Scribbles 'n Scraps

This was hard, because I scrapbook original layouts, I write original writing pieces (though I don’t photograph them), my children each draw or create original pieces, and I love to cook original meals. So, what to use as a picture for the word “original”? I chose a picture of my five kids because each one is truly an original.

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This was hard, because I scrapbook original layouts, I write original writing pieces (though I don’t photograph them), my children each draw or create original pieces, and I love to cook original meals. So, what to use as a picture? I chose a picture of my five kids because each one is truly an original.

Wow. I get to celebrate two teenage birthdays in just over a month.

Vanessa, this is the second birthday that I have been able to spend with you. What an amazing journey God and life has led us through in these past two years.

Unlike your sisters, I’ve known you since Kindergarten when the beauty you had in your heart was extended to my son. You became his friend, when he was struggling to find one. You treated him with respect, you never turned your back on him and even then I loved you for who you were.

It is funny to look back at two years ago and think that somehow God had a hand in all of this all along. What a lost soul you were and it doesn’t seem like that long ago. The turmoil that you had faced in your young life was so much more than a child should have to bare. I was determined to make things work for all of us, and I think I did well. I love you more than I ever knew possible, and while I will never take the place of your mother, I know now that I am in your heart in a special place.

I cannot believe I am looking at a teenager today. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. God has worked in your heart in amazing ways in the past year and it shows. You radiate His love. The compassion that I have been seeing you show, the concern, the affection that is finally displayed for my two kids is noted. I haven’t missed a thing. Thank you.

Happy 13th Birthday to my favorite teenage girl! I love you.

Thirteen Reasons I Perhaps Should Have Thought This Through
(Horseback Riding That Is)

I know I said it was supposed to be the 13 Images from my teenage years, but I will do that next week. Since I forgot to post this morning, I’m getting on it now and now all I can think about is how old 34 apparently is, due to my morning trek with horseback riding. So….onto the main deal.

1. It certainly takes away from my writing and scrapbooking time. Does that matter much? No. And maybe it will give me more to write and/or scrapbook about.
2. My body is not as young as it used to be. Apparently, when I thought 30 was old when I was a little kid, I had no idea how ancient 34 is!
3. I might not be able to move for like three days. I mean, I might be wobbly now, but my trainer says that wobbly means more pain. Oh, I can hardly wait.
4. While it might feel great to walk and trot around on my horse friend Gyllian, he actually might like to keep some of his mane, so perhaps two point should wait until later.
5. When J, my trainer, tells me to keep my eyes up and not to look down at anything, perhaps I should listen to her because my fear of heights might not be strong on Gyllian but it’s still a long way down.
6. When J tells me to take my feet out of my stirrups and allow my legs to hang on the side, I should not think she has lost her mind, and I should do it, because it relaxes the muscles and actually felt heavenly!
7. When J tells me to put my feet BACK in my stirrups without looking at them, perhaps she should remember that my looking forward and feeling my way around down there, might accidentally cause me to kick or nudge Gyllian just a bit too much and we might end up going a little faster than I want to go.
8. When picking Gyllian’s hooves out, I can remember that Gyllian is gentle but his leg is heavy as hell, and when tacking Gyllian up, I must watch both front (for chomping teeth) and back (for leg kicking at me). That alone might just kill me before I get on the horse again.
9. The giggles and laughter I heard on the sidelines by my 9 year old rider and my other two (age 8 and 11), reminds me that I am not as young as I used to be.
10. Going around in circles on a course over and over again, is relaxing and really fun. Until Gyllian and I get too close to Annie and her ears go back and I have to get the heck out of there as fast as I can on a horse I’ve never ridden before!
11. I thought my horseback riding was going to be a diversion from mommyhood for a couple of hours each week, until J handed me the vacuum cleaner and told me to get to work. (I was vacuuming the horse!)
12. Gyllian might be the most expensive horse in the barn (out of like 5o horses) and she might have once been a famous champion and won like a million horse shows, but now she is retired and just as humble as I am, only she’s much smarter when it comes to what I’m supposed to be doing.
13. This might have all been a nutty decision, but at the end of the day, when I put my hand out with a peppermint candy on it, and Gyllian (a tempermental old soul) not only takes it but then licks my hand afterwards, I know I made the right decision!

