My List

One of my favorite Toby Keith songs. It seems appropriate today. 

Surprisingly, it is not written by Toby but rather, Tim James and Rand Bishop. Produced and sung by Toby Keith. 

 Important message. Just felt like saving and sharing.

Ears Forward Before Winter Takes Control

This had to be one of the best days I have had in a long while.

Because it was time to set our clocks back, I woke well rested with an extra hour of priceless sleep. Heaven. I remember how my dad hated losing that hour in the spring, and I thought of him this morning, realizing how he must have loved this day (like me) when we get to get that hour back.

It was a beautiful autumn day, with clear blue skies and sunshine. I drank coffee as I did Bible study, and then I got to write. I realized as I wrote, that I reallllllly need to write. It is cathartic for me. Or maybe it is just something in me. I don't know. I just know it is necessary and I have neglected it far too much this summer and fall.

I knew more was going to be in store for me today, so I made my plan while I showered and dressed. Things were off to such a good start. And it was still early!!

This was going to be a day for doing the things I love to do. I had been wanting to get out in the yard but a project in the house this fall had thwarted my ability. We had started a project that really should have been saved for winter. And when the early snow came, I was afraid I had blown my chance to get my normal fall and winter preparations done. But today proved me able and I was thrilled to be able to do end of season work in my yard, pasture and garden. Perfect. I also helped my husband with the burn pile. Yes, these are the things I love. Part of it is that "scratch it off the list" feeling that I require.

As I worked, I realized I had a craving for Chile, so I came in after a turn at monitoring the burn pile and made Chile and corn bread for lunch. It was the perfect day for that, too. So good. So autumn.

We rested a bit before deciding to start the other burn pile in the pasture. While hubby did that I decided I would ride. I knew this would be one of my last opportunities this season, as I am a fair weather person in everything, the older I get. I just don't do much of anything in the cold anymore. I have turned into a wimp.

As I brushed and curried Juliee, I realized how much I need to do this, too. I have been thinking about it a lot lately. I am no "spring chick". There is not enough time to let days fade away. I must keep active and do the things I love to do. Sometimes I find I have to force myself to do the things I used to love. I think I have only ridden about six times this season - not enough. But the truth is, when it comes to some things, there simply may not be a tomorrow. Juliee is not a spring chick either. I don't want to take her for granted. She is a gift.

She fully cooperated today and I knew it was going to be a good ride. She was actually like her old self and it warmed my heart to see her like this. Oh how that girl used to love to ride. She was always ready and never balked. It was just something she loved. And one always knew it...she has always just been an "ears forward' kind of girl. But as she has grown older, just like me, she has days where she hasn't responded as well, either. Sometimes (just like me) she doesn't want to get out. She is 25 after all, and I think sometimes her arthritis kicks in. I am 25 too and understand that fully! ;-) I always tell her we are just two old women and we will do nothing aggressive on our ride. Simply two old grey mares...well just one of us is grey, she is a bay ;-) out to enjoy the ride. We are both in the winter of our life...well, maybe on a good day - the autumn of our lives and we will ride accordingly.

Anyway, this was definitely the highlight of my day, and I was so happy to see her respond so favorably. The conditions were right and she obliged. Ears forward the whole ride. She enjoyed it as much as I did. Sometimes I have worried about her because of her age and a ride being too hard on her. But my vet assured me she needs this too. Animals can get depressed just like humans. They need to stay active and feel useful, just like us. It is good for her even in her old age. (Besides all that, there does kind of seem like a COVID lesson in there, doesn't there?)

Anyway, all of this caused me to stop and think. What a pleasure everything is when she is so agreeable. So heartwarming when she is her old self. When I don't have to worry about how she is feeling and if this is too much for her. I can always tell. I always want her to be comfortable. 

I think the view between those two ears is my very favorite view ever. There is a piece of my soul that this salves. I think Ronald Reagan said it better. But anyway, it caused me to think. Now why don't I live my life like that? It is certainly more enjoyable for the ride (in this case the horse) and also the rider. It is true, it's not always an "ears forward" kind of day, but there certainly is no use in living it like that. It is just better to enjoy. And it isn't really that difficult, is it?

This year of 2020 certainly hasn't been an "ears forward" kind of year. So much strife and so many challenges. But as I sit here at the end of the day, while enjoying a soft drink on my deck, I watch the sunset turn the sky all shades of red, pink, and orange. Everything is so still. Taking in all that I was able to do today, everything just seems so right with the world. It makes me wonder, maybe it has been an "ears forward" kind of year all along. Maybe I just didn't know it. Maybe I let age and arthritis and circumstance dissuade me from the joy I should get from "the ride". Maybe I have been a bit like Juliee when she balks, not always enjoying the moment. Maybe I have just refused to set myself forward.

