Who Rescued Who?
We had just moved to the farm a few weeks before we lost our precious boxer pup. She had been with us for years and had “mothered” and trained our new foxhound puppy for a year before moving to the farm. Our daughter had purchased her foxhound puppy from a local breeder after learning to fox hunt with her for over a year. She joined another local hunt club after we moved due to the master of her training hunt retiring. My daughter’s American Foxhound puppy was very lonely after losing his “boxer mama”.
When we heard one of the original hounds she worked with in the first hunt was being retired, she immediately reached out to adopt her. It was a hard transition for everyone even though it was beautiful. We were still grieving. Our puppy, now growing up, was delighted to have this sweet girl, but drove her crazy with his energy. But over time, everyone has settled in and is thriving. Both hounds run happy in the background chasing squirrels. Our retired hound rescued all of us as much as we rescued her to come live in an orthopedic bed with unlimited love and affection but still have the freedom to chase.
Animals bring so much joy to our lives. We haven’t been without an animal since my husband and I were first married. I don’t know if we could truly be happy without animals as part of our family. We’ve grown to having three horses and both of our hounds on our farm. Will there be more rescues in the future? Only time will tell…
Light Near and Far
Never let your light go out
Decorating for Christmas can often start off with excitement and eagerness to help “deck the halls” of the home. However, sometimes it quickly turns to frustration over lights that don’t work, misplaced decorations, or which ornaments to put on the tree this year.
But I also remember how much I love preparing through the Advent season, the carols, the giving of gifts, smiling faces of children, and oh the lights! My favorite part of Christmas the lights…the twinkling of tree lights in the evenings after dark, candlelight from the advent wreath, the tiny colored lights on the ceramic trees made by my grandma, and the driving through town enjoying neighborhood lights.
I often wonder what it would have been like to see that beautiful Christmas star that led to the manger. The skies were aglow as the star led to the Christ child born to save His people. He brought hope to a fallen world. He loves me. I don’t have to question whether or not He loves me; His word tells me so. He IS the Light and it never goes out.
For me, the lights of Christmas are a reminder in the dreariness of winter and gray days, that we are to be the light to others so they can see Christ. Kindness, love, and forgiveness bring hope to others. God calls us to be like His Son.
Enjoy the lights this year and remember to never let your light go out. Keep shining the hope of Christmas all year round!
Working Hard
Good morning, world! What gets you up when it’s dark outside? For me, it’s the gentle nicker from our equine babies saying they are ready for breakfast. They are satisfied with the basics of life: shelter, food, water, and love. Don’t get me wrong, they each have their own idiosyncrasies that can make life challenging and/or expensive, but they do teach you to appreciate the simple things in life.
As humans, we tend to complicate friendships, our jobs, our homes, in fact, just about everything. When I stand next to my horse in the morning and feel his breath on my face, there is a peace on the farm. When he nickers from the gate, the greeting brings a smile to my face. When he nuzzles me, I feel loved. No words were spoken, but so much was communicated.
Farm life is hard. It was more than we even expected. Growing up on farms as kids, we didn’t understand all that went into working one. We have never been so tired, so frustrated, and yet so happy to be with our animals every day.
Cracked but Not Broken
A love that is like no other
steadfast…giving until it hurts
Forsaking herself
Yet wishing to remain whole.
Time has broken her heart
And filled it again with gold.
The cracks never disappear
But the love is greater than the pain.
Her life looks far different
Than her expectations foretold,
But someday looking back
When her children are grown and old,
She will realize she’d rather have cracks and creases
Caused by pain than to be perfectly beautiful
And not know the love of being a mom.
Healed, Inside and Out
There was a hole in my heart I didn’t know existed until I first looked at you.
It was as if you could feel the raw emotion I had buried deep many years ago.
You ran from me, unsure if you could trust.
I stood and watched your undernourished body run as if for the first time,
Though your muscles had no strength behind them.
Each time you came near, you would stop and stare, so gently into my soul
And I would fall just a little deeper in love with you.
We have come a long way since the first evening we met,
You are now older but with strength and grace, once hidden, now exposed
I, too have aged but have begun to gain an internal strength that isn’t seen—
As you have shown unconditional love and trust in somone so undeserving.
I never knew what I needed to heal….
was the love of a horse.