Coming Next Week …. 13 Images From My Teenage Years

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Oh wow. I had no idea how bad it was going to be this morning. Horseback riding was a blast, but the pain – muscles I was certain didn’t exist in my body were used, and boy they are screaming now.

I must be super out of shape, because I have been wobbly since I stepped off Gyllian’s back.

My daughter giggled at me the whole time I was riding. Slightly jealous because I had my reins and she had to earn hers. I guess being 34, out of shape and a mom of five entitled me to my reins. Trust me, I earned them.

I suck at two point. Anyone who rides or ever rode, knows how many muscles you had no idea existed, you have to use in a two point. Yeah. Well, my muscles were just not happy about it. I did it, but not well. I preferred walking around in circles on Gyllian’s back and he did too, because it meant I wasn’t tearing his mane out. LOL

It was fun and I hope it doesn’t take forever for Thursday to arrive again. My daughter is still out at the stable and we have to go get her in a little bit. She’ll be even MORE jealous when she sees the the totally cool jodhpurs I got! hehehe. They aren’t as thick as hers and they are more comfy than work out pants (a closet staple of mine). I did get some cool paddock boots that look almost exactly like hers, only bigger. Fun, fun. I’ll post pics when one of my kids actually can handle the camera and not worry that mama’s gonna fall off.

Piece of advice:

Don’t wait until the last minute to get stuff together for a new hobby. You might realize you don’t have the proper items.

I have to go shopping after lessons today so I can actually own boots and pants for riding. Today I’m winging it. My own jeans that flair a bit at the bottom which is a huge no no in riding, Brielle and I’s trainers’ boots that are about a size too big, and a borrowed helmet. LOL  Won’t this be fun!

I’m excited and nervous all at the same time, but I am looking forward to the diversion from everyday normal life

Tomorrow is a big day for me.

I haven’t mentioned it before, because I wanted to make sure it was set in stone first. Tomorrow is my first horseback riding lesson. Yup. I am following my daughter Brielle in her love of horses. Actually, they started a mom’s lesson group, and I get to ride with one other gal. Sounds nice and cozy to me!

I haven’t been on a horse in YEARS! Like a really long time. I have missed it, but I never had formal training, so it was about hanging out at a friends ranch and riding her horses. Yes, well tomorrow I will be learning things like “heels down” and “posting trot”. I think I might have gone insane, but I am so excited I can hardly wait. Oh, and good news, Brielle will help me tack up because I might actually need it!

The best part is that I get to ride the trainer’s horse. Her name is Ali and she is gorgeous and sweet and I cannot wait.

Oh, the other best part is that my three younger girls are on cycle break so they get to see mom ride and make a fool of herself. They are equally as excited.

Tomorrow is a big day for me.

I haven’t mentioned it before, because I wanted to make sure it was set in stone first. Tomorrow is my first horseback riding lesson. Yup. I am following my daughter Brielle in her love of horses. Actually, they started a mom’s lesson group, and I get to ride with one other gal. Sounds nice and cozy to me!

I haven’t been on a horse in YEARS! Like a really long time. I have missed it, but I never had formal training, so it was about hanging out at a friends ranch and riding her horses. Yes, well tomorrow I will be learning things like “heels down” and “posting trot”. I think I might have gone insane, but I am so excited I can hardly wait. Oh, and good news, Brielle will help me tack up because I might actually need it!

The best part is that I get to ride the trainer’s horse. Her name is Ali and she is gorgeous and sweet and I cannot wait.

Oh, the other best part is that my three younger girls are on cycle break so they get to see mom ride and make a fool of herself. They are equally as excited.

Paper was easy, as I photograph dozens of drawings and artwork that my kids do. But this one is from last year that my nine year old drew for her principal. He was retiring and all the kids made huge posters for him, and Brielle made this drawing for the big poster.

Well, at least it was until two months back. Now a horse is much more than just a horse in this household.