After years of breaking ice on water tanks and fighting frozen hoses, Brian finally splurged and purchased an automatic watering system for the pasture. A few days after his prized package arrived in the big brown truck, Brian called his buddy Keith for help. The two scheduled the day before Thanksgiving as their work day. Thanksgiving Eve morning dawned, Keith pulled in with his backhoe, and Brian met him in the pasture with plumbing tools and a shovel. The men worked all day while the horses watched intently from a safe distance, but when they returned after a late lunch, they noticed the horses creeping ever closer to the trench that was being dug for the new water line. Ignoring the horses, they continued the task at hand until Shotgun decided the grass looked greener on the other side of the trench. Now for those of you who don't know Shotgun, let me give you a little background. He's an older horse, slower than pond water, a real sweetheart, but a big lazy lug. Considering this, you'll understand the shock that came over Brian as he watched Shotgun approach the trench...and...JUMP! Now for some horses, this would not have been too big of a deal. After all, some horses have jumped far higher and further than would have ever been necessary to clear this trench, but Shotgun's half-hearted act of courage turned into quite a comedy. Being the slow lazy lug that he is, he didn't jump far enough, and the poor boy's back legs didn't clear the jump, leaving him stuck in quite a predicament. Now I could continue this story, but my words just wouldn't do the rescue mission the justice it deserves, so I've posted the video of this portion of the drama. You'll see for yourself that Shotgun just doesn't let this excitement bother him! Before viewing the video you'll want to stop the site background music on the music player to the right. I'll now close these comments by quoting Lindsay's boyfriend Chad (because his words just seemed to sum the whole scene up quite perfectly), "How many hillbillies does it take to dig a horse out of a trench?"
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Caterpillars and Ponies
Last night I was witness to what must be the most wondrous blessing of life...the joyful laughter of little children! Two little girls (I'll call them J & K) were here for their weekly riding lesson with Sugar-The-Wonder-Pony. Let me start by sayng that these two little ones are precious! We enjoy their wide-eyed wonder, innocent (yet pointed) questions and observations, and beautiful smiles each time they visit.
J & K have quite an obvious affection for Sugar-The-Wonder-Pony. I think it's mainly due to the fact that Sugar gives them a little taste of complete independence. We have watched these two literally mature before our eyes as they reach to comb Sugar's mane and brush her back without having to be lifted by an adult or having to stand on a stool. (And, I might add, Sugar lives up to her sweet name by standing quietly, allowing them to do whatever they please to her tiny little frame!)
After saddling The Wonder Pony, J took a turn at riding while K led the pony with a lead rope. They chatted, giggled, and laughed as they made the rounds, taking a moment to "switch" so K could take her turn in the saddle with J leading the pony. It didn't take many circles around the arena before they spied a fuzzy caterpillar climbing the barn wall. J, still leading Sugar, tip-toed her way over so they could all take a closer peek at him. As they watched him, Lindsay reached out and gently scooped the fuzzy creature up, turning to lay him in K's hand...and that's when the giggling began! Joyful laughter filled the barn as K was tickled by the fuzzy caterpillar, and by the time J had led Sugar to the observation area to show K's Dad, K was literally bellowing with laughter, and J was doubled over in pure delight!
Of course their laughter was infectious, and every adult in the barn began to giggle right along with them. It was the silliest little thing, but I was struck by the wholesome innocence of these two girls and the simple joy they found in that tiny creature of nature! Oh, to have that innocence once again...an innocence untouched by the world's hurts and injustices. And that's when I realized (yet again!) that these children who come to our riding facility offer us just as much as we could EVER offer them! We only offered a pony. God supplied the fuzzy little caterpillar. Those two little girls provided us a gift only they could give...a rare opportunity to revisit the joys of childhood!
J & K have quite an obvious affection for Sugar-The-Wonder-Pony. I think it's mainly due to the fact that Sugar gives them a little taste of complete independence. We have watched these two literally mature before our eyes as they reach to comb Sugar's mane and brush her back without having to be lifted by an adult or having to stand on a stool. (And, I might add, Sugar lives up to her sweet name by standing quietly, allowing them to do whatever they please to her tiny little frame!)
After saddling The Wonder Pony, J took a turn at riding while K led the pony with a lead rope. They chatted, giggled, and laughed as they made the rounds, taking a moment to "switch" so K could take her turn in the saddle with J leading the pony. It didn't take many circles around the arena before they spied a fuzzy caterpillar climbing the barn wall. J, still leading Sugar, tip-toed her way over so they could all take a closer peek at him. As they watched him, Lindsay reached out and gently scooped the fuzzy creature up, turning to lay him in K's hand...and that's when the giggling began! Joyful laughter filled the barn as K was tickled by the fuzzy caterpillar, and by the time J had led Sugar to the observation area to show K's Dad, K was literally bellowing with laughter, and J was doubled over in pure delight!
Of course their laughter was infectious, and every adult in the barn began to giggle right along with them. It was the silliest little thing, but I was struck by the wholesome innocence of these two girls and the simple joy they found in that tiny creature of nature! Oh, to have that innocence once again...an innocence untouched by the world's hurts and injustices. And that's when I realized (yet again!) that these children who come to our riding facility offer us just as much as we could EVER offer them! We only offered a pony. God supplied the fuzzy little caterpillar. Those two little girls provided us a gift only they could give...a rare opportunity to revisit the joys of childhood!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
A Legacy of Love
The girls and I just returned from a wonderful two-day trip to Nashville, Indiana. We travelled with those we have come to affectionately call "The Bane Ladies."
