The before and after shots I promised

I'm sooo happy. She actually had eyes under those third eyelids!

Anticipation

I have to post this picture again, because it makes me happy on a depressive day.



"Anticipation"




If anyone actually reads this blog, please tell me if you think my equine photography is any good!

Wow.

Ya know, I complain a lot. About the number of readers (ahem, commenters) on my blog, my schoolwork, my family, my friends, my lack of permit/license, things I have, things I don't...the list goes on.

I am just thinking about how blessed I really am. To have all of the readers I do. To be able to do schoolwork. To have a family. To have even the one or two friends that I do...I just can't seem to get it right. I'm always complaining, but in reality, I'm a lot more blessed that I think I am. There are so many people out there that don't have money for food, don't have families, don't have the "necessities" of life. Many of them don't even have God. How can I miss so much? How can I miss the "little things"? The little "blessings in disguise"?



All I have to say is wow.

I truly am blessed.

Thanks, God for everything. Thanks for sending your Son to die for me. Thanks so much God for blessing me with family, friends, and everything. Thanks for horses. Thanks for letting me ride as much as I do. Thanks for all the "little things". Thanks for who You are. You are so good to me.


(I apologize for the "preachy-ness" of this post)


(Okay, you know what? Forget that last sentence in parentheses. I don't apologize)

Psalm 121

¹ I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
² My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
⁸ The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Ick.

Well. It's been a busy couple of days. And I think it's going to be worse later this week. Cooking, cleaning, school. I would like to change my blog template, I think. But I'm waay too busy this week. Maybe I'll make time next week. If not, then I will probably change it in a couple of weeks when I finish school. Provided nothing else comes up.

I am planning to go to camp this summer. I am really excited. The Wilds is a wonderful Christian camp. I am especially looking forward to the phenomenal preaching that they have there. They have at least two services a day! I am sooo excited to be going to that, and this time I'm not going to forget my notebook! I hope I'll make some new friends while I'm there. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me.

Other than that, we're building a house. Hopefully we'll be breaking ground around April 1st and we should finish sometime around the last week in June, give or take a couple of weeks. Can't wait for that to be done. I'm getting excited. If everything works out, maybe we can build a smallish run-in-shed and maybe I can get a horse this fall!! I guess it's up to God, though.

I am ready for another horse day. Next time I go, I'm planning to ride bareback. =)

My favorite shots

The top is my favorite.

Classic Quarter Horse shot

This was last week. They were waiting for the morning feeding.

I can't get over the curve in this Arab's ears. It's just so cute!

I'm not sure why I like this shot...

I'm an aunt threes times over(or is that removed???)

Well, my brother and sister-in-law have had their second baby. A baby girl. So I guess that's the "big" news around here.

I was going to go riding today. It was going to be a really fun dressage lesson! I actually got out to the barn, but it started raining. So I ended up just hanging out with the wet horses and drinking(hahaha another pun, they just PLAY out of my mouth!) their wet smell in. The best horses to kiss are the wet, smelly ones. ;-D

I got some pictures and I got my camera back, so I will try to upload some pictures soon.

The absolute best feeling in the world...

has got to be when a horse nickers and walks to you without being asked.



If you don't know anything about horses, they don't normally(there are a few exceptions) walk up to you unless you have a treat, and even then, sometimes, you have to go to them. Horses, by nature, would rather spend their time with their equine buddies and just chillin' in a pasture. But under normal circumstances, they would rarely choose to be with a person unless they really love them.


So yesterday, after I had ridden her and then ridden Sapphire(another Arabian), it amazed me when I walked around the barn to take Sapphire back to the pasture, Angel gave a low nicker and came over to the fence to see me again.



When I had been working with her earlier, I had her galloping around a ring without my using a lunge whip or lead rope. She just ran on my voice command. Then she followed me right back to the hitching post almost without the lead rope. I was totally thrown for a loop(haha, another unintentional pun). I never expected her to follow me around. It was the coolest feeling ever!



So, other than that, Colleen got her eye surgery yesterday. I can actually see her eyes, now! I would take a picture, but I'm gonna have to wait a couple of weeks until I go riding again, because I left my camera at my riding teacher's house. I will give a before and after picture soon.

An AMAZING "homemade" brownie recipe

Basic brownies. I made these last night out of a desperate attempt to have something sweet in the house. I was dying for dessert! I guess that's what comes of exercising. =P
The cool thing about these is that you can make the mix and save it. Just throw the liquids in later, when you're ready to make! If you don't want to make the topping, don't worry about it. It was an improvisation on my part and totally estimated.


Basic Brownies

(May want to make 1/2)
Mix:
4 c all purpose flour
1-1/2 c dry milk
4 c granulated sugar
1 c Hershey's plain cocoa
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Store in airtight container(or ziplock bag) or make brownies immediately.

(May want to 2x)
Brownies:
1 3/4 c basic brownie mix (see above)
1/2 c chopped nuts (optional)
1 egg, beaten
1/3 c water
1/2 c butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F Pour batter into a buttered 9in. pan and bake 20-25 min. or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 15-30 min.

Serves 12 (Supposedly, but I think it's more like 4. How much is one serving supposed to equal?)


Improvised topping

8oz. cream cheese (softened)
1/3-1/2 c sugar
1/2 c heavy whipping cream

Whip in a mixer until blended.

Top brownies or leave off and let people add their own.

It is March

...And therefore time to start thinking about Christmas again!

So..here's my ideal Christmas.


Christmas eve
Making wassail/egg casserole.
Riding my horse and spending time with him
Getting everything set up and decorated.
Evening corn chowder for dinner.
Special Christmas story with wassail.
Singing Christmas songs.
Getting everything ready for bed.
Drinking last of wassail mugs and saving pot for next day.
It starts snowing.
Sleep.

Christmas day
Getting up and starting the day at 4:00a.m.(with a special Christmas gift, perhaps)
Finding that it snowed at least two inches outside.
Getting dressed in lounge/sweat pants and a warm, toasty hoodie.
Going to the kitchen and getting carrots and apples.
Heading out to the barn to see my horse and give him/her his/her Christmas carrots and apples.
Spending a little time with my horse just saying hey(hay!) and grooming him.
Possibly going for an early morning ride in the snow.
Coming back inside for some hot chocolate/hot coffee/wassail and sitting in front of the fireplace.
Possibly watching a Christmas movie.
Getting the egg casserole in the oven.
Making grapefruit and sausages and orange juice, etc.
Waiting for everyone else to get up.
Eating breakfast.
(skipping cleaning up until later)
Heading into the living room to open any gifts(save best for last, of course!)
Clean up kitchen and living room.
Get dressed to go outside and play in the snow with horse.
Possibly ride horse.
Come back in for wassail/hot chocolate.
Lounge around the fireplace or watch a movie.
Or hang out outside with horse.

One life goal

To build a snow horse.


It didn't work today. =(

Psalm 77/At the foot of the Cross

Psalm 77

1 I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.

6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?

8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?

9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.

10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.

11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.

15 Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

16 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.

17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.

18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.

19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.

20 Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.





At the Foot of the Cross-Tammy Trent

At the foot of the cross
Where grace and suffering meet
You have shown me your love
Through the judgement you received
And you've won my heart
Yes you've won my heart
Now I can

Chorus:
Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross

At the foot of the cross
Where I am made complete
You have given me life
Through the death you bore for me
And you've won my heart
Yes you've won my heart
Now I can

Chorus:
Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross