June 17, 2008

I could give you a hundred and one reasons for why I have been once more missing in action... However, they would be no more than excuses. As my beloved hubby of 28 years is known to say to a deserving individual from time to time around here... "Excuses are like butt holes... Everyone has one and they all stink."

Okay, maybe not politically correct or even respectable....But truthful nonetheless.

I just returned from church tonight. It was enlightening and I actually learned something new which is always a good thing. I am inspired and inquisitive as to what is going on in Florida the last month or so. I have heard of these amazing works and revival in more ways than one from a few different sources now and it has my curiosity up. Of course, you need only understand that I am one who believes that God is the same today as he was hundreds of years ago and the miracles that were available then are still available now. I tend to believe that our society and times are short on miracles and the strong movement of the Holy Spirit because we are short on faith and expectancy in what God can and will do for us if we commit ourselves to him and his will for our life and our times.

So, that is my preachy piece for the night.

A quick up-date - the kids of course are out of school for the summer and life has been a bit chaotic around here. We have gotten a few things accomplished. We're still awaiting a response from CIG Colorado Interstate Gas Company on the settlement involving the horses who were injured in their carelessness. I have done nothing to promote my book which I am ashamed to admit to. This includes not having set anything up as of yet for a tour to Wyoming for book signings and promotions in the areas immediately mentioned in the books story line. I have contributed to AC - Associated Content a couple of times and been accepted for publishing according to their payment guidelines. Of course, that requires a great deal of readership and hits to my articles so I'm not counting the checks in the bank if you know what I mean. However, if you would like to check it out it's under my name at Associated Content.com and under my name. There is some good stuff there if interested...

On the other hand, we have had two babies now - (horses that is). We had the colt I mentioned earlier on Memorial Day weekend which is now nicknamed Patriot for obvious reasons. And on Fathers Day we were blessed with a filly out of the mare we had been awaiting for some time. My visualizing a Palomino colt didn't formulate but that's okay as she is still perfect just as she is. She has a full white blaze and two matched back socks and is a light chestnut color or appears to be what she is going to turn out to be.

We've been working in the yard and the boys even helped me get some trees in much need of pruning done last week... That's all good. The ponds in the front yard and the flower beds surrounding them are all operational and pretty well cleaned up. Last year I don't think I had that done until August... I was a bad girl last year! lol

We have been checking out options for a milk cow, beef calves and chickens as we prepare for the worst of times in the obviously failing economy. I do hope to be set in these regards by fall. We are going to clean out the old grain silo this year for the first time since we've lived here and are planning to get it filled with corn for the cows.

I know there's got to be more going on than this, but it sounds like a pretty good catch me up for now.

I hope and pray that all who are reading this are doing well and blessed. Why with all the natural disasters surrounding us in so many regions I can only pray that if you are in the midst of these elements that you find some hidden silver lining in the devastation and that you come through the trials and suffering more blessed than you were before. Know that all in such regions are in our on going thoughts and prayers!

Be blessed, be happy and keep your eye on the Eastern Sky!

Love to all!
Sherry

P.S. Did you all see the report that only two of the Panda's in the Panda breeding preserve were lost in China's devastating earthquake? They showed the happy little love bears and the efforts to insure their on going care and it makes a person want to have one to cuddle with! I was very happy to hear they were not totally destroyed in the massive traumatic events that overwhelmed the entire country!

Dear Me;

Just wanted to stop by and check in. After all, it's been awhile and I thought perhaps we should touch base with one another. Preferably before another season is completely passed and you've missed the opportunities that are looming right outside your door even as we speak.

I have always thought highly of you. No, really it's true! Honestly, I believe even when at times it didn't turn out the way you thought it would, your heart was generally in the right place with people, places and things over the years. However, I have to tell you, at times your humility has stopped you dead in your tracks.

I often wonder why you don't think you measure up to the rest of the world. Oh sure, I have seen you put up some really brave fronts before; pretending with all your might that you're as good as anyone else... But you see, I know you pretty well!

Why do you always think you may only be second, third or even lower than that when measured to others? Better question yet, why do you measure yourself to others in the first place?

After all, I could just about swear, you have often been overheard saying that every one has a gift and God doesn't make mistakes... Do you recall any of those occasions? Perhaps you think you're the exception????

If I were you I would really take a good hard look at my life and decide where it's going to. My goodness girlfriend, think about it! What more do you expect to be dropped into your lap before you get on board and push through once more? Remember what PUSH stands for? "PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS."

I decided to write to you tonight as opposed to talking to you. It seems I have had a great deal of difficulty in reaching you of late. It's as if your contact lines are out of service or maybe disconnected all together. Maybe you simply have everything on ignore? I'm not sure but I was truly feeling burdened to reach you.