My mom's family is very close-knit. My grandmother, with her unquestioning faith in the Lord and unconditional love for her 14 children, created an amazing circle of admiration -- a legacy of love. Growing up, this large famly was the center of my world. I was blessed to be raised alongside numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins who doubled as additional sets of parents and siblings, and as a child I thought we would all remain close throughout our adult lives. As tends to be the case, however, life-changes had a way of making alternative plans for us, and as the cousins married and began raising families of their own, our limited time together caused us to drift apart.
Thankfully, some years back, my mother's younger sisters decided to organize a retreat for the ladies of the family. They invited all females connected to the Bane family by blood or marriage to join them for a slumber party, and chose a wonderful bed and breakfast inn in Nashville, Indiana, as the meeting spot. Those of us who were longing for reconnection jumped at the chance! That first trip was nothing less than amazing - we shopped, talked, laughed, played games, acted silly, and swooned over delicious desserts. We enjoyed it so much we decided to go back again...and again...and AGAIN!
Our circle of "Bane Ladies" has changed since that first year. I'll never forget the last year Aunt Nancy went with us. She had lost her hair and her stamina, but not her spirit. We intentionally slowed our pace of walking from shop to shop, and we landed back at the inn early when it was apparent she was tiring. Munching on desserts, we listened to her giggle as we placed bets on what color her hair would be when it grew back.
Sadly, the next fall found our group a little smaller. The thought of going without her was difficult, and the stay was certainly bittersweet as we reminisced about our time on earth with her, and shared how hard it was without her. It was a time of healing for us all. The circle was smaller, yes, but it was tighter...and the hugs lingered a little longer in an effort to hold on to that fleeting moment of breathlessness.
The circle was extended this year as my three daughters joined us in Nashville for the first time. As a grown woman, I realize how richly I have been blessed with the wise counsel of these amazing ladies and the legacy of love that was built to support me - the legacy they recieved from their mother. It was incredibly touching to watch my daughters join the circle and to see the legacy begin its descent to the next generation.
I don't think it a coincidence that I found a small trinket at a shop in Nashville that spoke directly to my heart that first year without Aunt Nancy. It says "Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away." It still speaks expressly to me today. That the Lord has blessed me with such wonderful family - it takes my breath away. That my life's journey has been gifted with love, laughter and tears - it takes my breath away. That my daughters have now joined this circle - it takes my breath away.
Through this legacy of love I've been taught how to extend my circle to include others in need of breathless moments in their lives, and I'm thankful...so thankful!
My mom's family is very close-knit. My grandmother, with her unquestioning faith in the Lord and unconditional love for her 14 children, created an amazing circle of admiration -- a legacy of love. Growing up, this large famly was the center of my world. I was blessed to be raised alongside numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins who doubled as additional sets of parents and siblings, and as a child I thought we would all remain close throughout our adult lives. As tends to be the case, however, life-changes had a way of making alternative plans for us, and as the cousins married and began raising families of their own, our limited time together caused us to drift apart.
Thankfully, some years back, my mother's younger sisters decided to organize a retreat for the ladies of the family. They invited all females connected to the Bane family by blood or marriage to join them for a slumber party, and chose a wonderful bed and breakfast inn in Nashville, Indiana, as the meeting spot. Those of us who were longing for reconnection jumped at the chance! That first trip was nothing less than amazing - we shopped, talked, laughed, played games, acted silly, and swooned over delicious desserts. We enjoyed it so much we decided to go back again...and again...and AGAIN!
Our circle of "Bane Ladies" has changed since that first year. I'll never forget the last year Aunt Nancy went with us. She had lost her hair and her stamina, but not her spirit. We intentionally slowed our pace of walking from shop to shop, and we landed back at the inn early when it was apparent she was tiring. Munching on desserts, we listened to her giggle as we placed bets on what color her hair would be when it grew back.
Sadly, the next fall found our group a little smaller. The thought of going without her was difficult, and the stay was certainly bittersweet as we reminisced about our time on earth with her, and shared how hard it was without her. It was a time of healing for us all. The circle was smaller, yes, but it was tighter...and the hugs lingered a little longer in an effort to hold on to that fleeting moment of breathlessness.
The circle was extended this year as my three daughters joined us in Nashville for the first time. As a grown woman, I realize how richly I have been blessed with the wise counsel of these amazing ladies and the legacy of love that was built to support me - the legacy they recieved from their mother. It was incredibly touching to watch my daughters join the circle and to see the legacy begin its descent to the next generation.
I don't think it a coincidence that I found a small trinket at a shop in Nashville that spoke directly to my heart that first year without Aunt Nancy. It says "Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away." It still speaks expressly to me today. That the Lord has blessed me with such wonderful family - it takes my breath away. That my life's journey has been gifted with love, laughter and tears - it takes my breath away. That my daughters have now joined this circle - it takes my breath away.
