Blanketing

So as the cold weather finally begins to reach Texas we find that we are beginning the seasonal blanketing of the horses. Although most horses adapt pretty well to cold weather, if they are not blanketed early in the season, we have some unique situations that we deal with here.

One of our horses is an Appaloosa. And as a breed they traditionally do not have a lot of hair. If you were to see our Jasper you would probably wonder what happened to him. His mane is only about 2 inches long and his tail maybe a foot. He has gotten his winter coat.....if you want to call it that.....but it is hardly sufficient to keep him warm when it gets particularly cold.

I love this time of year with horses though as they become all nice a fuzzy with their winter coats but it is important if you have special circumstances that you help them keep warm. We also blanket our old horses because it is sometimes harder for them to keep themselves warm.

Now about a blanket. There are many different kinds and colors. Which one to buy? First you have to measure your horse for the sizing. You measure from the middle of their chest to their tail.

Once you have figured out the size then you need to decide how heavy a blanket you need. This will depend on where you live and how cold it really gets. Here in Texas we do not have the bitter cold that I used to experience in Ohio. So the blanket we use is not the heaviest they make. You do not want to buy too warm of a blanket or the horse will sweat and that will defeat the purpose of the blanket.

ALSO....MAKE SURE IT IS WATERPROOF and not just weatherproof. They are not the same and you really need it to be waterproof.

When to blanket.......well here we start putting a blanket on our horses when it gets to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Sometimes we put it on a little warmer if it is going to be raining or really windy. Do not put it on if your horse is wet. Dry them in the barn before you put the blanket on them.

Daily scripture

And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.

~ Psalm 39:7, NLT

Daily scripture

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

~ Romans 15:13, NLT

Daily scripture

Jesus replied, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'

~ Matthew 22:37-38, NLT

EPM or Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis

Well today I come to you to discuss a possibly life threatening condition in horses. One of our horses with Blessings Ranch now has EPM so I thought I would share a little about it. It is carried by the Opossum.

EPM is an infection of the central nervous system of horses. The neurologic signs that it causes are most commonly asymmetric incoordination (ataxia), weakness and spasticity, although they may mimic almost any neurologic condition.

Clinical signs among horses with EPM include a wide array of symptoms that may result from primary or secondary problems. Some of the signs cannot be distinguished from other problems, such as

Airway abnormalities, such as laryngeal hemiplegia (paralyzed flaps), dorsal displacement of the soft palate (snoring), or airway noise of undetermined origin may result from protozoa infecting the nerves which innervate the throat. Apparent lameness, particularly atypical lameness or slight gait asymmetry of the rear limbs are commonly caused by EPM. Focal muscle atrophy, or even generalized muscle atrophy or loss of condition may result. Secondary signs also occur with neurologic disease. Upward fixation of the patella (locking up of the stifle) is among the most common findings among horses with neurologic disease. Another common side effect of EPM is back soreness, which can be severe. Even typical racing injuries may ultimately be caused by EPM, because horses which are uncoordinated are much more likely to "take a bad step" in racing or training. Therefore, any horse with these signs should be carefully evaluated for the presence of neurologic disease.

For further information go to this link

Daily scripture

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

~ 1 Samuel 16:7, NLT

Daily scripture

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

~ Isaiah 43:2, NLT

From Citizen Link--READ BEFORE YOU VOTE

A Chilling Look at an Obama Presidency


Focus on the Family Action

Liberals could dominate the government in a way they haven't in decades.

What are the stakes in the upcoming election?

Come Nov. 4, it's possible Democrats will control both chambers of Congress and the White House.

The Wall Street Journal said it "would be one of the most profound political and ideological shifts in U.S. history. Liberals would dominate the entire government in a way they haven't since 1965 or 1933."

An analysis by Focus on the Family Action shows it would not be a pretty picture:

Far-left liberals could hold a 6-3 majority on the U.S. Supreme Court.

The nation's highest court could rule same-sex "marriage" is a constitutional right — in all 50 states.

Preaching from the Bible could be banned from radio and television.

States may not be able to restrict abortion, and taxpayers could be forced to fund abortions.

In several states, it could be illegal to own a gun.

Think it can't happen?

Read the "Letter from 2012 in Obama’s America."

Daily scripture

Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight.

~ Psalm 119:77, NLT

Some thoughts on finding our purpose

Finding our purpose…..finding our glory

In his writings on life and work, Basil Pennington declares, “It is your life’s work to learn to think and act in accord with who you are by creation.”

In order for us to obtain our ultimate glory through God we must seek to be who He created us to be. If we can’t find out who He wanted us to be then we cannot figure out what our path should be.

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Sometimes it is hard for us to accept that we are deserving of a better life. That we deserve good things. God’s plan was always to give to us in abundance and not withhold good things from us.

Romans 8:18

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

God’s plan is to reveal His glory through us. Not for us just to see it. We are to be an instrument in demonstrating that.

Romans 8:30

And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

God is calling us so that He can be glorified through us. Our call is our glory. It is why we are here.

Romans 9:23

What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the objects of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory

We are the objects of his mercy and He has prepared us for glory. He wants to give us abundance here and in eternity. We do not have to wait until we reach heaven to have a taste of that.

Romans 11:29

for God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.

God does not make mistakes and His plan for us and our lives was not a mistake. He designed us for one purpose that only we can fill and He has given you the gifts and the call to fulfill that if you will only find out what it is.

Matthew 7:6

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

What in the world does this mean?? God is wanting us to realize that sometimes we need to be careful who we share our inner most dreams with. If we feel God is calling us to something you need to be careful who you choose to tell. Some people will try to take that from you and cast many a doubt on you about whether or not you can accomplish it. They will try to steal the dream away from you with their own negativity and Satan will use that for his purposes. Satan will try to make sure you do not fulfill your destiny. If he can do that then in some small way he has won the battle. He wants to make sure you do not fulfill your role in God’s plan.

Daily scripture

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again…

~ Psalm 42:11, NLT

Daily scripture

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again…

~ Psalm 42:11, NLT

Daily scripture

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

~ Psalm 27:14, NLT

Daily scripture

I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.

~ John 17:15, NLT

Homeschooling--Where to start? Part 2

Now that you have decided to homeschool your child or children what is next? Well you have to decide on a curriculum and how you are going to go about doing the homschooling part.

There are 3 main ways to approach homeschooling and any of them can be modified....

1-- You can just do school at home just like it is done in the public school.

I would not recommend doing an all day program as a lot of time in the public school is built in so the teacher has time to work with the 30+ kids they have in the classroom. You will only have your child or children. You don't need all day to do the school work.

The option for this that I do recommend is.....you can get the curriculum that the public school uses and do it that way but it will not take all day. It is not meant to take all day. If you need it to be very scheduled and all laid out this is your best option. Buy a full curriculum and execute it.

2--You can take parts from several different curriculums so that it is more tailored to your learner.

This takes a little more work to find the right pieces to put together but it is a good option for children. There are plenty of choices and so sometimes it is just a matter of trial and error to see what works best.

3--You can create your own curriculum and tailor it to the interests of your child or children.

I allow my children to choose subjects they like in addition to the core subjects. It allows them to like learning because it is something they want to know about. I think this fosters a love of learning and it is what works for me.


So those are your basic options. Something I want to point out though is that you can start with one and change to another one if it isn't working. You may even have to do different options for each child. One child may love to be on the computer while another may hate it. Only you know your child and what they like and how they learn. Trust your gut and keep trying till it works for YOU and them. It has to be something you can do and are comfortable with doing.

With homeschooling you can be in a constant state of change if you need to and you have more of that when you are starting. After a few years you begin to settle into your way of doing it....but it takes time. Hang in there and just keep trying to teach your children.

There was a study done examining 3 groups of students. Basically with the first 2 options from above and the third group being students that were left to discover on their own. The last group did the best. So don't worry.....God wired us so that we WANT to learn and we have the DESIRE to learn. We just have to be given the FREEDOM to learn.

Daily scripture

Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.

~ Psalm 33:2-3, NLT

Daily scripture

That's the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty.

~ Ecclesiastes 12:13, NLT

Homeschooling--Where to start?

I got a call today from a friend needing to know how to go about homeschooling so I thought I would share some insights on that here.

A great resource to check the rules for your state is at the Home School Legal Defense Association . They have them there to check. You can also check with your state's education department. The laws very by state so it is important to check what you have to do in your state. I have lived in 2 states and homeschooled my children....Ohio and Texas.

Texas is one of the easiest states to homeschool in as it has no regulations. Ohio has a few but it is not as hard as some other states.

One thing I like to tell people who are considering homeschooling is that although it seems overwhelming in the beginning to be taking on such a task it really is not as hard since there are some many resources available. Another thing to consider is that you are doing it for the best experience for your child. Trust me is WILL be worth it.

One book I recommend for all those who are going to start homeschooling is the Successful Homeschool Family Handbook at Amazon . This book was a great place to begin.

Now when first deciding to homeschool you have to realize a few things....

*It is work to do it
*You can always change your mind and send you child back to public school
*If your child has been in public school you should allow 1-2 months for the child to adjust to not
being in public school
`--In public school students are told what to do and how to do it. In the homeschool
environment they have more freedom to be decision makers. It takes time for them to
adjust.
*It is worth it!!

I will give you some more guidance in my next posting.......

Daily scripture

For the word of God is alive and powerful.

~ Hebrews 4:12, NLT

Pumpkin Facts

Pumpkin Facts

Total U.S. pumpkin production in 2006 was valued at $101.3 million.

496 million pounds of pumpkins were produced in Illinois in 2005.

Pumpkins are grown primarily for processing with a small percentage
grown for ornamental sales through you-pick farms, farmers' market
and retail sales.

Around 90 to 95% of the processed pumpkins in the United States are
grown in Illinois.

Pumpkin seeds can be roasted as a snack.

Pumpkins contain potassium and Vitamin A.

Pumpkins are used for feed for animals.

Pumpkin flowers are edible.

Pumpkins are used to make soups, pies and breads.

The largest pumpkin pie ever made was over five feet in diameter and
weighed over 350 pounds. It used 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin, 36
pounds of sugar, 12 dozen eggs and took six hours to bake.

Pumpkins are members of the vine crops family called cucurbits.

In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the
crust of pies, not the filling.

Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing
snake bites.

Pumpkins range in size from less than a pound to over 1,000 pounds.

The name pumpkin orginated from "pepon" – the Greek word for "large
melon."

The Connecticut field variety is the traditional American pumpkin.
Pumpkins are 90 percent water.

Pumpkins are fruit.

Eighty percent of the pumpkin supply in the United States is
available in October.

In colonial times, Native Americans roasted long strips of pumpkin
in an open fire.

Colonists sliced off pumpkin tops; removed seeds and filled the
insides with milk, spices and honey. This was baked in hot ashes and
is the origin of pumpkin pie.

Native Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made
mats.
Native Americans called pumpkins "isqoutm squash."

