LIVING IN THE COUNTRY MAKES IT EASIER TO KNOW GOD.

Why?  Well, in the city, everything is man made.  Even the sky is dimmed from pollution.  Everything is within 10 minutes or less. You are quickly awed by the magnificence of man in the city.   In the country, you get to see God’s creation absolutely everywhere.  Man-made stuff is wimpy compared with God-made stuff.  We live in a little yellow trailer on 20 acres.  TWENTY ACRES OF GOD’S MAKING.    It is outstanding.  The bright green grass, the seasonal creek, the breeze through the trees,  the night sky with millions upon millions of stars,  the coyote chasing the rabbit,  the dog chasing the chickens and then getting sent to the pound.  The domesticated rabbit scritch scratching in her cage next to  my window.  Our trailer, my mother-in-law’s modular home, all the cars, the play set, the pop up pool, it all pales in comparison to the dirt, the sky and everything in between.

I am not as fast paced out here in the country.  I can take a day and read an entire book in a hammock, or our school day can consist of hiking through the mountains and writing in our science journals, have a lesson in home economics by packing a healthy lunch from our home grown garden, or having just made homemade bread, by milling our own grain into our own flour.  Everyone can bring their favorite reader or I can spread a blanket and read aloud one of my favorites.

We get more oxygen out here in the country.  We smile more because we are not rushed or feeling beat up by all the traffic.

I stick with my profound statement and I thank God I have the privilege of raising my kids out here in redneck country:

LIVING IN THE COUNTRY MAKES IT EASIER TO KNOW GOD.

If you are completely citified and start to panic when you have to drive over 10 minutes to pick up your favorite pizza, I recommend a long drive to the country where you stay for at least 3 hours.  Do this once a month, and I have a feeling you will complain less, tolerate more, be vitamin D restored, and possibly know God better.

It’s great to be back blogging.  I was on my way  home from visiting with a friend.  Keeghan was sleeping in her car seat, covered in dirt with her hair tie all askew.  The other kids were planning their fort to build outside and then take their portable DVD player out there to watch “Garfield”, and I was driving a long stretch thinking about my blog for tonight.

This is what the LORD gave me.  Hope you enjoyed it!  Be blessed and be a blessing,

Kendra Johnson,

Total country girl and never goin’ back.  Go tractors and horse turds and trailers!

I think these blogs are super frustrating.  I love to write, and mostly, I just write for the fun of it, or to share something really inspiring.  However, when I was blogging daily, I found myself trying to figure out how many hits I was getting, or rather, how many more hits than the day before.  It is not drug dependency that gets me, it is blog reader dependency.

Do I dare begin this crazy obsession again?  Writing is one of the most vulnerable things.  At least for me.  I am brutally honest, always looking inside, and never really stopping for a breath.

Like today for instance.  I got up late, schooled my children, read an entire novel, and managed to eat my first candy bar in months.  It was decidedly decadent and destructive at the same time.  I find I am completely satisfied with the day…and the candy bar.

We ended the night with the wonderful movie “Four Minutes”.  I am wondering how many of you can run a  mile in under 4 minutes?  I have every confidence that given time, and motivation, and a shedding of a few pounds, that my husband could do a mile in under 5.  I have every confidence that given time, motivation, and a shedding of a few pounds, I could do a mile in under 9 minutes.  It’s all relative, eh?  I have NO DESIRE to run a mile at all, so I suppose that changes the odds considerably.  Now if I were to think of swimming, or playing tennis, I might be more liable to give it my all.  On the other hand, what is the most important part to “giving it our all?”  I could sum that up in one word, JESUS, and then another word, FAMILY, and then a third word, LOVE.  Now that’s worth spending time,  eternal motivation, and shedding a few pounds of sin and pride, eh?

This year has begun with an absolute bang!  I mean, truly!    I am feeling pretty special.  I can be laying on my bed reading a novel…and at the same time, feel tickled to death at hearing my little ones running across the floor, banging doors, clicking their computers, and checking the mail.

