Off to Myrtle Beach for a good cause
Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized
If you’d like to make an on-line contribution in my name as a rider - you can do so at this link:
https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=225011&lis=1&kntae225011=EAE6BEBECAE74D16A2802F8B27BB18FB&supId=174652939
I’ve also collected over $100.00 in cash/check donations that I will be bringing with us. I wish I had started earlier. If I had the time I think I could have frequented some businesses and raised a good amount. If you raise over $1000 you get your name in the drawing for a brand new horse trailer. Though I don’t need one, the cash I could get for it sure could help pay some bills and buy a lot of hay and feed. But if I manage to get up to $500.00 my name would be in a drawing for a new saddle - and well… one can never have too many of those.
But even if we don’t meet that - any little bit helps and it looks like our total fundraising amount is going to be at least close to $400.00.
This is going to be a fun fun fun time (went last year) spent with horses and friends - Gods Gift to e! So say a prayer that we have a safe trip on the highway there, a safe time while we are there and a safe trip home! Taira is so excited to ride her horse on the beach! I’m ready for my custom karaoke - which always gets some rave reviews because I change it up by making my own words. This year’s hit - a remake of Sugarlands Down In Mississippi (and up to no good)- I’ve changed the words and the chorus is now Down in Myrtle Beach (and up to no good)!
Here was my 10 minute, 3 song pictoral video tribute. Pull up a chair and enjoy!
The first song - Me and My Gang (Rascal Flatts)- is themed to photos of us arriving, setting up, having fun at the campsites and karaoke.
The second song - Cowboys Like Us (George Strait) is themed to our riding on the beach.
The third song - No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem (Kenny Chesney) - is themed to our having fun on breaks at the beach!
Happy thoughts!
Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized
Okay, got this from Pastor Dave’s blog on 10-23-07 http://www.davebowman.typepad.com/ I’m not the only one who thought this was worth posting so what the hay. Pastor Dave has started a “Happy Thought” trend! 
Waking up every morning
Seeing my horses every day outside when I wake up…and they’re MINE
Riding my horses
Riding with my daughter
Just watching my daughter ride or love on her horses
Seeing my daughter’s face light up when she has an idea
Happy, wagging tails of the puppies when I get home
My cats makin’ biscuits on my chest
A good song
Being part of a fun community group
Completing a new poem
Spending time with good friends
Spending time with my mom
The idea that there COULD be a man out there that God created just for me who could pop into my life anyday.
Back from the Beach
Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized
While I was there…I am pretty sure I got a little peek of Heaven. On Monday while standing out enjoying our ocean front view from the balcony, the skies opened up and I am pretty sure God was peeking down over the water.
Directions to God’s House
Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized
DIRECTIONS TO GOD’S HOUSE (received this via e-mail and wanted to share)
Make a right onto “Believeth Blvd.”
Keep straight and go through the
Green Light, which is Jesus Christ.
From there…..
You must turn onto the “Bridge of Faith,”
Which is over troubled water.
When you get off the bridge,
Make a right turn and Keep Straight.
You are on the “King’s Highway”…
Heaven–bound.
Keep going for three miles:
One for the Father, one for the Son,
And one for the Holy Ghost.
Then exit off onto “Grace Blvd.”
From there…
Make a Right turn on “Gospel Lane.”
Keep straight and then make
Another right on “Prayer Blvd.”
As you go on your way. Yield Not…
To the traffic on “Temptation Ave.”
Also, avoid “Sin Street”
Because it is a DEAD END.
Pass up “Envy Drive,” and ” Have Avenue.”
Also, pass “Hypocrisy Street,”
“Gossiping Lane,” and Backbiting Blvd.”
But you have to go down “Long–suffering Lane.”
“Persecution Blvd.,” and “Trials and Tribulations Ave.”
But that’s all right,
Because “VICTORY Blvd.” is straight ahead!
