It isn't what I planned....

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer. 29:11

Life isn’t always perfect but sometimes it’s even better. I’ve been thinking about where my life really is and where I thought/wanted it to be.

I’ve always had this dream about what my life would look like as an adult. Don’t we all? Mine was probably “farther fetched” then the average girl but it looked a bit like this. (in my mind’s eye=)

I wanted to live in a studio apartment in some big city. Heels, Starbucks and long hours of work in an office - one that an elevator had to be used to reach. My dream job, a lawyer. There would be meetings, the kinds around those huge tables.  

I’d have an expensive car.

I’d go home for the holidays and stay with my parents.  

I’d get my nails done weekly with my girlfriends.

Weekends I would spend alone in my room or at the gym.

A Perfect Life.

But no. Reality isn’t exactly that.

I wake super early every morning and put more wood in my stove and while waiting for my chilly house to heat up I jump in the warm shower, which I practically have to drag myself out of if it’s super cold out…

Cleaning stalls is a never ending chore, while the rooster crows non-stop, no matter the time of day. I smell like hay and manure more than not. And hauling firewood is a norm on my “to-do” list.

I work in an office, alright, but have to hold my cell phone to my left ear (closer to the window) or I’ll lose whoever I’m talking with. My internet comes from a small “hot spot” that sits in the (you guessed it) window. The lighting isn’t good and sometimes after a long day my eyes ache.

At night I sit alone on my couch, in an oversize sweater – drowning myself in a mug of hot chocolate, trying to unthaw from jogging thoroughbreds in the blistering cold. And wonder why I still do it. But tomorrow night I’ll go back and do it again and the next…if I don't I'd miss it terribly.

For fun I look through cookbooks and dream of going to culinary school. I run. Or I’ll spend my evening painting a wall, baiting a mouse trap, changing a light fixture or trying to read a book.

Weekends I drive home from my third job, missing yet another of my brother’s basketball games and wondering if it’s really worth it. I smell like like I’ve bathed in ranch dressing. And by the time I shower etc. it’s closer to the morning hours, than not.

My nails I hardly paint anymore. I have coffee with friends early on Saturdays or slip in a dinner here and there during some of my weeks. Always feeling rushed. But so thankful for understanding friends and the wonderful small amounts of time I get to share with them.

Is my life perfect? No.

 Is it easy?….NO!

 Is it worth it? I’ll get back to you with this one.

I’m I happy?  

YES! 

Standing outside my house in my coat and overall. Watching as the snow falls silently, and the smoke from my chimney curls up over the moon and my rooster breaks the peace by crowing…I have to smile and thank God for this life he’s given me.

My heart is overwhelmed! 

Happy hump day!!!

XOXO

What’s Sam doing these days

“One touch is all it takes….to make a girl fall in love with a horse”

My baby is taking it easy, pleased to spend these winter months living a good ol’ lazy life. He’s enjoying all the long winter nights tucked away in his stall. By the way it’s his absolute favorite place in the whole world to be. Surrounded by food day and night, he couldn’t ask for a better way to wait for spring=) I only ride him over my lunch breaks and on the weekends if it’s sunny and not windy. (he doesn’t like wind or frozen ground and I like to actually feel my fingers and toes when I ride). He deserves the break -  I mean he’s 22! even if I constantly need to remind myself of this permanent fact.

But in the middle of my day, when I’m stressed…sometimes to the point of tears I go to the barn and steady my emotions by leaning on my understanding horse, Sam.

This quote sums up how I feel…

“So now again I look to my horse to heal me, to reassemble the broken parts. To steady my thoughts, which drift and spiral like wondering planets, just outside their proper orbit. That sweet horsey smell, the familiar cadence of a canter, the sound of hooves in the aisleway – these are the things that keep me the sane.”   ~Paige Cade, Tobego Sport HorsesBelow is Buster…he always leaves his tongue out after he drinks water, no matter the temp outside. (It was in the single digits out, when I took these pictures of him). I just HAD to share these=)

I enjoy standing in the open doorway, before I close it for the night, pausing for a moment to listen to the horses munching their grain. The smell of grain, hay, dust and horses all blended together, creating a perfect moment for this horse lover=)

“No matter how BAD your day is…. There is Always someone waiting for you at the barn”

Thanks for reading=)

foggy morning in august

quiet, damp, perfect movie morning, felt like I had just stepped into pride and prejudice…side note: I LOVE that movie!

