Because We Can

After a little bit of a struggle for the Beebe's to get here, we rested up on Wednesday evening around the campfire, Debi came up with the statement, "Because we can." Meaning, we are here and doing this because we can. We have been blessed to be able to do this and therefore we do it. I think it pretty much says it all.

This is the morning of Thursday, December 31, 2009. We are relaxing around the "patio" of Jeff and Debi's four horse live in trailer. Very comfortable digs.We begin our first trek out to the beach around 10:30 am. The Beebe's have been here several times with their horses. John and I have been here three or four times. Of the six horses we brought all but Lil' Joe have experienced the ocean. I am ponying him for the first look.


He seems to take it all in stride. Proving once again he has a very level head, is trusting and willing. Good way to start.

We pause for some picture taking opportunities. All around us are trucks, cars, people, dogs, waves, kites...we have to keep the horses minds trusting us and focused on us. There are times when that can be difficult, but ultimately they all do quite well. These are great horses.

The second day out I decided that I would ride Lil' Joe. I was a bit nervous and found myself often taking large, deep cleaning breaths to keep me and Joe relaxed.
Ultimately Lil' Joe did wonderful. He just kept a great head and took it all in. The white line in the ocean was the only real scary thing for him, but he adjusted and walked over it.

"Hey Big Bro, I kinda like doing this stuff. We should get mom and dad to take us here all the time."
A good two days spent in the sun. Adding new challenges to the horses training and seeing great results. Tomorrow we will ride again. More pictures to come.

Kinda Gross...Be Careful!!!

You have been warned. The images below may be a bit disturbing. But part of a regular life for me I guess.

This is my vet, Dr Williams and his assistant, Amanda, holding firmly to Lil' Joe. He is in a wonderful contraption called a "gag" or a speculum and his head is supported by a sling. The purpose of this thing is to allow the "dentist" to work on a horses teeth. Not only is Lil' Joe installed in this brace he is also drugged up. If you know horses you know that there probably isn't one out there that would allow this to happen with out the drugs.
Because we don't allow our horses to graze all day as God had designed them to do we have to have their teeth filed every so often. I had avoided this for two reasons. One, it's ugly, mean and gross. Two, it's really, really expensive.
Today, I had all three of my "babies" at the dentist. Get it over with was my motto.
Lil' Joe hadn't lost his front caps completely so the dentist helped them a long. As you can see it was a little bloody and kinda sad. You remember when you had a loose tooth that wasn't quite ready to pull but you decide to mess with it and pull it out anyway. When you did this there was quite a bloody show. That's what this is all about. Notice the extremely relaxed lips. He was way out of it for at least an hour. Can't say I blame him.

Here are his two front teeth. Cute huh? Now he can sing it...you know the Christmas song that goes..."All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth". Awe, poor Lil' Joe. It didn't bother him that much because he has eating just fine after the drugs wore off. Gotta survive, that's what he says.
Here's a shot of Poneeh having the same procedure done. No teeth pulled since he's an old guy. The dentist did have to file his wolf teeth pretty far down though. I am sure he was not a little bothered by all of this. It's amazing he was so drugged that he almost lost leg control, but as soon as the "drill bit" started he wanted nothing to do with it. But all went well. It will be nice not to be concerned about their teeth for a while.


Well, that's it for today. I hoped you enjoyed todays lesson in Horse Husbandry and Dentistry.
Next episode...Removing Beans From Your Gelding. Just kidding. I wouldn't put you through that. If you thought this was gross, that would certainly take you over the edge.

Hello! Are You Out There?

Yup, I am. It's been way to long since I have last given you all an update on our lives. Well, here it is in pictures. And small subtitles.


Our Thanksgiving Table. Pre-meal of course. See how clean it is. John, myself, Shawn, Maegan, Pat, Maegan's Mom Janet and brother, Evan. Yummy food, of course, I made it, duh!!






The day after Thanksgiving we had some of the Stewart's, Smith's, and Bergin's visit the ranch. It was fun. Not only did we eat, duh, but we played pool, talked, drank wine, and played with the horseys. But most of all we met our new family member, Britlyn. There unfortunately is not a picture here because I didn't take one because Paul was taking pictures and he hasn't sent them my way just yet. So you will all have to wait to see her.





Then John had a Racquetball Tournament in Irvine. It was a doubles tourney. He and his partner, Robert, did goo, but didn't win. So sad, but they seemed to enjoy themselves. We also met John's cousin, George, better known as Midge. Ask John, I don't have a clue about them name. And also, Bobby, well, Bob, John's second cousin and his wife Ashley. It was fun to meet Midge. Quite a character. And see Bobby after at least twenty years. Sorry no pictures of them.