Native Americans used pumpkin seeds for food and medicine.

Pumpkins are fruits. A pumpkin is a type of squash and is a member
of the gourd family, which also includes squash, cucumbers,
gherkins, and melons

Pumpkins have been grown in North America for five thousand years.
They are indigenous to the western hemisphere.

In 1584, after the French explorer Jacques Cartier explored the St.
Lawrence region of North America, he reported finding "gros
melons". The name was translated into English as "pompions", which
has since evolved to "pumpkin".

Pumpkins are low in fat, calories, and sodium and high in fiber.
They are good sources of vitamin A, vitamin B, potassium, iron and
protein.

The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed a staggering 1,061 lbs. It
was grown by Paula and Nathan Zehr of Lowrville, New York.

Pumpkin seeds should be planted between the last week of May and the
middle of June. They take 90-120 days to grow and are picked in
October when they are bright orange. Their seeds can be saved to
grow new pumpkins the next year.

Daily scripture

The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord's perfections and meditating in his Temple.

~ Psalm 27:4, NLT

Conversation with a 10 year old

It was interesting today I spent an hour talking to my son about the rapture and the second coming of Christ. He asked me about....oh .....a million questions about it and we had an in-depth conversation about all the aspects. The best comment he made......was maybe Christ will come back in the next few hours. We decided and realized that unfortunately that wasn't what had happened.

But as he said......my 10 year old theology child....even if He doesn't come back before we die.....we still get to go to heaven.....YEAH!!!

Daily scripture verse

But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.

~ Psalm 51:6, NLT

Dyslexia info

Dyslexia: A Natural Phenomenon

Abstract

Social institutions and their rules often originated from capricious decisions. For education, western text book design has never been questioned as to its possible bias against some children's perceptual organizational strategies. Text book design with its "Z" encoding often conflicts with the a priori "S" encoding and decoding paradigms found in natural perception. Orthography is another flawed social tool replete with anachronistic distractions. These factors results in social and perceptual rule conflicts inhibiting children's (or adult's) attempts to decode and encode English alphanumeric signs and symbols. These conflicts are often misinterpreted or ridiculed by the educational culture leading to the child's impaired performance (but not learning) sometimes termed dyslexia denoting a class of impaired people without reading and writing skills due to some brain disorder. Experts often refer to the reversal of numbers and letters as indicators of dyslexia. However, reversals are part of natural perception and we deal with them everyday, and ignore them as part of our perceptual background. This paper suggests that persistent reversals are aligned with confusing perceptual, pedagogic and orthographic rules rather than brain impaired reading and writing skills. What is troublesome is that many labeled dyslexics become "cured," often on their own, and end up becoming authors, scholars, scientists, etc. This suggests that environmental forces such as negative reinforcement found within the educational community are factors delaying lexic development.

Dyslexia Redefined

Dyslexia is buzz word with intolerable ambiguity. Among others, dyslexia is generally defined as the reversal of letters and numbers due to some brain disorder. However, in this paper dyslexia is defined as the left-to-right reversal of letters and numbers due to confusing perceptual codifying rules in conflict with arbitrary textbook designs further complicated by English orthography and dysfunctional institutional behaviors. It should become clear that the left-to-right reversal of alphanumeric symbols is a natural, evolutionary, rule-governed form of perception. By dysfunctional institutional behavior, I maintain that the confused left-to-right reversal process is often reinforced by emotional trauma, shame, negative attitudes, unfounded beliefs, low self-esteem, etc., tacitly or overtly given off by the school culture that places the student in a state of perpetual confusion. I will also suggest that the child’s traumatized state of confusion could itself limit the development of his brain's functionality. By orthography, I mean the present state of English spelling that is the very essence of sociodyslexia because of the chaos in phonemic and graphemic rules. The dysfunctional state of English orthography is a deficit transferred to the student. It is indefensible to hold that there is an intuitive connection in such examples as the long i: tie, by, bye, high, and hi to name a few. Only etymologists understand their origins and interconnectedness. Words are tools of communication, and like any tool, they need to be adapted to their user or be discarded. No one in their right mind would use bent hammers or ancient computers and be efficient and effective in today’s world, yet we refuse to change our awkward orthographic tools opting for spell checkers and wasted dictionary time, all the while insisting our children should adapt to these anachronisms rather than making the tool adapt to the user's needs. Texts that indiscriminately mix orthographic variations without proper historical linguistic training produce a stumbling phonetic interpretation in dyslexic (rule confused) children and adults. A child's attention span cannot handle the drudgery and repeated failures and quickly turns her attention to more important things such as daydreaming. An adult can handle it, and this is a possible explanation for sudden recovery of lexic ability. Clearly, such a person is ideal for designing dyslexic's text books. By natural, I mean preexisting organic processes and their rules that are the referents to our observations and their symbolic expressions.

Article continued

Daily scripture

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

~ 2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT

If you love horses........

I have signed the ILPH Make A Noise petition because I want the unneccessary suffering of 100,000 horses to end. I know you care about the welfare of horses too, so please sign the petition.

Daily scripture

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead ...

~ Philippians 3:13, NLT

Fabulous Homeschool site

Hey all--

Found a great site today for kids to learn and parent helps as well.

http://www.brainpop.com/

Daily scripture

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

~ Isaiah 40:28, NLT

Final part to the Dreams series

So how important is obedience? Have you realized that God doesn’t care if we want to be obedient as long as we are? It is certainly easier when we go with a joyful heart but He’ll take it even if we go kicking and screaming……just as long as we go.