Speaking of the mail, Caleb received his passport today!  He and his sister, Kallie are off on another missions trip, to Ecuador this May.  I am on my own missionary trip here in Browns Valley.  I love the blessings I have already received this New Year of 2011.  I have an awesome marriage, after a summer of MARRIAGE 101.  My daughter is going into a dental assistant program in the Fall.  My son is building a wall for me, after other walls and other projects, and wiring,  and pretty much anything I ask…..my middle kids and I are cruising around the world in our history studies this year.  There is nothing more satisfying than reading a great Living History novel aloud together and hearing the words, “Don’t stop!  Please read another chapter!”  Then there is my ambitious little 2nd grader.  Nothing is too hard, nothing to long, nothing to deep,  nothing to wide.  She cannot be stopped.  And the Littles?  Well, they are so darn cute.  They just have to enter a room and my breath is taken away.  (that can be good and bad!)

Today, I love being a wife and mother.  I love being loved so dearly by our LORD JESUS CHRIST and I really love the way life continues to unfold.  Nothing or no one here is perfect.  No 5000 square foot mansion to live in….no running cars to speak of….lots of poison oak and lots of work to be done on our property, but I can’t complain.

Nope! I live a privileged life here in Browns Valley.  Don’t forget to count your blessings today.  Don’t wait.  Don’t dilly dally.  There is no time but the present to give glory to our astounding Creator, Maker of the Universe, the Holy One of Israel, Jesus Christ.  Come quickly, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

I love the first verses of John declaring Jesus as both God and the Word of God and the Creator of the world alongside God.  It makes me realize something hugely significant about my LORD, JESUS CHRIST:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through  Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

All the more powerful and astounding as we read on to verse 14:

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

These verses prove that Jesus is God and that both Jesus and God created our universe….and that Jesus became flesh, because He desires relationship with us.

Isn’t that just too cool?  I am fired up about our LORD tonight.  HE is the Savior of the world!  Did HE have to be?  HE owns the cattle on a thousand hills!  HE breathed out the stars!  HE is the Almighty and the Prince of Peace!  HE doesn’t have to do anything, ever.  And yet, HE values relationship with little peons like us.  We can be so fickle, so uncertain, so inconsistent, so driven by emotion, or taste buds, or moods, or money.  We must comprehend the incredible love of our LORD, we must give Him His place of glory in our hearts.  How many times do we bring God down to our level?  If my  mom calls and says she has cancer, I drop to my knees in prayer.  That isn’t good enough for the Savior and King of the universe!  I should drop to my  knees when I run farther today than yesterday.  How about when I am able to stick within my budget and get everything that was on my list?  I should sing HIS praises when my daughter is making Roast Chicken and the house smells buttery and roasted!   I have SO MUCH to be thankful for.  How can we possibly complain when we have a God of all gods who LOVED US FIRST and DIED FOR OUR SINS, and GAVE US ETERNAL LIFE?

Make a pact with  me today.  NO MORE COMPLAINING.  REJOICE, AGAIN I SAY REJOICE!  That is scripture, by the way.  We are commanded to REJOICE in scripture.

I don’t even care that I sound a little preachy in this blog.  It is important that we get this.  God is completing His good work in me, because I have chosen to give my life to Him.  No matter what circumstance seems to be contrary to God, NOTHING can be contrary to God as I am living for Him.  HE wins.  HE is the ULTIMATE.  HIS plan stays in place no matter that I am not perfect, no matter that I still commit sins, no matter anything.  Since I have accepted HIM as my LORD and SAVIOR, I have eternal life in heaven.  HE is preparing a place for me:

In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  “If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am there you will be also.  John 14:2-3

Another astounding set of  verses that shows  God’s plan for Jesus, His Son:

He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things have been created through Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.  He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.  For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.  Colossians 1:15-20

Jesus Christ will come to have first place in everything!  It has been God’s plan long before any of us had any plans.  My goal is to give Jesus His rightful place in my life…first place; and continue to pass that legacy on to my children, and my children’s children.   Let us each take time to reflect on these scriptures!

GOD BE GLORIFIED AND GIVEN FIRST PLACE TODAY, TOMORROW, AND FOREVER!

Tally Ho and Goodnight!

The house smelled absolutely smashing today!  Homemade bread, cinnamon rolls, cinnamon swirl bread, all lined up and ready for the Farmers’ Market tomorrow morning bright and early.  I am in charge of our famous Banana Banana bread.  (I don’t think I can make it tonight, but early in the morning sounds hard too!)

We just had our family favorite, homemade spaghetti.  I began reading aloud a book called ‘Only a Servant’.  I read two chapters after dinner and we are all excited for our nightly read aloud time returned!

Chris and I walked 3 miles together again tonight.  I love being with him, even when we don’t talk.  We have such peace and joy when we are together now.  There is no one I would rather spend time with.  I have often told people he is my best friend, but it sure has gone up a few notches recently!  God continues to provide for our needs.  Chris is working hard, and planning for the slower months later this year.

Caleb is digging a ditch, fixing our chicken coop, weed eating, wood burning, and staying busy with good things.  Grandpa Bill called tonight all excited about their trip to the East Coast in September.  Caleb has much to accomplish before then….like a lesson in math every day….on top of earning money, and Johnson home maintenance.  It is wonderful to have a young man around to take charge of projects and see them to completion.

Connor said he wants to go with Grandpa Bill and Joyce to the East Coast.  He is growing up quickly, and would probably appreciate all the history, however, I need him to be here with me.  He is a big help and influence here at the house.  I told him maybe someday, his siblings will take him on an East Coast tour.  He is a pretty cool kid.  He was supposed to go to Disneyland with his dad for his 10th birthday.  We simply did not have the funds for it.  He never asks or bugs or acts frustrated about it.  He is patient and knows that his dad will take him when he can afford it.  Connor turns 11 on October 9.  I am praying they will be able to go sometime in September.  No matter what, Connor is growing up into a wonderful young man…before you know it, he will be turning 13, heading for his weekend of Passport to Purity with his dad.

Speaking of kids getting older….I have been sitting around marveling lately.  Our home really runs quite smoothly.  We have so much fun.  The Littles are all about the same height and they run around bare foot whispering, giggling, shivering in their wet bathing suits.  The Middles play and play and play in the pool long after everyone has left the vicinity.  Kallie and I oversee the management of the home.  Caleb oversees the management of the property.  Dad oversees the whole family.  I look around me and cannot believe these 7 children all came out of my body….and they keep getting bigger….and better….all the time.  Charles threw 1/2 a fit tonight.  The tomato staking did wonders and he is a delight.   He wants a big chef’s hat so that he can bake alongside Kallie.  Katie and the Littles are always trying to go to “G’s” for movies, snacks, and fun.  They take turns calling “G” on the telephone.  They pass me notes when I am on the phone…”Can we go to ‘G’s'?  Circle YES or NO.  Grandma Carol is always a treat for them, and always the place to get treats!  HA HA

Sometimes, I just cannot believe I have been given these gifts.

Thank You, Jesus.

Count your blessings before you go to bed.

Tally Ho and Goodnight.

Haircut at 2:00pm.  Ran errands with Chris.  Went to dinner.  Walked three miles together tonight.  It was great to be with my dear husband!  We enjoyed talking and walking and just being together.  The kids were back home doing chores and spending time together.  I’d say today was another gift from God.

I am drenched in sweat now, and starting to dream about me in my bed!  LOL

My biggest prayer need is “discipline”.  I have never gone all the way with anything.  I am going all the way with my marriage now though!

I want to go all the way with my physical fitness…which seems entirely daunting at the moment.  We almost ruined our date night by strolling through Bed, Bath and Beyond.  We came to all the digital scales and I could not resist stepping on a couple of them.  ALL SCALES ARE LIARS! I am throwing mine out tonight.  A word to you men out there:  Never let your wife weigh herself on her date night.  Grrrrrr…..

