Today's Joy: Cultivating A New Friendship.
Had a wonderful day, Reader. Spent the day with a new friend, SH, from my church community group. We went to Sephora to redeem my birthday coupon for a fabulous eyecare set and then meandered through a few clothing stores before eating a lovely lunch at Panera Bread on the patio and discussing this week's group session, which we will be leading together.

What a lovely day! I really enjoyed getting to know SH a little better. We had a ball bonding over sequined tops, turquoise rings and a zillion fun things at Home Goods. Once our shopping fix had been satisfied, talk turned to the spiritual and personal. Am really enjoying sharing my spiritual journey with others who are also walking their own newly-found path with God. I feel His presence strongly in those moments, and His delight in our efforts to be closer to Him. It's a sensation that is difficult to explain. At the same time, it's deeply fulfilling.

Hurray for new relationships (both earthly and transcendent). May they continue to bring long-lasting blessings to all the lives around us.

Today's Joy: Beets are Edible After All.
Reader, there aren't a lot of foods I won't eat. I like to think I'm open-minded and have an adventurous palate. But there are a couple dishes that no matter how often I try, I just can't develop a taste for. Meatloaf, for example. Any meatloaf. There's something about the bread and meat mixed together that tastes....icky. Meatballs (same problem). Cucumbers (too cucumbery--though, cucumber dressing on gyros is perfectly acceptable). And, most of all, beets. They stain everything purple and taste like dirt. Or, so I thought.

Aunt Chef & Uncle planted many vegetables in their gorgeous garden this year. Among the myriad varieties of heirloom tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers (blech!) are my nemesis, the purple beet and something completely new--the golden beet.

Uncle picked us a plethora of garden goodies to sample at dinner tonight and Aunt Chef presented them with her usual flair. She asked me to try the golden beet and promised if I didn't like it, I would never have to eat it again. Sounded like a fair trade, so I humored her, putting a small piece on my plate. A little butter and salt & pepper is the way to eat them, says Aunt Chef. I cut a tiny bite and stuck it hesitantly with my fork. Then, I took a breath and decided to get it over with. What I didn't expect, when I put that little root in my mouth was the pleasing texture and its incredibly fresh, mild flavor.

Revelation: golden beets are good! After eating the piece I'd taken, I surprised my family (and myself) by asking for another. Just goes to show, you never know when something unpleasant may turn into something yummy. Alas, meatloaf--I think our differences are irreconcilable.

Appaloosa on the Cones Course, FVSA Open Show, Aug. 2010

Today's Joy: Unexpected Good Things.

Have had a very productive day, Reader. A conversation with a co-worker led to some great revelations about our excellent store team. Already one of the top stores in the company, I look forward to seeing where we go from here.

I also got an email from the lovely owner of the Appaloosa mare pictured above, who wants to buy some of the photos I took of her horse at last weekend's show. Pretty sweet deal, considering I was just there shooting for fun.

Isn't it funny how good things seem to materialize when you are in the right place at the right moment? I don't believe in cosmic coincidences. It all feels much more like a divine plan to me. So, I'm always excited to see where these little opportunities lead. You never know when they will suddenly converge and change your life in unexpected and wonderful ways.

Today's Joy: Getting A Raise.
I was hard at work this morning, Reader, when my boss called to tell me they are changing the title of my fledgling position from Data Entry Clerk to POS Coordinator--and I'm getting a pay raise. Woo-hoo! This position has been such a blessing! Have only been with the company for a little over two months (just started full-time a couple weeks ago) and now I'm getting a nice-sized raise.

"Christmas comes early!" My boss joked. It's really wonderful to be surrounded by great people in such a supportive environment. I've never enjoyed a job as much as I do this one.

Of course, I have God to thank entirely. It was His voice I felt nudging me to look online at a particular website within hours of this job being posted there. It was His guidance I listened for during both my interviews and His will working through others that created such a great opportunity for me. I have prayed often for guidance on how to do this job to the best of my ability. And it's through Him that more incredible things continue to happen.