God rewards those who are obedient. He wants to be able to refine us and make us closer to the example Christ gave us but he can only do this if we are obedient. If we aren’t then he cannot teach us anything new. He cannot facilitate growth. God values our obedience and knows how powerful it can be. He never discounts it even if our hearts aren’t all for it. But with obedience comes trials to improve and refine us.

Psalm 66:10

For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver.

Zechariah 13:9

This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.' "

Deuteronomy 8:2

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

Deuteronomy 13:3

you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1 Thessalonians 2:4

On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.


Sometimes though we aren’t sure we like the trial. Have you ever found yourself in a place where you are having to endure trial after trial without any hope of them ending? After months or years of enduring them were you able to look back on all you endured and see how it had refined you for something better….for something more important that was needed by God from you?

As you go through those trials its not fun. And if you are like me after a while you realize that they are for you to learn something….for you to be stronger….and you begin to wonder what you need to be so strong for….and if you will be ready for it. Let’s look at some examples of this……

A woman served in ministry with her husband she found herself having to endure trials here and there that seemed to be pushing her toward something but she had no idea what it was. As she chose to follow God’s leading in her new church she found they were not for change. Does that sound like any church you’ve been in? If it had been for her glory she never would have endured the trials she did but because God was calling her to complete it she would do as He asked. He wanted her to start a preschool to serve the children in their community. This small country church didn’t want a preschool or the demands it would make on them and their congregation…..and heaven forbid it require that something in the church might have to be changed. After two years of battling the preschool doors finally opened and 18 students were served that first year. She cried tears of joy often knowing she had told some of those children about Christ for the very first time and that He would ALWAYS love them. That was her main goal…..for them to leave knowing Christ and that He would never forsake them. She felt so humbled by God allowing her to have such a huge impact on these children. But opening the doors was not what the trials were needed for…..she was to endure another more personal battle.

You might think that the second year it got better……well unfortunately it did not. In her second year she was personally attacked by some of the other staff. Her gifts and talents were brought into question…..they wanted her off the staff….but God interceded on her behalf. And although normally she would have gladly defended herself in the church meeting….God told her to be still and quiet and not to say anything. She was obedient. And she remained at the school.

She had become strong enough to allow God to fight her battle instead of doing it on her own. She had learned to trust him completely. She had been refined by the fire.

Romans 8:18

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.


God’s plan is to reveal His glory through us. Not for us just to see it. We are to be an instrument in demonstrating that. So we have to work hard at seeing the purpose of the trials. And what better God is pushing us forward to through the trials.

It is through perseverance that character is built. It is through perseverance that we are refined. It is God’s plan to refine those who follow him so that they can become closer to Christ. It is a constant journey as we work toward being like Christ to fully attain it once we reach heaven.


Romans 5:3-5

3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Hebrews 12:1-3

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

James 1:2-4

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

2 Peter 1:5-7

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Daily scripture

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

~ Philippians 4:6, NLT

Daily scripture

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

~ Philippians 1:11, NLT

Daily scripture

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.


James 1:12 NIV

Part 6 of Dreams series

Let’s look at some examples of people who were and weren’t obedient in the Bible.

Jonah 1-3 (excerpts)

1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."

3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD…

4 Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up…… the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

It is then that Jonah had a change of heart inside the fish. Once God knew he had had a change of heart…..and God responded by having the fish get rid of Jonah. And once again God spoke to him….. Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. And because of Jonah’s obedience Nineveh was saved from destruction.


Genesis 37-47

Joseph was shown early in his life dreams of what God had planned for his life. Throughout his life he was tested to his obedience to God even when things did not look good for him. He was sold into slavery by his brothers….and because of that he would end up being put in charge of Egypt. It was a long journey and took a large portion of his life to get there but it was his obedience to God and his ways that made it all possible.


Throughout scripture God tells of the importance of obedience.


Isaiah 1:19

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land;


2 Corinthians 2:9

The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.


1 Peter 1:13-15

13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;


Leviticus 26:1-13

'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God. 'Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD. 'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land. 'I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. 7 You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you. 'I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. 10 You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. 11 I will put my dwelling place [a] among you, and I will not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.


Deuteronomy 28:1

If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth


Romans 5:19

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Part 5 of Dreams series

Let’s look at some examples of where God has used everything for good……

She was a normal girl growing up in a small town. She was taken to church most Sundays and dropped off by her mom who would return when Sunday School and church were over and pick her and her brother up.

Now in this small missionary church she was raised up to be a leader. She learned from the mentors God provided for her and she grew strong in the faith. Her strength was first shown when she served on the Admin Board as the first youth representative.

In this church she had been baptized, confirmed, and married. This was her home church and her lifeline. When her parents got divorced in junior high they were there to support her and help her through. She learned early on that God would not abandon her and that He would even send people to love her and care for her……people who would serve as His hands and feet.

Later she went to Emmaus and experienced the 4 day spiritual retreat and through that experience she felt called to serve in the prison ministry called Kairos. It was only in men’s facilities in their state but she didn’t care. She felt a real call to serve there. She cooked the meals and supported it with her prayers and her presence. Eventually she was called to serve on the state board. Still with no women’s facility she felt at least she could serve at a greater level.

Through diligence and sacrifice to the ministry….she would come to serve on the first women’s team in the state. She would give one of the talks on that first weekend. She would be able to reach others in that prison because of her life story…..her story of a father who was an alcoholic. Of a father who had abandoned her mentally, emotionally, and physically. Those women knew the truth of her story. God knew how her pain would be able to reach those women…..some of them had been where she was. Some would see the path to deliverance because of her.

She had never known how such tragedy in her life would be able to be used by God to help others. She had not seen that….she had not sought it…..she had only wanted to do what God called her to. She had only sought to be obedient.

Let’s look at another situation where God has used it for good to refine us or to help point us in the right direction.

A woman had been actively searching to find what God wanted for her life. She felt she had followed what he had called her to do only to not have it work out successfully to completion. This made her begin to question if she had really followed God’s leading to begin with. She doubted whether or not she could hear from God and that she could distinguish his voice from all others…..including her own and Satan’s.

After careful examination of the situation she did find the answers she was looking for. She found that indeed God had called her to the endeavor but that he had not called her to make it a success. He wanted her to learn the lessons she needed from that position so that she could progress forward in the plans He had for her. Without the experience, even though it had not been what she had envisioned, she would not have learned what she needed to learn. She would not have been able to go forward toward attaining her place in God’s will. She would not have been able to grow past the place she was currently at.

And yet another example of how God works things…..there was a woman who prayerfully considered the job options she had available to her. She knew what she loved doing and so she felt God saying ‘yes’ you should pursue that job. It is what you like doing. So she took the job in the field where her passions were thinking she would be thrilled there. As the weeks became months she found that she was not as happy as she had once thought she would be. The meetings she was being made to attend where draining the very life out of her. She wanted to be in the ministry she had been called to. She wanted to interact with people…..not be in meetings and politics all day.

She once again prayed to see if she had been mistaken about taking the job but she was at peace about that original decision. Now she wanted to be able to leave this job though. She wanted to be able to find something in her field of calling that would actually be what she liked. God shut all the doors that would have allowed her to leave. She remained in the job 2 years before finally leaving to pursue another job in her field. Was that two years a waste of her time? No because what God did was to use it to show her what things she didn’t like. She had learned a lot about herself in that job and was able to see it had been a learning ground for when she finally started looking into other opportunities. She was able to narrow her choices by knowing what exactly she did and did not like. God used that two years to refine her passions…..to pinpoint her dreams. He wanted to give her a clearer path to follow.

So what did these 3 women have in common? Obedience.

O'Reilly Speechless

just watched an unbelievable interview with O'Reilly where he was speechless....that doesn't happen too often........http://www.jillstanek.com/

Daily scripture

... he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

~ Titus 3:5, NLT

spent a while looking through Stumble Upon.....very cool tool!!

cherylatbr.minti.com found a new parenting site.....minti.com

Daily scripture

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God's holy people.

~ 1 Corinthians 14:33, NLT

Part 4 of Dreams series

Now if God prepared IN ADVANCE for us to do good works don’t you think it reasonable that he would have laid those plans in us as children, even before we may have known him fully? God pursues us hoping that we will choose him. God knows the past, the present, and the future of our lives. He laid forth our desires so that we could do what he planned for us to do. What a better way to fulfill the plans he has laid forth than by making our heart’s desire our call?


Now some of you may be saying…..if that’s the case then what about free will? Well just because we have desires in our hearts does not mean we have to pursue them or even acknowledge them. God is not one to force us down any path. Granted there is a path he would like us to follow…..but the choice is ALWAYS ours to make. How many here know people who choose to be miserable. They enjoy being a martyr because it is what they know and it is certainly easier that doing the work God has called us to do. God wants us to choose him and his plan…..but it is a choice. Do you think that maybe those people we have in our lives that are choosing not to follow God or his plan might be who we are supposed to be guiding and helping? If we can show our friends and acquaintances that we are happy because we are living in the will of God….don’t you think God will use that to touch their hearts and soften their hearts so that he can touch them?


Since we have free will that might being up another concern for you as well. What if we want to follow but aren’t sure how to. What about those times in our lives when we really want to do what God has planned for us and we aren’t sure what the choices are that we should be making. We aren’t sure if we’ve heard correctly from the Holy Spirit about what we should be doing….we have sought his advice but we just aren’t sure. What then? Can we mess up all God has planned for us if we don’t do it the right way? Luckily……we can’t.


Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


1 Chronicles 28:9

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.


Jeremiah 17:10

"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."


Romans 8:27-29

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Daily scripture

... His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise.

~ Habakkuk 3:3, NLT

Daily scripture

The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

~ John 6:33, NLT

Part 3 of Dreams series

Have you ever been afraid that God is going to call you to something that you would hate and dread? Say you hate camping and roughing it….and you fear someday God will call you to the mission fields of the deepest parts of Africa and you will not be strong enough to say yes and you will miss your calling? Anyone? Afraid to find out what your call is for fear of what it will require? If you haven’t figured it out already. I have some good news for you……that isn’t going to happen. That isn’t God’s plan.

Psalm 103:5

who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.


Philippians 1:4-6

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus


Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.


2 Timothy 1:9

who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.


Psalm 138:8

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.


Romans 11:29

for God's gifts and His call are irrevocable.


God wants what is best for us. And if we are truly seeking to do His will for our lives…..and not our own……then He will honor that. God knows our heart. He knows where are motives are…he knows what is really important to him. If he knows you are seeking to glorify him and follow his lead He will continue to make everything that happens work towards good in our lives. And even if we are slow to coming to our gifts and talents He still wants to use us. He still will allow us to fulfill our destiny if we will only trust and follow Him. God is a very patient God. He will wait on you as you walk the path closer to him. He wants the relationship. He wants to be intimate with you.

About Blessings Ranch......