I want to go all the way with the LORD…which seems like a lot of discipline.  I still don’t get up every morning at 5:00 or 5:30.  I am only an “every other morning” kind of gal, which sums up as half-hearted, half equipped, just half.  I know this is the biggest key to keeping depression away, and keeping me on task at home, and keeping me situated for home school.  I know HE is the one Rock Solid answer in my life, but I do not give Him my ALL.  Chris quotes scripture, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Thank heavens scripture speaks to all of us.  I have one friend who has faithfully opened her bible every day since becoming a Christian years ago.  She is one of my inspirations.

I want to go all the way with my attitude.  How quickly I lose focus and get frustrated.  How quickly I begin to be critical and dissatisfied with simple things.  LORD JESUS:  I believe You can heal me of my short fuse, and my impatience, and my high expectations.  Give me such a love for others that they truly do become more important than myself.  Help me go ALL THE WAY with my attitude.  Amen.

Chris says we are making progress in all these areas.  He is right.  He is so good for me.  He reminds me that God is working in us, despite us, for us, always.  Hallelujah!

I must be signing off.  I came straight in to tuck Charles in after my walk.  I did not even break stride.  I came straight to him and said, “Lay down so I can tuck you in.”  He said “No.”  Even though he is doing better with outbursts and tantrums, he is still wanting to be in control and direct all of us to his will.  I kindly said good night and turned around and left the room.  He is fake crying from his room, to a rude roar, and needs to be “disciplined.”  (How fitting, after my confession of “lack of discipline” in my own life!)  (There is God and His sense of humor again!)

There are piles of dirty laundry on the kitchen floor.  And peanut butter and jelly spilled near the garbage can.  There is a two-inch sticker someone carelessly stuck to the living room floor from their Icebreaker Sours container.  And there are clean clothes thrown on the end of my bed.  Nonetheless, I feel fantastic!

God be glorified in this home!  (And could someone please take care of the sticker and the PBJ mess?  I have the laundry on my bed covered!)

Amen and Amen.

That could be a good thing…or bad…luckily, they behaved!  HA!  Isn’t that how we often feel?  At the end of a family visit, I am all too consumed with “their” behavior, instead of my own!

Today was different.  I was up at 5:30am with Kallie and Caleb for our quiet time with the LORD.  (Chris was up too, but had to leave for work at 6am)  I am telling you again…meeting with the LORD, and giving Him our first fruits, is the most powerful way to prepare our hearts for any situation.

You cannot imagine what we accomplished this morning before 11am.  Cooked a roast.  Made homemade potato salad.  Cut up 3 different melons and made a fruit salad.  Cleaned the bathroom.  Folded the laundry.  Cleaned bedrooms.  I even went back to bed for 2 hours because I was still feeling sick.  We swept, mopped, straightened up things in the yard.  Took care of all the animals.  Ate breakfast.  (some of us).  Packed two ice chests.  Dropped off 7 bags of sorted clothes to the thrift store.  Scrubbed pots and pans from the night before.  Found dance clothes.  Packed 8 towels, three chairs, an umbrella, a picnic, sand toys, floaties, a pair of goggles and a swim cap.  We even found shoes for The Littles.

All of this in itself may very well describe your morning.  However, the big difference for us, the deal clincher, if you will, was our JESUS.  HE kept us cheerful, working together, staying on task and on time.  HE prepared our hearts for welcoming my parents and making them feel special.  (there were still two kids who had to sit in time-out at the lake for 1/2 hour due to unnecessary arguing in the car.)

It is possible that we all felt special today.  We ate red licorice.  We got sunburned and laughed over farmer’s tans from the Ranch.  We swapped stories with others and prayed for hardships.  We giggled over The Littles’ and their antics.  It felt great to sit by  my mom under the umbrella, feeling proud that I look so much like her.  It was fun to hear Kallie and Caleb tell about Grandpa laughing and commenting during a Bill Cosby episode, “just like their mom”.  One of the funniest parts was the orange slices.  I love orange slices.  I don’t buy them often, but I always love them.  A friend was sitting near us and had a container of orange slices.  It was like “orange slice radar” going off in my taste buds.  I could not resist asking for one.  (she later gave the whole container to Keeghan)  After we arrived back home, my mom mentioned how she just had to ask a stranger for one of her orange slices.  I could not believe it.  My friend must have gotten a kick out of the grandmother first, the granddaughter second, and the mom third…all going crazy over orange slices.  Although she is almost always generous and kind, I think it gave her greater pleasure than usual to watch us tromp up the hill with our precious container of orange slices between us!

