Month: May 2022

Memorial Day: In Remembrance

by Kathi, posted in Current Events, History, Movie Reviews, Travels Around the World

I am grateful every day for our U.S. Military and want to honor them on Memorial Day, when we especially remember those who gave their lives to protect our country and the cause of freedom around the world. America has suffered more than 2,852,901 casualties of war since the inception of our country, and I’m sure (as a mother with a son in the military) that every death was a devastating loss. I thank God every day for my son’s safety, and for all he does—along with every other member of our armed forces— to ensure the safety of every American. As I pray for the end of the war in Ukraine, I can’t help but appreciate the peace we Americans experience at present.

I was born during the Korean War but have no memory of it. However, I was a teenager during the worst years of the Vietnam War. I remember feeling terror for the friends who were drafted. I remember being eternally grateful for Alan’s having asthma when he was drafted, because he was “4-F” (medically unfit). I never thought I’d be so happy that he suffered from such an ailment! 🙂

I went to a Christian university and remember many students who became believers during their tours of duty in Vietnam. Their lives were changed by their war experiences, and they returned to America with a deep desire to go into ministries where they could share the love of Christ as the answer to a world bent on selfishness and destruction.

But the guys never really wanted to talk about their experiences. They were too raw. Too horrible. Too confusing.

One of my friends had been a helicopter pilot. He’d been shot down 8 times and had a Purple Heart. He never wanted to talk about it, though. He wanted to talk about everything BUT the war.

My son is a dentist. He had to go through all the horrendous training, and I’m sure there were terrible things that happened I’ve never heard about, but his job has always been caring for medical and dental needs. Not shooting guns, but saving kids with dental abscesses and oral/facial injuries while black hawks circled the skies above and missiles flew. He hasn’t really told me much either.

Until my son joined the military, I was content to think of war as a necessary evil that would exist as long as nations continued to oppress other nations, but I didn’t try to understand what it was like. It was unspeakably horrible; that was enough.

However, with a son at some risk (although less now that he’s older and more involved in administrative work), and with many age-mates who are still dealing with the aftermath of being Vietnam vets, Alan and I decided to watch the Ken Burns documentary on the war in Vietnam.

This 2017 documentary received a 9.1 IMDb rating and is an in-depth study of America’s involvement in Vietnam, where we were trying to protect South Vietnam from North Vietnamese aggression and hoped to assist in the development of South Vietnam as a free democracy like South Korea.

Saigon, the largest city in Vietnam, has been renamed Ho Chi Minh City
by the communists in honor of their leader

When Alan and I visited South Vietnam a few years ago, some of the people we talked to expressed sorrow over America pulling out and leaving their country in the oppressive hands of the North Vietnamese communists. Even while we were there, the gorgeous, ancient trees lining the parks in Siagon were being chopped down to be used for building in Hanoi. So, I always felt very sad that America had given up on the fight.

However, as the war ground on for years, and tens of thousands of young Americans were killed—along with huge numbers of Vietnamese soldiers on both sides and civilians—there was tremendous resistance to the war.

Were we helping or hurting? Saving the nation or injuring the nation?

The footage is graphic and gory. The language is raw and profane. But, if you want to understand what war is like for those who are involved, this PBS mini-series (16.5 hours) gives an insight into war beyond anything I’ve personally seen or understood.

I wasn’t a protestor, trying to put flowers in gun barrels. I was an idealist who assumed that “of course” America was sacrificially trying to “save the world.” That’s what had motivated my friends to join.

But, war is never without great sin on both sides. This Memorial Day, as we’re enjoying family and friends over BBQ and watermelon, let’s remember to pray for our military and all those who’ve lost loved ones or who have loved ones risking their lives to keep us safe. Let’s pray for the morale and morality of our leaders and military personnel. And, let’s pray for an end of war. May God’s kingdom come, where the Prince of Peace will reign.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace… and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Isaiah 9:6 . . . Luke 1:33).

(Except for the two photos of my son and the photo from Saigon, all the photos are from Ken Burn’s documentary, The Vietnam War.)

