NSBA and First Day of School

 What a crazy ten days we have had! It involved World Championships and the First Day of School!

Maddy and I left last Friday to travel to Tulsa for the National Snaffle Bit Association World Show. This is by far our biggest show of the year and Maddy has worked tirelessly to prepare. The weeks leading up to it were filled with uncertainty and truly we were grateful to just be attending. As most of you know Maddy broke 3 bones in her right foot at the end of July and the week before Tammi was sick and unable to coach Maddy. However, we still were excited to arrive in Tulsa and had high hopes about the week. Ultimately the week was full of highs and lows, but once again my girl showed how much fight she has inside of her. 

Her first event was on Sunday and was her trail pattern. She was first in the draw. Unfortunately, due to no fault of hers she missed an element of the pattern and did not place. Her riding was gorgeous and we feel confident that she would have had a top ten finish had she completed the entire pattern. To say she was devastated is an understatement. By the time I got to her in the warm up arena she was inconsolable. She is okay with not placing if she rides her best and is beaten, but to not place due to a mistake was so hard for her to accept. I do not know many eight year olds who work harder or are tougher on themselves than Maddy. At first I wasn't even sure she was going to compete the next day. However, after some time she showed the warrior that resides in that tiny body and decided not only was she going to compete on Monday, but she was going to try and win. 

Before Trail

Tears of what might have been

Still being a good teammate

Monday was Western Pleasure. I was so nervous for her. I desperately wanted her to ride well and feel good about her performance. And did she ever. She placed fourth in the world and missed third by the narrowest of margins. She was so happy with the way she rode. I told her countless times that her placing meant nothing to me. What I saw was the heart of a champion who came back from extreme disappointment to perform their best the next day with a good attitude. Tammi tells her all the time this isn't about horseback riding, it is about life lessons. While this was a hard lesson, she taught me once again about courage and perseverance and strength and for that I could not be more proud. 

Freddie's three riders

Little Red cheering on Big Red

Fourth in the World!

After returning home Tuesday we had a quick turn around for the first day of school on Wednesday! Maddy was excited to see her friends and had a great first day. We are hopeful for an amazing year in third grade!

This last few weeks I have been reminded once again that it is not the experiences in life that matter, but the people who stand beside you. I am always amazed and feel incredibly blessed to have my children loved and supported by so many people. I give thanks to God every day that he chose me to be the mother to these two incredible children who have taught me so much about the person I want be and the way I want to live. My prayer is that we live each day in a way that brings Glory to him.

Ali