Living Out Her Passions

My daughter has a passion.

It is not an all consuming passion, but it is a deep seated enjoyment of horses!

I don't know how it all started. Perhaps is was her first viewing of Black Beauty... or just falling in love with the beauty of a horse in the pasture...yearning for a horse of her own.

The reality is, a horse of her own, is most likely not in her near future. Yet, we encouraged our daughter to pray and to wait. As life has unfolded we have encountered many opportunities to enjoy and be around horses. God has a way of answering little girls prayers...

Sarah using "Princess" to demonstrate the importance of grooming

One of these opportunities has been involving our family in 4H.

This past month, Sarah has devoted herself to researching, preparing and writing an oral presentation for the Ada County 4H Horse Illustrated Talk/Demonstration contest. This year she chose the topic of "General Horse Care". As always, she is full to the brim with fresh knowledge and eager to share with others all she has learned. She prepared an 8 minute illustrated talk and did a fabulous job presenting her information!




What a joy to see her confidently speaking in public at such a young age.

Sarah received a 2nd Place Ribbon for her efforts!

A Week at the Western Idaho State Fair

This week has been a very full and fun week. I am exhausted... but, am now resting in the fullness of having experienced, along with my daughter, the "Western Idaho Fair" !

Sarah and her dear friend, Sarah Jane... Having Fun at the Fair

Sarah has spent this year committed to her 4-H horse project. It has been a lot of work, but the kind of work that is joy filled. She has a heart for animals and particularly horses. Every day we have driven out to the pasture to feed and water her horse, Wyatt... to groom and care for him...and to spend time gaining trust and bonding with him. Weekly throughout the Spring and Summer months she has practiced riding and working with him on Showmanship. Her trainer, and fellow 4-H member, and owner of the horse, has worked to instill knowledge and skill in the art of horsemanship.

As for our time at the Fair???

Wyatt's Stall Door
The Stalls are decorated with a story board for on-lookers
to get to know the horse and rider's 4H experience for the year...

Sarah all ready for her Record Book Interview

The Interview

It's not all glamorous... caring for a horse is hard work!
Sarah mucking out Wyatt's stall.

Now, if I could only get her to clean out the kitty litter box with such enthusiasm!

Sarah and Lianna, her 4H leader, getting ready for her Trail Class

Sarah riding in her Western Equitation Class

Sarah is having a great time... her big highlights are completed now. She finished her Record Book and Horse Interviews as well as her Trail, Showmanship, and Novice Western Equitation Classes. It was a great experience to get out into the arena and show her skills and compete with other children of the same age level and experience. She earned a Blue Ribbon for her Trail, and Showmanship classes. She also earned a Red Ribbon in her Western Equitation Class. We were thrilled to see her excel among her peers and to place so highly in a group of 20 or more children. This shows she is becoming competent in the work she has invested in for the past year...

Sarah showing off her ribbons after her Showmanship Class

We are so proud of her... and her heart of excellence in all she puts her mind to!

4H Record Book

Every year, 4H youth must return their record book for review and judging at Fair. It is filled with information about the year: Community Service Opportunities...Group Service... 4H Activities and Involvement, Personal Goals , what they did to achieve their Goals, how much they spent (or their parent's spent) toward achieving their Goals, and what they rate their achievements to be.

Sarah's Record Book Cover, created and designed by Sarah...

The Back cover...

Sarah has worked diligently this year... (and so have we) to make her goals a reality.

A couple of Sarah's of Goals for 2009

She has studied and practiced to gain a greater understanding of horse health, she has gained a greater understanding of horsemanship and horse trivia, she has gained knowledge to perfect her showmanship skills; she has perfected putting a halter on her horse (14+ hands high) without assistance from an adult; she has learned more about riding Western style and English style... she has grown more mature and gained a greater understanding of horsemanship and what is required to care for and own a horse...

The first page of Sarah's 4H Story...

All of this, and more, through the 4H program.

Courtney working with Sarah on Showmanship Skills

Courtney and Sarah, Eagle Island Foothills Trail Ride 2009

If it were not for the dedication of her leader, Lianna, and her capable daughter, Courtney, Sarah would most likely not be as far along as she is. If it were not for the generosity of her 4H leader, she would not have the opportunities she has had... what a blessing to have such people in our lives...to dedicate and spend hours of time poured out in pure love ... for a little girl... and the love of a horses...

Lianna preparing Sarah for the Snake River Stampede Parade...

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Happy Birthday Thomas!

As I traced the outline of my son's innocent face with my finger this morning... holding him in my arms for our daily morning snuggle... I couldn't help but want to slow down the hands of time... savor this moment... his gaze deeply set on mine I hold him close and cherish the gift of my little boy...

Six Years Old...

Saturday we celebrated Thomas' Birthday...

He is growing into a vibrant and healthy little man... 6 years old now.

Cowboy Thomas and his Daddy

Saturday we also marched as a family in the in the Snake River Stampede Parade in Nampa. It was great fun for Thomas... Helping to support our 4H group, we carried the 4H flag and Thomas waved at the bystanders as we led our girls on horseback through town. The Energizers won 2nd place in their division and enjoyed a fun morning of horse grooming, decorating and riding.

Sarah Jane and Sarah Elizabeth waiting for
Wyatt to dry freshly painted (nails) I mean... hooves...

