Oh Cecilia!

I interrupt my regularly scheduled post (that I hadn't quite thought of yet) to share some spectacular news!

You all know my sis-in-law Regina, the rude commenter here on the blog? Well, she did something sweet tonight. She pushed out my new, sweet baby niece!!

Welcome to the world, Cecilia Grace--all eight pounds and nine ounces of you! I bet you are precious and I'm mad at your parents for living so far away from who certainly will be your most favorite aunt.

Can't wait to meet you. Someday. Too far away.

No fooling here. This news is legit.

I Love Nice People

Galloping Grace exists because so many people give of themselves to make it work. We simply cannot thank them enough for helping us make this ranch a reality. Tonight, just a few for you to appreciate with me.

Patrick and Rosslyn . Cold days, windy days--they were there watering trees. Any time we saw them, they had huge smiles on their faces. If any of you know them, please thank them for all they did for GGYR. We miss them but sure appreciate the time they were able to volunteer.

I love Dan and Betty. I love this picture of Dan and Betty. Love. Love. Love. If you've had the pleasure of meeting them, you know what I'm talking about. Any time they are able to help out at GGYR, we are so thankful.
And that Cindy girl--
She moved far, far away because we discovered her amazing Photoshop talents and used them quite frequently. Cindy, thanks for all you did (and still do via email!!)

I'm sure this post won't get many comments because you all just like the posts that disgust. (You sickos.) If I had something nasty to say about any of the above, I'd throw it in. Sadly, they are just wonderful!! If you have any dirt on any of these people I think are so nice, make sure you let me know. ;)

Happy sappy day to you and yours.

Mr. Sandman

For one glorious morning back in September, the world was right. The children had a sandbox that would keep them content for days. For weeks. Forever! But then, the big ol' bully with the blue tractor decided to wreck the party.
The children watched in horror--
as he demolished the fun.
The Grinch.



Oh, and Matt--thanks for bringing your tractor out to help with Second Saturday. We appreciate you and your serving heart.

Thirst Quenching

True friends and dedicated volunteers not only help organize and execute a work day involving a hundred or so people-- but they also stay after to pour partially used and forgotten water bottles on thirsty trees.

THE BEST pals around!

Second Saturday Video

It is absolutely shameful how I operate! This video contains pictures of the events from Second Saturday back in September. I am JUST NOW getting around to showing you all the amazing folks who volunteered that day to help us spiff up Galloping Grace. Kind, hard-working folks who definitely deserved to be highlighted earlier.

Just like last time, the music offered on Slide.com is very limited. Pretend This Kiss goes swimmingly with the pictures.

Thanks again to all who scrubbed, planted, pounded and hauled. This ministry offered by Sagebrush Community Church has been a Godsend to all of us at Galloping Grace Youth Ranch.

(Click on the microphone icon in the top left corner to hear the ill-matched music--or don't.)

Tried Hard

Well phooey. I spent a very long time uploading pictures to a video program, creating the slide show, and then publishing them in a post for your viewing pleasure. Instead of a charming video with a couple hundred pictures, there were only four images. Call me crazy, but I think you'd tire of that in a hurry.

Maybe I'll try again in the morning.

Hey, thanks for stopping by. Sorry to disappoint. Here--

a picture of Diana, one of our volunteers, helping some special little boys saddle a horse. Now your day is complete.

Ole Miss

Back in November we had a special visitor to the stand as we converted from pumpkins to Christmas trees. That guy in the camo hat (the one with the candy cane growing out of his head) is husband to one of Max's cousins. His name is Chris and we love him to pieces. We also love his precious wife Aimee.

They are both originally from Mississippi, but for quite a few years they lived here in New Mexico. Aimee was so funny when she first moved out. She was this Southern girl accustomed to her humidity. Our desert climate wrecked havoc on her skin. She would literally mist herself with a squirt bottle so as not to dry out. We loved having them here. They're fun, precious--just good people.

Chris and Aimee eventually moved back to Mississippi--the turds! Now Aimee is pregnant with their fifth child, and no, I have not called to tell her how much I miss her or see how she's doing. (I hope she knows!)

It was such a pleasure when Chris showed up at our little Galloping Grace stand to visit. I cried seeing him. I smiled hearing his Mississippi accent stronger than it used to be while living here. Then I laughed when I met his friend, Lonnie. Talk about your thick accents! From the sound of him, it might have been Lonnie's very first time away from home.

Chris and Lonnie drove all the way here to go hunting for mule deer. (That just might go to show how much better muleys are over the smaller white tails.) Lonnie was a hoot! He told us all about the beard he had growing and how much his wife detests it. He then got to talking about his children. I could be remembering wrong, but I think they have six girls.

Here's the part that cracked me up--Lonnie told Max that he has the six children but he might not have had the last if the state of Mississippi didn't have a silly law forbidding a woman from getting her tubes tied before age 21.

My question to you--could Max have translated that story correctly to me?? Is Lonnie a jokester? Does Mississippi have such a law? And really--six children before 21? Something has to be amiss. Max just told me for sure he has some children from another marriage. So maybe the 21 year old thing checks out. ??? Aimee, chime in.

If not to check on Aimee's growing belly, that might be reason enough to give that cute girl a ring. I'll have to report back with my findings.

Tanks

What to post when nothing else strikes my fancy and it's 1:30 AM? (Accidental nap again.) Oh, how bout two pictures that are really sweet to me even if they're not technically swell?

These were from over a year ago at our family cattle ranch. Imagine, if you will, I was standing a little over there and a little closer here when I snapped this picture of Grant and Hank staring into an icy drinker. Speaks to my mama heart. Why? Not sure, it just does.
Same morning. Big brother giving little bro a lift to see into the larger tank.
My sweet boys. One there for the other. Discovering the world together. Having fun.

Maybe I'm just grateful that Garrett didn't throw him in.

Public Service Announcement

Dearest,

I write today to inform you of an issue on our roads and highways. I'm sure you've noticed semis cruising along. Chances are you've also seen trucks pulling horse trailers. These vehicles are heavy-- weighed down with all kinds of fun. Have you ever considered the difficulty caused when a little zip zip pulls in front of them with limited stopping time left for the larger machine??!

Yes, tempting to see a large space in front a slower truck and not want to fill the void. After all, you can easily beat them to the stoplight. No problem. Easy. That's what they get for going so slow and making you late, right? I mean really, what size engine do they have that causes them to go at a crawl any way??

Friends, that space is left on purpose to allow for a longer stopping time. Poor horses trying to stay on their hooves when their cowboy slams on the brakes to avoid a smaller vehicle. Poor tomatoes getting bruised, fruit slamming into fruit when the semi driver tries to avoid a car he could easily crush.

As we drove back into town earlier this week, we had four horses in our trailer. Countless drivers dashed in front of Max because they could. Even though Max knows it is coming, it is still a hardship on the truck and horses. I am here to tell you it is RUDE and dangerous to drive like this. I cannot claim I have never done this, but I can tell you I'm a lot more courteous now that I know this rule.

Next time you find yourself in such a position, please consider the other driver as well.

Thank you and good night.

Yikes. I just went back and reread what I wrote. I started off wanting to write this in a funny manner. Don't think I accomplished that. Forgive me for my rage. :)

Quick--someone tell a joke.

Oh, and Truck Drivers of America--thank you! You are most appreciated by this family (even if I am scared to drive beside you.)

Put Another Log On The Fire

With no Internet service or television to watch, one has to get creative with recreational activities while vacationing at the Wade Ranch. Nick and Chase found just the fun to combat being confined to the bunkhouse due to inclement weather--FIRE!They spent a good deal of time starting the trash ablaze. Kids in a candy store. Plus, it gave them plenty of time to cuddle by the warm fire. Creative bonding at its best.
Pyromaniacs, we thank you.

Trend Alert

As a courtesy to my readers, I offer up a bit of fashion advice:

Don't be afraid to mix patterns and colors.
My lovely niece Tristan demonstrated this point exactly. She's hip. She's trendy. She's got it going on! Who said one cannot look fabulous while hanging out in the middle of no where on a snowy day?

Wade Ranch--where style is done right!

No Memory

We're back!

The last few days we've been out in the sticks branding cattle and watching snow fall. Good times. The biggest bummer is that we weren't able to attend the funeral of Marvin. The storm on Sunday made the roads too dangerous--we didn't feel comfortable driving hours to the service and then hours back to the ranch. We heard another storm was coming. Knowing that our children and several guests were waiting for us at the ranch and that those that left before us said the roads were terrible, we decided that we couldn't go. Candido, our ranch manager, said it took him two hours to drive a stretch of highway that usually only takes 20 minutes. Max's dad left a message saying it took him three hours to drive a stretch that usually takes 40 minutes. They both advised against us traveling. We heard there were many people in attendance. That shows just how many people loved him. We send our condolences to Marvin's family.

While I take pictures, I often compose blog posts in my head. Imagine my horror when I went to unload memory cards from this weekend and all the haps only to discover that one of my memory cards is missing!!! I am just sick about it. It is the card that had all the branding pictures from Saturday--all 600 or so of them! The last place I remember having them was in my jeans pocket. Really??? I finally decide to wash my jeans that I had worn a couple (or ten) times and this is my reward?? I'm betting that it is happily chilling in the washing machine at the ranch, water-logged and happily retired from ever storing pictures again. Sob sob. My apologies to all that I promised pictures (eventually!)

