AHHHHHH!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Now lets all go to Hannah's house and eat some Beaniehalloweenies.

And Boy, Are Their Arms Tired!

Miranda (Rubberband) and Keithan (He who will make millions) have flown back home with their new cat toy for their child Oscar. What could possibly be better than a big stuffed cat with random dangly things attached that crunches when you walk on it...or...sleep in this case. I think we should take a few notes from this little kitty. He probably needs to go do some things around the house like fold clothes, wash dishes, cook supper. And, what is he doing? Taking a nap. Yes, he knows how to take advantage of the good things in life. Oscar, I salute you.

It was a sunny afternoon when Bob said to George, "Hey, George, why don't we get ourselves 2 horses? We could ride them in the summer and in the winter we could put them in the paddock behind the house." George thought it was a great idea, so the next day they went out and bought themselves 2 horses. They rode them in the summer, but when winter came George got worried. He said "Hey, Bob, how are we going to tell them apart next spring?" Bob said, "Well, I'll shave the mane off mine and you shave the tail off yours." This satisfied George, so he did. The next spring when they went back to get their horses they found the horses' hair had all grown back. Alarmed, George said, "Oh great, now how are we going to tell them apart?" and Bob said, "Well, you can have the black one and I'll take the white one." -nchorsenews.com

Grey Havens

www.tolkienion.com

Pippin: "I didn't think it would end this way..."
Gandalf: "End?"
Gandalf: "No, the journey doesn't end here."
Gandalf: "Death is just another path...One that we all must take."
Gandalf: "The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all change to silver glass..."
Gandalf: "...And then you see it."
Pippin: "What? Gandalf? ...See what?"
Gandalf: "White shores...and beyond."
Gandalf: "The far green country under a swift sunrise."
Pippin: "Well, that isn't so bad."..
Gandalf: "No...No it isn't."

-Transcripted by Noora
Return of The King 2003

Darkening Skies

"O! Wanderers in the shadowed land
despair not! For though dark they stand,
all woods there be must end at last,
and see the open sun go past:
the setting sun, the rising sun,
the day's end, or the day begun.
For east or west all woods must fail..."
-J.R.R. Tolkein

Silence

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

-Stuart Townend

Hannah Loves Horse Show Music

The horse show is officially over. And what a good show it was. I didn't even fall off in the canter class. The bad thing was, 2 other people did. I don't think 16 horses in one class all running at the same time is a really great idea. At least no one was hurt. So, the final results:
Friday night: 3rd place out of 16 horses.
5th out of 22.
Saturday day: 1st out of 22.
2nd out of 9
3rd out of a lot.
5th out of a lot more.
3rd in the youth chamionship.
Youth high point winner.
Saturday night: 4th out of 26 in the championship.

Over all, not a bad show. Poor Cole is so worn out. I'm giving him a major vacation. He really deserves one. A big thanks to all my friends who came out Saturday night and cheered for me. I think it got the judges attention...which is a HUGE plus in a class that big. That leaves only one show left this year. Then we can settle down to a winter of fun trails and warm wool blankets.

Rachael's Quote of the Day: "Everybody is somebody else's wierdo."
-www.indianchild.com

You're On In 3...2...1...

Well, this is it. Just 2 more days until we pack up and head out. What? Am I nervous? Why in the world would I be nervous? I'm only taking my hyperneverpaysattention horse to a horse show, which, includes hundreds of other horses that Cole believes are all there for his personal entertainment. I'm only going to take said horse into the show ring (which will be stuffed with most of the hundreds of horses) and then be politely asked by the ring master to "canter your horse please." As they say about the Bristol race track....it's like trying to fly a jet in a gymnasium. Then, I will put him in a stall (which is not home and he knows it and it will be completely destroyed by morning) and repeat the whole day on Saturday...only with more pressure because it's the championships. So, no worries. I guess most of ya'll will be there. But, if you aren't, fear not, I'll give an update after the show. But right now, I'm going to take my not-so-very-nervous self upstairs and pack my show clothes. Wish me luck!

Rachael's Quote of the Day: "Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
- Frank Herbert

Home Again, Home Again

Well, I'm home. And, I'm sitting in front of my computer (listening to Dune-quit laughing Hannah) thinking of something inspired to say...and coming up with nothing. I had a great time at the horse show. I got to see the 2005 World Grand Champion. Actually, the first time I saw him I thought he was a colt someone was leading around. It really made me miss my own horse. I rarely go to shows without dragging him along behind me. I was inspired to come home and ride Cole. If you want to know what it feels like to be mortal, go get on a horse that's been in a stall for a week eating high fat grain on a cold and rainyish day.

Moving on...
This is one of the pictures from Gettysburg the other weekend. We commandeered a camera from one of the guys in the regiment. I have a ton of awesome pictures that I want to post. Hannah, check your email. I'll pass them along to anyone who wants to see them.

Rachael's Quote of the Day: "How much deeper would the ocean be if sponges didn't live there?"
-Steven Wright

Hit The Road

www.newfrontier.com

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www.pugcafe.com

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See Ya'll

To The Fallen

Photo by Oldsoul1864

Photo by www.kimshockey.com/cw/thirdday.html

"Far away to the front, I saw the dim outlines of lofty hills, broken rocks, and frightful precepts which resembled Gettysburg. As we advanced further, I found we were fighting that great battle over again and I saw something before me like a thin shadow which I tried to get around and go by. But it kept in front of me and whichever way I turned, it still appeared between me and the enemy. Nobody else seemed to see or notice the shadow which looked as thin as smoke and did not prevent my seeing the enemy distinctly through it. I felt troubled and oppressed but still the shadow went on before me. I pushed forward in the thickest of the fray trying to lose sight of it and went all through the battle of Gettysburg again with this shadow forever before me and between me and the enemy.

And when I came out behind the danger of shot, it spoke to me and said, "I am the angel that protected you. I will never leave nor forsake you."

The surprise was so grest, that I awoke and burst into tears. What had I done that should entitle me to such favor beyond the hundreds of brave and reputed men who had fallen on that day leaving widowed mothers and widowed wives, orphaned children and disconsolate families to mourn their fates?"

Captain Henry T. Owen
Speaking of a dream in a letter to his wife
Six Months after Pickett's Charge
Gettysburg Audio Tour as Read by Wayne Motts
Travelbrains, Inc
www.brotherswar.com/Civil_War_Quotes_41.htm

For the next few days I'll be posting some of the photos we took at Gettysburg this past weekend. It was my very first visit to the battlefield, and it was a very moving experience. Although we spent nearly 3 days touring the site there was still so much that I wasn't able to see. It would take about a week to get it all in. It was without a doubt one of the best events I've ever been able to attend (4.5 mile walk and all). It was really hard to grasp what actually happened there. The guys in the regiment did an awesome job, especially in the woods (I have pictures) at the 24th Michigan monument. It was erie listening to the reenactors charge through. I guess you just had to be there. One of those things I'll never forget.