This fall has been one of the most absolutely gorgeous falls that can remember in a while! My heavenly Father has been SO KIND in providing me with time I "don't have" to go riding through the Autumn glory! Many a day I'll finish something just in time to sneak in a horseback ride before the sun sets....God is good! I've also found myself thanking the Father for giving me two afternoons free to take two of my best friends on a horse ride....Anna and Julia! :)
On the day I invited Anna to join me on a horseback ride I asked her to bring her camera along to capture the breathtaking beauty of an incredible western Iowa fall. My heart throbbed in wonder and praise to my God as I glimpsed rolling hills splashed colors of crimson, scarlet, yellow and orange as far as the eye could see!
Enjoying every second of our ride me and Anna headed down the road to a bean field, crossed the bean field, went through this timber and headed for a secluded dirt path I know about that I figured would be breathtakingly awe inspiring this time of year!
With my dear sister Anna courting I don't get to spend nearly as much time with her as I may have in the past and thus my heart was pounding with joy and gratefulness as we traversed the rolling countryside!
The day COULDN'T have been more perfect! The sun kissed our cheeks well the crisp autumn air nipped at our hands and faces making us snuggle into our coats and sweatshirts. It was such a glorious time! We laughed, we reminisced of old times, we rode in sacred silence soaking in the unbelievable beauty around us...my heart was in the clouds and I could have broken out singing any second for to go riding in God's awesome creation with one of my best friends is the best of times in my mind!
Riding up the dirt path that had more then met my expectations of awe inspiring beauty I spotted this row of trees that shone like gold and decided me and Anna should grab a few quick snapshots beneath them.
--Me and Lucky--
--Anna and Chey--
LOVE the enthusiastic thumbs up Anna! ;)
I will praise You, O LORD with my whole heart;Psalm 9:1
I will be glad and rejoice in You;Psalm 9:2
He has put a new song in my mouth--And will trust in the LORD.
Psalm 40:3
On the way home we had quite a hilarious memory transpire. During the course of our ride our neighbor's dog Snickers had found us and decided to join us in exploring the countryside. We didn't mind her company until she started barking at the horses with a high pitched excited yip every time they stopped because she wanted them to keep moving! Since she was jeopardizing our safety and disrupting our nice peaceful ride I no longer appreciated her company any longer! As we headed home Anna decided to run Chey up the dirt path for the pure joy of it and Snickers took off running after Chey's heels like she was going to bite them with me screaming "Snickers get back here! Quit, leave it!" Thankfully Snickers didn't bite Chey, but when I caught up with them Anna had about had enough of Snickers and she wasn't about to let her follow us ALL the way HOME! Leaving me in the bean field on horse duty Anna set off to chase Snickers home with a bean stalk in hand. Because Snickers IS a German Shepard and we don't really know what she's like to humans she doesn't know I suggested to Anna maybe it wasn't a good idea to mess with her, but Anna was bound and determined to get rid of her....she was FED UP! I about laughed my guts out well Anna chased and yelled and threw sticks at Snickers well Snickers scampered off with her tail between her legs only to start trying to sneak back every time Anna ceased fire! Anna continued her hot pursuit of Snickers chasing her down a hill throwing anything she could find and yelling hilarious things! After all that work Snickers just laid down on the road and waited until Anna mounted Chey again and then proceeded to follow us ALL THE WAY HOME!:-P Oh well....it made for a hilarious memory...the mental picture is seared in my mind forever!:-D Love you Anna! <3
Me and the horses waiting oh so patiently for Anna! :)
The glorious view on the way home! Thank God for His indescribable creation, for family, for horses, and for memories made never to be forgotten!:-D My heart is filled with praise!
Another day--another ride--with another best friend! ;) It was another beautiful fall day just calling my name and after the amazing ride me and Anna had taken the previous week I invited Julia to come riding with me! With how much she loves to spend time with me, outside, and riding horses she was more than happy to oblige me! :) So we headed down the road intending to take the exact same route me and Anna had.
--Chey and Jewel Bug-- 
Somewhere along the way our route got altered when Julia convinced me to go "off roading" verses sticking to the beaten path! It was well worth it though! The view beneath the trees is JUST as breathtaking as the view from afar!
We had a marvelous time following deer trails, winding through trees, and listening to the leaves crunching loudly beneath the horses hooves! At one point Julia said, "Fall smells so good!" I breathed in deep and agreed. The air was indescribibly sweet, fresh and clean in the timber!
"Oopppss....watch out for that branch...duck Jewels!" :)
On the way home we found our way to the dirt road so that we could let the horses "go" and enjoy the pure bliss of flying down the dirt road! There's nothing like running wild and free on your baby--me and Jewels just smiled and laughed and screamed "Yeehaw" as the wind whipping in our face caused tears to stream down our face and we soaked in the awesomeness of the moment!
As we crossed the bean field heading home the sun was setting on the western horizen and peace settled round about us like a warm comforting blanket! I can not describe how grateful I am for God's bountiful blessings in my life! His lovingkindness is better than life! Have you thanked the Lord for the wonderful life you're living today?!O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance
and my cup; You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;Yes, I have a good inheritance.
Psalm 16:5-6