The Love Of A Pony

 My heart is so full as I watch them come together with such loyalty & love. There are few who truly know the strength of a little girl & her pony. It’s really quite unique & unless you have experienced it yourself, words cannot describe the love & the bond that are fashioned by unspoken devotion. Tessa’s story could have taken a sad turn if it hadn’t been for the one who brought her home to Summer Wind, Karen! So hard to imagine that this special pony was sent to slaughter only to be saved by the hand of a dedicated animal lover. While her build is petite & slender, Tessa exudes strength…her frame adorned with a dark silky coat that shines even on a dreary day. Her radiance not only comes from the hands that groom her, they come from a smile in her heart from the promise of a life filled with more love than a pony’s heart could possibly hold. Like Tessa, Blair is sensitive, & sometimes timid, with brief times of worry that are outnumbered by times of excitement & fun ~ you couldn’t find a more loyal friend than Blair! Karen knew Blair loved horses & that she was determined that riding would “be her thing”, only she was intimidated by the height of Mazey, the horse I have been riding. Mazey is gentile in nature & their friendship so strong on the ground but she expressed her desire for something smaller, something more her size.

The hair on our arms stood with chills as Karen shared her desire to continue her commitment to Tessa by way of a surprise, “giving” Blair the pony for her birthday! Alimony based on care & attention, days full of love and hugs….& of course carrots! With surprise in her eyes like twinkles reflecting from the sun, Blair quickly made 

her way to HER beautiful bay pony who was anxiously awaiting her with a giant pink bow! 

If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes I wouldn’t have believed that a little girl & her pony could have personalities so similar that it’s obvious they don’t need words to express the desires of their hearts. The minute her small hand cupped the soft muzzle of that pony, I knew it was the beginning of a special friendship.

This day 7 years ago my “peanut” weighing 5 lbs 15oz, forever changed our lives & continues to do so daily.  I watch without her knowing & feel an ache by the realization that she will continue to grow up & the day will come where she will no longer need a ride to the barn nor will she sleep just down the hall. As I often do, I pause & absorb her beauty & her soft, sensitive nature. I appreciate who she has become, &  I have faith she will all too soon grow up to be a strong woman in Christ .

As days end nears I am reminded of something I recently read in a wonderful book series called The Walk, “We are all on a walk…I don’t know what’s ahead of me…there are people I’ve yet to meet who are waiting for my path to intersect with theirs, so they can complete their journeys. I don’t know who or where they are, but I know for certain that they are waiting.” I reflected for a moment & realized that it’s about so much more than what WE are getting from those who cross OUR paths, that we must look at what our paths look like & the impact our paths can play in the journey of OTHERS who are waiting for our paths to intersect. Who we are & the people we long to be should have a greater impact on the journey of all those we encounter rather than what they have to offer us! What that path looks like? Well, that’s up to us! 

 I couldn’t be more certain about God’s amazing plan for how he wants our story to unfold. The road map of Tessa’s future so brilliantly took flight by lovingly impacting the heart of the one who saved her. Long ago the path was paved for this 6th Day in June where a sweet pony’s journey would yet again cross with one so similar in nature. The Lord’s plan is so grand as it perfectly unfolds in its rhythmical way like whispers dancing on a summer breeze!!

 I will never tire of these moments with my girls, with my family & friends...moments of time, a carefully planned out journey that will look a little bit differently in the years to come as I appreciate even more that these experiences are molded, by those lives who have intersected with ours!

Milestones...

High Upon That Hillside...

My husband & I moved to Texas a number of years ago & not long after we were settled into our new home I looked at Blair, who was around 8 months old & said, “C’mon Blair, lets go out & get a life today!” And that is just what we did! I was incredibly blessed by the meeting of one of my best, most dear friends Jamie that day when I was invited to attend a MOPS meeting in Flower Mound, TX. It’s been 7 years & I never knew that I could have such a friend as I have in Jamie, my “sister separated at birth”! Our family stories & personality traits are freakishly so similar it just doesn’t seem possible that we haven’t known each other our whole lives! Chris & I moved back to Kentucky but we talk almost every day, we often can’t make decisions without the help of the other & the distance is painful, but it has only made our friendship that much stronger! Recently Jamie was approached to speak in front of a group of women & as we discussed her impending message, an overwhelming urge stirred in me to add something to this monumental day that was fast approaching. I am still finishing her necklace so the image is something similar to give you an idea but the story tells the rest!

 Dear Jamie,

As I reflect on what I want to share with you, a favorite story of mine keeps popping up, “Tale Of Three Trees”. I have included something I made especially for you which holds such symbolism that I figured the Lord is paralleling in our stories.

