Where Peace and Quiet Remains...

Have you ever been somewhere that just brings peace to your heart? The smell in the air is calming. It's beautiful outside whether there is rain or sun. That feeling of complete peace passes over you and you just want to relax.

I have found that peace at my parent's farm- especially during this time of year! The weather, whether sun or rain, brings in a comfortable temperature and a refreshing air. The flowers planted around Fouch Farms are a rainbow of colors. The birds- everything from humming birds to blue birds are fluttering around, singing and playing. I never thought I would feel this comfortable living this far away from everything, but I do!

The pups have found their playground as well! These 35 acres of green fields, trees, orchards, vegetable gardens and flowers has become Molly, Pumpkin and Bleu's little piece of heaven. Not to mention the ducks that swim up to say hello when you go down to the pond and the Guinea Hens that come over everyday from the neighboring farm. And did I mention the sunsets?!? The sunsets here are breathtaking! Everyday we make our way to the front porch to watch God at work- with vibrant colors that look like a piece of art- the sun bids us farewell for the day.

There is much to be done on a daily basis to keep Fouch Farms looking the way it does, but what a pleasure to watch your work blossom and grow! The progress over the past 4-5 years that my parents have lived here is spectacular! I must give props to my parents for having this vision and making it a reality- what a place to retire!

If you're ever in the Centerville/Buffalo areas, give me a call. This is a place that should be seen and experienced by the people we love!

Blessings,

Michaela

The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. ~George Bernard Shaw

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. ~Lindley Karstens

Roots- Natures way of bringing you home

When I turned 18 years old, I moved away from home to attend college. When I graduated from college, I moved to Colorado to pursue an outdoors lifestyle dream. When I was 25, I left Colorado to try my hand at the Big Apple, but then decided to go back to Colorado. When I turned 30, I returned home- finally - to be part of my family again.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to leave my life in Colorado in pursuit of being a part of something I had been away from for over 10 years. My family has supported me through all of my decisions, whether good or bad. They begrudgingly saw me off when I made my BIG move to my Rocky Mountain dream and then to the big city of Manhattan. They have watched me do it all with a longing for me to come home to be close again. Their wish is my command! I have returned to my place in Texas with my family and friends. And everything just feels so right!

I had forgotten what is was like to be a part of my family- I just watched or heard about their world from afar. What a feeling of sanctuary to be home again. To have the opportunity to experience birthdays and holidays in person and not over the telephone. You never realize how important family is until you're over a thousand miles away and you start to wonder if you could pick your own brother out of a line up. ~Not that I've ever had to do that, but you never know..... (love you, Mike!)~

I will never regret the amazing experiences I've had while living in other states, but I don't want my life to pass me by and then realize I don't know my roots! So here I am, looking for a job in the Houston area and I'm home!

It's great to be here! Can't wait to see all of my Houston friends again!

Blessings,
Michaela


A family in harmony will prosper in everything.
~CHINESE PROVERB

The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. ~Erma Bombeck

We are the world- We were the Children

I had the wonderful opportunity to live on the island for Trinidad for 4 years during my childhood. Trinidad and Tobago are sister islands located in the Southern Caribbean- just off the coast of Venezuela. From the ages of 4 through 8, I walked to school alongside the ocean and learned how to ride a bike on the sand. It was one of the most enriching experiences of my life that has helped sculpt who I am today.

During my years in Trinidad, I had the opportunity to parade and dance in the Trinidad Carnival. Every year, for a couple days in February, the children and many adults of the island dressed in the brightest, most elaborate costumes imaginable and performed to vivacious island music! We danced, played and paraded about for judges, for each other, for ourselves... for fun! We were everything from Presents to Children of the World to Coconut Kids! My life was engulfed in this incredible island culture!

It was such an amazing time of fellowship with all the other members of the communities as parents gathered to help design and make the costumes while the children played. The year of the Coconut Kids, we actually won an award for our costumes and (I think) our dancing! I still love to dance and it probably stems from the laughter and thrills while dancing with my friends in Trinidad!

My father always asks me if I enjoyed my childhood, and the only answer I can come up with is: I would not be the person I am today without all my worldly adventures. My parents desired for me and my older brother to be involved in the activities from all of the countries we inhabited, and then some. We celebrated almost every worldly holiday because everyone in our community was from different nationalities. I was thrown into many different cultures as a child and as an adult, I still try to surround my life with culture. Travelling the world is a passion and a dream- I would like to see and experience it all!

I still communicate with many of my friends from Trinidad. What a blessing to meet these amazing people as a child and still have their friendship 25 years later (and counting). This one goes out to you! Thank you for being a part of my childhood- I look forward to seeing you again!

May there always be a steel drum band playing in the background, a coconut near by when you're thirsty and the love of friends from your childhood in your heart.

