Pony's, Jonah, and other such things..

I did my Horse Riding lesson today, and learned several things from it. But first, I'll let you know just what I did, so you can get where I'm coming from a little better.
We decided to put me in an English saddle today, something I've never done. There are two main styles to ride, English and Western. English is what you would see a jumping horse in, its very " showy."  Western is what cowboys use, barrel racing horses, for example, are western. Both styles have different saddles, English ( In my opinion ) Is more uncomfortable but looks a lot better in the show ring and is easier to lift. Western, Is more computable but is big and bulky. Every rider has an opinion on what saddle and style they like, I like western. Anyway, I was also on a horse I had never ridden, and was warned before I got on that he's stubborn. All was going great, he was listening to me for the most part. Until, we tried to get me to canter him. ( a canter is a nice run, but not a full blown gallop.) Now, when you are trying to get a horse to do something, you can never just decided in the middle of riding to give up and try it another day, because then the horse thinks he "won the battle" and it will be one hundred times harder to get him to do it at a later time. So once you start something, you must finish. Whether it be cantering, trotting, jumping, etc. We ended up spending about an hour in the ring trying to get this horse to canter. It really wasn't the horse, if his owner got on him, he would canter just fine for her. But me being a newer rider, not being comfortable in the saddle, and never had ridden him before, he was testing my strength, patience, emotions, control... the horse tried every way he could think of to not canter. It was to the point where my legs to numb from trying to push him into a canter. ( Of course they still hurt, a lot.)  Finally, after what seemed like forever, my instructor gave him a good swat on the hind and that got him going. The funny thing is, that horse is almost my favorite, out of all the horses I've ridden.

How often, do we try to " test God?" he's telling us to do something, but we're just to stubborn to do it? we try to wiggle our way out of it, no matter how much hes pushing us along. I think of Jonah, God wanted him to go to Nineveh, but he wouldn't. He resisted God, got a a boat going the opposite way, ended up getting swallowed by a huge fish. In the end he finally gave in, repented and the fish spit him on land. How often do we just need a good swat to get us to relize that we're not in control, but God is?  Why can't we just learn to trust God and give in? let him take the reigns? and the funny thing is, God always loves us. Out of everyone in the world, he knows us, and loves us.
"“Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane? Do you make him leap like the locust?" Job 30:19
~KayK

Ruth's Steadfast Love.

"Naomi said, See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." but Ruth said, " Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you."Ruth 1:16-19
The saying above is from Ruth, one of my favorite books of the bible. Both Naomi and Ruth had lost their husbands, Ruth had married Naomi's son. So Naomi not only only her husband, but her two sons also. Naomi decided to return to her home land, and Ruth went with her. As said above, Naomi tried to discourage Ruth from traveling with Naomi, but Ruth refused to leave Naomi's side. What is truly amazing is that Ruth found love in Naomi's home city. I often think of what would have happened is Ruth had just said to Naomi " You know what? your right, I'll stay here, you go on." What great blessing's would Ruth had missed out on? her dedication to Naomi is so inspiring, and I continue to challenge you to be a Ruth, to stick with your friends, family. To trust God no matter the circumstances. I continue to try my best to grow in God and strive to be more like Ruth.  " But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation." Psalms 13:5
~KayK

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

So, I decided it was time to do a more fun post, rather than serious! ( which is nice to:)
As I have said before, I work at a pumpkin patch. Which has its nice advantages!
The other day, I was working when I see an officer over by the pumpkins, searching for just the right one. I didn't think much of it, but my boss came back after being gone for a while and looked a little nervous as to why an officer was there. Now, when I say an officer, I mean it in every way, he looked to be on duty dressed in combat boots, and had his belt on with his gun, badge, etc.
A little while later he came up to the register, ready to check out. My boss had said earlier jokingly that she wanted to be the one to check him out, but she wasn't around, so I figured I better. I checked him out alright, he picked up his two pumpkins and went on his merry way.
A few minuets later he came back, saying he got an emergency call and asked if he could keep the pumpkins here until the end of his shift! ( I took it as he was going to go catch a bad guy and didn't want pumpkins in the back;) Of course, I said that was fine, and he quickly proceeded to his squad car and went out the drive, I got off soon after, and didn't get to see him again.

Its always fun to see the adorable little kids walking around, begging their parents, or grandma and grandpa to go in the corn maze, go on the play ground, go on the hay ride!

There was also an awkward moment, when I was telling someone how I make squash, ( I put Cinnamon and sugar on it!:) most people reply with "wow! that sounds really good!" but their response was " Well that's unhealthy." All in all, I love my job, I love being able to greet customer's, the smell of fresh pumpkins, squash, straw. I love working with my hands and the accomplished feeling I get when I do a task, and do it to the best of my ability.  
" Whatever you do, work heartily, as for God not for men." Colossians 3:23
~KayK

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Second Chances.

I've been thinking a lot, ( and hearing!) about second chances. You know you better start listening when God starts tell you, through many different things and people the same thing.

