Christmas Eve

In a manger much like this one a miracle was lain to rest.
The first beings to greet the Christ child besides his parents were the lowly animals. As we are now the animals back then were very aware of things. They knew this small child was special. They watched over him and sang lullabies. As a gift to the animals for their tender care and attention they are granted the gift of human speech every Christmas eve.
Below is a legend from Norway (the DORs great-grandmother was from there) about the Christmas Eve miracle.


The Night The Animals Talked
In the frosty mountains and on the snowy fields of Norway, there is a legend that draws children to all kinds to stables and stalls throughout the country on each Christmas Eve night. They are hoping to hear a miracle. They are waiting to hear the animals talk. Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem. This was no abandoned place, but was a working stable, filled with animals of all kinds. Into these humble surroundings, encircled by the innocent creatures of God, the Savior of man came into the world. Now according to legend, at least, Christ's birth occurred at exactly midnight. Inside the stable, the animals watched in wonder as the new-born babe was lovingly wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger. Suddenly, God gave voice to the animals and immediately they began to praise God for the miracle they had just seen. This went on for several minutes and, just before the entrance of the shepherds -- who had hurried to the stable because angels had told them the Christ had been born there -- the animals again fell silent. The only humans who had heard them were Mary, Joseph and, of course, the Christ child. The legend of the talking animals persists to this day in Scandinavia. And every Christmas Eve, wide-eyed children creep into stables just before midnight to hear the animals praise God for the wondrous birth of His Son. Of course, adults scoff at this. "Old wives tales," they grump. "Those children should be home in bed, not out in the cold waiting for the family cow to preach a sermon." But the children know -- or at least believe -- that animals really do praise God at midnight every Christmas Eve. And who of us -- those who believe in an all-powerful God -- can say that it really doesn't happen?
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26 NIV)
Have a blessed Christmas Eve and listen to hear the animals sing.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Lots of thing doin' here

The horse in the picture is my youngest sister.  The DOR heard about her a bit over a year ago and thought about getting her, but Freedom insisted that she get Friend instead.  My little sister was close to being sent to a bad place this year so the DOR went and looked at her, she even tried her out.  Yes that is her with no helmet on and she got put in time-out for it.  My little sister now lives in our herd and her name in Bohannan's Rhapsody Splash, aka Hanna.  I am thirlled that she did not end up in a very bad place-she is a youngster and should not be on a dinner plate.
The DOR also brought home two former stallions, she calls them the sopranos.  They are living in my pasture learning to be part of the "He Man Gelding Club".  The little one has a bunch of learning to do, but the older one is coming along nicely.
A group of horses went to school with the DOR this past week.  She was working with two groups of boys that wanted to harm each other.  There have been bad things going on for over a year and people have ended up in the hospital.  She made them take her C.O.W. Intervention program and part of that is with horses.  She picks special horses to come in that will be able to teach the students a particular lesson they need.  It work well and now there is a treaty in place.  The students have asked if they can have the horses come in again....
I am doing well.  I did give the humans at the ranch a scare when I did a flip running as fast as I could to get to the new hay.  It was slick and I still had on my 'Boogie Shoes' (which are now off until summer).  I hopped right up and finished running for the hay and munched away.  I was not hurt, a bit embarrassed, other that a bit of a scrape where I banged my ankle with my shoe.  The DOR gave me a bit of a scolding...she doesn't want me to hurt myself.  I gave her my 'really I don't want to discuss this' look and she smooched my nose.
Hope all is well with your herd.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR!