Hope N’ Change

No, this isn’t a post about politics.

Betty and I decided to swap horses.  As we get older and more aware of our limitations, Betty decided that Morgunn, being shorter, would be a better horse for her.  As we get older, Sugar seems to get taller.

Since Sugar is younger, I’m looking forward to working with her.  She’s a good horse now with all the work Betty has done with her, but her youth shows up every once in a while.

So we both win with this change.

We’ve been doing ground work with them to get the winter cobwebs out of their minds and bones.  Here’s some pictures from Betty’s work yesterday with Morgunn.

On her first try asking Morgunn to walk across the bridge, Betty did better than I ever did with him.  She got his two front feet up on the bridge with no problems.  He walked off with the hind feet when asked to go forward which is what always happened with me. 
My bet is she will eventually get him to walk all the way across which I could never do.

Monday Video – Welcome Home

Watch this video as a dog, a Golden Retriever, greets her human after he returns home from a tour in Afghanistan.

Enjoy.

Sunday Reflections – How Do You Live?

 
The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! " "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"  "Blessed is the King of Israel!" (John 12:12-13)


I have never been faced with a doctor looking me in the face and telling me, “Dan, you have one week to live at most.”

I have always wondered how I would face my own death when I knew the almost exact time it would occur.  Would I make myself and my family proud?  Would I make God proud?  Would I waste that time in self-pity or would my life have meaning in those last few days?

The truth is I don’t know.

Jesus, on Palm Sunday, rode into Jerusalem knowing he was riding to his death.  Passover was coming up and I’m fairly certain he knew he would be the sacrificial lamb for this particular Passover.

This week would be an important one for him, his disciples and for us.  He showed us how to pray.  He showed how to wash each other’s feet.  He showed us how to die.  He showed us how to trust in God the Father.

He was prepared for his death, but his disciples weren’t – even though he gave them plenty of clues that it was coming.

His death showed how little their human abilities had to offer to the kingdom of God.  In fear they ran from the authorities when he died.

It was only through his resurrection that they came to know the true presence and power of God in their lives.

May this day be the renewal of that presence and power of God in our lives as we journey through this week.

Saturday Prayer - Canticle of the Sun

The life and writings of St. Francis of Assisi were instrumental in our spiritual growth.  Here’s one of my favorites.

 

The Canticle of the Sun

Most high, all-powerful, all good, Lord!  All praise is yours, all glory, all honor and all blessing.

To you alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through all that you have made,

And first my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and light you give to us through him.

How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars; in the heavens you have made them, bright and precious and fair.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and fair and stormy, all the weather by which you cherish all that you have made.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water, so useful, lowly, precious, and pure.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten up the night.  How beautiful he is, how joyful!  Full of power and strength.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth, who feeds us in her sovereignty and produces various fruits and colored flowers and herbs.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through those who grant pardon for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial.

Happy those who endure in peace, by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death, from whose embrace no mortal can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those She finds doing your will!    The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks, and serve him with great humility.

Friday Funny – Caught Again

I’ve mentioned before that I enjoy cartoons – a lot.  They bring humor into my day and I often see my own foibles and failings in them (don’t ask me what a foible is).

Here’s another case of seeing myself in a cartoon.

Crazy Weather

Today has been the craziest weather day.

I got up early, about 6 AM, to feed the horses.  The forecast for today was rain and snow showers so I was surprised to see the sky mostly clear with the exception of a few clouds on the mountain top.

Then about 9 AM the clouds started to move in.  Betty and I went out about 10 AM to clean up last night’s manure and it was snowing.

Then it changed to sleet.

Betty left for a chiropractic appointment and it was snowing when she left.  She said she went from snow to sunshine and then to rain on her trip to the office.

As I write this, the sun is shining bright on our house, but the mountain is completely covered in rain and/or snow clouds.  The Sandia Mountains are somewhere in that cloud.
 
As I said, a crazy day.  At least it’s supposed to be much warmer tomorrow.

