Amazing "Daze"

Yup. I had an amazing "daze" today. I had so much fun. I helped with the preschoolers at the barn again today and actually several of the horses were lame, so we had to put them in the pasture and some of them we didn't even use. I just spent the afternoon hanging out around my riding teacher and her husband and had fun with that and I helped her shop for a new hat. The best part of the day was between everything when I ran Angel around and rode her. I ran her in the ring and she wasn't too full of it today. She even started trotting with me. That was fun. I put a bridle on her and rode with one of my best friends bareback. She rode her favorite and I rode Angel (who is my favorite). We had a lot of fun just walking and trotting bareback and Angel has such a smooth canter. She was so amazing. Her name fits perfectly. I love her so much. We pretty much just gave them a very loose, relaxing ride. I think they really enjoyed it. It was pretty warm again today, so we didn't want to work them hard. After I finished, I gave Angel a really good grooming. I groomed her mane and tail and everything. She was SOOO pretty when I was done. She was really soft, too. I think she liked it. One of the workers there said that I spoil her rotten. But she deserves it! And if I didn't, no one else would. =(


So this was a totally amazing day. I really hope I get to go again soon!

(P.S. I forgot my camera this time. So I didn't get any pictures)

Not my best shot, but my favorite...

I just love her eyes. This is my girl, Angel. I love this horse. I thought she was going to be pretty rotten yesterday, because she was acting grouchy toward all the other horses. But she lived up to her name. My riding teacher gave me a lesson yesterday in dressage. That was fun, and I think Angel really needed the challenge. I rode her bareback for a while after that. Yesterday was such a good day. =)

Check out more shots here.

Yay

Welll....school is done for the year. That makes me happy. My bedroom is clean. One of my friends is having a good day (And I have a suspicion the other one is, too). It is absolutely gorgeous outside. God is alive and working (which is the best part!) . The dogs are okay. Most everyone I know is relatively healthy. My bathroom is clean....


Ahhh.....



Does anyone else think summer break is good? ;)


And the (second) best part about it all is that I am getting up early tomorrow (On first day of summer break! =P ) and I'm going to spend the whole day at the barn.


If this is what summer break is like...I'm never going back to school. =D

The Christmas Story

Matthew 1,2, 26, 27, 28, and Luke 1, 2, 22, 23, 24

I've included the last passages of Matthew and Luke because they are why Jesus was born in the first place.



I found a book in Barnes and Noble this morning entitled "The Purpose of Christmas". I turned it over to read the back cover and this is what it read:

Why is Christmas such a big deal?

If you stop to think about it, it is astounding that the simple, unassuming birth of a peasant baby boy more than two thousand years ago in the Middle East can today cause traffic jams every December in places like New York City, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro.

I never finished reading the synopsis because this was a truly amazing thought. It is amazing how the birth of a baby can cause such traffic jams for an entire month. People are so busy getting ready for the one day of the month they miss the entire purpose of the day. Perhaps some have never heard. Perhaps they just do it because it's expected. Maybe they have heard, and they keep forgetting. I suspect many, like those who have written "xmas" in place of "Christmas", just don't want people to remember. Many would have us believe that Christmas is about santa claus coming on Christmas eve. Many would have us believe that it's about showing the people we love that we care.

But the real reason for Christmas?


It's been lost in the business of the gifts, the stockings, the fireplaces, the food, the family time, the cards, the traditions, and everything else that's seeped in originally just to celebrate the Christmas season.


The reason that so many have forgotten is that Jesus came to earth as a baby. He came as a baby. That's an amazing thought. That such a holy, righteous God would come to earth as a little baby boy. That He would humble Himself to such an estate. He was and is a King. He could have come as anything. He could have come as a conqueror or a king. But He chose to come as a baby.


He chose to come as a baby.


