Poems and Ponderings

It's been a while since I've posted...but thought I'd share just a few random things...

I am only one, but I am one;

I cannot do everything,

But I can do something.

What I can do, I ought to do,

And what I ought to do

By God's grace, I will do.

~ Edward Everett Hale ~

If I knew that a word of mine,

A word not kind and true,

Might leave its trace

On a loved one's face,

I'd never speak harshly;

would you?

If I knew the light of a smile

Might linger the whole day through,

And lighten some heart

With a heavier part,

I wouldn't withhold it;

would you?

~ Anonymous ~

I've been pondering on these verses of late...

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

~ Proverbs 18:21 ~

Sometimes, it is easy to get wrapped up in your own little world, your own needs, your own happiness, work, or sorrow, and forget about that big world around you. Smiles are important, just as reaching out is important. Graciousness is important. Prudence is important. Discretion is important.

I ran upon this verse the other day, and it really sent me for a loop. Though it seems to be paralleling the first part against the second part, it was another reminder for me to (through God's grace) work on becoming a woman of prudence. I am so grateful for those mentors and encouragers in my life!

"House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD."

~Proverbs 19:14 ~

What about you? What is God teaching you right now?

Back to Spring Ranch Life

There's a saying "No rest for the weary"...and that would somewhat sum up my past week, except for one MAJOR difference.... I had 3 days of car travel to rest up... :)

It all started Monday afternoon, when upon arriving home, I found a new cria waiting for us!! There is much to rejoice on this new mama's behalf, as she is a victorer!! Having developed a jaw abcess at 3 months of age, it took 4 years to finally disappear, leaving her cria-less until this year!!! This is especially dear to me, because LoveSong was mine...until I gifted her to my dear brother David for his birthday 2 year ago...

Thus, we happily welcome Rockford Ballad d'Amore to our ranch!

Of course, life goes on, with normal work, and ranch work, and everything else in between (including intense sales and advertising updating... www.rockfordbayranch.com) ...and so my day was re-prioritized Thursday, when we found another cria born!! This one though, was a little preemie, so I spent the morning doing therapy to help him stand, and milking his patient mother to feed this fellow!!
Born on Daniel's birthday (to whom he belongs), the name 'Warrior' was chosen for him (following the meaning of Daniel's middle name.), and boy is he a little fighter!!

Less than an hour old..his back is actually beige, but...he is a little dusty and wet too. :)

On top of that, one of last year's crias suddenly died while we were gone (which we can only suspect was from tick paralysis??), and since it was mostly unidentified, I got to practice my {rarely used} deductive skills to deduce who this mysterious creature was... poor little girl!

Looking Forward: We have shearing next week, and so all my spare time at home will be preparing for that, as well as welcoming the crias who will hopefully be born before that fateful day... =)

And so life goes on the ranch...

Anyone want some alpaca milk? It is quite scrumptious, and high in nutrition! =)

Carlsbad Caverns

Last but not least, we went to Carlsbad Caverns, in New Mexico, and wow, was that amazing!!! Unlike most pictures popularized, these didn't contain the incredible colorful crystals, but all the same, it was unique and awe-ing!!

The mouth of the cave

Switchbacking down the opening.

Daniel and I were buddies, and boy, was it fun to be tag-a-long and best girl! I love my brother! :)

My amazing brother (who turned 23 today!! - May 1st).

"For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in the earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist."

~ Colossians 1:16-17 ~

Aren't these pillars amazing?! I love the lighting....

Our little group :) (Plus the Gauls who carpooled with us to the TX Conference)

Who can argue that we serve an incredible God, who is Master Creator, and creates just for His good pleasure and glory?

"Lift up your eyes on high, and behold Who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth.

Hast thou not know? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding."

~ Isaiah 40:26, 28 ~

Grand Canyon Visit

Our Grand Canyon tour was amazing.... You can see more photos on my previous post: Desert Overview. My dad had told us we were going to have a tour guide going through it, but I didn't realize what 'kind' of tour guide we were going to have! I didn't know he was going to be a Creationist!!! Wow, that was a life-changer for me.

Growing up, I always kind of left the philosophical and theoretical discussions/debates to my siblings. I was always too busy living in the practical here and now, and had the viewpoint of: "If the Bible says it, then I believe it...what does it really matter how God made the flood happen, or divided the continents, or how the First Nations got to the US. All I know is that it happened, and God's Word says that. So there." :)
While that is all true and good, it is also important to be able to give an answer to those who ask of you the hope that is within you, and especially in our day with Evolutionism and Socialism so promoted, it is especially important to be able to have answers from the Bible to back up what you believe....and that goes for the Flood as well.

The weather changed incredibly while we were there....from overcast to sunny, to rainstorms! Wow..God's creation is incredible!!

Did you know that you can see the original Creation Rock under the Judgement Layers in the Grand Canyon? Did you know that there are 2 (900 foot) Buttes near both Southern entrances in the Grand Canyon, which are remains of the 1.5 miles of sediment which used to lie above? (Proven by the Grand Staircase: Zion National, Bryce Canyon, Vermillion Cliffs, and the Grand Canyon).

Did you know that the Geologic Time Scale, popularized by Charles Lyell in the 1830's is only found in 2 places? In textbook drawings and museum displays! It has never been found in nature, in the order presented by the fictitious column of sediments. I really appreciate his lectures, rather than just reading them, but a more detailed explanation can be found here: Geologic Time Scale explanation.

For more information, please see Russ Miller's website: Creation Ministries. What I really appreciate about his approach, is he bases his information on what Scripture shows us and Real Science, not just the thousands of theories floating around (though since we weren't there at Creation, there is an element  of suppositions and theories to most things).

I would highly encourage you to watch this video...it is very thought-provoking and enlightening. Old Earth or Global Flood/3 Days Formation to Grand Canyon He also has other videos, and I would have to say they give the best overview for why we can trust the Bible in all things Creation I have seen. On top of that, they are straight and to the point.

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.'

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."

2 Peter 3:3-7

Is this not the truth of the day and the world around us?

May we seek to be Bereans!