Happy Birthday Colton: here are your baby goats!

It was 2:15 Sat. afternoon and time to go our first of 4 games this weekend, so, I asked Colton to run to the barn to check on Mary before we left. You see, Mary was looking mighty pregnant in the early morning hours and we knew she was ready to deliver soon. Mary is one of our African Pygmy Goats. Martha is also preganat but isn't due for another week.
Two mins. later I heard Colton screaming and running towards the house. Colton was in shock over what he saw. Mary was in the process of delivering her first of 4 baby goats. Yes, we are the proud parents of 4 new "kids". This was quite an experience and we documented the entire National Geographical experience. I have attached the rated G version pictures. I praise God for His miraculous design. Mary instinctively took over, cleaned and nursed each one as they shivered in the cool environment and were brought into a barnyard of love and curiosity!
What a great gift to giver to my little vet Colton on his 9th Birthday! Isn't God great!

I haven't had much to say and have been reminded lately by a few of you. So,I will begin with a huge Happy Easter for He has Risen indeed!
I do have a fun praise report regarding my youngest son, Colton. You know, the one who burnt a hole in my floor recently while testing out fire and water. (See Jan. blog for a detailed account!) Colton is a new team member to Old Providence Baseball and this Tues. was his first game. While watching, Kenny and I exchanged glances as if to say, "OK Colton's up to bat, PRAY!" If we decided to pray aloud, it would sound like this, "PLLLLEEEAAAASSSEEE Lord give him his moment, give him confidence" .....

The 2nd and 3rd bases were loaded and Colton hit a home-run! "Colton hit a home-run" I kept screaming with my hands across my heart then raised in the air then across my mouth then in the air. I was CRAZY excited.... nothin' like meeting the team for the first time with all my volume! Oh, I was loud I admit it! In times like this I think I have been going to the wrong church all my life. I need to be in a Pentecostal or AME Zion church... I would fit right in and be oh so at home.
Praise You Lord for answering our heartfelt yet silent prayers!
The Word says, when we pray we need not wonder if He has heard our prayers, believe and allow Him to work it all together. Furthermore, it is all about the small stuff. Keeping God in everything we do and think, allows us to see Him in everything we cannot do or even imagine. He is in it all and truly cares about it all; you see it is all about His BIG plan.
Trust in it because we are all apart of it and He truly loves each and every one of His children. Let's love Him back in the best we we can! Communicate and Trust!
Blessings to you all. Denise

Old People's Riding Club

I attended a meeting this afternoon in a tack room off the side of a barn. This is the OPRA (Old People's Riding Club) chapter that is just getting started in this part of NC. The meeting started just as a powerful storm was rolling in. The thunder, lightning and intense rain-fall made me (secretly) a bit scared. Knowing the power of a storm can be a bit unsettling, however, knowing the benefits of this storm made me very content inside. Oh how we need this rain!

During times like this, we can all make the parallels to our lives with regards to the "storms" we have experienced in our lives. Sometimes we have to wait on the storm to pass. Sometimes we must pass through the storm or allow the storm to pass through us, wiping out whatever was in its path. Sometimes we are immediately delivered by the storm and never have to endure the rainfall, but this option; one we might pray for, does not always teach us much or grow our character. Regardless of the storms in your life, I pray you have the endurance to either run through or withstand the intensity of the trials. Hold on tight, it can bring great joy and growth ahead!

Please continue to pray for my horse Decaza, as we are beginning the conditioning and riding process and are praying he does not relapse.

Have a wonderful week!

He is alive indeed!

Denise

Unlike my husband, I love this day light savings thing. It is 6:50pm and it is blazing sunshine in my windows. My boys played catch outside until dinner and my horses grazed on the fresh grass. Ahh Spring is coming! New growth, new weather, new fun activities, new flowers, new beginnings. I love being and feeling renewed! It is like going to a spa and getting a facial and a massage. One time my friend Melissa and I went to the Grove Park Spa in Ashville, NC, and we wanted to be really new, really refreshed, so we stayed at the spa for 8 hrs. Believe me when I tell you this, we would have remained at that spa for another 8 hrs. if we didn't have to be at another retreat just mins. away. The Lord reminds us that we are new creations once we cling to Him. His power refreshes and restores us so that we are renewed everyday despite what we experience. Now who doesn't want a new start sometimes? I know I do. I challenge each of you as I take this challenge myself... begin each day by standing upright, firmly grounded in His peace and say aloud, as if you were face to face with God;
"I need a new start today Lord, in you I know that is possible. Today, I choose You Lord, please renew me this day"
I bet there will be a lot of shiny new faces and attitudes strutting His glory around as we step out into Spring!
Love to all, let me know how this challenge goes! I bet He will do amazing things through all of us, a matter of fact, I bet He has already begun!
Denise

Stop the maddness!

I have received so many responses to the latest blog. The question I now propose is, which cookie is the ultimate Girl Scout cookie? As for me and my son Hunter, we polished off a few Samoa's tonight and let me tell ya, I do not do guilt when it comes to these bad boys! Colton's favorite cookie is yet to be determined, as he says he first has to try them all to make a good decision. That's Colton for ya!
Have a great week,
Denise