The bonds little girls share with their horses and horsey friends are very special. Even if the other trainer gets upset, so long as the new one is good, I would place my daughter where she has peer support. In fact we just moved (across country) and one of the perks of the new barn was that their were lots of other little girls, plus it allows me to go back to teaching. Learning from multiple instructors is something I have always encourage my younger students to do (younger being anything not showing at an intense level). It makes me sad when trainers get territorial. I hope that helps just a bit. :)

Yeah! Got the computer up and running so I can give and update. We finally made it, safe and sound (barely) after 27 hours!!!! Pony did awesome, but I don't think he will want to see the inside of trailer anytime soon. ;) We had a scary, very close call in Il. The semi in front of us started to slide on iced over roads. The ice came out of nowhere, one moment fine, the next a sheet of ice. So, the semi start to slide and dh immediately understand why. He knows he cannot just slam his breaks, so we try to let the trailer slow us (thankfully it was a flat area) swerve around the swerving trailer only to be present with another trailer jackknifed across both lanes and a line of cars progressing slowly around the semi on the shoulder. We are still traveling faster than the semi in front of us. Dh pull around the first semi, all the while gently trying to slow down then cuts in front of the whole line (because he cannot stop) makes it around the jackknifed semi on the shoulder using the rumble strip to give further traction. On the other side there is another large horse trailer pulled over and the drivers were talking with each other. We just kept going, slow and steady. It quickly cleared as soon as it had come. We had one other slippery slope in Northern Michigan, but we did finally arrive. We took pony to the indoor arena so he could walk and move around, before placing him in his stall for the night. Today he was happy as a lark out in a snow covered pasture. He is now double blanketed, because he just doesn't have enough body fat and he is from the Tropics. Dd rode him a little bare back in the indoor arena today. It is one of those white, domed, plastic arenas. There was a layer of snow across the top and in the sun it kept breaking in large chunks and falling down the sides. Pony was a bit freaked out, but didn't bolt. Just raised his head and snorted at the ceiling. :)

I have questions I need to chat about quickly. :)

Alrighty! I am making up mini standing bandages for the pony today ;)

Okay, I think I am confusing the issue more!!!! :) This time of year everyone from the parish schedules their "house blessing." It is jokingly referred to as "house blessing season." The Priest comes and prays with you in your Icon corner and then goes through the ENTIRE house flinging Holy Water. You can ask at other times of the year, but this occurs every year in the month after Theophany right after the blessing of the waters. I am trying to figure out if my Protestant missionary friend in Israel, whose daughter witnesses a "Catholic" priest go into her Hebrew tutors house and fling holy water around was indeed Catholic or if my friend cannot tell the difference between Catholic and Orthodox. :)

Thanks! I meant does the Priest fling the Holy Water around your house during the blessing in the same manner, but I think I got it. ;) Appreciate it!

I have a question. Do Catholic Priests do house blessings at this time of year like EO? Do the fling Holy Water in the same manner? :)

I will take a stab at answering this. I think people with sexual urges that make them feel ashamed are attracted to highly structure, strictly governed, high cost religious environments in the hopes that if they devote themselves fully to God, he will save them from their urges. When this doesn't happen it then becomes about protecting God's image and things get ugly and complicated. :( I am in no way defending what they do, but I can see how it happens. :(

Hmmmmmm....I am not really sure what I can add to this or how to discuss this, since it seems like you are actually asking MANY different questions. When I really, really, boil it down there are few things to consider. First, I do my level best to live like Jesus, to love like Jesus, to emulate the salvific life he led here on earth. Next there are the issues of obeying Jesus. There are often areas that *look* unloving in a broad sense, but flow out a very loving, obedient, faith in the Word made flesh. Jesus didn't give communion to just anyone. It was to a very specific group after a very specific time and he tells us to do as he did. So we love as he loves, we share as he shares and we do our best as finite non-omniscient creatures trying to emulate and obey an infinite omniscient God.

:( Prayers!

These always make me so sad and angry, but I do appreciate you sharing. :(

It is almost fully enclosed. Just the back upper part is open. I think I will start with no blankets as it will be near 70 here and asses when we hit mid Il, since that is where the temp will drop. You guys are fun to chat about this with. :) Dh's eyes just kinda glaze over.;)

You do not offend me! I suffer the same ailment ;) I just have a deep hatred of wraps and trailers combined, but I haven't had to haul this far before.....so even I am rethinking some things.

Thanks! Yeah, I am still debating the polo wraps. I haven't used standing wraps in soooo long that I am wary of getting them "safe" for such a long haul. We are prepared to find a place to stop half way if need be. He is barefoot right now, so no shoes to worry about. We will be stopping every few hours for gas and to let him rest a bit. I considered boarding him here until the weather is better, but that was such a nightmare during the last move that I just want to keep him close. Thankfully, he hauls really well in general. Keep the ideas coming! :)

I think I will bring a sandbag. that way I can give him a little traction if things freeze up a bit. Ugh!!!

