Strength from within

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not."
                                                                                                        ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

The little rabbit stood alone, watching her family and friends hop and skip about her in the forest, playing her favorite rabbit game.  Try as she might, each time she attempted to join in, she tripped about awkwardly.  When this happened, the other rabbits laughed uproariously at her and called her "Grace".  Soon even she forgot her real name.  But in the moments when Grace was alone, she danced around the trees with ease.  She was as smooth and graceful as any ballerina.  An old owl sat high above her one night, watching her intently.  The moonlight streamed through the treetops like a soft spotlight and he sat and watched as little Grace moved in and out of the moonbeams.  Finally he said, "Grace, you are more graceful than any creature I've ever seen."  Grace was startled that someone had been watching her, but listened carefully to the wise owl's words as he continued.  "You have carried this beauty within you all the time, but locked it inside when you tried too hard."

If we remember to relax and trust in ourselves, we too, will discover that we are able.

For me, it's so easy to forget my inner strengths and abilities.  It's when I need to take a deep breath, relax and draw on that which lies below the surface; forget that anyone is watching and step out in faith.  Like that old John Wayne saying goes, "Courage is being afraid and mounting up anyway".  Can you relate?

I'm working very hard on stepping up and drawing upon the courage to do what I'm afraid to do.  I know I have the ability, the knowledge and the strength...I just need that little nudge to step up in faith and do it anyway.

This past Memorial Day weekend was much more pleasant weather-wise than our weathermen have been predicting.  We had originally made plans to go horse camping with our riding club. We always enjoy the beautiful Mt. Adams Wilderness area, the wonderful riding trails, the time spent with good friends, and sitting around the camp fire.  But, since we sold our horse trailer, we are once again, tent campers; and we didn't relish the idea of camping in the rain, with horses, dogs and mud.  A couple of nights last week Mt. Adams horse camp got snow.  Uh-huh, I don't think so...

So, we opted to stay home and let the chips fall where they may.  Footloose and fancy-free, and all that.  We worked on some projects around home, planted a few flowers in the beds, did some laundry, changed linens and general housecleaning duties.  We also took a day trip to the beach.  It was beautiful.  We took two long, leisurely walks, collected some sea treasures and had lunch overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean.  We ate saltwater taffy and took pictures.  My hubby had the horse chores all finished so when we got back home, we just brought the horses in for the night and watched a little tv until bedtime.  It was a wonderful day.  On Memorial Day, we were just plain lazy.  We watched old war movies on television, ate popcorn, built a fire in the wood stove and lounged around in sweats.  I fixed spaghetti and garlic bread for dinner.  I don't even remember brushing my hair...it was heavenly!

Today, I'm back at work and my hubby is home with the horseshoer.  Sugar gets her special wedged shoes on the front, but otherwise it's just trims for everybody else.  On June 9th, we have an appointment with a gal who will be coming out to fit Ladde and Eagle for Easy Boot Back Country shoes.  They run $80 per shoe, and we're hoping that after our initial investment, we'll save by not having to pay over $100 every 8 weeks for shoeing refits.  We're just going to use them on the fronts and leave the backs barefoot.  These shoes will hopefully last 2-3 years depending on how often and how many miles we put on them.  I can't wait to try them out.  I am so ready for a trail ride!!

We've taken Eagle to a couple of clinics lately.  He has made me so proud!!  He's a nervous hauler, he internalizes his stress and sweats something fierce, but after some initial jitters, he relaxes and calms right down and focuses on me, and pretty much does every single thing asked of him.  What heart this horse has!!  He has more try and absolutely wants to please more than any horse I've ever known!!  He just amazes me with what he's overcome and how very brave he is despite having had such a rough past.  He does have a pretty wide lazy streak.  The boy likes to saunter, relax and snuggle.  We're going to make a perfect pair!  :)  He's got an amazing trot too.  If I were interested in showing in Western classes, this boy would be a natural.  But, I'm thinking he'll enjoy some beautiful, relaxing and scenic trail rides just as much as I do.  I have no desire to be in the show ring.  Ever again.  I hate politics, and I hate how they want and expect a Western horse to move.  It's ugly, it's unnatural and it makes the horse look lame.  I like my horses to have beautiful, forward and fluid movement, on a loose rein.  I can't wait to get him out on some trails and see how he reacts.  We're making progress Eags and I.  Not as quickly as I'd hoped, and probably not as fast as many people think we should, but we're not here to impress or satisfy anyone, but ourselves.  We're developing a beautiful, trusting relationship; and that's what matters to me.  And it's very, very important to Eagle.  Whenever my hubby would hold Eagle for me when I went for a poddy break, or to get a drink of water or something, he'd watch for me to come back.  And if he heard my voice, he'd whip his head in the direction of my voice and watch me approach...*sigh*  That just makes my heart go pitter-patter.  :)  I LOVE this horse!!!  I don't ever, ever, ever want to do anything to jeopardize the trust we're building.

Anyway, hope you all had a wonderful and long Memorial Day weekend.  Don't you wish all weekends lasted 3 days?  Seems so much more balanced and right.

Blessings everyone,
Lorie @ Cingspots