Friday Ride

Betty and I had a nice, short ride this morning down through an adjoining neighborhood. Both horses did great.

We definitely wanted to get a ride in because Betty's flying out tomorrow morning to Tennessee to be with her sister for over a week. Margie hopefully will come to their stepmother's house early next week and Betty can help out while she's getting settled in.

It's also a hard day for Betty because we've found a home for Gletta. A woman who lives in Belen, NM has a ranch in Southern Colorado at the base of the Spanish Peaks. She is an Icelandic Horse breeding expert and already has about 17 Icelandic Horses on her ranch.

Gletta will be put into a 20 acre pasture with several geldings and non-brood mares. Her role on the ranch will be as an 'aunt' horse to the young horses that are bred there. For a horse that has lived the last four years of her life in dry New Mexico she will think she has died and gone to heaven with all that grass to eat.

But, it's hard as this is the second time that Betty has had to let Gletta go, but this should be the last.

I'll trailer Gletta up to Colorado next Wednesday while Betty is gone so she'll have to say her good byes today and tomorrow morning before we go to the airport.

Life sometimes can be hard.

Thursday Lunch

Betty and I worked with Sugar and Morgunn this morning. After feeding them some lunch we went to Albertsons to do some shopping.

Betty is flying to Tennessee on Saturday to be with her sister Margie who was in a serious automobile accident two weeks ago and broke her hip. She's in a rehab facility and should be coming home to their stepmother's home by early next week. Betty wants to be there to help. She'll be gone until Monday, August 10.

So we stocked up on some frozen dinners, mostly pasta dishes, for me while she's gone.

Then we went to one of our favorite restaurants, El Pintos, for our lunch. Betty had an enchilada plate and I had a chile relleno/compuesta combination plate. Both were very good.

A pretty good day.

Rainy Wednesday Afternoon

Betty had another riding lesson with Miriam this morning and then went to lunch with a friend.

This afternoon we're enjoying some short, but nice rain storms -- maybe Sugar and Morgunn aren't enjoying them that much.



That's about it for our Wednesday.

Maybe a little more tomorrow.

More Bone

About 10 years ago, Betty and I were at a guest ranch in Southern Arizona. It was early in our riding careers and one of the things we wanted to learn was how to ride a horse in a canter.

A canter is a fairly fast gait and, after a little, and I mean little, instruction, we set out to try it out. I didn't quite get the whole rhythm of the gait so I was going up when the horse was going down and we met in the middle.

There was a sharp pain in the middle of my back and we decided to slow down to walk. My back hurt for the rest of the week, but we were able to ride at a walk every day.

After getting home, my back still hurt so I went to my family doctor. X-rays showed that I had a compression fracture in four of the vertebra in the middle of my back. The doctor decided that we needed to do a bone scan so that was soon done.

My doctor was actually relieved at the results of the scan -- I had osteoporosis. He was worried that the fractures were due to bone cancer. So, I found myself among the 20% or so of men who have osteoporosis. Since it's primarily a disease that affects women, most men don't get diagnosed until they break a bone, usually in their old age when it's too late to do much. So, I was lucky it was caught at the relatively young age of 54.

I learned later that it was genetic as both my father and mother were osteoporatic and so is my sister.

For several years I was taking a maintenance medicine called Miacalcin. After moving to New Mexico, my doctor sent me to an Endocrinologist who put me on a subcutaneous shot regimen called Forteo. It was relatively new and required a shot each day for two years.

A year and a half ago I finished that program and my bone mass was better so he put me on Actonel.

I went back to him this morning and had another bone density scan and the results were good. My arm had increased its bone mass by over 4%. My spine was better by over 5%. My left hip was improved by over 5%, and the right by over 9% -- all considered a significant change.

By today's measurements I no longer have osteoporosis -- I am in the osteopenia range so I'm pretty happy.

Monday Video - Homecoming

Killed in action the week before, John C. Beale was returned to Falcon Field in Peachtree City, Georgia, just south of Atlanta, on June 11, 2009. The Henry County Police Department escorted the procession to the funeral home in McDonough, Georgia. A simple notice in local papers indicated the road route to be taken and the approximate time. Nothing was organized. This was filmed during the procession by a State Trooper.

It's a long video, 12 minutes, but it's worth your time. And the picture is choppy, but ignore that. Just enjoy what America still is - especially in small towns.

Sunday Reflections - Miracles

No, not this kind of miracle.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. (Luke 23:8-9)

The Greek for miracle is 'semeion' which means 'an indication.' This same word can also be translated 'sign' or 'wonder.'

"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." (John 4:48)

We use the term miracle when something unexpected happens. When the US Hockey Team beat Russia for the 1980 Olympic gold medal, it was declared to be a miracle. I've heard people say, "It's a miracle that I'm still alive," or "If my son makes it to manhood it will be a miracle."

God's miracles are of a different nature and for a different purpose. God intervenes in the natural order of things to make himself known -- to make himself real.