I don't know. But I know I am going to try harder. I am too young to let age effect me negatively. I am going to take the vet's advice and realize the ride is good for me too. 

And I will definitely try to get a bit more in, before "winter" takes control. 

"I've often said there's nothing better for the inside of a man [or woman] than the outside of a horse."  ~Ronald Reagan.

Believe

 This is just so absolutely beautiful. I have to keep this.        

Pure poetry and pure truth.

Imperfect Warriors

So this is what happens when I mow my lawn; weed my garden or work in my flower beds. I think. Then I come in to rest and write. Today it paid off, I started these thoughts this morning, but didn't know if I should post this. After working, I thought about even more, and decided that I should share my thoughts.

I can remember probably, four famous people at whose deaths I cried.

One was Don Knotts - my favorite comedian, hands down, ever - humor at its finest; the other was Antonin Scalia who was all about American justice and preservation; and of course Billy Graham, who needs no explanation - for me, his death seemed the end of an era. Reverend Graham's death was expected, so I think I was crying more about the ending of that era.

The fourth one I cried about was Andrew Breitbart. I had barely gotten to know him, it seemed. He was a warrior. I almost always cry at a warrior's death. He was crass, and flippant, and a bit Trumpean before there was Trump. But boy did he have a message. He didn't simply deliver it, he was also in the battle. And for that, he had my respect. No, he wasn't a politician, but he did so very much for a righteous cause....kinda like Trump. He has come to mind the last few weeks, because of all that is happening in our nation. And then, as I was reading another author last night (a Christian author writing about the mess we are in today), he too, mentioned Andrew Breitbart and Andrew's book from 2011 - "Righteous Indignation". I was thankful someone remembered, like me.

If we think that all of what is occurring today is new; and that this is something that is happening only because of President Trump, (and blaming him for the division) we are extremely deceived. This is a decades old battle, exacerbated under President Obama and now merely heating up further, to explosion status, fueled by a media that seems to have only one agenda - destroy Trump or America, whichever comes first.

For those interested, I highly recommend Breitbart's book "Righteous Indignation". It will seem a bit dated now. But just replace the labels of then, with the labels of today and it will all fall right into place. It's a book by a man wakened from the liberal agenda to become one of America's greatest warriors for truth. He exposes the deception of the media, the agenda of the left, and the Saul Alinsky tactics they use. It explains then, exactly what is happening now.

From his book:

"It's a long war. I know. I've lost friends. I have the scars. My wife married an almost inappropriately always-lighthearted guy fourteen years ago. Now she wakes up next to a fire brand who is one of the most polarizing figures in the country.

But I have also met the America that was rendered silent by the media and is now shaking itself to life again. These are the years that we will look back on and question whether we did enough for our country and for our children. That's why I'm so determined, so [angry], so righteously indignant."

The war continues;  Even more, today it rages. Personally I believe we need more "fire brands", like Andrew. Some will not understand, or agree with me. Some may criticize me for looking to a worldly view, or source, for something that needs a Godly answer. But I think there is a place for both and truthfully, and I do not look to anyone for the answer. For the Christian, EVERYTHING is about God. It is ok to look at the sacrifice or work of others. I do not have to check my faith at the door and be silent about the turmoil of the day. In my opinion, silence is what got us here. No one should render us silent, whatever our beliefs are.

I think history will one day look back at President Trump in the same way that I look at Breitbart. He is an imperfect warrior fighting for the soul of America, and for that I am grateful. It certainly isn't the first time God used ungodly men to bring about all that He is orchestrating. For one thing, it's how we know it is God that is the One who is behind it.

Anyway, Andrew died way too soon. Now I really don't know if Andrew Breitbart was saved. I kinda think he wasn't. He never made public, that faith statement. Perhaps that is why I cried so hard when I learned of his death. But, truthfully, I have no idea what may have happened on that morning walk, when his heart failed him. Maybe God reached him. Maybe he had given his heart to God a long time ago. Or maybe at some point in the tumultuous trials and hatred he faced, he one day reached out to God. I just don't know. I simply believe God used him, regardless.

One thing I do know for certain, is when I think of Andrew's life and death, sometimes I still cry - in fact, this morning. I think the reason for that is because of all the reasons I stated in the beginning of this post:  Humor, Justice, A Fight to death for our nation; AND our God. I shared the people I loved, who remind me of each of those characteristics. But the truth is, Breitbart's life encompassed all of them in one way or another. He just did things BIG. Read the book; you'll get it. ;-)

Here's to the warriors that encourage us to the battle, in whatever capacity that might be.