Magical Moment 430, "Guiding Jerry"

I am SO not a horseback rider, though I love to try every now and then. Eddie and I went for a trail ride in the Pocono Mountains and I rode an older, brown horse named Jerry. Like most trail horses, Jerry followed the guide in front of him with minimal direction. I thought it was odd though, that Jerry kept veering around the particularly rocky parts of the trail. I am no expert, but I thought maybe the rocks were uncomfortable for his feet, so I let him veer occasionally.

But my heart stopped several times when Jerry stumbled and tripped. Some stumbles were so bad, that I spoke up and told the guide, worried that poor old Jerry may actually go down. The guide didn't seem concerned at all. He told me, "Just keep him on the trail."

It dawned on me that perhaps Jerry thought he was making things easier on his feet by veering around the trail, but really he was tripping himself up on his own feet, making things more complicated. After that, I was much more strict with the reins, and no longer gave Jerry the option of wandering from side to side. He may have been a little confused at first. After all, he had done this trail a million times and probably never had a rider be very active with the reins, but eventually, he stuck to the straight and narrow.

How often I think I know everything about where I'm going and what I'm doing. I'm in control. I'm the boss of me. What harm can their be, should I occasionally wander from left to right? I'm on the general path, aren't I? All the while, not realizing that I'm causing more trouble for myself, tripping my own selfish self up. And then I'm surprised when I stumble! What a reminder, not to fight the reins, gently guided by the Master. He knows best. Not me.

"LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps." ~Jeremiah 10:23

Left: Eddie and Ace, Right: myself and Jerry

Magical Moment 625, "Thailand - the Elephants"

Needless to say, my favorite part of our Thailand vacation, was our week long volunteering at Elephant Nature Park ! The logging industry was banned in Thailand in 1989, leaving thousands of elephants unemployed. These elephants are now used for tourism. You may have heard of elephant shows featuring the animals playing soccer or painting pictures with their trunks. They are no doubt amazing to watch, but the sad truth is that these elephants have gone through a series of torture and abuse to "break their spirit" by their trainers. This short clip is very hard to watch, but it will give you an idea of what the elephants in captivity in the country of Thailand go through. The only elephants in Thailand who do not endure this, are the very few baby elephants who are first generation born in "safe captivity" at places like Elephant Nature Park. Every other elephant at this park has been brutally abused. Some have been blinded by their owners, le

Magical Moment 620, "Lilac Garden"

Eddie and I visited the Lilac Gardens at Ringwood Manor in New Jersey, a pristine and beautiful state park with 8 species of lilacs and several varieties within. We went on a rainy afternoon, which turned out perfect because the rain stopped for us when we got there, and began again as soon as we left. It also decorated the plants with gorgeous rain drops, adding to their beauty. And now for a quick game of "Where's Elizabeth?" And "Where's Eddie?" ~~Have a great weekend! ~~

Magical Moment 280, "The Eleventh Hour"

The Veterans Day Parade, NYC On July 29, 2001 , five exceptional men were honored by the President of the United States for their remarkable military service. They were involved in a top secret mission that required unfathomable intelligence and as a result, literally won a battle which was instrumental in winning the war. Not the war that was happening in 2001, not even the Gulf War. It was World War II, and they were the Navajo Code Talkers who were largely responsible for winning the bloody battle of Okinawa. The only problem with the ceremony was that just 5 remained of the original 29. Our country was too late in thanking the other 24, and nearly too late in thanking those 5 men. On March 10, 2010, three hundred women won the Congressional Gold medal for their outstanding war service. Unfortunately, 800 received the award posthumously. These were the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II, who devoted themselves to flying military aircraft like the B-26 and B-

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