Some shots of Angel (Equine Photography)

So yesterday, I was outside, writing an email to a friend and it had been drizzling a little. After a few minutes, I looked up and saw a rainbow, and I realized I had been wanting to get pictures of Angel since she got here...so I took the opportunity with the light and such to get some shots. =)

Some favs

God's Angel (Part Three)

Part Three

Then, on November 30^th, 2009, the phone rang. My stomach had been feeling weird all day. I had no idea why, and there was no reason for it. There was a message on the cell phone. My Mom was acting very strange when she got off the phone from calling back. I was doing dishes and I asked who it was. She didn’t respond and went downstairs to speak with Dad. I can’t remember if Mom came back up and told me to come downstairs or if I just came downstairs. But it doesn’t matter that much either way. I sat down on the keyboard bench that was in my Dad’s office. It must have been five minutes of waiting for them to decide who was going to tell me. I think it was a combination of the two in the end, anyway.

Angel had had a colic incident and her owner had come to see her. Angel was fine. Her owner however, told my riding teacher that she had just moved and was going to be extremely busy for the next year. She wanted to lease Angel to someone for a year, and asked if my riding teacher knew of someone who would be interested. My riding teacher thought of me immediately.

I was going to lease Angel. She was going to be my horse for a year. She was going to live at my house and I was going to see her every day for a year. God answered my prayer more perfectly than I could have imagined. I didn’t quite believe it was really happening. I told a few people about it, but since I wasn’t positive it was happening until she was on my property, I didn’t tell very many people.

We called my riding teacher back to say that “yes,” I wanted to lease her. We got her owner’s phone number and called her. Angel’s owner’s phone was extremely full of messages and it was probably about two weeks before I got a hold of her to confirm it. I asked her my questions and told her that I wanted to lease Angel. She sounded like she was fine with everything, but really emphasized the fact that Angel needed good fencing. She told me to call her if I had any more questions and let her know when we could meet so we could talk about details.

In December, I went to see Angel again to go out and groom her and hang out with her. I sat in the paddock as she ate her hay and I talked to her about my plans. I talked to her about coming to live with me and how much fun it would be. I talked to her about God and how amazing He is. I told her about this amazing cranberry-colored blanket that I was going to get for her.

Christmas was insane here. I was happy, but really too busy to focus on anything. My Christmas Angel was not coming right away, but I was still totally happy. Angel was my favorite Christmas present.

Shortly after Christmas, I was becoming discouraged again because it kept snowing and we couldn’t build a barn or fencing in the snow. I had to wait until spring before I could bring her to my house. That horse that our friend had was sold.

On January 8^th, 2010, I went to see her again. It was freezing that day. I don’t think it made it out of the teens. But I didn’t care. I was so glad to see Angel. I told her that day that I didn’t understand how we were ever going to get a barn or fencing up if God kept sending all the snow. After all, didn’t He know how frustrated I was? I was discouraged and didn’t think that it would really happen. But I tried to tell myself that I had to be patient. I prayed with Angel and told God that I would wait. I told God that if it was His will for us to never be together, then I would accept that.

One of the hardest things to do as a Christian is telling God that you want His will more than you want yours. But if you want to give your life for God, it is a necessity. As I have already mentioned, there is a high price to be paid for following Christ. But I dare say it’s worth it. After all, hasn’t God already paid the highest price for me?

Day 6, 7, and 8

Hehe. I'm falling behind...whoops. =(


51. Walks on nights with a full moon.
52. Autumn and the GLORIOUS colors of the leaves.
53. A piano. =)
54. Woods to walk in again.
55. Clear blue autumn days.
56. Lemonade.
57. Sweaters.
58. Hoodies.
59. Days that start cloudy and end sunny.
60. Christmas.
61. Easter.
62. Homemade chicken soup (without onions).
63. Homemade chocolate chip cookies.
64. Homemade peanut butter cookies.
65. The smell of fresh hay.
66. The smell of molasses and horse treats.
67. At least one adopted mom and multiple adopted aunts.
68. Christmas lights.
69. Candles.
70. Corn chowder on Christmas eve.
71. Wassail anytime (but mostly Christmas eve)
72. Cream cheese walnut muffins.
73. Peppermint soap/lotion or just peppermint leaves (especially in tea!)
74. Coffee (sometimes)
75. Science books.
76. Nonfiction horse books for educational purposes (only I don't get school credit for them. =( )
77. Notebooks for writing in.
78. Quiznos.
79. MY SUPER-AMAZING RIDING TEACHER!!!
80. MY SUPER AMAZING MOM AND DAD WHO TAKE ME TO MY RIDING TEACHER'S HOUSE!!!