Chicken Fiesta Pasta

by Kathi, posted in Cooking Can Be Fun!, Recipes

If you’re looking for a savory meal-in-one full of color and flavor that will serve a crowd (like on Memorial Day), try this cream-sauce pasta:


Chicken Fiesta Pasta
(Serves 10-12)

Prepare separately: 2-3 pounds grilled chicken thighs (or can be roasted for an hour beforehand)

In a large frying pan, sautee until tender in 2 tablespoons butter:
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 red pepper, chopped
8 oz mushrooms, chopped
1 teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning

Then add:
2 jars (each 6-8 oz) quartered artichokes (I use the oil/juice marinade too)
1 jar capers (3-4 oz) (marinade and capers both)
1 tablespoon parsley
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
2 chives, chopped

After everything is steaming, add
1 pound broccoli, chopped in bite-sized pieces
Then make a gravy-style mixture and add:
2 cups light cream
1/2 cup flour
3-4 cups cooked chicken, cubed
2 tablespoons butter

Prepare pasta (simultaneously if you can, so the pasta is al dente when the broccoli is bright green and just barely cooked):
24 oz. pasta cooked according to directions on box (with salt). Drain and melt in
2 tablespoons olive oil

Mix together pasta and vegetable/chicken mixture in white sauce. (Test and add more salt if needed.) Toss lightly until well mixed and serve immediately with parmesan cheese.

Chicken Fiesta Pasta with Tossed Salad and Grapes

I served it for a dinner party and got totally sidetracked from taking photos after the guests arrived, so this final photo is from dinner the next night. It’s just a flavorful reheated, but the greens aren’t nearly so bright!

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6).




What is Priceless to You?

by Kathi, posted in Current Events, Inspiration, Movie Reviews

Slavery in the form of human trafficking is still a global, unbelievably evil reality today.

There aren’t many PG-13 films that tackle the subject.

Priceless is one of the best. (Priceless was made in 2016 and not to be confused with a movie by the same name made 10 years earlier in 2006.)

Joel Smallbone, from For King and Country, in the role of James Stevens

Based on the true story of James Stevens, a young man who became destabilized by his wife’s death and couldn’t hold a steady job.

His situation becomes so bleak that he has to give up custody of his child.

To earn some quick cash, he accepted a job driving an unmarked box truck to the West Coast “no questions asked.”

However, questions inevitably arise, and James is left with the dilemma: Look the other way, take his cash, and go back for his little girl . . .

or rescue the two girls who are being trafficked in the unmarked truck.

Although this movie is inevitably rough, the movie has a lot to teach, not only about developing character and heroism, but also about raising awareness of human trafficking.

I don’t watch R-rated movies as a rule, but I suspect this commentary by Joe Leydon of Variety magazine is right on: “Priceless achieves greater impact through understatement and implication than many other similarly plotted movies do with R-rated explicitness.”

In many countries, young woman are being sent to America or other countries to pay off debts with the promise of a better life, when in reality they’re being sold into sex trafficking.

Many listless, lonely teens have no idea what’s going on so are vulnerable to being beguiled into sex trafficking by flattering, attractive “friends” who are really pimps.

This moving drama (but based on true events) helps us remember that every human being is priceless and worth rescue! James Stevens and his wife are still in the rescue business, and if you want to learn more, watch the movie and find the link (although I think they keep things very private for security purposes). In Michigan, you can also contact MAP (Michigan Abolition Project). I suspect most states have similar programs. If you’re a victim of trafficking and want help, or if you suspect trafficking going on around you, contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888, or text 233733.

The Bible has this ominous pronouncement for those who practice evil and make merchandize of people: “The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all” (Revelation 18:12-14).

“Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions” (Psalm 35:17).

Hot’n’Fresh Chicken Salad Sandwiches

by Kathi, posted in Cooking Can Be Fun!, Recipes

Do you enjoy going to a good soup and salad restaurant every once in a while? We used to enjoy our neighborhood Panera, although the prices have gone up enough that I’m starting to sponsor my own soup and salad plans at home! One of my favorite (but very simple) creations of late is this:

Hot’n’Fresh Chicken Salad Sandwiches
(Makes 2)

Ingredient List:
2 deli-style buns
1 six-ounce can of chicken breast (or 6 oz, cubed, cooked chicken)
1 large stalk of celery, diced
1/2 tomato, chopped
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons minced garlic (or dried, minced garlic)
Sprinklings of these seasonings: onion powder, seasoning salt, salt and pepper

#1. Slice two deli buns in half, spread with butter and sprinkle them with minced garlic. Toast them over low heat, flipping as needed to brown them without burning.

#2. In a bowl, combine the (drained) chicken breast, celery, and tomato.

#3. Add mayonnaise, onion and seasoning salt, and salt and pepper to taste.

#4. Mix the salad and microwave it for one minute to heat it up without really cooking it.

#5. With a slotted spoon (to drain off any excess liquid), pile the heated chicken salad onto the grilled buns. Cover and fry another minute or two until everything is really toasty!

Hot’n’fresh chicken salad sandwich with tomato soup

Serve with your favorite soup. I made some tomato soup, but the sandwich is very filling so just served myself a little. (A bigger bowl would look more inviting, but I’m trying [as always] to lose weight . . . or at least, as my father’s doctor used to tease my dad, “Try to gain weight a little more slowly!” 🙂 )

Remembrance

“O God, when I have food, help me to remember the hungry. When I have work, help me to remember the jobless. When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home at all. When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer. And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency, bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough to help, by word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted. Amen.” – Samuel F. Pugh

“And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day” (Isaiah 58:10).

Learning Gentleness from My Octopus Teacher

by Kathi, posted in African Adventures, Animal Stories, Critters, Movie Reviews, Nature Studies, Travels Around the World

My daughter recommended this documentary, and it’s fascinating, educational, and provocative. I will never look at a sea creature the same way again!

My Octopus Teacher is a 2020 Netflix original documentary. TV-G; an hour and a half long; rated 8.1 on IMDb. It was the winner of the Best Documentary Feature at the 2021 Academy Awards (along with 14 other nominations and 11 wins).

It’s based on nearly a year’s research (then ten years in the making) by filmmaker Craig Foster, who explored daily the cold, underwater kelp forest near False Bay in South Africa. Why? He started by looking for inspiration but ended with an obsession. He discovered and befriended an octopus!

That’s right. A common, female octopus. An eight-limbed member of the mollusc order, which also includes clams and oysters . . . a soft-tissued, spineless creature that can ooze into a small crack under a rock rather like a blob of jelly.

But, octopuses (not “octopi,” just in case you were wondering) are not mindless blobs of jelly. They have excellent vision and complex nervous systems. They can use tools, solve problems, and engage in play! I read of one octopus being kept for research who was so clever he would escape from his aquarium at night, break into the nearby fish tank, steal fish, and then return to his own aquarium, even remembering to close the top again! It wasn’t until the scientists installed a night camera that they figured out what was happening!

I remember being on an Italian cruise in the Mediterranean once where the ship’s most prized buffet evening showcased octopus. Neither Alan nor I liked it, but each time another freshly prepared octopus came out, there was a perceptible rush back to the buffet line for more. In Asia, Alan’s sister was served a bowl of soup with tiny octopuses swimming around in it. Janice said she gave it back, unable to stomach the idea of eating something still swimming, but I know it’s a delicacy in some countries.

After watching My Octopus Teacher, I will never make the mistake of assuming octopuses are unthinking or unworthy of respect! The little female that developed a friendship with Craig would reach out a tentative limb to feel his finger (and taste it—they also taste with the [up to 2000] independently operating suckers on the downside of their limbs).

In one scene near the end, she comes over and wraps herself around his chest as if to give him a hug and express a sense of pleasure over his being there.

Colossal Octopus
Pierre Denys de Montfort.
(Public Domain)

I have to confess, I’ve had a rather archaic view of octopuses based on novels like Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, where Captain Nemo’s submarine is attacked by a gargantuan octopus.

In truth, most octopuses are small. The largest scientifically documented octopus was about the size of an adult male human (156 pounds), although rumor has it that giant Pacific octopuses exist weighing up to 600 pounds with arms 30 feet long.

Female octopus tending her hundreds of thousands of eggs. (Wiki Commons)
File:Enteroctopus dofleini to spawn

Sadly (to me) octopuses are short-lived (about one year). The male dies after inseminating the female, and the female dies after brooding and hatching the massive number of eggs given her.

But there’s a brilliance in their design and abilities! They can change colors to camouflage themselves, and their soft-tissue bodies can contort and stretch so that even large octopuses can escape into a crack no bigger than an inch wide, making it hard for predators to catch them. They can expel ink when frightened and in flight. They can think and plot and deceive to catch their prey . . . or hide from their predators. Do you know what this picture is about? Why not watch My Octopus Teacher for the underwater trip of your life? If you’re anything like me, it will change the way you think about sea creatures . . . maybe all creatures!

