The tragic death of iInspire :'(

iInspire has come to an end. I have enjoyed the time I've had with it and you guys' reactions. But, due to a ginormous amount of reasons, I am no longer going to post on this blog. iInspire is done for. But, fear not! I am going to start a new blog. :) It will be more focused on God and the ranch I live on. Plus I am going to try to involve my siblings more. Please, check out the new blog, RanchTeen. I'm going to have all kinds of new stuff and hope you guys will enjoy it. Also, I would love to have any and all of your opinions on how to make this new blog better. Please email me at rileywshay@hotmail.com. Thanks! Adios, iInspire!!

Track Meet on Friday

This is what our camp looks like. Or part of it. The whole is just bigger. I only had one event at this meet: the 4x200m relay. We placed like sixth. Oh well.

And that is the pole vault pit. I'll see if I can get some much better pictures next time. Sorry.

Revelation 2:10 (NKJ)

¹⁰ Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Carrie Underwood & Vince Gill -- How Great Thou Art

Luke 24:1-12

(1) But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. (2) And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, (3) but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (4) While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. (5) And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? (6) He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, (7) that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (8) And they remembered his words, (9) and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. (10) Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, (11) but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. (12) But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

He is risen!!!

2 Corinthians 12:7-9

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure . 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

What Reid does in his spare time. . .

 So I guess he's fighting evil little people. I think. But he was bored or something so you never know for sure. lol It was cold outside or that's where he'd be.

Track Meet

 So I had a track meet today and I just thought I'd tell you about it. There were four teams there and it was about 3 hours long. My first event was my only field event, long jump. I had three attempts. The first one I jumped 11' even (my personal record), the second I scratched ( first time in my life), and the third I jumped 10' 5.5". So I tied my PR. (personal record). Not a bad day. But the guy in #1 place jumped like 17'.

My two running events are the 100m and 200m dashes. I signed up for the 4x200 instead of the open 200m because I have a better chance of getting a ribbon. The 4x200 is a relay with 4 runners, each running 200m, for those who don't know much about track. Anyway, my 4x200 team placed 3rd out of 4 so I'll get a ribbon! :D

My final event I'll tell you about (I only had three), is the 100m dash. I ran it in 15.82 seconds at my last track meet and today I ran it in 15.96. Both are better than last year's PR of 16.20 seconds. Which is cool but I wanted to beat it again. Oh well. :) God has blessed me with a little bit of athletic ability but I still wanna thank Him for it. He's awesome.

Can't Get Away -- Rush of Fools

Bathtime? Please?

I have no idea what Ryder was thinking but I guess he wanted a bath. In his clothes, too. lol

He was so cute. Just popping his little head over the side of the tub. At least we know he is feeling better. He just recovered from a 103 degree fever. :(

He absolutely loves those cups. Can't have a bath without 'em.

He was so happy. Just content to sit in an empty bathtub with a few teacups and no water. lol

Goats

Sorry for not posting for so long. We had a big snowstorm come up and we lost internet. But it's back up (finally). So Kailey wants a milking goat so she can make soap and milk and have more chores. I think she's getting complacent. lol

This little guy was SOO cute. We went on over to one of our church member's farm and looked at some goats. We might be getting some for free! :) But they have all kinds of animals. Dogs, geese, fish, several kinds of goats, and a guinea. And chickens too!! We tend to have bigger animals on our ranch. I wonder why?

This cute little fella can scream. Believe me. And his tongue is longer than a. . .a. . .an I don't know what. How about that?

Rayden never takes a bad picture, does he? You should have seen the kids (both goat and human children lol) running around and jumping and chasing each other. It was so funny!!

Here are all the banchees with the goat lady. lol Sorry none of them were looking. And yes, I was wearing boots and shorts on purpose. ;) lol

Here is Mom with a little kid. This is the loud one. It wasn't as cute as some of the others and it's noise problem didn't help at all. lol

Kailey said I needed to put this one up. I was laughing so that's why I look weird. But the kid is cute now. lol

Old McDonald Had a Bomb

Reid made up his own lyrics to "Old McDonald Had a Farm." Enjoy. LOL

Old McDonald had a bomb,
E-I-E-I-O,
So he threw it at the cow,
E-I-E-I-O,
The cow went "moo" and then she blew,
E-I-E-I-O.

