing that was written on the family calendar. That was back in the day when I read books just because I wanted to and not because I couldn't complete the most urgent project without learning this information. That was before I knew how to send an email, and definitely before the days of having 100 emails to reply to in a day.

Going to the mailbox was the highlight of the day. There was almost always a letter waiting there for me, too. It would be full of news, sometimes pictures and newspaper clippings or a tea bag to add to the fun.

These days, I still check the mail box occasionally when I'm home. But usually the only thing addressed to me is junk mail, a catalog, or another bill from the FoMM attorneys... Sometimes I wonder if that means I'm an adult now?

But letters are still ... um, just so deliciously good. I don't really care if it's written on beautiful stationary, or if it's a long newsy email from a friend or cousin who I haven't talked to in a long time. It's just good to hear all about another person's life and loves and battles.

I got one of those yesterday. All nine wonderful pages to be savored and re-read and thought over often... detailing life's struggles and questions, funny anecdotes about people I know that I'm sad to have missed seeing, and a hundred million other things that kept me awake thinking till late last night.

When society is too busy to write letters, we miss out on so much that we don't even know we're missing. A connection with a real human being - a piece of elegant communication to be saved and savored and stuck in a shoe box to be re-read decades down the road."

in which I amend the long absence of posts...

so as you might have noticed...or not, but it's all the same to me....I haven't posted on here in quite some time. God has thrown my life some of the biggest changes I've ever had and I've been busy with enough other things that I've sadly neglected my blog for awhile. But with myself and my family having moved, settled in (mostly) and all that I'm now getting around to it again :) Anyway I decided that the first thing I would do is post some more pictures of Ari! Because the pictures in this post don't do him justice. They were taken on a cold, rainy day standing under an umbrella, and poor Ari was wet and worried. So these I think (and most certainly hope) you find to be nicer! enjoy!

Goofy pictures first...

general running around

his "cutting horse" corner series...

he is very photogenic!

my adorable boy...

They're Children...

(I wrote this piece a couple days ago while I was a counselor at a camp I have worked at for many years...that is primarily for the children of inmates. It's a Bible camp, and a wonderful place (sagradabiblecamp.org). But this piece started coming to me as I heard the stories of these children...terrible things (everyday life to them) and some of them are just eight or nine years old. Anyway, it's pretty much a poem, but kinda a rough cut one that's almost just rhythmic sort of speaking. But I just left it as it came...)

They’re children...

and your heart tells you

they should be full of innocence

but their eyes testify it’s not true

the burdens they carry

are great than any

we ever bore at that age

the pains of the world,

the breaks, fears and terrors

have exposed these lives

to all of mankind’s errors

my heart cries for them

and longs to heal their pain

but the truth must sink in

once the damage-it remains

the scars are deep and sharp

and worn from time again

and in their minds

the memories are stark…

where do you begin?

but look deep into their souls

search close and you will see

there are sparks of light still left

so much that they could be

there’s hope, there’s a chance

don’t give up on them now

Christ’s arms are open

and He’s waiting patiently

He might use us for a mouthpiece

and place us where we should be

nothing in our own strength

will ever fix a thing

but the power of God behind us

is of an unstoppable King

He works in mighty ways

breaks their so many bars and chains

but even so He holds them gently

and softly calls their name

He takes away their pain

the raw and burning shame

the truth has shown the way

and light is pouring in

the broken, fragmented pieces

are reforged…

they’re made brand new

how can we sit by

and let minutes still tick on

when He’s ready to show His love

and chose to right their wrong

it’s so good, so pure and beautiful

a sight worth much to see

how His truth and gracious promise

has set these new lives free

Jumping...good and bad...mostly good!