He has become more real to me through this process than at any other time in my life. I feel as if I can take risks and put all of myself out there in this situation because I know, whatever happens, God is there and He's guiding me. Being afraid is suddenly and simply irrelevant. As far as 'AHA' Moments go, this one's a doozy.

Oblivious Bee

Today's Joy: The Summer of Fun.

With the yellow school bus beginning its neighborhood rounds this week and Aunt, a long-time English teacher, preparing her classroom for all the young minds she will welcome tomorrow, we are forced to conclude that our Summer Of Fun is drawing to a close. What a wonderful summer it has been, Reader! Horse shows and birthday parties and trail rides and visits to every plant nursery for miles around. All captured on film, of course.

My family members feel very well-documented this summer. Fortunately, my love of photography melds beautifully with my appreciation for all their antics. I am very grateful they have accepted the scrutiny of my camera so amiably. I suspect the goodwill will continue as long as the photos are flattering.

Still, the Summer Of Fun must now give way to the Fall Of Occupations. I'm not sad, though. There are still a few fabulous adventures to be had before the cold descends. In September, Aunt & her roadster pony will try their hand at Villa Louis, a big-league driving show held on an island in the middle of the Mississippi River. And I'm sure there will be plenty of local shenanigans too.

Alas, Summer, it is time to say goodbye! Thanks for the sweet corn and the flowers and the peaches and every green thing. Thanks for the warm afternoons and the breezy evenings. Thanks for the goldfinch and the humming bird that visited last week. And most of all, Thank You, God, for each blessing we enjoy. Amen.

Shot at Planter's Palette, Winfield, IL.

A great secret of success is to go through life as a man who never gets used up. ~ Albert Schweitzer

Today's Joy: Taking a Time-Out From Scheduling.

Felt a little rumpled and unsettled all day, Reader. Even with adequate planning, rushing to and fro to meet my Monday obligations from 7am to 9:30pm leaves me twitchy (in a most unattractive way). A 30-minute lunch break becomes stuffed with errands and an hour+ commute in rush hour traffic can hardly be considered down time.

Don't get me wrong, I love the challenge my job presents each day and I really enjoy the fellowship of my women's church community group. Both of these valuable endeavors mean that I have to be "on" all day. So, when I finally get home at 10 pm, my brain becomes mush. I feed the cat and then slump in a chair and stare aimlessly for a few minutes. All I want is stagger into my jammies and curl up in bed with a magazine or watch Joyce Meyer until I fall asleep.

The older I get and the more responsibilities I accept, or rather, the more value I place on the things I choose to take on, the more I see how easy it is to become exhausted and allow yourself to be swallowed whole by your schedule. The precious moments I steal for myself--just to sit and do nothing or to tend my plants or read a magazine become even more important. I find myself getting up earlier in the mornings too, so I have a little time to start my day doing the small things that feed my spirit. It's nice to know that despite whatever boneheaded craziness I encounter during business hours, that I started out my day enjoying life and will finish it the same way.

Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quotes courtesy of wisdomquotes.com.

Hershey, Fjord Stallion

Today's Joy: Fun Work at the FVSA Show.
Another belated batch of photos for your perusal, Reader. I do apologize for the delay, but hope you will understand, when you see them, why I was so particular about editing them correctly.

Though, I spend all day at these horse shows running back and forth with cameras dangling from my neck, getting sunburned, sweaty and dehydrated; the thrill of capturing a great shot and of observing people I love having a wonderful time far exceeds any minor discomfort I may be experiencing in the moment.

With back-to-back horse show weekends, I am definitely getting a workout. And some amazing shots. For your enjoyment, dear Reader, here are the highlights of another beautiful August FVSA show:


Aunt & Charge


Fred & Ginger, Portrait

The 3 Musketeers & D'artagnan make an appearance for the Costume Class

The red-headed Musketeer

Aunt Chef drives a Circus Wagon full of animals to the Costume Class

A very friendly giraffe

The Circus Wagon

Aunt & Charge doing cross-country

Aunt Chef gives the kids a ride

Hershey is my favorite Fjord ever!

Uncle & Aunt Chef do cross-country

Ambie Webster, Portrait

For Safe-keeping

Reinsmanship

KB & Sugar

Mike's first show

It takes a village...