(For the record, these things are NOT in any particular order. They are written as I think of them)

Day 5

Blessings:

41. Strands of gold in dark purple pillows.


42. The blessing of taste (after all, eating would be quite boring without it!).
43. Christmas tea.
44. Hoodies (Especially my horse one. I should get a picture sometime.).
45. Friends.
46. Riding with the wind in my hair.
47. Nieces and nephews (the ones on the way, too) and the way they can make me smile.
48. Colors of autumn.
49. My digital camera.
50. Mountains.



(Just a quick note. My template is being messed with, obviously. I have no idea how long is will stay like this or how long I'll be messing with it, so bear with me again.)

Day 4

Thank You, Lord for:

31. Horse slobber.
32. Horse hugs.
33. Horse kisses.
34. A horse's unconditional love.
35. A horse's amazing ability to distract me from my issues and make me feel beautiful, even when I'm covered in dirt, sweat, and horse slobber.
36. The breath of horses in my face.
37. That horses don't talk back.
38. A horse shoulder to cry on.
39. A soft velvety horse nose to kiss.
40. A horse neck to hug.

Day 3

Lord, thank you for:

21. Clean, warm, soft blankets on my bed.
22. The smell of hot fresh homemade bread.
23. The smell of horses.
24. Fruit, especially apples.
25. Hot apple cider in the fall.
26. Light.
27. Hope.
28. Being bigger than all my problems.
29. The sun.
30. Stars.

Being thankful

No, it's not thanksgiving yet, but that's the point. God has shown me recently that I have not been very thankful at all for what I have. I have been concentrating on what I don't have. So I am going to try to think of the good things. Every day for the next two weeks, I am going to post ten different things I am thankful for. I am going to thank God for them and get a more grateful attitude. Who knows, maybe I'll keep posting more things after two weeks...I might get addicted. =)

For those of you who care, at ten different things a day, that's 140 things to be thankful for in just two weeks.

I challenge anyone who reads this to do the same. It's not an order, but if you think you would have fun and find new things to be thankful for, I say go for it. Maybe God will use my lists to help others, too.

Here are some verses to go with this (all are KJV).

1 Chronicles 16:8

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

Psalm 92:1-2

IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH:

²To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,

1 Chronicles 16:3

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 30:4

Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Psalm 105:1

give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

Okay, there are a TON more, but those are a few of them.


So here's list number one.


Thank you Lord for:


1. My Savior who died on the Cross to pay for my sin willingly because He loved me.
2. Freedom to read my Bible and worship in church in America.
3. A God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. (*Psalm 103:8)
4. A God who loves me when I'm obeying Him and when I'm not.
5. A God who always willingly forgives.
6. My Dad and all that he does.
7. My Mom and how much she does, in spite of no one noticing.
8. My brothers and sisters.
9. A roof over my head.
10. Clothes to wear.

Answers to prayer

Okay. I want some feedback. Does anyone have an answer to prayer they would be willing to share here? I want to hear all about it. Please leave anything! If it's more than one, tell all of them! =)

A few verses and some pictures of my last day at the barn

I had such a blast on Friday at the barn. I helped out with the group that came out and I rode for a little while. I actually took Rocky over the six-inch jump. He LOVES jumping! I had so much fun. I was hot when I was done and so while I was waiting for the kids to come and help groom Rocky, I got a drink of Dr. Pepper. Of course, I had to share it with him. I think he got more of it than I did (see picture below)! I had so much fun and I only wish that it wasn't goodbye. I have always had such a blast and I don't know what I would have done without my time at the barn. God really blessed me with all of these awesome people and horses. I will never forget them. They have been the best part of my life (not including God) and I wouldn't trade one second I had with them for anything. I love them so much!

Micah 7:18-19

18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

¹⁹He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Doesn't this look so peaceful?

My goofy boyfriend wanted my Dr. Pepper. I think he got more of it than I did! (In case you couldn't tell, this was supposed to be a picture of me and my riding teacher!!)

Psalm 51:16-17

¹⁶ For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.

¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.

Also, this is my Rocky with his leaser. He loves her and she is so awesome. =)

Check here for more pictures of my last day at the barn.

The sun is shining.

The sun is shining. The flowers are blooming. The trees have leaves again. The bushes, too. The birds are singing. The bees and bugs are out (much to my dismay). I think spring has arrived. =\


I am not really one for spring or summer. But this year, I think I'm okay with it. I am sooo sick of the clouds and rain and brown leaves and mud. I am ready for it to be warm (but not hot!) and sunny again. I am happy the sun is out. God is 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)