I hand stamped the disk with something very special. Its surface holds 2 trees full of blooms and possibilities, birds that rest in their delight. These trees stand together upon a hillside so strong and sure. They have a bond like no other, a friendship so unconditional and true. The sun rises and sets around them as the days pass by. One defuses the other from the bright early morning light while the other shades her friend from the rays of the hot afternoon sun. Their days together are special and while they may stand firm high up on that hillside, they still must endure the view of the valleys too. They weather storms of many kinds, one leaning on the other as strong winds challenge them to a dual, pressuring them from one side to the other but still they stand strong and mighty! Cold winter nights brings chatter of the impending spring days and its offering of warmth and comfort in the thought of their fresh blooms filling their branches. While cold winds take their breath away, they wouldn’t trade the quiet of snowfall, the beauty of fresh powder covering the surface below. Spring showers bring companionship with bright May flowers but not before thunderstorms threaten their deeply grounded roots, Alarm sets in as heavy rainfall is quickly absorbed into the soil and fear of their roots breaking free is only temporary as their faith is a reminder of their promised safety. See, long ago, their presence was carefully planned. With large, yet gentile, father like hands they were placed deep below the surface of the earth with an important purpose. There is no doubt; nothing can bring these two trees down. Spring tempts to be their favorite as they witness the birth of new life all around. How proud they are to offer safety to baby birds nestled in the camouflage of her leaves anxiously await their mama with hungry bellies. They enjoy the tickles of squirrels quickly dancing across their branches in their sing song sort of way, as they go about their mission for nourishment. Their limbs are so full, so lush that if you fail to look closely, it’s impossible to determine where one tree ends and the other begins. Alas the days of summer arrive and cause their hearts to spill over as they relish the sweet sounds of little giggles and the feel of children climbing and swinging from their branches, Oh how peaceful is the quiet as loved ones nap in her shade. The days are long and filled with much happiness and activity. Before long, as if it were just yesterday, the brilliant colors of autumn arrive and paint stories of thanksgiving across the hillside. Their leaves will begin to drop soon, as they were intended to do, revealing their bark which acts as a road map of stories that have been fashioned in their presence. There is no denying the smell of the campfires warmth late into fall evenings. Oh how time flies watching children pop from towering piles of leaves or the whispers of thankfulness speaking through the cool breeze. Yes! Life is quite grand standing there as two, growing in their stillness.
The seasons come and go, year after year, and through it all, the two trees stand strong and tall, for they know, by doing so they will be pointing all that will see, to the one who placed them together many years ago, high upon that hillside, their Father.
In closing, I came across a quote that my mother gave me that I believe CAN “nutshell” such a journey:

“She not only saw the light at the end of the tunnel, she became that light for others.”

May you continue to allow God to work in you and thru you, to be a light for all those who thought they could never be brave enough to stand high on that hillside and share their story because after all, we really can do all things thought Christ! I love you dear friend!

In Him,
Sarah

What A Blessing...

I love those times when you hear God speaking so clearly in your heart that you feel like you just might  explode with excitement! Those times when you know without a doubt that he has filled your insides with well planned skills, ideas of creativity and focus, ideas so strong & sure, it's as if the floodgates have just busted wide open! It's so exciting, you just can’t seem to get on it fast enough!  While I am so truly blessed each and every day, I never tire of those really stand out times that almost take my breath away! 

Recently I was approached by The Reverend Richard Burden of The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Richmond, KY to shoot pictures for an article he had written and magazine cover for the Seminary he graduated from in California. Richard and I visited and discussed his expectations and schedule; we would only have 7 days to pull this shoot off so we need to get right to work!  As we threw around ideas for his shoot, Richard shared with me one of the neat things he does in his ministry which is something the Episcopal Church calls “The Blessing of the Animals”. Immediately I was hit with an overwhelming idea that I would have to keep to myself until I could confirm its possibility. I made arrangements to visit with my friend Karen Bailey at Central Kentucky Wildlife Rehabilitation and Summer Wind Farm. I was so pleased when Karen (and her furry friends) told me that they were happy to help us capture Richard blessing not only her domestic animals such as the broodmares, foals & barn dog but also her rescued wildlife!  She expressed her concern however, because her wild animals don’t necessarily work on command but it was worth a try at capturing a modern day “St. Francis” image!  I let her know that I understood her concern BUT I had an overwhelming feeling about this one and wasn’t worried! Richard loved the idea of shooting with the animals and in the days that followed we established a plan of action!  Sunday morning would be spent in Richmond observing him in his church setting, sitting in on a class he teaches as well as the service and then he would come to Georgetown to shoot with the animals in the afternoon. 

Sunday greeted us with cool air and a beautiful blue Kentucky sky!  As I always do before a shoot, I spend some time visiting with God, asking for his peace as well as the ability to do HIS work, capture the images and story HE wanted me to tell.  I have never been more sure that we were setting out on a journey that would prove to be fully for the grace of the one who had blessed me with this opportunity!  By days end I had met wonderful, welcoming people at Richards church,  and was pretty sure this day was about a lot more than photography. I was more than elated to have had complete obedience; OK mostly obedient animals cooperate as I most certainly GOT just what we set out  for out on Summer Wind Farm, THE Blessing of The Animals!!!

 

 I would like to extemd a very special thank you to Richard and The Episcopal Church Of Our Saviour and its members as well as Karen and her crew, Central Kentucky Wildlife Rehabilitation & Summer Wind Farm!

Oliver!