A HorseBowl Day

Today Sarah learned a little about perseverance and preparation.


Each year the young 4H students study questions relating to Equine anatomy, training, daily care, nutrition and many other horse related topics, and test their knowledge at the Annual 4H Horse Bowl.

All of the 4H Horse Club Members are encouraged to participate either by being there to experience and support the members of their team or to compete.

Early in the month of January, Sarah was not feeling like she was prepared enough to compete. After much encouragement from her 4H leader and co-members to compete, Sarah decided to just participate for this year and not compete. It was a decision based on her own comfort and desire to feel more prepared before entering into a competition.

Yet, Sarah wanted to be supportive of her co-members and begin to prepare for next year, she studied and quizzed for several weeks. At the last 4H meeting, she just happened to win the practice Horse Bowl the girls had in preparation for the real one this weekend. At this point, the girls INSISTED that she must compete! And, she decided perhaps she just might.

Well, this morning, she took the plunge and decided to go ahead and compete with the other students, who have much more experience at this horse stuff than she does... she went in with an attitude of having fun and doing her best.

Sarah was rewarded for her efforts! Not only did she do well, she placed 10th out of all the girls in the Horse Bowl and received a beautiful Medal as a memory of her achievement. She also was the only girl from her team that made it into the final top 10 and thus will carry the torch, so to speak, to the District Level Competition next month!

Way to go Sarah! We love you and are so proud of your faithful and enduring spirit...

Some Good News

Just a note to all who are keeping up with Thomas... He is doing great!

After a rough couple of days this week (his second minor surgery/cast change and manipulation on Monday), he is happy and able to move around a bit more! The Doctor changed his casts and removed the pin which had already come out about half way out of my wiggle worm of a little boy! He was happy with the correction thus far and decided to leave the pin out! This means that Thomas can roll around on the floor and be a bit more active. Still in casts up to his mid thigh, he cannot walk yet. 4 more weeks and counting!

Sarah helping Thomas learn how to use his new Nintendo DS Light...
Thank you Grandma Coose!

For now we enjoy being able to just MOVE and scoot and roll on the floor!

A Little Fresh Air

The sun finally came out about 4:00 this afternoon... we have been under an impenetrable haze for several days now... Thomas was sitting in our family room and was filled with happiness as the sun streamed through the windows...

I suggested we take a walk... and he looked at me with a "How in the world can I go for a walk" kind of look. I smiled and told him not to worry... I gathered a few pillows and blankets and made a cozy little nest for him in our wagon and off we went!

He had a great time and enjoyed the fresh and very brisk air!

I think he stayed much warmer than I did...

Welcome Home Thomas!

Thomas got through his club foot surgery and, after about 24hours in the hospital, he is recovering here at home....happy and without a lot of pain. (Pain medication is a wonderful thing!) We are so happy to see him in good spirits and resting.

His surgery was fairly uncomplicated and, although he has to return for a second minor surgery to finish up in a couple of weeks, the Dr seems to feel that all went well... we will know more as Thomas heals and we will just have to wait and see how the muscles respond.

The next six weeks will be a challenge for us. Thomas has to keep his feet up and is not allowed to put any weight on them. Imagine a 5 year old boy sitting still for 6 weeks! It seems almost an impossible task ... Keep those prayers coming as we meet his needs with selfless patience and love as well as pray that Thomas' attitude will remain positive and cooperative.

He is still able to provide lots of goofy faces for photos!

Check out the Red and Green Casts... He chose the colors himself.

Perhaps he still is wishing it was Christmas???

A New Year and More Snow!

Today we awoke to yet another snow fall... I am always struck by the beauty of falling snow. It is pure and lovely, covering all that is dirty and in need of work in my garden!

The New Year has come and we are looking forward to what is ahead...It has been fun as a family to plan and create goals... thinking ahead and trying to live purposefully.

We are also enjoying a quiet time of rest as we recover from our whirlwind of Autumn activity! Our cozy home feels nice after being away for so many weeks...

We are also planning on staying indoors a lot this winter... My youngest little one is going to be having surgery one week from today. He was born with bi-lateral club foot, and although we did our best to correct it non-surgically, it has returned... We are hopeful that this surgery will correct it so that he can walk comfortably and without pain. We would appreciate many prayers of healing for Thomas as he endures this event.

Today I found my dear son playing in the snow as his father was shoveling the driveway. He was trying to be helpful and was pushing snow out of the way... but as happens with all little boys...

Hard work turns into fun!

Christmas in Palm Springs

Our Christmas was a full and wonderful time of visiting with family and friends.

Upon our return home from Spain, we busily decorated our home and prepared our hearts for the Christmas season that was well upon us!

One of the highlights of our week and a half at home was to set aside every night to sit together as a family and focus on the "Reason for the Season" ...the birth of Christ, our Lord and Savior . Every year, we like to read devotional stories that focus on the different elements of Christmas and the symbols that we see... It is a wonderful way to draw us close as a family during an otherwise very hectic time of year. We also enjoyed a new tradition of lighting an Advent wreath... The children loved lighting the candles as Daddy read from the Bible different parts of the story leading up to the birth of Christ.


We also enjoyed a visit from my Husband's parents. Grandma and the Children spent an afternoon building a Gingerbread house! It was a very "sweet" moment shared.



On the day before Christmas Eve we packed our very warm suitcases for another fun adventure... A trip to California! We loaded up our car with all our goodies and headed for Palm Springs to Celebrate Christmas with my family...

My Grandmother put together a wonderful feast for Christmas Eve... we dined on Prime Rib and her famous twice baked potatoes! She is an amazing woman and the best cook in the world!


On Christmas day we enjoyed the fun of opening gifts under the tree. My mother put together a wonderful brunch and the day was just wonderful! We truly enjoyed the blessings God has provided for our family. It was a joy to share this time with my Aunt and her husband as well as my Mom and Dad and Grandma... many warm memories to take home with us.

Now.... we are home... and I am going to try to get my Christmas cards in the mail!