Through this legacy of love I've been taught how to extend my circle to include others in need of breathless moments in their lives, and I'm thankful...so thankful!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Perfection and Preparedness
I'm ashamed to admit that my family is one of those that seems to NEVER be prepared for the unexpected and RARELY prepared for the expected. This weekend is one of those "expected and still not ready" kind of weekends! Our church will host her sister churches and numerous travelers at an annual three-day meeting beginning Friday morning. The meeting will find us fellowshipping, singing, praising (and of course eating!). My church sisters and I have been planning meals, grocery lists, and prepping the church kitchen for weeks in anticipation of this event that we are honored to host every three years. We truly look forward to this time of year, especially when it is our turn to host the event. I think we're ready -- the church, that is!
My home is a different story. If our beloved brethren were to arrive today, they would have to carefully tip-toe their way through stacks of homeschooling materials being sorted in the family room, rubbermaid containers of 4-H files and show supplies in the living room, and boxes of outgrown horse show clothes in the dining room. Sigh...even though I know every year that company is coming this particular weekend, I can never seem to be prepared ahead of time for them! (You'd think I'd learn.) My husband on the other hand (a former military man, bless his heart!), abides by the motto "proper planning prevents poor performance." It's fair to say he's been a bit agitated by the clutter we're been surrounded with. He doesn't handle clutter very well, but he hasn't complained...much.
I have faced the struggle of "perfectionism" vs "preparedness" many times in my life. The perfectionist in me starts cleaning closets, book shelves, cabinets, and cubby holes about a month in advance of any big event, which seems like a good idea at the time. Problem with that: I rarely get the chance to completely finish any task in perfection. So, in order to be "prepared" instead, I shove everything into the garage to hide it until I can try again later.
The above prelude brings me to consider the spirtual aspects of being "perfect" vs being "prepared." In Ephesians 6 we are instructed to prepare for our daily battles this way: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..." This is a daily preparation, my friends. We may all struggle with a desire to be "perfect," but all we're really asked to be is "prepared." Since I can never reach "perfection" by hiding my junk in a closet (or a garage!), I better let go of the junk and give it to the Lord. Only HE can make it perfect!
My home is a different story. If our beloved brethren were to arrive today, they would have to carefully tip-toe their way through stacks of homeschooling materials being sorted in the family room, rubbermaid containers of 4-H files and show supplies in the living room, and boxes of outgrown horse show clothes in the dining room. Sigh...even though I know every year that company is coming this particular weekend, I can never seem to be prepared ahead of time for them! (You'd think I'd learn.) My husband on the other hand (a former military man, bless his heart!), abides by the motto "proper planning prevents poor performance." It's fair to say he's been a bit agitated by the clutter we're been surrounded with. He doesn't handle clutter very well, but he hasn't complained...much.
I have faced the struggle of "perfectionism" vs "preparedness" many times in my life. The perfectionist in me starts cleaning closets, book shelves, cabinets, and cubby holes about a month in advance of any big event, which seems like a good idea at the time. Problem with that: I rarely get the chance to completely finish any task in perfection. So, in order to be "prepared" instead, I shove everything into the garage to hide it until I can try again later.
The above prelude brings me to consider the spirtual aspects of being "perfect" vs being "prepared." In Ephesians 6 we are instructed to prepare for our daily battles this way: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..." This is a daily preparation, my friends. We may all struggle with a desire to be "perfect," but all we're really asked to be is "prepared." Since I can never reach "perfection" by hiding my junk in a closet (or a garage!), I better let go of the junk and give it to the Lord. Only HE can make it perfect!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Summertime
Have you ever considered how many songs there are about "summertime?" The one that started this thought this morning was the old blues-y "Summertime and the livin's easy..." I sang it out loud (and then laughed when it occurred to me that I could learn a little bit from that first line!). Since I constantly have songs swimming through my brain, I immediately jumped from that lazy dreamy tune to the much faster tempo of "Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime..." (which seems to more aptly fit the pace our family keeps!). If I would ask my daughters for a summertime song, they would of course mention the Kenny Chesney song, "two bare feet on the dashboard.....Perfect song on the radio......it's a smile, it's a kiss, it's a sip of wine, it's summertime." Being a kid once myself, I'm transported back to the memories of many-a-time on the front porch swing with my momma and little sis singing "In the good old summertime, in the good old summertime, Strolling through the shady lanes with your baby mine." (My sister and I would always giggle when we got to the part "she's your tootsey wootsey!") My, how music has changed over the years...and oh, how the pace of life has changed as well! But as much as I love looking back on the seemingly slower days of my youth, I would never want to trade these faster-paced, fun and fulfilling days of NOW!
The "Big Event" in the B5 family summertime is the Wayne County 4-H Fair. We were blessed to spend nine days with our daughters and ever-increasing circle of adopted family of 4-H'ers. What a treat! Of course we were exhausted by week's end, but wouldn't trade the memories, experiences, or the opportunities the Lord provided us to touch those young lives for any amount of extra zzzzzz's! Yet another blessing awaited us upon our return home to our Jordan's Crossing family. Our student list is quickly expanding, and the smiles, hugs and laughs we experience in this daily journey bring us so much joy!
