Yes friends, this is the view from my front porch at the horse barn. I took some time to do my Bible Study Fellowship lesson today and I just had to take a picture to share with you. Although pictures don't do it justice. The camp sits in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains. It really is HEAVENLY. There is a peace and quiet that fills your soul. I will be moving out here in February so I can start riding the horses daily. Wow, what a job and what a place to live. I am so blessed to love what I do and do what I love. My dogs are going to love it too!!!

The Holidays

New Years Day - Venison, elk, and beef chili lunch at the Scudders house in Fredericksburg
New Year's Eve - Watching fireworks in San Marcos with the Akers.
Karlie and Lily Lu taking a train ride at the Akers' property in Wimberly.
Bebo came for Christmas, he loves Calvin and Lily Lu.
The pictures above are a collection of good times spent with friends and family during Christmas and New Years.

Somethings I am grateful for over the holidays:

- To work with positive-energetic-caring-creative people at Lonehollow. Meg surprised us all with a trip to Fredericksburg and Enchanted Rock. We had a fun Christmas party. I had two weeks off of work-that hasn't happened for many, many years.

- It was great to be in Texas this year to celebrate in warmer weather. Not only Texas but the beautiful hill country. Not only the hill country but to have access to 3000 acres anytime. It just keeps getting better as I will be waking up everyday with the beautiful hills and the horses outside my door as I call camp "home".

- I am grateful for the time with family and friends. The gifts are wonderful but we remember the TIME spent with others. Bebo flew down from Kentucky and was here for 10 days. It was great to tour the Alamo, Buckhorn Hall of Horns, eat great Mexican food, ride the river barge on the Riverwalk, shopping in Fredericksburg, seeing a show at the Rockbox, etc. Mom and I spent Christmas day at camp (she enjoyed picking a few veggies from the garden). I took my cousin Sherry's family horseback riding-it was her boys' first time to ride. I spent New Year's Eve with my dear friends, the Akers & their granddaughter Karlie, watching the fireworks in San Marcos. Considering I had no definite plans for the holidays they filled up perfectly.

I think that is the way life is...we plan and prepare the best we can with the knowledge we have but ultimately things change and we have to adapt. This was my first Christmas being divorced and I had some concern over how the holidays would play out. Honestly, it was bumpy, but I kept looking up and looking ahead. There was encouragement, laughter, beautiful warm days and love and I soaked it in.

I made some stained glass etchings over the holidays and the one I like the best says...

It is our attitude and faith, not our circumstances, that determine our destiny - by April Baxter.

My word for 2012 is STRONGER. I am ready to push on toward a new year, new beginnings, new life.