What an amazing thought. And He came not to condemn us, but to forgive us. To live a perfect life and then die for our sins, that we might live for Him. That we might be saved through Him. I cannot begin to fathom the kind of love He had in His heart for us. To die for us. To forgive us for all the wrong things we have done. To still forgive us when we're so imperfect.

You know, we are so selfish. We don't want to forgive someone who may have borrowed our hairpin without asking. And yet, Jesus forgave all of us for every single thing we have ever ever done wrong.


"Wow" is the only word that comes to my mind.


How can I be so selfish and unforgiving of those in my life when Jesus forgave me for things that I deserve death for? How?


I'm speaking to myself here, so those who may get offended at anything I'm saying, please forgive me. =D Seriously, I have a lot of things that I need to fix about myself, and I'm not meaning to attack anyone personally.

I just wanted to remember the real reason for Christmas. The reason we're even here on this earth. It's not about presents, it's not about food, or traditions, or santa claus.







It's about Jesus Christ and what He did for us.

At the risk of regretting it in the morning...

I'm going to write about my life again. This is supposed to be a profound post. =P

Today has been horrible, as I mentioned earlier. I can't go riding on Friday...I'm trying to plan a surprise birthday party for my Mom, but nothing is really working...I didn't feel like doing school...I need to make a decision about college sometime...I gotta send out Christmas gifts...I gotta send out Christmas letters...I gotta make cookies...I gotta exercise..I gotta keep secrets...I gotta not be disappointed if I don't get anything for Christmas...I gotta be helpful...I gotta be friendly...I gotta be a good example...I gotta serve others...I gotta finish shopping...I gotta talk to so-and-so...I gotta finish this...I gotta finish that...(you get the picture)...


So I think it's all to much. I think my brain is overloading and rejecting all the things that I need to do. I might mention that I haven't been able to get up early enough to do my Bible time. I've been trying to pray throughout the day as the need comes or before I go to sleep or before I start the day. But I think I'm crazy busy. Not literally. Just in my brain. Between Christmas and friends and horses and dogs and housing and presents and family and sleep and promises and secrets and all the info that's overloading my brain, I've had too much.

I need to slow down and take some time with God. I need to pray. But even through my mind's busyness, I can hear His quiet whispers. He's been reminding me of His unchanging, unfailing love and how life is never hopeless with Him.

On Sunday, the message was absolutely wonderful. It seemed like it was pointed right at me. It seemed like it pointed to all my problems and showed me the answers. The message was from Psalm 107.

Psalm 107
1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3 And gathered out of the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south.

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way;
They found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty,
Their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He delivered them out of their distresses.
7 And He led them forth by the right way,
That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

10 Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
Bound in affliction and irons—
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God,
And despised the counsel of the Most High,
12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor;
They fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
And broke their chains in pieces.
15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For He has broken the gates of bronze,
And cut the bars of iron in two.

17 Fools, because of their transgression,
And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food,
And they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
20 He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And declare His works with rejoicing.

23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters,
24 They see the works of the LORD,
And His wonders in the deep.
25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind,
Which lifts up the waves of the sea.
26 They mount up to the heavens,
They go down again to the depths;
Their soul melts because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,
And are at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He brings them out of their distresses.
29 He calms the storm,
So that its waves are still.
30 Then they are glad because they are quiet;
So He guides them to their desired haven.
31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,
And praise Him in the company of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a wilderness,
And the watersprings into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into barrenness,
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He turns a wilderness into pools of water,
And dry land into watersprings.
36 There He makes the hungry dwell,
That they may establish a city for a dwelling place,
37 And sow fields and plant vineyards,
That they may yield a fruitful harvest.
38 He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly;
And He does not let their cattle decrease.

39 When they are diminished and brought low
Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow,
40 He pours contempt on princes,
And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;
41 Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction,
And makes their families like a flock.
42 The righteous see it and rejoice,
And all iniquity stops its mouth.

