Showing posts with label messages from the chalkboard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label messages from the chalkboard. Show all posts
Messages From The Chalkboard....
October 2, 2012
The Farmer and I were traveling a few days ago...with our lives sooo busy right now, I do appreciate a little time in the car to just talk. Most often, we talk about our family...(The Darlings)...the good...the bad...and the ugly;) It is a good time for us to solve problems and make plans. So, this particular trip, a major topic of discussion was...how can we help a pretty great 14-16 year old understand that, he still has alot of growing up to do. I think there is something interesting about the ages 14-16...for some reason, most teenagers at this age really feel that they are "all grown up" and that their parents should just step aside...until they need a little $$;) But it is just simply that..."they don't have enough experience to know....that they don't have enough experience!" Which really applies to all of us most of the time as adults. Somewhere during our journey home...The Farmer remembered an experience that he had had as a child that might teach this important concept of "inexperience" to The Darlings...and it was genius!
When The Farmer was a Young Farmer, he had a horse named Ringo. Ringo was a good horse, easy to ride and good with kids...he wasn't too spirited. One of The Farmer's brothers said the beloved horse was plain lazy;) On the other hand, The Farmer's brother had a horse named Campeon (Champion), who had a little touch of Quarter horse in him, and was quite spirited. Many an afternoon, the Young Farmer...a brother or two...and maybe a couple of friends...would saddle their horses and head to the roping area, with The Farmer's Father. The Farmer's Father LOVED to rope and was good at it too, so a good part of The Farmer's childhood was at the roping arena. The horses weren't always happy to go to the roping arena...they knew it meant work. The Farmer says that they would slowly plod their way down the shady lane to the roping area, they knew what was ahead of them. Sometimes the horses would require that the young riders break a small branch from a tree to offer some encouragement to move a little faster all along the way, but the riders persisted until they arrived at the arena. Once there...they would spend hours riding horses and chasing steers. When they were done roping...the seemingly tired horses suddenly became alert and energetic as they knew it was time to head home.
One particular day, The Farmer's Father assigned him to be in charge of getting the horse Campeon home. The Farmer remembers that he didn't enjoy riding Campeon too much, because of his spirit...he was hard to handle. Nonetheless...he did as his Father asked and climbed onto the back of an anxious horse. They took off down the narrow dirt road headed for home...Campeon began to throw his head around tyring to break the hold the Young Farmer had on the reins. He did it over and over...until the Young Farmer became tired and softened his grip on the reins a little. Once he relaxed his hold Campeon began to run a little faster...and then a little faster...with all his might, pulling the reins as hard has he physically could, it became very clear to The Young Farmer that there was literally nothing he could do to slow Campeon, all he could do was hold on tight...and that he was in a bit of trouble. The trouble was this...he was on the back of an out of control horse headed to the end of a dirt road, where there was a cattle guard. It wasn't too long after The Young Farmer's realization that Campeon too realized he had a pretty big problem.
Campeon had been on this road MANY times...he knew what was at the end of the road, but in his clouded state of mind...he had forgotten about the cattle guard. As the cattle guard got closer and closer...Campeon began doing anything and everything to try and stop his momentum...slow his run...slide...but it was too late! And then he jumped...soaring over the cattle guard and landing on the other side in a dead stop. The Young Farmer is still on his back and completely was stunned. In that moment both Campeon and The Young Farmer, were completely out of breath and in a bit of shock, both grateful that they were still alive. By this time The Farmer's Father had realized what was happening, and was racing down the dirt road in his truck...as fast as it would go...hoping not to find a horrible accident at the end of the drive. Grateful that everyone was ok...The Farmer's Father encouraged The Young Farmer to continue his ride home...and to hold tight to the reins. Which he did;) Once home from our trip, The Farmer began his drawing of "the incident" so it would be there waiting for a young 14-16 year old;) when they arrived home from school. As The Farmer recounted the story, the young 14-16 year old...sat on the edge of his chair...hanging on every word The Farmer said. The Farmer then explained the need for a bridle...that it is not only for guidance, but it is for safety. That if we as parents loosen our hold...it is likely that the 14-16 year old might take off on a full run...headed for disaster...and it will too late to stop them. That, as much as the young 14-16 year olds don't like a "bridle" it is for their protection...and then The Farmer said...
"please, please...don't fight the bridle!"
The message was clear...and it was understood.