Then Pat and I headed down to San Diego, La Jolla at SCRIPPS Medical center for addition epilepsy testing. While he was in the M.E.G. I was running at Torey Pines State Park. It was a sweet escape for a few minutes. What a great run it was too.



John and I went on a group trail ride in Acton for Toys For Tots. It was a great day except for the very large and loud jingle bells on a few of the horses. Poneeh wasn't having any of that so we had to stay separated from the group for most of the three hour ride. Fun anyway. Afterward we all ate at a local Mexican Restaurant, La Cabana, and had chips, salsa and Margarita's. A great way to finish off a great ride.



Well this will get you up to date in our lives.
Ahead is Christmas, A trip with friends and horses to Pismo and a trip to Coeur d'Alene to visit Jenn, Shawn, Dakota, Grandma Harper and Sherri.
Hopefully it won't be months before you hear from me again.

Have a Very Blessed Merry CHRISTmas ! And a happy joyful new year.

First Annual Thankfulness Post

Ok, so it's not the first time I have been thankful. In fact I am usually thankful more then once a year as my previous posts have expressed a few times or so. But I do appreciate the opportunity to have a special day of the year to allow ourselves the right to express our thankfulness, not only about life in general but especially to our loved ones.
So here I go...

I am Thankful for:
My husband, John. He has spent the past thirty plus years of his life striving to keep me comfortable. He has done a DAMN good job, Thank you very much!
My kids. Jenn and Shawn (not my son, my son-in-law) produced a baby this year (in case you didn't know). Dakota is kinda cute and adorable and sweet and fun and cuddly and smells good and... shall I go on?
Shawn and Maegan have joined us in our home for the past six months. It's been hard for them, not having their own home, stuff, quiet... but it's been a time to get to know Mae a little more. this I am thankful for. And their moving out this weekend. YEAH, SAD, good, bummer all wrapped up into one. I will miss you and Xui Xui.
Pat, oh Pat. I've posted alot about him so I won't go into detail. But I am thankful that I have been given this blessing called epilepsy through him. I am growing day by day trying to figure it all out. I am thankful that I am available for him. God made me, his mom, just perfect for him.
If that doesn't make sense, try to figure it out.
My horsey's. Yup that's all I will say about that. If you know me you understand. If you don't understand, then you don't know me and what the heck have you been doing these past 46 years. Get on with it. Get to know me.
My doggie's. Right now they smell like dirty dogs, but I love 'um anyway. They worship me in their doggy ways. Is that good? I don't care. I am thankful that I have them.
My yard (the ranch). It's kinda fallish messy right now. I have neglected it just a bit. But the best part about it is when I get the drive to get to it it will bring me more joy then just looking at it. The hard work it takes is such a blessing.
My friends, old and new. You know who you are. You have helped me through life. You remind me that I need you everyday. We talk on the phone, text, email, ride horseys, have lunch, workout, study the Bible...together. These are the things I need you for and you are there.
I am Thankful for life, for the life that God has blessed me with. Beyond more then I could have asked for. Though I struggle every minute to be the best daughter, sister, wife, mom, and friend I can be, I know that this is what you have given me to help me grow and blossom.

Let's look to tomorrow not just as an opportunity to be thankful, but to make the remainder of our lives the opportunity to honor God in EVERYTHING we do. Every good, bad, ugly, sweet, lovely, horrible, wonderful, nasty, mean, nice, careful thing we do. Turn it around in honor to Him. That's why we live, to learn and grow more and more like Him.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you all.

I give you permission to enjoy yourselves. Eat food, love your family, love God and His creation.

I AM SO EXCITED!

First some perspective. This is Lacey, myself and Lil' Joe on the day of his birth, May 13, 2007. He and I go WAY back. Well, I am pretty much all he knows as a teacher / trainer. From day one he and I began our relationship.

Here is Lil' Joe on Saturday, November 14, 2009, two and a half years later. He's grown a bit, wouldn't you say? He and I have a had a few moments together.

This was our first opportunity to go public. I have had a few rides on him at home, but never in a new place with new horses. This was a training clinic instructed by Jeremy Dunn of www.jbcattleco.com .

I have worked and followed his training methods for a few years now. So it was obvious that I would start Lil' Joe with his assistance.

Now, mind you, this is only the second horse in all my forty plus years that I have started. The first was Spirit of 76 "Blue", a chestnut Paint filly, I bought for $500 when I was 15 and she was two. That went well, I think. She was ridable and I sold her for at least twice what I paid for her a year later. But I had no method to my madness back then. Just get her ridable, that was my goal. She had a quiet mind much like Joe's, but not nearly as pushy or smart as he is.
So here I am thirty years later attempting this again. And we did it. At least up to this point, I believe I have an intelligent, beautiful, solid horse. He's not "finished" and won't be for several years, but the foundation is solid and I couldn't have asked for it to be better.