Blessings Ranch

The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and
they that dwell therein. -- Psalms 24:1


Blessings Ranch a place to interact with God’s creation; a place
where youth will be provided opportunities to take on the responsibility
for caring for animals and plants. And participating in other activities
that will help them build and restore their self-esteem

The most crucial time in a child’s life are those teenage years.
They are not children anymore, nor are they ready for adulthood. It’s
during this time that the choices they make may have a profound effect
on them for the remainder of their lives. Ultimately, it is up to the
parent to help guide that child in the right direction … Train up a
child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart
from it. – Proverbs 22:6

Parents are to help them make responsible choices and build their
character, so when the teenager moves out of the house they are well on the
road to being a responsible adult and they’ll be equipped to succeed in
life.

The concept behind Blessings Ranch is to provide a place where teens
and children, from all walks of life, can interact with animals and
plants. More than just a park or zoo, Blessings Ranch is a place where
these youth will be provided opportunities to take on the responsibility
for caring for these handiworks of God. Some of the activities they will
be able to participate in that will build their self-esteem is a martial
arts program and a mentoring/tutoring program.

The big picture is for Blessings Ranch to become a residential
facility. The room and board costs are covered as long as the youth
complete chores which will include caring for the animals and/or plants
on the ranch and participating in at least one other activity provided
on-site if their grades are not suffering.

Let’s face it – in today’s world, just knowing what your teen is
doing is a challenge yet doesn’t make it any less imperative.


Teenage years are a trying time; one filled with melodrama, high
intrigue, and many unhealthy habits ... like alcohol, drugs, tattoos and
piercing, “bad” friends, gangs, “cutting”, and even sexual identity
issues.

As a parent, sometimes you feel helpless in the face of these issues.
In addition to that, on a deep level, your teen is probably ashamed to
ask for help. That’s where Blessings Ranch comes in.

Within this setting all these children would be exposed to the
unconditional love of God but at the same time being taught responsibility.
The staff and volunteers at Blessings Ranch would be available to help
the youth but also do those little things that sometimes can either be
forgotten or perceived as being forgotten.

• Being there when they need you
• Treating them like individuals
• Being part of their life
• Showing interest in their interests
• Simple conversations
• Paying attention
• Encouraging your Teen

We will also be having an equine therapy program available with a
certified NAHRA instructor on hand. A trained martial arts instructor
and a preschool/daycare facility with certified teaching staff will also
be on site to help the youth/children. We will also have access to an
ordained clergy-person to provide additional spiritual support to the
staff and youth.

This facility and program would be available to the surrounding
communities and for schools of all types to come for field trips to interact
with the animals and plants on site. This would be a rescue site for
various animals and would serve to teach about conservation and recycling
as well as responsible stewardship of the environment.

Special programs could be arranged to target specific groups for short
term goals. We would like to offer our services to the Soldiers and
the families of Soldiers as a way to escape the everyday challenges of
being away from loved ones and enjoy and commune with nature without
having to go very far.

Another goal for Blessings Ranch is to provide a preschool/daycare
program so the children can be exposed to the wonders of nature and grow to
have a love and appreciation for it.

Blessings Ranch is a non-profit organization seeking to serve the
surrounding communities in the various ways mentioned above. We want to
encourage everyone to love the world around them and the animals within
it … understanding that God created it all and that His love is
unconditional.

Drug use, Suicide, Teen pregnancy, Homelessness, Prostitution,
Alcoholism, Depression, Eating disorders, Peer pressure, Cigarettes … the
greatest weapon against all these tricks of the enemy is the Love of God.

Blessings Ranch – blessed to be a blessing.

Daily scripture

They will declare, "The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!"

~ Psalm 92:15, NLT

Part 2 of Dreams series

Today I want to focus on one of those specifics as I call it. Kind of a means to an end for expanding the kingdom. We will look in Romans.

Romans 8:30

And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

Now this verse is also a little confusing so let’s start by looking at the four things He has done and what each of them means separately……

Predestined—to be determined or settled beforehand

Called—to be summoned to a particular activity, employment, or office

Justified—to be judged, regarded, or treated as righteous and worthy of salvation

Glorified—to be made glorious by bestowing honor, praise, or admiration; to be elevated to celestial glory

God is calling us to the things he has already planned for us (Psalm 40:5)…..so that He can be glorified through us. Our call is our glory. When we receive glory and turn it back to God we are doing what he has always planned for us to do. It is why we are here. It is how God will use us to expand the kingdom. When we can reflect that glory back to him people will be drawn to him because they want to have what we have.

How powerful is that? That God designed us down to our very souls to do what he has called us to do. He made every fiber in us love doing what it was he wanted to call us to….even if we don’t see how he is going to work it out in the beginning.

Daily scripture

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'"

~ John 7:37-38, NLT

Part 1 of Dreams series

Matthew 7:6

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.


Today we begin with this verse. What in the world does this mean?? How many here have no idea what Jesus is trying to tell us in this verse? It took me a very long time and the work of the Holy Spirit before I was able to see the importance of this verse for my life….and for yours as well.

God is wanting us to realize that sometimes we need to be careful who we share our inner most dreams with. If we feel God is calling us to something you need to be careful who you choose to tell. Some people will try to take that from you and cast many a doubt on you about whether or not you can accomplish it. They will try to steal the dream away from you with their own negativity and Satan will use that for his purposes. Satan will try to make sure you do not fulfill your destiny. If he can do that then in some small way he has won the battle. He wants to make sure you do not fulfill your role in God’s plan.

The dreams and aspirations we have are sacred. They are a gift from God to us to show us where our purpose lies. We have to treat them as such and not just allow anyone to try to steal them from us. It is today that we will try to discover what our purpose is in God’s plan…..and why fulfilling it is so important. Why it is without us that God’s plan cannot be completely fulfilled.

