March 2009

We woke up to a beautiful snow this morning. It is so pretty, but boy it sure is cold. Ryann had the day off today, so Donna and I went in and took care of the horses. Well, Ryann actually fed the horses this morning then Donna and I went in and cleaned stalls and took care of what needed taking care of. We came back to my house for lunch and we're just hanging out here for a while. I was looking through some pictures from my digital camera and I came across this one of "Faith" sleeping in the office. Ryann and Hunter bought Faith two years ago, but she has since become my dog. Isn't she hilarious ! Her tongue hangs out most of the time. I love this dog. She is the sweetest thing, but boy she is funny looking.

It is finally starting to warm up. It's suppose to get above freezing today. Brrrrrr - it has been so cold for the past few days. We turned some of the horses out yesterday for a little bit and they were W I L D !!! They've been cooped up in their stalls for a few days. They were all so happy to get out. I was really surprised that none of them lost a shoe with all the running, bucking and playing they did. So today we're hoping to get the whole crew out for at least a little while. No night time turn out right now.

We had another wonderful Bible study yesterday. We're reading "The Purpose Driven Life". This chapter was all about how important it is to have a "purpose" in order for life to have meaning. That seems so obvious, doesn't it, but there are so many people out there that really don't have a purpose. They haven't figured out what they want to do with their lives. One of the things that really gives life a purpose is by doing things for someone else. Instead of it always being about what we need it is more important to think about what someone else might need. Something my wonderful mother always did, and she often took us with her, was to visit people in nursing homes. She would take them the simplest little item - a new toothbrush, a comb, a nice card - and it always brightened up their day. Of course, it really wasn't the item that brightened their day - it was my mother. Just the fact that she took the time to visit them and spend a little time with them was what lifted their spirits. I know when I go to visit Merrill in the nursing home it does more for me than it does for her. I feel better. My day seems brighter. I wish I could go more than I do. You know what - I am going to make visiting the nursing home a priority in my life. I'm going to put it on my calendar of things to do, just like other appointments I make. It is important to give a little back to those not as fortunate as us. You know what, I'm challenging you to do it too ! Boy - wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone of my friends who read this diary would spend a little time each week visiting a nursing home. What a blessing that would be !

Remember - we're having a horse show this Saturday. I know it's hard to imagine going to a horse show with it being so cold, but the weather is warming up and Saturday is going to be gorgeous. It's even going to be nice on Friday. So get out there and ride a little and come on out. And remember to send in your entries so we know if we are going to have enough entries to have it or not. We have a couple of barns signed up.

Also, Joe Most is coming in on Friday for the weekend. So you may want to stop in to see what he does.

Tomorrow is going to be a beautiful day for a horse show. We have a nice group coming. We'll be starting at 10:00 a.m.

Healing Waters Church on Wednesday night was wonderful. It was the continuation of the series we're working on called "Eternity." It was all about heaven. WOW. Heaven is even more wonderful than we can imagine. Everything is brighter, colors are more vibrant, all our "saved" friends and relatives are there waiting for us. These descriptions of heaven are consistent with what "saved" people who have died and been revived tell about. And they all said the next time it happens to please not bring them back. It sounds wonderful, it sounds magnificent, it sounds like "HEAVEN." We'd love for you to come with us to this series, so just let us know if you want to join us. It is powerful - and wonderful. We are so blessed to have this little church 1/2 mile from us. Isn't God wonderful !!! We love Bethel Temple too, and we still go there on Sunday mornings for the 9:00 service, then we come to Healing Waters for the 11:00 service. Healing Waters also has a Sunday night service. We haven't done that one yet, but I'm sure we will soon. We love that little church. We love church. When you find the right church that feeds your soul there is nothing like it ! You can't wait to get there. It's something you look soooooo forward to doing. We look so forward to Wednesdays and Sundays because we know we are going to hear the word of God and feel his presence. We are so grateful to God for our two wonderful churches.

Another wonderful horse show. I don't think you could have asked for a more beautiful day. What an incredible difference from just a few days ago when we broke record LOW temperatures. Boy - God has sure been blessing us with this horse show weather - and we give him thanks.

We had a really nice group of horses, ponies and riders. It's been funny because every show we've had has been a new group of exhibitors. The new-comers at today's show were the Cedar Valley Farm group. Jill (Tewksbury) brought a really nice group with her and it was so much fun to see her and Mrs. Dye again ! That Betty Dye never changes. And, Valerie Huffman was also with them. I haven't seen Valerie in many, many years - and she's another one that hasn't changed a bit. Valerie and Mrs. Dye have been really good friends for as long as I can remember - hmmmmm - about 40 years! Amazing. Wow - can you believe all of us have known each other for that long. That is real history !

Jackie Lee and her nice group were back again. Jackie had a new small pony with her named "Boots" and he was something else. ADORABLE - and the cutest little jumper. Peyton (Smith) showed him and that kid is such a good rider. Jackie has done a great job teaching her.

Pam Herman brought a few of hers because they weren't able to ride much this week because of the weather. They are planning on coming back again next week. Pam brought her own "baby" horse for her first show and she is adorable. Her name is Valentine-K - because of Popeye-K being her daddy, and the big heart on her forhead. She was Champion in the Green Hunter and Reserve Champion in the Open Hunter. She won the very first class of the horse show and of her show career. A very nice start for her show career.

Two more "blasts from the past" for me were Lexi (Wentz) Forlines and Donna (Ferguson) Schrum. Neither one of those girls have changed a bit. NOT ONE BIT !!! Amazing.

Then - Sandy Holmes and Maryanne Attaway came out for a little while. Two more "blasts from the past", although I did see the two of them at Middleburg Classic this year. Mrs. Holmes and Maryanne are also very good friends that go way back in time.

Jim and Joyce Griffith also came out - mainly because their grandson Josh was judging - but also just to visit. I was telling Ryann about what wonderful customers they were back in the day when Jennifer was a junior and was showing ponies. They were always such a pleasure to have at the horse shows. Perfect horse show parents. I just love them both so much. Very, very special people !!!

We had a group come over from Blue Star Farm to do a vaulting demonstration, which I must say was quite interesting. All of the riders did a great job. Two of them are very advanced - and are hopefully competing in the World Games in Kentucky this year. We all really enjoyed them. And the two horses they brought were AMAZING !

At the end of the day Joel and Robin Stewart came out with their precious baby boy Jake. This was our first time seeing Jake and he is the cutest thing. I am so happy for Joel and Robin - and for Jake. What a blessing they all are for each other.

Today was an absolutely wonderful, fun, enjoyable and BLESSED day. I saw soooooo many people who I haven't seen in such a long time that I use to see regularly. It was so much fun. Thank you all who came out, and thank you Lord for the wonderful weather.

The last show of our Winter Series is next Saturday - March 14th. Then on March 28th we will have the first show of the new Tidewater Horse Shows Association series. I'll be posting that prize list here next week. Be sure to sign up so your points will count.

We had such a wonderful day today. The horses were good, the lessons were good, and the Bible study was wonderful. Then Doug (Hunter's father), Angela, Nick (Angela's son), Brooke (Hunter's sister) and I had dinner at Ryann and Hunter's house and watched American Idol. That Ryann is turning into quite the little cook. I'll tell you what - I don't think I'd be brave enough to cook for Doug and Angela. Those two can cook. We had dinner at their house last night and it was fabulous ! I always know when they are cooking that it is going to be good. And that Ryann cooked Chicken Tetrazzini, Caesar Salad and a Chocolate/Banana Cream Pie for dessert and it was fabulous. I am so proud of her.

We have another show scheduled for Saturday so be sure to get your entries in tomorrow if you're planning to show. We're looking forward to another wonderful day.

Another wonderful - and very busy day at the barn. Lessons all day long starting at 10:00 and ending at 4:30. We only had a couple of minutes break mid day when we weren't teaching. WE LOVE IT !!! Spring is here and everyone is ready to ride.

