Riding Lessons

Riding Lessons

First off, this extremely large feline is Rupert. He's huge. He's stupidly trusting, or just plain stupid. He loves on everyone, and lies in the middle of the round pen whenever he chooses. And the horse Elise rides isn't fond of small critters. But Rupert doesn't seem to mind.

This is Skye. And Elise brushing him down prior to riding. These are excellent habits to get into when deciding if you want a horse for reals or not. Go and learn from someone who has one and keeps it very well and decide if you really want that. Elise still does. I'm debating with myself, although it is the most amazing feeling watching her do something that she claims she loves, and to see her be good at it. Priceless! Or at least worth the money I've put into it so far!

Her coach, Allie says she has great posture. Especially for a beginner. AND she's gentle on the reins. After two days in the round pen she got to go in the big arena (pics of that posted later!)

A little bit of an obstacle course. Sky is a barrel racing and pole bending horse. He's won big money for his fam and I can see his talent shine through. Elise is just getting used to walking in this pic, but she learned to trot on Day 3!

He is so big!! Look at my baby up there on that full sized animal! Yikes!

Allie is a great teacher for Elise. She's patient and firm and uses a different language than I do. It is more the language that I want to use; more empowering to Elise. This is awesome! I can't wait to see more of this.

UPDATE:

So I started this post three weeks ago. Ya, babies make me busy I guess. Elise is now trotting confidently in the BIG ARENA!! Doing regular pole bending techniques around cones (not poles because Sky would possibly take off out from under her since he LOVES that so much). She rides lessons for about 40 minutes then Allie tells her to just practice something, or have fun and she'll come and chat with me and we let Elise and Sky do their thing. Today was special because Elise was really enjoying getting Sky going fast. I can't believe she can hang on for a trot, but she can! Doesn't even look bouncy really. They work great together and I'm thinking about doing some barrel racing in the future. I've always wanted to and I heard of a group that we can compete in together as a family so I think we'll do that next year... got a small problem though. I ought to have our own horses for such a thing!! We'll see!!

Blessing Day Blessings

So, you've seen how wet it is outside. It was wet last week, it is wet all this week and I didn't even THINK about it being wet for Sunday's post-blessing activities. Didn't dawn on me at all. The dress was done just perfectly by my mother. McKenna was bathed and ready to be dressed just in time for me to wonder what I'd forgotten. My dinner assignments had been assigned, and we were planning on an outdoor BBQ style party at my mother-in-law's (She has the best yard for large groups with children). I woke up to rain. I still wasn't thinking about it. Really! Then I got a phone call at 9 in the morning, my mother-in-law. This isn't word for word, but pretty close.

Jan: "Vicki, good morning you up yet?"

Vicki: "Um, thinking about it, but no."

J: "Well, it is raining. I just got a call from Sandra. She said that we could use her wrap around porch for the dinner today if we need to because of the rain."

V: "Oh, that is so nice! It is raining? Really?"

J: "Yes. It is pouring. Get up and look."

V: "okay, I'll get up and look. Thanks for letting me know. She's so nice. That saves us a bit of trouble doesn't it?"

J: "Yup, I got to go. See you at church!"

V: "okay, thanks again." And back to sleep I tried to be!!

In came the troupes (aka Mike & Elise) begging for pancakes. Yup, on fast Sunday. The day our little miracle was to be blessed. Mike didn't fast. He fasted the week before. We are terrible at fasting. I usually remember... oh this could go on forever I'll stop this now and re-visit it later in another post!!

Pancakes served. Elise is skipping Primary to help me get Kenna ready. Mike is off to church to teach his Sunday School Lesson. I'm slowly and methodically getting everything ready... Do we need another dessert? What would I make in an hour? Nothing, we must have enough then!

_______________________________________________

Arrived at church, changed Kenna's clothes into her Blessing Dress. My beautiful little sister helped, so did my mom. That mother's room needs to be bigger. We sat down in the chapel and waited. All of our guests had arrived sometime by the end of the Sacrament. I'd been worried at how big our circle would be, little at all did I know!!! Dave missed our blessing being before the Sacrament, but it turned out to be a great thing. I handed McKenna to Mike and patted him. Off they went, and so did about half the priesthood in the building!! They just kept popping up and walking up there. I felt my face begin to get a little wide-eyed and pinker... that one had to be the largest I'd ever seen!! I have heard that there were about 18 men, each with at least a finger holding up my little 10 pound Kenna. The blessing was great, many told me it was beautiful. I have yet to re-listen to it and write it down and destroy the recording, but I'm sure it was great.

But one feeling trumped that big circle of fantastic priesthood holding gentlemen. There are SO many missing!!!!! For starters, my own father who passed away 10 years ago in May. Mike's grandfathers have both passed away. Two of Mike's uncles, Larry and Alan. My grandfathers were not there, one I invited, the other I didn't. My brother-in-law Jeff P in MD. Uncle Brad was working or doing something with the High Council; Clay was teaching his class; Bryan is in Spain on his mission; Mitch is in the MTC. Mike's brothers Lance & Ryan are in Cali selling pesticides (I think that baby blessings trump chemicals, but whatever!! ;) ) Several of Mike's cousins: Dan, Lars, Thomas, Steven, Eric, David... There could be more, that generation of Wight's had a lot of boys! I have two cousins that maybe could have been invited and in the circle. I think that about covers it.

I feel overwhelmed by the knowledge of all this priesthood power surrounding my daughters. It is full of love, guidance, and power from on high. I'm so grateful that there are so many worthy holders of this priesthood in my family, in my neighborhood to protect and guide my girls as I do my best trying to raise them up right. It takes a village, it really does, and a lot of righteous Chieftans.

But most of all, I'm still overwhelmed and pinching myself about having concieved and bore another child. I hope and pray that I never ever forget what a huge blessing, an impossible circumstance it seemed, to bear another child into this world of my own flesh. She is healthy, she is strong, loving, beautiful, and cherishable!!! So is my firstborn. A different kind of blessing, but a blessing all the same.

Another blessing: Sandra having the energy, time and intuitiveness (she's really good at being intuitive anyway! She's often prompted to do things by the Spirit. I love that about her!!) to offer her home to SO many strangers! Wight's, Weatherston's& Stallings! It was an amazing gathering!

Blessing Day 2009.