Stockings

It has been a crazy crazy time for the Rushing household, but what else would I expect being a Rushing wife?! There are many reasons why I have not posted lately, and many of you know why that is. I thought I would post this really quick because if I don't I will not post it until after Christmas and this is quite a Christmas-y post.

It is mine and Ryan's first Christmas together, our first Christmas no longer being under our parent's roofs, eventhough we thankfully get to be there with them! So I thought, we need stockings!

I brought Ryan with me to the fabric store. This was quite an experience for him, I was not sure how he would take it, but apparently it made a huge impact in his life. While I was looking at fabric, Ryan was looking at sewing, quiltting and craft books when he found one with an old lady on it with the title "still stripping after 25 years." It was unbelievable. Apparently "stripping" is a term used for quiltting in that they strip the fabric... but wow, did she not know?!? Ryan proceeding to take a picture with my phone and send it to all of our family. He later shared it with our small group at church. I mean, this trip to the fabric store greatly impacted him.

Anywho, Ryan did help me pick out fabric, he is a wonderful husband :)

Also, we moved out of the trailer! We are no longer trailer trash! I will have a post to follow about that, there is just not time now. But here is a picture of our stockings that I made hanging in our new living room.


Sadly, we do not have a fire place, but I am not complaining! I love having normal plumbing and a dishwasher!
This is my stocking:

And here is Ryan's:

And the inside is full of cookies! Because there are always wonderful goodies in stockings!

Hope you like them! Merry Christmas!!

Big night in Pilot Point

This post is mainly for my sister, Leslie. I know that she will get the greatest level of enjoyment from this post :)

Yesterday was Friday. Ryan had just finished work and we were sitting down for dinner when I got a text message from a friend named Amanda who is in our home group. She was asking if I would like to meet her half way and hang out. (she lives in Denton, which is where our home group is, and we live in Gainesville about 40 min away). It was going to be a girl thing, but the guys agreed if her husband and Ryan came they would come, neither one wanted to be the only guy there.

Well, the only problem is, there are not many good meeting spots half way between Gainesville and Denton. There are no Starbucks or very good restaurants. Yet, I remembered that there was a dairy queen on the South side of Pilot Point. So we decided to make that our meeting destination. Ryan and I packed up and left and I talked to my sister, leslie, on the way there. We pulled up and noticed a lot of trucks in the parking lot. Lots of trucks is very normal for where we live, but they all had dog crates in the back and these crazy tool boxes. Then we noticed a circle of high school boys in camo talking outside. We just thought they were trying to look cool. When we got inside we noticed a large group of older men in camo sitting around the tables talking. We decided to wait for our friends on our tailgate in the parking lot though. Once outside we realized that all of the trucks had dogs in crates in the back. We could here them all wimpering, wanting to get out... it was pretty cute.

Then, an older man walked out and changed out of boots into these big mud boots that go up to your hips (kind of like waders, but they clip to your belt. they looked like chaps, ha!). He went inside and another guy came out and put his on. Ryan and I were like... did they go hunting or something? I started thinking well... it looks like they may be about to go hunting. Yet, it was pitch black outside!

Next, everybody got up and went out into the parking lot. They were all gearing up, putting on their big boots, all of their crazy gear, and they all had huge head lamps on their hats. They all got their dogs out and put light up collars on them. Finally,a guy came near us and we asked him, what are y'all hunting for? He replied ever so eliquantly, " Coons."

I am not sure if they are in a club or what. They had ring leaders that were guiding certain groups and they were hitting different spots around the area. There's nothing better than goin' coon huntin' on a friday night in pilot point!

We were really hoping our friends who live in the city would be able to see the sight we saw, yet they didnt get there until all of the coon hunters had left!

Sadly, I do not have any pictures, I thought it would be really weird if I just starting taking pictures... and I didnt have a camera :(

Our Halloween/Reformation Day Camping date extravaganza!

This Halloween/Reformation Day, Ryan and I decided to have a small adventure. :)

Ryan had to work in the morning, I helped him bathe all of the horses, and we were finished by lunch time. The day was absolutely GORGEOUS! So we drive about 20 minutes south to Lake Ray Roberts State Park. We found a nice camping spot and made a camp fire. We made hot dogs and smores! Ryan took some time before we left and made me a camping "Mix tape."



On the way to the park we stopped at a small grocery store in Pilot Point. I looked at the aisle sign and saw something that I just had to take a picture of. Apparently, Catsup is another way to spell Ketchup for some people. I think they just don't know how to spell... but you can decide that for yourself.


This is a picture of the goods!


We were super excited about the smores... and chocolate. I think Ryan and I have spent quite a bit of time together. I told Ryan to look excited and he made the exact same face as me! Ha!


I had to post this picture of Ryan's manliness. He wore his "Al Boreland" shirt. (he calls it that!) He had quite a bit of fun with that hatchet!


I don't know if you can see this picture, but it was a crazy big Daddy Long Leg spider. Thankfully he got out of the pit before we got the fire started.


A major reason Ryan wanted to go out to the park was so he could smoke his pipe out in the woods. Our new home group leader, Bo, is an avid pipe smoker and he taught Ryan the right way to do it. We picked out some pretty great smelling tobacco.


The leaves in the trees looked like they had catepillars eating them!


This is me smelling Ryan's tobacco. He has one called Professor's blend and the other Saddlemans. He said he felt cheesy for buying Saddleman's, but he said it just smelled too good.
Notice, the Bible in my lap. We feel that the Bible goes well with wine and pipe smoking :)





I hope you guys had a loving Reformation Day as well! We had a great time celebrating! We even met a couple and talked for about 2 hours over a camp fire about the Lord! Hopefully they will know Him soon. God bless!

Recent Happenings

A couple of days ago I had such an amazing and pleasant meeting with two girls. It was so unexpected on my part, yet I know, it was an ordained meeting for sure. By the way, as I am writing this, the wind is blowing at 18 mph and lets just say the trailer is rocking a little bit!! Ryan and I had a hard time sleeping last night, we were so paranoid that a tornado would throw us to China.

Anyways, I decided to go discover what the shops in Gainesville could offer. So first stop, Goodwill. Second stop, Big Lots, then on to Bealls and finally to payless shoes. I know, classy... I did not buy much at all, I just wanted to see what was there for no reason. Yet when I left payless, two girls stopped me and presented a box full of sun catchers. They said they were doing a fund raiser for an religious/leadership organization. One of the sun catchers had four people on it of different nationalities with a rainbow over top and it said "One people under God." So of course, my interest was sparked!

I asked them exactly what the organization did and then more specifically what religion it was. They said, "we're a non-denominational group, we're Christians, we believe in Jesus and stuff." So I asked more specific questions. They were with a group that has the goal of unifying all religions. Their parents joined this group and they were raised in it. I found that they didn't believe Jesus was God. It was so sweet though because God gave me scripture after scripture to share with them. He gave me a way to talk with them lovingly. The girls were right out of high school and were so sweet. We ended up talking for maybe 45 minutes! Just about God and the Bible and we were getting know one another. The crazy thing is that one is from Colorado and one from California! They travel around and try to raise money for about 2 months

Well, by the end of our conversation, we were giving each other hugs and they were saying how they wanted to start reading the Bible. I was so blessed by this. Ryan and I had just gotten back from a horse show and I was feeling quite distant from the Lord, yet by His grace He showed me that He still wanted to use me for His glory! I am so grateful that He doesn't leave us or forsake us. He is near and yearning to spend time with us and to show us His amazing power and as my friend Holly says, "mad-networking skills!"


So today, since it is going to be storming rain all day, I am beginning mine and Ryan's Christmas presents! I am making stockings for us both. We don't exactly have a mantel, but, we need stockings! So I bought some old 100% wool sweaters from goodwill. They are hideous, by the way! Ryan laughed when he saw them... I actually got him to try some on, but sadly did not get a picture. Anywho, I am felting them and will use them to make the stockings.

I will post pictures of them when I'm finished. I sure miss all our family and friends, some of y'all need to come visit!

Gainesville Date...

For those who may not know, I grew up in Oklahoma. Braum's ice cream is just about on every corner in Oklahoma. Therefore, I grew up thoroughly enjoying Braum's Ice Cream. Yet, my family moved from Oklahoma and since then I have not had any Braum's ice cream. So, Ryan told me earlier this week that he would take me to Braum's for an ice cream date. I was so excited all week! We have a Braum's in Gainesville because we live close to Oklahoma and Gainesville is off of I-35.

So, yesterday, Ryan and I decided we would go out to eat too in order to make the date more of an event. Yet, in Gainesville, there are not many restaurants. In fact, we asked a local where a good place to eat out would be and he just shrugged his shoulders and said he didn't know of a very good place, ha! There are a few chain restaurants, like chili's and applebee's. So, inevitably, we went to Chili's. Once there we decided to do the 2 entrees for $20. You get an appetizer, two entrees and a dessert! Well, this meant that we had to count out Braum's :( But, I made that decision... I just got myself 2 dates instead of just one! (see that's how you work it)

When we got our food we realized how big of portions and how greasy they can make it! We ate, had a good time, but left stuffed. Well, no date is complete in Gainesville without a trip to Walmart. I needed some groceries so Ryan got to experience the Gainesville Walmart experience with me for once. I get that pleasurable experience every week. Now Ryan knows why I hate walmart people :)

Finally, we made the trek back to our humble trailer. It was not until we got home that we realized how redneck our date was, ha! chili's, walmart, back to the trailer.

