Sometimes, words aren't even necessary... just be still, listen and observe. I need to remember this at times and just keep my mouth shut and my thoughts to myself."One of the most powerful forces in all the world often has very little security surrounding it… our words".
"This force is sometimes wielded to produce unmatched good to those
in its path, and sometimes it’s a weapon of mass destruction. Lives are
built up and torn down by the things we say. And yet… we are often
guilty of being “careless” with our words." When I read this, in a daily devotional from our Church, it really convicted me. I know it to be true, but it is so difficult for me to guard my words. The devotional went on to bring to light that our toxic speech might include: "lying,
coarse joking, slander, gossip, complaining, foolish talk, stupid
arguments, godless chatter, speaking harshly, unwholesome talk, tearing
each other down, mocking, boasting, gloating, betraying, condemning and
more." 
I catch myself complaining and being sarcastic all too often. I don't know why I complain, nor do I like that I do it. My sarcasm is meant to be funny, like part of the Wikipedia definition of sarcasm states: "use of irony introduces an element of humor which may make the criticism seem more polite and less aggressive"... yet, it can be hurtful none the less. I like to joke around, but need to be considerate of others and not make them the brunt of my jokes. I am also very honest, and tell it like it is, but there are times I should just say "no comment." so as not to say hurtful things. 
Charlie continues to be a constant source of entertainment, disruption, destruction, and love. He is always nearby and is so snugly cute, ornery, and funny, I keep taking pictures of him. Need I tell you how this potted plant got knocked off the shelf?Saturday morning chores included sweeping snow off the deck. I did Zumba at 8:00, showered and ate a second breakfast and left for Church at 10:00. I worked in the Crawlers room for three hours while parents attended a workshop. I decided to do my weekly grocery shopping on the way home to avoid the Sunday crowds. Well, it was crowded with Super Bowl party shoppers.
I ended up watching two movies back to back while Kaysha and Charlie napped in front of the fire.
Sunday morning we were getting a little more snow. I decided to drive the Expedition to Church instead of my light weight, easily slips on snow and ice, little red Vibe. I picked up Marj and we started catching up with each other while driving into town. After second service, we decided to sit in one of the Church Cafe's to continue catching up over a snack and coffee/juice. And of course, by the time I dropped Marj off back home, we could have still kept talking. It was so good to see her.
I had pulled out this old tunnel, kitten toy that Charlie enjoyed exploring and playing in.
After chores I decided to go to the Replex and walk, which I did for 50 minutes, going over two miles. One mile is 15 laps, but I can't keep track, so I go on time mostly. There are five big windows and I set my water bottle on the sill. Every three laps I take a drink as I walk, moving my bottle to the next window. So, I can kind of keep track of my laps... third lap after the fifth window should be a mile. But sometimes I even loose track counting the three laps.
I got home and fixed a big salad just in time to sit down for the Super Bowl game, which I didn't really care about, but watched while messing around on my computer. The cats and dog were in and out of the family room during the evening. I did watch the half time show and was only a
little more impressed with it than I was
the commercials. Although, I did like the Budweiser - Clydesdale one; the Ram Truck (God Made A Farmer) and the Jeep tribute to our US soldiers. I fed and put the
horses in the barn during the 35 minute power outage. And just as the
game was getting exciting in the 4th quarter, I went to bed, too tired
to watch the end.
Monday was Water Lilies, followed by 25 minutes of walking, and then on my way home I gave my name to the nursing home to be a volunteer. The water in the pipe to the stock tank unfroze, so I could easily fill it once again without hauling it out there by the bucket load. I baked a frozen apple pie for Growth Group. We had a lively discussion even though there were so few of us. In this photo, Charlie is trying to get the fish and ended up knocking the fish food and other stuff on the floor while Abbey watched at a safe distance.
It was a lazy morning Tuesday, staying in my loungers until lunch time. I got out this old kids tent that we use to have up in the basement at the old house for Abbey to play in.
I put the packing paper in it and the cats had a ball with it.
A little game of Hide and Seek and then Tag followed.
The cats are not always on the go, and do sleep a fair amount of the time. Abbey likes to position herself where she can keep an eye on Charlie, who likes to attack her while she is sleeping.
It is hard to get a picture of him sleeping. He will wake easily, go to investigate, and then usually fall back to sleep. He likes to wait on the back porch, sometimes napping, while I am outside.
I had plenty of energy after cleaning stalls and hauling hay and water, so did two exercise classes back to back at the Replex. Then I walked the track for ten minutes to cool down. I figured out how to fix the TV after trying different things over the course of 40 hours, so I was able to watch it during and after supper.
Wednesday I had to scoot from Water Lilies and go straight to the
dentist for a cleaning. I checked out the new Goodwill Store on the way home. Dan
had come to get Charlie, so it seemed a lot lonelier in the house. It was 40 degrees
and no wind so I took Kaysha on a two mile walk down Brian's
road. The sun was nice, but I look forward to when it greens up.