From this, I will have a hard time recovering.

It's Spring Break!

I'm going to take a small blogcation. I'll be back Wednesday.

Have a fantastic few days without me!!

A Life Cut Short

Marvin, you were a great friend and a wonderful supporter of Galloping Grace. You are missed already.

Have fun in Heaven. We love you.

Rodeo Night

So about that rodeo from weeks past. . . anyone even remember what I'm talking about? It was the event where several dedicated volunteers so graciously gave up a Saturday night to help Galloping Grace put on a kids' (apostrophe needed on this one or not? I'm always on the fence--doctors lounge, ladies' room--I don't think they get one because they are a type not a possession--Sam, Erin, Lisa, Misha. . .?) rodeo before the real one.


I use the term "kids rodeo" loosely here. Instead of GG selling programs this year, Max agreed to host a pre-rodeo activity where children can get in on the action. We had a really nice Cub Scout (Dan, you proud I didn't say Boy Scout this time?) troop and several children who have been to GGYR show up about an hour early to participate with us. We had been offered 40 tickets to any children and their families that might like to come. Trish wrote a mass email to see who might be interested. I believe within 20 minutes, all the tickets were promised.

Our portion was pretty low key. Max and gang brought portable round pens and roping dummies. To all the children there, I think it was perfect--a little riding, a little roping. I loved seeing some of the cowboys from the rodeo out there showing kids how to rope.

Because I've had this post partially written since February 11, I'm going to go ahead and quickly caption some of the pictures so I can get this posted. If I do anything more, I will never get this done.

Here is Max talking to the Cub Scouts before they rode. They were working on their horsemanship belt loop(?). What a captive audience.

Trish's mom, Pam, and Misha.

Misha, thanks for handing out all those tickets. Grandma Pam, thanks for being there and for bringing Kaley. What kind of cowgirl was Trish missing the festivities because of a partial thyroid removal that day? Wimp.

Deborah was a terrific volunteer this summer. Would you believe she can also be super fantastic in the winter? She has such a loving way with children.

This is Amazing Amanda. Need I say more? Sweet Nick. He helped carry "stuff" in and out of the arena and hung out with Phoebe while Melissa, his wife, gave rides. Love that family.

Tim and Renee helped do so much. Set up, take down, rides and even drove the horses back to the ranch for Max so he didn't have to leave the rodeo.

When I talked about the rodeo queens, some how this picture of Kaley did not make the cut. Here it is, in all its grainy glory. Kaley is just biding her time until she is the queen. That's Betty on the left. Look at her go! She was fighting some pretty painful shingles around this time. She came and did what she could and basically hung out with us. She is a joy. And Dan, her handsome hubby. Dan gave rides in the round pen with his calm, gentle attitude. I feel so at ease when he is at work. What this post lacks in eloquence, it makes up for in gratitude.

Thanks, volunteers big and small. You make activities such as this possible.

Dear Barb and anyone else I accidentally left off, thanks again for all your help!!

Woof Woof

In ranch related news. . .

Congratulations to the Las Cruces Lady Dawgs for their victory Tuesday in the state basketball tournament. They are coached by none other than the amazing Matt Abney, a dear friend of ours. I wish them the best of luck in their semi-final game Thursday morning.

In other ranch news, my dear mom made it back from her week long cruise safe and sound. So happy to have her home.

Oh, and the horses are all doing fine.

Off to bed early tonight. It's only 11:41. If I hustle, I can make it to bed before midnight.

Sad News

Almost a year and a half ago, a precious couple donated their horse Flame to Galloping Grace. I did a post here explaining the situation. In case you don't click over, the reason for the donation was a sad one. Karen, the owner, was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) earlier that same year. She progressed so quickly that it became apparent she would no longer be able to care for her horse. That is how Flame became a valuable member of our herd.

Larry and Karen heard about GGYR through their son and daughter-in-law who were good friends with Chase and Trish. Karen loved this horse very much and wanted him to go to a good home. We are still so grateful they thought of us.

Two days ago Karen died. We know things are terribly hard on their family right now. We at Galloping Grace send our condolences, gratitude and love.

Larry, Scott, & DeDe--you're in our prayers.

Grateful

Max posting:

Michelle is at the sleep clinic with Claire tonight so she asked me to do a post. As I sit here and blankly stare at the screen, I can't help but respect her and the rest of you for having something meaningful to blog about every night. Though my life is full of meaning and is never boring, writing it down in such a way that you might enjoy is an entirely different story. Rather than trying to be poetic and creative in writing style, I am simply going to list a few things that I was grateful for today. Before I do that, however, I just want to say that I started the day off kind of cranky so being grateful was not top on my list. We should all take the time each day and thank God for all that we have!

