Meant to Be

Canon 5D Mark ll, 70-200 2.8L, 200 mm focal length, 3.2 aperture, 1/100 shutter, ISO 100

Some things are just meant to be together. Horses and girls just seem to bring the best out in one another. When Kodi Ricketson asked to have her senior photos taken with a horse, I knew we would have magic.  Our sweet mare Jackie was happy to oblige as well.

As long as I can remember, horses have been part of my life. I cannot imagine my life without them, their sweet smell, the sound of their hooves on pavement, their gentle nicker to me when I approach the barn. My heart is tethered to them for always. They are a gift to me from my Father.  I was glad to share that joy with beautiful Kodi today. Here are a few more from our time together.

James 1:17 ~”Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Shining

Sweet Kisses

Moment in the Sun

Lovely

Quiet Conversation

Country Girl

Ready to Ride

Canon 5D Mark ll, 50 1.2L, 3.5 aperture, 1/100 shutter, 200 ISO

The weather was so beautiful today it would almost have been wrong not to ride one of my horses. I chose Sam out of my three because I needed a mount that I could trust while riding with my camera. Also, I wanted to just enjoy the ride and meander down the road a bit. Sammy is the perfect horse for this. I introduced him on a previous blog when he was not feeling well. I am happy to report he is back to his spry and ornery nature. He is 26. Pretty old for a horse, but don’t tell him that.

Saddled and Ready

Best Place on Earth

Sitting in the seat of a saddle brings a sense of peace and well-being like nothing else can. The creaking and squeaking of the leather, hooves clip-clopping on pavement, the smell of horses and barns that reach all the way back to my earliest memories. As I ride  I am taking all this in. I pull gently on the reins to bring him to a halt and take a few photos. He swivels his ears back to discern what I am doing, and I laugh. All the tedious concerns of life untangle and fade as we both exhale a deep sigh. I drop the reins, swing my camera to my back and drop onto his neck to hug him, his warmth and softness so comforting. I speak softly to him, thanking him for his cooperation and his friendship. I do not take it for granted. I breathe in my favorite scent on earth, the smell of a horse, and bury my cheek into his mane. Friend. He is a gift from God to me.

Friendship

Sunset Ride

We go on together down the road and find friends along the way, both of the horse and human kind. Everyone is enjoying the cool evening. We stop to chat awhile as the sun beings to set and the moon rises. I sit in the saddle, and in the moment, letting it sink in. I am living right in the middle of my childhood dreams. Right here, right now, on this old country road, on this old horse that one of my best friends gave me. It feels like sacred ground.

Down the Road

Meeting New Friends

Community

Asking for a Date

And then, as we head home to the barn, the moon rises. Sam finds his Saddlebred gait and lifts his tail. I think he had as much fun as I did.

Moon Rising

James 1:17 ~ “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Maddox Cousins

Canon 5D Mark ll, 50 1.2L, 1.6 aperture, 1/60 shutter, 500 ISO

I would like to introduce you to the wonderful family that owns and operates Maddox Feed & Seed in Jefferson, Georgia.  They are truly one of kindest and most generous families I know. And now that their babies are having babies, (like the sweet ones pictured above) their amazing heritage will go on and on. We felt welcomed and loved the very first time we set foot in their store over 12 years ago. They aren’t just nice people who run a local store, they are neighbors who care about their community. Johnny absolutely loves going down there and “chewing the fat” with whomever is in one of the green rockers they keep beside the cash register. He has often gone there for hunting advice, and the Maddox boys, Josh and Caleb have always been willing to help. They are genuinely interested in helping him, a rare thing to find today. When Johnny shot his first deer, he and Chris drove after dark in the cold to Josh’s house, who showed him how to skin and clean a deer properly. Where else can you find people like that?

Ted with a Friendly Neighbor

Janice and Ted are the Momma and Daddy of the clan. I am convinced they are where all this richness started. They are followers of Christ,  and it isn’t uncommon to find them counseling customers or asking for prayer for someone who isn’t there.  Just today I overheard Ted endeavoring to lead someone to Christ the next aisle over in the store. Authentic and wonderful, that’s what they are.  He is passionate about life and God and she is compassionate with people. A great team.

Janice Always Smiling

Terri the Beautiful

One of the first years we lived here, we had a mare that was in foal and a cold snap hit. It was after hours and I didn’t have a blanket for her. I was worried she would colic. I called Janice and Ted, and they brought a blanket to my farm. I will never forget that. Kindness is a powerful tool and they use it well.

Josh Fixing Johnny's Bow

Today, Johnny got a new bow, and was excited to take it to their store to show it to them and get some guidance on techniques and tools. Caleb had gone for the day, (so I didn’t get his picture), but Josh was there and helped him figure some things out. In the photo above, he is putting a new nock on his bowstring for him. Then Johnny and Garrett, another fine grandson in the Maddox family, were ready for some target practice out back.

So Manly

Team Orange

Peas in a Pod

The bottom line is, I adore these people. All of them. I could spend my afternoons there and just listen and laugh, and learn things about life. If you ever get to Jefferson, Georgia, plan a trip to Maddox Feed & Seed. You can get food for your horses, cows, chickens, dogs and cats, and lots of other creatures. You can find seeds for your garden and for your life. You will most certainly gain some new friends, get prayer if you need it, or find Jesus. It’s all there at Maddox Feed & Seed.

Cousin Giggles

Handsome Garrett

Come on Down

Ya'll Come Back Now, Ya Hear?

Proverbs 11:25 ~ “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

If you follow my blog at all, you know I have two lovely daughters. It’s true. I don’t mind saying it. In fact, when I was pregnant with my second one, I was concerned about them comparing themselves to one another. So, I prayed. I asked God to allow my second to be equally as beautiful as her sister, but in her own unique way. Wow, did He answer my prayer. Katie’s features are dark and dramatic and Annie’s features are  fair and classic. Both beautiful. Both unique. Best of all, who they are outshines their physical beauty. Both of them care for people deeply and love their God. This they have in common.

The shoots below were  done on the same day, with the same roll of  hay in my pasture. You can see how different they are in these shoots. I let them choose their costumes (with a little artistic direction from me) and who they are shines through.  Annie will be heading to Liberia December 27th with the Water’s Edge Mission Team. Please pray for them  if you think about them. You can read about their adventures on that blog. Katie will be headed to Valencia, Spain, in January to study abroad. Please pray for her as well. Also, pray for this mother’s heart! I don’t know what I am going to do with myself. I am such a mom.

Johnny hid from my lens on this day, but hopefully I will capture him soon and post something on my boy in the near future!

Blessings~