(Note: This is our Christmas letter-as written by my Mom-but I wanted to share it with all of you, my friends. :) Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New 2013!)
Our 2012 year has been filled with delightful-and sometimes sad-memories and we’ve managed to somehow stay busy with our jobs, school, and taking care of our animals. But the Lord has continued to bless us with good health and we have enjoyed our friendship with all of you.
To start off, we lost our draft horse, Mingo, just a few days after Christmas last year due to old age. He was 29 years old-which is a long time for horses that large, so he had a long life, but he just wasn’t able to stand on his own any more. We had a neighbor come over to put him down and he’s buried next to Julianna’s Quarter Horse, Samantha, who died just a few years ago.
In February, I started a bakery business with organic chocolate chip cookies and organic dog, horse, and cat treats. Our animals loved them, so I decided to sell them. One local store is selling my cookies and dog bones. Later on, Julianna and I started working for a company called Quality Track International-a business hired by Marriott hotels to keep tabs on their Sales Managers as they set up meeting space rentals and sleeping rooms with prospective clients. I try to get in seven hours a day (which is hard at times) and Julianna only works part time as she is continuing with online college classes.
In May, Julianna turned 19. She keeps busy with her college studies, showing horses and trail riding, work, and helping out Dave on the farm and some friends of ours who have lots of horses. At the moment, she is working on a Psychology course and is enjoying CollegePlus very much. Her coach, Brittany, is very helpful and is such a blessing to her. Julianna also continues as our church’s pianist and has been for five years now. She took JubiLee, her Quarter Horse, over to her riding teacher’s farm for the summer. Julianna prepared for numerous shows throughout the summer and for her last year in participating in the county fair. She also played for a Baccalaureate Service for area graduates in May.
Julianna also participated in the Welsh Pony Show in June with both my pony, McAnna, and her pony, Sky. This year, she entered driving classes with my pony and did quite well, considering that the sand in the indoor arena was really deep and made pulling a cart very difficult. She came away with seven ribbons: one third, four fourths, and two fifths. Julianna is now on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin club. There are three members on the board.
In August, Julianna competed in her last year at the Jackson County Fair. She came away with nine firsts and five second ribbons. She also entered my pony, McAnna, in an open driving class with the draft horses and came away with a third place ribbon. The judge leaned more toward the draft horses, thus a biased opinion. Julianna hopes to start riding lessons for some kids next year-as there are interested parents-and also hopes to help them get started in 4-H showing. The Horse Project group at the fair really want Julianna to come back to help with the youth and rewarded her with a $50 gift certificate for her leadership skills in the Project.
In September, Julianna took JubiLee and McAnna to the 4-H District Champ Show in West Salem, Wisconsin. JubiLee was a little “hot-headed”, so they didn’t do very well in their classes, but Julianna and McAnna came away with two grand champions in driving. The judge even made it clear to Julianna that she didn’t have to award a first place ribbon. But McAnna did very well!
In October, Julianna began a search for a 4WD truck. Her vehicle is only rear-wheel, so it is not the best for winter traveling. She has found a few that she likes, but the right buyer for her vehicle has not come along as of yet. She also played for her first wedding and enjoyed the experience. She also played for another funeral right before fair time in late July.
We had a dry summer this year, so finding hay for our horses and goats became a slight problem. But we are very fortunate to have found a source who could sell us some come spring time if we still need them! We started to build an arena in our front yard so that Julianna would have a decent enclosed area to train horses and give riding lessons in.
And lastly, we end this year on a sad note. Just this last Friday, we were forced to put our 14-year-old dog, Trevor, to sleep. He was such a sweetheart and as we used to call him, our little “Schweedie Beast”. He lived a long time for being a large dog and he had a happy life with us for as long as we had him. We’re not entirely sure why it was his time, though the morning of, he was unable to stand on his own. We miss him dearly, as do his sisters, Beth and Keara.
But now as we look to Christmas, we give thanks to God for His provision and for allowing us the time that He gives us with each of our animals and family members. My parents are still living in their home and we talk most every night. My Mom will be 90 coming this January and my Dad is now 91. They have been married for 68 years now and it’s a blessing to see both still independently living in their own home.
God bless you and your family this coming year of 2013. May the thought of Jesus warm your hearts and homes this Christmas season. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
God bless you from the Cadogoho Ranch family,
Deb, Julianna
Jack, Con
JubiLee, McAnna, Sky
Beth, Keara
Cecily, and Bandy
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