So here are just a few of the things that I was grateful for today:

Michelle holding my hand in church
Tim helping me feed and unload the trailer at GGYR
My kids hugging me and telling me they love me before bed(Claire before she went to the clinic)
Watching hank jump in the water tank at GGYR
Hearing the thunder and smelling the rain
Joking with Trish about her cancer
Grant whispering the words "Good morning Daddy" to me before the sun came up
Watching my worms
Girl scout cookies
Michelle rubbing my back in church

Not knowing what to write about because it made me think about how grateful I am

I hope you all have a wonderful week and don't forget to be grateful.

Nodes Be Gone!

You know me, always requesting prayers for one thing or another. Here is an email from Trish, published with her permission.

I thought I would send an update on my health. For those of you who don't know I had surgery in January to remove a nodule on my thyroid. My thyroid is working well however back in October for a routine check up my doctor noticed a lump in my throat. Three months later and several tests it was determined we should take out the left side. It turns out it was so large it was moving my trachea which is why I was clearing my throat and having trouble breathing at times. I was feeling better without the nodule in my throat and starting to heal. I received a phone call from the doctor and she told me there was some abnormalities in the nodule and would like to run further test. The nodule was sent to the Mayo Clinic and long story short I have Papillary Carcinoma Thyroid cancer. The good news if you have to have cancer they say this is the good cancer, in other words highly treatable. The bad news is I have to have surgery again to remove the rest of the thyroid and also have radiation treatment for the cancer. There is much we still don't know as I just found out on Friday and will be meeting with doctors and having more test. In the mean time it is a waiting game until I can have surgery again, end of March or April. I have to let the first surgery heal. I will keep you all posted. Thank you all for your prayers and considers as we try and figure things out.

We love you all
Trish

Trish, if you wanted to volunteer less, you should have just told us. No need for all this cancer business! We don't like it at all.

Get well soon. We love you.

Cast Offs

Oh no--now I'm starting to get interested in composting/worms. Are we going to be THAT couple?

The videos out there are endless. The possibilities the same.

Who knew?

Sweet Dan sent this cartoon to us today.
Max replied back that his worms had much higher IQs than this numbskull.

Dusty Duties

Roy and Beth working cows. Just because.

Ouchola

I've been in another one of those sappy, boring spells. That's fine for a lot of you out there, but I have readers that expect more. That expect gross. That want to be shocked. I have been know to have a few topics that make a person pause, ponder, and pray. Ranch life aint always pretty.

Remember the book I want to do some day about how I wouldn't want to be a cow? No way, no how! Cactus in eyeballs and cottage cheese-exploding cysts are not for me. Plus, I can't tell you how tortured I'd be standing out in hail storms, snow, and blowing wind. Definitely not my cup of tea.

Did you know horses don't always have the cushiest of lives themselves? Sure, some live in barns and get blankets put on them every night, but plenty live tough ol' lives out on the open range. At Galloping Grace we are somewhere in the middle. Our horses have shelters and plenty of food, but they do not get blanketed. We've noticed when the weather gets bad like a little rain coming down, they are not phased in the slightest. They stand out in sleet and snow like it's nothing.

At that other ranch in our life--the family cattle ranch--the horses are a little tougher. They pretty much eat what's growing on the ground. Shelters? Yeah, those juniper "trees" out yonder. Keep this in mind when I show this picture.

This post is not for the easily grossed out. This post is not for overly mature individuals. This post is not for those who despise seeing reproductive organs of animals.

You might not want to see this shot. No, it's not that bad. I'm just making my usual disclaimer so I won't be held responsible.

OK.

So we had this Wade Ranch horse, Tomahawk, at Galloping Grace a year or so back.

(Oldie picture--not good but you get the idea)

He didn't make the cut because well, Max can't remember. Doesn't that figure? There goes my whole story. Trish, what was his major malfunction? I'm thinking he was just a skinny turd who didn't listen well. He got his trotting papers and had to go back to "the big ranch."

While he was in our charge, Max took him to the vet for a penile issue. You see, he had problems down yonder. The vet told Max it was a tumor. No, nothing to be done for him. He told us to take him home and go about our business.

The last time I was at the ranch, I saw Tomahawk and his manhood and it didn't look good!

When another vet came out to test bulls, he also got a looky at Mr. Tomahawk and his problem. Still, no recommendation to put him down.

There you go--all that fluff just to show you that picture and it wasn't even that bad, was it?

Thank you God for not making me Tomahawk or any other equine. You know me so well.

Have a good one.