Thanks mom and dad for giving me a wonderful day.  I was certainly the one who felt the most special!  I still feel special!  I am off to bed feeling special!

I am so looking forward to meeting with the LORD on the morrow.  He whispers that His word is filled with promises from Him as I seek Him, know Him, share Him, and try to be more like Him.  This trailer of ours is looking quite homey today.  The LORD makes me content and blesses me beyond my imaginations!  Perhaps it looked like just any other day from the outside, but here in Browns Valley, it was another day of mini-miracles.  (if a miracle can be called “mini”)

I am asking the LORD to show you something beautiful about your every-day-ness.  Our kids are growing up so fast, and our time on earth is not forever.  I want to experience God’s beauty each day.  I will be praying for you this evening as I sink down into my most prized possession…my off-brand memory foam mattress!  Ahhhhhhh……total comfort!

Tally Ho and Goodnight.

It was all good.  Chris, Kallie, and I were sick today.  We still managed to clean up the office, work on the pool, give some orders for fence fixin’ and weed eatin’….We still ate pizza late tonight with a follow-up of oatmeal chocolate chip cookie dough.  We still played some crazy games of Sorry.  It was one of those peaceful family days.  Nothin’ big happened.  Klara mentioned that she wished everything in the world was free.  I told her that mom’s and dad’s are free.  I told her sister’s and brother’s are free.  It is free to love.  It is free to have Jesus.  We were just huggin’ and reflectin’ on the “free” things in our lives.  What more needs to be said?

I love this trailer tonight.  You don’t know it, but that is Chris and I’s code.  As long as I am happy with our trailer, it means I am not feeling trapped or in a pit of depression.  If I start feeling like I’ll never get out of this little yellow submarine for as long as I live….that’s a bad sign!

Kallie is working toward independence, just to be dependent again, on her future husband, and of course, as a Christian, she must always be dependent on Christ.  Caleb is working on filling out.  His ambition may be to beat Dusty from the Ranch at arm-wrestling, but I doubt it….he would rather start a Men’s Home for the Developmentally Disabled with his dad in the next 4 years.  His relationship with Jesus is certainly “filling out”, while his body continues to get stronger and stronger….I am so blessed to have a son who will get rid of dangerous snakes on our property, but will still play a game of  “Sorry” with his 5-year-old bro.

We should live every day like the blessed people we are.  Jesus is alive in us, and it makes our every-day-ness have eternal impact.  Being sick today and spending time with each other was simple, cut and dry, no pressure, AND had eternal impact.  The love between us exemplified Christ’s love.  I am going to live like the blessed woman I am tomorrow too!  There just isn’t any time to be anxious, or worried, or depressed.  HEAVEN AWAITS!

Tally Ho and Goodnight!

I am ready for August!  We have so many things we would like to work on, but none of it is too out of reach!  Chris and I took off to Reno at 1:30pm on Saturday afternoon.  We had a nice time at his business BBQ.  However, Chris got terribly sick shortly after and has been sick ever since.  Kallie is sick today as well.  Nonetheless, I am married to the man of my dreams and I love spending time with him.

I saw my grandbaby briefly.  What a doll!  She is coming in a couple weeks, so I can get my fill then!  This is a week for doing school, swimming, working out, and preparing for full time school starting in September.  We will also be planning an August family camping trip.

Bible time tomorrow at 5am.  This precious time with the LORD is keeping me satisfied in this trailer.  The LORD, and our new “rooster decor”!  LOL

I have my joy back!  The joy of the LORD is my strength.  I prayed for that joy, and I persisted in my prayer.  The LORD answers when we call to Him!