After going to church for 12 years, I was beginning to realize that God wanted more of me than just sitting in a pew in church. He wanted a personal relationship with me so he could use me for his purposes. For someone who was raised and educated with the idea that we can and should control our own destiny, this was creating a struggle within me. I didn't want to let go of the control I thought I had over my life.

About this time Betty and I went to a weekend retreat focused on the idea of a basic Christian renewal. This was in April, 1984 and we had been married for 17 years. For all of our married life, Betty had endured regular migraine headaches -- the kind where she was in bed for two days with the shades drawn and sick to her stomach. They occurred about every six to eight weeks. These migraines were often triggered by stress -- even good stress. On Saturday night of the renewal weekend, we were worried that Betty might develop a migraine from the stress of the weekend.

A healing service was scheduled for that night and Betty went up to ask for prayer for her migraines. The person praying for her couldn't understand her request because of some background music, so Betty just said, "Pray for whatever God thinks I need."

The next day she woke up without a headache. Six months later she still had no migraines. Now, 25 years later she is still migraine free. She has normal headaches like we all do, but she has not had a migraine in all this time.

Miracle? I think so. Why did God do it? I believe he healed Betty of migraines for two main reasons. First, to make himself real to Betty to deepen her faith and, second, to make himself real to me to give me faith. Shortly after this happened, I asked God to take over control of my life.

This miracle was an indication that God is real. It was a sign that he wanted a relationship with me, and it was, and still is, a wonder in our lives.

Now, if the Chicago Cubs could win the world series this year that would be a real miracle!

Saturday Voice - Freedom of Religion

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...

This is the first statement in the first amendment to our Constitution. Given what the founders had been through, it's not surprising this would be foremost on their minds.

Many people came to the new land called America to practice their faith freely and without government interference. The Pilgrims were called Separatists because they wanted independence from the Church of England which was the official church in England. The Church and the government were intertwined.

For the most part, the early founders were a religious people -- certainly to varying degrees even as today. But despite their individual faiths, they all agreed with the importance of this freedom.

The amendment gives us two basic rights:

First, the Congress cannot pass a law establishing a state religion. Second, the Congress cannot pass a law prohibiting the free exercise of our faith.

I don't think we as a nation have had many problems with the first right -- especially in today's more secular culture. It's unlikely we will see a State religion in our lifetimes.

It's in the second right that I have concerns.

The biggest misconception to enter this discussion is 'separation of church and state.' Many people think that's in the Constitution, but it's not. It was actually a statement of Thomas Jefferson in one of his letters.

If you interpret that statement in light of the first right (as I think Jefferson was), not establishing a state church, then I agree 'separation of church and state' is appropriate. However, many people want to apply this supposed 'separation' to the second right, our free exercise.

When I was a kid in elementary school, we started each day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and saying the Lord's Prayer. Given our diversity in the country today, the Lord's Prayer is probably too much.

However, my hackles get up (what's a hackle anyway) when I hear that a young person, recognized for their academic success (e.g., valedictorian), cannot acknowledge their gratitude to God in their speech. In my humble opinion this is free exercise and cannot be curtailed, but it often is.

There are other examples, but I won't burden this post with more. I'm just concerned that there is a growing force within our country who would be happy to eradicate religion from our country -- to effectively deny our right to free expression of our faith.

They have a long way to go, but we have to be vigilant to protect our Constitutional rights.

School Days

Betty's new friend and trainer, Miriam, came over again this morning to work with Betty and Sugar. Miriam's 13 year old daughter, Katrina, also came with her. She's an excellent horse woman like her mother.

This was the third session with Miriam and the first time I had the good sense to have my camera with me.

The first thing Miriam wanted to do was take Sugar out on a little trail ride with me on Morgunn. This would allow us to do a little gaiting to see how the work with Sugar is going. We rode over into the sage area just South of our home. We did several gaits on a dirt road then took the horses down into the arroyo. The ground was a little soft from last night's rain, but that's good for their muscles as long as you don't get them to go too fast.

Here's a picture of Miriam working Sugar in the arroyo.

After our short trail ride, we came back to our house where Betty could ride Sugar some under Miriam's watchful eye. Katrina rode Morgunn and the two of them have become good friends.


Finally, Gletta, Morgunn and Sugar are all getting along. Morgunn and Gletta are giving each other a mutual grooming while Sugar looks on.


Have a great weekend.

Gletta's Home -- For Awhile

Gletta, Betty's original horse, came back home this morning. Her owner, Barb, was really upset to have to bring her back, but Gletta and Barb's original horse just wouldn't get along. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, we bought a new round pen and used the gate and five of the thirteen panels to make a nice pen for Gletta. This will give her the space and shade she needs while not upsetting Morgunn and Sugar's routine and bonding.

We put Morgunn and Sugar into their stalls with a little hay and closed them up so we could get Gletta in and settled into her new pen. Then we let them out so they could check out their new neighbor.

Here are some pictures from her first day back.

Morgunn checking out Gletta who is checking out her new digs this morning.

Then Sugar came to also check her out. Sugar and Gletta were both here for several months before we found what we thought was Gletta's new home. So they weren't strangers.

This afternoon, Morgunn was still standing his position with his old friend.