43 Whoever is wise will observe these things,
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.




Notice how the phrase "Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses" is repeated several times. I was reminded of how I need to look to the Lord when I need help and not so much to anyone or anything else. I was reminded that God loves me and that He's there, even when I don't make time to spend with Him. The pastor also told several stories about songwriters lives and how they came to God and why they wrote the songs they wrote. This one song in particular really got my attention because the writer wrote this at a time when his wife left him because she couldn't stand being an evangelist's wife any more. It's not the same, but it still hurts a lot when friends just don't talk to you anymore. Or even tell you why. And lately, I've been feeling a little upset that I pray for people who don't even notice my existence. I guess I've just been wondering why I even care when they don't even know I exist. Or they try to pretend I don't and ignore me. But I keep praying for them anyway. Because it's the right thing to do, I guess. Or maybe it's because I honestly do care for these people, even though the don't care about me. So God used this song to remind me that even though no one else may care, Jesus still cares.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus
Written by Charles Frederick Weigle

CHORUS
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There's no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me.
O how much He cared for me!

I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus
Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true;
I would tell you how He changed my life completely,
He did something that no other friend could do.

CHORUS
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There's no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me.
O how much He cared for me!

All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me;
All my heart was full of misery and woe;
Jesus placed His strong and loving arms around me,
And He led me in the way I ought to go.

CHORUS
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There's no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me.
O how much He cared for me!

Ev'ry day He comes to me with new assurance,
More and more I understand His words of love;
But I'll never know just why He came to save me,
Till some day I see His blessed face above.

CHORUS
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There's no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me.
O how much He cared for me!

You can check out the full story about Charles Weigle(or look further on google or something) here.

But anyway, God just spoke to me through this song and message. It was such a wonderful feeling. And I didn't really want to go to church that morning. But He knew I needed to be there. I can't express how much I needed to hear this. I was so glad that God can still speak through even little things. I haven't really wanted to go to church for the past six months or so because we haven't had a church that was doing me any good. I haven't heard a good message since probably 2007 when I was at The Wilds. So I've just tried to do what's right and go anyway. Not because I really wanted to, but because Mom and Dad were going and they thought it was the right thing to do. But I think can honestly say that for probably the first time in six months, I am at least looking forward a little to this Sunday. I can't really begin to write what God is doing in my heart. I have so many things that I have been struggling with and so many things that I have had so much trouble with.

Wait, trust, and hope are the three main things that I've had trouble really doing. In my heart, I want to. But to be honest, I think fear has something to do with it. Fear that my dreams will never be realized. Fear that God will not provide. Fear that God wants something for my life that I will hate. Fear that I will never have a horse. Oh, I know in my heart that these things are not true. But I just struggle with the whole concept of me wanting what God wants for my life. Maybe that's it. And maybe I'm just incoherent, like my sister said she was. It is midnight, after all. I have an excuse. =D But anyway, I hope someone actually reads this and will maybe comment on it.

Thanksgiving week

We couldn't get her to look at the camera
Riding in the wagon

Sitting with Grandpa

Dancing with Nana

Just her size

Now I want a Christmas tree so I can start decorating. =)

Things mostly pertaining to Christmas

Okay. I'm deliriously happy now. Mom found my Christmas cds! Yay!!!!! I've been looking for them for a couple of months. They are my favorite cds. Even though I only have three. =(

Here are some things that I've discovered make me extremely happy.