I am really beginning to think you have settled in your lot in life. It's as if you have lost your fire. There appears to be so little fight left in you, but so many years remaining. I wish I had a means of reigniting your drive, desire and passion for the things that were once so dearly important to you. I wish I could find the heart that I once knew and scrape all the corrosion and build up off, then shine it up to look like new. I've always been about restoring things and this would be my prize project!

You're still alive and able and we miss you my friend. You have so much to still offer and life still has so much to offer you in turn. Please don't give up on your dreams, your gifts or your love.

Whenever you might be ready to pick up where you have left off "you just call out my name and you know wherever I am, I'll come running to see you again..." Does that sound familiar? Just a little old style humor there…Do you remember?

Anyway, I really just wanted to remind you of the opportunities that still remain and let you know I still believe in you. It's not too late.

I’m pretty sure it’s okay to say I love you? After all, like I said, it is you who said God doesn't make mistakes!

So, on that note,
I love you - always have....

P.S. – Remember… Try to be a bit kinder to yourself!

June 5, 2008

I had to check back to see where I left off last time and even surprised myself to realize over a week has escpaed my attention. I am so far behind right about now that I'm not sure how I'm going to get caught up.

Summer has sprung here at the farm and I am stretched in so many directions that I can't seem to find my bearings again. I need to find a way to get it all sorted out before I wake up and winter is here again.

Of course, with the unseasonal weather we have had to date, that may not be all bad... LOL The past two days we have been in the 40's and 50's with rain which is a good thing as we are so far behind on our moisture this year that it isn't even funny. However, these cold temps are a bit out of the norm. The past two nights have found intense lightening and thunder storms surrounding us but we have by the grace of God been spared the hail!

I say spared in the most sincere tone as the horses who were injured, bless their hearts are stuck in a holding pen on the edge of the pasture without so much as a tree for shelter of the wind, hail and whatever Mother Nature throws in our direction.

We are still awaiting the next baby which should have been the first baby.... But as the story goes the first baby was one that came a bit earlier than expected and is doing just fine and dandy. I will post pics some time soon - another thing I'm behind on! Hmmm...

We are still awaiting word on some sort of settlement offer on the injuries and who knows how it will turn out - but I'm thinking optimiistcally as they have already admitted guilt and assumed the vet bills. Now to see what they do about the losses. Big oil companies are not in much of a position to be going to court over any wrong doing - specificallly resulting in the harm of innocent animals.

The yard is shaping up slowly but surely... More slow than sure, but it is beautiful and the work that Chad and Kelly have done on their yard is really nice. They are planning a barbecue in the near future which they say is just because or to be thankful for what the Lord has blessed them with... Personally, I think it's just a good excuse to show off their yard work. lol

Okay, I am not going to edit this until later so I'll go ahead and submit it to at least have something new for the first time in a week! Sorry!

Summer could prove to be a challenge, but I'm visualizing organization, being caught up, the yard being in summer shape and more! Visualizing is believing and believing is achieving!

God is still in the process so I'm still trusting the process!

Have a great night and day or days... Until we meet again!

Good Night and God Bless!

I am amazed that yet another May has nearly escaped us once again. It starts to dawn on you as you embrace life and the time granted to you that each year, month, week, day, hour, even minute is gone forever. If you have ill used it, it is of little consequence as it will never come again.

The saying "Time waits for no one" is so true! However, this May has not been a wash or loss by any sense of the word. I suppose this week has not been of the highest quality with the injuries and now the legalities of insuring appropriate compensation for the damage and losses incurred as a result of a really foolish error on someone's part??? Go figure.

All I know for sure is that in general, if someone is fair and kind hearted in dealing with me I am NOT good at being mean and head strong in such sort of matters! The fact of the matter is the damages are significant and financial affects of the situation are high... Yet, I find myself struggling with the whole process. I am hopeful they are amicable with the whole situation and do what is right without forcing our hand. I have sought legal counsel and professional counsel otherwise in how to best proceed and the fact is solid that they are liable.

I suppose I shouldn't be feeling bad about it though with the consideration of the heads of some oil companies being grilled by the Congressional Committee last week and a couple of them announcing they didn't even know how much they made in the year previous... And they were all well into the million dollar range personally! So, what of holding yet another major gas/oil company accountable for an error on their part that insures that are losses are covered? They won't even come close to a small percentage of such numbers! I suppose it's not so much this but the reality of having to push someone to do the right thing where I am personally involved. Like I said, I don't do mean very well and when I do, it is generally a result of being pushed to a very angry point by someone being rude or unfair. If they do this to me in the near future they may unleash my wrath after all. Yet, at this point in time, I am hopeful for a fair and fast resolve to the whole ordeal and I am not simply talking vet expenses...

