Merry Christmas

 

 

A great Memory: Papaw's little helper feeding the cows. Chip always told me that the animals can talk at midnight on Christmas Eve, so he wanted to take extra special care of them so they would have only good things to say about him! I don't think you ever had to worry about that, Love.



 

 

 

                                               Merry Christmas from Guinea Run Farm



  

A VERY PRODUCTIVE WEEKEND

Well, I just got in from moving hay around and am quite proud of myself. The girls are very content in the new pasture, there is plenty of grass for them, and three bales of hay when they decide they want it. Mike, Prudy and I got a few bales moved by hand ( UGH ) and got a protein tub rolled into the barn. Tomorrow, on Christmas Eve, I will treat them with some buckets of sweet feed. That was always our tradition, so I am going to keep it going. We had a baby on the 21st, and it looks like a few more on the way soon, so I want the girls to get used to coming into the barn again so we can keep a close eye on the mamas.




This new guy is Raleigh. Get this, his daddy is solid black, his mommy is solid black, and he is red with crazy white markings all over! Go figure, but it sure is great to have new life on Guinea Run Farm.

Heaven

I am re-posting 2 posts I found on Facebook. I do not know who the authors are, so I can't give credit, but I had to share these as each of them gives me great comfort, and I hope if anyone else reads this that they will find comfort and peace through them,too.

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AT RAINBOW BRIDGE

T'was the night before Christmas, at Rainbow Bridge too.

 We Bridge kids were thinking as always of you.
 ... We'd seen how the holidays weren't bright this year,
 Heard you whisper so often, "I wish you were here!"

 

We know how you wish you could just stay in bed

 And sleep through the holiday lying ahead,
 When all celebrate with their loved ones so near...
 Unless they have loved ones on this side this year.

 

But we're no less alive here, on the other side.

 If you could just see us, you would've laughed and not cried.
 The dogs all in harness, pulling the sleigh.
 The cats all in Santa hats pointing the way.

 

The pet birds all flying back over the rainbow,

 Bound homeward in spite of Earth's darkness and snow.
 All the pets that you've lost, pets for whom you've cried,
 Flying home on this Christmas to be by your side.

 

If you feel warm fur brush you when no pet's around,

 Hear a soft bark or purr, just a ghost of a sound,
 We're trying to tell you we're visiting this way,
 And our visits, even rainbows, can be on any day.

 

But for Christmas we have something special to do,

 A sleigh full of happy dream visits for you.
 On doggy, on kitty, on winged friend and ferret!
 The love that you lavished, we mean now to share it!

 

We're fetching that love home, the way we once played,

 With the closeness we shared and the memories we made.
 Our Earth lives with you were too short for us, too,
 And on this Christmas Eve we have so much to do.

 

So all through this night as you sleep in your beds,

 Sweet visions of fur babies dance in your heads.
 This one special night we can bring you Home for a while,
 Your true home in Heaven, where again you will smile.

 

Over the rainbow you'll fly, for a short while this night,

 Hours that you'll be happy, hours that will feel right,
 Hours to cuddle and hug us, to run and to play,
 Before the return to Earth in our magic way.

 

And when you awaken and face Christmas Day,
 We pray you'll remember your trip on our sleigh,
 But in case you forget, just remember our love.
 Remember us watching you, your angels above.

 

Sending love wrapped in rainbows, shining and bright,

 Love that will guide you through the darkest night,
 Love found in each memory unwrapped through the year,
 Replacing dark sorrows with Christmas cheer.

 

Leave the toys to St. Nick, we Bridge kids bring dreams,
 Sweet visits to remind you all is not as it seems
 When you look all around you with tired Earthly eyes.
 If you saw as we do, there'd be joy and surprise.

 

There are fur angels waiting by those Christmas trees,

 Always there for you and hearing your pleas.
 We're never more than a thought away from your home,
 You're never forgotten, you're never alone.

 

Nor are we alone here, with our Rainbow Bridge friends.

 We know only joy here, the celebrating never ends,
 And after our reunions with you Christmas Eve,
 We Bridge kids will party like you'd never believe.

 

But we'll slip away often to be by your side.
 Sitting there watching you, eyes open wide,
 Praying you'll be able to catch a glimpse of us, too.
 But whether or not you see us - Merry Christmas to you!






Many Blessings to whomever the authors are of these wonderful poems. And many Blessings to all.