Mountain folklore says that every foggy morning in August corresponds to the number of snows to expect in the upcoming winter. Locals often place a bean in a jar for every foggy morning (big bean for a heavy fog, and a small bean for a light fog) in August, and then take a bean out after every snow (big bean for a big snow, and a small bean for a light snow) to help predict winter weather.

so next year I’m going to have a jar of beans=)

More August folklore….

“If the first week in August is unusually warm, the coming winter will be snowy and long.”

“If a cold August follows a hot July, it foretells a winter hard and dry.”

I have never ever discounted any of the weather lore…not when these “natural forecasters,” have proven to be true time and time again. How could they not be true when they’ve been passed down from sailor to farmer??

Now I know not all lore is accurate, but there are many sayings that prove to be on the mark time and time again. When you study the weather lore out you realize the basics of this predicting method is careful observation that have been made over many many years. Weather lore relies on the notion that there is a strong cause-and-effect relationship between the nature and the weather.

I love the following verse, which all the above research prompted. 

…“When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” Matthew 16:2-3

Who said you wouldn’t learn anything new today=)

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

 

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12927607/?claim=29nzbck4rqc">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

From my horses back…

So this is what I see when I go riding…I went last Saturday morning, it was a missy damp morning. I felt like I was on a movie, I always feel like this whenever I ride in the rain=) And I always want to yell…just because I can=)

there’s no better way to start your day, than on horse.

but on Sam - it equals the perfect morning=)

He wasn’t too impressed with this idea. He likes me to pay attention to him the entire time. And when I don’t he starts acting up and just doing pretty pathetic stuff. So since I was concentrated on my camera - he walked into the corn field, stole leaves and grass (he never normally does this) tripped like crazy and tried turning around just whenever he felt like it. I had to take a break and just calm him down and assure him I was noticing him. then we were good=)

we always see so much wildlife and this morning was no different…see the startled wild turkey?the best view in the the world=)behind me….the clouds parted for a little=)homeward stretch – he’s all alert and paying attention to the other horses…not me…haha

What did you think of the little piece of my world?

 

Doing what I love=)

So these are the animals I wrote over here about feeding. I took my camera along one evening and here is the result=)

I fed the cows also, but since this chore required two hands, I got zero pictures of the process=)

I call all the horse…and here they come…some walking

(such a cutie….<3 )Others running….pretty sure I was going to start without them…hahaThey just go in the barn and walk (or rush) into their stalls, they all know which one is theirs=)and don’t forget the chickens=)This little fatty was out with the chickens, absolutely adorable <3all the chickens followed me into the chicken house when I gathered the eggs…and they all hurried out when I was finishedHe was so sad I was leaving…they were enjoying their fresh water….the martin houses still fascinate meall Amish have mail boxes with their names on them…pretty cool!

Thanks for joining my animal feeding tour…haha

Have a fabulous week=)

~Photo-a-day~ April 30-May 6

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!!

This week/weekend I spent a lot of time outside…and not just running (= which makes me even happier. Since it was morel mushroom season, I went mushroom hunting Friday night. So peaceful and relaxing spending some time out there alone…and oh, if you were wondering if I found any?!?!? The answer would be no, not one single mushroom…bummer…I know right!

Of course I ran my mini marathon on Saturday, but more about this in a post all by itself. I’m going to need that much space=)

I went fishing with Isaac on Sunday afternoon…we had so much fun!!!!! I caught the only fish, but we had so much fun sitting on the bank casting our lines, surrounded by violets. It was almost magical. He’s the most fun to hang out with.

Last night I was out really late (along with my parents and Isaac) unloading top soil, from the truck bed, into our garden and new raised beds (made by my dad). We laughed and joked together the entire time.  When we weren’t “oohing and aahing” over the fantastic soil…it was so black and full of worms=) Mom and I threw around ideas on what, when, and where we will be planting our veggies this year. Isaac and dad were just interested in the basketball game that was playing. Lasting memories with some of my wonderful family members…

Day 120

~sunset~

why why why?????? every time I have a photo that concerns the sky it never cooperates. Why did it have to be over cast? Why couldn’t the sun have just popped out for just one moment for my photo of the day?  

Day 121

~colorful~

Day 122

~path~

I have to say it…this is my favorite photo! and I won’t bore you with all my sentimental reasons why=)  I just love these paths!

Day 123

~empty~

after I rode…Sam’s empty saddle

Day 124

~water~

Day 125

~on my desk~

Day 126

~today~

Today I saw the most adorable goose family…look at these fuzzy babies!!!! I could totally take them all home=)

Please let me know which photo is your favorite=)

Oh and don’t forget to subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss any other post!