feelin' pretty good

I shouldn't say things like that, because when you feel like things are going well, they always fall apart. (shouldn't say things like that either!) But, today, I AM feeling good! Here's why:

I RODE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JANUARY 1, 2008!!! I think this is the longest time I have gone with out riding in my whole life (maybe even counting the pregnant/newborn baby years - I did ride up to about 4 months prego...)We had a huge snowstorm yesterday that closed schools, businesses, and just about everything else. Still, being the Utah natives that we are, we went out to dinner for a late birthday party for me. We were nearly the only ones in what is usually a very popular restaurant. It was great! We were the only ones on the roads except the snow plows.

Then, due to the storm, none of the usual riding instructors were able to get to the barn this morning. So, it was all me. How do you teach huge classes of kids all at once in a foot of snow? You take them on a trail ride! And, I got to ride with them myself! Usually, when I take kids on trail rides, I walk alongside them in case of emergency, but this group was pretty self-sufficient, so I rode. It was a GLORIOUS winter wonderland. We were sure we had stepped through the wardrobe doors into Narnia as we stepped onto the fresh, untrodden white powder, and brushed past all the low hanging trees filled with snow.

I rode the cutest little mare named Dori. I've never ridden her before. She's really young, but she was a blast in the snow. She's got 4 wheel drive, well 4 leg drive, for sure. It was like driving my pathfinder through a snowbank, which is something I also got to do today.

There is nothing like riding, for me, that clears my head, boosts my spirit, and makes me feel alive. This was a long-awaited treat.

I wish I could say I was this positive ALL morning. But, after completely soaking myself with snow on the first ride, going out on the second and starting out as a wet popsicle made it not so fun. I was frozen stiff by the time we got back from the last ride. Frozen in both temperature, and stiff muscles. Oh, I forgot, you have to use muscles that aren't used for ANYTHING else when you ride, and those haven't been used in almost a year. We'll see if I can manage walking into church tomorrow.

Still, a beautiful start to winter.

I have another reason to celebrate today. (Barbara, you should sit down for this one. I'd hate for you to hurt yourself when you pass out with shock.) I FINISHED HATTIE'S CHRISTMAS STOCKING!!!!!
Now, if you don't know what I mean by that... I started hand-stitching this Christmas stocking for GRACE when she was born. She was born in March 2005. (CORRECTION, as my sister put it, I'm crazy! Grace was born in 2003. Even David didn't pick up on that. We are bad! We moved in 2005, so that year is also embedded in my brain.) In December 2003, she used a little substitute stocking instead. In December 2004, she used the beautiful hand-stitched stocking that her Grandma Barbara made for her when it was CLEAR that I would never finish my project. I kept working.

For Hattie's first Christmas in 2006, I bought a beautiful little white baby stocking. I lost it in the mall before I could get it home. Then, I bought a not-so-cute "baby's first Christmas" stocking from Sears in desperation. She used that one again for her SECOND Christmas in 2007. I kept working! (WHY???? I DON'T KNOW!!!) Luckily, I had started at the bottom so that one of the last things I did was put the name on it :-)
On December 18th, 2008, Harriet hung up her very own Christmas stocking next to Grace's.
I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that I have spent more clock hours and definitely more calendar years on this sewing project than I spent on my ENTIRE college education. I truly feel like I deserve a PhD for it. (I'm sure David doesn't think so - he also had NO faith in me and was sure I would never finish at all. So much for my cheering section.)

I have more awe for Barbara than ever before. We have multiple stitching projects hanging up in our house that she has done. They are amazing. She is a better woman than I. Still, I am basking in the glory.