HAPPY TRAILS....

Each year the 'wagon train' comes through our area.  There's a little over a week of when equestrians come to our area, camp out, have horse shows, vendors, and just plain fun.  This is the first year we have had an opportunity to see/be involved in any part of it.  Even this year, we saw very little. Stephen and I were able to go over a couple of nights, see the shows, talk to people and just enjoy the horses, mules, miniature horses, etc.  The activities usually didn't end until about 2 a.m. We didn't stay that long, but did enjoy what we got to see.

We also got to take Jordan and Trevor to see the wagon train parade (Jonathan was on a date that particular day).  We totally enjoyed it...and hope we can do even more things next year.

I loved the ones horses that were a little feisty like these two beauties.

and this handsome guy

As it was almost the fourth of July on the day of the parade, some of the wagons and horses were decorated in red, white and blue.

I thought at first these were pink (lol)

Note the stars on the rear.

There were also a lot of children riding...so cute!

This veteran was a favorite of mine. See how proud he rides.

Then there were a few that couldn't handle their horses..this one was pretty wild.

Well, that's all for now. Going to catch up with each of you.

Busy, Busy, Busy

First, on a serious note.  Spiritually speaking, we are always in a battle.  Sometimes the battle is more intense than other times.  Thus, it is extremely sad when those who go by the name Christian cause problems, fight against, blame, etc other Christians.  Our Father led me to an article not long ago that spoke of the author praying to see others as God sees them.  I decided to begin praying the same thing. This has led me to look beyond the immediate situation. I have begun to feel sorry for those (who call themselves Christians) who put themselves before/above others, who play the blame game, who fight against other Christians and act in other ungodly ways.  They do not know the joy of  loving their neighbor (as themselves).  They do not enjoy the pleasures of the moment.  They are not content with anything. They don't know the trust of true friends. They don't know the freedom of forgiveness for they don't really give it. They don't know the feeling of humility since they continually blame others.  They are really lost miserable souls. I feel sorry for them.

On a better note.  Jonathan's plane finally got off the ground at 10:30 p.m.  He arrived in Orlando a little before midnight and he and my brother got 'home' about 1:30 a.m. He was whispering 'everyone else here is asleep except me and Uncle Mike".  I was whispering "everyone here is asleep except me". LOL. 

Stephen took several pics. Below is one of my favorite. This guy clowned around with the sticks and was too funny.

Saying Good-bye--note J's haircut.

Off to the gate--that's Stephen's hat.

Monday, we were up bright and early for Mom's biopsy. Susan (sil) met us at the hospital.  We took Mom home afterwards (her instructions were to rest, rest, rest). We wanted to make sure she was okay and fed. Susan fixed frozen pizzas, I cleaned up and  we stayed on until about 3pm.  Susan stayed until around 5. 

Today, mom is feeling better.  Hopefully, she'll hear about the results of the biopsy soon, get an appt. with her doctor and get the date set for the surgery.  We are praying it is a time when I can stay at the hospital with her.

We also had to have a CT scan for Jordan's wrist.  He has a stress (hairline) fracture and has to continue to wear the spica cast. We will have to take him to a hand specialist in a week or so to see what he says. He may have to wear the cast longer and/or go to therapy.

Got to talk to Jonathan today (my sil texted my brother to have him tell J to call me).  This is a mission camp and he is helping out at a mother's day out program for impoverished parents.  He is enjoying it. We are glad of that.

Got the lesson written, typed up AND run off for The Forge. Whoo Hoo.

So....part 3 :-)

So we're at the airport waiting...because Jonathan's flight has been delayed..over 2 hours as a matter of fact.  My brother was not please because J is going to the airport farther away from his house (it was the only flight J could afford) and because they are leaving the church at 7:30 a.m. Such is life.

We had a good time last p.m. shooting off our fireworks and watching the neighbors fireworks. 

Tomorrow a.m (bright and early) we'll be over at Mom's (my mother in law--she's mom to me while my flesh and blood mother is mama) at 7:30 a.m Her biopsy is at 8am and she's pretty nervous.  Prayers would be appreciated. 

Tomorrow afternoon/evening hopefully I'll be working on the lesson for The Forge.  Last Wed. p.m. we used windows with the opening activity.  They had to be cleaned first and several youth came in to help do that.  I took pictures of them so their parents could see them working...and enjoying it. LOL.

Currently Summer of the Dragon By Elizabeth Peters see related

So.....Part two.

So, I was cleaning the kitchen while the younger two boys were gone because they rarely clean it that well.  And this is what happened.

Yeah, I scrubbed so hard, I scrubbed the numbers off the knob and part of the paint off the stove.  LOL.  Yeah, I have elbow grease!!!

Someone asked about the VBS theme for mama.  It was a cafe theme complete with food like aboriginal paint dots (m and m's) walk about sticks (pretzels) crocodile teeth (candy corn) Kookaburra gum drops (gum drops),and other 'cutsy' things I came up with.  I even made a gum drop tree. and had postcards like a real Whistle Stop Cafe might have.  She used the left over ones to right a note to all the adults who attended.  She had 7-9 adults attend each night.  Good number for her church.  Here's a few pics. 

Trevor's appt. today went well, but we won't know the results for a few days. 

Oh and though I finished them a while back, here's the last two shirts I painted. 

My kind of eating out. LOL

This one says 'life is a picnic...then come the ants. I can relate to that for sure!!! 

Prayer Request: Jonathan leaves Sunday to fly to Orlando to go on a mission trip with my younger brother's church.  He'll fly back on the 12th.  Please pray for him to hear what God is saying to him, act on it and for safety. 

Oh  and before I forget.

So...

So we were in the E.R. (yep, again) and there were two little girls wearing these cute dresses. The oldest was especially rowdy, jumping on the chairs, banging them, being loud, etc.  She kept bumping our chairs (and making Jordan hurt worse) so I gave her 'a look'...her dad would call her down each time I did, and she'd stop...for a minute.  Jordan and I decided to go to a different room.  Stephen stayed to hear when they called Jordan back.  He heard the dad say to the girl "Sit down and stop it or I'll never let you wear a dress again.".  Really? Seriously? That's the best you can do? Sigh.

Anyway, Jordan was running at my parents house, slipped on the gravel and fell on his left wrist/arm. I didn't know about it until we stopped on the way home to eat (about 40 minutes later). His wrist was really swollen so I knew we'd have to have it looked at. I was pretty sure he had a broken wrist.  We decided to wait to we got home and had him put ice on it.  We arrived home about 8:30 so we were at the ER before 9. The x-ray didn't show any broken bones, but the doctor said he had a probable break (based on how it looked, pain level, examination...) and that it wouldn't show up on xray for 7-14 days because it's down by the thumb and very small bones).  He got what is called a spica cast.  He is still in pretty bad pain.

See? Always 'one more thing' around here. Tomorrow is Trevor's kidney test and blood work. It'll be a fasting test.  In answer to Debbie's question it is because of his high blood pressure.  The doctor is making sure with this ultrasound and the echocardiogram that there is no damage to any organs.

Mom's biopsy will be on Monday.  We have to be there at 8am.  We are hoping they schedule the surgery soon after that.  Appreciate all of your continued prayers.