memoirs

           Four years ago (on my 13^th birthday), I got the best present a young girl could ask for—a retired quarter horse with soft eyes and a dirty white muzzle. His registered name is JT Santo Peppy though everybody calls him “Tex”. In addition to that, I give him endearing nicknames such as Texy Boy, My Old Man, Pretty Horsey,  JT, etc. He puts up with it fairly well as long as I give him plentiful amounts of apple treats.

 

Legend has it that Tex was a team penning champion—a cow horse that expertly cuts calves from the herd and drives them into certain paddocks. Whether or not he was really a champion, I childishly wondered what stories he could tell from his vast 20 years of experience.

 

 

Our friendship was special. I would ride him bareback and play that I was John Wayne riding through the west, or a contestant in a quarter-mile race. He would follow me around like a great big puppy while I did my chores. If I was going through a rough time I would throw my arms around Tex’s neck and pour out all my emotions into his mane. It felt good to have something solid I could hold onto. I know from personal experience why people say that horses are therapeutic for the human soul.

“The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.” (Girls too.) –Winston Churchill

 

 

JT knew every trick in the book. Luckily, he was usually too lazy to try any of them, but occasionally he would blow out his stomach so I couldn’t tighten the cinch or pretend to limp when he didn’t want to work. He’d eat the corn stalks out of the garden, rub on Dad’s trees, chase my dog (scaring her half to death), and crib in his stall, leaving huge chew marks in the wood.

 

To make up for his shortcomings Tex had a special trick that I taught him at one point: whenever he saw I had a treat he’d bob his head up and down eagerly. 

            “Do you want a treat?"

*Tex bobs head yes.*

            “Am I your favorite person in the whole world?”

*Tex bobs head yes.*

            “Are you going to stay out of the garden from now on?”

*Tex bobs head yes.* 

Tex helped me grow as a person—something not just anyone can do for you. During 2011 Tex had three hoof abscesses in a row. Getting rid of them involved soaking his hoof twice a day and wrapping it in a baby diaper held on with gobs of duct tape. I hated it-- it gave me a sore back and took up too much time, but it taught me patience.

During the winter months, I had to carry horse jugs down to him twice a day to keep him hydrated. I hated that too, but it developed my perseverance (and some impressive biceps) 

Lastly, (this-is-going-to-sound-sappy-but-it-is-ever-so-true) Tex taught me how to be a friend and the importance of always being there for someone

 

 

So here’s why I am writing all of this. Exactly four years after Tex came to me, I am sending him to a new home. We are moving to the big city so I must part with my equine friend forever. :’(  He will have a cute little mare to keep company with and his own box stall to sleep in but I won’t have him to talk to or go for walks with. Good-bye sweet friend!

 

 

create in me a pure heart

I have a confession to make:

I am imperfect. 

There are times when I am vain and boastful; I talk about myself too much, say things against others. My thoughts are impure, my actions unjust. Sometimes I just feel weighted down with uncleanliness. It’s a horrible tainted feeling which I’m sure every single human being has experienced.  

That’s when Psalm 51 comes in handy. Reading that passage is like washing off all the caked on mud in a hot shower! The words pour over you like water.  

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 

What assurance we can draw from that very verse alone!  

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight…. 

We are humans—fallen short of the glory of God. But there is a difference between living in sin, and admitting our shortcomings to God and striving constantly to follow Him.  

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  

These are only segments from Psalm 51. You have to go read it for yourself to get every bit of wonderfulness from David’s song! I’m just putting it out there because we are broken and we need to feel God’s unfailing love and the joy of His salvation!

repurposed.

While I haven’t been writing on my blog that much, I have been doing pretty fantastic things in my spare time. Like going to the contemporary ballet, playing for piano competitions, and dancing my feet off at the Spring Breakdown. (If you’ve never been contra dancing, then you’re missing out on a huge part of life!)
Most recently I completed this décor piece—an idea I got from pinterest.

When the opportunity arose to get some piano keys, I greedily snatched them up and promptly set to work. They were off an old upright that was made somewhere around 100 years ago—worn and yellowed with age and use. Their antiquity made them even more visually appealing (to my advantage.)

I used a coping saw to cut off the long wooden ‘arms’, sanded the ends, and lined them up in order. Fitting the keys together was like putting puzzle pieces in the right places—I had to number all 88 of them to keep them straight.
 

Lo and behold we had a useless board lying around that was the perfect size. Not only that--we also happened to have some black spray paint from leftover projects! Things like that need to happen to me more often…. It was a slow and painstaking process to line up the keys in order, place them in a straight line and glue them solidly to the board.
 

Finished product! It’s a quaint little wall piece (if I do say so myself.) I may have found an entrepreneurial opportunity as these things are selling for a pretty penny online. If you have any old pianos that aren’t serving any purpose----you now know where to send the keys! ;) 

 

Priceless

My dear friend Catherine is a lovely writer! When she showed me this poem that she wrote I thought it was perfectly gorgeous:) Henceforth, Catherine is graciously letting me share it on my blog. Here 'tis:

 

A mirror is my enemy

Showing all my flaws

So many flaws

My face clouded with shame

I turn away

Forgetting I am perfect in God's name

Priceless

An unending battle

No matter how much

It is never enough

This I know

I will not give up

Yearning to be beautiful

God, let me see through Your eyes

The beauty that cannot hide

Beneath the shallow waters

That I am drowning in

I am a child of God

Priceless

An unending battle

No matter how much

It is never enough

This is know

I cannot give up

Yearning to be beautiful

Jesus I give up this fight

I am Priceless

Lift my eyes to Your light

I am Priceless

Shame is no more

I am Yours

I am Priceless

You ended my battle

No matter how much

You are always enough

Now I know

I surrender to You

I am beautiful

Priceless

 

--Catherine B. 

Deylight Country Orchestra

         I love nothing better than to hang out in the company of family and friends and share something very special to me..... music. I'm by no means an expert in this area, but I highly agree with what Confucius once said: "music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without." It most certainly does.

          That’s why I enjoyed last Friday night so well, when the Dey family band had an opportunity to play some merry tunes for a dance.

 

         It was a dizzying night full of birthday cake, laughter, melodies floating on the air, and swirling colors. The soft flowing dances moved in perfect rhythm with the music creating a strong connection between the band and the dancers. Dances are interesting like that. Maybe that’s why I fancy them so much.  

 

Let me introduce you to the band:

My brother Austin backed up the melody with some solid piano chords. He’s the glue that holds us together sometimes:) I don’t know what we would do without him.

Cabe fearlessly led us with his back up guitar. He’s that musician nobody notices yet he adds a completely new dimension to the music. Thank you bro:)

Elissa and Clara were our fiddlers. Throughout every single tune they remained strong on the melody, carrying the dancers through till the end. Indispensable musicians, those girls are.

I played the flute. That’s about all was required of me. Sometimes I would find some curious little harmony to work off of, and sometimes I’d take a solo, but mostly I just soaked up all the happiness around me and try not to make any mistakes.

 

And then there were our faithful audience members---- namely Mom, Dad, my sister Annie and her family.  But golly! Somebody has to sit back and enjoy the music!!!!

 

 

 

Overall the entire evening was a success. Up next: another dance in February!!!!

Photo credits to my sister Elissa (ejdodson.blogspot.com) and my Dad.