You might recall that some time ago, Gus received a hoof injury when he kicked a trailer hitch.
He had a surgical procedure and the hoof healed itself.
Lindsey called us last night and said Gus had re-injured his foot. Mark went out to the ranch to check Gus over. The part circled in blue is the part of the hoof that Gus had somehow broken and pulled out at an awkward angle. The arrow shows you where the hoof part is supposed to be located. 
We have no idea what happened to his hoof. When we arrived to await the vet, we noticed that all the animals were huddled up in one location.
It seemed as if they knew something was wrong with Gus and they were his protectors.
Aren't they cute little protectors?
We gave Gus a little bit of feed while we waited for the vet. I think he looks like he's in pain.
The vet soon arrived to check Gus's hoof. Gus was not impressed when the doctor pulled on this section of broken hoof. Not at all! He stomped his good food almost right on top of Mark's foot. (Can't say that I blame him, either.)
We know from experience that before the doctor can perform surgery on the hoof, that Gus has to be shot full of ketamine.
Then you wait for him to start looking like this . . .
. . . and this . . .
. . . and yes, even like this.
So that the vet can do this. Can surgically remove the broken sections, allowing the hoof to heal so that one day . . .
. . . we can again do this!
Oh.my.word! It's that time ... again!
Time to head on out for Georgia and the awesome NCFCA qualifying tournament that will be happening there the rest of this week!
If you were to follow us, this is a little bit of what you would see. Hordes of homeschool students dressed in suits, dragging around debate boxes, apologetics' notecard boxes, speech bags, extra shoes, umbrellas, food, you name it!
And they would be spending time with some of the most awesome, incredible friends on the planet!
There is lots of anticipation as the students debate six rounds and present two rounds of up to five speeches each. And that doesn't even count the out-rounds.
A whole lot of deep thought goes on . . .
. . . as well as a whole lot of praying and stepping out in faith!
The competitors are all incredible! Great, close friendships are made here.
Friendships that will last a lifetime.
There is no such thing as a "strange" speech and debater. Everyone is a "friend" waiting to happen!
Friends you might see only once or twice a year, but friends nonetheless!
Always lots of fun stuff going on! I love this little fellow! He makes my heart glad!
I can't even begin to tell you how much!
I don't know quite what it is about homeschoolers, but it seems every single student either plays the guitar, or the piano, and they do it very well!
Contemplation.
A mutual sharing of awesomeness!
Anticipation as you wait to see who advances in the competition . . .
. . . and abundant joy for those that advance ahead, even if it means that you might not.
Sharing joyfulness!
And, supporting each other.
What can I say? Speech and debaters are just plain awesome!
Pretty much.
Yes, it's a competition. But it's also much, much more!
It's encouragement, accomplishment, and faith-building.
And, did I mention it's fun?
And rewarding in so many ways!
So, it's off to Georgia we go in the morning. And, I can't wait to get there! See you when we get home and I get to edit another couple hundred winning photos of some marvelous, wonderful students!
Dolly singing at the 1989 CMA Awards. Grab your kleenex. You're going to need them before the end of the song! (Thanks to my dear friend Cheryl for letting me hi-jack this from her facebook page!)
This past week, Kali and I were attending a Christian students' speech and debate tournament on the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in North Carolina. One afternoon, while the debaters were in full force debating, I walked out about the campus to take some pictures. I also wanted to enjoy the quiet and the peacefulness of the campus.
What I found was this cross.
What stood out about the cross was the lamp post standing behind it.
"The light of the world!" That was the thought that came to mind. I walked over and turned the cross a bit, to line it up like you see in the above photograph and I thought about our path to the light. 
The way we access the light is through the cross, through Jesus Christ.
In John 1:4-5, we are told In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood. The passage continues by talking about John the Baptist, a man sent from God. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through Him all men might believe. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
I look at the above picture and I see that the way to the light is simple. Step out in faith, believing, and receiving Christ as the Son of God, and He will make your path be one of light. 
The light of the world is Jesus!
May you and your family have a blessed Easter as you consider all that God and Christ have done for us!
Kali and I came to North Carolina this past Sunday to register for the state NCFCA Qualifier.
For those of you are new to my blog, the NCFCA is the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association. It is a competition league for homeschooled students in a couple forms of debate and in ten different types of speech. Kali is all about speech and debate. Our region is comprised of four states, North Carolina being one of them. The top students at the end of each qualifier are then invited to regional competition. From there they move on to national competition, if they are invited.
This was Kali's third state qualifier for this season. There were 199 student competitors. Kali did very well here in North Carolina. She broke and competed all the way to quarter-finals in Lincoln Douglas Value Debate where they debate values. This year's resolution involves competition vs. cooperation and which one is the superior route to excellence.
So, here in North Carolina, this is what Kali accomplished:
1) she debated up through the quarter-final round and finished at 8th place in Lincoln Douglas Value Debate.
2) she took twelth place in speaker points for debate.
3) she broke to semi-finals with her dramatic interpretation of an Irish folk tale, The Story of the Half Blanket.
4) she broke to semi-finals in impromptu, a category where you are given 3 topics, you pick one on the spot, and you have two minutes to prepare a five minute speech on that topic which you then give, on the spot, to the judges.
This was our 3rd qualifier this year. So far, when we go for regional competition next month, Kali will be competing in duo interpretation, dramatic interpretation, impromptu, and LD value debate.
Next week, the Georgia State Qualifier where Kali hopes to qualify in Original Oratory and Thematic Interpretation!