Yesterday our local missionaries arrived for breakfast. They asked about the drawing, and I told them the story. Later that evening they returned to pick some things up and one of the Elders said..."I heard that in my mind...all day long..."Don't fight the bridle"...I needed that message! I guess it really applies to any age and many circumstances..but I am especially grateful that the message made sense to a young 14-16 year old who is growing and learning...and thankfully still listening;)
When The Farmer was a Young Farmer, he had a horse named Ringo. Ringo was a good horse, easy to ride and good with kids...he wasn't too spirited. One of The Farmer's brothers said the beloved horse was plain lazy;) On the other hand, The Farmer's brother had a horse named Campeon (Champion), who had a little touch of Quarter horse in him, and was quite spirited. Many an afternoon, the Young Farmer...a brother or two...and maybe a couple of friends...would saddle their horses and head to the roping area, with The Farmer's Father. The Farmer's Father LOVED to rope and was good at it too, so a good part of The Farmer's childhood was at the roping arena. The horses weren't always happy to go to the roping arena...they knew it meant work. The Farmer says that they would slowly plod their way down the shady lane to the roping area, they knew what was ahead of them. Sometimes the horses would require that the young riders break a small branch from a tree to offer some encouragement to move a little faster all along the way, but the riders persisted until they arrived at the arena. Once there...they would spend hours riding horses and chasing steers. When they were done roping...the seemingly tired horses suddenly became alert and energetic as they knew it was time to head home.
One particular day, The Farmer's Father assigned him to be in charge of getting the horse Campeon home. The Farmer remembers that he didn't enjoy riding Campeon too much, because of his spirit...he was hard to handle. Nonetheless...he did as his Father asked and climbed onto the back of an anxious horse. They took off down the narrow dirt road headed for home...Campeon began to throw his head around tyring to break the hold the Young Farmer had on the reins. He did it over and over...until the Young Farmer became tired and softened his grip on the reins a little. Once he relaxed his hold Campeon began to run a little faster...and then a little faster...with all his might, pulling the reins as hard has he physically could, it became very clear to The Young Farmer that there was literally nothing he could do to slow Campeon, all he could do was hold on tight...and that he was in a bit of trouble. The trouble was this...he was on the back of an out of control horse headed to the end of a dirt road, where there was a cattle guard. It wasn't too long after The Young Farmer's realization that Campeon too realized he had a pretty big problem.
Campeon had been on this road MANY times...he knew what was at the end of the road, but in his clouded state of mind...he had forgotten about the cattle guard. As the cattle guard got closer and closer...Campeon began doing anything and everything to try and stop his momentum...slow his run...slide...but it was too late! And then he jumped...soaring over the cattle guard and landing on the other side in a dead stop. The Young Farmer is still on his back and completely was stunned. In that moment both Campeon and The Young Farmer, were completely out of breath and in a bit of shock, both grateful that they were still alive. By this time The Farmer's Father had realized what was happening, and was racing down the dirt road in his truck...as fast as it would go...hoping not to find a horrible accident at the end of the drive. Grateful that everyone was ok...The Farmer's Father encouraged The Young Farmer to continue his ride home...and to hold tight to the reins. Which he did;) Once home from our trip, The Farmer began his drawing of "the incident" so it would be there waiting for a young 14-16 year old;) when they arrived home from school. As The Farmer recounted the story, the young 14-16 year old...sat on the edge of his chair...hanging on every word The Farmer said. The Farmer then explained the need for a bridle...that it is not only for guidance, but it is for safety. That if we as parents loosen our hold...it is likely that the 14-16 year old might take off on a full run...headed for disaster...and it will too late to stop them. That, as much as the young 14-16 year olds don't like a "bridle" it is for their protection...and then The Farmer said...
"please, please...don't fight the bridle!"
The message was clear...and it was understood.
Yesterday our local missionaries arrived for breakfast. They asked about the drawing, and I told them the story. Later that evening they returned to pick some things up and one of the Elders said..."I heard that in my mind...all day long..."Don't fight the bridle"...I needed that message! I guess it really applies to any age and many circumstances..but I am especially grateful that the message made sense to a young 14-16 year old who is growing and learning...and thankfully still listening;)
Messages From The Chalkboard...
June 11, 2012
It started with a question...
The Farmer responded with an answer...
Another request was made...
And so he complied...
Messages From The Chalkboard....
