Its been far too long that I have sat and written my thoughts...a lot of catching up to do for sure!
​My gypsy life came to a halt over a year ago when we relocated to Angel Fire NM, working a 600 acre ranch with our horses along our sides. Over the years our travels have taken us, and our horses across the miles, and experiencing many different situations and landscapes. But through all the moving and travels, one thing has remained...the Promise and the Provision.

​When we adopted our two 'wild' girls over 6 years ago, the Promise to afford them a life as close to their wild life was one that I have been able to keep with only brief instances of shifting from that promise. For our domestic horses, the same has been true. Promising them a continued place with pasture and keeping them together as a family band. 

​This Christmas, all things known changed forever. My husband was diagnosed with Dementia, and after a grueling 3 months in the VA hospital finally moved to a nursing home. Upon his diagnosis, as you can imagine, my world was literally turned upside down in a matter of days. Without getting into all the details of activity and drama that preluded and followed Christmas, the fear of not being able to follow through the Promise to our equine family became a huge heartbreaking decision. 

​In this life that I have lived, I have learned that hard choices are always laid before us in season and out of season. We are constantly being challenged and confronted to remain flexible, remaining soft to the harsh realities and being faced to make decisions that are best for those we love, and not always trusting what may not seem best for ourselves regarding our hearts.

​These last 4 arduous months have been just that season for myself. I always hear people talking about Love, what it looks like...its sacrificial, its giving the best to others without considering yourself. And so, this is where I have landed over the last few months, having to make hard decisions, thinking little of myself, and mostly for the well being for our horses, wild and domestic. So the search began, the inquiries to secure the ones I love into a long term living situation that would guarantee their very best.

​And so the Provision manifested, and the Promise was kept for them All.  I said my goodbyes one by one, clipping a portion of their tail as a reminder of their presence and power in my life, releasing them one at a time into their new futures, giving them the release and permission to connect to their new futures. A hard task, a heartfelt move into new territory, but ever so wonderful to watch how it all came together perfectly to assure the Promise being kept as the Provision unfolded.

​Sierra Cancion and Sierra Rosa were released into their new forever homes on 22,000 acres of wild pristine landscape at the NM/Colorado border at the 'Engler Canyon Ranch' Wild Horse Sanctuary. It is here they return to their roots of being wild, untouched and run with a herd of 110 present wild mustangs. They run wild now with their own kind, able to feel the connection to the land below their feet. The release was beautiful to watch as they moved slowly across the landscape learning the earth of their new home. Within the hour, a band of about 40 wild mustangs approached them at a run as if to say, 'Hey, we want to meet you!', it was a kind approach, yet startling for the girls, as they thought they might have this land all to themselves!  After the initial confrontation they kept their distance continuing to follow the band that had approached them, knowing safety is in numbers. It was warming to know they had made initial contact and that they would soon work out their place within a band so quickly. I am grateful to the staff at Engler Canyon Ranch for the Provision they have provided to the 'girls' to be what they were born to be ... 'wild'.  I will continue to visit the sanctuary in hopes to continue their story and learn new stories about the other 110 plus wild residents that roam the land there. You can presently find 'Engler Canyon Ranch' on facebook as they begin offering tours to connect to the wild and the land.

​Liberty, Belle, BaildorViento and RojoNube, made the 7 mile walk down the mountain into the valley to their new home within the area here locally. A wonderful family who now calls them by their name took them all in together. The Promise and Provision was incredible on their behalf by this family to keep them together as they have been since their beginnings. It is here they will be nurtured and offered new challenges of growth and love, and my heart couldn't be happier for them.

​I closed this weekend with a week of what some look as 'loss'. On a personal level, they will be missed greatly, and the hole in my heart will remain for them, hopefully to be filled with new vision for travel, painting and music, and of course, visiting rangelands across the west, learning the stories of wild horses that run wild across our vast lands.  To look at the Provision as loss, is unacceptable. For the Promise has remained true in its manifestation in the Provision. And there, is where I will keep my focus and my affection on their behalf. So, we all begin a new chapter in our lives. My husband, the horses, and myself. For all of us, it may feel a bit awkward at first, but in time, we will find our rhythm and know that Creator has been ever faithful to keep the Promise and Provision using so many incredible individuals, new and old to fulfill the need and the gaps, to those, I am forever grateful!

​As I personally move forward, renovations on the 'Tincan' travel trailer are in the works as I plan to hit the road, the range and meet warm hearts across the miles! I look forward to this new chapter and season in my life, knowing that the Promise and the Provision for myself will be no less then it has been for my husband, and our horses.

​Enjoy the slide show of the girls release, for privacy and respect for the family that has adopted our domestic gang, I have not shared pictures of them.

The story continues...in faith and grace.
As always, you will find me,
​Running with the Horses....
​Melody