Hopefully, we can find a new home for her before too long. Anyone want a free Icelandic Horse mare?

I'm Pooped

Today was another full day.

Betty worked again this morning with her new trainer, Miriam. Miriam is classically trained in dressage and is an excellent rider. She's also a very good trainer of horses and people -- she has a very positive way about her and that works well with Betty. She's a good learner. Betty's learning some of the finer points about riding and so am I as I listen and watch what they're doing. Both of us and Morgunn and Sugar will benefit from all this.

Then the panels and gate for our new round pen were delivered around noon and I helped the driver off load the panels from his flat bed truck and bring them in to the horses lot. We placed some of them in the place for the temporary pen for Gletta. The others are stored against the outside wall of the stable.

After lunch, Betty and I put up the 5 panels (12' each) and gate for Gletta's pen. It actually turned out to be easier than I thought it would be. It turned out pretty nice. She has the cover for shade and a space that's 24' wide and 40' long so she has plenty of space to move about. This will give her plenty of room and allow Morgunn and Sugar to maintain their normal routine that includes their stalls where they eat and where they can get some shade when it's warm. The stalls also have fans which helps as well.

The only thing I had to buy, besides the round pen, was a new salt block and holder for Morgunn and Sugar so everyone has access to a salt block. I went down to Village Mercantile to get those items this afternoon.

Then I came home to take a well-needed shower. Have a great night all.

Tuesday Odds and Ends

Today has been a full day.

Last night we got a call from Gletta's new owner, Barb, who lives in Edgewood. She's had Gletta now for 3 or 4 months. She was very upset. Her original horse, a Missouri Fox Trotter gelding, kept picking on Gletta and, when she's pushed, she will kick. She just kicked the gelding and put a cut in his side which required vet care. Barb didn't blame Gletta because of the gelding's behavior, but after this time it wasn't getting better.

We had told her that if it didn't work out we would take her back, so Gletta's coming back to be with us Thursday morning until we can find her another home.

Betty and I talked about it and we agreed that we didn't want to upset Sugar and Morgunn's routine because they have settled in well and are well bonded to each other. So, we decided to fix up a separate pen for Gletta where she would eat and Sugar and Morgunn could keep their same routines in the stalls. We'll let Gletta out several times during the day, but the pen will be pretty large, 12' by 28' so she'll have plenty of room even if she doesn't get out.

We decided that the smartest thing would be to get a new round pen to replace our home made pen and we'll use those panels to make the temporary pen for Gletta. After we find her a new home, we'll set up the new round pen.

Betty worked with Sugar this morning in our current round pen and I did some ground work with Morgunn. Then we both went out to Galloping Grace Youth Ranch and worked with some neat kids.

Then I hopped in my truck and checked out all the tack places that I knew had round pens available. I even went as far as Los Lunas, but I would up buying a new round pen from Dan's Boots and Saddles. It will be delivered tomorrow.

Hopefully, we can get some help to get Gletta's pen set up before she arrives Thursday morning.

Scrapped

My friend Val at Fantastyk Voyage 'scrapped' me which means I'm supposed to share 10 things about myself that others may not know. OK, here goes.

1. I was born in the same hospital as my oldest son, Wade Daniel. We were both born in St. Thomas Memorial Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.

2. I hate spiders. I can handle snakes and other insects, but not spiders.

3. I'm left handed. When I was in the first grade, my teacher tried to get me to force me to change my writing hand to my right hand, but my mother would have nothing of it.

4. I hit a home run in the bottom of the last (6th) inning to win a Regional Little League play off game. Unfortunately, we lost in the State playoffs.

5. When I was in Little League, we wore solid wool uniforms which was the norm in those days -- early 1950's. It was heavy, hot and itchy when you first put it on, but once you started sweating and it got wet it was cool and comfortable.

6. I taught myself to play the guitar, starting at age 14.

7. I can juggle. I'm out of practice, but I learned when Betty and I were clowns in a Christian Clown Ministry.

8. I was a Webelos (last year of Cub Scouts) leader for three years and a Scoutmaster for eight years.

9. Betty and I and our boys used to be spelunkers. We would explore wild caves. It started during our Scouting years.

10. And, my favorite, I navigated a US Navy frigate, The USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (DLG 32), on an around the world cruise in 1971.

There it's done.

Monday Video - One Small Step

It was Sunday morning, July 20, 1969. The USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (DLG-32) arrived at its home port of Mayport, Florida after a long tour in Vietnam.

Most of the crew was happy to take some leave with their families after such a long voyage and time away from home.

Yours truly, Gunnery Officer at the time (later Navigator), volunteered to stay on board for several days as Officer of the Watch. The reason was my family was in Nashville at the time. Betty was pregnant with our first born who was due in about a month around mid-August. At that time sonagrams were only done for emergencies so we didn't know if the baby was going to be a boy or girl.

I had planned to take leave close to the due date so I could be home when Betty gave birth to our little girl or boy. So, I was content to stay on board the ship that night as that was my home. I really didn't have anywhere else to go.