“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18).

TWA 67 and A Few of My Favorite Birds (47): Anhingas/aka Snake Birds

by Kathi, posted in A Few of My Favorite Birds, Travels in America, Travels with Allie

Anhinga is a Brazillian (Tupi) word that means “devil bird” or “snake bird.” If you watch them swim, you’ll know why!

Almost all their body is underwater except for their long neck and beak, making them look like a snake poised to strike.

They are in fact awesome fishermen and can snag fish with their razor-sharp beaks.

I had never noticed them well enough to identify them until we spent time in the South, although there are some 83,000 living throughout warm, protected areas of the world where the waters are shallow enough for not-too-deep-sea fishing.

Anhinga that I mistook for a cormorant near Iguazu Falls, Brazil

For many years I confused anhingas with cormorants when I would see them from a distance, but what I was really noticing was that both birds hang out their wings to dry! Neither type has waterproof feathers, so they spend lots of time sitting around blow-drying their wings in the sun.

Cormorants on Avon River in Stratford, Ontario, Canada

Both anhingas and cormorants appear dark in the distance, and they are pretty similar in size and shape, although cormorants are stockier and heavier, so they can survive further north than anhingas.

Cormorant in Florida

Also, if you get a chance to be up close and personal with cormorants, you’ll notice they have hooked beaks with a distinctive claw at the end.

Anhinga strutting along Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park, Florida

In contrast, Anhingas have (proportionately) much longer beaks, longer tails, and the males have wonderfully exotic black and white coloring.

Female Anhinga with two little least terns

Anhingas are very impressive birds! They can measure up to a yard in length from tip to tail and more than a yard in wingspan. Their beaks are twice the length of their heads: long, sharp and pointed.

Male anhinga resting at Magnolia Plantation

Both their beaks and worldwide-webbed feet are color-coordinated—bold yellow!

Anhinga pulling muck off his wings after a dive

God created anhingas with some special features which allow them to be world-class fisherbirds! Besides wearing their spear on their face and flippers on their feet, their bones are denser than most birds, giving them perfect neutral buoyancy in water.

Furthermore, unlike almost all other birds, anhingas don’t have waterproof feathers. Instead, they become waterlogged when they’re wet, which makes diving deeper easier . . . sort of like weights on a diver’s belt!

However, nobody can fly very far with soggy feathers—not even anhingas, so they spend a lot of time standing around with wings outspread and feathers fanned open in a semicircular shape to dry out and absorb heat.

To maximize the benefits of their solar-powered clothes dryer (and minimize facial wrinkles? 🙂 ), they keep their backsides sunnyside.

Nevertheless, no matter how relaxed they look as sunbathers, they always have to keep a sharp lookout for predators frequenting the same fishing holes!

Three alligators lounge close to where the anhinga is sunning

Sometimes they hide in the long grasses, but if need be, they can take off for a short flight to safety. When the winds are favorable, anhingas have been known to ride updrafts several thousand feet into the sky! I guess it pays to get dry so you can fly high!

Anhingas also build their nests in trees out of the reach of alligators.

What can we learn about life from these brilliantly sculpted birds? I think the most striking thing is that, like birds, we are designed with special “features” to make us maximally able to provide for ourselves and be productive.

I wonder if anhingas ever complain: “Lord, I’m a waterbird! How come you made me without oil glands to waterproof my feathers? How come I have to sit around soaking up the heat and drying my wings between fishing expeditions?” For about fifteen years while nursing my infants, I would sometimes wonder why I needed to sit still to nurse when there was so much other work that needed to be done. God made me a mammal, and that slows me down in some ways, but it also made me much more naturally productive! I never had to run to the store for more milk for our babies! Being “forced” to sit still provided for the world’s best bonding time with my infants, and I can remember many, many starlit prayers going up to my Father that would never have occurred had I not been forced to spend hours drying my tears in midnight sonshine.

Anhinga sunning on a snag with alligators swimming nearby

You may not be a mother, but is there some area of your life that is difficult to manage but makes you more productive? It occurs to me that anhingas were created to dive and to soar with significant periods of rest in between, but not to float. I like that! I want to be like that!

