Loyalty

 

Which, is why...I am no longer loyal...to certain people.

 

 

What Is The Difference Between A Conviction, Opinions, and Preferences?? Food For Thought.

So, I was bringing kids home from horse back riding the other day when the topic of swimsuits and bikinis came up in the car.  I am not even sure how it came about.  One of the girls said "I know a family that lets their kids wear bikinis.  They are Christians though..."

Though...that lingered in my mind.  So I replied "You can be a Christian and wear a bikini.  True statement.  (**I didn't add that I was one of them at times...like while Todd and I are away on a cruise, sharing that with these girls at this moment of time where they are still figuring out preference and actual laid out laws in the Bible**)  You can love the Lord and wear a bikini.  Although, my girls aren't allowed to wear them...to each their own.  Every family is solely responsible to God for how they raise their family."

It was an interesting topic of conversation about modesty.  But what we didn't address was pride.  Because what happens when people make up rules (that aren't necessarily in the Bible) it becomes LEGALISM.  We all have convictions about certain things, but when we look at ourselves and completely disapprove of a preference of another, then it becomes a point of pride.  You are thinking that in your own mind...whatever it is that you are doing or not doing in your preferences and convictions, that you are better than the other person.

I truly HATE LEGALISM.  I hate it.  It is the most rotting thing that Christians can impose upon their children and in the lives of others.  When you tell others how they should dress (trust me, everyone has different preferences in the code of modesty), what color of nail polish is appropriate for whatever age...I mean, really...is that a hill you want to die on??  Those are just the extremely superficial topics of legalism, I am not even pressing upon the heated ones of drinking alcohol or the usage of King James only...

While we are to be sensitive to others convictions, we need not judge others if our convictions vary.  We need to realize when something is a true conviction that Christ has laid upon our hearts, or if it is a man made preference imposed on us by another human that was created because of a man-made opinion.  For an example...

I had this friend in high school.  Well, more of an acquaintance, our parents were friends.  She was not allowed to wear hoop earrings of any sort.  Because, her dad said they looked like hooker earrings.  That is an opinion.  Now, if that is the rule in their house, it's the rule.  Children are to obey their parents, even if their rules don't make any sense.  But no where in the bible does it say you shouldn't wear hoop earrings.

So, if you have strong convictions...that is all good and fine.  I have my own.  I will do my best not to impose them upon you.  I will do my best not to judge you even if you are the one with strong opinions that you feel you need to impose upon me, although I can not promise we will be good friends.

I am happy to love my fellow Christians, even if from afar.  And those that  are wallowing  in legalism, I will be happy over here enjoying my freedom in Christ and hoping that one day you can be freed from the claws of legalism and enjoy God's Grace over here with me.

Trail Rides With Giggling Girls

Today I took 2 of Heidi's friends out on trail rides.  Everyone had a great time.  What I learned is, Heidi is just as ridiculous and giggly with no common sense in her head as any other pre-pubescent 11ish/12ish year old girl. I didn't realize that she was SO normal!  Let me say, it  was a bit much at moments dealing with saddling up 4 horses and telling little girls to stop giggling and pay attention, but for the most part, we rode through the woods and cantered up trails and had a wonderful, amazing time!

 
                   Love these little girls!!!  Liesl, Isabelle, and Heidi.  They really are such good girls!
                                                         
                                     

Heidi on Chic, Isabelle on Chance, and Liesl on Apache

Aw!  Lovin on that sweet horse.  She had a good time with him today!

Heidi loves this Chic girl!

Isabelle did a fantastic job on Chance today.  He is a wonderful boy!

So glad to be able to take the kids out and do fun things with them.  Love these girls!

Anniversary day!!!

Today is our anniversary!!  We have been married 15 years!!  I am thankful to the Lord for giving me Todd.  We have been through a lot together, some years have been much more difficult...and for those I am thankful because it makes the easy years so much sweeter.   Later we will be going out to dinner to celebrate, and a dear friend is taking our kids for the evening.  So nice to have my man all to myself.

 

How the time flies!!!

 

Of course, I had time for a quick ride today before heading out for dinner this evening.  We were going to head into Seattle on the 3'o clock ferry (which means I would have to be all prettied up a lot sooner today,) but Todd decided he wanted to stay local...so of course I needed to go on a trail ride!

 

Denise and Chance

Nata and I.

 

After, I came home and got ready to go out to dinner with my man.  I forgot my camera but I took a few pictures with my phone.  I wanted to get one with us together, but that didn't happen.

Look!!  I can get pretty sometimes!  Fake eyelashes and all!!

Out to dinner at Anthony's, our view of the ferry coming in.  Wonderful evening.

My sexy man.  Can't believe he picked ME to be his wife.  I am one lucky lady!

Horses And Sunshine...

Today I brought my good friend Laura out to ride.  Her daughter Naomi has the horse bug, and I am more than happy to accommodate her with that!!  I wish my kids would love it that much, I think I have one kid, but we will see after conditioning and racing season is over next year if they really want to do this with me. 

This is Chance, isn't he lovely???  I am sad, because I didn't put any sunscreen on his pretty nose and it got a little burned.   I put some SPF on it today and I will put it on about every other day from now on.  He is such a good boy.  He just wanted to go, go go today and I am really hoping he can do a good 25 miler with me for my kiddo next year.

This is my Renata, isn't she pretty??  She looks a lot like Chance, but doesn't have quite the pretty face and no chrome on her legs, but equally wonderful!!  Ok, she isn't as good for the kids like Chance, but she is my girl and I love her...

 Laura, riding out on sweet boy Chance!

Naomi on Chic.  She is such a darling punkin pants girl!!

Me on Chance, we tried to put a western bit on him and he was thinking....um...no...So, my bridle with a French snaffle suited him better, we tried to be lazy as I forgot to bring my other bridle on him today, but for Chancey pants, he has to have what is most comfortable and best.  He looks dang good in orange if I do say...maybe that endurance bridle is for him to wear!

Naomi, lovin' on the horses.  I love sharing horses, especially nice horses, like Chance and Chic so other people can understand why I love this SO much.  Thanks for riding with me today,  guys!  Good times!
 

Enjoying My Kids

Today we took one of my girl's friends out to enjoy the horses.  It was her first trail ride.  She had a great time. :-)

                                                                   Smiley girls!!  So fun

Thanks for joining us Sawyer!  You look like a cowgirl up on that horse!

After, I went and visited a friend and the girls had a wonderful time smooching on a cute Aussie pup...

Look at that baby's eyes!!!  Is she a darling girl??  We will have to have another Aussie from Dana again one day...

 

                                       Silly girls, enjoying a canoe in a little pond at Dana's place.

                                                   We had a great day!  I hope you did too!!! 

Summer Days On Horseback

I am really enjoying having my horse out on pasture near some trails.  My husband came out and rode with me this evening.  The horse is a little short for him, but he is about 1300lbs and perfectly capable of carrying him, and so we went for a little ride through Fitzgerald Forest!  I can't remember the last time Todd rode with me, in Palmer, Alaska up at Snowy Mountain Ranch I think.  That was a good 14 years ago.  This evening I rode around bareback on Renata.  Relaxing evening!

    Taking some friends out on horse back later on in the week.  So fun to keep them out here
                                                  where I can share my love for horses with others!

Camping with Reagan in Cle Elum

As of last Thursday morning, my daughter Reagan and I went off the radar and didn't have any access to cell reception (I mean kind of, my battery died, I could have used my friend's phone if need be...), no television, radio, computer or any other electronic devices.  We spent 3 wonderful days up in Cle Elum at Indian Camp.  We rode horses every day, sat around the camp fire at night and had s'mores, even made a pineapple upside down cake in the Dutch oven, roasted hot dogs over the fire, ate lunch out on the trail during the days and just had the best time laughing with friends.  It was a horse campers dream.  We got lost a couple of times out on the trail.  Not really lost...just not really familiar with the area, Reagan spent about 5 hours a day on horse back and kept a smile on her face the entire time.  We just walked our horses and enjoyed the views...(well...everyone else walked...my horse is an endurance horse and she pranced and piaffed the entire way...)


This is what prancing and piaffe looks like, now...imagine riding that out for 5 hours...the horse does NOT RUN OUT OF ENERGY!!!

 

Reagan and Chicadee, such a good old horse!

 

Gayle on Chance, Michelle on Apache, heading down the main drag at Indian Camp.

Seriously, isn't he LOVELY???  This is Chance,  the horse I am leasing.  He truly is the PERFECT horse.  I love him.

                            Sorry, I had to post just one more picture.  Love that beautiful Arab!

S'mores!!!

Debbie brought extra large marshmallows.  Yum.

Whatcha thinkin' about Anne??

Look!!  My pony high lines JUST fine!!

Chance and his bag of hay.  They had blankets on at night, it got a little chilly.

My pretty Renata.  I love my girl.

Camp.

Quincy the wonder dog.

Cheers Gayle!  Our fearless trail guide.

Reagan just being a kid and playing with sticks and dirt at camp.

Getting ready to head out on the trails after breakfast.

Friends.

Anne on Chance.  They made a good team.  She rode with no hands a lot.  Because that horse is cool like that!

                                                     Chic and Reagan made a good team too.    

                                                                             Frog Pond

                                                 Letting the horses munch at Frog Pond.

Anne trying to figure out where we are on the map.  Chance waiting patiently in the shade.

Pretty Reagan and Lupine flowers, they smell good too.



Chance in the lead, because he walks fast.

Hauling water for the horses, and um...that water was ccccccoooollllllldddd!!!!   BBrrrrrrrr....my feet hurt.

Chance, punkin pants horse.  Smooches for him.

We ate really well, Debbie made us burgers with pretzel buns....YUM!

Reagan climbing trees in camp.  Because, that is what kids are supposed to do!

Chubby bunny...with grapes.

Haha, gross!!!  Cheeeesssseeeee!!!

Riding across the bridge first thing in the morning.

Beautiful country side.  Look at all the flowers.  Breath taking!!

Anne and Reagan throwing gang signs, haha...look...riding with no hands, because their horses are awesome that way.

Reagan's legs are sore.  Taking a break.

Pineapple upside down cake, made in the Dutch Oven.  We make amazing food when we camp!

Hi ponies!!!  Apache and Renata hangin' out on the high line.

Reagan got to feed the neighbor camper's 4h goat.  Aren't animals fun!  What a great way to end the trip.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures!  We made great memories.  I love hanging out with my kiddos!