Then the cow went for aid,
E-I-E-I-O,
So the farmer threw a grenade,
E-I-E-I-O,
Then the duck started to quack,
E-I-E-I-O,
That's when the farmer started to smack,
E-I-E-I-O.

Random Quote

Think before you speak.  ~I don't know who

Deuteronomy 22:6-7 (King James Version)

⁶If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:  ⁷But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. 

Nooma -- Noise

 I know it's long but it's way worth your time. And you  might want to make it full screen in order to read the words. :)

More Calving in the Snow Part 4

 I love snow!! If it melts quickly. lol :) So what did you guys think of my 4 part cow thingy?

More Calving in the Snow Part 3

Wow. This picture is just so. . . awe-inspiring. . .wondrous. . amazing. God is great and fully awesome, no?  I just love big snow that melts really fast. lol

Prairie + a few trees + snow = Awesome picture.

This one might be too much. . .I don't know. It sort of looks like the picture is cut in half by the horizon. Ya, I didn't do that very well. But can you see the snow?

More cows and trees and snow and grass. You guys getting bored yet?

This one is my favorite of them all. I think it is SO cool!! When I took it I was disappointed because it just looked plain white. But I messed with it a bit and now I love it. What do you guys think?

More Calving in the Snow Part 2

I love this picture. I think it's so cool with the cows spread out among the grass and with the trees on the background. Awesome. :)

What I like about this one is the snow on the post behind the calves and I think the calves look even cuter in the snow. But I am very glad the snow melted quickly. Me and snow don't get along, if you know what I mean. ;)

Oh, how I just love to shoot barbed wire!! With my camera. ;) So easy because it never moves much and it looks cool when wet. Like my fair picture I posted earlier.

Can you see how big the snow is? Wow. God never ceases to amaze me. One of the good things about this pic is that the horizon isn't in the center. See what I mean? The horizon is only a third of the way up. I learned that in 4-H. ;)

And more big snow. I don't think I have ever seen it so big in my life. This particular cow wasn't really, really worried about Dad tagging her calf like some are. If you want me to get some pics of the tagging equipment, lemme know and I'll do a little ranch 101 post. lol

"The number pinned to her dress was 146..."

In 2002, the co-founders of Love 146 travelled to South East Asia on an exploratory trip to determine how they could serve in the fight against child sex trafficking. In one experience, a couple of our co-founders were taken undercover with investigators to a brothel, where they witnessed children being sold for sex. This was their experience. This is the story that changed our lives.


"We found ourselves standing shoulder to shoulder with predators in a small room, looking at little girls through a pane of glass. All of the girls wore red dresses with a number pinned to their dress for identification. They sat, blankly watching cartoons on TV. They were vacant, shells of what a child should be. There was no light in their eyes, no life left. Their light had been taken from them.  These children...raped each night... seven, ten, fifteen times every night. They were so young. Thirteen, eleven… it was hard to tell.  Sorrow covered their faces with nothingness. Except one girl. One girl who wouldn’t watch the cartoons. Her number was 146. She was looking beyond the glass. She was staring out at us, with a piercing gaze. There was still fight left in her eyes. There was still life left in this girl...


