Back in the Saddle

I've never been a cowgirl kind of person.

Unless you count that one summer before my Freshman year of high school.  I got myself some boots...some Rocky Mountain jeans...and a real "country" attitude.  I would sing to Reba and Garth like no body's business as I ratted my hair and got ready for the rodeo at Old Settlers.

Other than that...I've never been a cowgirl kind of person.  I am also not a huge fan of horses.  I rode one...once.  I hated every second of it.  I am sure you grow to love it when you aren't as stiff as a board.  I just wanted off.  It was at a park and I believe my horse was tethered to a pole.  It just went around in a circle, but I still wasn't a fan.

I do love country music.  I like watching horses from a distance.  I think the rodeo is a fascinating thing even though I would be lying if I said I didn't feel sorry for the calves and little sheep.  I know...I know.  That is silly.  I've seen my kids "rope" our dog before I felt sorry for her too.  I am a softy when it comes to animals.

Why am I going into great detail about being country?  I have no clue.  This post was supposed to be about getting back in the saddle of life.  I'll move on...

This week has already been a cluster.  But it has been great in every sense of the word.  Middle started his 5th grade year this past Monday.  I was so proud of him.  He got himself up, showered, and ready for school.  He had a great day because he decided he would.  I can tell he is growing up...and I like it.  It makes me nervous though.  Because he is our middle, his life gets lost in the shuffle sometimes.  Big is doing all new things...and Little is doing all things for the first time and our last time.  Middle sometimes just blends in.  But this year...he is changing and I can see it.  He is the big guy at his school, and he is starting to take his own path.  Having an older brother, he likes to follow directly in those footsteps.  I have an older sister so I get this completely.  But I can also remember starting to branch out and be my own person.  Middle is there and I like it!

Big started 7th grade yesterday.  I can hardly believe it.  He has a locker...he has real football gear...and he still walked right beside me the whole way through the open house.  He threw his arm around my shoulder and I beamed.  This was of course until I realized he was just trying to measure himself against my height...or lack there of.  I'll take what I can get though.

And Little...he went to his first half day of school.  He had Kindergarten testing and he had a great day.  He starts his full days on Monday...and then I will be done.  I'll stop here as I cannot talk about this without crying.

Life is moving in the general direction of our future at a rapid pace.  Somehow, all the things I worried about last week are taken care of, and we are back in the saddle with ease.  I think back to my one and only horse ride and how tense and scared I was.  I would imagine by the end of that ride, I had relaxed a little.  I had most likely eased into the ride and rode like the wind.  By this I mean, in a circle, slowly following other horses.  But whatever.  I got the experience.

Happy back to school...back to normal (whatever that means)...and to all my Mulvanian friends...Happy Old Settlers!  Have a blessed day!

Yee-haw,
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