We thought it was humorous, I hope you do too :)

Lyndon Rife

Lyndon Rife is my new dressage trainer. I have been riding with him for about a month now. He is very well known and extremely talented in riding, training, and teaching dressage.

This last wednesday he was in a horseback riding accident. I saw his wife today, she taught me a lesson, but I know that they are having a really tough time. Here is a link to his website:

http://www.lyndonrifedressage.com/

Dressage Daily wrote an article about him. He and his wife are in need of help in covering the medical bills. Here is a link to the article:

http://www.dressagedaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4588:09rife&catid=223:october-2009

I have not known them long, but they are wonderful people! I have been wondering what I can do to help them, so I thought I would put this on here in hopes that it may help.

Family Time!

Ryan and I were to blessed to have a horse show in Katy, TX! It was a short show, we drove down on Wednesday and left Saturday, but we got to stay with my parents. It was quite a commute for Ryan driving from katy to cypress and back daily. For those in Houston it is a normal commute! But when you are used to walking across the street to go to work, it was a bit stressful!

Ryan sadly did not get to much time at home with my family, but he did get to have a night with my dad, full of hot wings, cigars and wine :) Some of Ryan's favorite things, ha!

I thought I would post a picture of my niece and nephew, this is not from our weekend together, we forgot to take pictures! But, some of y'all don't know them, they are a lot of fun! We went to outlet mall together where they are sure to get cookies and starbucks, ha! They get the chocolate milk at starbucks, not coffee!! Thursday night we had a mock Thanksgiving meal together. Ryan and I will be at a horse show in OKC so we will miss Thanksgiving. We had the most amazing ham EVER with a cranberry sauce glaze. Complete with sweet potatoe soufle, pumkin pie, and stuffing. It was absolutely delicious! So delicious that the next day my sister and I just ate the ham right out of the container for lunch, we didnt even grab plates or any sides, we just ate the ham and that was it for lunch!

Friday my mom gave me some sewing lessons :) I still have not fixed the sewing machine that was given to me for free. And yes, it was quite an amazing thing. Maybe when I get it working I will post the story about it on here. Anywho, I have some crafty ideas and needed to learn how to do some things before I can make it. Friday night, the girls went out to Lupe Tortilla and then to Michael's starbucks. We had a blast together!

As far at the horse show went. Ryan's boss, Patrice, got second in the futurity on a horse name Rambler. He was tied for first in a four way tie, when one of the guys he was tied with (Nathan Piper, the guy that helped Ryan find this job) came in on his last horse and beat them all! It was a nice day for Nathan! Pat's other horses only did okay. They are all tough rides and have been having some problems in the show ring, but hopefully that will be fixed by the time the big futurity comes up!

Next stop is Ardmore, OK this Sunday. We will be taking our "home" with us! I just have to laugh at that! But the plus side is, we don't have to pack. We just need to fill up the tires, secure everything in place and we are good to go.

These Days

I just need to take a moment and boast in the Lord. His creation is so beautiful! And yet, I know that it in no way compares to the Glory, Beauty and Majesty of the Lord!

Lately, here in Gainesville, TX, God has given us the most beautiful days! We have had blue skies, 70-75 degree temperatures and always a flowing breeze. Every morning I just can't wait to go out and run! The horses are feeling good and running around. I decided to take a few pictures of the ranch yesterday of what I run by. I wish these pictures could do it justice, although they are not the mountains, they are still beautiful!

Ryan and I have also found that the sunsets here on the ranch just get better and better every evening. Hopefully I will remember to capture those and put them on here!



For the past month, Ryan and I have been attending The Village Church in Denton, TX. We have always enjoyed and learned a lot from the pastor, Matt Chandler, through his poscasts. Yet, now we are able to be part of this body. We have been wanting to get connected to some people there so badly. Sunday night we went to a homegroup for young married couples. It was amazing! We are reading "This Momentary Marriage" by John Piper. Our group was so full of God-centered discussion! We all shared our testimonies and I feel we really got to know each other well through that. It is so fun to see the body of Christ, how everyone is SOOO different, yet the Lord brings us together in unity for His Glory!

We are excited to connect with people outside of the horse industry here. It is a good reminder that horses are not the meaning of life, they are only a means of bringing the gospel to people who do not know the Lord.