You hear often, " Always give second chances," or " God always gives second chances" both of those statements are so true, yet so hard to grasp.
Oh how hard it is to give someone a second chance when they've hurt you deeply. But how do we really manage to give someone that " second chance?" or do we really give second chances, or rather just say we do, but continue to treat them the same?
To me, giving a second chance, is completely wiping away the bad past, and instead moving onward toward the future, its like the total forgiveness.
Its hard to give second chances, to allow the wound to heal. Sometimes we can just be so stubborn, choosing not to give that second chance, but rather allowing the wound to be open, and if we don't forgive and forget, the wound just continues to deepen.

Trust me when I say, when you don't just let it all go, you carry around  unnecessary weight. Its an  awful feeling to always be worrying about something, someone, a situation that you have no control over. But if you could just let go and let God, let him just take it all away, life gets a little easier. Not to say those times won't come, of course.
I've been having to learn all of this the hard way, I want so bad to just have control over everything, be able to make the first move, know whats going to happen. But if I had all I want, If I always made the first move and always knew what was going to happen, then life wouldn't be worth living, and God would be out of a job. But instead, I have to continually tell myself that God is in control, and no matter what I do, I can't change his plan. And his wonderful plan for my life doesn't need any changing at all, matter of fact, I wouldn't want to change it for anything.
" For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for Evil, to give you a future and hope." ~KayK

Fall Doings!

I have to say that Fall is one of my favorite seasons. A time full Pumpkins, Apples, Corn mazes, hay rides, bonfires, apple cider, and of course, Thanksgiving!
Working at a Pumpkin Patch, I have the blessing of " Playing" with plenty of pumpkins, gourds, and squash! another favorite is all the yummy squash! Its simply the best.
I love the smell of fall, the sweet sent of Pumpkins, Pies, turkeys....
The leafs turning into beautiful shades of Red, Orange, Yellows, then wistfully falling to the ground.
This fall, I also get to go visit my Sister in Iowa! That is something I truly can't wait for...

I often look around, see the Sun Glistening on the stalks of corn all around me, shining through the red trees, watching as little kids search for the perfect pumpkin, I stand in awe of our creator, and stand amazed that he thought all of this up, who made this wonderful season, who made the world, who made me. But more so, a God who did all of that, but still knows how many hairs are on my head, and cares about me, and all of my needs.
" The heavens delcare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork" ~ Psalms 19:1
~ KayK

Cherish the moments.

I've made it a habit, without even realizing it, of collecting flowers, drying them, and saving them from special life moments.
The flowers in the vase are my newest additions. A bouquet of stargazer lily's from my big brother and his girlfriend for my fourteenth birthday!
The dried peddles are from my other big brothers wedding, the rose ( it actually wood!) and dried white flower next to it are from the camp gala and a store by my camp. And the dried bouquet are from this past August when I had the honer of being my sisters bridesmaid.

That being said; I often think of how much I don't cherish some of  the little moments in life, the ones that I think back to and remember so fondly. But at the moment they didn't seem to be a big deal, how often do we just miss a opportunity, a moment, something that could change our lives, but we are just to busy, or worried to just stop, think, listen to what God has? those small moments with family, sisters, brothers, friends, that we just pass by with a shrug and not bother to enjoy and cherish the time that God allows us with our family and friends? I have so many fond moments with my siblings, and friends that mean so much to me, oh how much I wish I had a flower peddle for every of those moments. But looking back on my life, there are also a lot of moments that could have been so much better, if I would have just stopped, thought, prayed, instead of being so worried about time, about life. How much I wish I could go back in time, and change those times. But of course, I can't. I must  press on toward what God has for me, and remember to stop, pray, think. Before I get to preoccupied and caught up in life that I forget to Cherish those small moments...
" i press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."- Philippians 3:14
~KayK

Words for thought

As I sat, seeing the sunshine pour onto the yellow and red Autumn leafs, the words echoed in my ears; " When I'm lost in the mystery, to you my future is a memory. 'cause your already there, your already there. Standing at the end of my life, waiting on the other side, your already there. Your already there."( Casting Crowns )
I tend to worry; whether it be about small useless things, or life changing events. I think it over a thousand times, trying to mold the situation into something I want or feel that I need.
One might say that life is good, great even. Indeed, it is. But there are always those times, where you just feel down. Somehow, someway, life has a way of always disappointing you.
But what do you do in those times? simply wait for it to pass? spend a week or two, or three not living life, but rather trying to ignore it? Do we try and "get out" of this " bad spell?" or enjoy having an excuse to snap at people and hide from the world? I often find myself just wishing that I could be little again, not have a care in the world. But then what great moments would we miss? what great moments do we miss while we are going through hard times?
One must remind themselves; God does not leave, Especially when times get hard. Its hard for me to remember to completely trust in God, when times get hard, I often see that if I just trust in Him, those hard times seem shorter, life seems better, and God seems closer.
"Trust in him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us." Psalms 62:8
~KayK