Ah, Lord! You are so wise. Help us to appreciate the way you’ve created us! Help us take the time to soak in the Light of your presence, meditating on your Word . . . getting the weight to evaporate off our wings after we’ve been diving! Help us remember that the world is full of stalkers and predators. Sometimes we can hide, but we always need to be ready to defend ourselves by taking flight, and there’s no better preparation than keeping dry so we can fly high toward heaven on the updrafts of your love!

“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:8-10).

American Kimchi Pancakes (and an Authentic Recipe too)

by Kathi, posted in Cooking Can Be Fun!, Recipes

Alan and I first experienced kimchi pancakes in South Korea, where each pancake is roughly the size of a plate and they can serve as an alternative to bread with your dinner, or as your dinner! Since then, I’ve been looking for a place that serves them here in the U.S. but have never found anything quite so unique and crispy. Nevertheless, by scrounging online and experimenting, I’ve come up with a version that may not compare with the “real deal” but works for those of us who don’t know better or can’t do better! I also wrote to a South Korean girlfriend for her recipe, which I’ll include after mine, so you’ll have an authentic version to try as well. One way or another, here are a couple of options for how to give your breakfast menu a little Asian flair! Kimchi pancakes can be served as the entire meal, or you can supplement them with eggs and sausage . . . or whatever else strikes your fancy!

Kimchi Pancakes
(Makes six 4-5″ pancakes)

Kimchi is sour and definitely an acquired taste, but we now love it!

In a mixing bowl, combine:
One 16-jar kimchi: Place juice in mixing bowl and chop kimchi into small chunks before adding
1 cup finely chopped green onions
1 large egg
1 cup water
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional; kimchi is a little hot already, so test it)
1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix together, allowing sugar and salt to dissolve, then add
2 cups all-purpose flour and blend together just until mixed

This batter is a bit too thick, as I learned from my Korean girl friend, so I added more water to the recipe above; it should be a little more runny than pictured here.

Heat a griddle to 350°F. and butter well
Add 3-4 spoonfuls of mixture per pancake to make 6-8 pancakes
Fry in butter until the edges start to turn crispy
Flip and fry another 3 minutes or until golden brown

Serve hot with ample supplies of butter and sour cream or Greek yogurt. (This is the American version which seems more like “pancakes” as we know them; the Koreans eat them plain and sometimes torn in pieces. We shared a couple of pancakes with an entire family as an hors d’oeuvre in South Korea.)

Here’s the “real deal” from my girlfriend, E.J. Magnuson. To know her is to love her, and I do! She’s a great friend and loves the Lord with all her heart! Thanks, EJ!!

“Hey girlfriend ~ You just have to come to Korea for that. Haha. Each person makes differently but for me… Use 2 cups of Korean pancake mix 1 cup of kimchi ( must be aged, sour taste, finely chopped and squeezed) 1/4 cup thinly sliced onion 1 tsp red pepper flakes 1 tsp sugar (brown sugar) Optional protein (Thinly sliced ham, bacon, or lunch meat) 2 cup water Oil *Mix everything but pancake mix and water *add pancake mix *add water But do not over mix, to prevent becoming gluten. Mixture should be slightly runny. * in a pan, with med-high heat, add 3-4 tbs oil, when heated, pour one ladle full of mixture. Flip only once. Each side should be golden brown. Enjoy~”

“Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end” (Daniel 6:24-26).




Walk. Ride. Rodeo Review

by Kathi, posted in Health Issues, Inspiration, Movie Reviews, Travels with Allie, Trying to be our best inside and out!

Do you love all the inspirational tragedy to triumph stories coming out in video this past decade? As a history buff, there’s nothing I enjoy better than hearing how somebody overcame huge challenges to find wholeness and purpose in life. Walk. Ride. Rodeo (2019 Netflix Original) is one of those make-my-day sagas that foster life and hope. What happens? Well, the bottom line is that the heroine, Amberley Synder, eventually gets to ride off in the sunshine, but I don’t want to spoil everything, so I’ll tell you a few facts (and lessons) I gleaned from researching.

Actresses (on left) and real-life heroines, Amberley and Tina Synder (on right)

Amberly was born in 1991 and grew up in Utah. She started riding horses at three and competing at seven. By the time she was 18, she’d won the “All Around Cowgirl World Championship” sponsored by the National Little Britches Rodeo Association.

Amberley with her parents (movie version)

And then something terrible happened that would have ended the aspirations of most teenagers, but it didn’t stop Amberley! With the backing of her father (a former Major League baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers) and her amazingly devoted mother (and siblings), Amberley fought for her ambition to “Walk. Ride. Rodeo” again.

