Shelby started horseback riding camp this week. I'm documenting this so I always remember the first date (August 2, 2010) she rode a horse...and fell completely in love with them.
She talks about it non-stop. The great thing is from everything (and I do mean everything) she's telling me, it's obvious she is paying attention. It's clearly something that has jumped into her heart and taken hold. Will it last? Who knows. She's seven. I will say, however, I have never heard her so excited about anything before.
The horses she rides are named Sammy and Tamale. She likes Tamale because he's fast and the instructors say "more difficult to ride", but she seems to do fine. She likes Sammy because he is the main horse she trains on and has colored highlights (as she calls them) woven into his mane. In fact, tomorrow's shirt she is wearing matches Sammy's highlights. But, of course.
I told her I was thrilled she was liking it so much. She doesn't miss a beat and replies, "Yeah...you're certainly getting your monies worth!"
She says she learned to gallop today and might learn to cantor soon.
"What IS cantor mommy?"
"I think it's not galloping, but not trotting either...somewhere in between. Unfortunately, as much as mommy loves horses, I didn't grow up around them. We'll have to learn together."
She liked the idea of that and got a huge smile on her face. And continued to tutor me on the finer points of horseback riding. Then adds, "It's decided...they are my favorite mammal."
:::okay then:::
While I watch my blonde-haired, blue-eyed baby girl elaborate on her new interest, I also watch her fall harder and faster for the horses. And in doing so, I feel myself being so grateful for this sweet girl I'm so unimaginably in love with.
Blessed. There is absolutely no other word for it. Blessed.
"Don't ever take these precious gifts I entrusted you with for granted," He's says, when this feeling completely overwhelms me.
"You can count on it," I reply.
Always, always, always remember this about our children and never-ever forget: Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted. ~ Paul Pearshall
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