So, it was a quiet ship that night after dinner with only a skeleton crew on board for security and to keep the ship's electrical equipment and other systems up and running. Normally, I would have hit the sack as I was dead tired. It had been a long day, but there was something keeping us all up.

We gathered in the wardroom with our black and white TV around 9:00 PM because the first men were scheduled to land on the moon that night.

We were in awe when we heard Neal Armstrong say the first of two famous sayings, "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."

Then at 10:56 PM EDT we watched as Armstrong descended the ladder to put the first foot print on the moon and declared, "One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind."

As a kid, I had read all the science fiction novels from Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, etc. Now, I was watching fiction come to life.

It was an amazing time.

Enjoy this video. It's very much what we saw on that black and white TV on the STANDLEY that night 40 years ago today.

Sunday Reflections - Lassie and Lightning

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. (Luke 10:38-40)

As I write this, we're watching "Lassie Come Home" on TV. It's a great film.

It reminds me of the story about the old man and his dog. Wherever the old man went, the dog followed him. The dog had a purpose and earned his keep by herding the old man's sheep. After a hard day's work, the old man would fix supper for him and his dog. After the supper dishes were put away, the old man would spend the evening in his recliner reading his Bible. His dog would lay obediently on the floor at his side, appearing to sleep. Occasionally the old man's hand would drop to give the dog a gentle rub behind his ears. But if the old man made any move at all, the dog would waken obediently to see if he needed to attend to the old man's wishes.

That story is indicative of our relationship with God.

The following pictures have absolutely no connection with the above, but I wanted to share them with you. We had a pretty good thunderstorm last night just as the sun was setting. The sky was ablaze and there was a fair amount of lightning and thunder.

I went out and took the following pictures. The first is just the sky.

If you look close at the lower right hand corner, you'll see a bolt of lightning. Double click on the picture to enlarge it if necessary.

The bolt of lightning in this picture is more in the center.

Saturday Voice - Bill of Rights

During the debates on the adoption of the Constitution, its opponents repeatedly charged that the Constitution as drafted would open the way to "tyranny by the central government."

Fresh in their minds was the memory of the British violation of civil rights before and during the Revolution. They demanded a "bill of rights" that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens. Several state conventions in their formal ratification of the Constitution asked for such amendments; others ratified the Constitution with the understanding that the amendments would be offered.

"Tyranny by the central government" - those are strong words and it's hard to imagine that we could ever see that happen in our country. The watch out is that we may be the frog in the pot. That's a reference to the parable that says if you throw a frog into a boiling pot, he will jump out. However, if you put a frog into a pot of cool water, he will stay in it. If you slowly raise the heat he will not notice it until its too late -- and he's boiled.

The founders of our country were all loyal to the Crown at one point in their lives. However, they saw that over time, the freedom they sought in this new land called America was being slowly taken away -- decree by decree -- by a central government in England. They finally came to a point where they knew that they were "slowly being boiled to death." They chose to make a stand.

Out of their courage and sacrifice came the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution with its Bill of Rights -- the first 10 amendments to the Constitution.

The preamble to the Bill of Rights clearly states their fear of a new, powerful central government that could arise if it were not restricted:

The Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

It's clear to me that our founding was to be based on a government that was restricted in its powers so what power it did have could not be misconstrued or abused.

I believe the founders envisioned a country where each man and woman had the freedom to pursue their own lives, liberties and happiness. They believed in equality of pursuit -- not in equality of outcomes. This freedom to, in the words of the US Army, be all you can be, led this country to be a place that everyone aspired to come to -- America became a beacon of hope for the world.

They envisioned a central government that was primarily responsible for the safety of the country with most all other powers resident in the states. They believed if power was resident in state governments then individual citizens would be closer to those who exercised that power and the rights of individuals would be more easily preserved. The farther removed power becomes, the harder it is to restrict that power and the easier it is for that power to be misconstrued.

I want to be clear, my concerns about where our country is headed are not directed solely to our current President and Congress. I'm well aware that the slow boiling of our pot started many years ago. Some constitutional scholars pinpoint the start of the boil to the early part of the 20th century with President Teddy Roosevelt. It was aggravated by Presidents Hoover and Coolidge and accelerated by President Roosevelt during the depression and World War II.

However, I am concerned that our current government is regularly ignoring the Constitution and the Bill or Rights at a pace that is unprecedented in our history. And, for the first time, they are being aided and abetted by a compliant media that is in danger of becoming a propaganda arm of this government.

I don't pretend that I have the only and final opinion on this subject, but I think it's important for every American to read the Bill of Rights for themselves as they spell out the rights each of us are supposed to have and freely exercise. Measure your understanding of your rights against these Rights and make your won conclusions.

For your reading pleasure, here are the Bill of Rights Amendments:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

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Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

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Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

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Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

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Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

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Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

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Amendment VII

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

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Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

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Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

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Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

When the founders agreed to the Bill of Rights, I believe they placed the rights they were most concerned about first. If this is true, then the first and second amendments enumerated the rights they wanted to be sure were preserved to the individual citizens of this new country.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

There are three points in this first (and in my opinion, most important) amendment

1. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
2. Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press
3. Congress shall make no law abridging the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

Over the next three weeks, I'll share my thoughts on each of these because I'm concerned all three are in danger of slowly being boiled to death. Then I'll tackle the second amendment on the right to bear arms.

