The first day of autumn... trust... and I finally smell like a horse again!

The Autumnal Equinox took place on the twenty-third. It made me happy. The season has finally changed. So begins a new season in my life. Summer is over. The events that took place have passed. A new season has arrived. I am grateful. I am scared. I have a lot to do. I wonder. I ask. I am confused. Yet the leaves fall and I will look to each one and decide to look upon them ~ not as dead members of a tree, but as an opportunity for new life to begin.

This past summer I have learned a lot about trust. And lost a lot of it. I have always taken people at face-value. This year that has hurt me. It confused me and it hurt me. It encouraged me, though, that there is only One Being with whom I can fully put my trust in. That is my Creator. My Savior. The One who formed me and fashioned me. It has grown me closer to my True Lover than I ever thought possible. And that has been amazing.

On the Twenty-third I was blessed to be able to go riding with a very good friend of mine. I have not ridden horses since my auto accident back in '09. I have been hankering to something fierce! but just have not had the time. Now, many of you don't know that I used to own horses, but had to sell them back in '08. Anyway, needless to say, this equine-loving country gal was LONG overdue for some good horse therapy, that's for sure. It was such a beautiful day; a wonderful day; a freeing day. I thought to myself...hmm, riding horses is a form of trust. Maybe it is possible for me to trust again. The thought made me smile.

Well, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and it turned out to be a most remarkable day.

Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.


Ruth 2:12
The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

Psalm 5:11
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Psalm 16:1
Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

Family Fun!

We were extremely blessed to have a very relaxing Sunday, and able to spend a lot of sweet family time together. :) It's days like this that I cherish. It's days like this that I will remember for the rest of my life. Days like this, I can hardly fathom how remarkably blessed I am.

We love to play wiffle ball. We kinda have our own rules that we play by, and sometimes that includes regularly changing those rules. ;) We are always so silly when we get to playing this game! I love it. That much laughing is good for the soul. :)









I just had to include these. =) Our family raises such sweet cats! I don't know what it is, but we always do. :)



I hope everyone had as blessed a Sunday as we did!

Monday Musings...

Today went by with such a fervor that I can't even remember taking a breath. Well, I take that back. Yes, the first eight hours of the day were complete craziness (isn't that the way it is in any work place on a Monday?), but I finally got to the point of clocking out and heading towards home.

I finally did take a breath, changed into my Levi's, and went out to look after my chickens. I decided it was time to put my little brood of five yongsters in with the rest of the flock. They have never been happier! I have grown very fond of those five. They were hatched at a time when I really needed to see new life. They were a blessing to me in the darkest part of my summer. And boy have they grown! They seemed to mingle with the rest of the birds very well. That made me happy. :)

I got to sit down outside for a while with some of my favorite gardening books (ha! Is it EVER too early to start planning for next season??! My brain is so full right now it is (happily) overwhelmed! "Hairy vetch...when do I plant that? Gotta get my tiller back...which market will I do next year...gotta sell my truck...need a source for seedlings...or a greenhouse..haha...don't you dare start looking at seed catalogs now, Jess...need to read more about irrigation...oh and brush up on companion planting...." etc and etc! =)

It was really nice sitting out there, soaking up the sun and watching the long, late afternoon shadows it cast.

.....Have ya'll noticed all the butterflies out lately?

Oh my goodness. I love butterflies. So very much.
Just another thing that is so precious to me. I love to watch as they carelessly flit about. I was talking to a co-worker the other day about the little beauties and how much I loved them. I told her I loved how they always seemed so happy. She replied by saying that even if they occasioned a little unhappiness, then we would have no way of knowing. Hah! I puckered my lower lip in a sad face and told her, oh well, they seemed like they were always happy to me. :)

I think it's true. They are amazing creatures. They're beautiful. And to me, they are a symbol of joy. Of happiness. And almost, of peace. I guess it's not that they "carelessly" flit about. Because they are certainly smart. After all, the Monarchs migrate to Mexico I've been told! How incredible is that?

I guess....well, I guess they just peacefully flit about. I like that. And when I see butterflies, it always brings a smile to my face.

Here's one little happy fella I shot a picture of while outside today...





While I am at it, let me post a couple pictures of the adorable kittens we have right now! There are four in this litter, and they are about four weeks old right now. Definitely the cutest stage of a kitty's life! They are so much fun to have around, and oh. so. cute. :)




Happy Monday, everyone!!