The Song…(A Poem by Me)
Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized
Right now it’s playing all around
It’s a never ending song
And a joyous, peaceful sound
With each new saved believer
A new instrument chimes in
To amplify the chorus
Glorifying all that’s Him
Each of us in the song
For we each have our own place
He’s made us each a note
In our own intended space
Sometimes you may not be in tune
For a moment with the chord
Yet the song will be forgiving
And still glorify the Lord
Sometimes you may not hear it
When your faith has gone astray
But the song plays loud and strong
When you’re living in God’s way
The song is steady growing
Through our faith and in our hearts
And if you miss beat or two
The song will willingly restart
You shall not steal
Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized
Why do I want to talk about that? Well because this weekend was our Bull City Cowboys annual trail ride. We host members of other riding clubs, their horses and their families for a weekend of riding, eating, dancing and just having a good time. So we did just that.
I hauled my horses and trailer over on Friday to camp out with friends of mine. I also brought my four wheeler over on Saturday for travelling around camp and to and from the house so I wouldn’t have to maneuver the car around all the traffic. Some of our members used it to go around selling raffle tickets as well.
When all was said and done the four wheeler was parked, without key, at our camp. Being worried about things being stolen has never been an issue at this event in the past several years. But I returned to camp late to find the four wheeler missing. After the initial shock I looked around to find the four wheeler pushed in the corner by a tent about 20 feet away. Upon initial inspection - the ignition had been torn out - someone obviously intended to try to wire it. Perhaps someone began approaching, therefore causing them to have to abandon ship (luckily for me). So we pushed the four wheeler back into camp and boxed it in with a car so that it could not be removed.
Speculation is just that. But upon investigation and a little common sense, it appears that one of our local drug users who was at the event was the last person seen at our camp before the four wheeler was missing and who returned to the scene of the crime (probably trying to figure out where his intended goods went to) after we had secured the four wheeler back at camp was most likely the culprit. This is the conclusion we’ve come to after putting the chain events together piece by piece right up to the next day while at breakfast when the alleged culprit had the “deer in the headlights” look when someone was talking about the incident. But again - this is speculation as an actual eyewitness account of the individual with their hands on the four wheeler has not been confirmed. Perhaps it wasn’t him at all…like I said this is truly just speculation. So this post applies to WHOEVER the person or persons was responsible for the attempted thieving.
Was I angry? Oh yes. And I grew progressively angrier throughout Sunday. Members of our club were irritated as well - as I said this has never been an issue before. But I was angry because…well….I work hard to have what I have. And to think that in the blink of an eye someone could just come and take that away just irks me to no end. The last time I was actually robbed I was much younger. A car stereo and the entire system was stolen from my car in the night. I was angry for a long time.
Now I live out in the country. And well…I have been known to leave my keys IN the ignition of my car on any given night. Not a second thought. But for the past couple of days I’ve locked all my vehicle doors, locked the horse trailer tack compartment and the dressing room compartment and let the farm patrol (the dogs) stay out all night instead of bringing them in for a nights rest inside. And at anything more than a few barks I’ve been up and looking out the windows. It’s sad that anyone should have to live this way and worry about what someone might be trying to take from them. I honestly and truly feel -
violated!I’m sure God does not want me to feel this way. But I’m sure God made the commandments such as “You shall not steal” specifically so that we, his children, would live by these commandments and we could all feel safe and comfortable around each other. He meant for us to be free from worry, free from being paranoid of people taking what’s ours (whether it be our spouse or something material) and so that we could TRUST each other. So that we could walk among each other in peace…not worrying about being lied to, murderred, unforgiven by others, cheated on, envied….you get the point. God meant for us to be peaceful, be at peace and be happy in God’s world, worshipping under God’s love until we could go on to a greater place that he intends for us.
So while I’m angry… I have to turn to Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Oh…trust me…it’s hard. But I’m going to stop being angry right now. And instead I’m going to pray (well I already have on the issue) that the person who feels they have to turn to stealing to get their needs out of life, whether it is what they steal or what they steal to get money for what they really want…will find some salvation. That God will bring them up out of the dark life they are living and come into his heart. It’s a HUGE prayer…knowing what I know. This is not the first time that he has stolen (or in this case tried to steal)…and it may not be the last. But hopefully something will get through to him and he will turn away from the life he is living and find a new life in a journey with Christ.Ephesians 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
But I’m not just praying for him…I’m praying for all of the unchurched people who are living the opposite of what God has planned. Perhaps he put this incident before me so that I would look deeper into his word and have a stronger desire to turn others toward him.
Catching up and sharing thoughts!
Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized
Where have I been, not blogging? Just been busy.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 6TH
Taira and I attended the Cedar Grove Ruritan Club’s annual community horse show. Ransom maintained excellent composure in a Go As You Please class of TWENTY SIX. And then….he got 1st 
place. He got several other first places of the day in both Western and English Pleasure classes and a second…but the fact that he was completely unphased by 25 other horses passing him in and boxing him in on the rail was first place enough for me, regardless of his ribbon! I’m just glad someone else noticed, but me(i.e. the judge!) Not to mention I got LOTS of compliments on my wonderful boy throughout the day.
Taira also got a first place - Egg n’ Spoon. The only one to canter with her egg. Go Taira. She also got several third places and other places (too many to remember) and entertained the crowd in the Have-a-Snack class. (You run down on your horse, dismount, eat a Twinkie, chug a coke, remount and run back!) Taira decided she would eat the Twinkie, but gave the COke to Dry Mountain who drank it for her! What a hoot.
After the show we got home and went to hang out with an old friend of mine who I’ve recently reconnected with after a “leave of absence.” So we reminisced while feasting on the Fondu station in the kitchen (which included zuchini, mushrooms, brocolli, chicken, steak and shrimp!!!) while the kids played. Her sister and her son and another friend were there. We reminisced of our “good ol’ days” and had a nice night just girls and kids.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 7th
Up bright and early to head to NHC. I volunteered to help my Community Group leader do some decorating for service. Our current series…Til Death…focusses on marriage. Funny thing is that the beginning of service started with the clip from the Princess Bride “Mawaigge! Mawaigge is what brings us togeva!” and “Wuv…twue wuv!” Funny how a friend and I were just mocking this same clip from the movie about a week ago! LOL! Anyway, it was a nice service. Our conncetions Pastor Jamie Mcdonald and his wife (who are actually recent newlyweds) dressed in their wedding attire and assisted Pastor Dave in demonstrating the who and why of a wedding ceremony and then after service we had a “reception” in the lobby complete with cake and punch!
So - doesn’t this come at an opportune time. Since in my journey with Christ I have considerred that I will get married one day, should a man exist that God created for me! Those who know me well know that for the longest time I have sworn off marriage for all of the wrong reasons. Watching other friends in marital distress and moving towards or coming out of painful divorces did nothing more than solidify the idea that marraige was not for me. But there have also been plenty of friends with marriages worthy of envy. I guess the key t my “I DO” will bea man who will be everything I want. He will join me in my journey with Christ or already be on his own journey and just be willing to share it with me. He will be my best friend, my confidante, make me feel safe and secure,honor me, cherish me, love me unconditionally, share my whole world with me and I will reciprocate all the same.
I’m taking great pride in that I have taken the plunge and gone celibate and…well that I am not seeking out a man anymore. I am pretty sure that I was just afraid of being alone which set me on a quest to fill the void quickly behind the break-up. I was looking all around and scoping out would be suitors. It was not working out. Call it grasping for straws trying to figure out who could satisfy the void. Everytime I had a flicker…someone would somehow disappoint.
So maybe I need to be alone and find myself for a bit. Like Madea says…if you can’t handle being alone…how can you handle having someone else, too? HA HA! And on the other hand…if God has a man int he plan for me he will bring us together in due time. We might meet at church, we might meet at the corner store, we might already know each other and things just might start to surface. But however it’s meant to happen (or not) why rush it. I’ve got to keep in accordance with doing things His way and not mine and stop being impatient.
1 CORINTHIANS says:
8Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
So…it’s not so bad for me to be unmarried. And while I am the passionate type…I think I can control myself for the time being! (But should I be wooed into marriage…unleash the passion! HA HA!) In the meantime…I’ll let God be my suitor. I know i can count on him not to let me down when everyone else will fall short of my expectations!
On My Knees (A poem by Me)
Posted by Melinda | Filed under Uncategorized
On My Knees
I cry
I weep
I am humbled by Him
On My Knees
I concede
I submit
I surrender to Him
On My Knees
I beg
I plead
Ask forgiveness of Him
On My Knees
I Pray
I worship
I give glory to Him
On My Feet
I Praise
I am raised
I’m cleansed of my sin