You are good person, please know that. I think the space issue is more about letting her control how much......if you can. It says a lot that you are struggling with this. I do think talking to someone would be helpful. Sometimes we just need help untangling the knots we tie ourselves in. I also wanted you to know, even though I am a *victim* and have people not stand with me, my hands aren't clean. We all go through life wounding others. I can be humble and sorry, but I cannot fix all the wounds I have caused in the past. This is where I do find my faith (hanging by a thread as it is) comforting. Sometimes I have to let go and let God heal the areas I cannot. You are in my thoughts!

This. For me it was MIL who didn't believe me/wouldn't allow herself to believe. That will never be a fond memory for me. OTOH, I would not want her carrying around shame for years and years. Learn from it, but do not carry that forever. I want to say something as gently as I can. I read something in your post that as a victim made me feel a bit gicky (sorry I do not have better words) I could be wrong, but it sounded a little like you were *needing* her to forgive you so you could feel better and move on. *Very gently here* That is not her job and would probably be a bit like ripping of the scab if I were in her shoes. It happened. It isn't pretty and it never will be. All you can do is learn and forgive. I would want you to forgive yourself, but I would also want you to give me space. Ipsey, I have known you here for awhile and you are a wonderful person!!!!! This was a mistake, sometimes we cannot fix our mistakes, but it doesn't make us a bad person. It makes us human. ((((((HUGS))))))))))

I was debating polo wraps. I hate, HATE! shipping boots with a passion. I think I will vet wrap the polo wraps in place. He has a pretty roomy, slant loaded, stall. Enclosed at the front (sliding screened window if we want) but above the back above the door is open so plenty of good air. We do have rubber mats down so that is a go. Ottakee, thanks about the heads up on frozen pee! Didn't cross my mind. I have been debating flavoring his water today and tomorrow and getting him used to that so he will drink whatever water I give him. Thank you for helping me trouble shoot this adventure!

We are trying not to stop, unless we have to due to road conditions. I will be watching the weather closely as we approach Thursday. We are leaving here Thur midday and traveling through the night. So far the weather forecast is good, but that could always change. ;) My niece rides show Arabs in Grand Rapids so I figure I could find stop there if need be. Would you be willing to pm me your phone number and general area.It is always nice to have options when and if the roads get dicey. I know you moved when the highway was widened. It is funny after all that, dh will now be working in that same state. ;) Final destination is close to Traverse City, but dh has to be at a meeting on Sat on the other side of the state somewhere between lansing and detroit so if we have any hiccups we will have to stop and hole up for a day or so while he does his meeting.

Okay, I took a good look at it when he got home and I pretty sure it is a fire ant bite. No swelling and only red for about a mm around the actual pustules. I think it is over 24 hrs old and he just noticed them because we saw a recluse and I got wigged about touching anything else. Thanks for all the help and sorry for the false alarm. :(

He went to pick the kids up from the Godparents. I will get my first good look in about 1/2 hr. Trust me, if I see anything that makes me wary he will be in the Dr. first thing in the morning. I am not in the mood to mess around with this, but he is very healthy and ....... I cannot quite figure out how to say this.......gentle with his hands. ;) He is kinda a baby when it comes to them and I often tease him for putting bandaids on the littlest thing. He would be the first to take himself in.

.......We are getting ready to haul dd's pony 21 hrs in a straight shot. Anyone have any pointers for doing this over such a long distance. We did 13 hours a couple years ago, but this is the longest I have done before. I will start electrolytes 48hrs ahead of time and I have some calming stuff to add to his feed. Also, he is going to be going from a Southeast Texas climate to a Northern Michigan climate. I have a warm underblanket, outer blanket 1200D and a matching hood. Anyone, transition a horse from a warm climate to a cold one? He is quite fuzzy, but I do not think that means a whole lot. ;)

Part of my concern over this is we are packing for a move in a few days and I want to be able to tell him whether to go to the Dr. tomorrow or not. I will probably just have to watch it through the evening. :(

I do too, but I was wondering if it was just early. The fact that it isn't bothering him has me a little confused. I would think fire ant, but you feel those immediately. I think I will give an antihistamine and Ibuprofen. If they pop clean with Hibeclens. The Dr also gave me a strong topical antibiotic, because dd and I are prone to staph.

We were moving some things in our shed and a couple hours later he has two pustules forming. They are about a 1/2 in apart which makes me think to big for a spider, but maybe he was bit twice. How should I help him? Anyone been through this? Can you tell be at what point I will know if it isn't a recluse. It is a little red, but not itchy or burning. Ugh! Do not want to to deal with a spider bite right now. :(