Horses.
The smell of horses.
Riding horses.
Riding horses bareback. =P
Anything horses.
Four certain Cocker spaniels that are behaving(for once).
Getting gifts for people I love(except when I'm out of money).
Gifts from people I love.
Emails from people I love.
Finding Christmas cds close to Thanksgiving that I've been looking for.
Going Christmas tree hunting.
Pine trees.
The smell of wassail on the night we get our Christmas tree.
Drinking wassail on the night we get our Christmas tree.
Black and Blueberry Rush Naked energy drink.
Decorating Christmas trees.
Decorating for Christmas while playing Christmas music and drinking wassail.
Egg casserole(I'll post the recipe soon) for Christmas breakfast.
Reading the Christmas story on Christmas Eve.
Waking up to an early surprise of a movie and peppermint coffee on Christmas.
Getting the teddy bear I wanted in a box labeled for someone else. =D
Seeing nieces and nephews.
Walking on a cool day with my dog and my sis(not necessarily in that order).
Playing Christmas music on the piano.
Finding things packed away that I've been looking for forever.
When my friends call me. (hint, hint) (jk)
Taking pictures of horses.
Horses that are running in a field.
Popcorn balls for snacks for Christmas.
A perfectly beautiful, cool, crisp day with a breeze when I ride.



I think I better quit. This takes work thinking of all these things. ;-)

Gotta run anyway.

Mind boggled

My head is spinning with things I need to do, things I have done, things about God, things to worry about, things I know, things I don't know, things I want to do, things I don't have time to do, thing I wish I had time to do, things I wish I could do, things I can't do, etc...

I can't stop thinking. My head is running. Without me. I might be crazy, but I think I'm growing up. Isn't that a sign of growing up? Having a head full of things to do? Probably not. I need some time to relax.

The things about God running through my head are so jumbled up I can't even clear them. Maybe I'll write something interesting later when my mind is a little less of a catastrophe.

Well, back to life...

Well, my parents are back home...back to real life. The break was cool. But it's kinda frustrating when it ends. Especially when they walk in the door when you're in the end of one of your favorite movies(LOTR). Anyways, we get the day off school tomorrow and then back to school Tuesday. Dunno what's going on tomorrow.

New Template

Well, this is my new blog template. If you've ever visited my sister's blog, you'll know she had it for about three days. I asked her to do this template for my blog. I love my new template! I've got all my blogs on the same one.
I'm having a fun vacation with my sister and her husband(and my neice). I'm starting school next week when I get back. Anyways, until I can think of anything better to post...

Going away...

Well, today, I'm doing laundry. I've gotta get ready to go. I'm heading to some friend's house this weekend. I'll be back Wednesday. I can't wait. I'm gonna have so much fun.

There's a chance that I might get to get back into riding(only once a month, but it's better than nothing). I hope it works out. I've been praying that it might work out. Can anyone tell I'm slightly obsessed with horses? Hmm....I wonder. It just that I get so excited over going to see horses, whether I know them or not, and whether I know it's a one time thing or a once a day thing. I never know if it's gonna be the last time I ever get to see a horse! But I'm still excited. Not excited, ecstatic.
I'm boring everyone...I'll write next week.

Photography

Lately, I've been thinking about being an equine photographer. I love horses and I like taking pictures. I've always loved looking at photos that capture the strength and beauty of the horse. The gentleness, the power, the grace, the speed, the poise, the beauty, and the excellence of the horse are all qualities good photographers capture. I would love to be able to do the same. I was wondering if anyone could give me advice for better pictures or suggest a college they know of that has photography as a major or minor. Please give me some feedback.

This is an awesome site for images

These are some images I've taken


These are some pictures I would love to take

Also, 170 days, 11 hours, 48 minutes until Christmas day.

Fourth

I guess the fourth was okay. We saw fireworks and I took some pics. Family was here and everything. My niece is gonna be one year old. We're celebrating her birthday today. She's such a cutie pie. Maybe I'll post some pics later. We're having grilled marinated chicken tonight. Yummy! Can't wait.

Weekend

Well, Mom and Dad left for Floyd county. They are going to spend the night there. So we get to party! Only, now that we're out of area for Pizza hut to drop a pizza at our door, we can't have pizza. Yep, I guess we're gonna sit at home and watch movies and play games and stuff today. They won't be back until tomorrow around noon or a little later. *gets this evil grin on face* Hmm...I wonder what we can use to blow up the house...anyways, so yeah. That's today. Tomorrow, we're going to a family's house to hang out and party there! Fun weekend, I must say....