It's been busy since I wrote last. Monday night my husband asked if I would attend with him a town forum meeting in regard to a proposed development (by our family business) regarding a zoning change.  I can't say that I consider an evening spent in a town forum meeting to be one that I look forward to.  I went to this same event last week on a wet, cold, and rainy night, and there is no place I would have rather been than snuggled on my couch under a blanket, reading a book.

But, there are to be three of these meetings this week, and I offered to attend Monday night knowing that Wednesday night (tonight) would not work for me.  Each meeting is being held in a different part of the city and Monday night was held in a big, beautiful, Christian church.  It is interesting, now that I think of it, that it was held in a church.  While sitting within the meeting it occurred to me how this evening felt like a church split - having lived through those a few times in my life time (my father was a preacher).  I have discovered throughout the last few decades that there is never a development anywhere that there isn't those that don't want anything in their town or city changed.

Tuesday morning I traveled with my husband to a business lunch in Indianapolis. I am blessed with my mom's involvement in our homeschool that I can be engaged with my husband in the family business.  When we headed back home, it was still early in the afternoon.  The weather was beautiful this day, reaching the high of 75 degrees.  I started thinking about the possibility of going horseback riding,

When I got home, it wasn't minutes before I was brushing down my horse.  The kids were already outside playing and Rachel had been riding her horse.  I often go bareback because I like it, and also because it saves time - no time consuming tack to put on.  But last week, I had ridden so long bareback (and for the first time after the long winter) I created a blistering sore on my back hind.  So, this day, I decided I would take the time to saddle up my horse.

I love to groom horses.  It doesn't even have to be my horse; I just love to groom them.  It's almost like therapy for me - brushing them down, combing out their beautiful mane and tail, and picking at their hooves.  My horse was incredibly dirty and the total time to groom her and to get her already to go, took a total of one hour.  I was so grateful to have this time to spend with my horse grooming her.

Shekinah Ranch was busy this day with the sounds of lots of children.  Joshua and Jacob were playing with William and Randall, the missionaries from Romania's two children.  Ruthie and Rachel were with me grooming our horses.  And after a while, Joshua came over with his horse, Maria, to spend time with her taking her around the property.  Even Jacob was walking around with baby Magic.  Everyone had a horse.

Ruthie rode my precious Minnie, Rachel rode Major, and I rode sweet Gretta.  Minnie and Gretta are two my personal favorites.  If I haven't rode in a while, and desire to save time going without tack, I choose Minnie to ride.  If I'm up to a bigger challenge, I take Gretta, my five year old.  And if Ruthie is riding, I always give her Minnie to ride.

For the first hour, Rachel, Ruthie, and I just travelled slowly enjoying the conversation of each other and the beauty of the spring time.

You never know what you might see while on a trail ride.  The other day there were a pack of coyotes by the willow pond, in clear daylight.  But on this day, we came just a few feet away from one of the most beautiful family of deer I've ever seen.  They all had such pretty faces.  They just stood there looking at us - I think our horses had them captivated. 

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After the first hour, my husband came home from work, but told me not to worry about supper - he'd take care of it with the boys - just ride for as long as I felt like it.  Now, that was music to my ears! The weather was so incredibly beautiful, the winter had been so long and harsh, to spend unlimited time on my horse is an afternoon and evening out of my dreams.  The second (and third) hour was spent getting exercise. I ride English, and my favorite form of exercise is posting in English style.  I like to ride until I'm exhausted and feel as if I couldn't go another moment. When it was finally approaching dusk, I felt a few ounces of energy left. I asked Rachel, "Should we come in now? Or do you think we should ride just a little longer?"  The good sense of my seventeen year old gave me the encouragement to stop. We had just enough time to unsaddle our horse before it started turning pitch dark.

I came in dirty and tired - I couldn't wait to soak in a hot tub of water with lavender scented Epson salts to massage my tired muscles. I did get my work out for the day....and I can still feel it today.

I enjoyed my riding time so much, though I had a hard time going to sleep.  My adrenaline seemed to still be soaring. In the darkness, I kept my husband awake by unlimited chatter about the horses - their little quirks, the fun we had with them, and the enjoyment of being outside with our children. 

Riding - it's the most enjoyable form of exercise that I can think of.