Monday Video – Sky Angel Cowboy

Hankie alert.

Some videos don’t need an introduction.  Just listen and enjoy.

Sunday Reflection – Faith in Failure

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles  from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

"What things?" he asked.

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. (Luke 24:13-21)

He was a prophet and powerful in word and deed…but he was crucified by those in power… we had hoped that he was the one…

In the worldly eyes of these two travelers to Emmaus Jesus had failed – he had not lived up to their hope in him.  Their faith in his success had only witnessed his failure.  And, now, they were probably on their way home to resume their lives without Jesus because he had failed them.

Boy, can I relate to those two.  There have been so many times that I have prayed for something – for safety from harm, for security in perilous financial times, for so many things that I thought I needed or deserved.  Yet, harm beset our lives, financial security took a hit, and much more that I didn’t need and certainly didn’t deserve – at least in my mind.

I’m reading a book called “Mistborn” and one of the characters made this comment: “Belief isn’t simply a thing for fair times and bright days, I think.  What is belief – what is faith – if you don’t continue in it after failure?  Anyone can believe in someone or something that always succeeds.  But failure…. ah, now, that is hard to believe in, certainly and truly.”

Failure is hard to believe in.  The two travelers to Emmaus found it hard to believe in what they perceived as Jesus’ failure.  I struggle when unexplained harm or tragedy enters our life when I have prayed for safety and security.  Has Jesus failed me?  Or have I failed him?

I’m learning that continuing in faith in the face of failure – that is hard, certainly and truly.

Welcome Spring

Spring comes today.  Yesterday, it was sunny with a temperature in the mid to upper 60’s.  The horses were shedding like crazy.

This morning, this is what greeted me when I opened the door to our back lot where the horses are.

Yep, the last morning of winter (Spring starts at 11:20 AM) gave us our biggest snow of the year -- 2+ inches (yeah, I know you guys on the other side of the mountain think this is a puny snow, and it is, but it’s the biggest snow for us).

Here are some pictures around the house as I went out to get the paper. 

Here’s a Cholla cactus.

Our front entrance gate.

Finally, St. Francis who stands watch at our entrance gate.

Have a happy Spring!

Friday Funny – Dogs

If you have ever had a dog, you know that this cartoon is probably very true.

We’re Home

We had a great trip home yesterday.  We got through the Denver airport with no problems and no delays which is unusual.

The flight was straight down through Colorado into New Mexico and we flew along the mountain ranges most of the way.

We’ve spent today resting, running some errands and getting our lives settled down after a great trip with our kids.

So, nothing more than to wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

(I’m really Scotch-English, but I like the Irish – good beer and great laughs.)

Heading Home and More Juliet Pictures

We’re flying home today from Fort Collins.  So, here’s some more pictures of Juliet.

We went to Fiorina’s Deli yesterday to meet Marie for lunch.  After we ate, I decided to get a chocolate/coffee milk shake.  This is one of those places that make milk shakes the old-fashioned way.  They make more than will fit in your glass and they give you the remainder.

I asked them to put the remainder in a smaller cup so Juliet could have it.

Here she is enjoying her milk shake.

She used a spoon for some of the milk shake…

sometimes a straw…
 
digging hard to get as much as possible…

even fingers worked too…

I think she enjoyed her milk shake.

Monday Video – Don’t Judge Too Quickly

You have to see these to understand – don’t judge too quickly.

Enjoy.

Sunday Reflection – Saturday in Fort Collins

Nothing deep today other than children and grandchildren are blessings from God.

Yesterday, we all went to Old Town in Fort Collins for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  We met Marie’s sister’s family – Melissa and Nick and their two girls, Maggie and Kaley.

Here are some of the sights of the crowd before the parade started.

 
Here’s a picture of the crowd waiting for the parade.

Finally, the parade starts.

Even St. Patrick himself.

Juliet enjoyed watching the parade.

Lastly, just a few more pictures of our blessing, Juliet.

Another good day.