"...All of these emotions begin to wreck you. Break you. It is agony. It is aching. It is grief. It is sorrow. The reaction is intuitive, instinctive. It is visceral. It releases a wailing cry inside of you. It elicits gut-level indignation. It is unbearable. I remember wanting to break through the glass. To take her away from that place. To scoop up as many of them as I could into my arms. To take all of them away. I wanted to break through the glass to tell her to keep fighting. To not give up. To tell her that we were coming for her…"

“Because we went in as part of an ongoing, undercover investigation on this particular brothel, we were unable to immediately respond. Evidence had to be collected in order to bring about a raid, and eventually justice on those running the brothel.  It is an immensely difficult problem when an immediate response cannot address an emergency.  Some time later, there was a raid on this brothel and children were rescued.  But the girl who wore #146 was no longer there.  We do not know what happened to her, but we will never forget her.  She changed the course of all of our lives." -Rob Morris, President and Co-founder 


http://love146.org/love-story 


http://rileyshay.bandstobreakbonds.org/

More Calving in the Snow Part 1

So recently it stated snowing again and man, was it pretty. I really like this picture because of how the cows are standing in the trees. 

If you look at the cow you can see how big the flakes are. Not very big. And they were coming down really fast. It was almost like a drizzle but with snow. lol

I really like this one. The way it looks. . .like a mist or fog. But I think it's really cool. And it was. Literally. lol

Now you can see that the flakes have changed and are coming down slower and bigger. I was so frustrated because our camera was a complete failure. It was so beautiful and I couldn't even capture it. :( But I guess I got part of it, no?

A sunrise on the prairie

So one morning when I got up early to do my schoolwork (I do do that you know) and I saw this beautiful sunrise out my window. So, of course, I just had to go get  picture for you guys. And this was before the camera broke, by the way.

It was SOO much prettier in real life but the camera didn't do too bad of a job.

Well, it might be kind of weird to you guys but I'll tell you anyway. I always think that Jesus is gonna come back on a morning like this. But if you were a believer, wouldn't it be so much more awesome if we could meet Jesus in really pretty clouds? lol And they really do show how amazing God is, no? It's like the other day when it was snowing snow flakes bigger than quarters, we were just left in awe at how cool and...serene it was. I think it's just amazing what God can do. :)

Artwork. . . .

So this is one of my many art projects this year. Most of them are ceramics but I did finish this one and it's going to the art show on Wednesday. :) I didn't have a ton of fun doing it but it was okay. I think I'll stick to making mirror etchings and ceramics from now on though. And sorry for the glare.

Compassion -- Sand Story

Hawk Nelson -- Crazy Love

Ryder loves his hat

Well, my picture blog isn't much of a picture blog anymore because I'm running out of things to take pictures of. But when summer comes I'll chase down some butterflies and exciting things for you guys. :)  And you know who this is a picture of, don't you?

Rhett was chasing him I think. Ryder doesn't really like this hat. But at least it's got velcro! lol He can't take it off.

I was laying on the floor taking pictures. He was running away from Rhett. Rhett was in pursuit. lol

1st Kings 12:1-15

Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all the Israelites had gone there to make him king.²When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. ³So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: ⁴ "Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you."
⁵ Rehoboam answered, "Go away for three days and then come back to me." So the people went away.
⁶ Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. "How would you advise me to answer these people?" he asked.
⁷ They replied, "If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants."
⁸ But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. ⁹He asked them, "What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, 'Lighten the yoke your father put on us'?"
¹⁰ The young men who had grown up with him replied, "Tell these people who have said to you, 'Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter'—tell them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. ¹¹ My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.'"
¹² Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, "Come back to me in three days."¹³ The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, ¹⁴ he followed the advice of the young men and said, "My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions." ¹⁵So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word the LORD had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

The Sissy -- Jack Chick

 What do you guys think of this video and the one I just posted previously?

Tiny Shoes -- Jack Chick

That's my King -- SM Lockridge

Chicks!!

We went to a farm and ranch store near by yesterday and stumbled upon some chicks. It was soo cute because Ronan came up to Mom and said "Mom, I want a tic." lol He hasn't figured out how to say it right yet. lol Anyway, his is the yellowish white one to the far right and at the back. Reid's is the black one.

This one is mine. :) The other kids are gonna get theirs next time. Besides, Kailey has some exciting (or not so exciting in my opinion) news about ducks. She saved about 40 eggs this spring and has them in the incubator right now. Today is their hatch day but no signs yet. lol I can't wait until we have 20 more ducks runnin' around and poopin' everywhere. My, won't it be fun or what??