Yes, it is "SUMMERTIME." The livin' here may not be exactly easy (we don't usually experience shady lane strolls with our tootsey wootsey, after all!), but it isn't hard to flip on the radio and tap our bare feet to that perfect song, or take a moment to dance through the sum-sum-summer tasks. And though that may not sound like much, it's always enough to make us happy. And isn't that what summertime is really all about?
The "Big Event" in the B5 family summertime is the Wayne County 4-H Fair. We were blessed to spend nine days with our daughters and ever-increasing circle of adopted family of 4-H'ers. What a treat! Of course we were exhausted by week's end, but wouldn't trade the memories, experiences, or the opportunities the Lord provided us to touch those young lives for any amount of extra zzzzzz's! Yet another blessing awaited us upon our return home to our Jordan's Crossing family. Our student list is quickly expanding, and the smiles, hugs and laughs we experience in this daily journey bring us so much joy!
Yes, it is "SUMMERTIME." The livin' here may not be exactly easy (we don't usually experience shady lane strolls with our tootsey wootsey, after all!), but it isn't hard to flip on the radio and tap our bare feet to that perfect song, or take a moment to dance through the sum-sum-summer tasks. And though that may not sound like much, it's always enough to make us happy. And isn't that what summertime is really all about?
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Make it a blessed day!
When logging on this morning I was shocked to notice that I haven't posted anything new for over a month! Time flies around here these days.
The past few weeks has been a mixture events ranging between joy and sorrow - we're honored to be included in the celebrations of nine graduating seniors (congrats to all!). We've also attended four funeral services for church brethren and loved ones.
This combination of celebrations in life and in death brings me to ponder how I have grown in the past 20-odd years and what I'm doing with the life the Lord has blessed me with. I remember graduating from high school as if it were yesterday. I was ecstatic to be done with school and, believing I was invincible, looked forward to starting a new job, making money, and spending the money I made. That was as far as my dreams of the future could take me that summer. I seriously doubt that my thoughts were any different than most of the students in my graduating class that year since the "here and now" is what's most important at that stage in life. But years down the road, life experiences and responsibilities force us to look beyond the "here and now" to the future...there's the obvious things like "how will I possibly manage the shcedule next week?!" And of course there are the more difficult things like financial planning for our childrens' college education and our retirement. But in the whirl of fulfilling our schedule and preparing for future milestones, I don't think I ever take enough time to take care of today, enjoying the blessings in it. Ironically, the "here and now" is really what's most important, for it is in today that I can secure a legacy for my children and future generations. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart; And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." This instruction is for today. Fuilfilling this commandment each day is, ultimately, the security of the future. And so, it is my prayer that I will take time to enjoy today, because I don't know when my todays will end, and at the end of my life I don't want to be filled with sorrow thinking I spent too much time pondering the past and/or preparing for the future.
Make it a BLESSED day TODAY!
The past few weeks has been a mixture events ranging between joy and sorrow - we're honored to be included in the celebrations of nine graduating seniors (congrats to all!). We've also attended four funeral services for church brethren and loved ones.
This combination of celebrations in life and in death brings me to ponder how I have grown in the past 20-odd years and what I'm doing with the life the Lord has blessed me with. I remember graduating from high school as if it were yesterday. I was ecstatic to be done with school and, believing I was invincible, looked forward to starting a new job, making money, and spending the money I made. That was as far as my dreams of the future could take me that summer. I seriously doubt that my thoughts were any different than most of the students in my graduating class that year since the "here and now" is what's most important at that stage in life. But years down the road, life experiences and responsibilities force us to look beyond the "here and now" to the future...there's the obvious things like "how will I possibly manage the shcedule next week?!" And of course there are the more difficult things like financial planning for our childrens' college education and our retirement. But in the whirl of fulfilling our schedule and preparing for future milestones, I don't think I ever take enough time to take care of today, enjoying the blessings in it. Ironically, the "here and now" is really what's most important, for it is in today that I can secure a legacy for my children and future generations. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart; And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." This instruction is for today. Fuilfilling this commandment each day is, ultimately, the security of the future. And so, it is my prayer that I will take time to enjoy today, because I don't know when my todays will end, and at the end of my life I don't want to be filled with sorrow thinking I spent too much time pondering the past and/or preparing for the future.
Make it a BLESSED day TODAY!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Vacationing and Homecoming
Business as usual has prevented me from posting for a while. Spring has sprung and we have been keeping very busy.
Before I share the details of our recent vacation, however, I must brag on my two oldest daughters and our "adopted" family of 4H members comprising the Wayne County 4H Equine Judging Team. Two weeks ago our senior and junior teams traveled to Alexandria, Indiana, to take part in the area 4H & FFA equine judging competition. Both teams gained a spot at the state competition to be held this weekend by placing 4th (seniors) and 1st (juniors). As two of only three returning veterans, Lindsay and Emma were both surprised by and thrilled with their teams' performances. The excitement intensified, however, when the individual results were revealed a few days later. Our daughters were at the top of the lists! Lindsay placed 2nd overall in the senior division and Emma placed 1st overall in the junior division. We are so very proud of our girls and just as equally as proud of their team members' collective achievements. GREAT JOB Wayne County!!
