It has been a while since I have sat down to write anything, although my life has been far from boring or dry recently! I am going to attempt to catch you up on some BIG changes and new adventures that God is embarking me upon.
Up until now, I’ve been living the life of a ranch hand’s wife who is striving to live to glorify God with every day, has a passion for horses, and has felt led to pursue that passion in various ways (something I haven’t gotten around to writing about much yet). I am confident that the love for horses that I have experienced my entire life was placed in me by God for a purpose, and I am still waiting to see exactly what that full purpose is.
Last year after a particularly interesting day moving cows on my horse, Prairie, the idea of getting into doing some endurance riding came to mind. I was not very familiar with that particular discipline, but it sounded like an adventure that I could really enjoy. The interesting thing is, from the moment I actually seriously considered endurance riding, I felt God pricking my heart, whispering, “That’s not just some crazy idea you came up with on your own; I want you to pursue it.”
The following months the idea kept rolling around in my mind like socks in a dryer. I spent countless hours doing research about the sport. I learned everything I could, from the best way to get started in the discipline, to how to condition your horse for your first ride, to what their diet should be. I even went to a local ride to talk to people, ask questions and observe first-hand what a ride is like. That was a fantastic experience, and made me wish I was out there on my horse that day!
During the winter, I looked up the dates of the rides closest to where we live, and started planning. I decided I was going to start with a 25 mile limited distance race that was to be run on June 9th.
Once spring arrived, and I was out riding Prairie mile after mile helping to move cows and calves, I began realizing that it wasn’t going to be as hard as I had thought it might be to get her ready for a 25 mile ride. Living out in an expansive pasture had been good for her, and it was not a bit of a problem for her to cover 15 miles under saddle easily in one day working and moving cattle.
I was realizing I probably needed to be more worried about how I would handle those 25 miles than how she would handle them! *chuckle*
So if you’re wondering how it went, and if I could walk when I got off after the ride, here’s where the story takes a twist…
I never rode that 25 mile ride. I never even entered in the race. God had other plans for this summer of my life!
This is the very reason I named the blog Unveiling Adventure. Due to the fact that I am striving to live my life excited for whatever the next unforeseen adventure God has for me turns out to be!
Honestly, I was a bit disappointed after spending so much time researching, preparing and anticipating this endurance ride, but I have not doubted for one second that God doesn’t know what He’s doing with my life even now. I am also very confident that the words He whispered in my heart are still very relevant, and that pursuing endurance riding was and is something He would still have me do… just a little further down the road of life than I had previously expected. 🙂
God has many ways of changing our plans, and He almost always does change them! Proverbs 19:21 is one of several verses that reminds us of that: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Well, this summer, God’s purpose has prevailed for me once again! I am not sitting atop my horse in a 25 mile race, but rather I am here at home eating five little meals a day because I am PREGNANT!!!
In the back of my mind, I’ve always known that someday being a mother was part of my calling. It is something I have always wanted… SOMEDAY!! Well, guess what?! Someday is now! 🙂 I have been trying to let that reality make it’s way through my thick skull for the last three months.
Talking to a friend on the phone, I realized I have always had the vague thought that someday I’ll get married and when I’m somewhere in my twenties I’ll start having children. I don’t think that it had dawned on me that I AM married and I AM in my twenties already! I still feel like it was just yesterday that I was graduating high school!
I have never been one of those women who cannot wait to get pregnant and start raising her family. Since getting married, I would say that Dean and I have been carrying an ongoing conversation about this area of life. We agreed that we didn’t want to wait until we were getting “older” to start a family, but I didn’t feel any where close to that point in life where I was ready to take on the job description of mother too.
I think God knew that I would never QUITE feel ready, so He started preparing me (towards the end of last year) and then in His perfect timing, He made the decision for me. 🙂
Here I am in the heart of July, sitting on our couch, 17 weeks pregnant and having finally reached a point where I can actually believe this is happening… sort of!
You know what’s great about living a life surrendered to God? (Lots of things!) Presently though, I’m referring to the fact that He never stops surprising you! And, best of all, preparing you for those surprises whether you know it or not. Not only did the Lord give me the new name this summer of “Mother”, but He decided I would get to carry the title of “Mother of twins” too!!!…………..
Yes, you read that right. I’m not only 17 weeks pregnant, but I’m 17 weeks pregnant with TWINS!!!
We were shocked (and I mean SHOCKED) when we saw two little babies on the first ultrasound! Neither of us knew of any history of twins in either of our families at the time, so naturally we hadn’t entertained the possibility for a second before that day.
We went through a roller coaster of thoughts, feelings, and emotions after learning that we were parents to twins, but I specifically held onto the statement my very wise husband made: “Currently, we don’t have any clue why God chose us to raise twins, but let Him find us faithful!”
As you can imagine, the dimensions of my life have already started to change, and by the end of this year will have transformed. Thus as I am able to write, you will probably be seeing some of those new dimensions displayed here on the blog. For as I said before, my someday is happening now!
6 Comments
Very inspirational. May God continue to bless you and keep you. Allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you. We love you all and we continue to pray for you all Carole and Mike
Thank you SO much for everything you guys have already done for us and all the ways you continue to show us your support! We appreciate ALL your prayers! Love,
Amanda & Dean
It’s amazing how quickly plans can change! Congratulations!! I’m so happy for you guys!
THANK YOU, Kayla! 🙂
God’s blessings have gone before you and will carry you through. We will be praying for you and these sweet babies!
Yes, we will be clinging to God’s grace through each new day! Thank you so very much! Your support is so meaningful!