We have finally been able to ride Rex several days in a row and he has been sooooooo good. He was a little wild on Sunday after Joe finished shoeing him, but that was probably because it was his turn out time. Not a good time to ride a horse. Then he was pretty good on Monday, and very good on Tuesday and today. Donna can't believe the difference in how he feels. There may be something to this Equine Posturing. We'll see.

The show is looking good for Saturday. I'll let you know what time we're starting depending on the weather. If it gets cold we'll have an 11:00 a.m. start to give it time to warm up. Check back with me.

Here he is - ROCKY !!! Isn't he the cutest thing. And he's a big mess !!! We all love him because he's so funny looking. He's the barn mascot and a baby sitter for a couple of different horses. ADORABLE !!!

Anyone watching American Idol ? It is really good this year. It seems to me to be the best group ever. We love it, and I think America did the right thing tonight with who they voted off. They were talented but the other kids are more talented. I feel so sorry for them though. It must be so hard. I can't imagine how nerve wracking it is for them because it sure is nerve wracking for me watching. Poor kids. Oh well - even if they don't stay on they're still very talented.

Good morning everyone. I just woke up and I'll tell you what this daylight savings time is taking its toll on me. I am definitely having a hard time adjusting to it. Soooooo - with that in mind, let's start the show at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. We all like a little extra sleep in the morning, plus it will be able to warm up a little. It's not going to be freezing but it certainly isn't going to be 80 degrees like it was yesterday. Wasn't that crazy ? Anyway - see you guys at 11 on Saturday.

We had such an amazing Bible study today. I am so overwhelmed with Ryann's love for the Lord. There is nothing more I could ever want out of life. Today I realized why her life has changed so much. It is because she takes time each day to spend with God. She has made her prayer and Bible time a priority in her life. She chooses that time over everything else. She has a system each day. She and Hunter come to the barn early in the morning and she feeds the horses and Hunter brings in the "night-timers". Then they go back to their house and spend time in a morning devotional, prayer and reading the Bible. Then they have breakfast, turn out the horses, work in the barn and do whatever else the day has in store for them. They are growing together in the Lord and He is blessing them and their marriage. Tonight they met again with Pastor McCarty regarding the youth group at Healing Waters Church. They are getting more and more involved in that. And that is certainly where their hearts are. They love "kids" and "kids" love them.

I am truly blessed - and in soooooo many ways. The barn is such a special, peaceful haven for us. We all feel it and we are grateful to be there. It almost feels like a dream because it is so AMAZING. Thank you Lord for making it all possible.

Isn't it funny how our priorities change in our lives. I am sure glad mine did because I haven't been this happy in a long, long time.

Also - CLICK HERE for the prize list to the March 28 and April shows of the Tidewater Horse Shows Association.

It has rained, and rained, and rained and it is suppose to keep raining for the next few days!

I have had so much fun these past two days. Josh (Carr) brought two of his horses to the barn on Friday to spend the night and show today. He had already left his barn when he found out we were canceling the show so we told him to come on anyway and hang out with us. Donna and I ran some errands during the day (fun stuff). At night Ryann and Hunter had a Youth meeting at Healing Waters Church so Josh hung out with me. I had an appointment to get my hair colored so he came with me to "Bombshells." After that we went to Ruby Tuesdays for dinner, then we went to Ryann and Hunter's for a while. We laughed and laughed about the craziest things and had such a good time. Josh is like a son to me. I love him to pieces. We wanted to go to a movie but there really wasn't anything out that looked that good. This morning we went to The Bakery and had breakfast then we went to the barn and hung out. Anthony, Gage and Sam were there shoeing the horses. That Anthony is such a blessing to us. After he finished shoeing I asked him to fix a part of the electric fence that has been a definite "challenge" to us. There's not much that Anthony can't do or fix, and with the greatest of ease he fixed that fence like there was nothing to it. He's AMAZING. Then Josh, Jackie, Ryann and I went back to The Bakery for lunch and to Wharf Hill Antiques - which is right next door to The Bakery - to buy my sister-in-law Judy a birthday present. Tonight Ryann and Hunter went to North Carolina for Hunter to play in a Paintball Tournament and I went with Ma Helen to Judy's birthday party. I just got home and I'll tell you what - I'm exhausted. We have been non stop since yesterday morning. Even though I was sad we had to postpone the horse show we had the best time this weekend. We always have a fun time with Josh. And not having the show made the birthday party and Ryann and Hunter's trip all work out much better. Sometimes things just seem to turn out for the best.