And this is my half eaten banana muffin. lol I was bored, okay?

Romans 12:2

 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

IN ONE PAIR OF HANDS

A PIECE OF FINE WOOD

CAN BECOME A LIVING ROOM

COFFEE TABLE 

IN ANOTHER PAIR OF HANDS

THAT PIECE OF WOOD

CAN BECOME ONE OF THE

SWEETEST SOUNDING

GUITARS EVER

THIS IS FOR EVERYONE 

WHO HAS NO DESIRE

TO PLAY THE COFFEE TABLE

~ Wood & Steel

~Taylor Guitars

Obama

Q. Why doesn't Obama pray?
A. It's impossible to read the teleprompter with your eyes closed.

What's the difference between Obama and God?
God doesn't think he's Obama.

Brandon Heath Interview On Focus On The Family

More calving

So we went calving again and this is just some open prairie. I love how the sun glows off the grass. The trees in the background are cool, too. What do you think?

It's a boy!! lol To find out how much the calves weigh we use a tape you can wrap around their hoof. But first you need to know whether the calf is a boy or girl to see which side of the tape to use.

Okay, I think Ronan was trying to pick weeds. lol For years we've played a game where you lean out the widow, while hanging onto the handle(!!), and try to pick the dead sunflower heads. It's actually a lot of fun until you find a stubborn one that won't come out of the ground! lol

And more grass. I just love Kansas. :)

Philippians 4:4-7

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Kristian Stanfill ~~ Beautiful Jesus

Your love, oh God, displayed for us
As crimson covered over sinless hands
Your majesty for all to see
In raging storms and quiet cloudless days

Beautiful Jesus
Beautiful Savior
Nothing is greater, brilliant Creator,
Friend of mine

You're powerful above this world
The universe is under Your command
Your glory shines a Holy light
That leads my heart to praise,
Your Holy name is on my lips

Beautiful Jesus
Beautiful Savior
Nothing is greater, brilliant Creator,
Friend of mine

My lips will sing
My heart will bring
Praise to You the Holy King
My lips will sing
My heart will bring
Praise to You, wholly

Beautiful Jesus
Beautiful Savior
Nothing is greater, brilliant Creator,
Friend of mine
(oh, how can it be...)
Perfect in power
Matchless in glory
(You stand alone, Lord)
Nothing is greater, brilliant Creator,
Friend of mine
(oh, yes You are...)

Beautiful Jesus
Beautiful Savior
Nothing is greater, brilliant Creator,
Friend of mine
(oh, how can it be...)
Perfect in power
Matchless in glory
(You stand alone, Lord)
Nothing is greater, brilliant Creator,
Friend of mine

Brandon Heath -- Give Me Your Eyes

 I love this song. :)  

Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight

Touched down on the cold black tar
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breathe in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos

All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared?

Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity

Give me Your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach?
Give me Your heart for the one's forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide what?s underneath

There?s a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He's out of work, he's buying time

All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared?

Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity

Give me Your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach?
Give me Your heart for the one's forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

I've been there a million times
A couple of million eyes just moving past me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong

Well, I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way You see the people all alone

Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity

Give me Your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach?
Give me Your heart for the one's forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see

Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
That I keep missing

Give me Your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach?
Give me Your heart for the one's forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah 


I know. That is a lot of lyrics. :)

Cecking calves continued

I thought this one was pretty cool. :)

Ronan was helping us look for baby calves and he didn't want me to take his picture. lol

Peek-a-boo!! lol

Here's Dad is tagging a calf. The cow's tail looks weird but I thought the snow made it blog worthy.

And, of course, Reid read the whole time. No wonder they named him Reid. lol

Calving in the snow

Here is our suburban. It's our all time calving and hunting vehicle. :) I think you can really see the snow coming down in this one.

And this is our house, blanketed in snow. You can see Rhett walking along the sidewalk. lol

Run away, calf! Be free!!

This is Kailey's cow,  Freckles. lol

And I just thought this was a cool picture.