Does anyone know why it is we are here? Why were we put on Earth? What should our goal be?

Well there are actually a couple of specific reasons that we can point to from the Bible. But ultimately I believe they all fall under the great commission: We are to make disciples. We are to expand the kingdom. Everyone’s gifts and talents prepare them to fill this role somehow. Now not everyone can be a missionary in Africa or China…..but how about in Copperas Cove or Killeen? What about at your job or dare I say it….in your church? God can and will use us everywhere we go if we will only allow him to. We have to be willing to follow him. He takes no one hostage…..doing his will is always a choice we make.

Daily scripture

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

~ 2 Peter 1:3, NLT

Homeschool resources

I was using Stumble today and found two very cool sites for homeschoolers......


This site you can get FREE curriculum supplements for health/science

http://science-education.nih.gov/customers.nsf/WebPages/CSHome



This site is cool for younger kids. It is an interactive alphabet.

http://www.bemboszoo.com/Bembo.swf

Both great places to at least take a look at. I am all about FREE curriculum and aids.

Daily scripture

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

~ Psalm 4:8, NLT

Homeschooling? Why or why not.--Part 2

Why doesn't everyone homeschool?

Well there are several reasons why people choose to send their kids to public school or private school. Sometimes that is the best option for the family.

People don't homeschool because they can't afford it.

Some families cannot homeschool because one parent cannot stay home to do the homeschooling. Or if it is a single-parent home they cannot afford to stay home and not work outside of the home.

I recently have come to understand this on a more personal level. After divorcing my finances have become very difficult but I have chosen to still homeschool my children. I have been fortunate to be able to work from home and so can continue to do that.

But sometimes families don't have that as an option and so sending their child to public school is what works for them.

People feel they can't homeschool.

Some people would like to homeschool but don't feel they are 'smart' enough to be able to do it. With the variety of curriculum available today for parents this is becoming less of a viable excuse why not to homeschool. Everyone is smart enough to homeschool if they want to do so.

People feel their child can get a better education at a private school.

Some people who can afford to do it pay to send their children to private school because they feel that is a better alternative to public school. In most cases it is as you get smaller classes and a better curriculum at times. They also feel it is better than homeschooling. I would have to disagree there. Yes the classes are smaller but they aren't 1 or 2 to one.

Don't get me wrong.......

I am certainly not saying everyone should be homeschooling. Do I think it has it's benefits.....Yes. Do I think it's for everyone......No. Each family has to make their own decision. All I am saying is don't let fear keep you from homeschooling if you want to do it and you think your child will benefit from it.

daily scripture

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

~ Matthew 6:30, NLT

Homeschooling? Why or why not.--Part 1

Why do some people choose to homeschool while others do not?

That has a very diverse answer. And I am going to cover a few of the reasons here. I am a licensed public school teacher with a Master's in Education but yet I homeschool my two children. Some would question why? Some would say of course you would.

The reason I chose to homeschool was for the benefit of one of my children. He left kindergarten in the public school system believing he could not be successful at anything in school.

Was homeschooling my first choice for a solution? No.

I first went to the school and asked them to change the class they had assigned my son in for first grade knowing that although the teacher they put him with was competent he would not do well with her style. The school refused.

The second choice was to open enroll him in a nearby district where they had a very high reputation for their first grade. I had missed the deadline and so they did not take him because they already had too many first graders. So that left homeschooling.

People homeschool for the benefit of a struggling child.

This is probably one of the largest reasons people choose to homeschool. They want their child to be successful and the public school is not meeting the needs of their child.

People homeschool because the public school environment is unacceptable.

Another reason people choose to homeschool is because the public schools are exposing their children to things that are against their moral code. They remove them for their protection.
This also includes religious objections.

People homeschool to give their child a better education than can be obtained in their local public school.

Some people feel the schools their children would be required to attend do not meet the educational standard they want for their children. So instead of paying to put them into a private school they choose to do it themselves.

Those are some of the reasons why people choose to homeschool although they vary a great deal and it is a decision that needs to be made by each individual family.

Why doesn't everyone homeschool?.....to be addressed in my next blog

daily scripture

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

~ Colossians 2:7, NLT

daily scripture verse

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
~ John 3:17, NLT

Inspiration

Wanted to share this inspirational little blurb I read today.......

When God tests the heart it is not to shame or manipulate, but to liberate and empower. God wants to coach us into becoming the generous, teachable, honest, and joyful people He designed us to be.

This is based on the scripture 1 Chronicles 29:17

If you like this check my website for more inspirations......

If they can....they will.

Well as you may or may not know....horses are always curious and into things they shouldn't be. Today I had to fix some fencing where my horses decided to get out. They found that the grass on the other side of the fence was much better than what they could easily get to.

I just want to remind everyone how important it is to be proactive and constantly checking your horse's area. If they can get into it .....they will. If you think they might then you may as well fix it before they do. A good book to resource if you need some pointers for a small acre place, like I have then check out my website under horse resources....there is a wonderful book there and I have even linked it so you can buy it very easily.

www.atblessingsranch.com

Dyslexia resource

I found a great resource for my son who has dyslexia. http://www.avko.org/ The program I have started using for him is sequential spelling and he is doing SO WELL. His self-esteem has already started to improve only after using it for about a week. FABULOUS!!!

Homeschooling...another year

Well we begin another year in homeschooling at my house. My children are in 4th and 7th grades....just this week I will have a teenager in the house! I am a licensed public school teacher with a Master's Degree in Education but after my son left kindergarten feeling he wouldn't do anything in school I knew it was time to do something.

