Fun Eventful Times

This week has been a blast!! We didn't have a ride on Sunday so we got most of the day off. I got to spend it just chilling with my summer staff girls. Sunday night is also the day that we do Town Tour, so we get to book it on horse back through the infield. It is an absolute blast/adrenaline rush and my staff are so good with horses that it isn't stressful.
Monday morning on our breakfast ride we were entertained by a group of Norwegians. They are so precious!! Reigns are called ropes and trotting is called stepping lightly :) They were sooo much fun!! Even when a few horses acted up, they just took it in stride and didn't freak out. That night two of the summer staff came to my room and spent some quality time while waiting on doctor dad. 
Tuesday we had a small weather set back. We got back in with one ride only moments before it started pouring. The run in the rain felt like I was in a movie :) We rushed to get all the campers off and unsaddle/set free the fence horses so they wouldn't freak out. The next ride was an hour late. We had late dinner with tons of other interns and summer staff on the porch and then just hung out afterwards. My two summer staff, their coordinator, and I hung out and told life stories for most of the evening.  
Yesterday we ran into weather again which made life interesting. The first afternoon ride left in the rain, with wet saddles, and soaked riders. But the rain stopped once we got out on the trail. We have been praying for rain, so it's been great. The timing has just been interesting :) The last ride yesterday was soooo fun. They were super friendly, goofy, and talkative. I think that is the most I have heard my name on a trail ride :) Last night is the night that never ends because we do Tableau, Carnival, and Square Dance among other things. We set a record in the fastest set up of Carnival and I didn't have to wear a dress in Tableau; it was great. I have a standing dance partner for the second dance but this week I got an extra dance! My partner is the cutest, little eight year old :) And I mean little, he looks five or six, but he is so sweet. We also did some swing dancing at the end of the night with summer staff. It was a fun conclusion to our 19 hour day :) 
I got to sleep in this morning because my awesome summer staff fed the horses. 


I am blessed!!!!!

Forced Rest

I visited the doctor last night and turns out I have bronchitis so Travis is forcing me to rest. I am not allowed to go into work until after lunch. After spending 12hours in bed, showering, and it is still only 8am I figured I could update you on the last week or two of camp. And of course because I keep a journal it will be in perfect chronological order ;)
Everyday seems to bring its new adventures. 

• We had two different horses colic in a period of 24 hours, Ram Jam and Mumford. So that meant extra time at the barn, a few shots, and walking in countless circles. 
• Buffet got loose as we were headed out on the Wrangler Breakfast Ride. It played are to get, kicking out at us whenever we got close. It was super skiddish that morning being away from the herd. 
• Jasmine reared with the property managers daughter, literally backing/rearing her into the barn.
• Peter got an infection in his leg so we had to give him a shot.
• Acapella took off and broke her headstall. 
• Donkey keeps kicking Travis during Tableau 
• I got to walk Cash for an entire ride because the girl was terrified every time he moved a muscle
• Some campers get back to the barn with their eyes practically swollen shut ...bc they just found out they were allergic to horses
• Those are all the horse stories I can remember at the moment :)

But my summer staff have been totally awesome!! And they actually still like to hang out with me outside of the barn :) We will eat dinner together, hangout by the pool, grab a smoothie, joke around, and share life. They have made these last couple weeks so much fun. One of my girls says she is going to come visit me at the end of the summer! Young Life creates a different kind of friend and it has been fun to be apart of that!
Hanging out with the interns seems to be few and far between. Because I get up at 4.30 every morning, it limits how much night stuff I can do. I feel like a party pooper but it comes with the long hours. 
God is reminding me that I can't do things in my own strength. I was never meant to go through life on my own, so I need to stop trying to do things in my own strength. 

Work Week snapshot

Amazing work crew and saddles

Groom and Katness's escape

Manure spreader 

Sketchy ladder and staining on the roof

Crazy ride and vet adventures

Hilarious dinner and concert

Mountain stroll and rock climbing

FRONTIER!!!!!!

Arrived at Frontier today!! But let's momentarily back up so you know how I got here....
Dad went on a retreat, like he has every year for the last XX years with the same group of guys. And like he does he started talking about his kids. (That is where I come in :)) He talked to "Joe", leader of Young Life, about me, horses, and working. Mr. "Joe" sent a few emails which led to "Sam", head of Frontier/Trail West horses, contacting me. A few prayers and phone calls later "Sam" offered me a job for the summer at Frontier. (God note- I was offered the job before I sent in my application/references, and while other applications were sitting on "Sam's" desk.) Pretty sweet!!! Yet another example of those wrapped presents from God!!
My body and attitude are not typically friends, so I headed to high country a little early to help get adjusted. So, I made the ubber long drive out by myself. I was less than 30min away from my destination after being in the car for about 10.5hrs and ...I hit a deer!! Ok, I know what I'm supposed to do when little animals cross in front of me. But I am not familiar with deer etiquette. So I slowed down and just hit it! There was a car behind me...I couldn't slow down too much. It added a little adventure to the trip but both the truck and I are ok. 
I made it to attitude safely and was feeling ok...I drank an entire gallon of water on the way up :) The following morning however, that was a different story. My subconscious apparently wanted to get super excited over night! I woke up hurling the next morning and didn't make it upstairs until almost 1pm. So glad I was prompted to go up early!! And past that first day, had a great time hanging out with my cousins, aunt, and uncle. Spent a couple days with them and then to Frontier I went....here I am :) This place is huge, H.U.G.E., huge! Got myself unpacked and settled, dinner is a 7 and tomorrow we go work!!

