Health

RimFire

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man on horse and man on platform having helped man on horse
Carl Edwards and RimFire at Walden Creek Stables, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Copyright 1997 -2026 Joan Y. Edwards

“RimFire “ by Joan Y. Edwards

My late husband, Carl and I had many adventures. Some were where I was funny. Some were where Carl was funny.

Carl and I liked to go to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We  visited Dollywood (May Dolly Parton rest in peace) many times. We enjoyed going there in October during Gospel Music celebration..

We also went horseback riding at Walden Creek Stables to ride the trail over the fields and through a low creek. They had sturdy platforms to elevate us to help make it easier to get on the horse they chose for us. Lucky for us because these horses were tall!

One time when my late husband, Carl, and I went horseback riding. Carl’s horse was so slow, he called him, “RimFire!”

Carl was trotting along at a clippity clippity clippity clop speed when I noticed that Carl and his saddle seemed to be a little sideways. . 

I called to him, “Carl (I made Carl a two-syllable word, Car-ul). “Carl, are you okay. You seem to be a little sideways.”

Carl answered, “I can’t tell. RimFire is taking me at such a fast pace. I may get back an hour after you.”

I smiled. My smile turned into a giggle. My giggle turned into full-fledged laughter. “RimFire” was such a fun name for his horse. 

What made it even funnier was the fact that Carl couldn’t tell he was riding sideways, a new use of the term, “side-saddle.”

Both Carl and I hollered and got the leader of our group to come to the back to help us. 

The leader said, “Mr. Edwards, your cinch belt is broken. We don’t have another one out here. We will have to wait until we get back to base camp. Will you be okay?”

Carl said, “RimFire and I will be okay.” 

So we continued around the 2 mile trail. Clippity Clop. Clippity  Clop. Clippity, Clippity, Clippity Clop.” Carl riding halfway to the side and me strolling along straight up behind him.

Is there a lesson to learn from this?
I would say, when things seem like the cinch belt holding you in a usual safe position has slipped and you feel a little off-balance, try to give it a funny name and pretend you are in balance. Say to yourself, “I am going to be fine. I am safe. Things are going to work out fine.” Sometimes just those words and having faith in yourself and that God is going to be there to help you.

I asked ChatGpt.com to create a cartoon from this adventure using photos I uploaded of a time Carl and I rode horses at Walden Creek Stables.

 

 

RimFire by Joan Y. Edwards with help of her photos, blog post, and Chat GPT created cartoon.
Copyright 2026 Joan Y. Edwards created with help from Chat GPT
Do Something Fun for You!
Never Give Up,
Joan Y. Edwards, Author
Copyright 2009-2026
Thank you for being here with me today. I appreciat you spending your time with me. Please leave a comment. Share your story. I really enjoy hearing from you.  May you feel blessed.

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Please check out my books on Amazon.
Flip Flap Floodle: Firebird Book Award Winner Will this little duck’s song save him from Mr. Fox?Flip Flap Floodle never gives up on his song!
cover for the Golden Arm by Joan Y. EdwardsThe Golden Arm: a little scary story for Halloween. Uh oh! Minerva’s spirit wants her golden arm back!

 

 

cover for The Day I Turned My Brother into a Monkey

The Day I Turned My Brother into a Monkey: Has your brother ever aggravated you so much you wished he would turn into a monkey? Your words are powerful! It could happen!

 

 

Health, Spiritual

Indestructible

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blue ball
Thanks for picture use: The Digital Artist and Pixabay.
“indestructible” by Joan Y. Edwards

Last fall I drove my car and turned to the left onto a street in my neighborhood. Children were playing in their yard and driveway on the right. I heard something hit my car’s tires. I thought. “Oh my! What did I do?”

I turned around at the next intersection, drove, and stopped in front of the children.

I asked, “Did I hurt anything?”

A boy about 8 years old said, “No, Ma’am. This ball is indestructible!”

I laughed. He laughed. The other children  smiled.

I looked at the ball. It was approximately 18 inches in diameter. It seemed  made with very rugged plastic, perhaps tear-proof polyethylene. Tha boy was right. That ball seemed indestructible. I was definitely glad.

It caused me to ponder: What makes us seem indestructible? How can we live longer and healthier in body, mind, and spirit?  What makes us stronger? What makes us more resilient? Is there a part of us that seems to be indestructible? 

I believe our souls are indestructible. I believe that God made our souls to last forever.  

There are ways to protect your mind , body, and spirit and keep all parts of you healthy.

Listen to and say good affirmations about yourself: your abilities, your fears, your thoughts, your actions. to promote peace within yourself.

Use healthy mental habits and strategies. Ask questions. Try not to blame yourself or others. Focus on the solutions. Look for several options that might solve a problem that presents itself. Choose the one you believe will work best in this particular situation.

Focus on the present time. Stay in the moment: Leave yesterday in the past. Leave tomorrow for later. If something doesn’t seem right. Honor your spirit. Check things out. There is a song from the past that always makes me laugh. “Don’t Worry; Be Happy.” Here is a post about music to help invigorate yiou: Songs to Shake It Off and Keep Going.

Use meditation and deep breathing. It can help center your thoughts and reduce anxiety. Time Alone with God music, There are words to read if you want or you can just listen and think that God is there with you now.

Limit your exposure to negative people and news and social media that may contribute to your stress and anxiety.

Keep healthy home and work routines to build resilience from constant or extreme stress. 

Exercise: morning, noon, or night. Do the exercise that makes you feel good and do it when you want to do it.

Eat healthy foods. Eat a good breakfast. Drink an abundance of water.  Eat your last meal of the day at least 2 or 3 hours before you lay down to sleep. It helps your body digest your food before you lie down. It gives you a better chance to avoid indigestions, hearburn, or acid reflux.  