Who is qualified to teach?

I pulled both of my children out of the public school because the principal refused to change my son's teacher. It was a power play on her part but in doing so the school lost several thousand dollars in funding.

I have talked to a lot of parents about my choice to homeschool and whether it will work for them or not. The one comment I always get is.....well you are a teacher so of course you can do it. And my response is always.....actually being a school teacher works against me. Any parent can homeschool.

What curriculum should I use?

Well this question has many parts to it just besides choosing a curriculum. Fortunately for parents there are 100's of curriculums available to use for homeschooling. And depending on which state you live in you might even have the option of public school at home.

The first consideration in choosing a curriculum is always the student. How do they learn best? What are their strengths and weaknesses? All of those are things you already know about your child. How do they spend their free time? How do they choose to learn about a fun subject? You know your child.....go with your gut!

Another consideration is what are you comfortable with in a curriculum? Do you need it all laid out for you telling you exactly what to do everyday? Do you want flexibility in built in? Do you want it all on the computer? These are all options you have today.

MOST IMPORTANT!

Finally....and most importantly.....you need to always know that you working with your child one on one will always result in a better education than in a classroom with 30 students. Keep the faith and hang in there. Find other homeschooling parents and share your concerns and frustrations. The longer you do it the more confident you will feel. DON'T GIVE UP!!

Gelding care

I thought I would share some of what I do to care for my 20 yo gelding this time and what I use to do that. As some of you may or may not know you need to clean the sheath. Geldings no longer self clean because they have been gelded.

If this is your first time you should have someone have help you and/or show you the process. It is not a complicated process but it takes a little practice.....and getting over doing it to begin with.

Mild soap

You will need some mild soap. I use an all natural soap made by Arbonne International. It works very well on my gelding and does not cause any irritation.

I have found that some of the commercial sheath cleaners are very harsh and burn my hands which are not nearly as sensitive at the sheath. So I put some of the soap into some warm water and then I have to be slow and careful as my horse does not really like water.

Know your horse

That is another thing I want to point out.....you have to know your horse. If you are spending time with your horse daily then you will know your horse and what they want and they do not want.

Smegma Removal

Once I have created the the soap water I begin washing the sheath and the folds of the sheath removing the smegma that has accumulated. Once you have done that you will have to check the pouch at the end of the sheath, over the head of the penis, for a "bean," a hardened, round ball of smegma. The 'bean' will be whitish in color.

With the penis extended you should gently rub off the loose and flaking skin. It will come off very easily. Once you are done make sure you rinse the sheath and penis with plain water, being sure to remove any soapy residue.

Prevent skin cancer

Also if the sheath is pink in color you should consider using sunscreen on it to prevent skin cancer. I again use the Arbonne baby sunscreen for that. Using the sunscreen also helps prevent as much flaking skin. So I have to clean the sheath less often.

If you are interested in getting either product that I use please contact me! I can get the products shipped to you directly. Mention the blog and I will give you a 20% discount on your order.

Suggestions for horses not drinking

Hello everyone--

Well as some of you know I have had a hard time with my older gelding not wanting to drink as much as I would like to see him drink in the very hot weather we had over the summer. Being in Texas made it very hot. In reviewing some of what experts told me and other horse owners....and what I tried myself I thought I would share some of those ideas and let you know what worked for us.

Some of the suggestions:

*Freeze lemon-lime gatorade and put it in the water.
*Add a small amount of salt to their feed
*Put a bucket of water with a tablespoon of molasses in it.
*Give an electrolyte supplement
*Put a handful of grain in a bucket of water.


Well the ones I listed above were all the ones I tried. I found the best success in putting molasses in his water and also a handful of food in it. When I would do that he would lick the bucket completely dry. I had only tried it because I ran out of molasses and I knew his food had some on it. It worked wonders! Putting molasses in his water was also wonderful. He would drink the entire bucket several times a day.

I hope these suggestions are helpful to those that struggle with dehydration in the hot summer heat. A fabulous resource for info on any problem is: http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/

Progress continues.....

We continue to get the plans in place for the upcoming day events we will be hosting with the local girl scout troops. We are also planning to do something over the Christmas break....but more on that later.

Still working on getting the Bible Study stuff up on the website. Started with Captivating and working to get all of week one up.

Ancient secrets to horse training!!

Secret Science Of Arabian Horse Training. This Is An Instruction Guide On How To Train Your Horse Using The Exact Training Methods The Ancient Arabians Used.

Click Here!


Kikkuli Method Of Horse Training. The Kikkuli Method Of Horse Training EBook(R). Startling Modern Benefits From An Ancient Horse Training Method!

Click Here!

Help with horse Training

Train Your Horse & Cure Bad Habits! EBook(R) Package Revealing Powerful And Effective Horse Training Techniques Of Old Time Master Horse Trainers.

Click Here!


Horse Training Success. Solve Your Horses Bad Habits With These Horse Whisperer Training Techniques.

Click Here!


Train Your Horse Yourself; Stop Bad Habits Immediately. Very Effective Horse Training Program. Stop Your Horses Bad Habit Quickly Using The Best Horse Training Methods Around.

Click Here!

No More Biting Horses! Stop Messing Around With A Horse Thats Trying To Bite. Its A Game You Cant Win! Its Possible To Cure A Nippy Horse Humanely, Without Getting Hurt Or Upset! Wendy Hilton Smith, Of Cornerstone Training, Shares Her Secrets For Safe Riding.

Click Here!