Next week: Freedom of Religion

Friday Memories - Summer (Upate: Need Prayer)

When I was a kid, summer was a special time. We lived on a street called Stewart Place in Nashville, Tennessee in a very small house that I think our folks bought for $5,000.

We didn't have a TV until I was about six so we kids did a lot outside playing and running around. One of my favorite things was to pick huckleberries off a Huckleberry tree to use with a straw. You could create quite a sting with those pea shooters.

My sister and I and our friends would walk down to the local public swimming pool, the Cascades, to go swimming as often as we could afford it. If I remember correctly, we would walk across the dirt track of the original Nashville Speedway to get to the swimming pool. This was in the early 50's when a lot of the Nascar drivers were still running moonshine to make their real money. Racing their cars was more fun than lucrative in those days.

We also walked past a small amusement park called Fair Park. I suspect both the Cascades and Fair Park would be shut down by today's health and safety standards, but they were both fun places.

I remember one summer getting really sunburned on my back and shoulders. That night I had these huge water blisters on top of both shoulders. They were probably 2 inches long and an inch wide. I remember my Mom breaking the blisters to let the water out. It was a long, painful night.

Of course, we caught fireflies in jars at night. We had a couple of Maple trees in our little front yard and the fireflies would sparkle up in the leaves.

We also caught June bugs and we would tie a string to one of their legs and they would fly all around at the end of our string.

When it was really hot, with no air conditioning in those days, we would go down into our cellar because it was cooler down there. After we got our first, small, black and white TV, we would take it down there with us. I remember watching Queen Elizabeth's coronation that was shown live in 1951. That was a big deal.

And probably the grossest thing we would do is chew tar when the streets got hot and the tar patches would get really soft. We would pull off a small piece of tar and chew it.

It's a wonder I'm still alive -- but it was a good time of life.

Prayer Request: Betty's older sister, Margie, who lives in Franklin, Tennessee was in a serious automobile accident yesterday. She was broadsided by another car on her side. The car was totaled, but the miracle is she only suffered a broken, left pelvis. She's in the hospital until probably Saturday or Monday and will then go to a rehab hospital. Needless to say, Betty can empathize because of her accident a year and a half ago. If you believe in prayer, please say an extra one for Margie's relief from pain and quick healing.

Head and Feet

Today was the start of a new adventure for Betty and Sugar. As I mentioned yesterday, Betty has been having a little trouble with Sugar's gait. We invited a local Corrales woman, Miriam Gonzalez, to come do an evaluation. Miriam is a trainer of horses and riders and she's from Panama. She's a neat lady.

She checked Sugar out from head to toe and made some recommendations concerning her hooves. Then she took Sugar out for a short ride in our back lot. Then she got Betty to ride Sugar in our round pen and showed her some exercises to do with her.

Miriam will come twice a week for the next four weeks before we go to Canada in mid-August. She'll work with Sugar and with Betty on her riding skills. It will be great for all of us for I'll learn from Betty what she's learning from Miriam.

Based on her recommendations, we actually made a switch in our farriers. The new farrier, who also owns a gaited horse, came around lunch today and did a trim on Morgunn and Sugar. He said both horses have good, strong, healthy hooves which is always good to hear.

I'll try to take some pictures next week when Miriam comes to work with Betty next Wednesday and Friday.

Wednesday Ride, Lunch and Shopping

Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera along with me on our ride this morning. So, I'll have to paint word images for you.

As usual, we went out at 7:30 AM to groom and tack up because of the heat. We're having days in the mid to upper 90's with lots of sun. Fortunately, the nights drop down to the mid to upper 60's so our early mornings are pleasant. We only ride about an hour or so, give or take 15 minutes, to keep ourselves and the horses in tune together.

Betty has been having a little trouble with Sugar not wanting to gait. She's been wanting to trot instead. So part of our plan this morning was to give her a chance to work on that.

After warming them up in our back lot, we headed over into the sage area just South of us. We rode for about a mile or so on the dirt roads. As we were coming back to the area where we planned to stop to let Betty work on Sugar's gait, we spotted a young coyote.

We've seen this coyote a lot recently, often with his/her mother. Being young he's more curious than cautious. He stood in the path watching Betty and Sugar come toward him and then settled into the sage about 6' off the trail as she worked Sugar up and down the trail as Morgunn and I watched. He even laid down for awhile. He's never been a threat in any way -- just curious.

They both did well today. Betty had Sugar back into her gait so it was a good day for the both of them.

We stopped at a grassy patch in the sage on our way home, took off their bits and bridles, and let them munch on the wild grasses.

We walked them home from there. Our neighbor across the street lets us cut through his yard and driveway to and from this area. As we walked out of the sage area onto his driveway, leading the horses, I looked up and there was our little coyote friend resting in the shade of a large sage bush. I guess it was the most excitement for him in days.