I am finally working on some really fun crafts, they are mainly all Christmas presents, so I cannot post them on here for quite some time! Yet, I am excited to give them to everybody

AJAX

I am so sorry that this has taken me so long. I have been wanting to introduce this lovely little friend of mine for some time now. I do not have the excuse of being too busy to post on here, so I am not sure what other excuse to give other than I just haven't.

This little donkey is named Ajax. He came from the vet, needing a home and Pat took him to watch over the mares and babies. Donkeys are very protective of their herds and will fight off coyotes and other predators. I know, this is very shocking, but they can be very vicious.

Ryan and I have noticed that people up here in Gainesville seem to have a fetish with donkeys, they are EVERYWHERE! And most of the donkeys are fat. We have a quite exceptional donkey, I believe he is the most cellulite enhanced of them all. Sadly, he has been lame. He has really bad feet so he has been in the stall for awhile. He misses his mares so you hear him "Hee-Hah" all day long. The best part is that the mexican guys that dont speak much English do impressions of him, and well, it's hilarious!

This next photo emphasizes his cellulite booty.



You really have to see him in person, he is quite a site. I will have more posts coming up soon.

Tulsa Reining Classic

Ryan and I just returned from our first reining horse show with Ryan's new employer, Patrice St. Onge. It was a very long week for Ryan. He would wake up at 4 AM to go ride horses and stay up at the show grounds usually until 9 at night, or later! He was one tired man when I finally got to see him this last wednesday. By the time I got there his schedule slowed down a bit.

One of my favorite parts of the show is when Andrea Fippani and Big Chex to Cash did a clinic for people to learn from. He rode a young horse and Big Chex (a well known stallion that has won A LOT) and talked with everyone to teach them. I learned a lot from him! I had been wondering about a lot of things Ryan was doing and after hearing Andrea it explained a lot to me. Here is a link to Andrea and big chex:

http://www.bigchextocash.com/Home.html

Also, the first one hundred kids to come got a breyer horse that looks like big chex, I thought that was a cute idea! Sadly I did not take any pictures myself. I totally forgot!

Ryan and I met a lot of people, trainers, wives of trainers, the guy that drags the arena at just about every horse show, etc. We had a blast! But we are glad to be back "home."

My AMAZING cappuchino maker

This is my Phenominal cappuchino maker. It is called Mukka Express, made by Bialetti in Italy. I received it as a wedding present, I believe from the Decrosta family. It looks like a simple stove top espresso maker, yet it is so much more!

The inovative part in it is the pressure valve that causes the milk to froth up to make your delicious cappuchino. All you do is take it apart, put water in the bottom portion. Then you place a piece on top of it and fill that with finely ground espresso. Then screw the top on, turn the pressure valve into place, fill it with milk and place it on the stove top. Within 5 minutes you hear the pressure valve open and the coffee begins to swirl to the top causing the milk to froth on top of it! It makes two VERY small cups, so I usually just put it all into one. It tastes like it is straight out of Italy (which I can say that because I have had cappuchinos in Italy).

One thing that Ryan and I had noticed in Italy and in Austria is that no matter where you went you could find AMAZING coffee and cappuchinos. From coffee shops, to hotels, to restaurants, even gas stations! It was not the nasty gas station coffee that you see here that was brewed 8 hours ago. It is always fresh. So this little machine has brought that same amazing cappuchino to our home. I highly recomment one to you! And if you want to make a trip up to North Texas I could even make you one!

To be Content

Why is it that in whatever state we find ourselves in we are always wanting? I have been thinking and struggling with this for the past week. I am so thankful for this time with Ryan, he works across the street and I am home and able to see him whenever I want. Yet, there are times that I inevitably get bored. I find myself wanting to do something about it, for instance, go get a job. That is the sensible thing to do, and most likely I will get a part time job. Yet, I do not want to get a job because I am so discontent in the state the Lord has me. To me that is wrong motives. I soon will find myself regretting for changing my circumstances and I will long for the days when I had nothing to do but go watch Ryan ride.

Most people I talk with are desiring and wanting something to change. Those who work want more time off, Mom's want a little bit of time to themselves, those in school are wanting to graduate, etc. And not to say that I have figured out how to be content in whatever state I am in, I just find it unreal how commonplace discontentment is, even within the lives of Christians! For me, this has been a struggle that I have been wrestling the Lord with.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:8-13

When the Lord reveals the heart behind discontentment, I find the root, most of the time, to be selfishness. Paul definitely would have better excuses to be discontent than I ever will have. Yet, he was totally content in Where God had him. I think it first stemmed from the verses in 8-9. If we do what paul is encouraging the Philippians to do there is no way we can be discontent. Right before verse 8 Paul says that we should let our gentleness be known to all. I am seeing that the cure to selfishness is repentance and a decision to seek the good of other people around me. To love them, to pray for them, to reach out to them.