Hunter's Team "Smith-Vegas" won the Paintball Tournament in North Carolina. I know they were thrilled. Hunter and his dad love paintball - and Ryann likes it too. She even plays sometimes. CONGRATULATIONS Smith-Vegas.

Finally - SUNSHINE !!! Boy - these past five days of clouds and rain have made today's sunshine even more wonderful than usual. I don't know how people who live in places where it rains a lot can stand it. I think one more day of it would have been unbearable. Anyway - thank God for today's beautiful weather.

One good thing that came from the rainy days was it gave me the time to go to visit Merrill in the nursing home. She is so precious - and was so happy for the visit. We certainly are blessed with our lives and a few minutes of our time can mean so much to people who are homebound or in nursing homes. Remember my challenge to you a few days ago about visiting someone in a nursing home. I hope you took me up on it. It sure makes me feel better when I take a few minutes out of my "busy life" to visit Merrill. I'm hoping to take her (and possibly her roommate Virginia) out to lunch and to the zoo in a few weeks. Merrill said she would like to go somewhere to see animals. I had to leave a written request yesterday for her family and physician's permission. Maybe one day I'll be able to bring her to Amazing Grace Stable. I met her last year when my sister Grace was in the hospital. I just love her to pieces.

WOW, what did you think about American Idol tonight? This is going to be a hard year because these kids are all good and it's going to be a tough choice each week. I don't know how they take the pressure.

Church tonight - again Amazing !!! We are SOOOOOOOOOO blessed to have Healing Waters church less than a mile from the barn. GOD IS GOOD !!!

Another gorgeous day ! Then - at around 4:00 the temperature dropped about 20 degrees - instantly . The clouds came in with rain, rain and more rain !!! Hopefully tomorrow will be the end of it.

We had such a wonderful day today. We had the Bible study and a picnic in the gazebo by the ring. It was so gorgeous out. The horses were loving being out in the sunshine, and the dogs were all soooooo happy too. We have a dog or two at the barn. Then tonight Ryann and Katie made dinner for a group of us. They did such a good job. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas and banana cream pie. What more could you ask for.

The James River Horse Show prize list went in the mail today. I've also posted it on the web site at www.jamesriverhorseshow.com.

I've been telling you about how I'm the happiest I've been in the past eight years. I have recently realized that it's not that I'm "happy" but more that I'm "joyful."

I've learned that happiness is a reaction to our circumstances. My life is a perfect example of how our circumstances can drastically change. Happiness is a feeling we get by what "happens" to us. When looking at my life "happenings" these past eight years I should be anything but happy. But that's not the case - and I now realize it is because I'm "joyful".

Being grateful is one of the the most important keys to "extraordinary happiness." Learning to be grateful and appreciative of even the smallest things can fill your soul and make you "joyful." I would much rather be "joyful" than happy. Happiness can be taken away from us but joyfulness is always ours if we find something to be grateful for in every situation.

Gratefulness was what helped me get through losing Chuck. A few weeks after he died I was still so distraught, so broken hearted and just didn't see how I was going to go on. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting on the side of my bed crying and a clear small voice inside of me said "Aren't you fortunate you had thirty wonderful years with Chuck. Be grateful for that time." I now know it was the Holy Spirit who told me that. From that moment on I have believed in finding things to be grateful for. The background of this website is the Gratitude symbol. When designing the website it is listed as a "Spiral Theme" but it is also the worldwide symbol for Gratitude and that is why I use it.