This afternoon we're going out for lunch and then some grocery shopping. We have several favorite restaurants in the area -- El Pintos on 4th Street, High Finance on the top of the Sandia Mountains, The Range Cafe in Bernallilo, but we're going to our other favorite, The Indigo Crow here in Corrales. The food is very good and it has a nice outdoor eating area shaded by humongous Cottonwood trees.

As part of our shopping we'll stop at our local farm market, Wagners Farms, as they have just opened for the season. We should be able to get some fresh picked corn there -- yum!

Tuesday Odds and Ends

Not much today.

Went to exercise this morning. Betty had a chiropractor appointment while I went to Galloping Grace Youth Ranch to work with a couple of neat kids. Betty had some pain in her side several weeks ago. Her chiropractor felt sure a rib was out of place putting pressure on some nerves. After several weeks treatment she's feeling great -- no pain now for over two weeks.

Resting this afternoon in our airconditioning while it's hot as heck outside.

We have a premarital counseling session this evening. Working with the couple on God's plan for their marriage.

That's it for our day. God willing, we'll ride early tomorrow morning before it gets too hot.

Monday Video - National Anthem at Fenway Park

Boston's Fenway Park is one of the classic ball parks remaining in the U.S. The "Green Monster" wall in left field is legendary.

Recently they had a "Disability Awareness Day" at one of their games. A young man with an obvious disability was asked to sing the National Anthem prior to the game and to sing it accapella. Several other people with disabilities were standing around the field with the major league players as he started to sing.

It's obvious as he starts that he's going to have difficulty and there is some laughter, but don't let that put you off. Even he gets tickled and laughs with them.

But what's amazing is how 60,000 people join in to sing with him. I've been to many games over the years and I've never heard the National Anthem sung so well or by so many at any game.

It's a touching moment. Enjoy!

Sunday Reflections - Sex

Now that I have your attention...

I'm actually going to reflect on sex as I believe it is a gift of God to married couples.

From our reading of the Bible, Betty and I see three reasons that God gave us this wonderful gift.

1. To Have Children -- As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it. (Genesis 9:7)

There's no question in our minds that the family is important to God for a lot of reasons, but one of the most important is for parents to show and teach their children about God and who he is. Most children see their parents, especially their father, as their image of God. If a father is remote and distant, then a child will most likely have an image of God as remote and distant. If a father is harsh and critical then that is the image of God the child will grow up with. If the father is loving and caring, then God is seen as loving and caring.

2. To Enjoy Each Other -- Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. (Song of Solomon 2:3-4)

Again there is no question in our minds that God means for a husband and wife to enjoy each other in all ways -- including their physical relationship. It is meant to be a gift of joy to each other.

3. To Become One Flesh -- But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. (Mark 10:6-9)

In Jesus' time, the Jews saw people as made up of three parts -- the external which could be seen and touched; the internal such as the mind, thoughts, attitudes, feelings, emotions, conscious and subconscious, and the eternal -- the spirit that will live forever.

When a husband and wife become one flesh it is not a one time thing, but a lifetime of joining. It's clearly an external, physical joining, but it's also an internal, emotional joining and, even more importantly, an eternal, spiritual joining -- truly becoming one in all aspects of who we are.

We believe that Satan, the adversary, knows this and that's why he has corrupted sex. He knows that when a man and woman have sex outside of marriage the same three things can happen.

Children can be created outside of the bonds of marriage. Sex outside of marriage can be enjoyable, at least on a physical level. And, emotional and spiritual bonds can be created.

Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh. (1 Corinthians 6:16)

When the sexual relationship ends as often happens, an unplanned child may be present, emotional wounds often are present, and spiritual baggage is carried into the next relationship which manifests itself as a lack of trust between the new partners.

In our premarital counseling we deal with this at the beginning if the couple has or is having sex prior to their marriage. We explain what is going on and encourage them to seek God's forgiveness and to abstain until their wedding night. We tell them, "You can't be physical virgins again, but you can be spiritual virgins again. You can seek God's forgiveness, be cleansed and start over with him."

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

The Amplified Bible gives a fuller version of the same verse:

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. (1 John 1:9 AMP)

Sex, a wonderful gift from God for a husband and wife, is truly in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action.

Saturday Voice - Health Care

There have been many changes in our country over the past six months and it is legitimate to debate the need for and success of any of them. However, one potential change is coming down the road that could dramatically change the nature of our country - what do we do about health care?

We do have millions of people without health insurance - many are illegal immigrants, many are young people who could afford insurance but choose not to purchase it. They would rather spend that money on themselves and that is their right.

However, I think we have very few people who do not have access to health care when they need it.

Our government seems to be pushing for a public, single-payer health care system similar to what Canada and Britain have. Here is someone more eloquent than me who has written about this, author Paul Rahae.

"At a carefully staged rally for the administration's health care proposal, President Obama responded to a question by acknowledging that his plan aimed to reduce medical costs by aligning "incentives" in such a fashion as to discourage the sick and the dying from undergoing "additional tests" or taking "additional drugs that the evidence shows is not necessarily going to improve care."

