Follow me!

As most of you know I love to ride horseback. This picture was taken the other day as Susan and I were trail riding in a forest area of southern Michigan. It was a beautiful late fall day. Susan took the picture of me leading us on the trail. Amos likes to lead. He does not like to follow - his walk is a little faster than most other horses, so we lead and they stay with us. The important thing is - I had better know where we are going and keep my eyes open for "surprises". Amos does not like to be startled. So I try to stay alert!

I Corinthians 11:1 basically says. "... follow me as I follow Christ." Sooooo, if you want to know how to follow Christ, you should be able to follow me as Paul was implying and I should be able to be your example. If you are following me, I will really try to do my best, and if I screw up, please forgive me!

Fun day today! Trail Ride!!

In about an hour Susan and I will load Izzy and Amos in the trailer and go off the farm about 40 miles and go for a trail ride today. We will go to a public recreation area that has miles of horse trails.

It is a beautiful day - high should be in low 60's and no rain. Hopefully lots of sun shine.

I haven't trail ridden off site for probably a year or more. So this will be almost a new adventure.

Hopefully we will get lots of pictures so that I can post later.
Have a great day - God has given this day for our pleasure.

God's Handiwork !!

I guess its debatable as to whether this log home is God's handiwork or not. I say it is. My brother just was using God's wonderful creation to make a beautiful home.

My brother began this project several years ago and today lives in this beautiful log home.

He actually went out and cut each log out of a wood lot with a chain saw. I know that he cut over 200 logs to build this home. He even purchased a portable saw mill to mill his logs and lumber.

When we turn our lives over to Christ to be used by Him, He has amazing plans for us. Remember, He created you - put your life in the Master's Hands!

Merry Christmas!

We will have an "unusual" Christmas this year - plans are near finalized. Jonas & Anna-Lena (in the picture with mama) are coming to our home (building in the background) in Florida. They will bring their two children Sam age 4 and Sanne age 4 months. There will be 7 of us together for about 4 weeks.

Now if that were our home in the background we would have plenty of space. However, we have a single wide trailer in Florida!! Yes, we will be cozy and close!HA! The building in the back ground is actually the king's home in Stockholm, Sweden!

Did I mention they are flying from Sweden ??!! We are all very excited!! They are precious family!! We shall have lots of fun!!

A Special Day!

Today is a very special day - Sara's birthday. When you look at this picture (Paul & Sara) you can't help but be pleased and thankful. You see this could have very easily been Paul's last picture alive. The picture was taken yesterday.

As you probably know Sara is my adopted grand daughter from China. Sara joined our family in February 2009. Paul and Sara were friends in the same orphanage in China and were adopted at the same time by different families. The exciting news is that they live only 45 minutes from each other here in the USA !! Yesterday Paul came to Sara's birthday party - she was 4! A happy day for all - but almost ended in tragedy.

Paul and Sara were dressing up and having lots of fun - Paul even had a pair of high heels on - cute. As we adults talked all of a sudden we heard a loud thump and then a series of many "not good" thumps. Paul had tried to navigate going down the basement stairs - not good in high heels! He rolled and bounced down probably 90% of the stairs - several adults rushed to him. He had scraped his head but was okay, crying and terrified. His mother cradled him in her arms - after all he was her adopted child.

You and I also have the option of being adopted into a family - God's family. And just like Paul's mother and father our Heavenly Father wants to embrace us. Not just when we are fine but also when we are hurting. He loves us.

Choices

Last night I rode Amos - I know, I said I was not going to ride anymore. I struggle with the decision to ride almost each time I ride. My biggest concern is that I could fall and obviously be injured. With my Parkinson Disease that probably increases that risk.

However, I feel great and think I can do this. I have been on medication since the first of August and feel much better. I feel relaxed but have quicker response and I am more alert. So I am going to ride.

Thank you Susan for letting me ride Amos. Susan has been glad that we can ride the trails together. We try to encourage each other. I do not like to ride alone.

Some times making choices are not easy. I have weighed this decision quite hard. I think the exercise has been good for me, I am a confident rider, I think a good rider and I love being around horses, so, I am going for it. I can only ride until late November then go to Florida. So next Spring will tell the story.

God bless and I would appreciate your prayers and your counsel.

Papa

Whoops !!

A couple of weeks ago I "goofed" with Amos, the horse I use to own.

I was going riding with Susan so I was planning to ride Amos. As I approached the gate to take Amos out of his paddock he had seen me and got to the gate quickly - he is always anxious to meet me and come out.

There is a one strand electric fence wire that goes around the top of the entire paddock, to keep the horses from leaning over the fence. Before I opened the gate I disconnected the electric fence wire that goes across the gate. Amos then came up stuck his head over the gate and as i reached to touch his nose he "bumped" his nose on the 'hot' side of the electric fence - ouch! He bolted and ran about 30 yards back into the paddock - looked at me, and stood there - not sure what had happened. He was apparently not sure if I had done that. He was now trying to decide whether to approach me or not - could he trust me?

Deb, a blogging friend just did a post on trust. It has made me think, can I be trusted? To me trust is a major factor in our relationships - maybe the most important factor. Look at those who are closest to you, how important is trust? And, remember it works both ways.

As Amos stood there waiting to decide what to do, I opened the gate and went to him. He waited for me to come, but did not come towards me, I had rattled his trust in me just a little. After I stroked him on the neck, talked to him, he was fine and our relationship returned to normal - but if it happens again - he will even have less trust.

How are you doing with trust?