Ordinary Life!

I thank God for an ordinary life. Each day passes with the simple things to see and do. And then out of the blue, in a fleeting moment, one view can transport you to a higher level of living.

On our ride with friends in Bridger, we climbed the highest bluff to gaze out at the surrounding mountain ranges. Talk about a new perspective! And, it's a view we see often around these parts and perhaps even take for granted. The vistas are clear, the sky the deepest summer blue, the mountains snowcapped and the company sweet.

Nurse Child accompanied us on the ride the other day. She was so cute up there on one of my friend Kelly's biggest dude horses. An English riding prospect, Maui, has been jumped and dressaged and has now found his way home to Montana. No less than seventeen hands high, Addy certainly looked like a pony in his presence.

But you will be glad to know she kept up with these dude horses like she'd been doing it all along. Over rocks, ravines, rivers and wooden bridges she tromped along. We did have to work on the creek crossing a bit, but she finally conceded. There were even some cliff moments where the rocks were all around, flat and slippery and she listened as I did my best to guide her green legs through.

She jumped in and out of trailers too, as we went from one pasture to the next rounding up horses to move around and shoe.

Twas a great day in an ordinary life. I have been blessed. To be tired at the end of each day from simply living is the greatest blessing of all. King Solomon was on to something in the book of Ecclesiastes I think!

By the way, my sweet corn is most certainly going to be "knee high by the forth of July!"

Oh How He Loves You and Me...

This song just keeps ringing in my head as I read of the positive happenings with our young friend coming out of his coma after a terrible skiing accident. He is beginning to respond as they lift the drug induced coma and continue the rehab. Today is day 23 and he opened his eyes and looked around a bit yesterday. He is also squeezing his young wife's hand along with his devoted mother and father's hands as well.

Hope is being restored. Isn't that just like God?

"Oh, how he loves you and me
oh, how he loves you and me.
He gave his life,
what more could he give?
Oh, how he loves you
oh, how he loves me
oh how he loves you and me." ~~ Kurt Kaiser

Like the flower that blooms in the arid places...

Coffee with a Friend

I was up early and cooked breakfast for Nurse Child as she is working at a coffee house in Cody and needed to be there by eight.

Then it was off to coffee with my sister/friend Robin. We sure can fit a lot into an hour! She has drawn some fairly definitive lines with her kids this summer as they are beginning to grow up and push the boundaries as children will often do. She drew a line in the sand with the oldest one to aide in his maturation process! He seems to be responding well.

This is true in every aspect of our lives. Right down to the training of the dog! Hank the Cowdog is part heeler. Seems as though he thinks I need "heeling" every time I step out the door. He also thinks Addy needs some too. She is not as aggressive as I am! I chased him off with a soup ladle this morning. It was all I could grab as he was chomping on my feet! I am the only one in our house that he really takes advantage of. My horse would reflect the same "friendship."

Buck Brannaman said sometimes you need to be the parent... not always the animal's friend.

Could this also be true in our parenting? This is quite a revelation to some, sorry to say, but, not to Construction Man. He's had this concept figured out for quite sometime!! He is a great dad and not so bad at the dog training either.

"There is no such thing as a perfect parent, so just be a real one." ~~ Anonymous

Exploration

"We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started--and know the place for the first time." ~~T.S. Elliot

After a busy weekend with a wedding of some from our youth group, and a benefit for a member of our church family in Red Lodge, I feel as though I have come full circle. In fact, that verbiage was used several times this weekend in response to "Where are you now?"

Full circle. Back on Rd. 8. I also keep saying, "Everything is as it should be."

Another word that keeps circling my mind is, "The new normal" and "Are you too proud to start again?"

One thing I do know about myself is that I am teachable. However, Addy reminds me much of her master in that it takes a few go-arounds and a bit of coaxing before she finally responds without hesitation. I have taught her to do this. This morning is the forth day of administering Bute for her swelling and she actually stood on the first try, knowing that it was going to be administered with or without her cooperation.

We can make this easier on ourselves to begin to trust God for His will to be done in our lives. It's for our good and His glory. I cannot trace His hand, but I do know His heart. He is good and He loves us very much. The Bible tells me so.

"To arrive where we started and to know the place for the first time." My eyes have been renewed. My heart has been bolstered by love. I am ready to know the place for the first time, even though I am sure I have been here before! I'm not too proud to start over. This just keeps getting better and better.

There's no place like home.

Weeding the Garden with Maddie

So, today was "Weed the Garden Saturday!" Lo and behold, after I had been out there for a time working away, Nurse Child showed up to help. We only had about five rows of corn left to do and she remarked,
"I don't have enough Spanish blood to continue this!"

I began to giggle and soon we were full out gafawing.

Then she allows that it's time for a "hoe down!"

"Do you think that's what they really meant in the old days, Mom?" she quips. "Let's throw the hoe down and have a party!"

We then rallied to finish the work so we could do just that... have a hoe down!

I love my girls. They keep me laughing. It's a good thing.

Sick Horse

We are going on the ninth day of Addy's illness. She went off her feed the Monday before last and ate and drank just enough to keep me stringing her along this week with some antibiotics for a bad cough. I've been leading her to fresh grass to eat instead of feeding her dusty hay. She nibbles a bit. With a bout of diarrhea, and much swelling in the throat latch and cheeks, we are off to the vet today. She is not getting any better. :(

Construction Man enjoyed his birthday and is off and running again to ND.

The Theologian is back on the plane to Tennessee tomorrow morning.

The Beautician is back to school.

Nurse Child is looking for a job and planning her fall schedule.

I am filling in the gaps and holding down the fort.

All is as it should be.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CONSTRUCTION MAN!

Today is Construction Man's fiftieth birthday. :0

What do you say about this guy? He is simply amazing. I have been blessed to be married to him for almost 29 years--over half of his life!

He is the one of the greatest fathers that ever lived. He cares so deeply for his family and everything he does is for us. He works so hard to earn a living and always has. He spends time with all of us laughing, talking, lecturing!! The girls especially love that last part. But, each one has found that ole Dad is usually right.

We have worked side by side for all these years and the Lord Himself has kept us upright, together and going strong.

You will not find a more grateful woman. I love my husband. He is certainly a gift. Not to mention how handsome...

Happy Birthday, Russ. Thank you for being you.
Here are some pictures of a very popular dude~