When it seems to snow everywhere but here....BUT WAIT

Guess what? It has FINALLY snowed at Rivermont! I have lived on the farm for 7 1/2 years and we finally received a beautiful snow. Is this a sign that the tide has finally turned for me? Nothing is more beautiful than my farm covered in white! We got about 4" total, and it left as quickly as it came, but we enjoyed some sledding and good times while we could!

2010-02-13 snow day 2

2010-02-12 more snow

2010-02-12 and more snow

What's New in the land of Rivermont

I would have to say without complaining that this has been the most "challenging" winter when you make your living outdoors. It has been unusually cold (and consistantly cold!) along with wet what seems like every single day. We decided to move our "winter series" back to the farm because it seemed to snow in TN every weekend we had a show coming up! Also, much to my surprise was how many people preferred the shows being held at Rivermont. We are looking at the biggest season ever as we have not only our wonderful regular barns coming, but we have made a ton of new contacts that are planning on attending the horse shows as well! We have 11 dates for farm shows so far, and trust me...if the shows weren't doing so well there's no way I'd even try for 11 dates! I'm so excited that the shows are becoming so popular! :) We also have several clinics planned at the farm too which will be fun. I've already gotten some great sponsors like Valley View Ranch, Southern States Feed Company, Dover Saddlery, Farnham, Countryside Equine Vet (Dr. Wilson), Crossroads Equine Vet (Dr. White), Mercy Stables (Marisa Goode), and the list goes on. Sponsors are awesome! We love sponsors!

Here are a couple of pictures from the January Tri State show of Gracie and her pony.
The first picture is a favorite of mine! Gracie had shown in the covered ring and the judge (Susan Bowen of Atlanta) had called her over to talk to her. That would be me in the photo with the fuzzy hat. Susan was offering her an encouraging word or two! :) If I may take a moment to brag on my child....she was Champion that day! She's going to start showing my lovely mare "Maggie" this year too, along with her pony "Match Made In Heaven". It's so fun that we have something we can do together as mom and daughter that we both love so much!

Snow is predicted at the farm today, which I have mixed feelings about. Gracie would love to play in the snow, but on the other hand I selfishly want it to be 75 degrees and sunny so I can ride. 2010 is looking so much brighter than the previous year, and there are some other options I'm looking at right now in my life...so please be praying for me. God's about to swing some doors wide open, and I'm anxiously awaiting for the blindfold in my life to be taken off and for God to shout "SUPRISE!". Life is soooo good!

Twister, the horse who plays ball...has done it again!

Enjoy the latest video of Mr. Twister!

Twister is a local celeb!

Twister is a near 3 year old colt that I own. He is out of my old mare "Twist N Shout" and by a paint stud. I traded his mom for this little guy who I plan to breed to my Thoroughbred mare "Karma" and maybe "Maggie". He's a stinker, into EVERYTHING. He loves to play ball most of all! In 25 years of owning horses I've never had a horse play fetch...this one does! The Summerville Newspaper got ahold of this one and put him front and center on their website! http://www.thesummervillenews.com/ . In only a few hours Twister's video has had 120 hits! I hope his fame doesn't go to his head!

Here is the video for your viewing pleasure!

Back to work folks, it's horse showin' time again!

Christmas was amazing, New Years was good too! It has been so cold this winter so far, and January 16th is our next horse show in Cleveland, TN. I'm hoping the weather cooperates as I know the show will do well if we can possibly find above freezing temps without any snow. Apparently that has been a tough one this year so far though....warm and no snow that is. However it has yet to snow on the farm, but it has been bitterly cold!

I am going to post a couple of my favorite pictures from Christmas. Gracie got a doll house her dad made. She was so excited that she made a noise I didn't even know she could make when she saw it for the first time! It now lives in my office where daily I will find a little person hiding behind a huge doll house. It was a Christmas that was spent quietly for the most part, but on the inside I felt it was the most precious Christmas to date. We spent Christmas Day with the Nava's, whom I've claimed to be my blood for years! I just love them to peices. They are true friends, and as time marches on I sadly find that is a rare find.

I hope you all have the best year ever! See you at some horse shows maybe?

