What did you get for Christmas?

One thing I noticed this year... im getting old.... I got 4 gifts I was REALLY excited about. One was from Meri. She got me a cantle bag! I am very excited about it and I LOVE it!

It was awesome because Meri was SO afraid I wouldnt like it... so to easy your fears again I am VERY happy!

Then I got a silverware set (I almost jumped for joy on that one)

3. A set of stainless Steel mixing bowls!

and 4. I got an 11 piece Cuisinart Stainless Steel cookware set! 

I was jumping for joy over the kitchen stuff... yes I am officially old 

Plans for holidays

This year it seems that Christmas kind of snuck up on us. Of course this week is going to draaaggg out now right? I spent the past few days baking. Lots of baking. I think Jake enjoys it because he gets to eat the ones that dont turn out!

So anyways Jake and I have already given each other our presents. Jake got a new electric razor (the norelco one) and he got some lingerie (he LOVED that part of his present). Jake gave me a treadmill. I am VERY happy with that. Poor guy wanted to get me horse stuff, but I am WAY to picky at times. I love my husband he tries so hard!

We waited until last night to wrap presents, and this morning the kids came out and about had a heart attack. They thought it was Christmas and it was time to open presents! The anticipation is going to kill them :)

So far our plans for Christmas eve are still up in the air, we have to wait and see what Jakes parents are planning. We invited them down, but there was some confusion between them and Melissa and Ryan on childcare :). Then we are driving down to longview and are spending the night with my parents. Christmas morning we get up and open presents from them and then head up to Grandpas for the BIG opening. Jake has to work at 3pm on Christmas but Im glad he has Christmas morning off (I think his boss was afraid they would lose him if they did make him work Christmas morning). 

The big news is Celina is getting a Guinea Pig for Christmas this year. It was between that and a pony but I wasnt able to find a pony that suited. I love the fact that I know enough that I CAN get her a pony and teach her how to correctly care for it and ride. But for now, its a Guinea Pig.

We are looking for a place that will handle more horses that is closer to Centralia as I am taking in training horses and right now our horses have to be down the road at a neighbors place as we cant have more than 3 horses here, and I have two in training. So yeah. I dont want to move from here as we have amazing neighbors and I love it. But we will see what God has in mind! Anyways love you all and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Tree Photo...With my goober children!

SNOW!

Yeah not a big blog today, but at around 9 last night it started snowing and we woke up to around 3" this morning. Im happy, I love the snow and I AM going riding in it... hubby is out riding mystic in the snow right now!

Rainy Days

As a lot of people know I am training Shakirah (my 6 year old Arabian mare) for her first endurance race with Kadra and her Arabian gelding Sebastian. Lately it hasn't been too bad weather wise, but the rain is coming, and coming quickly. Which means Kadra and I are going to soon look like pumpkins on the back of our horses. We did 9 miles on them two days ago, and after 9 miles, 25 doesn't seem like all that far lol. And I know Im a horse person. Wanting to spend that much time on the back of a horse sounds like a vacation to me! I am so excited. Of course I am working on getting the things I need to be able success fully do this, but I am working on it slowly... and I have my Christmas wish list written up lol!

I always wanted to do endurance, but I didnt want to do it alone and I didn't think I could get ahold of a horse that loved to go.... well we moved here a year ago and found Kadra AND Shakirah! She goes 9 miles and still wants to go with her ears up (and if we get to run a little she LOVES that).

Thankfully we live right down the road from active weyerhauser logging land. Also thankfully the loggers have NO problem with the horses, more often then not we get waves and smiles.We are careful and wear bright colors and are respectful of the truck drivers.

My ride is set for May 19th 2012 in Trout Lake WA so anyone who would like to come and support me and my best friend in our attempt at a long ride please do! We would love the support. (You can find information on their Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mt-Adams-Endurance-Ride/182901718396385.

Veterans Day 11-11-11

Today is a day we step back and reflect on those that have served our country, and more often then we would like have lost their lives for this country.

I know plenty of people in the military, and am praying that all of them return home safe and healthy. This blog is to those that I know that have served and are serving in our armed forces. This is in no way a complete list, but I can give it a go!

Current Military:

Cassie Rogerson, Mike Fisher, Ryan Tervo, Scott Jones

Retired Miltary:

Doug Bell, Tim Fisher, Marvin Guisinger (Grandpa), Larry Glaze, Jered Guisinger, Dave Fraker, Taryn Fraker,  and many more!

So to all of those listed (and too all of those I forgot) THANKYOU!

A revelation

It has been an interesting week to say the least. Sunday I went to church for the first time in awhile. Besides the hectic nature of getting 3 kids ready, in the car, out of the car and into their classes by themselves, it was a good service.

To go back to why I had not attended in awhile is after we left the church in Randle I rebelled. I had been shoved into this "perfect pastors wife" persona. I was not allowed to put out there that there was anything wrong, if I had been hurt I couldn't bring it up and talk to the person about it, because I was supposed to be above it, I had no friends because no one really wanted to be around the pastors wife in case they did something "unholy" and I had more than one person that I should have been able to trust stab me in the back. I kind of got to the point of "why bother?" Everyone was hypocritical, no one was trustworthy, they were all there for their own selfish reasons and wanted nothing to do with actually helping others and being there for others.

So after we moved I went into a time of trying to find who I was. I tried alcohol for the first time, and *gasp* I LIKED it. I stopped caring about what everyone else thought of me and started dressing how I liked. I am a cowgirl at heart and like a little bling now and then. I found a friend that I can ride with and renewed my passion for competing in horses. And then I had more than one person tell me that they saw "the old Valerie" coming back. The smart alec who wasn't afraid to spout off her own opinions and tell people whats what. I also re-discovered that God had given ME a passion.

Wanna know where I am closest to God? On the back of  a horse. Training horses, being AROUND horses. I never feel him closer than in that situation. And you know what? Its not "Just a hobby" as certain people have put it. It is more than a hobby. It is using the gifts that God gave me.

So after a long talk over FB with a person that is going through some similar issues as me, I discovered that I needed to pray for God to change MY heart, and leave the rest up to him. I cant change other people, I can only change me. So Sunday morning I loaded everyone up and went to church. And for the first time I felt like I was there for ME. I wasnt there for anyone else. I wasnt there as the pastors wife, I wasnt there as someones kid, I wasnt there because I should be. I was there because I WANTED to be there. After a few almost crying fits, I finally felt compassion towards some people I hadnt felt compassion for in a long time. My heart started breaking for them, and for the first time I felt the bonds of bitterness start to break.

So I guess what it comes down to is your faith has to be your own. And how you live your faith is inbetween you and God. I personally feel there is nothing wrong with some alcohol now and then with some friends (the Bible warns against drinking in EXCESS, but not against drinking in itself). There is nothing wrong with going into a bar to get a burger (The Buck Snort in Morton has some of the BEST burgers and fries). And there is nothing wrong with being closest to God on the back of a horse. A horse and the countryside is part of his creation. You need to have a relationship with God to determine what is and is not ok. Religion puts a lot of rules on things, people put a lot of rules on things, but when it comes down to it whose opinion matters? Gods.