March 3, 2012
When The Farmer was a recently returned missionary, his father invited him on a trip
to the Fresnal Ranch, which had recently sustained some damage from a big wind storm that
had passed through. The Fresnal Ranch isn't easy to reach...a rough 2 1/2 hour drive....and to
save time The Farmer's Dad, who was a pilot, would fly his small plane to the ranch. This particular
day, as he was preparing to land on a near by dry lake bed, he flew by the damaged area. He
had just finished building some new corrals shaded beautifully by some very large Cottonwood trees,
and had chosen that location specifically for the shade given by those trees. Working cattle is much
more enjoyable with a little shade....rather than the very hot sun. As he flew over, it was very
obvious that not only had several of the very large Cottonwood trees been blown over...but they had
fallen onto the newly built corrals, causing significant damage that would
require a great deal of work to repair.
A bit discouraged with the amount of damage they found...they landed the plane...made
require a great deal of work to repair.
A bit discouraged with the amount of damage they found...they landed the plane...made
their way to the fallen trees, broken corrals and began to asses the damage. The trees which had
fallen were extremely large and had spent their lives growing along the edge
of a swampy area, whose water was supplied by an Artesian Spring...
of a swampy area, whose water was supplied by an Artesian Spring...
where the trees had easy access to water...anytime they needed it, or wanted it. The Farmer and his
father stood together for a couple of quiet minutes...and then his father made an observation....
"these trees are just like people," he said...."those that have fallen had very shallow roots", which were
visible to the eye. The trees were very large...and beautiful...but without a root system that could
support them during a terrible wind storm. A little distance from the fallen trees, were very large
Cottonwood trees that stood in tact, unaffected by the wind that had blown through. "These trees did
not have access to the easy water, they had to work hard for the water they got, reaching and
stretching their roots to find the water that they needed. As they reached, their roots grew deep and
stretching their roots to find the water that they needed. As they reached, their roots grew deep and
strong and became the support needed to hold them in place when the wind blew hard."
"They are just like people..." he said...."just like people."
Good Timber
The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.
The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.
Good timber does not grow with ease,
The stronger wind, the stronger trees,
The further sky, the greater length,
The more the storm the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.
The stronger wind, the stronger trees,
The further sky, the greater length,
The more the storm the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.
Where thickest lies the forest growth
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.
It is a lesson that The Farmer has not forgotten. It is a lesson that he has passed on to
The Darlings. This past week, it was a lesson that needed to be re-taught in our home....
So after a heartfelt visit with a certain "Darling"....The Farmer went to the chalkboard.
The chalkboard...not only teaches The Darlings....but it teaches everyone else that comes
to our home too! I love to watch The Darlings and The Cousins...stand in front of the
chalkboard....studying The Farmer's latest creation!
A Few Little Updates....
January 24, 2012
We should begin with this update...(above)...because it has certainly been the most dramatic!
PreShie had to get her braces on AGAIN...due to some issues that had not been dealt with
when she had them on before. So very sad!!! So many tears were shed over this....
but finally she decided she would rather wear the braces for the next few months rather than take
them to college with her! Great choice PreSh!!! She did, however make a deal with The Farmer,
to have them removed for her Jr. Prom...and then promptly put back on the day after...
Oh...her Dad is a pretty good sport! The good in all of this...is that she only needs them for
a few months and she will have solved a lifetime of headache!
Trauma...nonetheless...
(might I add...she is just a beautiful with them...as without them!!!)
Next update....
The "Chalkboard"....now....when the first drawing was made...The Farmer made the grave
mistake of not including ALL of the cousins in the "School of Cousin Fish"...and therefore had
several complaints, like..."hey...where am I???" Especially after Sunday night when a major
part of the "School of Cousin Fish" were present in our home!
So after a little time at the "Chalkboard" the drawing is now complete and everyone
is represented....OH WAIT....
I can see he left off our "Missionary Fish" Oh wow! Looks like he will be spending some more
quality time at the "Chalkboard!"
Finally...our last update is that The Missionary Boy has been transferred to a new area....
drum roll please......two miles from his last apartment!;) He admitted to being disappointed at first
but after a talk with his Mission President...he knew that there was a reason he was assigned to
that area. He has a wonderful new companion from Cedar City...I have made contact with his
Mother which has been really fun. The Missionary Boy is happy and thriving and that is all we
could ask for! We love that Boy!
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)