Vancouver Rodeo hit the spot!

Two much needed days of gardening and horse flesh. What a weirdo I know, but oh- how thankful I am to have had the break! Some of our friends work their tails off each year to get the 4th of July Rodeo together at the Clark County Saddle Club, and we get to reap the benefits with free tickets!

Friday night was a Girls' Night for a dear friend of mine and our daughters, and Saturday Steve came and got to watch tons of bull riding which is his favorite. I of course hardly notice anything besides the horses, and I was particularly smitten with the buckskin horse of one of the pickup cowboys. Man, that horse could move and was SOOOO responsive. Yeah, I am still drooling.

Lots of horses, bulls, steer and leather- just what the doctor ordered for this little heart. As I sat in the stands surrounded by thousands, it felt so good to realize that each person had their story that night and God was completely aware and in control of it all. None of our junk shocks Him or overwhelms Him, and He absolutely loves us...in spite of us. It was refreshing to feel His pat on my shoulder, and to know that tomorrow is a new day. And God will always give me reasons to praise Him through it.

We were reading Galatians 6 the other day, and it has one of those passages that you love to hate. I love it, because it is so true- and truth is what I need to make the choices that will count for eternity. But hard because it also makes it clear- I "made my own bed- now you gotta lie in it", and grumbling about the consequences does absolutely no good. It is so hard for me to see families fall apart, marriages be filled with ugly...and not be able to "pray" the people I love out of it. But ultimately, we all have the choice in how we respond. And that is so freeing. I know that God is going to do His thing and in the end "work all things for the good of those who love Him". Here's to praying that He does it sooner than later!!

God bless you and keep you. May His love feel real to you today, even in the littlest things. For me- it's rodeos and horses and pretty flowers that remind me how much my Savior loves me. Whatever it is for you, embrace it for the moment you have it and thank your Papa for knowing and loving you best.

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people..." Galatians 6:7-10

We will make you a cool video for a recap, but had to add one for now of the Pickup Cowboy's other amazing horse- a big black that you could ride with no reins I bet. He has done a great job with his cow horses. The things those horses can handle!!!

4th of July Rodeo

I still haven't processed all the feelings this event brought up so I can't type much about it- but I am glad I went. Rodeos were a big thing for us, and since we sold the horses, I can't stand to be around them, or even think about them- thus making rodeos kind of difficult.


So I thought for sure we wouldn't go to the Clark County Rodeo this year, even though we have every other year (minus the time in AZ, but there we just went to the Prescott Rodeo).

Well, God is funny like that- between constant reminders, the offer of free tickets, and my family wanting to go, I knew He was saying "Quit being a chicken, girl." So I went. I don't regret it, but it has brought up such melancholy, it's been a tough week. Here's the play by play- you tell me how to process the whole thing, because I am still not sure.


I rolled up to the rodeo, started walking across the field, surrounded by the Mounted Patrol and trying not to cry- and who should materialize in front of me? A dear sister in Christ, Jody, who I had actually never met face to face, but only blogged with. She has been such an encouragement this last year, cheering me on and praying for me. I recognized her from the pictures on her Facebook, but didn't want to say anything. Have you ever know me to keep my mouth shut? So of course I couldn't NOT say hello- then she gives me a hug. That did me in. The tears wouldn't stop for about 15 minutes, but thankfully she was working and had to run and my family hadn't arrived yet, so I got to weep alone.

Once I got it together, I met up with sweet Kristi and realized it was going to be ok. I truly enjoyed watching all the people compete in events, the fun atmosphere, and the gorgeous horses. At the time, it felt wonderful to be there- where I like it best. Surrounded by horse smells, long manes and tails, and the sounds of my "therapy".



My parents actually agreed to come too, which was so fun to see them laughing at the Mutton Bustin, and my mom worrying about "Aren't their butts sore from sitting on the horses for so long?"

At the end of the evening, Jody was even waiting for me to say goodbye and encourage me to stop hiding from horses, and find a way to fit them into my life.

Now what? I can't pretend that being around them doesn't make me desperately want my own sweet horse again. But I also can't pretend that that part of me that so loves everything equine is going to disappear. I have avoided everything about horses for three months, and in a moment, it's like I never left.

I don't know, but I believe God is good, and He is clear. So I guess I just wait to see what He will do next. :) I am sure if He has to write it in the sky to get my attention, He will.

"Expect great things FROM God, attempt great things FOR God." William Carey

(BTW: The best thing about rodeos...greasy, heart attack food.)