Obama's choice of words was, as always, soothing. But anyone familiar with the healthcare debate will immediately recognize what he left unsaid. We all know that, wherever there is socialized medicine, there is rationing. Cutting costs is, in fact, its rationale, and this end is achieved by a refusal on the part of the government to pay for care that the bureaucrats judge uneconomic. Already now, in the semi-socialized system to which we have been made subject, those consigned to HMOs come up against gatekeepers charged with shaving costs by restricting care.

Why, we might ask, should one have to wait months or even years for a hip-replacement operation? Why should one be denied a cataract operation if one is over a certain age? What business is it of Barack Obama's whether I choose to spend my own hard-earned money on procedures thought to have only a limited chance of success? What gives him--or, for that matter, anyone else--the right to make decisions that are for me a matter of life and death?

Defenders of Obama's proposal will reply that I am misrepresenting his proposal. No one, they will say, will be forced to give up the health insurance they have. Technically, of course, this is true. But what President Obama calls the "incentives" will be structured in such a way that employers will no longer have to offer coverage, and to save themselves the expense (which is considerable), they will seize the opportunity to opt out, and then we will have no choice. "To take from one," Thomas Jefferson wrote, "because it is thought that his own industry and that of his father's has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association--'the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it.'" It was on this foundation that Abraham Lincoln objected to slavery, and it is on this foundation that one can object to the health care reform proposed by our President. For this proposal is designed to take from those who have earned and to give to those who have not bothered to do so; and, by way of constraining "incentives," it will take from us the right to manage our own lives in a matter most dear to each and every one of us, and it will confer this responsibility on experts empowered to decide whether, given the cost of care, it is of greater value to society that we suffer or are cured, that we live or die."


Those are strong words, but I think we need to listen to them and give them some thought. The research I have done, including talking with friends in Canada and England, seems to confirm that, "Government run health care works fine, if you're never sick." There is no denying that they have much longer waits for tests and surgery than we do. It also appears that treatment for the elderly is restricted because of their age.

As a person who is probably facing cataract surgery in one or two years, I wonder if I will be deemed worthy enough for a government run health system when I am 65 or 66 years old?

Additionally, the government has a pretty poor record trying to run big operations, e.g., Social Security and Medicare (both bankrupt), the Post Office (losing money every year), etc.

Here's a clue as to the quality of any proposal -- check out who is NOT a part of the legislation -- who is exempt from the new system. At this point, the major proposals exclude government employees and union members. So, it's supposedly a good health care proposal for us -- but not for our 'leaders,' their families, or their money supporters. That kind of makes me wonder -- actually it makes me mad -- hypocrites.

I am not smart enough or knowledgeable enough to know what a good solution is, but I am strongly opposed to government control of our health care system.

Friday Ride, Star Trek, Anniversary, and Last Flowers

Betty and I had a good Friday ride this morning. We took Sugar and Morgunn down to one of the irrigation ditches and had fun. The only problem is getting started so early to avoid the heat. Our daytime highs are in the mid-90's which is normal for July.

That means I get up at 5:30 AM to feed the horses so we can go out to groom them and tack them up starting at 7:30 AM. That way we can be riding by 8 and back home by 9:30 at the latest, just as it's starting to warm up.

This afternoon we're going to see the new Star Trek movie. We wanted to see it on the big screen and this will probably be the last week to do that.

Betty reminded me this morning that today is the one-year anniversary of her emergency appendectomy. Happy Anniversary, sweetheart.

Finally, I saved our favorite flowers for last. You can't beat roses.

And Betty's favorite, a yellow rose.

Have a great weekend all.

Working, Volunteering and Repairing

Today was a hodgepodge of things.

Betty and I went to exercise this morning. At our age it's an important part of our routine. Also, since we both have Osteoporosis it's important to do regular weight-bearing exercise to strengthen our bones.

Then I went to Galloping Grace Youth Ranch to help out with the kids there. I was able to work with a neat young girl named Kelsey who has the softest hands I've seen for a girl her age.

Betty went to lunch with a friend at Pizza Hut and brought a P-Zone home for me to eat.

This afternoon, a neat guy named David who owns Windshield Wizards in Rio Rancho came to our house and replaced the front windshield of our Toyota RAV4. A couple of years ago, we got two cracks in it from thrown rocks within weeks of each other. He did a great job and, if you need your car glass replaced, I highly recommend him.

To close out here are some more flowers from our house.

The first is a Blue Mist Spirea -- a small bush in our courtyard.

The other is a Chaste Tree that blooms most of the summer.

Wednesday Odds and Ends

We're doing a ride on Wednesday morning and the Culligan repair man is coming in the afternoon as our water softener's not working right. So, I'm actually writing this on Tuesday evening.

Here are some more flowers - Day Lillies - that have been in full bloom for the past several days. We think they have been prettier this year than in years past.

Last night, Monday, we had one of those crazy rain clouds where the rain evaporated before it hit the ground. What made it interesting was it occurred just as the sun was setting.


Have a great Wednesday.