Two Months

Two months. No , I am not going to be keeping track of the days marking the sadness. I will however be celebrating and honoring my beloved's life. Who knows what the future will hold for me. I know this day has been a hard one. Hey, anything is possible. I know that I have found myself being both overly compassionate, and overly impatient with people. Stupid people especially. That sounds cruel doesn't it? I don't mean it to. What I mean is not their intelligence, but rather their behavior. I just found out that someone I once considered a friend was stalking me and mine on facebook to find information about me, rather than reaching out in honesty and love. I think that is more hurtful than if they had just not bothered at all.

Something I find strange: Joe, our cattle broker and friend passed away the week after Chip. I did not know as I was wrapped up in my own issues. His daughter called and left me a message after she saw that I had sent him a thank you card for his thoughtful gift of a mass at Chip's memorial.  And then, Jack, the husband of Judy, an old friend from work, who passed three days after Chip. I ran into Jack and Judy at the oncologists office 2 weeks before their passing. We just had a few seconds to exchange pleasantries and then be on our way to more medical appointments. I felt compelled to reach out and stay in touch with her, but life got in the way.  Then, I saw Judy last week at a craft show that my sister-in-law and niece invited me to ( I feel very blessed that Nancy has included me in her family and invites me to special gatherings ). I mean, I had not seen Judy in over 10 years, and now twice in the last 6 weeks?  She asked, tentatively ( as if she knew ) if we were still going to the oncologist and I told her that Chip had passed away on the 15th. Then asked her if she were still going and she sadly stated that Jack had passed on the 18th. Did fate bring us together for some reason? We friended each other on facebook, but I haven't taken the time to actually contact her for anything more personal. Susie and Nancy also think this is a sign, that we met again. Perhaps Judy and I can do some good for one another. We shall see.

And I don't want to complete this post without mentioning Beth. The angel of a friend that I have been blessed with. I called her that Thursday before Chip went into Hospice and told her what was going on. I told her that I have never felt so alone in all of my life. Just talking to her made me feel less alone. That night when Prudy got there, I was going to go home and get a shower and change and come back but something kept nagging at me to stay. And lo and behold, Beth walked by the room. At first ( silly me ! ) I thought she was there to visit someone else and I was concerned. I asked her if everythign was ok and she let me know she was there to see us! How pleased I was. She brought me a little goody bag of candy, gum and magazine, etc. Prudy and I took her to dinner and I felt so much better after that, like I wasn't alone after all. Its hard to describe that feeling. I mean, I know that I was in the thoughts of family and friends. But that gesture was huge to me and I will never forget it. No friend has ever done something so loving for me. And even now, she still is looking out for me. When the girls were complaining about their husbands and saying things like they wish they would sleep in seperate beds, etc. , she gave me "that look", like she could feel the pain in my soul, and changed the subject. I knew that she did that for me, and I will always love her for that. She has done this several times. I told her that I don't expect people to have to edit their conversations for my sake, I want to be included in the group, not shunned because people are uncomfortable around me, worried about saying something hurtful, but I don't need to worry because she is there, kind of protecting me. God sent me a good friend in Beth.

And with that, I wish everyone much love!

THE JOURNEY

Life is a journey. For some of us it is scary as hell. Some seem to skate by unscathed. Luckily I have lived a little of both. I am learning not to allow the tragedies of the past to affect my future, and to embrace my time, searching for the purpose and meaning of my existence. The last 20 years have been a real adventure, filled with love and excitement, learning and wisdom. I was blessed to have met my soul mate, the love of my life, and to have lived and loved these 20 years by his side. On October 15, 2012, my beloved moved on in his journey from this life and into the next step of his adventure. I know without a doubt that he is still here with me, watching over me and guiding me, for love never dies. Some day I will join him, and we will continue our work in that other place, a place that I imagine is full of lush fields, perfect weather and big, white fluffy clouds in a beautiful blue sky. The equipment never breaks down or runs out of fuel, the animals are always happy and healthy, and there is always enough of everything for everyone. No sickness, sadness, fear, hatred - only love. Love is what we are all here to experience, and in that experience we will find bliss.

Many years ago I wrote a poem in memory of my dearest furry friend, Brandy, my once in a lifetime dog. I am sharing the last paragraph of it, as it also has it's place here, in this blog, as I honor the soul connection I have with those I love so much:
                       And we will meet again my friend
                       when destinies unfold
                       and together we will run again
                       upon the fields of gold

This blog is the story of our journey.

Much love to all