Moving on...Last week we were blessed to enjoy some much-needed relaxation time on our camping/trail riding vacation. Late into the night Sunday found us packing two trucks and two trailers, and after rising early Monday morning, we loaded our three daughters, two of our dogs, and five of our horses for the two-hour drive to meet our friends at Brown County State Park near Nashville, Indiana. What a TREAT! We have ridden the trails in Brown County several times in the past, but have never had the opportunity to stay five nights and six days. Our extended stay allowed us to seek out trails we'd never ridden before, and it was a wonderful trip! We could not have hand picked better weather. Sun beams and warm breezes followed us down hillsides and up ridges each day as we logged 75 miles and 36 hours of riding for the week. We were blessed to see the majesty of God's creation unfold a little more each day as tiny buds which graced trees and shrubbery on Monday turned to full-blown foliage by Saturday. Wondrous sights awaited us in areas that would have been too difficult to traverse on foot or by car. Trail riding is a favorite past time for our family, and this spring's experience was certainly no exception! If you've never observed the beauty of God's creation on horseback, we highly recommend it! Here are a couple of photos of the trails:
Above: Brian and the girls make their way on the trail. This was our first ride of the week when horses and humans are still fresh! Below: Ballenger and Abernathy families in the valley of trail 7 on the way to Story.
As difficult as it was to think about leaving Brown County Saturday afternoon, we were all truly longing for home. It was nice to pull into our driveway, get out of the truck, and hear the nickers of our equine family members who had been left behind all week. They may have been happy to see us, but they were THRILLED to see their siblings! Brian and I laughed as we stood at the fence and watched them all once again determine their places in the pecking order. Baby, Dixie, Sassy, Tango, and Shotgun served us well on the trails of Brown County, and we smiled as they each took a few well-deserved rolls in the pasture. They seemed just as happy to be home as the human members of the B5 Gang!
Emma can't seem to find the right end of Sassy! Acutally, she's prepping her saddle bags for the morning trail ride.
Tango decides he needs a little nap before he hits the trail again. Lindsay takes the opportunity to use him as a leaning post.
Lily and Sandy enjoy a moment together in the quiet scenery offered at trail's end in Story, Indiana.
Before I share the details of our recent vacation, however, I must brag on my two oldest daughters and our "adopted" family of 4H members comprising the Wayne County 4H Equine Judging Team. Two weeks ago our senior and junior teams traveled to Alexandria, Indiana, to take part in the area 4H & FFA equine judging competition. Both teams gained a spot at the state competition to be held this weekend by placing 4th (seniors) and 1st (juniors). As two of only three returning veterans, Lindsay and Emma were both surprised by and thrilled with their teams' performances. The excitement intensified, however, when the individual results were revealed a few days later. Our daughters were at the top of the lists! Lindsay placed 2nd overall in the senior division and Emma placed 1st overall in the junior division. We are so very proud of our girls and just as equally as proud of their team members' collective achievements. GREAT JOB Wayne County!!
Moving on...Last week we were blessed to enjoy some much-needed relaxation time on our camping/trail riding vacation. Late into the night Sunday found us packing two trucks and two trailers, and after rising early Monday morning, we loaded our three daughters, two of our dogs, and five of our horses for the two-hour drive to meet our friends at Brown County State Park near Nashville, Indiana. What a TREAT! We have ridden the trails in Brown County several times in the past, but have never had the opportunity to stay five nights and six days. Our extended stay allowed us to seek out trails we'd never ridden before, and it was a wonderful trip! We could not have hand picked better weather. Sun beams and warm breezes followed us down hillsides and up ridges each day as we logged 75 miles and 36 hours of riding for the week. We were blessed to see the majesty of God's creation unfold a little more each day as tiny buds which graced trees and shrubbery on Monday turned to full-blown foliage by Saturday. Wondrous sights awaited us in areas that would have been too difficult to traverse on foot or by car. Trail riding is a favorite past time for our family, and this spring's experience was certainly no exception! If you've never observed the beauty of God's creation on horseback, we highly recommend it! Here are a couple of photos of the trails:
Above: Brian and the girls make their way on the trail. This was our first ride of the week when horses and humans are still fresh! Below: Ballenger and Abernathy families in the valley of trail 7 on the way to Story.As difficult as it was to think about leaving Brown County Saturday afternoon, we were all truly longing for home. It was nice to pull into our driveway, get out of the truck, and hear the nickers of our equine family members who had been left behind all week. They may have been happy to see us, but they were THRILLED to see their siblings! Brian and I laughed as we stood at the fence and watched them all once again determine their places in the pecking order. Baby, Dixie, Sassy, Tango, and Shotgun served us well on the trails of Brown County, and we smiled as they each took a few well-deserved rolls in the pasture. They seemed just as happy to be home as the human members of the B5 Gang! Emma can't seem to find the right end of Sassy! Acutally, she's prepping her saddle bags for the morning trail ride.Tango decides he needs a little nap before he hits the trail again. Lindsay takes the opportunity to use him as a leaning post. Lily and Sandy enjoy a moment together in the quiet scenery offered at trail's end in Story, Indiana.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Looking for Signs of Spring
We've been teased with a few peeks of sunshine and warm breezes lately, and it's causing us to look a little closer for those tell-tale signs of spring we "Hoosiers" get excited about. The green shoots of the lily plants have poked through the ground, buds are forming on my lilac shrub, and robins are rockin' around the barn. (I can't think of a more pleasing spring morning combination than a hot cup of coffee in my hand and the sound of a robin's song as I sit at the breakfast table. Joy!) The coming of spring also brings about a few extra chores that have been awaiting better weather. Brian has been working on our "old" barn which is being converted into equipment storage, and building fence for two additional horse turnouts.
