Confidence Is The Key

I saw this photo today and it made me think about how glad I am both my girls have so much confidence. I reached over to Alaina as she lay in the oral surgeons chair to hold her hand she she said "I got this mom".  She wasn't pushing me away she was telling me that I had done such a wonderful job preparing her for situations that she had this under control and she had no worries. That to me is a job well done.

Sierra can walk into any room and speak with anyone of any age and handle herself better than I have seem most adults. That is confidence, shinning in the most outstanding way.  One would never describe my girls as meek or quiet. Neither of them are afraid to be the center of attention, while at the same time neither are afraid to allow others to be in the spotlight. 

When Sierra met Trisha Smeenk at the Miss Rodeo Pawnee Pageant, Trisha was there as a special guest. Miss Rodeo USA the highest of titles in the Rodeo Queen world. She was what every young girl in that room wanted to be. Sierra had memorized every last detail about Trisha's life that she could find on the internet.. she was a superstar to those girls.  That day, Trisha graciously share that spotlight with several other young ladies at that pageant. That to me was a sure sign of a women with confidence. She wasn't afraid that a little 9 year old would show her up.. she was thrilled with Sierra's talents and abilities and even had her do her speech an extra time so one of the other older queens could video record it.  That is the type of confidence I hope my girls continue to develop. 

I see Sierra kneel down to young girls that are rodeo spectators to hand them a sucker. Seems as if it is a small gesture. But I know why she is doing it..... I know that she feels if she kneels down to that young child's level she no longer is someone out of their reach she becomes one of their peers. It is a metaphoric gesture on her part.. one she may not even realize she is doing at the time. She is telling those little girls that yes I have a fancy buckle and a shinny crown and also yes you can have such things if you want them one day, cause I was just like you. 

I am thrilled with my girls and the young ladies they are becoming. I wouldn't change either of them for the world and I don't think the world has a chance of changing them either. They are confident in who they are and where they are going. They may be young but they show the grace and maturity that I see lacks in so many girls of twice their age.  I am so proud of both of them.

Go with your gut!

OK my young friends with kids.. Let me tell you about my day and I insist you have to be the advocate and voice for your child... yesterday Alaian (6) comes home from school she says she has a headache and I notice she looks kind of red cheeked.. I take her temp.. 101.7 far from killing her :o) -I am a tough mom! But I am very upset with the school nurse that Alaina went to her and she told her she had a headache and the nurse didn't take her temp... that said Alaina said the nurse tried to call me but I didn't answer.... I have 4 other names on my call list and my babysitter lives next door to the school... but that issue I will have to take up with the nurse tomorrow...

So this morning I still have a little one that is running a fever and complaining her head hurts so I sit with her and ask her where her head hurts at... points directly to her upper jaw.. I said Alaina it is your head or your tooth? She said my whole head but mostly from right here at my tooth.. OK now I call the dentist... super nice gal at the dentist tells me to give her some motrin and orajel.... so I did that this morning.. by noon she was lying quivering in pain... saying her head was killing her... so I called the dentist again.. said this isnt working...so they had us come in for it to be looked at. well after a quick exam and 2 xrays the denist quickly made the decision to transfer her to an Oral and maxillofacial surgery.. so off we go. Thanks to Teresa Plumb who met me to get Royce and Debbie Ricketts Wescoat who sent Sierra to walk home to Teresa's house after school I didn't have to worry about the other kids.

The Oral and maxillofacial surgeon said the tooth needed immediate exaction. Sarah Gaston works at the office and she was WONDERFUL helping me get all the paperwork filled out and taken care of with the insurance. Had to call my mom to pay the co-pay cause my purse was in Mike's truck.. I wasn't prepared at all LOL (thanks mom) So they quickly took Alaina back to surgery and with a little happy gas they extracted a very infected tooth with a dry nerve socket.. Now if any of you have ever had a tooth ache or a dry socket you know how bad this little baby was in pain....She is much better now and resting comfortable. BUT lesson of this story is ... YOU are the voice for your child.. if you feel something is wrong don't be afraid to speak up and fight for their care. I knew Alaina wasn't a complainer and there was something making her feel this bad and if I hadn't been so persistent who knows how long this would have gone on.