I’d like to overcome my fear of my dad’s road bike.  And swim across the lake at least three times this week.  More important than that, I would like to have a calm, gentle spirit with my children….The challenge is ON!

Comment on how your “calm, gentle spirit” has been coming along.  Encourage me.  Let me encourage you!

Tally Ho and Goodnight.

Kallie and Caleb are home!  They came barreling in and we all started rearranging the furniture!  Those crazy kids of mine!  We bought two more things for our kitchen that I did not have the money for the other day….a dish mat for the floor where we do dishes….with a chicken and a rooster on it……and a rooster tablecloth…..TA DAH!  Caleb hung the new curtains (and re-hung my bathroom curtain that had fallen off two days ago).  We drained the pool the rest of the way (Caleb is ingenious….basic physics).  I begged Kallie to go swimming with me and she did!  We swam across Collins Lake, (which is a 1/2 mile), in 20 minutes.  Then we coasted back.  We scrambled to get our shoes and socks on and ran across the dam and back…a quick mile.  It felt great to have my work out partner and daughter back!  Caleb looks inches taller!  And he is SO strong!  And SO handsome!  Did I mention the huge rattlesnake that Caleb shot today?  We could not even find the rattler’s head.  That’s my boy!  He will be 15 in a couple weeks.  And driving in 6 months!

We made yummy tacos and listened to a great Christian CD while cooking.  Klara was a big help with the cooking.  Laundry has been going all day.  Then, we all snuggled up to our rearranged furniture (we tossed out one part of the sectional that was falling apart), and watched a movie together.  It felt like old times!   Twenty years from now, when all the kids are grown, we will have to have a family reunion where we all pile up on the couches and watch a movie together.  I will still cry every time.  And all my children will still make fun of me.  Perhaps by then, there will be more of us crying together!  LOL  I can imagine a hoard of grandchildren lined up all over the floor with their pillows and blankets and I will really be crying because I will be remembering a day, years gone by, when my Littles were sleepy in our laps….except for one or two that might have been sent to bed early due to wild, over-tired wigglys.

Tomorrow, Chris and I are off to a business BBQ in Reno.  We will stay the night in a hotel and eat delightful food in the  morning!  He sidled up to me tonight and whispered, “The hotel was expensive, but you are worth every bit!”  RIGHT ON!  I was fine with the honeymoon in the trailer…but this sounds awfully inviting…

We are all off to bed.  The kitchen is looking spiffy with roosters cockadoodling on the table, and on the stove top, and on the floor.  For a few more years, I will have seven children filling my time and my heart….letting go a bit more each year.  I am not worried about retirement though.  Serving the LORD full time with Chris will be a bit of heaven on earth.  And grandkids…I get to see Abigail Grace tomorrow and Sunday.  Like I said, can my life get any better?

It’s a KODAK moment!

Tally Ho and Goodnight.

It was a long, but good day!  I took a girl who has some brain damage horse back riding.   That was a real riot!  It should get all you horse lovers laughin’ for sure!  First of all, I was a bit scared to go.  Our horses have not been ridden most of summer.   Plus, Sagie is OLD and can be TEMPERMENTAL!  Maarliq is skittish, especially when he has not been exercised.  WHAT WAS I THINKING?

The first thing:  they ran away from us.  So, we went to the porch and grabbed a cup each of chicken scratch.  I explained to Leslie that we needed to go under the electric fence to the other side and put out our cups of scratch.  All was perfectly smooth.  The horses perked up and came right over, but for some reason when Sagie put her head into the metal bowl….her back feet kicked up and she bolted backwards and sideways…into Maarliq….I glanced at Leslie and saw that she was leaning against the electric fence and the shock had gone straight into poor Sagie….I thought to myself, “We are not off to a very good start….”….”I wonder how the rest of this will go….”  We shook that off and began leading the horses out of the corral to the horse trailer where we would saddle them up.  I made another mistake with Leslie.  We walked through a kind of short cut, over a couple logs….I mentioned to her ahead of time and she seemed fine with it…but when she got there, she was fearful and uncertain.  I was in the lead and did not exactly see what happened.  Apparently, she tried to turn the horse to go a different way, but Maarliq got scared and bolted….RIGHT THROUGH THE ELECTRIC FENCE.  Only the fence was caught on Maarliq and he dragged it down the road a good 40 feet in complete panic.  The fence is still broken and the horses are wandering the property all night because we have not had one minute to fix it.