Feel the Burn

Tumbleweeds! The bane of the Southwest and it's not even a native plant. It came from Russia. Once the tumbleweed dies in the Winter, it dries up and, because of its shallow root, comes loose from the ground in the first good wind which is pretty often around here.

So, each Winter I start collecting dried Tumbleweeds and other plant trash into a pile behind our horse trailer. It's out of sight of our neighbors and the trailer blocks the wind to keep it from blowing around.

In the summer, we wait for a 'burn day' when it's safe and legal to burn and we sacrifice all this dried refuse to the fire gods (just kidding, there's only one God).

Here are pictures from this years 'burn.'

Tossing another pile onto the fire. We have to keep the fire size small or the fire department will not be happy.

The fire pit with Morgunn and Sugar looking on.

Close up. The pit is about 4 feet long by 2 1/2 feet wide and about 2 feet deep. This keeps any burning pieces from blowing away and, when I'm done, I can cover it up with clean dirt so you don't know we ever burned in that spot.

Morgunn and Sugar were curious for awhile. Eventually Sugar was bored and left.

Yours truly watching the fire. We keep a shovel, rake and charged hose close at hand just in case.


It's a small fire, but it is really hot.

Monday Video - Marriage Proposal

A couple of weeks ago we showed a video of a wonderful bride and groom dance. Today we're going to the other end of the process and show a very creative marriage proposal.

Yes, it is for real.

Enjoy.

Sunday Reflections - Growth

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, ... (Hebrews 6:1)

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2-3)

I ran across a simple explanation for what it means to grow in our faith -- to grow in Christ -- intimacy, dependence, obedience.

Our first stage in our life with Christ is one of intimacy -- knowing and being known. It is the same intimacy with which a husband and wife know each other.

This is a wonderful, early stage when it's all new and incredible. However, if we stay in this stage then we're like newborn babies when God wants us to mature and in our maturity be of more use to Him.

The second growth stage is dependence -- learning to depend upon Christ for all that we are and all that we have. Our very being comes from our relationship with Jesus and we learn that all things belong to God. We are only stewards. This stage is similar to us becoming teenagers in our relationship with God.

Our maturity comes from the third stage -- obedience. Once we have an intimate relationship with Christ and we learn to depend on him for all things, God leads us into this stage of our spiritual life where we begin to obey his callings upon our life. If he says go, we go. If he says stay, we stay. Now we are useful to him and this is where He has been leading us all the days of our life.

As we grow from one stage to the next, we don't lose or leave the prior stage(s). Obedience is built upon dependence and they both need the foundation of intimacy.

Intimacy, dependence, obedience. We are to be fruit -- like a peach. At first we are just a bud, still intimate with the tree, but of no use yet. Then we are dependent upon the tree as we grow into a full-bodied peach. However, to fulfill our potential as a peach we must obey the calling to be picked at the fullness of our ripeness so we can provide sweetness and sustenance to someone else.

Saturday Voice - Independence

On the eve of the 4th of July, 1776, John Adams wrote a letter to his wife, Abigail, detailing his thoughts about the upcoming Declaration of Independence.

This is just a part of that letter:

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. — I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. — Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

"I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support an defend these States."

The founders of our country wanted and laid out plans for a federal government with limited powers with all remaining rights and powers belonging to the States and to individuals. They had seen and endured what havoc a 'supreme' government could cause through central control of their lives.

233 years later it still requires toil and blood and treasure to maintain this Declaration... and part of the battle is to keep our freedoms safe from foreign oppression, but also from some within our own country and government who would try to take over control of our lives, little by little.

We no longer have a federal government with limited powers, but there is still time to preserve what rights the States still have and we as individuals still have if we are willing to give our toil, blood and treasure to maintain that "...all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

We have a choice -- independence as free people or dependence as wards of the state. I choose the former and I will share my toil, blood and treasure to maintain that Declaration. As the Declaration says in its last words, just above the signatures of those brave men who risked everything...

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

Have a safe and happy 4th of July and remember to say a prayer for all of our men and women who serve to protect our freedom.

Day at the Beach

We love living in New Mexico. The only thing missing that would make it even better is no beach - no connection to the ocean. It would be nice to be able to drive to a beach where you could swim on a hot summer day.

Our two resident Rock Doves, known as Pigeons in the city, have figured out that they can have their own day at the 'beach' on a hot day.

"Ahhhh, this looks like a good place."

"Now we can settle down for a nice afternoon in the water at the beach. Did you remember the soda pop?"

"I think I'll just splash around a little to get the dust off my wings."

"Now if I can just put all my feathers back into place. You always gotta look your best when you're at the beach."

"Hey, I think I see someone coming."

"Sure enough. We find a nice secluded spot on the beach and someone else has to intrude into our space."

"Hey, how ya' doing? Do ya' think we can join ya, huh? It's just me and the missus."

"I don't think so. Now scram! We got here first."

"Gee, you don't have to be so rude. We're leavin.' You can have this crummy spot all to yourselves."

"Good. Now we can settle down again and just enjoy this stretch of beach all by ourselves."

And, another day at the beach comes to an end.