Sometimes doctors and nurses feel like we are over reacting and maybe sometimes we are.. but i would much rather be made to feel like i was over reacting than to not overreact and have my baby suffer. I have a nursing background and I work in a hospital and I am telling you GO WITH YOUR GUT!! and be the voice for your children when they need it.

Controlling my emotions

Many years ago when I was high school rodeoing in Indiana. One of my biggest competitors dad gave me some advice that I have followed throughout my life.  Dale Tubesing told me to control my emotions .. win or loose. It was a sign of a good competitor. Now that might not have been exactly how he said it, I have slept many of times in the last 20 plus years. But the meaning was the same. Don't hoop and holler when you win and don't cuss and throw things when you loose. Seems simple me writing this but it has made a substantial impact on me over my years or rodeo and barrel racing. EVERY pattern I make Dale's words go through my mind at the end of the run. I may smile or shake my head depending on how the run made me feel inside, but that is the whole of it.  I doubt Dale or JoAnn his daughter ever even realized how much of an impact they made on me.

This past weekend I loaded Royce up in the truck and went to a barrel race. Didn't care that I had a HUGE pile of laundry. The washing machine isn't working at 100% so you can only imagine my backup. I probably had a pile of dirty dishes and you can bet your bottom, my house needed and still needs a good scrubbing. I decided I didn't care one bit about all that. Or that fact that I hadn't rode Wally but once a week for the past month. I have worked so many hours and am just plain tired. I just wanted to go... just wanted to have an outlet for something just for me.

As I watched the girls make their runs and clock their times. I kept saying to myself just try to go make smooth run and stay within a second of the leading times.  Don't make a fool of yourself and sit in the middle of him and he will do the rest.  I had my mind half on Royce the whole time I was warming Wally up. He was playing very near the alley way and that was the only place I could make sure I could keep one eye on him but at the same time it made me a nervous wreck that he might step out in front of a horse unknowing of the potential danger.

As my name was called I think a blind sense of relief took over me. I just let Wally go and was along for the ride.  I know I am blessed in MANY ways. Blessed with a family that loves and put up with me, friends that help me find AWESOME horses supporting me along the way and the ability God gave me to sit up in the middle of them. I finished the run and tipped the third barrel, my time was super and one of the top times for the day.  Those thoughts from Dale came rushing back into my head. I wanted to be happy cause I wasn't a second off like I had hoped for.. I was at the top of the times, I wanted to be mad at myself for not finishing a run. Wally had tried to hard to do everything right and I had messed that up for him.  Girls were congratulating me on a nice run even though it had a downed barrel.  But I quietly smiled and headed back to the trailer.... with a tear in my eye.... cause God and Wally had proved to me once again we had the stuff that great competitors were made of. A quiet resolution to myself of how wonderful those moments on good horses are.

Old Friends

I have had the pleasure to bring home an old friend. Moon's Bonus Check aka Check was able to come back home after being gone for three years. I knew when I sold him it was the right thing to do, but I was so so happy to have such a wonderful friend in Linda Jefferies that made it possible for him to come back to my little girl. I owned Check for 10 years and won many a barrel races on him. Having Sierra sit in the saddle on him and learn how to be a barrel racers on a good old campaigner is such a thrill and an old friend of mine is even more awesome.  He has been there through many a good and bad times in my life and if he could tell stories on me... oh boy!!   But mostly he is solid and sane.. just what every little girl dreams of.  He constantly has his hammer cocked.. just in case she might at some point drop the reins and allow him to run. But at the same time is is constantly patient with her. It is such a wonderful combination. I just know as the year goes on I am gonna see her grow so so much. It is one of the most exciting times in my life with children. I have wanted to see my kids ride and now it is coming true and sharing it with my old friend Check just makes it icing on the cake. I couldn't be more proud of Sierra or of Check. This is what years of barrel racing is suppose to bring to you. A chance to share your legacy with your kids. ;o)

Old Friends

On of my old friends got to come home the month. Moon's Bonu Check aka Check, came home after being gone after almost three years away.  I was so sad when I sold him, but knew the decision was the right thing to do. Thanks to one of the most wonderful friends I will ever have Linda Jefferies, I was able to get the old man back for Sierra to run. I can't even tell you how exciting this is for me. I owned this horse for 10 years and won many of barrel races on him. Now Sierra can take the old man and learn so so much from him.