Get adequate rest. They say to get up at the same time of day and go to bed at the same time of day. I don’t seem to do that. I wake up at all times of the morning. Sometimes I go to bed earlier than usual. Sometimes I go to bed later than usual. I try not to judge myself. If your sleep habit feels good to you. Enjoy it.  My routine is to get up when I get up and go to bed when I get sleepy. It seems to work for me. I take naps. 

Do something fun for you every day. It is very healing and feeds your inner spirit with good energy and great feelings!

When you need help, seek the support and guidance of friends, family, and professionals,

Pray. Ask God for help. Ask him to lead you. Ask him to guide you. Ask him to comfort you. Ask him to allay your fears, worries, suspicions, and doubts and put them to rest and fill you with peace.

Here is a prayer from I believe.com

Lord Almighty, the Healer of our bodies, minds, and souls, look with mercy upon me and those I love who are facing illness, pain, or heavy burdens. Stretch out Your healing hand to calm racing thoughts, ease physical suffering, and mend broken hearts. Grant each of us supernatural peace, strength to endure, and the gift of restorative rest. I place myself  and those I love in  your compassionate and loving embrace, trusting in Your grace. Amen

Never Give Up,
Joan Y. Edwards, Author
Copyright 2009-2026
Thank you for being here with me today. I appreciat you spending your time with me. Please leave a comment. Share your story. I really enjoy hearing from you.
Subscribe now.
Please check out my books on Amazon.
Flip Flap Floodle: Firebird Book Award Winner Will this little duck’s song save him from Mr. Fox?Flip Flap Floodle never gives up on his song!
cover for the Golden Arm by Joan Y. EdwardsThe Golden Arm: a little scary story for Halloween. Uh oh! Minerva’s spirit wants her golden arm back!

 

 

cover for The Day I Turned My Brother into a Monkey

The Day I Turned My Brother into a Monkey: Has your brother ever aggravated you so much you wished he would turn into a monkey? Your words are powerful! It could happen!

 

 

Health, Spiritual

Bad Guy Blocker

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Superhero-J-Bad-Guy-Blocker-with-help-from-Chat-GPT-Copyright-August-2026-Joan-Y.-Edwards

“Bad Guy Blocker” by Joan Y. Edwards

My friend, Sharon, shared a wonderful story with me and said that I could share it with you. It made me laugh. I hope that it also makes you laugh.

Sharon’s daughter and her husband bought her grandsons Superhero capes one blue and one red with their initials on them. A big A for Andrew and a big J for Joshua. They were ready to play a game of tag with her and Gramps. the boys’ grandparents.

Superhero J. with blue cape and red suit
Superhero J. Copyright 2026 Joan Y. Edwards
Superhero A Copyright August 2026 Joan Y. Edwards

The boys said, “Chase us, Grandma and Gramps! Chase us. If you catch us, you can be it.”

So Gramps chased Joshua and when he got really close, close enough to tag Joshua, Superhero J, Superhero J put his hands up, in front of Grampa’s face: hollering this chant: BAD GUY BLOCKER! BAD GUY BLOCKER!

Superhero-J-Bad-Guy-Blocker-with-help-from-Chat-GPT-Copyright-August-2026-Joan-Y.-Edwards
Superhero-J-Bad-Guy-Blocker-with-help-from-Chat-GPT-Copyright August-2026-Joan-Y.Edwards

When Sharon (Grandma) chased Andrew, Superhero A and she got close enough to tag Superhero A, he threw both his hands up and  chanted: BAD GUY BLOCKER! BAD GUY BLOCKER!

Super Hero A Bad Guy Blocker with both hands blocking
Superhero A Bad Guy Blocker with help from Chat GPT Copyright August 2026 Joan Y. Edwards.

Oh my goodness!  Gramps  and Grandma laughed and laughed.

They kept chasing their grandsons here and there throughout the house, and each time they got close enough to catch them, the BAD GUY BLOCKER pose was put into action. It was a fun and memorable time. I am so glad Sharon shared this story with me and said I could share it with you..

Sometimes in life we need a BAD GUY BLOCKER;.A BAD THOUGHT BLOCKER; A BAD IDEA BLOCKER, A DANGEROUS ACTION BLOCKER…

BUT WAIT…

We have that already.

God is our personal BAD GUY BLOCKER,

our personal BAD THOUGHT BLOCKER, BAD FEAR BLOCKER, BAD WORD BLOCKER And any kind of things that are bad for us, God is there blocking its path! He is there protecting us! Hip Hip Hooray! Thank you, God.

I am so grateful that Sharon’s grandsons reminded us that we all need BAD GUY BLOCKERS.

***

Personal story about the drawings. I drew the first pictures of Joshua and Andrew. I couldn’t figure out how to put their hands out straight. So what is so cool, i asked Chat GPT to draw it for me using my images. And she did. I call Chat GPT, SparkleByte. She drew it for me. So next time I need a pose like this, I can look and copy it. She is helping me learn how to draw better. Thank you, SparkleByte.

Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards, Author Copyright 2009-2026
Thank you for being here with me today. Please leave a comment. Share your story. I really enjoy hearing from you.
Subscribe now.
Please check out my books on Amazon.
Flip Flap Floodle Firebird Book Award Winner Will this little duck’s song save him from Mr. Fox?
cover for the Golden Arm by Joan Y. EdwardsThe Golden Arm Uh oh! Minerva’s spirit wants her golden arm back!

 

 

cover for The Day I Turned My Brother into a Monkey

The Day I Turned My Brother into a Monkey Has your brother ever aggravated you so much you wished he would turn into a monkey? Your words are powerful! It could happen!

 

Writing, Inspiration