It is very understanding why Althletes can be so superstitious.  There are many uncontrollable variables that truly impact the outcome of an athletic competition.  This is especially true for equestrians.  Not only are humans susceptible to mood swings and hormone surges, so are horses.  In addition, the horse and the rider need to be in top top shape to compete.  If one is not then things will be less then optimal.  Since this is an outdoor sport the weather has a great deal of influence on the horses ability to compete.  The events basically go on in rain, snow, wind storms, blazing heat, freezing cold etc.  There are very few weather related elements that prevent a show from occurring. Horses are very sensitive animals.  They are not only sensitive to the attitude of the rider and all of the other horses around him/her, but also to the weather.  They can get hyper in certain types of whether and sluggish at other times.  If one is a control freak - who likes to know that they can work their rear-end off and then they will be rewarded with success commiserate with their level of preparation - then this is not the sport for that person.  It is really hard when one is a control freak parent, who feels the need to see their child consistently improving with every competition.  None of this bunny hot stuff.  Yet that happens here in the horse world all of the time.  

All in all, Horse People are just different.  They have to be to survive.  They work so hard that I am literally amazed that they can function at the end of the day.  Yet, after all of that work a simple bad day on behalf of the horse can mean that the days work is all for naught.  Spending so much time at horse competitions has made me a little superstitious as well.  I hate being superstitious.  I feel like it is a pile of phony baloney.  (I type this as I knock on wood).  I have tried the "fake it till you make it" positive attitude.  The hold my breath until it is all over and ignore everything attitude.  The expect the worst and then you will always be happy attitude and none of them have panned out.

This is my awakening.  Two weeks ago when were here at this show I prayed for one of my daughter's horses.  An honest pleading with the Lord for help.  This horse has been trouble ever since we got her over a year ago.  The next day the vet performed an ultra sound on her legs and found nothing wrong.  She was fine.  Then, her trainers decided that they just needed to show her intensely so that she would go lame again and then we could figure out what is making her lame.  They put her through the wringer last week.  Yesterday my daughter jumped her in a class and today she will be jumping her again.  I cannot ignore that the power of prayer has been the one thing that has been a constant here.  I have found peace.  I used to be so stressed out - mostly because I feel like if she doesn't win every class my husband is going to be unhappy.  But I don't care what he thinks anymore.  I not longer let his negative energy push my buttons and I am filled with the peace of knowing that if Annika is meant to go to Young Riders she will be able to go.  That as long as Annika can keep a positive attitude and as long as she remains humble and has faith, that God will provide.  I have seen this through Anka.

I believe that I need to give credit where credit is due.  This is just an analogy for me that applies to life.  Annika works as hard as she can.  We do everything we humanly can to prepare the horse and she does all she can to prepare herself.  Heavenly Father makes up for the difference.  This is true in all of our endeavors.  I am so blessed to have such a fantastic daughter, that we were directed to work with Lara Schleining and that Lara brought Garrett to the barn family.  We feel divine guidance in all of this.  We feel so fortunate that we are part of a barn that is so positive and uplifting.  We absolutely love being with everyone who is part of this barn family!

 QUESTION OF THE DAY . . . . 

How do I turn this. . . . .

 

Into this . . . .????????

I love how the "new year" means that every magazine has at least one article on "organization solutions."  My question is, where do you put the rest of your stuff????  Sure, if Bill and I had 7 pairs of pants, 14 shirts, 10 pairs of shoes, 11 sweaters, and 8 different bags and or hats this closet would be a dream.  Yet, if we only had that many items our closet would already be an organizational dream!   I have been through my closet and disposed of things that are not being used, or things I spent so much money on I could hardly part with (even though I never use it).

I am constantly trying to get my closet organized, and then once I do I go buy tons of new stuff.  What is up with that?  I have a friend who gets rid of something every time she buys something new.  What is the purpose of that?  The new seasonal colors are magnificent, so I buy some new shirts... but that means I have to get rid of perfectly good clothes that I like that I could still wear?  

I am afraid I am going to have to sell a kidney, and then take our closet to the next level.  Build a multi-level closet utilizing the attic space above my room.  I am sure the kidney won't cover all of the expenses, but maybe they would like my spleen too?  I don't think that is a very important organ.  People lose their spleens all of the time in car accidents when they don't use their seat belts and they seem to be doing alright.  I am O-, so I got that going for me -should be easy to find a buyer!

In the meantime I will practice my amazing ability to pull the same outfit out of my closet every time I get dressed.  Probably because it is on the end and is the only one I can reach!  Be kind when you see me wearing the same thing over and over.  I am organizationally challenged and I am very sensitive about my disability. :)

HOW MANY BLOGS CAN THAT GIRL DO IN ONE DAY?

It feels like I went all year without brushing my teeth and I have a dentist appointment coming up so I am going to brush my teeth 730 times before my next appointment. . . but in blogs.  Just making up for lost time, or I have really been bored and this seemed more fun than watching TV and I am too tired to read (despite the 5 tantalizing books that are sitting right next to my bed, waiting to be ophthalmologically devoured).  

Here's an idea:

A little distraction that is often called retail therapy. . . .

Loving these booties from MICHEAL Micheal Kors!!!

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My new go-to color!  This is the it color this year!

Both items can be found at bloomingdales.com YUMMY!

January 12, 2015

Horse season is starting again.  Cha Ching!  Gearing up for this season is pretty exciting.  If everything goes as we hope, Annika will be going to Kentucky in July! Time is moving so quickly!

I am trying to think of ways to earn extra money to help pay for the horse show expenses.   As a "homemaker" I know how important my role is in being a stable presence at home.  I watched my brothers careen out of control in their teenage years and, unfortunately, they had a lot of freedom to do so because we had a family business and my parents had to work very hard.  I know I cannot control the choices that my children make or the futures paths that they will follow.  I do know that I am blessed to be here to hopefully guide them in the right direction.  If nothing else to set an example and remind them of how precious they are.  So, it's a dilemma.  Earn money from home is more of an option than it used to be - but I don't even know where to start.  I suppose that would be prayer.  After all God knows me better than I know myself and he also knows what is out there that I can do.

James 1:5
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

Just so you know, I will be asking!

January 8, 2015

Blogging is not my strongest suit.  Here goes another attempt.....  

Over the years certain phrases have been particularly poignant to me.  When I was first diagnosed with Lupus, a friend of mine asked me if I had figured out my "new normal."  In that instance she was, of course, speaking about what physical pain would be "just the usual" and what would be more than usual living with Lupus.  However, I can see the application of this question in so many other areas of my life.  It is now my favorite "go to" question.  As our children get older, and as our family changes with each new stage in their lives I am constantly evaluating our family based on the question of whether or not this is "a new normal."  

When I regard things that (as in the serenity prayer) I need to accept and I cannot change, I accept those things as our new normal.  I suppose that seems so simple and a little rhetorical.  It is probably what sane people do subconsciously. However, in the past, I have found myself stuck in a destructive loop of thinking that life basically stays the same and we all just have to "get through the tough stuff." I see now that those tough stages create permanent changes in all of us.  Regardless of how I react, if I fight it or if I learn from it, it will still create a "new normal" in my life.  There is no "going back." There is no "the good ole' days."  Trying to go backwards in life is like trying to undo plastic surgery.