Wow- it has been a long time since I have sat down and written a blog post, I feel like it has been years.
Since my last post quite a bit has happened, nothing too exciting other than work drama, mostly just riding and lots of school work. I went to a bachelorette party- that was quite fun. But nothing date-wise, other than getting semi-stood up for a coffee date, which led to me going to dinner and drinking a pitcher of beer with one of my girl friends. So unfortunately no fun stories there, maybe next time!
Today is an interesting day for me. Obviously it is Thanksgiving, so I am not in school, nor am I working. This year is very different for me though. Usually we go fox hunting on Thanksgiving, as it is considered a high holy hunting day. (Un)luckily for those of us who hunt with Bridlespur though, it is rifle/shotgun season in Missouri, so holy or not we stay home.
As weird as it is for me to not have gotten up at o'dark-thirty this morning to load the horses, I'm totally OK with that, because we will be right back at it Saturday morning to go hunt as well. I just have to take a moment to say how THANKFUL I am that my mom and I made the decision to move to Bridlespur. I could not have asked for a more professional, fun hunt to be a part of now. Every time we go out everyone is smiling, the hounds work well, everyone is turned out well, the runs are great, the country is well-maintained, and we just have fun. I was to a point where I thought my desire to hunt had burned out, but now I want to go again and I have having such a wonderful time.
It is very refreshing for me to be around a group of people who take just as much pride in their appearance and their turnout as I am. There is not a lot you can control in this world- especially being around horses- but you can control that your horse has its mane pulled, whiskers clipped, and that it is free of poop-stains. I have always held my head high when my horses get off of the trailer, and now I feel like I am a part of a big, lovely group who does the same. So here I am saying "Thank you" to all of the wonderful horsemen and women of this hunt!
We have also picked up 2 new dogs since my last post. Max and Mabel are two boxer siblings who were up at the restaurant I was working at. When the weather dropped down to below 20* at night and no one was going to be there to take care of them, my mom and I loaded them up in the car and brought them home. They have since worked their ways into our hearts and are here to stay. I am very thankful that we are in a position where we can take animals in need into our homes and give them the life they deserve, especially for these two who are the coolest and sweetest dogs. They have fit right into our crazy, dysfunctional farm life.
As always I am thankful for my wonderful friends and family. I have been able to do a lot of really cool things with my life, and 90% of them would not be possible without this awesome support team that I have standing with, in front, and behind me. They are amazing.
I am thankful for my health, for all of the small things that I overlook in my day-to-day life, and for my good spirits. I am thankful that I have learned to let-go and forgive in this last year, and that I have learned to love myself and be happy within my own life. I have a wonderful string of happy and healthy horses who come running to the gate and nicker when I walk in the barn. They all give me 100% every day, and not a lot of people can say that. I am thankful that I made the decision to go back to school, and for all of the opportunities that have presented themselves to me and will continue to open up and I continue forward.
I am thankful for so many things that I could continue on for days. At this moment I am very thankful that I can begin Christmas shopping for the great people in my life, and that I will get to spend today with family and friends. I pray for those who are not this fortunate, and I especially pray for my home-town of St. Louis that is fighting to stay afloat right now. I pray for Michael Brown's family, who is spending this holiday for the first time without their son, and I pray for Officer Wilson and his friends/family who are under such scrutiny from the media and community. I am thinking of my wonderful friend, Kelty, who is spending her first Thanksgiving away from home in Virginia, and we miss her a bunch, along with her four-legged kiddos.
I am hopping off of here so I can check on my ponies, who I am sure are sleeping on this overcast, cold day, and then I am settling in to watch some football. I never thought I would say this, but I am cheering for the bears today, ONLY so that they beat Detroit and give us some breathing room at the top of the NFC North- GO PACK GO!!!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and remember to be thankful every day, and for every day spent on this earth.
