How's This for Dreams Coming True?

Filled with gratitude and happiness is the best way to describe myself right now. Don't you love those moments when you can see all the puzzle peices that have been your life come together? This is one of mine.

I love being at Reber. The atmosphere is just what I need. The other 4 boarders there are SO nice. (Plus 1 of them wants lessons, 1 of them wants me to do a few rides on her horse, and 1 maybe might work for me when I have enough work, and the other one is very intriguing to me). "Nan" told me on Friday that if I leave feed outside his stall on Sat and Sun morning, she will feed him for me. So nice! "Pievi" (pronounced PIE-vee), is a sweet Finish lady who wants me to teach her on her BIG, beautiful, chestnut Thoroughbred gelding.

Most boarding barns have lists of rules posted everywhere and they are just mad houses. This one is kept small (even though there are dozens of empty stalls), and everybody just does their part and helps eachother. The barn is always clean, and there aren't any "barn police" walking around.

AND, it is so much fun (and potentially dangerous) to have a tack store 100 feet from where you keep your horse.

I have ridden 5 days in a row. I could ride Krystopher all day. He is so smooth, so well trained and SO much fun. I can make him do this TINY little collected canter. I want to show him Show Hack next year. Sorry, to all those people who have no idea what I am talking about right now. My dad always said horse people have their own language. Yes, we do.

Teaching the adult in the western saddle on Friday night was actually really fun. She is a sweet lady... probably about my mom's age. She wants to buy her own horse and keep him/her there under me. Cool, eh? She's not quite ready for that yet, but soon.

I have 6 students now. I just got another e-mail today from somebody wanting lessons for their daughter. Ashley, Maddie, Mary, Emma, Lauren and Kylee. What else is cool? All these 6 students so far are going to be "regulars". Monthly, recurring students. That's what I like.


I will admit, and this has always been the case. Right at the time my clients are supposed to show up I think to myself that I'd be okay if they didn't (and sometimes wish they wouldn't). That has always happened to me. Right before I give a lesson, I don't want to do it... I'd just rather go home. But then during and after the lesson, I am so grateful I have been blessed with the opportunity and talent with horses and teaching to affect someone's life for the better.

Starlynn and her Uncle Ben are doing well together. She's been good. And when it's time for me to come home, I just can't do it fast enough. I miss her so much when I am gone, and she always graces me with a smile that tops me off with joy.

My husband is as equally excited as I am right now. Not just because we'll be better off financially, but just because I am doing something that is rewarding and fulfilling to me. He has always encouraged me in this way, and I am so grateful for all his support and understanding through the bad times and the good.

When I am writing these blogs, sometimes I feel like I am bragging, but that is not what I am trying to do at all. Hey, these are better to read than my moaning and complaining right?

Tomato Plant

I ate the last beautiful, red tomato off our plant today. Late in the year, huh? That is thanks to my green thumb husband.

It was delicious.

"Back in the Saddle"

Written at 8:01 am on Thursday, November 19th:



Well, I had my first client at Reber Ranch yesterday. :-)



They drive in from Bonney Lake every Wednesday to go to their church in Auburn. So, they are going to come before their church every Wednesday! The mom's name is Tria, and my students name is Ashley. They lost their father last year, pretty sad. Ashley was shy at first. They met me in the barn and then we went over to Reber, picked Ashley out some new boots and then went to the till and they bought their boots and 10 lessons at the $25. :)




By about the middle of the lesson, Ashley was smiling and talking to me a lot. I just love what horses do to people. They are extremely therapeutic. "Krystopher", my new lesson horse was pretty good. He's a big guy... for an Arabian, he's about 15.3hh. He did really well as long as we were on the move. He didn't want to stand still when we needed him to. I worked him for a while before the lesson, but he just needs to get used to the place more.



I am going to work him this morning, and then turn him out all day, and then also work him before his lesson tonight too. I want him tired! He's a good boy, really sensible, he just doesn't want to be alone out in that arena! I might tie another horse up in there tonight too. He's a silly horse, he has this fast walk, but a really slow trot with a HUGE stride. He's really, really fun to ride. I can make him trot fast if I want, but he has a perfect trot for kids. Ashley loved him and left with a huge grin on her face. So, mission accomplished.



Teaching is so rewarding and fulfilling. I love it. During the day yesterday, getting ready to teach and "go back to work", I kind of started freaking out about 'leaving' Starlynn. She's pretty attached to me, and I just feel bad. But, it IS the right thing to do. It's a perfect job for me. Yesterday I was gone 2.25 hrs. When I am at full capacity, I will be gone 4 hrs a day. Perfect part time job. AND, when she gets older, and when the weather is nice, I can take her with me.



