through my viewfinder

 My sister got here Friday evening. Yesterday we babysat the kids part of the day, and hung out with them and our cousin the rest of the day. Today Jen spoke at the church our cousins attend (they also had a couple baptisms) and now we are just kinda hanging out. Jen and Gretchen are in town getting ice cream fixin's and I am working on pictures and (obviously) writing a blog post. And tomorrow morning we will say our goodbyes, hop in the car, and start the journey home. 

You will most likely not hear from me for awhile. But have no fear. It will not be because I have been eaten by a large rhinoceros. Nor will it be because I broke my fingers trying to save an infant rattlesnake from being run over by a tank. It will be because I am cuddling with my dog. And getting ready for the next trip that I am embarking upon....but that is a story for another day. 

Five Minute Friday: Fall

Her Daddy gave her her first pony

Then taught her to ride

She climbed high in that saddle

Fell I don't know how many times

Taught her a lesson that she learned

Maybe a little too well...Cowgirls don't cry

I love the song "Cowgirls Don't Cry" by Brooks and Dun. It talks about how in life you're gonna fall down. You're gonna fall off your horse. But you have to get back up and move on. You have to get back into that saddle and ride. 

I have been riding horses for years, and I have fallen off more times than I want to count. But every time I fell off, I got up, brushed myself off, and got back on. Even when I hurt my back and had a concussion. (I am not always the sharpest knife in the drawer...) 

I have learned so much from horses. It would take much longer than five minutes to list everything (in fact I honestly don't know if I could list them all) but one of the main things is that you're gonna get banged up. You're gonna have bruises, you're gonna have bloody wounds. You're gonna have tears, you're gonna have scars. You're gonna be hurt. And it is the same way in life. Sometimes those bloody wounds are on your heart, where no one can see them. And sometimes they are out in the open. But, just like with horses, the wounds are gonna heal. They pain won't last forever. But you have to get back up. When you fall, you have to make the conscience decision to get back on that horse and ride. Because if you don't, you may miss something amazing. 

'Cause cowgirls don't cry

Ride, baby, ride

Lessons in life are gonna show you in time

Soon enough you're gonna know why

It's gonna hurt every now and then

If you fall get back on again

Cowgirls don't cry

14,000 words

1,000 words

Once Upon A Time......

.......in a land far, far away (491 miles to be exact) there lived a girl who wanted a puppy. She convinced her parents (aka, her dad) to let her buy one. She was excited about the thought of having a cute, fuzzy, little fur ball, but she had no idea that the fur ball would one day become her best friend.

That girl is me, and the puppy is my gorgeous dog, Sabrina. Yesterday marked two years of adventurous with my girl, and so I decided to pull out some old pictures to kinda relive the last 731 days.

"No I don't want that Golden Retriever puppy." -said no one ever.

Money can't buy happiness? False. Money bought me a puppy.

"Dogs come when they are called; cats take a message and get back to you." -Mary Bly

"When all else fails, hug the dog."

"The more people I meet, the more I like my Golden Retriever."

"Every once in awhile, a dog enters your life and changes everything." 

"True love is in the eyes of your dog."

"There is nothing in this universe so bad that the pain can't be lessened by a sloppy Golden Retriever smooch."

"Some of my best friends never say a word to me"

"Face it friends-nobody on this earth will love you more, be more patient with your mood swings, or keep your secrets better than your dog." 

"Don't hate me for having a dog cuter than yours."

 "The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog." 

 "Whoever said that diamonds are a girl's best friend, never owned a dog."

 "If I had a dollar for every time my dog made me smile, I would be a millionaire." 

"Best friends are like four leaf clovers. Hard to find and lucky to have." 

"Life is short. Play with your dog."

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart."