"He Knew I Needed It"

Sunny days - after months of rain and snow - are delightfully refreshing and rejuvenating. When I planned to come to school in Oregon someone told me that a lot of people who live in Oregon get depressed because of the rainy weather. "That won't happen to me," I said. "I love the rain!" I still love the rain. I love to hear it pound rhythmically against my bedroom window to lull me to sleep at night; I love those rainy days when there's nothing better than a hot cup of tea/coffee/cocoa (whichever you prefer), a good book, and time. I don't even really mind getting wet when I go outside. It's the cold and the wind that gets me.
However, I have noticed a change in my disposition since I moved to Oregon. Things that ordinarily wouldn't make me sad or grumpy as easily make me sad or grumpy; I get restless and long for distant lands or the old familiar Oceanside beach at home. But the sun always comes out and my mood rises and I feel as though I've just awaken from a good night's sleep. It is only after the sun comes out that I notice how the lack of it affected me.
The last week has been beautifully sunny! The temperature, though cold, has begun to rise also. It's such a delicious feeling to have the sun on your face after months of rain and snow. I told my friends that I'd be okay if it were sunny for the rest of the semester, not really believing we'd have more than a couple days of sun. As the days have gone by I realize that it will more than likely get stormy again considering that it is only January, but that I'll be okay with that.
My friend from Southern California told me the other day as we walked in the sun, "I fell in love with Oregon again."
"Oregon knew you needed the sun," I replied.
"It did."
We were only kidding of course. The state of Oregon 1) doesn't control the weather and 2) doesn't really care about the emotional needs of two girls at a small Christian college and how the weather effects them.
Later I began thinking and the thought hit me suddenly: God controls the weather and God does care about the emotional needs of two girls at a small Christian college and how a change in weather would help.
It sounds a little cheesy writing it out, like a get well card or something. But if you think of it as a realization, a prayer between my heart and God's heart, it's not so cheesy:
"I fell in love with God again. He knew I needed the sun."

Pictures of my birthday

Allyssa and I on the carousel.


Kate and Savannah.

All of us except Kate. Meredith, Savannah, Allyssa my roommate, and me.


After the carousel, we went to one of the coffee shops frequented by Corban students. The mickey ears came off quite quickly before we walked in the door, much to the disappointment of my friends.

This morning was very dismal and cold so I was unprepared for the sun that came out as I was driving to Dallas this afternoon and the tiny bit of warmth that it gave off. It was beautiful at the ranch! However, I forgot my camera.
I rode Chance for about an hour. He hadn't been ridden for a while so he was ready. After our war-up I thought I'd start him on lead changes. It's good for all horses to know how to change their leads on cue, so that will be part of our repertoire from now on. Then we tried a few turn-backs. He remembered as far as we had gone from last semester, but he gets frustrated with them because all you do is go back and forth on one side of the arena and then turn around and go the other way. He gets bored. Then we went out to the field behind the barn and discovered the sloshiness of it with some full on puddles thrown in there. Chance did really well and picked his way through without any protest at all. To cool down, I let Chance go in the arena and play with his giant rubber ball. It's hilarious! I was kicking myself the whole time because I had forgotten my camera. He chases the ball, rubs his neck on it, stomps on it 'til it dribbles (seriously). It's pretty funny.
I didn't do much with Brandy today because of time. I just groomed her and talked to her. Next week I'll work her first. I decided I'll have to rotate who I work with first because I never have enough time to do a full lessen with both Brandy and Chance in one day. And next time I WILL remember my camera!

Remember Brandy?

I missed Brandy and Chance so much over Christmas break! I finally made it out to the ranch late this afternoon, but because of the hour, I only said hi and took some pictures. I'll head out there tomorrow a little earlier so that I can work with both of them.


This is Chance


My first sight whenever I walk into the arena: Brandy looking expectantly at me.


Here she is! Her picture is a little blurry because I couldn't use the flash (it's a bit scary) and it was getting dark.


Katie brought me this beautiful bag from Peru this summer. It's soft lining makes it perfect as a camera bag for my new camera!

Cake Coming Out of My Ears!

The last time my birthday was on a Saturday, I woke up early, layered on as many clothes as I could and still be flexible enough to work, ate breakfast at the dining hall, led trail rides in the afternoon, my hands more than likely were numb before the afternoon was out, and - once I'd had a shower - I probably watched some movies with my family, had a cake, or something. I can't really remember all the details, but it would've been like any other Saturday up to that point and in the weeks following. It was quite delightful not to wake up to an alarm clock Saturday morning. I had time to get cute before I went over to Andrea's for lunch, and that's always fun.
I met Grandma Bonnie, Andrea and Alysun and their kids at Andrea's house and Grandma Bonnie made us lunch and a cake (some of which I was able to take back to school with me). It was all so delicious!
When I got back, my RA had made cupcakes for me and arranged them to look like the number 20. After that, a few of my friends blindfolded me, put paper mickey ears on my head and pinned a "Birthday Princess" badge on me. They took me to the indoor carousel at River Front Park in Salem and we rode on the carousel twice (last time I was on a carousel, I actually only took pictures with Katie and then we got off before it started). All the carousel horses had a theme and were decorated accordingly. They're pretty cool, actually. Mine was a huge gray one decorated with birthday party stuff (I actually didn't notice that 'til I got off).
Then we went to The Blue Pepper and had coffee. On the way back to school we stopped at Papa Murpheys and Blockbuster. I was in the mood for an old, black and white movie and my friends all like those too, so we watched "Dark Passage" with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. We also watched "Impromptu" with Hugh Grant, but I fell asleep so I don't remember much about it.
It was a very fun day full of surprises and friends...and I think I may have cake coming out of my ears!

The Stars of This Christmas

Emma and Mandy.



Luke and Mandy were very affectionate all week...



...but Luke thought it would be funny to try and pick Mandy's nose.


Nathaniel found a convenient little seat inside the arm of the couch.





Benton





My family took a trip to Newport while we were staying in Lincoln City. On the way back to the house, we stopped for gas and I was able to snap this picture:

It made us all laugh, so I thought it would be funny to post and spread the amusement. People should really think before they hang signs.

I'm Back!

I've returned to Salem, Oregon for another semester of college. At the end of this semester I will be half way done with my college career. Wow! Time flies.
Christmas break was fun. It was quite delightful to be able to curl up on the couch and read simply for entertainment. During my three week break I finished three novels and nearly finished a fourth (inconceivable since I began college and discovered that all spare reading minutes must go to my history or literature texts). I spent all of it sick and am still recovering a little. A cough struck me the day after I got home - just in time to be pampered by my mother. I recovered for Christmas, but on the way home from the Oregon Coast, my family all suffered various forms of the stomach flu. Over New Year's I contracted a head cold from the freezing temperature in the cabin I was staying in (my father gives me no sympathy. He did tell me how I could get the temperature turned up, but I just didn't talk to the right person). My head is still a little stuffy and my ear feels like a cotton ball is stuck in it from the airplane ride yesterday.
I spent a lot of time with my mom and sister as we drove up and down the mountain three times the first week I was home and then we multiplied that time immensely on our drive up to Lincoln City for Christmas and added my dad into the equation. I already wrote about Christmas, so all that I will say about that is that the drive home was exceedingly long.
The first ever - and hopefully annual - Horse Camp reunion was held over New Years. It was tons of fun! We had eighteen girls ranging in age from 10 to 18. Unlike the rigid schedules of summer horse camp, this one was flexible and full of playing games, staying up too late, and eating too many cookies. The last night, three girls got sick and blamed it on the "one cookie" they'd had before bed. Not the loads of taffy we'd pulled the night before or the cookies and chips in the meeting room or the candy and soda they'd had at free time. Of course, none of that would make anyone feel sick. Thankfully only one girl threw-up and the rest went to bed early and woke up fine in the morning (go figure). I learned one very important lessen from this camp. My calling is not to be a counselor. I love all of the girls and love to be around them, but when I get tired and annoyed, I like to be able to go back to my house and be alone. So from now on, I'll stick to teaching them how to ride horses. I do have an immense respect for those of my friends who love to be counselors. I could hardly stand it for three days. They do it for three months. Good jobs girls (and any of you who are guys and have been counselors, my immense respect to you, too)!

As promised: pictures from my new camera!



My beautiful sister.



No trip to the coast is complete without Mo's clam chowder.



My mom teaching a cooking lessen.



As close a picture as I was able to get of our whole family.



*I have a lot more, especially of the babies, but that's a lot of pictures to post on my blog, so if you want them, let me know and I will get them for you!