Ramble Again

It's been an exciting couple of days here on the ranch. Yesterday was my first day off in six days. That felt like a long time to be working. And by day off I mean I get the time between morning and afternoon chores off. None the less we went to Colorado Springs and went biking. It felt really good to be on a bike again and it was a nice 10 mile loop. After that we went up to the Garden of the Gods and went rock climbing. There were some great views, but the altitude starts to hit you when you're climbing at 10,000 feet. We ended with lunch at this really cute little place in Old Colorado City. It was very nice to get off the farm for a little bit.

God has blessed me in remarkable ways. All I could think yesterday was how fortunate I was for all He had done for me. Bringing me to Colorado, learning this horsemanship that brings the meaning of riding to an entire new level, and getting to see all of these places. The sky and the clouds out here scream God to me when I look at them. The Garden of the Gods was really created by one God, my God. His handy work is all over it. Being in such a beautiful place was truly a sign of how great my God can be. I never would have thought that my life would turn out how it has to this point, and I am thankful for a God that can create better plans for my life than I can.

Being on this ranch it is clear that I am the least experienced with this kind of stuff. Give me a dressage saddle, sure I can do that. Dressage people have this way of doing things that just makes sense in my mind, probably because that was my foundation. But doing things out here is completely different. Things that were logical back at dressage farms are not the same here. Like at every other barn you got off your horse and led them to be untacked, here you ride them everywhere you can and open all of the gaits on top of them. There are just enough little things like that that can really wear you down after awhile. I would start to get frustrated that I wasn't taught this way from the beginning, because it is not easy jumping into it and being expected to do it. But then I have to stop and think about what Jesus has done. Jesus has prepared me for my path. Not Mindy's, Terry's, or Erin's journey, but my own. He has given me every experience that I will need to fulfill His plan. And ultimately, if I'm doing what God intended for me to do than that is all that matters.

Oh, and He has certainly given me some control over a rope. Slowly but surely it's coming.

Today was the first full day riding on the ranch. I rode Duncan first, we went in the prairie and checked some cows and looked for a calf. That was fun and Duncan settled down quickly. It was amazing to me how I could just get on him and not be scared at all. If that was when I first went to Terry's last year I would have been crying. The second ride was Concho. He is a steady guy and always a good ride. My saddle was not fitting him though so I did not do too much after I finally got a saddle to fit him. The third ride was Butter. I really enjoy that horse. He is drafty, but Mindy has done a lot of work with him and I really enjoy riding him. Today we worked on walk to canters, transitions and leg yielding. Fun stuff and good to play around with. By the end little Butter (who is almost the size of a dinosaur) was going pretty well. Overall a pretty good day.

I still feel a little out of place, not because I'm in Colorado, but because everything is different out here. The people are very direct and to the point. Those relationships tend to be great in their own way, but are not what I am used to. Also, NO ONE TALKS. Except for the girl who doesn't speak much English. I probably wouldn't notice it as much if I didn't just come from college where there were a million people around to do stuff with all the time. But I'm getting better at the silence thing... but it's a struggle sometimes. Some rides I get off feeling great and some I feel like I am never going to be as good as those around me. This is day one, and I've already learned a ton, so I'm trying to tell myself it will get better and I will learn a lot more than I expect.

Oh and Kevin told us today that we better start practicing roping because we're all he's got for branding.... So in other words I should pick up a rope.

Random Ramblings

Instead of Giving yourself reasons why you can't, give yourself reasons why you can.

We live in a world where everyone is quick to tell you that you can't do something. We live with people who do not believe in the power of God and the miracles He can preform. We live in a world who believes in them self, but sometimes that just does not give you what you need.

For myself I often believe that I will not matter if I am not the best. What does it mean to do something well if someone else can just do it better?

It is hard to move 2,000 miles away from home and pick up where you left off. The West is a different way of life, and one I want to embrace. It is hard... I am scared, but I know that my God put me on this path and He did not make me to fail me. His plan may not be what I want, but it is a plan that will serve Him. I have to learn how to rope in a month... That terrifies me. But that's okay. That does not mean I should listen to the voice in side my head that tells me I can't. I should give it everything I have. Be vulnerable. Learn. Listen to the Lord. Rely on Him.

What would you do if you knew you would not fail?