Christmas is about a birth

Christmas began with a birth of a baby boy who was the promise of hope for all man kind. A birth, new beginnings, hope, all that good stuff! We tend to get wrapped up in Santa, what to get for our ungrateful Uncle so and so, and fret over how to pay for all of it. Have you ever really thought about the real first Christmas? I often think of Mary, a young girl, some believe to be around 15 years old. Can you even begin to imagine what it must have been like for her to deal with all she dealt with? I'm thinking she was probably dealing with a lot of rejection, persecution and who knows what else! What an amazing young woman to just push through her trials, because she knew that she knew she had a special calling from God on her life. Thank goodness Mary didn't just give up when things got hard!

Then I think about Jesus. Do you ever wonder what kind of child he was? Did he ever get a spanking for getting into things as normal children do? Was he full of curious questions or was he the one offering incredible wisdom to his parents as a young boy. Let's fast forward to Jesus at about the age of 33. The bible says he was a "man of sorrows". Here Jesus came to do great things for mankind, and man was terrible to Jesus. Though I'm sure at times Jesus was very broken hearted, he knew that he knew that God had a special overall plan for his life, so he just kept pressing forward. What an amazing person!!! He fullfilled his purpose because he loved us, regardless of our behavior, our stupidity, regardless....he loved us.


I encourage you to not just think of the presents and the Christmas tree this Christmas, or even for just the baby in the manger. Think about Mary and what an amazing woman she must have been, think about Joseph and what a good guy he had to be to just stick with Mary because he knew that he knew that God was doing something mighty. Think about the baby Jesus, the boy Jesus, and the man Jesus who probably lived more heartache than anything because he was just trying to love us, and we rejected him. Remember Jesus is still with us every single second, guiding our steps (if we'll let him), forgiving us, loving us....just because. That's precious.

I hope you all will have the best Christmas ever this year. I am so incredible thankful and full of joy for 2009. Granted there was a lot of hurt this year, but I am happier than ever FINALLY. God took everything out of my life that was (though I couldn't see it then) not for my very best. I am so excited to start 2010! God has made some amazing promises to me that I can't wait to see come to pass! Thank you Lord for putting me where I am right now! God is good. Merry Christmas friends!


Gracie enjoying a snowball fight in Chattanooga recently!

Below, Gracie and her friend Caleb with their school project where they had to invent a toy.

My Christmas tree in my office.

And the winner is..........

Saturday evening we held our Year End Awards banquet for the 2009 Rivermont horse shows. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone! I can honestly say that I have met the most amazing friends thanks to hosting these horse shows, and it wasn't like a gathering of horse people waiting to claim their loot, it was a gathering of my second family! I'm not a big fan of public speaking, and of course I fumbled all over myself and I'm certain looked like the biggest dork ever...but I've been told it just added humor to the night. Glad I could help....

I don't have any people pictures as of yet, however I did take this one photo with my blackberry to show the "loot". If any of you readers out there took photos, please email me a few so I may post them!

I can't believe the year is almost over. Honestly, I'm thankful it's almost done. It has been quite the year to say the least, but I do see a bright light at the end of a dark tunnel. Adversity has truly steered me in a better direction! The Tri State shows appear to be a success, and hopefully will only grow with time! Best of all, I hope to make new friends through the process!

The one thing I have learned for sure this year is that God is faithful, dependable, loyal, and good. I saw His faithfulness in a mighty way Saturday night as a matter of fact, which I won't go into here, but it was apparent He had not forgotten me. He blessed me through a very special person, whom I can only hope will reap the harvest a million times for her kindness to me when I needed a hand. I'm not used to anyone doing anything for me, so this person's gesture was something I wasn't used to....and may God bless she and her family for it!

I can't help but to wonder what the future holds. I know what my hearts desires are, and frankly it looks hopeless from a human perspective. I know that this time last year I would have never dreamed I would have gone through what I've gone through this year. I wouldn't change a thing though, because I KNOW that I KNOW that there is a divine plan in all of this. I do have some good news though! You all know what a big Joyce Meyer fan I am! I did find out she will be in Chattanooga April 8-10th I believe. See her website at http://www.joycemeyer.com/. She's so amazing and annointed by God. Her amazing teachings of the Word are one reason I've held on this year.

Thank you to those of you who have stuck by my side in 2009. I am forever grateful for those who have been there, and pray for those nightly who have not or who have caused a great deal of pain in my life. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and God bless you all! :)