In my specific case, getting a job will help that to happen. It will open doors for me to meet new people so that I can reach out to them. Just getting the job for the sake of something to do because I am bored is a selfish and aweful thing to do. There is no purpose in it. As Christians I feel that we should not do things just for the sake of it. When I become a mother someday, it is not my job to babysit them and just let them do their own thing. I will be held accountable to how I raised them and taught them. Therefore, as a mother, there must be purpose in training your children in righteousness.

All this to say, I hope that the struggles that I am facing can encourage others who may find themselves in my same shoes, finding themselves wanting. Let our only want be for the Lord. He is the only thing that is worthy of wanting.

Our New Home

On Saturday, August 15 of 2009 Ryan and I packed up and moved to Gainesville, TX with almost everything we own. With the help of my mom packing and the help from the Rushing family loading the trucks and trailer, we were able to accomplish the move in less that a couple of days!

Ryan is an assistant to a reining horse trainer here. His boss's name is Patrice St. Onge (on-yay is how you say it), he is a French Canadian from Quebec. He has been in the states for 12 years and built his beautiful facility about 3 years ago. Ryan is riding approximately 9 horses a day (getting in shape fast!) and I am living the high life in our trailer :)


This is our humble abode for the next 4 to 5 months. Pat and his family are living in a duplex that we will live in once their new house is built. The plus side is for horse shows we can just take our home with us, so it is as if we never left home :)

Now for the grand tour of the trailer:


This is the Master bedroom. Well, the only bedroom... I added my own bedding and accent pillows to make it feel a bit more like home. This room is toward the front of the trailer, and yes since I am not 6 ft tall I can stand up in it!


This is the kitchen, complete with an island! It is still quite a bit small, but I have made two meals in it so far.


Here is the dining/living room. If anyone wants to come visit, the couch folds out into a bed and the dining table turns into a bed too! The recliner is our seat of choice though.


Like I said, we are living the high life. This trailer is complete with TV, surround sounds and we even catch wireless internet from the ranch office! This is more than we had in our last house.



Here is the ever so wonderful toilet. It feels a bit like a airplane bathroom. The door next to it contains a washer and dryer too.


Here is the view from our dining table. The barn in the background is someone else's ranch. Our boss sold the land to them. I run down that road :)


This is the view from our trailer of the amazing facility we get to enjoy daily. The front is where the stall are. It is so organized and clean, it makes me feel at home! The back part is the covered arena, and at either end are round pens and more stalls.


Here is one of the barn aisles, the barn is set up so that there is constant breeze going through.


This is the grooming/wash rack. Every horse has its own girth. Again, so clean and organized.


This is the tack room. Pat built his place so it was functional and efficient. Everything has its place!


Here is Ryan riding a 2 year old. This horse has a forelock that almost goes down to his nose. He is quite studish and mouthy, I have fun playing with him.


This is the broodmare/baby pasture. I think the babies are only used to cars driving by. When I run past them they get scared and run the other way, but when a car goes by they keep eating grass.


This is Pat's truck. It is an F-450 western hauler. I didn't know what that meant, then Ryan told me they are custom made for hauling horse trailers. The suspension on it is made to match the trailer or something like that.

Anywho, That will hopefully give everyone some visual of where we are and what we are doing. We just found out we will be leaving for Tulsa, OK on Saturday August 29 for a horse show. Ryan will be taking care of the horses and warming them up and I will be babysitting pat's kids some and spending time with Ryan. I am thankful that I will be able to go with Ryan to shows, it definitely makes being here so worth it.

A huge prayer request:
Ryan and I are in need of a church body. We are asking that God would guide us to the one that we can serve at with solid Biblical teaching and have sweet fellowship with other believers.

We miss you all!
-Amy

Blogging

As I am starting my very first blog, and my very first post, I feel that I must express my outlook of the blogging world to my fellow readers:




BLOGGING
"Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few."

Not only do I find this poster to be hilarious, I also find it to be true. ha! And here I am starting a blog. Oh, the irony.

The purpose of this blog is for mine and Ryan's family and friends to have a way to see what we are up to, now that we have moved so far away. I cannot promise that this will be updated daily or weekly, but hopefully I will stay consistent.

The next post will contain pictures and descriptions of our first couple of days here in Gainesville, TX.