A double-whammy prevented me from posting last week: first I was sick (thankfully I was the only member of our family who came down with that nasty little virus), and then our modem went bad. We were lost without internet and email acitivty for the first couple of days, but it didn't take long for us to realize that life really does go on without access to the world wide web! Of course it made a few items of business quite a bit more difficult, but we were able to manage.
I have new photos to post this time. The first batch is from the surprise birthday party we had for Emma on her 13th birthday in February. We were blessed with a BEAUTIFUL day and were thrilled to celebrate with about 40 guests in our barn.
The second batch is of the color guard team that Lindsay and Emma enjoy riding with. We were happy to offer the team an indoor riding opportunity on that extremely COLD night two weeks ago!
We're looking forward to hosting another 4H club's clinic in two weeks and plan to post photos from that event in upcoming blogs.
Happy Signs-of-Spring Hunting to you all!
A double-whammy prevented me from posting last week: first I was sick (thankfully I was the only member of our family who came down with that nasty little virus), and then our modem went bad. We were lost without internet and email acitivty for the first couple of days, but it didn't take long for us to realize that life really does go on without access to the world wide web! Of course it made a few items of business quite a bit more difficult, but we were able to manage.
I have new photos to post this time. The first batch is from the surprise birthday party we had for Emma on her 13th birthday in February. We were blessed with a BEAUTIFUL day and were thrilled to celebrate with about 40 guests in our barn.
The second batch is of the color guard team that Lindsay and Emma enjoy riding with. We were happy to offer the team an indoor riding opportunity on that extremely COLD night two weeks ago!
We're looking forward to hosting another 4H club's clinic in two weeks and plan to post photos from that event in upcoming blogs.
Happy Signs-of-Spring Hunting to you all!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Visitors, visitors
What a blessing our barn has already been in its short span of existence! Brian and I have been kicking ourselves for not yet starting a visitor's book for the barn, so we sat down this morning to brainstorm and write down names of people who have come to the barn since its completion. Our brainstorming session came up with 140 visitors since February 1, 2008. That is, 140 different visitors! We were very careful not to count anyone more than once since many people are here frequently or have returned for repeat visits, but I'm sure we'll realize that we've missed some here and there.
Last night we were thrilled to watch our color guard team practice in the barn. They were scheduled to be here last week, but bad winter weather forced us to postpone. Eleven riders on eleven horses were in our facility all at once, performing simple maneuvers...what a treat! In addition to those 11 riders were 21 spectators watching from the sidelines. Our biggest concern was parking for trucks with trailers, but we had no trouble parking 9 cars and 6 trucks with trailers in our parking area. It was a great night!
Last week we hosted a horse health care clinic with our veterinarian for the Rough Riders 4H club. Ice and snow the day before had cancelled school functions and knocked out power for many in the community, so we weren't sure how many to expect for the clinic. We were pleasantly surprised with 35 visitors that night, and everyone enjoyed gleaning from Dr. Lance's knowledge.
We're happy to announce the addition of two students to next week's lesson schedule! God is so good! News of our mission is spreading quickly, and we're so excited to be a part of His great plan for these young lives.
Last night we were thrilled to watch our color guard team practice in the barn. They were scheduled to be here last week, but bad winter weather forced us to postpone. Eleven riders on eleven horses were in our facility all at once, performing simple maneuvers...what a treat! In addition to those 11 riders were 21 spectators watching from the sidelines. Our biggest concern was parking for trucks with trailers, but we had no trouble parking 9 cars and 6 trucks with trailers in our parking area. It was a great night!
Last week we hosted a horse health care clinic with our veterinarian for the Rough Riders 4H club. Ice and snow the day before had cancelled school functions and knocked out power for many in the community, so we weren't sure how many to expect for the clinic. We were pleasantly surprised with 35 visitors that night, and everyone enjoyed gleaning from Dr. Lance's knowledge.
We're happy to announce the addition of two students to next week's lesson schedule! God is so good! News of our mission is spreading quickly, and we're so excited to be a part of His great plan for these young lives.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Hibernating or Rejoicing...?
Today is a gloomy winter day. It's the kind of day that makes it difficult to remember what it feels like to have the sun on your face, or what it looks like when everything isn't the depressing monochrome gray which has permeated our lives for months. It's the kind of day that calls for a mug of hot java, another log on the fire, and warm fuzzy slippers....the kind of day for hibernation. The horses feel no different. They weren't anxious to go outside today. They were as content to stay in their warm cozy stalls as I would have been to stay in my warm cozy bed.
Sunday, in comparison, was a wonderful Hint-Of-Spring day! It was the kind of day that made us joyful at the prospect of entering into our house of worship....that made us jump from our beds and bask in the glow of sunbeams illuminating the room....that made us anxious to look in the "summer clothes" pile for our wardrobe choices....the kind of day for rejoicing! The horses were rejoicing too! They would not be denied their desire to bask in the sunshine, and much to our dismay, they immediately rolled in their choicest of joys....mud! The pasture was electric with their excitement!
