I have been thinking for some time now about getting Bear back into riding. It gives her a hobby, rewards her for her hard work and has always increased her self esteem. The added bonus was that I loved watching her bloom and enjoy. I also have a special place in my own heart for horses. I’ve always denied myself things that I enjoy….always considering other things that would please the entire family or my husband or my kids. You know, the ultimate mommy/wife: Them first, me second. I don’t regret those years at all, but I have come to realize that ‘me-second’ usually equated to ‘me-never’. Life has been tossing me hard lessens left and right over the past two years and I am nothing if not a quick learner. What I am learning most is that life is short and you had best enjoy it while you can!

I am working hard on being a better me. A better mom. A better wife. But mostly, just better at being me. I need a life full of love and family and  joy and health. To achieve that I have to work. Not hard work, just attention to detail work. One way I have decided to embark is leasing a horse. Not leasing a horse for Bear, but for myself. Bear is a hard worker (even while being a full-time college student-you go girl!) and is leasing her own horse. But we are doing it together. I get just as much joy (and exercise!) as her and we get to spend time together doing something we both love. Obviously, God was smiling on me when I made this decision, because we found a pair of horses available (owned by a mother/daughter team) that love each other as much as Bear and I love each other.

Even better? The horses picked us. We honestly just bonded together. Without further ado, I introduce our newest heart-holders: Knighthawk and Rain. Knighthawk is a buckskin Mustang, who fell in love with my little filly girl at first sight. Rain is a beautiful black Tennessee Walker who I swear performed a Vulcan mind-meld on me that sealed the deal. So far, we have only ridden a bit in the ring and given them both a much needed bath. Tomorrow we will go out on our first trail ride. I can hardly wait.