God wants us to take the time to thank him for the things we are grateful for. And it's not because he needs to hear it but he wants us to hear it and to realize all our blessings - no matter how small they may seem.

The book "The Secret" became a bestseller because of giving people hope in finding happiness. When we read the Bible it is all right there. The Bible is full of mysteries just waiting for us to find them. And when we read it regularly the Holy Spirit makes the mysteries easier to understand. When we are faithful in prayer and spending time in God's Word it all seems to open up to us. Sometimes we only need to read one paragraph and think about what it's saying to us. Ryann likes to dissect each word. She keeps her study Bible, and the Greek and Hebrew translation right beside her and she finds out so much about the mysteries in the Bible. Then we are blessed when she shares it with us in our Bible studies. I am so grateful for that.

"We hold the key to lasting happiness in our own hands. For it is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful."

Ordinary happiness depends on happenstance. Joy is
that extraordinary happiness that is independent of
what happens to us. Good luck can make us happy,

but it cannot give us lasting joy. The root of joy is
gratefulness. We tend to misunderstand the link
between joy and gratefulness. We notice that joyful
people are grateful and suppose that they are

grateful for their joy.

But the reverse is true: their joy springs from gratefulness.
If one has all the good luck in the world, but takes it for
granted, it will not give one joy. Yet even bad luck will
give joy to those who manage to be grateful for it.

We hold the key to lasting happiness in our own hands.
For it is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that
makes us joyful.
— Brother David Steindl-Rast

Today was such a beautiful day. All the trees are in bloom, and we're getting ready to plant flowers - Donna's favorite thing !!! She loves to "garden."

We have the cutest pony at the barn that Donna is breaking. Her name is "Trinket" and she belongs to Diana & Butch Burris. She's buckskin, lots of white - and adorable.

Lacey Howard brought Normandie last week and he is the sweetest horse I've ever seen. He moved in and was right at home. He is huge - about 17 hands. He is so well mannered. A perfect gentleman. He walked right in our wash rack which is the ultimate test because they are pretty small and it usually takes a few minutes for a horse that size to figure out. Not Normandie - he just walked right in with no hesitation at all. Terese Camp is leasing him which is a blessing for both Terese and Lacey.

Kelsie Ware and Topper moved in with us a few weeks ago. Topper's mother - Gayle's Pride was one of my favorite horses. She was so sweet. Kelsie would love to do a partial lease on Topper so if anyone is interested let me know.

I guess this is a sign of getting old - but I just can't get in the mood for having the horse show tomorrow. The weather today is so yucky - and looks like it's going to be the same tomorrow. Cloudy - chance of rain and thunderstorms on and off all day. It's just hard to get excited about a horse show. So - no show tomorrow. Hopefully this crazy weather is going to be over with soon.

Joyce Meyer - a wonderful religious leader - is going to be at the Hampton Coliseum on April 16, 17 & 18. You should try to get there for at least one session if you can. She is FABULOUS. There is no charge to get in. I'll get more info posted soon about the times etc. Donna, Ryann and I saw her two years ago in Maryland and she was incredible. She's on television every morning. You will really enjoy it, I promise. If you'd like to go with us let me know.

JOYCE MEYER SCHEDULE
Thursday, April 16 -7:00 pm
Friday, April 17 -10:00 am & 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 18 -10:00 am

Seating is first come first serve basis. It will be a wonderful experience. We are so blessed she is coming to our area.

Remember to get your entries in by tomorrow for the horse show on Saturday. Unfortunately Pam Herman won't be coming because of a show in Virginia Beach - and she always brings a lot of entries. So instead of a 9:30 start we'll be starting at 10:30 - another hours sleep for everyone. Neysa Bryant is the judge.

We had an AMAZING Bible study and lunch today. Lori made bratwurst and baked beans and they were delicious. We had it outside in front of the barn because it was such a gorgeous day. The study was about not being "faint" hearted. It was excellent. Ryann benefited so much from the Master's Commission and her time at Bethel College. What a blessing.