In my devotional time this morning, I reflected on my attitude today in comparison with my attitude on Sunday. Weather undoubtedly influences emotion, but attitude is ultimately a choice. I continued to think on this as I considered the activities we will take part in this week.
The calendar is FULL. The riding facility hosted a mock horse show for the Wayne County Equine Judging Team last night, will be hosting drill team practice for Wayne County Color Guard tonight, and a horse health clinic with Dr. Lance Alexander for the Rough Riders 4H Club tomorrow. Lily's three dance classes will offer parents a "watch night" Thursday evening, and 30 minutes later Brian and I will attend an all-important leadership meeting for our Horse & Pony Association. In conjunction with each of these events are the regularly-scheduled lessons for Jordan's Crossing students. Needless to say, hibernation cannot win out! There is simply too much to prepare for and do.
It is exhausting if we dwell only on the work portion of this "preparing and doing," but if we look a little deeper we realize that it is through the work that we are both blessed and a blessing to others. Our sacrifices (and I honestly shudder to use that word because I don't feel as if I'm really sacrificing anything) bring joy to others...and in turn, we are blessed to share in their joy. It's a cycle that we can choose to continue or break. It's all about attitude.
What attitude will you choose today? Gray and hibernation (serving self)? Or sunshine and rejoicing (serving the Lord)? "...choose you this day whom ye will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve THE LORD." Joshua 24:15
Sunday, in comparison, was a wonderful Hint-Of-Spring day! It was the kind of day that made us joyful at the prospect of entering into our house of worship....that made us jump from our beds and bask in the glow of sunbeams illuminating the room....that made us anxious to look in the "summer clothes" pile for our wardrobe choices....the kind of day for rejoicing! The horses were rejoicing too! They would not be denied their desire to bask in the sunshine, and much to our dismay, they immediately rolled in their choicest of joys....mud! The pasture was electric with their excitement!
In my devotional time this morning, I reflected on my attitude today in comparison with my attitude on Sunday. Weather undoubtedly influences emotion, but attitude is ultimately a choice. I continued to think on this as I considered the activities we will take part in this week.
The calendar is FULL. The riding facility hosted a mock horse show for the Wayne County Equine Judging Team last night, will be hosting drill team practice for Wayne County Color Guard tonight, and a horse health clinic with Dr. Lance Alexander for the Rough Riders 4H Club tomorrow. Lily's three dance classes will offer parents a "watch night" Thursday evening, and 30 minutes later Brian and I will attend an all-important leadership meeting for our Horse & Pony Association. In conjunction with each of these events are the regularly-scheduled lessons for Jordan's Crossing students. Needless to say, hibernation cannot win out! There is simply too much to prepare for and do.
It is exhausting if we dwell only on the work portion of this "preparing and doing," but if we look a little deeper we realize that it is through the work that we are both blessed and a blessing to others. Our sacrifices (and I honestly shudder to use that word because I don't feel as if I'm really sacrificing anything) bring joy to others...and in turn, we are blessed to share in their joy. It's a cycle that we can choose to continue or break. It's all about attitude.
What attitude will you choose today? Gray and hibernation (serving self)? Or sunshine and rejoicing (serving the Lord)? "...choose you this day whom ye will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve THE LORD." Joshua 24:15
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Little Zoe and Our Students
Don't let this shy pose fool you! Little Zoe is growing more curious and ornery by the day! She can't resist poking her nose into everything just to sniff it out, and her playfulness is beginning to get her into trouble. As any little foal will do, she tried getting playful with Brian in the stall yesterday and just missed giving him a swift kick in the shin. He reciprocated with a foal-like kick of his own (not to hurt her, mind you, but to warn her in equine language that her actions were not acceptable). She was utterly shocked that he would do such a thing! It doesn't take long for these sweet little morsels to push their weight around and be dangerous, and just like with children, you must be diligent and gently mold them into exhibiting more desirable behaviors. She will soon understand when playfulness is appropriate and how aggressive she is allowed to be, but for a while she will try to see just exactly what she can get by with.
Our student list is growing rapidly, and we are so thankful for the opportunity to host them! We currently give nine one-hour lessons per week and have intermittent visitors as schedules and time permits. We will be hosting many new visitors next week. Various 4H groups are scheduled to hold meetings and clinics at our facility Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. We truly enjoy having kids here and look forward to the time we can spend with them.
If you haven't already, check out the changes we've made to our blog. We now have bios posted for the B5 Gang, and we hope to soon have photots and bios for each member of our equine family.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
And then there were eight!
It's been a busy season for Jordan's Crossing at the B5 Barn! We are very proud to announce the birth of our youngest family member! At 6:09 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5th, while surrounded by an awe struck B5 gang, our 13 year old mare, Star, gave birth to a beautiful little filly. Within moments of her birth, the barn was bustling with visitors anxious to greet the eighth and most recent member of the B5 Boogietime barn family. Already living up to her name, Zoe (which, we have learned, is a Greek word meaning "Life"), is a lively, loving, inquisitive, and energetic little foal. She absolutely LOVES greeting our littlest visitors by poking her little pink nose into their faces as if to say "Hey, you're just my size!" (A photo of Zoe will be posted in the coming days.)
