Never, never, never give up!

My coffee cup I got yesterday from the local coffee parlor read: "Don't you dare give up!"

Coincidence you say? I submit to you it is not!

Lately, with all the uncertainty surrounding our lives, I have been feeling a bit insufficient and weak. I have wanted to 'give up'.

But I can't. My parents never gave up. My husband does not give up. My children have not given up. Giving up is not an option. No matter how hard it seems. No matter how dark it gets before the dawn. Things are not as they appear and we can keep going for one more day.

As a matter of fact, I am not the one in charge!

I forget this fact sometimes and think it is all up to me. Thankfully it is not.

"My grace is sufficient for you.: ~~ God

Line Driving Outdoors

I have been line driving Addy for the last few weeks. Today I showed up at the barn and readied her for driving but the arena was being used for a class that I was unaware of-- Thursdays from ten to one.

So, I lead her around the back of the barn yard amidst the huge round hay bales, farm implements, and cars whizzing by on the nearby road.

I lead her back to the hitching post and proceeded to hook her up to the long driving lines. Off we went! Soon enough the surrounding fields of curious horses began to line the fence. We had quite an audience before it was over. We walked, trotted circles and practiced plenty of stopping and backing. She showed off "real good" in front of her stable mates! It was amazing to me that I had her in hand the whole time even though she shied a bit in various places. We made laps around the outside of the arena, up and down the canal bank road and after about a half an hour, back to the hitching post. She rocked!

The next step is getting on. Can we say helmet? I'm not above that these days. Oh, she is going to be spectacular in the cutting arena. I can hardly wait. :)

Cast Away

We watched 'Cast Away' again... it was on TV last night. Tom Hanks is a mastermind. He's not much to look at but, boy, can he act.

I woke up this morning amazed at how his life went from bad to worse. But, he survived none the less. Even when he didn't want to survive, he survived.

One of his last lines in the movie was, "I know I gotta keep breathing. The sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"

I am learning about the only thing I can control in this life is my attitude. I can make a plan, and it is probably prudent to do so, but the good Lord will order my steps. And all the while my will is being conformed to His. Sanctification. God showing us mercy and grace as we learn how to live and die in this place.

So, at the end of the movie the character, Chuck Noland, is faced again with a crossroads. When you think about that, we are all faced with a crossroads every moment of everyday.

"I could go east, I could go west; it was all up to me to decide." ~~Bob Seger

That dang free will! Such an enormous plan that I don't have any answers for. One thing I do know for sure: God is good and He loves us more than we can fathom. I hope to choose wisely today!

Cheers!

Roll, roll me away, won't you roll me away tonight...

Shut up, Rush!

With being in the spotlight, such as the personality of Rush Limbaugh, comes great responsibility. As with those whom have gone before him, it is so easy with so many words that come out of a talk show hosts mouth in a day, to eventually say the wrong thing.

We've all done it. You know, the point when you've said too much--crossed the line. Then you try to back paddle and find that you are only digging a deeper hole into which you should probably crawl! That ole flood of irreversible talking just to hear the sound of your own voice. I hate it when I do that! You can never take back words. Once released into your world, can and do set it ablaze. The damage done.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not defending Rush. He's a big boy... no pun intended! He's been in this long enough to know better. But, you've heard the old adage about being given enough rope. Choke, choke, gag, gag, sputter, sputter!

We would all do better to speak less. Listen more and generally mind our own business.
We can stand up for what is right with our actions... not just empty words.

Case in point! Ferme la bouche!

...because God is love.

Construction Man spoke at his grandmother's memorial service yesterday. He talked of love and how it is the "greatest of these." (faith, hope and love) Her life reflected all three along with grace and style!

I woke up this morning after a very difficult day yesterday and a sleepless night, and heard the words "the reason the greatest of these is love is because God is love, and He is the greatest!"

I did not just make these things up...

1Corinthians 13 and 1 John 4:7-12.

Love, love, love.

Many things are done for love, but "God so loved the world..." you know the rest.
It's sacrificial love that speaks the loudest and moves the mountains. When we know how much we are loved we tend to make better choices for ourselves. I am thankful for a family that loves one another well. :) Look out better choices, here I come!

"In real love you want the other person's good..." ~~ Anonymous

Seek peace today and pursue it.

Nurse Child is On Her Way

We are expecting company today! Our youngest and her boyfriend will arrive this evening from the Seattle area. They are driving. I hope the four mountain passes they have to pass through are clear and dry.

Before they arrive, we have a memorial service to attend for our Grandma Betty. Construction Man will lead the service, his brother will do the eulogy, and I will lead the three hymns Grandma B picked out before she died.

All is well. Just another day in paradise! Probably a bitter-sweet day though.

Rolling out dough for cabbage rolls.

Nurse Child going to winter formal a few years back.

Bird's Eye View

Got to go riding with my friend Kelly yesterday. We rode to the highest peak behind her son's house and stood there gazing out at the Pryor Mountain Range by Bridger, Montana. She asked me why, or better yet how I could be so grumpy/angry when we can ride horses anytime we want, and have views like this one. I didn't have an answer. I just rode silently for sometime behind her as the warm tears glided down my cheek.

The wind was blistering cold and all my extra clothes could not keep out the chill. But, it was still so peaceful and enjoyable to be atop a horse in the company of a noble woman and close friend. God is good.

There is much to be thankful for. I will try to remember.