So, now that I have vented and ranted a bit on big oil companies and liabilities I am considering that once more I am airing my baggage that no one really cares to hear! Sorry about that! But on the other hand, anyone who has any experience in such situations I would greatly appreciate your in-put and thoughts.

As for the balance of the week - to feel better about the whole matter all one has to do is look out the back side of the house and see our new addition. I am going to have to get after them to give him a name... But for now, little one is fine with me! We are so eagerly awaiting the other mare who we were pretty sure would foal first and is still holding out on us! I am thinking a Palomino colored colt that is second to none and notable since this mare has thrown our best foals for years to date!

I will have to get my rear in gear and post some pictures of the newbies here and on our web page in the very near future. Maybe tomorrow we will have a second bundle of joy to tend to in the morning???? That would be okay with me - even though I have to leave early for my day in Denver for the boys counseling.

The vet will be back out on Saturday afternoon along with the oil guy rep so this should prove to be very interesting... But in the mean time I believe I will try to stay focused on what is good and pure and true and continue to trust the process even in such matters, as I am still sure God is even in this process too! Isn't that wonderful news!!!

Okay, on that note, I'm calling it in for the night and going to bed.

Have a blessed day and if you think of it, say a prayer for the outcome we are facing! Thanks and Love to all!

My goodness but it is cold outside today. How you can live in a region that can go from 90's to nearly freezing can only be explained in regions such as Colorado!

Thursday the nation found out there was a town by the name of Windsor in North Eastern Colorado by means of a nasty tornado that left an ugly finger print upon the up-scale community in the old town region and beyond. Not so far from where we ourselves live (about five miles) this fingerprinting across the lovely spring farming landscape began and followed through to the far reaches of Laramie Wyoming. Incredible if by no other means than this particular storm opted to travel in an absolutely reverse path of what our normal weather patterns travel around here.

Feeling a bit too snug and secure in our rolling landscape, assuming the very profile of our pastures and valleys that surround us, I believed we were relatively safe from experiencing a tornado in our own back yard. That was until Friday afternoon when one of those fun filled, fast moving, dirt clouds was approaching and I was scurrying to get the kids in the house and to the basement with the dogs, cat and pet bunny. All was left in tact with the exception a few more branches, our propane tank gage and a few pieces of plywood that came from the out buildings. But all in all, we escaped unscathed, but mindful that they can and did in fact form in our own back yard!

All this to only find ourselves immersed in the spring beauty that followed in the weather patterns on Saturday afternoon and for the most part all day Sunday as well. Yes, beautiful, pristine weather made for being outside.

Saturday of course found the injured horses I mentioned in my previous blog and Sunday found that one whom we believed was okay, not so okay with a bowed tendon... Then it came, the big event of the weekend in our back yard. A Memorial Day Reminder of the absolute best kind... A brand new foal (baby horse)! But not the one I was expecting but rather one in a small pasture hardly suited for foaling in... But all's well that ends well and he appears to be in fine shape in spite of the unsightly entry into the world anew. We got him moved around the family far and near came to view the newbie and his adorable presence.

Then today arrived... Ushered in without so much as a ray of sunshine from the skies. It was cool early on with a dreary and humid hint to the air. However, the newbie had a way of brightening up the worst of weather. By late afternoon it was down right cold and still is! They promise warmer weather on the horizon, but as we have all come to know and accept.... Weather reporting is a science of the third realm and cannot, in spite of all our newest and greatest technology, out smart God! Therefore, we will accept what comes our way regardless of what they predict and when they are wrong as is often the case, we'll grumble a bit. However, we will be sitting before the weather Doppler system trusting the potential of an accurate forecast once more when time for the weather broadcast. Isn't funny how we humans can be? Fickle at best!

So, with this much said, tomorrow will be an interesting morning of discussion with the contractor responsible for hurting our horses this weekend and to once more see what the weather angels have in store for us upon mornings first light.

In the meantime, I will reflect on the price paid for the luxury of freedom and living in still the greatest nation in the world. I will embrace the opportunity to watch those news casts, to pick my worship services, to choose my candidates and to serve the greater good of the population that still stands as one nation UNDER GOD! I send my prayers and thanks to the many service people who have for generation after generation provided and guarded such opportunities and freedoms. I also pay tribute and honor to those who I so dearly love who have gone on to their final homes ahead of us.

My prayer, that I may live a life worthy of the price they have paid for me to live it. To serve God and man kind with the heart and fervor that all too often I personally lack. And to strive to live a life according to God's will from my conception.

Be Blessed, Be a Blessing, Be Appreciative and Honor those who have given of themselves for you to do these things! Happy Memorial Day and May the Sun Shine Upon You in the Week to Come!

Love to All