Speaking of our "littlest visitors," we now have 5 students who attend scheduled lessons on a weekly basis, not to mention the growing number of visitors who stop in periodically just to visit, pet, or groom the equine members of our family. Not surprisingly, our horses (even Zoe in her short 7 days of life) are willing to fulfill their duty by providing support to each and every child who visits. It is such a thrill to watch these children blossom in the presence of a horse. What a miracle to behold!
Of course, no new adventure is without its share of hurdles. First and foremost, 4H has begun and our calendar is bursting at the seams. Our girls don't do anything half-way. They are of the opinion that if you don't do it ALL, then it must not be worth doing AT all. That's why they've chosen to be in four different 4H clubs. Add ballet, tap, and tumbling class to that meeting load, and it's no wonder I'm on the road driving the wheels off my truck on a daily basis! During the really busy times, I feel a little sorry for myelf and long for a quiet night of "HOME." Then I kick myself and remember that "this too shall pass..." all too quickly! We must always look on the positive side. At least I have these moments of conversation while on the road with my gang! The second minor hurdle involves our most popular lesson horse, Dixie. She surprised us with a broken molar and had to have surgery at Purdue two weeks ago. She was immediately taken out of our lesson-horse line up, and we were a bit concerned that her favored riders wouldn't accept any other horse. We need not have worried. Dixie's momma, a 15 year old mare named Baby, gracefully stepped into her place and the students seemed content riding her for back up. In full confirmation of their contentment, I was blessed to overhear a conversation between one of those students and a friend of mine in our barn the other day. After being introduced to my friend, the young student told him that she used to ride Dixie, but now she rides Baby for her lessons. My friend responded by saying "I know Baby. She was born on my farm. She was my horse when she was little." The student looked up wide eyed and said, "Wow...you must really miss her!"
Well, I'm not sure how much Baby is missed at my friend's farm these days, but I am sure that Dixie was sorely missed around here while she was gone! One young student was so concerned about her that he called us following her surgery to check on her. Daily visits to her stall with pats of love by little hands and "oohs" and "ahs" over the "boo-boo" on her face have helped her heal. She can't yet be used in lessons, but everyone is sure glad to see her again fill that once-empty stall. No one was quite as excited as Dixie herself, though, on the day she returned home. As we led her through the barn that day, we laughed as she stopped and pranced at each stall, poking her nose between the bars and softly knickering hello to each of her equine family members. Upon entering her stall and taking a sniff around the place, she settled into her familiar living space with a sigh. I took a moment to join in her pleasure of peace and quiet with a sigh of my own. A few short minutes later I exited the barn with a smile and thought You're absolutely right, Dixie, there's no place like home!
Speaking of our "littlest visitors," we now have 5 students who attend scheduled lessons on a weekly basis, not to mention the growing number of visitors who stop in periodically just to visit, pet, or groom the equine members of our family. Not surprisingly, our horses (even Zoe in her short 7 days of life) are willing to fulfill their duty by providing support to each and every child who visits. It is such a thrill to watch these children blossom in the presence of a horse. What a miracle to behold!
Of course, no new adventure is without its share of hurdles. First and foremost, 4H has begun and our calendar is bursting at the seams. Our girls don't do anything half-way. They are of the opinion that if you don't do it ALL, then it must not be worth doing AT all. That's why they've chosen to be in four different 4H clubs. Add ballet, tap, and tumbling class to that meeting load, and it's no wonder I'm on the road driving the wheels off my truck on a daily basis! During the really busy times, I feel a little sorry for myelf and long for a quiet night of "HOME." Then I kick myself and remember that "this too shall pass..." all too quickly! We must always look on the positive side. At least I have these moments of conversation while on the road with my gang! The second minor hurdle involves our most popular lesson horse, Dixie. She surprised us with a broken molar and had to have surgery at Purdue two weeks ago. She was immediately taken out of our lesson-horse line up, and we were a bit concerned that her favored riders wouldn't accept any other horse. We need not have worried. Dixie's momma, a 15 year old mare named Baby, gracefully stepped into her place and the students seemed content riding her for back up. In full confirmation of their contentment, I was blessed to overhear a conversation between one of those students and a friend of mine in our barn the other day. After being introduced to my friend, the young student told him that she used to ride Dixie, but now she rides Baby for her lessons. My friend responded by saying "I know Baby. She was born on my farm. She was my horse when she was little." The student looked up wide eyed and said, "Wow...you must really miss her!"
Well, I'm not sure how much Baby is missed at my friend's farm these days, but I am sure that Dixie was sorely missed around here while she was gone! One young student was so concerned about her that he called us following her surgery to check on her. Daily visits to her stall with pats of love by little hands and "oohs" and "ahs" over the "boo-boo" on her face have helped her heal. She can't yet be used in lessons, but everyone is sure glad to see her again fill that once-empty stall. No one was quite as excited as Dixie herself, though, on the day she returned home. As we led her through the barn that day, we laughed as she stopped and pranced at each stall, poking her nose between the bars and softly knickering hello to each of her equine family members. Upon entering her stall and taking a sniff around the place, she settled into her familiar living space with a sigh. I took a moment to join in her pleasure of peace and quiet with a sigh of my own. A few short minutes later I exited the barn with a smile and thought You're absolutely right, Dixie, there's no place like home!
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