It's a big job for a little boy

The Energizer's ready to be Judged

Thomas taking a ride on Shorty

Daddy getting a smooch from Wyatt

Marching Down Main Street USA (Nampa)

Thomas almost felt as if the parade was in his honor... He loved the idea of marching through town... but the parade route was long and he decided to ride in style..." All that waving was hard work", he confided in me after the parade...

He waved the entire parade!

What birthday is complete without a cake and candles...

I wonder what he wished for...

Happy Birthday Thomas!

Still Horsing Around!

Well, we can't seem to shake horse fever around here!

Sarah Showing off her 8th Place Ribbon!

Monday, Sarah participated in the 4H Junior State Horse Bowl. She was able to swim with the "big fish" being one of the youngest in the Junior division.

Getting her trigger finger ready!

She scored 8th in the State! She came home with another beautiful medal to add to her growing collection... and, enjoyed a wonderful day hanging out with her Daddy... What could be better than that?

The Idaho State 4H Jr. Horse Bowl Champions for 2009

A Week of Horsing Around, Part Two

Tuesday, Sarah participated in the Chickasaw Choctaw 4H Beginner's Horse Show. She did splendid! It was a bit unnerving and Wyatt was acting up a bit. We think he may have been testing Sarah's strength and fortitude a bit. Horses feel the confidence of their rider and he was giving her a run for her money! Her confidence began to waiver and he knew it... After a few tears and a couple of pep talks, we put Sarah in the ring...she kept it together and did a fabulous job.

The Opening Ceremonies
Sarah and a couple of her class competitors

Sarah was number 28...
Can't tell with the long braid blocking the number!
Getting into position for her Showmanship Class

Here is her Showmanship Class
The Judges are making their first inspection

Sarah setting Wyatt up for Showmanship
My little girl in a big arena...

Sarah feeling good after her Western Walk/Trot Class
1st Place! Way to go!!

Here is a video clip of her English Walk Trot, if you want to view it just make sure you stop the music playing in the left side column!

Sarah ended up coming home with two first place ribbons (both for her Walk/Trot Western and English classes) and a 4th place (for showmanship). She also walked away with the Grand Champion, High Point Ribbon! She scored the highest total out of all of her class of 10 and 11 year old competitors. Hurray for Sarah!

The next day... a proud Grand Champion and her horse.

We are so proud of Sarah. Her hard work and hours of time spent preparing for the show paid off in a bounty of great memories...

A Week of Horsing Around, Part One

Sarah has had a great time the past few days riding and enjoying working with Wyatt. Mom and Dad are tired and ready for a break!

Monday, She went on a trail ride with her 4H group in the Eagle Foothills... We all went up to see her, and the rest of her group, off and had a fun BBQ and picnic. All of the girls had a lot of fun!

The girls giving Shorty a make-over before the trail ride...

Sarah and her love....

Wyatt giving me a big smile! No Joke, I asked him to smile
and he did!

My little girl is getting tall and slender...

Sarah and her trainer and 4H friend, Courtney.

Sarah Jane (and her pony Shorty),
Sarah's dear friend and 4H buddy...



Some of the 4H gang getting ready to head out...
Happy Trails to You. Until, we meet again...

A Day in the Life of a Nine Year Old Girl

Today has been an especially fun day for our daughter. Sarah presented her Oral Presentation on "Horse Illness and Awareness" for the Ada County 4H Horse Club.


Sarah has been working for several weeks now in preperation for this day. She has researched, written and created a poster for her presentation and did a wonderful job. It was at the tail end of a terrible cold that was not very timely (the week of her speech)... but, she proved to be tough and endured the week of illness and prepared herself for this day in spite...of her physical setback.

As a reward for her effort, Sarah received a beautiful 4th place ribbon to add to her growing collection! She will go onto the District Level in just a few short weeks. Hurray!


We are so proud of her. She is such a beautiful girl, both inside and out. What a blessing...

A HorseBowl Day

Today Sarah learned a little about perseverance and preparation.


Each year the young 4H students study questions relating to Equine anatomy, training, daily care, nutrition and many other horse related topics, and test their knowledge at the Annual 4H Horse Bowl.

All of the 4H Horse Club Members are encouraged to participate either by being there to experience and support the members of their team or to compete.

Early in the month of January, Sarah was not feeling like she was prepared enough to compete. After much encouragement from her 4H leader and co-members to compete, Sarah decided to just participate for this year and not compete. It was a decision based on her own comfort and desire to feel more prepared before entering into a competition.

Yet, Sarah wanted to be supportive of her co-members and begin to prepare for next year, she studied and quizzed for several weeks. At the last 4H meeting, she just happened to win the practice Horse Bowl the girls had in preparation for the real one this weekend. At this point, the girls INSISTED that she must compete! And, she decided perhaps she just might.

Well, this morning, she took the plunge and decided to go ahead and compete with the other students, who have much more experience at this horse stuff than she does... she went in with an attitude of having fun and doing her best.

Sarah was rewarded for her efforts! Not only did she do well, she placed 10th out of all the girls in the Horse Bowl and received a beautiful Medal as a memory of her achievement. She also was the only girl from her team that made it into the final top 10 and thus will carry the torch, so to speak, to the District Level Competition next month!

Way to go Sarah! We love you and are so proud of your faithful and enduring spirit...