I spent more time outside than usual, and enjoyed watching the horses when I took a break from my labors. Roni is still the "low man on the totem pole" but seems content with his position in the "herd," and does not mind being alone as long, as he can see one of the other two horses.
Sometimes I will see Roni near Amiga when Zorro has wandered off.
But because Zorro likes to "push" Roni around, he will do so whenever the idea occurs to him.
Amiga doesn't seem to care for the "boys" horsing around and will get in on the action, usually herding Zorro away from Roni.
Roni, on the right in this photo, will sometimes turn to face Zorro and put pressure on Zorro to back him off.
But Zorro will usually press back and send Roni away. Normally they just bite at each other, occasionally they will rear, but very seldom do they kick. I just pray no-one gets hurt.
Finally, seen at right, Amiga has gotten between the "rough housers,"to kind of break it up.
Then (maybe) seen at left, she tells Zorro to "knock it off."
Finally the boys, and eventually Amiga, resume peaceful grazing.I made some calls Wednesday night because I hadn't seen Brother since 9:30 Monday evening and was starting to get worried once more. I am going to have to have a word with him about wandering off for so long, and going too far from home.
It was fairly warm again Thursday, although cloudy and threatening to
rain. The paddock continues to be a muddy mess from the thawing.
I like this photo of Roni I took during morning chores. I love his soft eyes peeking through his forelock, as he watches Amiga and Zorro at a safe distance. I also love their fuzzy winter coats you can see well in this photo.
Amiga and Zorro were working out their issues about sharing the hay I had set out for them.
And then Roni was able to work his way in to get some hay as well. I put the hay in three different piles, but the horses always seem to gravitate to the same pile.
Can you see Tiny in this photo of Roni? Also notice how muddy Roni is (again). I often brush all three of them in the evening, so they come out of the barn in the morning looking like the above photo. But by the end of the day, they come in looking like this.
I had a very productive day, taking advantage of being able to spend
more time working outside. When I walked Kaysha, I took a grocery bag
to pick up trash, this time along Brian's road. I actually picked
up two empty 12 pack boxes and plenty of empty cans that definitely came
from the boxes. "Kids" must park out there to drink. It worries me that
they are then driving.
I discovered fresh coyote foot prints in the mud and scat back on the riding path
when I was out by the tracks spreading cat litter and dog waste I had cleaned
from the yard. This caused me to have more concern for Brother who was still missing.While cleaning stalls, I put soiled wood shavings down to make a path to the manure pile so my wheel barrow wouldn't get stuck in the mud. This really helped, but made it take longer to clean stalls because I collected just the manure (that goes on the pile) separately from the wet shavings that went on the path.
Next on my chore list was to fix up this poor willow that the wind had battered and bent because one of the ties had broken. 
Luckily it wasn't long until I had it standing straight and tall again... because the rain started as I was making my way back to the barn, across the half frozen ice and water.
I went to the Replex and exercised for over two hours, doing Jammin' w/ Julee, Zumba and then walked a 1/2 mile to cool down. It had poured while I was there. When I got home in the sprinkling rain at 6:30, the horses were very ready to come into the barn.
They were too wet to brush, but actually not that dirty because God had washed them off for me. Since I had been so good about burning calories, after a big toss salad for dinner, I had no qualms about adding a scoop of ice cream to my healthy bowl of fresh fruit. A girl's got to live a little. And I sat and watched TV till bedtime.Retired life suits me just fine!
Today I did the usual Water Lilies followed by walking on the track. The IGA was having a $1.00 special and since I needed milk, I also stocked up on lots of other food items. As I type this, it just dawned on me, I should go back and get more and take a bunch to the food pantry at Church.
I don't know which is worse, a kitten knocking over house plants, or a steer breaking off the branches of this pine tree. He is going to wish he hadn't, come summer when he is looking for shade.
I spent a better part of the day working on this Blog. Joe arrived (home from Florida) while I was out cleaning stalls. You can see the mud that Hercules is walking through as he looks for a good place to slip under the electric fence.
The sun never came out all day. This photo was actually taken earlier this week. Hercules and Buck-tooth Betty are always together and following me around. Usually Brother is too, but he is still missing.I decided to post this Blog now, because Joe and I won't be home until late. We are going to the Princess Theater in LeRoy to see the movie "Zero Dark Thirty" about the lady CIA operative (Maya) and her pursuit of leads to find Al Qaeda's leader, Osama Bin Laden.
at guarding my words before I say
something hurtful to others. So, if you
hear me complaining, ask me if I want cheese with my whine. And, to any
of you whom I have hurt with my sarcasm or bluntness, please forgive me, and in the
future, make me aware of it at the time it spews forth from my mouth. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen.” Eph. 4:29
No comments:
Post a Comment