Maarliq was never the same.  Leslie’s grandma was starting to say things like, “Leslie has only been on a horse one time.”… “We can do this another time if the horses are too upset.”…but I was determined to keep plodding ahead….Leslie groomed  Sagie and was still acting a little scared.  I was grooming Maarliq and starting to look forward to a gentle ride….Grandma gets more nervous and I decide to just lead Leslie around on Sagie.  I let Maarliq loose to walk beside us.  All is going pretty well.  I walked Leslie 1/4 mile down our property to Grandma’s house.  Grandma comes out to talk for a minute and Maarliq was calmly grazing next to Sagie.  A lizard or something made a sound and Maarliq jumps sideways right toward Sagie and she bunny hops to my side.  I congratulate Leslie on staying calm and staying ON the horse.  Inside, I am greatly relieved and feeling pretty nervous about this whole horse riding scheme!  HA HA

We walk back and I am feeling confident again.  I decide to walk down the road to show Leslie my favorite black horse at the neighbor’s property.  We get down almost past our property line and Sagie veers a sharp right…..RIGHT ONTO MY BOOT….praise the LORD she somehow missed my toes.  I was sure I was a GONNER for the triathlon!  I was a tough owner and made her obey me and keep going.  (What was I thinking?)  HA

All is calm and I really enjoyed Leslie’s company.  We get back to the driveway and I come up with the brilliant idea of  putting the rope across the driveway so that I can let the horses graze.  Of course, both Kallie and Caleb have told me that the reason the horses will not go under or over the rope is because they are scared of the Wal Mart bags hanging from the rope…they don’t like the sound….I think…..but apparently I was NOT thinking….so I grab the rope up and begin to pull it across….and Sagie begins to backup with small bunny hops….RIGHT IN FRONT OF LESLIE’s Grandma.  By now, Grandma must be thinking, “What kind of horse operation is this?”  I am positive she breathed a sigh of relief right along with me as soon as Leslie was off the horse!

All’s well that ends well.  I had a great time.  I was drenched in sweat.  I looked so cute in my cowgirl shirt, jeans, and boots.  Leslie and I were regular cowgirls for the morning!  And God answered my prayers that no one got hurt!  Maybe my pride a little, but that is always good for the soul!

Tonight we were cleaning again.  The kids and I want it to be special for Kallie and Caleb.  We picked out curtains for the window instead of a blanket nailed to the wall…..we bought new hotpads since the old ones looked pitiful and had burn holes in them.  We even bought “Rooster” stove top covers so that our old stove top would look prettier.  There are no clothes laying on beds.  All beds will be made.  The bathroom is clean, and less smelly.  HA!

I am happy as I go to bed with Chris.  I never did finish this office, but we had a productive 3 weeks.  My heart is full of joy once again, the pain has diminished completely.  Our “Rekindling Marital Intimacy” series is working miracles, and I am sleeping well without tylenol PM.  I look around and I am both excited and challenged.  There is much to do, but such a wonderful family to do it with.  I look forward to the month of August.

Tally Ho and Goodnight.

PS  I was laughing so hard during “tuck-ins”.  The kids were all on their beds.  Lights were still on.  There was Klara sitting on her bed,  ironing her underwear for tomorrow with a piece of cardboard as the ironing board and a play iron that makes real sounds.  I left the girls’ room giggling like a little girl right alongside them.  I pray that someday they will remember “ironed underwear” and not so much the “unfinished bedroom”.  I pray they will remember “prayers at night” and not so much “military mom” over chores.  Either way, we sure do have an adventurous life and they will never be able to forget that!  God be glorified in this home!