We did a jumping clinic in mid-March at Lost Springs Farm. (where I work) It was fantastic, I learned a whole TON of new stuff...and Jess got some great pictures =) So here ya go:

Here is my lovely Symphony (ok, not mine, but I'm her sole rider and she's almost like mine)

trot poles for rhythm and balance

isn't she a handsome mare?! =)

and we hadn't jumped much in the last several months but she was great

and gosh is she cute! (don't look at my form, but her's is great!)

she's got so much potential! But we're working on quality before height

fantastic jump! Woohoo!

and here are some of Allspice (Spice). I don't have many good ones of her, and she had just begun jumping a few months before. But she is now doing automatic flying lead changes and jumping closer and closer to 3', so I love working with her!

our big Appendix Quarter girl

she was a Western Pleasure horse and we've had
to work hard trying to pick up her front end

this is how NOT to jump

still learning to go to the part of the jump that I told her to!

working on taking off correctly as well

and a very beautiful jump as the finale!

you are Mine...

I can find you in a million faces
see you in the darkest room
find you when you think you’re hidden
and when the light shines through
because I Am
and you are Mine

when you stumble and you fall down
scraped and torn and bruised
I am here and reaching out My hand
to someone broken and confused
because I Am
and you are Mine

you must trust Me that I’ll hold you up
that I am your strength and shield
your pride and self you must give up
if to My way you will yield
because I Am
and you are Mine

the plans and dreams that are all your own
you’ve laid before Me now
said you wanted to do My will
asked Me please to show you how
because I Am
and you are Mine

days of pain and days of glory will flit
before your wondering eyes
I will guide and teach and show you
how to fight the world’s lies
because I Am
and you are Mine

I’m here in your confusion and loss
when you can’t see your way through
I hold you when you’re tempest tossed
and don’t know what to do
because I Am
and you are Mine

I am your constant source of hope
still you at times forget I’m here
but my promises never die
and I’ll wait ‘till you draw near
because I Am
and you are Mine

I hear your prayers and I feel your pains
understand the struggles that you find
know great loss and desolation
beyond thought by your mind
because I Am
and you are Mine

so I can comfort and uphold you
when the world’s falling down
because I walked for a time among you
for you I bore My Father’s frown
because I Am
and you are Mine

find in Me your joy and life of rest
assurance that I care for My own
always to Me you can return
I’ll not leave you alone
because I Am
and you are Mine

My heart breaks when you won’t see Me
but when you repent and turn
know that you’re forgiven and loved
I am steadfast, you have yet to learn
because I Am
and you are Mine

your heart will fill with purpose and hope
when you take to heart My truth
and know that I am for you
since the days of your youth
because I Am
and you are Mine

so even when you’re unsure and fear
I never change or vary
then place yourself in My hand
let me your burdens carry
because I Am
and you are Mine

I can find you in a million faces
see you in the darkest room
find you when you think you’re hidden
and when the light shines through
because I Am
and you are Mine

-written by Heather

Our Missouri Blizzard!

Yay! We had fun today. We decided to go out and take pictures, though we weren't out for long because it was very tiring post holing through all the snow and because the wind stung your face. But it was a fun adventure!

Greg is 6' tall, and this drift is above his knees

standing beside the car

the snow is deeper than Schae...but he loves it!

Deep sculpted drifts

Lovely sculpted drifts!

Deep drift, with goofy dogs

snow IN the barn!

shoveling the roof

Beautiful drifts!

The blizzard! =)

To A Young Lady...

I ran across this poem, and I consider it to be very beautiful. But I also consider it a challenge, for I know that I do not live up to that standard of young womanhood. So I wanted to share this with anyone who may yet read this blog, as a challenge to all young women out there that we might all strive to be worthy of the tribute given in this poem, and we might strive to be the most honorable, wholesome, and God-glorifying people that we are able. We will never be perfect, but we must still strive for greater character

To A Young Lady
Sweet stream that winds through yonder glade,
Apt emblem of a virtuous maid
Silent and chaste she steals along,
Far from the world's gay busy throng:
With gentle yet prevailing force,
Intent upon her destined course;
Graceful and useful in all she does,
Blessing and blest where'er she goes;
Pure-bosom'd as that water glass,
And heaven reflected in her face.
-William Cowper