I have done some Thank You messages here in the past and I once again will throw a few big thank you's out:

God, you have blessed us beyond what we could ever have imagined. You have allowed me to have these creatures in my life and I THANK YOU SO VERY VERY MUCH!!
John, most of all THANK YOU for putting up with my expensive and time consuming desires and dreams. They can be pretty out there, but you helped me fulfill them, THANKS! Hey and thanks for the great pictures here. I wouldn't be able to brag nearly as well without them. Thank you!
Dad and Mom, yeah you guys also. You started me on this great journey when I was just five. I thank you for Goldie and Lexy as they have forever been infused in my soul. They were the beginning of the passion that I have for God's most amazing creatures. Thank you!
Jeremy and Brandie, you have been such a help with even the little things. Jeremy, I didn't even sense frustration from you when you saw that Lil' Joe was still a little too pushy, thanks.

And now I'd like to thank the academy, oh wait...just kiddin'.

But really, this has been a lot for me and I just wanted to share a small bit of it with you.

Ten Things I Love About Home

For any of you who really know me and/or have followed this blog, know that I have a thing for being in my home. Not so much in, but by, near, around, through, next to... I just like living here. It IS HOME.
Don't know if you have ever or will ever have that feeling. I am so very sorry if you haven't. It is a peace. A happiness. A connection. A feeling of completeness. (wow, sounds a bit spiritual) It is spiritual. Because I also connect with God in my home. Not so much that He talks to me. More that I know this is ALL His, even though I get to manage and "own" it. He is here in His creation and I get to be a part of it. Lord, I AM BLESSED!
SO I thought I might give you a snippet of my home in a blog title "Ten Things I Love About Home." Here I go, be forewarned these are not in any particular order, they are just what I love.

One.
My Acton Family (I have a family in Coeur d'Alene, when I am with them I am home too)



Two.
My Animals.

Ok these first six I can have anywhere, but they are apart of what is Home to me.

Three.
My Quiet Time on the porch every morning (unless it's less then 40 degrees)


Four.
My Crazy Garden


Five.
My Trees

Six.
Cleaning these every day

Seven.
My back patio.

Eight.
Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall (ok, no love here)

Nine.
My birds, ok, I don't actually own them, but they love my yard and bring me lot's of joy.

Ten.
The view.

Honorable Mention to:
My office, Cus, this is where I work, communicate, and create.

And Kiki, because, well, she's the kitty with no end. She seen seventeen years of our life. Amazing!!!

Can you see it? If you can't that's OK. It's my home anyway, not yours, unless you are John, Shawn, Maegan or Pat reading this.

Eight Days of ????

So I have kept some up to date about what's been up with Pat. But let me replay some already given information to those who may not know.
Pat is epileptic, has been since 12 months old or so. He struggles with trying to maintain his seizures with medications, but has yet to be completely or even 75% controlled. He had a left frontal lobectomy (brain surgery) done six years ago. No change. Last year began with a change in seizure intensity.
On Tuesday, last week he was readmitted to Ronald Reagan Medical Center for a Video Telemetry Study, 24/7 EEG monitoring, to find where and how his seizures are behaving. He gave them 5 typical seizures, but because of a medication screwup, also gave them two large seizures, sometimes known as grandmal type (of which he has NEVER had). Since they have these all recorded they want him to continue in studies to see if he may be a surgery candidate again.
He (we) checked out the following Tuesday. It was eight days of sitting, keeping him company, encouraging him to eat, drink, sleep, shower, walk...just basically keep him going. He just sat, layed down, got in trouble for not calling the nurse to get up, sat, layed down, walked, ate, sat, layed down, played video games, sat, layed down, showered...
Here are some snap shots of the week.

Kirk, "installing" Pat's EEG paddles. (the glue smelled like model glue, yuck!)


It begins.

I stayed at Joan and Pauls a few nights. THANK YOU so very much for a little escape.

A Room with a view. UCLA football practice, right out the window. That was kinda cool.

Getting ready for a shower.

Nice. Don't be mad at me Pat. I just wanna show the reality of it all.

The RN's and the Care Partners were awesome.

Going for a Halloween Walk. Nobody in the other rooms had candy, WHAT?

Sheena, was so cute. She was the only one that dressed up for the occasion.

A visit with Jenn and Evie Langford. Thanks Jenn, so very very much!!!