The viewing room is big and heated. If my brother decides he doesn't want to be my "manny", I am going to hire somebody I trust to babysit her INSIDE the viewing room, so I can be there too. It's probably good for her to know she can rely on other people besides mommy though. She loves her Uncle Ben, and yesterday, they did really well together. He did a good job. He got her to take an hour and a half nap! Jealous!



So, that's the scoop! I'm headed back tonight to teach "Maddie".

Oh, did I mention that I am SOOOO sore? Not my legs yet like you'd think from riding again, but my back and shoulders are killing me. More from moving into the barn and unhooking and hooking up my trailer. And, I have blisters from running around the arena last night next to the horse. Stupid boots. I was trying to look professional by wearing my tall boots... yeah, that's not happening tonight. Ok, gotta go. :)




Written 8:03pm Thursday, November 19th




Meet Maddie. Holy cuteness. She walks in in all her tininess with a big grin on her face and practically giggling in anticipation. She is very chatty, telling me all about how much she loves horses, and the horse things she has at home, and about Saddle Club episodes on TV. Her response to meeting Krystopher was "Wow, he's tall!"

About Krystopher: Oh, how I wish I could be a tiny kid, then all my horses would behave all of the time. I will be honest, I was a little nervous knowing a 6 year old was coming. With me this morning, he just doesn't like to stay standing after you get on him and he'd throw little hissy fits. I worked on it a lot until he got pretty good. He was pretty wiggly with Ashley, but I didn't want him being that way with the tiny 6 year old.

Really, I had no reason to worry. The soft look that passed over his eyes as soon as he saw that little girl just melted my heart. Instantly he got all still and put his head down for her... nuzzled her, which of course set off her giggling again. He was AMAZING for the lesson. So well behaved. It never ceases to amaze me. Kid horses have a place reserved in the celestial kingdom that's for sure.

Maddie is a natural. No fear, listens well. I have been blessed with two amazing students to start out! I head back tomorrow to teach an adult in a western saddle... yeck. Oh well, money is money!

(Sorry his eye-shine makes Krystopher look like a dork in this pic, and he doesn't have his ears all the way pricked forward like he usually does, but none-the-less, he's a cute pony!)

Starlynn Meeting Papa Wade

Read Starlynn's account of meeting her Papa Wade here.

Solvang

Sunday after visiting dad, mom took me to Solvang! I have been there before and I just love it. It is this little "Danish" town. It is just so cute and fun.




We went to the bakery. Oh my goodness... YUM!!!!!!! I got a "Napoleon Hat" and a "Raspberry Macaroon". mmmm... my mouth is watering again.

Here is mom in front of the windmill thing:

And Starlynn and I, She had fun seeing all the sights. She just talk, talk, talked, and turned heads wherever she went:
In front of some big Belgian ponies:

Then, mom wanted to take me to the Thomas Kinkade gallery, but wouldn't tell me why. I walked into the gallery and gasped. He is doing this entire Disney series. Wow. Of course I want all of them. Here are a couple. I want the Peter Pan one first!

You can't see it well here, but in the clouds are the Lost Boys, the Crocodile and Captain Hook

So, we had a really great time!!!

The Ocean

I love the ocean. The breeze, the sounds, the salty air.

I love to imagine all of the life that is abundant right below the surface. I wish I could see it.

I love how it is constant. Its power humbles me. Its beauty entrances me.

It makes me think of its Creator.

I even love sand in my shoes.

The Plane Ride

Chillin' at the airport waiting to board.

Where are we?

Ok, I think I like it.

On the way to California we had two planes! One to Salt Lake City and then on into Santa Barbara. She fell asleep both times during the take off. Pretty much, as soon as the cabin lights went off, she was out. First landing: was able to keep her busy looking at people, hardly cried at all. Second landing: it was past 9pm, she got woken up from a dead sleep by the loud speaker, and cried until we touched down. Poor little angel. She doesn't do well when she gets awakened out of a dead sleep, and then to have to deal with the pressure.

Flight on the way home: was awake for take-off. I think she's used to fast acceleration and feeling pressure from daddy's driving. lol. During the flight she took a little power nap, but mostly charmed people standing in line for the lavatory and one flight attendent in particular. She was a big hit. Landing.... not so happy. About half way down she decided she finally DID want the bottle, and then fell asleep, and we were able to keep her asleep all the way to the car, transfered to her car seat and she woke up about half way on the drive home. :)

She was just great! She loved so many people being so close together. She's a little social butterfly!