I'm a retired lady who is happily married to my wonderful husband, Forrest. We have been married for 8 years now, and share a wonderfully active life together. Between the two of us we have 4 kids, 14 grandchildren (our 22 yr. old grandson went to be with the Lord this summer) and 3 great grandsons. Most of our kids live too far away for our liking...but such is life! Our daughter and her family live a few hours away from us during the summer months at the ranch, but don't see them often either.

Well...we tried the "horsey" scene again, and realized that we are getting too old for situations where you have to control 2 brains at the same time. So, after my accident on my horse summer before last & getting a bad concussion, we sold both of our mares to really wonderful homes. They are both a lot happier with the people they were meant to be with. Zanzibar is gaming with her new owner, and Tessa just finished her 55 mile endurance ride with energy to spare. We miss them terribly, but our prayers were answered.

So, now we are going to join friends who have ATVs; then we can go on ATV camping trips. We have always had older ATVs at our ranch, so we're used to riding them...and there is only one brain to control. So we recycled our entertainment fund and got 2 new Honda Rancher 420 ATVs, sold the horse trailer and remodeled an old flat bed trailer that just holds our ATVs and bicycles. We downsized from our 5th wheel to a camper to put on the truck, and now we're ready to go. Our first trip was down in central Oregon camping with our friends at Morrow County ORV Park. I really surprised myself, and everyone else, by conquering The China Wall; it was only determination and the fear of going backwards that got me to the top. I really prefer nice smooth logging roads, but it was challenging.

I always wondered, though, why I had to have the horse accident, and inevitably, had to give up riding horses and find new homes for our girls. It was all very depressing & my husband and I both had a very hard summer. Then I started getting symptoms: headaches and the room spinning around, and to make a long story short...thought I'd better get my head examined (my brother says I've needed that for a long time...Ha). MRI showed a meningioma brain tumor, and they caught it when it was very small. I have a wonderful brain surgeon who is monitoring it first every 6 months, and now, because it has not grown, only once a year. But, I really believe the accident was so that I would discover this and be able to keep a close eye on it so something can be done in time. I just had my year's exam, and it has not changed in size. Praise God for his messages to us.

I keep busy with my writing and, following the publishing of my first book in 2005 (read my blog about that), I am writing articles now for magazines...more horse articles for older retired people to learn from our experiences, and articles to Christian magazines to promote my book. My 1st article, entitled "A Tale of Retirement...Enhanced By the Internet", is being published in March of this year in our PERS of Alaska Newsbreak. I also enjoy making crocheted afghans for my grandchildren, and have finished my 6th one. The past 2 years we've been blessed with 3 more adopted grandchildren and 3 GREAT grandsons, so I suppose I will be trying to make afghans for them, too, if my fingers hold out long enough.

I'm in the process of learning that even if loved ones disappoint you, life is good, and God has provided. Last summer he provided a pretty little black Tuxedo kitty who ended up having kittens in a lair at our ranch. So we went through a very patient taming process and ended up bringing them all home from the ranch for the winter. What a wonderful diversion & delight they have been. We found a home for 2 of the kitties to stay together, and kept Mama Mitsy & her little boy "Owey"; at a year old now he's bigger than she is (topping the scale at 20 lbs.). Talk about FAT cats!! Then this summer we managed to find the Daddy cat, Tommy; neutered him and tamed him, and he also came home with us for the winter. Watch for more pictures when I post "Kitty Family" pics. Hope you all are enjoying ShoutLife as much as I am.

Just wanted to remind you all that I'm still working on getting my book out there where it can do some good. On October 5th of 2008 I celebrated 3 years of circulation....Praise God! It is entitled, "Father, Forgive My Father", and is the story of and the testimony to God's healing power in my life. It was published and is being circulated by Author House, Inc., and can be found on the following websites: www.authorhouse.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, www.amazon.com, and www.bordersbooks.com. During the 35+ years it took for me to write the book (some of us are just slow) I wrote it with the idea that if it helped just one person, it would be worth all the trials, pain and suffering from the ravages of 15 years of sexual abuse. However, I am encouraged to hear that it is helping many people already, and the reviews are calling it "a roadmap to recovery and living a victorious life". People say they relate to it on many levels; and one lady told me "It changed my life, and I was able to forgive my mother after many years of us not even speaking." Some are even say "it saved my life"...Praise God! Please help me get it out there so it can continue to reach and help the many, many hurting victims and others who need God's healing touch on one level or another. I will appreciate your help and consider you a partner with me in the work I know God has destined for me. God Bless.