Koda, My One-Eyed Wonder Horse

             I’ve always loved horses—always—and I’ve had a horse of my own for over six years now, but it wasn’t until last year that I started reading about equine rescue. Once I learned about the importance of equine rescue I searched the internet trying to find an organization in my area. I found The Georgia Equine Rescue League (GERL). I read everything on their site. Finally, I read about becoming a foster home and I decided I wanted to get involved. It seemed perfect. We had plenty of space and time and love! I told my parents all about it and they were on board. My mom told me that I needed to find out what we needed to do and I needed to do it.

So, after talking it over with my parents I emailed Becky Gregory about how I could become a foster home for GERL. She was great about helping me out and by October of last year we were an approved foster home! We waited about a month and then I got an email from Becky with a picture of a sorrel and white medicine hat gelding with beautiful blue eyes. Truly, I think I fell in love with him then. She told me that he had been rescued, rehabbed and adopted earlier in the year, but due to circumstances outside of his adoptive mom’s control, he was now being put back into foster care. His right eye also had cancer and would probably have to be removed.

 About a week after I got that email Koda arrived. From the moment he stepped off of the trailer he’s been wonderful and I’ve been in love! Koda got off the trailer like he was arriving home. He was just so relaxed and calm. Within two days he and my two geldings were  grazing together contentedly. Before the end of that first week we had already gone for a couple of rides. He rode great even though he was still a little green. He also stood still for the vet to check on his eye. The vet confirmed that Koda would have to have his eye removed. Things moved really quickly after that. Both of the wonderful vets from New South Equine came and removed Koda’s eye. They did a great job!

Koda recovered quickly and acts like nothing happened. Amazingly just days after surgery he was still not spooky and just two weeks later he rode great, and acted totally normal! He continues to amaze me every day!

Well, about a month after Koda arrived Becky asked me if I’d like to adopt Koda. Of course, after my parents and I discussed it we decided that Koda was a part of the family now! Even my aged Morgan gelding loved him—the two of them are usually side by side and eat out of the same pile of hay. None of us can imagine life without him now! He’s been absolutely wonderful! We currently enjoy riding at our house and on our street and are using the Parelli Natural Horsemanship methods. We’re hoping to go on some trail rides and compete in local shows soon! I also look forward to fostering for GERL again!

I am so thankful that God brought the Georgia Equine Rescue League and Koda into my life!

Happy Trails,

               Beth Eavenson

Purple Feather Farm's Horse Camp Day 5

Fantastic, Fun, Fabulous! Those are all great words to describe our final day of Horse Camp at Purple Feather Farm! I got pictures printed of everyone from throughout the week and we put together scrapbooks. All of the girls are so creative and all of their scrapbooks turned out wonderful! After a devotion, craft time and lunch we went to ride. On the last day everyone got to show off their new riding skills and take home all of their crafts and coloring pages. I think everyone had a wonderful time--I know I did!

Purple Feather Farm's Horse Camp Day 4

Since today was rainy we decided to have some indoor horsey fun. We watched a couple of The Saddle Club movies, popped pop corn, and baked horse treats. After the fog finally rolled away we went and fed the animals. Today was a fun, lazy day! Everyone needs a day like that every once in a while! Check out the pics:

Watching the Movie!

Watching the Movie!

Horse Cookies--Yum!

Purple Feather Farm's Horse Camp Day 3

Day 3 of camp at Purple Feather Farm was another beautiful day! We rode horses, colored pictures of horses, and played Horseopoly again. Eveyone loved that game so much! We also groomed all of the horses and fed the sheep and horses. The kids and horses all seemed to really enjoy the beautiful weather! See for yourself:

Brushing Koda

Riding

Awww! A kiss for Koda!

"I think we're going to be great friends!"

Another round of Horseopoly!

Kristina and Joker

Purple Feather Farm's Horse Camp Day 2

Despite the on/off rain and freezing temperatures, my five little campers still stuck it out and had a great time! Today we did lots of indoor/in-barn activities. We colored pictures of horses, learned about different breeds and colors of horses, decorated Valentine's Day cookies, ate Valentine's Day cookies, made Valentine's Day cards, played Horseopoly in the hayloft, and drank hot chocolate--and Koda didn't drink anyone's hot chocolate today, thankfully! The horses even got in on the celebrations and each got to eat a sugar cookie. Everyone had a lot of fun!

Check out some of the pictures from Day Two at Purple Feather Farm's Horse Camp:

Someone really, really liked sprinkles!

More cookies!

Hot chocolate and cookies--nothing could be better!

Faith in the middle of decorating.

Authentic Horseopoly, played in the hayloft of my barn on a "table" made of hay!

Purple Feather Farm's Horse Camp Day 1

The first day of camp at Purple Feather Farm was a great success! We painted horseshoes, fed the farm animals, brushed Red Rock, rode Joker, and gave treats to all three of the horses. The kids also colored and learned about what it takes to care for a horse. All of the girls were very sweet and got along great. Camp has been wonderful so far! I can't wait for tomorrow! Take a look at some of the pictures from today and see for yourself how much fun we've been having!

Even Koda wanted to make crafts! Silly horse!

Decorating Horseshoes

A Barn Raising. Part Seven.

It's been a while since I've updated the blog on our progress with the barn and a lot has happened since then.