Blessings,

Michaela

Our whole life is but a greater and longer childhood. ~ Benjamin Franklin

To Jump or Not to Jump- that is the question

I am, what some would say - competetive. I can't stand it when someone defeats me or challenges me to do something and I don't follow through. So when I was standing before the Bloukrans Bridge in the Garden Route Region of South Africa and my friends dared me to jump- I allowed my competitve side to take over. Sure, I was afraid of heights, but what better way to face your fear than to jump from the highest commercial bungee in the world!?! 216 meters - equated to 648 feet of free falling.

Fear reared it's miserable head as my friends told me they didn't think I could do it and I started to question it myself as I walked along the open air catwalk. The specially designed catwalk so graciously allowed me to watch the earth steadily drop further and further beneath my feet. A few panic attacks later, I made it to the center of the bridge. Now I had to watch all of the other dare devils jump from the bridge because I was one of the last in our group to jump (not by choice). All of the waiting allowed me to question my sanity on a number of occasions and make some requests to be returned to solid ground. Thank goodness for the adrenaline junkie staff, because there was no exiting the bridge alone- you walk the line together.

It was finally my turn and when I looked over the edge of the Bloukrans Bridge, my head started to spin (I think I may have shed a few tears too). I had my feet tied together in the bungee strap, so there was not running out with your eyes closed. It was standing on the edge, eyes wide open and just hopping forward....or a gentle push as I needed. After the initial feeling of mortality subsided, the experience was exhilerating.

Thank goodness I'm competitive or I may have missed the opportunity of a lifetime! When else would I be in South Africa standing before the Bloukrans Bridge again?

That was my closest experience to flying (without a plane around me). If I had never bungee jumped that day in 2003, I would probably still be scared of heights. I would remain on the ground and not experience one of my new passions- rock climbing! I am grateful that God placed that fear in me, because without my fear, I would have never figured out how to overcome it.

Life is full of fears and challenges, but we have been given the tools we need to overcome any obstacle that stands in our way. If I wasn't so competitve, I would be missing out on so much that I love! Don't let fear control you, grab it by the horns and jump!!!!!

Blessings,

Michaela

He has not learned the lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Obstacles are like wild animals. They are cowards but they will bluff you if they can. If they see you are afraid of them... they are liable to spring upon you; but if you look them squarely in the eye, they will slink out of sight. ~Orison Swett Marden

http://www.faceadrenalin.com/bloukransbridge.asp

They say I saved him, but actually it's the other way around

On November 4, 2006, my life changed- it went from being good to AMAZING!

I've been told that when you find the "right" dog, you'll know right away, I had never experienced that feeling until I met Blue Eyes. The shelter in Downieville, Colorado needed some work- it wasn't the nicest place to find your new companion, but to me, it was more of a reason to rescue an animal from the Clear Creek County Animal Rescue League. CCCARL is an amazing organization that has helped a countless number of animals find homes. Blue Eyes, as he was known to the shelter employees and volunteers, was a long term resident having been in the shelter for over 4 months. My first meeting with Blue Eyes was an amazing one- as I bent down to tell him hello, he actually climbed his way up to place his two front paws on each of my shoulders while laying his head next to mine. This dog gave me a hug during our first meeting! How can you walk away from that!?!

I decided to foster Blue Eyes, to make sure we were a perfect match, but it didn't take long (a couple days) for me to sign the adoption papers and make him mine. After many hours of debate on a potential new name, I decided that Bleu (he has to have a French name like me!)suits my Blue and it made for an easy transition. Bleu and I quickly became inseperable. Hiking, snowshoeing, biking, cleaning, working....we did it all together!

I decided to take Bleu to some training/obedience classes to help get his "manners" under control. He was the worst dog in class on his first day, but by the end of the 6 week class, Bleu was the most improved and best dog! I knew at that moment that he was meant for something greater so together we became a Delta Society Pet Partner team or make Bleu a therapy dog. We were told that you should have your dog for at least 1 year to allow ample enough time to know your pet and vice versa, but after 6 months, Bleu passed the evaluation with flying colors! Bleu, my therapy dog, and I went to the local Vail hospital once a month to cheer up people of all ages in the PCU. It was great! The smiles, laughs, tears of joy and stories these patients shared with us!

Bleu and I have now been together for 3 years and I have to admit- I don't believe for one second that I rescued him from the shelter that day- Bleu rescued me....that day and every day here after.

Bleu has given me inspiration. Inspiration to do more; to help more dogs find amazing homes. My dream is to create a K-9 rescue organization that will help thousands, maybe millions of dogs be placed in a home with responsible owners. Bleu's Place (as it will be called) will have training facilities so anyone who adopts their new best friend from Bleu's Place or any other rescue organization will have free classes on training the dog and training the human. Bleu's Place will be the ultimate animal rescue and training facility! I know it will become a reality one day, so stay tuned!


I hope you enjoyed this story- that it brought smiles, memories and happiness into your life (even if it's just for a moment).
I remind myself each day what a wonderful world it is that we live in. Bleu is just one of the many reminders in my life. I hope that you will share a little piece of happiness with others as well.

Have a blessed day!