Happy Trails

I have always loved horses.  As long as I can remember, I have wanted to ride, brush, cuddle with any horse I came in contact with.  It's a desire & dream that was never realized until I was an adult.  

I started riding consistently about four years ago.  First by volunteering at a stable for public trail rides, then at a local "horse club" where we got together to ride, and then fellowship, study a chapter of the Bible, and pray.  The last three years, I've been taking weekly lessons and enjoying as much riding time as I can.

This year, there were a pair of horses being fostered for the winter at the barn where I ride.  Two off-track thoroughbreds, Max & C.

Max with my girl, KK.
Isn't he cute with that heart on his face?

Me & C in a lesson last fall.  He looks like he's tooth-smiling - cracks me up!

Here's C's race record... he won over $150,000 in his career!

I really enjoyed riding C last fall and fell in love with him. He was very charming, turning on the puppy face whenever I came in the barn.  He was happy to see me whenever I arrived.

The Puppy Face - irresistible!

This mutual relationship was evident to us here, as well as the owners of the camp where he came from (who at the time still owned him).  Long-story-short...  C was offered to me in the spring and I took him.  I got my first horse!

He fell asleep in the cross-ties.
He loves being groomed.

So I spent the rest of the spring and summer riding him 2-3 times a week outside of my lessons.  The kids got to ride too.  Below are pics of KK riding him one afternoon.

Grooming time...

Oh, that sweet face!

As I took ownership of this horse, we also decided he needed a better name. We thought to shorten his full name (Canaletto) to something, but nothing really stuck. Then one day, I said, "We should call him Fancy Clancy!" My daughter didn't think he was very fancy. Clancy stuck though (=

Enjoying an afternoon ride

About 6 weeks ago Clancy got sick - his temp was over 103 deg. and had pulse points in all four feet which put him at risk for founder. After an expensive Saturday Vet call, we discovered he had some sort of upper respiratory infection.  He didn't eat for 4 days except when I would hand feed him.  He didn't even want to crib (he is a fierce cribber!).  He's been on the mend since then, but hasn't been quite the same. 

In the mean time, we received his paperwork from the camp.  Turns out, after his racing career, he was adopted out as a pasture buddy for Max, only to be used for light trail riding.  He has hock & stifle lameness (joints in the back legs).  This explains a lot.  He has become very grumpy, and is rubbing his hocks until there are open wounds.  It became evident that after his illness, he just wasn't up for any more riding.  After much prayer, thought, tears, and gathering the consensus from all parties (me, my riding instructor, the camp people, the original adopters, and the racehorse rescue that adopted him out: CANTER) we decided that the most humane thing to do for him would be to euthanize him.

So, that's where I am tonight...  remembering the short time I had with this sweet horse who endured a 9 year racing career, being a trail horse at a camp, and then a lesson horse.  Tomorrow he goes to horsey-heaven, but for tonight he's still MY horse.

I'm going to miss you, Clancy.  Happy Trails...

HelloMornings - What is My "Why?"

I've been following this blog, Keeper of the Home, for a long while now.  Stephanie blogs about natural living for the Christian mom.  I love her site for recipes and encouragement.  About a year ago, while reading her blog, I came across this Maximize Your Mornings Challenge.  Her question then was this: 

"So, Mornings... 

How Are They Going For You?"

At that time, we were at the beginning of our paperchase for our adoption, and my morning devotional time was regular and fruitful.  When I read her post though, I felt that my entire day could be better by changing my focus a bit - well, really, adding to my devotional time, and getting up earlier.

Basically, Kat (writer of Maximize Your Mornings ebook, and blogger at Inspired to Action) challenges you to Maximize Your Mornings by encouraging "...Christian women toward the life-giving habit of waking up early."  So we say, "HelloMornings!"

There are 4 main focuses for the morning:

1. Get up.  Early.  Give yourself time for your HelloMornings.
2. God.  There's a Bible study that accompanies these challenges, or you can do your own.
3. Plan.  Plan out your day.  Intentionally.
4. Move.  Daily exercise.  It really helps with having energy throughout the day and keeping it.

The beauty of all this, is that you are not alone in this challenge.  The whole thing is done in groups for accountability and encouragement.  

Now, do I accomplish all 4 steps consistently?  Well I have been doing these challenges for a year now, but the answer is NO.

His mercies are new every morning

(Lamentations 3:22-23)

Thankfully, there is grace and encouragement to begin again every day of the challenge.  It really is a beautiful community.  I have met some pretty amazing women through HelloMornings over the last year.

So, what is my "Why?"

I want a peaceful day.  For homeschooling.

For my husband.  For my family.  For me.

I want to be intentional in my Bible reading and prayer time.

Ultimately, my reason for HelloMornings is to draw nearer my Father in Heaven, Almighty God.

Interested in HelloMornings for yourself?

Click the HelloMornings button on the side bar to get started.  -------------->

The next challenge is August 20th - November 16th

"Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You.  Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8

So Soon?!?!? May 2012

May, already????  I know!  Guess what though...  I forgot a very important event in the March post.  Khris took the girls to their first ever Father-Daughter Dance.  This dance was a fundraiser for Leap Of Faith Dance Company where my oldest daughter took lyrical ballet this year (you'll get a peek at that in a minute).

Aren't they precious?  The girls LOVED sitting in my shop chair, getting all dolled-up for their very special Daddy Date.

While at the dance, the girls got to dance with their daddy.  Then, while they ran off to dance with their friends, Khris got to hang out with a couple other dads.  From what I hear, a good time was had by all.

Remember all those rehearsals I mentioned in the March post?  Our final performance of Everyday Heroes was finally here.  May 12th was the big day, but not before we celebrated with a cast party after the final dress rehearsal.  The students and mom-helpers did such a fabulous job, I wanted to bless them with a pizza party.  Good times (=

Everyday Heroes cast, crew & directors

 By the end of the homeschool play, Leap Of Faith was finished with dance classes for the year and the dancers and staff were preparing for their recital.  The entire recital day was amazing as the students danced unto the LORD.  KK's lyrical class danced to Blessings by Laura Story.

Mother's Day was in there somewhere too.  Every year for Mother's Day, my husband and kids get the garden prepped and tilled for planting.  We started this year with a 4x4' & 2-4x8' raised beds.  Khris built 2 more 4x8' beds and a 6x8' on the side of the house.

Overall, a good month in May...  Hopefully I can update June (and July too?) very soon.  We've got a new fundraiser coming up too to go with some news on the adoption front.  Stay tuned!

April 2012 - One Month DTE

As promised, another full month update -- better late than never (*ahem).

One Month DTE... I forgot to post some pics of our completed dossier and its send-off...

Signing the final paperwork & having it notarized

See my "baby-bump?" I'm officially in the "2nd trimester" of this pregnancy ;-)

Dossier tucked away and ready to mail it off.

Postage paid and off to America World and then Ethiopia!

April turned out to be pretty busy...just like March (= We had more twice-weekly rehearsals for the homeschool play, a couple of birthdays, hair appointments, homeschooling and a ladies retreat -- Whew!



Lily turned 10 this year, and Reese turned 8.  Both being April birthdays, and considering the busyness of our lives this year, we opted to do a "together party."

Decadent chocolate cake with
raspberry icing - yum!

The happy birthday boy and girl

My small business doing hair fares well.  I still have a steady stream of clients, and everything I earn once my product cost is covered goes toward our adoption expenses.  April being a busy month, I socked away a decent chunk of change for the adoption--

I love what I do and how 
God provides through it.

Throughout the month, I had additional rehearsals to prepare for a Ladies Retreat later in the month where I was asked to lead worship.  I had led worship at this particular retreat a couple times in the past, but this was the first time I was bringing a background vocalist with me.  The Stockport Mill and the surrounding area were beautiful and the Holy Spirit, present.  The entire weekend was like a sweet embrace from the Father. 

My oldest daughter joined me for her first ever Ladies Retreat.  Isn't she beautiful? <3

My Seester and niece joined us for their first retreat together too
(btw, all retreat pics were taken by Seester)

BOTH my sisters were with me on this retreat. 
On the far right is Khris' sister, Jo <3

Our wonderful, Spirit-filled speaker: Kathy Peters out of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa

My pal Brittany and I singing unto the Lord
Sing praise to the LORD, ...And give thanks to His holy name. (Psalm 30:4)

The whole group -- the one waving is my sweet sister in the Lord who
put this retreat together.  Thanks Becky -- we all had a great time!

There you have it.  Hopefully I'll be able to update May before the summer's over ;-)

Grace & Peace to you and yours ~Michelle

March 2012

We've had a few busy months here at the Rogers household.  So, to update, I thought I'd post by month:

March this year started off with a bang -- We sent our dossier to Ethiopia and began our wait for the little boy we are adopting.  (See the post "Officially Waiting").  We also had a lot of fun with the March Madness Bracket Fundraiser.  Thank you all for participating!

The following week began a very busy season for me.  I was the director of our homeschool fellowship's spring production, and we held auditions that day.  We rehearsed twice weekly for our show on May 12th (which was a complete success--Yay!).  Here's a few pics from dress rehearsal:

Singing "Everyday Heroes"

"Everyday Heroes...giving help, giving hope... they show the love of Jesus everywhere they go!"

From the Gideon Scene: "2 bits, 4 bits, 6 bits, a dollar!  All for the Israelites stand up and holler!"

Esther Scene:  King A extends his golden scepter to Esther

Rocks in Jerusalem's broken wall in the Nehemiah scene

Trumpeters during Nehemiah's Scripture reading

Aren't they all darling?

Meanwhile, the 24th was a busy day when my hubby and the 2 younger kids went bowling with their cousins for a birthday party.  The same day, my oldest daughter and I went to the barn where we ride for a one day horse camp:

KK leading "Meg" into the arena.  The 2nd horse is my boy "C"

a few arena exercises

Playing Red-Light-Green-Light on horseback

KK riding "Meg" for the trail ride

Carrot Race:  "Meg" wins! My boy "C" is nowhere in sight--lazy ;)

Later in the day, 24yo "Story" bursts ahead for the win!  He sure wanted that carrot!

We ended the month on Spring Break.  Our riding instructor went out of state, so I had barn duties for the week.  I took the time to work on cantering my "new" horse (new to me--he's a 17yo).  It wasn't pretty, but we're both getting the hang of it--he's an off-track thoroughbred and I'm (maybe) an intermediate rider:

Enjoy the pics and video...  will update on April soon!