We are instructed to be the hands and feet (and voice) of God. It is sometimes difficult to do though, because we get so wrapped up in the issues of our home, city, and country... and we get sucked in by the hatred. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." - Ephesians 6:12
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We need to stay connected to God and His love. Romans 8:38+39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God." Doing my part means to love God and love my neighbor. I need to do what little I can, with what little I have, to make the world a better place. I need to not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. And I need to leave the rest to God.
Maggie's favorite seat in the SUV. |
I had a bad coughing fit at 4 am Saturday and I got out of bed 40 minutes later, because I was unable to get back to sleep. The moonlit morning was obscured by a thick, dense fog. Later, after sunrise, I took a short nap on the couch.
Mid-morning I rode with Joe on his way to golf. He dropped Maggie and I off.
A section of paved walking trail behind the Conference Center |
We walked part of Stonehenge golf course and then continued home going most of the way on the paved trail. When the woods are green with foliage, you can only see from one curve in the trail to the next. This time of year you can see much farther, and I didn't realize how curvy and windy the path is in places. We were out for 90 minutes, probably walking four miles.
Anyway, I pulled back into the garage, calling it quits for the day. I did do some crunches, push ups, and leg stretches to justify putting on workout clothes. But soon, after a hot shower, I was seated here in my PJ's snacking on Fritos, cookies and candy. What can I say, it was all the gym's fault for closing so early.
Joe got home from golf, feeling sick, so it was an early evening for the both of us. I did do a little interior decorating. I bought this tiny light up birch tree at an after Christmas sale (1/2 price for $10). Now I was trying to find a good location for it. Stevie was supervising.
Sunday, right off the bat, I was letting the tragedies of life get me down. I was feeling sad about the anniversary of the death of my eight month old kitty Maya, that occurred two years ago. And then I read in Carol's blog about the death of one of her ewes that had just happened. Next I saw that Sara (who worked at the barn) had shockingly lost her 21 year old friend to a fatal, accidental shooting. And I was also feeling bad about Courtney's sorrow over the 2 year anniversary of the death of her best friend, at age 30. So much tragedy. And then there was the concern for a friend who had just been diagnosed with AML Leukemia and started chemo, and Britney's Costa Rican dad who was admitted into the hospital the night before with pancreatitis. My prayer list was getting longer and the enormity of it all was almost overwhelming. Zig Ziglar's quote helps: "Even in tragedy, God through His Word offers hope for those who seek and believe. It starts with the promise of a better tomorrow, of life everlasting, of eternal peace. It's called faith, and it offers hope where none existed."
The early morning warm glow from within our house. |
Bird and critter watching on a gloomy day. |
Maggie and Stevie playing with a Stink Bug. |
The cat and dog did the best they could to entertain themselves, seen left and above.
Finally I got up and moving. I hung three things up on the walls. Notice in the right photo, the bare looking shelves, except for one safari theme cat. LOL
In the left photo you can see Stevie again, and the wooden totem artifact I had found 3/4 buried during a hike two years ago. I had cleaned it up and applied several coats of polyurethane. And now, finally have it hung on the wall.
In the right photo you can see hanging in the entry, the souvenir I had bought in Cozumel. Also, the picture Carlos had painted and given Joe and I is finally on the wall in the dining room. Joe was napping but Maggie had gotten restless so I took her for a three mile walk.
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Zorro peers under Amiga's neck and then tries to come under it, to come see me, as I am trying to lead Amiga to the barn. |
I noticed this smudge mark, made from a bird that had hit the front window. Its chest measured 3&1/2 inches across. You can see the mark of the head and wings as well as the feet. I went out to look for a body, but none could be seen. I just hate that our windows fool the birds into thinking they can fly right through our house. Shoot.
It was a quiet evening at home except for Joe's hacking and coughing and moaning and groaning. He really did feel crappy, and just when I was starting to feel sociable.
It rained all day Tuesday. And I thought, what better way to warm up on a gloomy, rainy day... than to make soup. I thawed the ham bone Brian had given us, got all the meat off of most of the bone, cut up onions, carrots and celery, and put them in the pot with the one section of meaty bone I had remaining.
After lunch I worked on preparing the wooden duck house to be hung. I drilled two 1/3" holes in the bottom so any water that gets inside can drain out. And I reinforced the back board that was split part way through so it doesn't completely break when we drill the house into the tree. In lower photo,
I had soup for dinner, but Joe didn't join me because he just wasn't feeling up to it. Walking Maggie after dinner was the fourth time in one day, for both of us to get wet.
At 9:30 I went to the Ballroom Aerobics class.
After a quick snack when I got home, I took Maggie to Heatherhurst and we walked the back nine of the Brae. Hole #1 seen below.
We finished our three mile walk in 60 minutes.
The muddy trail next to the bean field. |
I changed into barn clothes as soon as I got home, grabbed an apple (that I always share with Amiga and Zorro) and I went to the barn.
The trails were still muddy, wet, and slippery in spots. I wasn't sure if Amiga was favoring her one leg or not. Sometimes it is so hard to tell. I decided to just ride and enjoy her, and see how she did.
Amiga gets time to graze on winter rye, planted in this bean field. Notice the Wildwood barn in the background. |
I helped Ambrie bring in the horses before coming home, and then baked some corn bread, that went nicely with leftover ham and bean soup for dinner. After computerizing, I watched two episodes of Fixer Upper, and then hit the hay, later than usual, at 10:00.
The creek and pond are full. |
It had rained off and on all day and I got wet a few times during dog walks. Another fire was needed to dry us off when we got back from our after dinner walk. Joe and I watched a movie 'The Impossible,' that was based on the true experience of a family's attempt to survive a tsunami. It was a nail biter.
I did not feel well rested upon waking Friday morning. Joe's coughing had woken me up a few times during the night and I got out of bed with a headache.
Maggie and I walked the 17th fairway and watched the sky change colors as the sun came up. Dark rain clouds were moving quickly past, under whiter clouds higher up. The sun did come out from behind the clouds for an hour or so, but it soon became overcast again.
Pulling into Terry's farm. |
Amiga tacked and ready to hit the trail. |
Joe drove us to Terry's where I was meeting Jan to ride.
I let Amiga graze while Jan got Cash ready. |
Jan on Cash as we ride up Terry's drive. |
Once both horses were saddled, we hit the trail, riding on the grassy back roads of Fairfield Glade. It wasn't too muddy in most spots and we really enjoyed a quiet, relaxed, 90 minute ride.
What better way to spend inauguration day?
Cash and Amiga really seem to appreciate each others company, as do Jan and I. We stopped, or paused, a few times, listening to and looking at nature, or taking photos of each other.
I ate an early dinner since I was hungry and Joe was off playing cards. Then I took Maggie for a 90 minute walk, getting home at 6:00, her super time. It was a quiet evening at home, here at my computer and watching Fixer Upper.
Some days I do nothing for the good of man, but I do my part to take care of my own needs, which is also important. If you don’t take good care of yourself then you can’t really contribute meaningfully to others or to the world. Get a full night’s rest, exercise regularly, eat well, do yoga, meditate, take a walk, ride a horse, listen to music, snuggle with a kitty, or do whatever it is that rejuvenates and restores you. What have you done recently to take better care of yourself and strengthen your ability to perform well in the other parts of your life?
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