Little People an' Attitude

 Patience            

                                                                      Dress up

Jodi

                                                     Best cheeseball faces :)

 Dakota

                                                                               Wrestling with BRock

These three little people came and stayed with us at the beginning of February. Jodi was my assigned charge for the week. Because of their background, we had little idea of what to expect. Therefore, I put my life on hold for a week. Only going to class and work, the rest of my time was devoted to Jodi and her siblings. I can't remember the last time I played so many games and I forgot how exhausting that can be! Of course there were some challenges to work through, like establishing who is in charge. . . . But uh . . . turns out I was the one with the attitude!!!

I went into the week with a backwards mindset. Get through the week, help mom with the kids, and then I can carry on with my life. Satan had a heyday with that foothold. Being woken up in the middle of the night to fix a bloody nose, to pray after a bad dream, and to take a mid-night bathroom run - then getting up as soon as she did . . . it didn't take long before I was exhausted! They are great kids but I was tired, feeling overworked, and thinking "This is not what I signed up for -somehow I gained a six year old daughter!" At the end of the week mom and dad were throwing around the idea of them staying another week. SERIOUSLY!!! Um, I am home everyday with these kids while Maddy and Syd are at school. I'm exhausted, super behind on chores, my life is on hold, and never get alone time cause they don't play by themselves! See the attitude :(

But the Lord knows what's up!!! That second week was the greatest thing ever. I knew if I was going to do another week my mindset/attitude had to change. Week two they/she became a part of the family not just a responsibility. I was able to do more intentional investing rather than simply playing games to pass the time. She became almost a little sister/daughter to me and I could see a long-term something. I miss that little goofball!! They should be back in April and I am so excited. Feel free to pray as we seek out God's plan for our long-term involvement in their lives.

Freedom in Christ

      I was talking to mom the other day and completely had this revelation.
 There is Freedom in Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      Who knew? Not me, at least I don't live like I did.
      Recently, I have felt very frustrated. Like I have gotten this good-Christian-girl-act thing down to the T, but I am just going through the motions...without much joy, feeling trapped in my life. Turns out most , if not all, of that frustration is my own fault. I have made up all these rules that I am holding myself to. I am waiting for someone to tell me what job to get next summer/year. Sometimes God gives us permission to straight up decide. People have told me that but I was never ready for it, it didn't fit with all my rules.
      So I am not saying I'm going to turn into a wild-child (Brock said I would make a lousy wild-child anyway :) ) but I don't wanna be my own limiting factor! I don't want to live by my rules; I wanna live by His!!

A Cold Conviction

        Well, I stayed up too late two nights ago watching a movie. I didn't sleep well because I am sick, but didn't wake up till 12.30pm. I felt horrible! I texted mom that colds used to be no big deal, but now they feel like death in my head. I also made some complaining comment (lighthearted but still....) on Fbook.
        Within an hour, I was convicted. Christ died for my sin, and I'm making a cold my biggest concern of the day and going to complain about it? I think not!
        And comparing it to death? really? I was reminded of a story I heard where this girl described seeing Jesus. The holes in His hands and feet yes, but the gashes in His back. She mentioned how you don't really heal from those. They aren't striped scars but barely healed over gashes. - That was His death and I compared my little cold to that.
        I had a very rude awakening yesterday afternoon, oh the stupid things I say without thinking. 

The Blog Challenge

       After reading someone's update letter, I was challenged that I don't share what God is doing. I don't update the people that invest in me. That poem was the result of my conversation with myself and God about starting a blog/newsletter.
      Through writing these posts and being forced to rethink parts of my life....I realize how much God is doing that I would normally quickly forget or ignore. When I update others, I am reminding myself...Funny how that works. :)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Google images

Communication is Overrated

Communication is overrated
    Or so I thought
Sister keeps telling me
    It isn't ALL for naught

But where is the joy
    In writing things down
In spreading your news
    ALL around town

But what if that . . .
    Isn't the point at all
What if I am just
    Totally missin' the ball

What about deny yourself daily
    And take up you cross
Share what He is doing
    How he transposed your loss

Share the joys and the hurts
    The excitement and trials
Don't just stash it away
    Keep them in brain files

The Lord's up to something
    Speak up and share
Those people around you
    See they really do care

OK we have been convinced
    I'll give this thing a shot
Do however keep in mind
    That consistent be, this is not