The movie has to compress 7 years into an hour and a half, so Amberley says the timeline was a little wonky and there was some Hollywoodizing, but she served as a consultant throughout the production and did all her own post-injury stunts for the movie, so it sounds like the movie runs pretty close to the reality. (Possibly, rumor has it, including her love interest, although the name was changed and she guards her private life carefully.)

Today, Amberley works as a motivational speaker and loves being able to encourage people with physical challenges not to give up. Here are a few statements she’s made about her experiences and a few of her favorite aphorisms, especially the one we all know—”You gotta get back on the horse!”

“My family, my faith, and my horses are who I credit for me still being here.”

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

“Don’t allow someone else to decide what you are capable of – you decide what you want to accomplish.”

“I have learned over the years to appreciate the small victories. There is never an accomplishment too small to celebrate!”

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

“Life in a chair isn’t always easy but I promise that you can get stronger to handle so much of what you’re facing. Keep up the fight!”

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12).

TWA 66: Rich Strike Strikes it Rich at the Kentucky Derby

by Kathi, posted in Current Events, Sports and Sporting Events, Travels in America, Travels with Allie

Did you happen to see Rich Strike win the 148th Kentucky Derby in a shocking burst of speed that led him to a victory in the last seconds? I was mesmerized by the power and grace with which this gorgeous three-year-old thoroughbred went from eighteenth-place at the first half mile to winning by three-quarters of a length at the end of the world-famous 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) race!

NBC News Photo

The odds on Rich Strike were 1/80. He had the least qualifying points of any of the 20 horses—only 21 and points compared to 164 for Epicenter, the horse favored to win! It was jockey Sony Leon’s first Derby win, and it was trainer Eric Reed’s first Derby win. Reed runs only a small stable and had this to say: “I never dreamed I would be here. I never thought I’d have a Derby horse. I never tried to go to the yearling sale and buy a Derby horse. So this was never in my plans. Everybody would love to win the Derby. I always would, but I never thought I would be here, ever. It’s a horse race, and anybody can win. And the tote board doesn’t mean a thing.”*

Thoroughbred Horses Grazing

Last night we drove by Louisville’s Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby has been raced every year since its inception in 1875. The 2022 purse was $3 million, and Rich Strike earned $1,860,000 for his first prize! That’s one to the most stunning rags to riches story in racing history, and I hope they make a movie including more of the back story soon!

Keeneland Race Track, Lexington Kentucky

Alan and I saw the Kentucky Derby, but NOT in Kentucky. We saw it because we “just happened” to be waiting with some of our kids and grandchildren for a table at Fricano’s Pizza in Grand Haven, Michigan, when the race showed up on their television. I was breathless! I’d never known much about horses until this same week a year ago when we toured Keeneland Race Track, the other epicenter of thoroughbred racing in America, just before the last Kentucky Derby. That tour totally transformed my appreciation for the magnificence of horses!

King Fury

Last year, King Fury had qualified for the Kentucky Derby but at the last minute developed a fever and couldn’t race. We got to visit him at his stable. I wondered if he had any clue how disappointing his last-minute illness made his jockey and owner! Some might say “Easy come; easy go!” but the reality is that each of these prize horses are the result of generations of breeding, huge investments, and tireless training . . . and they can only run when they’re three-years-old, so a simple fever can end years of dreaming and planning!

We saw where the world-famous Seattle Slew has been laid to rest. Seattle Slew was a Triple Crown winner and considered one of the best thoroughbreds of the twentieth century. These horses are legendary, and Alan and I were awed by their strength and beauty.

Winners from Keeneland Race Track

I felt like a total failure standing beside these world-renowned jockeys. I am a passionate person, but I don’t live and breathe discipline and danger to win a prize. Actually, I’m not motivated to win an earthly prize at any rate, but I do long to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant” when I stand before my Lord! I have a lot more work to do, but isn’t it inspiring to know that it’s never too late to give it all we’ve got?!

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4; Jesus spoke these words, but He is my greatest inspiration and example. He did more for the world that any other!)

(Credits: Photo of Rich Strike and YouTube of race from NBC News; *Quote from Thoroughbred Daily News. May 7, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022 from Wikipedia;
I took all the other photos in or around Lexington, Kentucky, on our trip to the Southeast.)