Children and Animals

This is a story from a farm near me called Noah's Ark (www.noahs-ark.org).

"It's faith that built Noah's Ark and it's faith that keeps it going. It's not always my faith, though. We were coming in one evening last month and noticed turkey vultures circling over the pasture. Sometimes it's an indication that an animal is down and sometimes they're just soaring on the air waves over the farm. This time it was an animal. A momma sheep had given birth to two babies and it was apparent she was only going to keep one of them. She must have felt something was wrong with the other baby and decided to put all her efforts into the one that was strongest. She hadn't even tried to clean up the weaker one. Not wanting to upset the children should something unfortunate happen, Pop turned the truck around to leave so he could come back by himself to see what could be done. I didn't look like the baby would make it. She could barely stand and the mom kept pushing her away.

One of our childern - a faith-filled three-year-old boy - shouted, "No Pop, stop the truck! We've got to save the baby. We can't leave her. Pop, put the baby in the truck - I'll take care of her. We can't leave her." Still not wanting the children to be upset, Pop tried to tell then he'd come back to take care of the baby after we dropped them off. It sure didn't look like this baby had any chance for survival. But the three-year-old was persistent. "Please, Pop, please put her in the truck." Pop couldn't resist the child's faith in the Noah's Ark family to save the baby lamb. Pop picked up the baby (goo and all) and put her in the back of the truck. The child talked to the baby the rest of the way home, assuring her that she was going to make it.

We got her home, got her some colostrum and milk replacement and proceeded to get her cleaned up. What a job! It took three of us that many hours to get the job done with the little boy and the other children standing by praying for her. She did make it and cleaned up really well - all soft and white and fluffy. The child named thte little white lamb, Mary. I don't have to tell you who's taken over feeding Mary. What a beautiful sight to see - all because of the faith of a little child."

---Jonoah, Mary, and Juneau---

School or Not to School

To school or not to school that is the question. I'm not talking about learning. That's something will never quit doing. What I'm talking about is graduate classes and whether or not I should do a flying change in my life.

Background
The CPA is something that I have thought would be a good thing to have. It would give me access to more types of jobs, some possibly in other countries, and would allow potentially flexible hours for when I have a family. I have talked to many wives/moms who have their CPA's and are glad they do. (seems like a pretty safe path) So, since I didn't have many commitments in the summer of '05 I started the classes I needed to become a CPA. I have taken 3 classes and need 5 more.

The Change
Why I'm thinking about changing directions? Well, I have to ask myself what do I really want to do. When I think about that I often jump right to the things that I am already doing that I love. For example

• teaching horse-back riding lessons to the OM kids
• volunteering for the USPC
• hanging out with my co-workers
• visiting my friends around the country, and
• I can't forget riding my horse.

But I have a long list of things I want to do/think it would awesome to do. Some of those things are

• live in other countries
• have some kind of camp for kids
• hike the Andes Mountains (or any other mountains)
• be an encouraging part of kids lives
• of course I want to be a cool wife and mom, and
• if I could have it all I would love to ride in the Olympics.

Will my CPA help me with these things? Why am I not doing them now, what am I waiting for?

Those are questions I need to answer. I like to be in control. The CPA seems like a path with variables that I can control. (Course God can always throw things my way to remind me I'm not in control.) It is a good path. And it can potentially lead me to opportunities that will allow me to do what I want to do. But maybe I should change directions and begin a new path by visiting some Brazilian friends.

A picture of my horse.

This is a picture of me and my horse Solomon.

Flying Changes

That's the name of my parent's farm. The name came about for many reasons, like my dad, brother, and brother-in-law all fly and flying changes is the skipping movement that horses can do. My sisters and I all ride horses. The association with horses of course appeals to me the most.

In horse terms the flying change is a change from one lead to another without changing gait. In normal person's terms a horse does a flying change when he is cantering or galloping so that he can turn without loosing his balance and without slowing down. Horses can do this naturally but it takes years to teach them to do flying changes while carrying a rider.

I want to be able to do flying changes in life. That is, I want to be able to navigate the path without loosing my balance or slowing down.

My [child], let them not vanish from your sight;

Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

So they will be life to your soul

And adornment to your neck.

Then you will walk in your way securely

And your foot will not stumble.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;

When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Do not be afraid of sudden fear

Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;

For the LORD will be your confidence

And will keep your foot from being caught.

--Proverbs 3:21-26--