 We have a roof!

 And Walls!

 Lots of Walls! We're bulding more and more walls every day!

We're even building doors!

It's all so exciting! We're hoping to have the whole thing finished by the end of the year! I'll be sure to keep updating about our progress!

Pictures from Kelleys Island

I know it's a little late, but better late than never! So, here are some pictures from our family vacation on Kelleys Island!

 Welcome to Camp Patmos!

 Dad, Mom and I at the lighthouse!

 The dining hall.

 One of my favorite views.

Mom and Dad.

 Our cabin is the one on the left and Stephanie and Jack's cabin is on the right.

Another great view!

Inscription Rock.

The Glacial Grooves! Amazing!

Our cabin!

More of our cabin. My bunkbed, complete with horse blanket!

Camp Patmos

For our family vacation we went to Camp Patmos, which is located on Kelleys Island, OH in the middle of Lake Erie. For my parents and my sister it was a blast from the past, for me it was a chance to see people and things I had always heard good things about. My parents lived in Ohio for a few years, found an amazing church, and made wonderful, lifelong friends. They also went to Camp Patmos with these friends every year and had such a great time that they are still talking about those times at Camp Patmos twenty two years later! The drive was long, but fun.

On our way we stopped in Cincinnati to visit The Creation Museum, which is all about equipping you to defend your faith. It's full of facts that back up Genesis. I loved it! The exhibits were well done and overall it was simply amazing! Plus, where else can you ride a real live camel?!?!?! Apparently, where we stayed has a high crime rate because during our two night stay Jack and Stephanie's van was broken into (the robbers got some library books, coloring books, a memory game, a base ball and glove, two DVD players, and a Bible, which I hope they read.) and we witnessed another robbery in broad daylight! Needless to say we were glad to leave lol!

After that adventure we drove a little bit further and stayed with some of my parents' friends. They were so nice and hospitable! Everything was wonderful! While we were at their house we went to the church my mom and dad used to go to, met a ton of their friends, saw my parents' old house, visited with more friends, and had a great time! Thank y'all for all of your kindness and hospitality!

Finally, on July 4th we got to camp! It was non-stop fun! We rode bicycles, went swimming, kayaked, rode in the speed boats, hung onto and fell off of the banana boat float (which you can get an idea of here), rode wave runners (that was one of the scariest and most fun things!), bought fun stuff at the Pop House (like ice-cream, t-shirts, bracelets, etc.), went letterboxing (we found 16! Which brings my total of found boxes 55! YAY!), looked for beach glass and fossils, hung out with friends, went to Chapel every morning and evening, where we learned even more about Creation, evolution and God's love from Carl Kerby. Interestingly enough Carl Kerby used to work with Answers in Genesis and was instrumental in the building of The Creation Museum. His new ministry is Reasons for Hope, which you can learn more about here. After ten days of focusing on God, His Truth, family, and fun I am so pumped and ready to share about what I learned! Camp was so much fun and I loved it so much! I really hope that we can go again!

Have questions about Creation, evolution and what God says about it all? Need hope? I'd be more than happy to talk! You can comment or email me here at: myhorseandme1[at]gmail[dot]com
Love,
~Beth

Lioness Arising; Wake Up and Change Your World by Lisa Bevere

I've had this book for quite a while. I was going to read when my mom looked it over and decided that it was a bit too mature for me now, but that it would be good to read when I'm older. Well, I wasn't quite sure what to do since I wanted to do a review, but wasn't alowed to read it. That's when I remembered that my sister-in-law, Paige, read the book and wrote an excellent review of it on her blog. So, for the more mature readers of my blog that may benefit from reading this book, here is Paige's review:

"“If ever there comes a time when the women of the world come together purely and simply for the benefit of mankind, it will be a force such as the world has never known.” Matthew Arnold, Nineteenth- Century British Poet and Philosopher




This quote author and speaker Lisa Bevere uses in her latest book, Lioness Arising, just about sums up the theme for the entire book. If women will band together and rise up like a lioness then there is no telling how the world around us will change.



As Lisa was studying the scriptures she came across the verse in the book of Numbers 23:24 which said, “These people rise up like a lioness, like a majestic lion rousing itself. ” This verse along with a vision to see women change their world, inspired Lisa to study the lioness and share with women what we can learn from the lioness and how she behaves. Throughout the book Lisa reveals the characteristics of the lioness and inspires you to learn what it means to



be a stunning representation of strength

fiercely protect the young

lend your voice to the silenced

live in the light and hunt in the dark

raise a collective roar that changes everything.

I received a review copy of this book a few weeks ago, and while having three little ones has slowed my reading time down a bit, I had a hard time putting this book down each time I had a chance to read a chapter. I was engaged immediately in the book and inspired right down to the last word. All that is left now is for me to figure out how I can go and make a difference in this world we are living in.



If life has gotten you discouraged, frustrated or just bored and your ready to awaken the Lioness with in you then I highly recommend reading this book. As Lisa says on the back cover of the book…



“Women, it’s time to awaken.

AWAKEN…

God did not save you to tame you.

AWAKEN…

to a life of fierce passion.

AWAKEN…

to dangerous prayer, stunning power, and teamed purpose.

AWAKEN…

your response could very well change your world.



Sincerely,

Paige"

Thank you Paige for allowing me to use your review!