Sunday, July 26, 2009

Maddie's final run on Saturday...

On the last day , finals, all the kids lined up and they announced each one, stated their name, and where they were from; then they would walk up to the barrel and touch it for good luck! And the other pics are of her in the pen right before her run...she was so nervous!






This is Shadow, Maddie's #1 horse; she qualified for finals on him last Sunday... he has been hurt, and limping since before going to Mississippi, but he was her best chance at winning. So they had been stretching his leg, and wrapping it daily, and he gave it his all, and performed as if he wasn't hurt, but Maddie just got so excited about her perfect run, that she overcompensated that last barrel, and down it went. She is really beating herself up over the whole thing; she says she just can't believe out of 6 runs, she only had one good time. She is really so consistent- never hitting a barrel, so she is just in shock. I have to say I am really disappointed in her dad, and his girlfriend. When we got to Mississippi, Maddie was sitting on the ground, in tears. We took her to our hotel, and she continued to tell us how Brad & Kim had been talking to her, and threatening to just take her home and not letting her continue to compete. Brad would tell her to lighten up, and so she ran around with her friends, laughing and playing, and he got mad at her for not concentrating on why she was there. She sat in the trailer, prayed, read her bible on one day, and he told her she was isolating herself from everyone, and that was not good for her??? Can you see how confused that could make anyone? Let alone a 14-yr-old??? She just cried and cried the whole time- we felt so bad for her. I tell her all the time that it's not her; that her dad is a very controlling, very contradictory person. I don't bad-mouth him to the kids, but I do try and explain to Maddie that THAT is why we are not married anymore. He had a way of talking to me that made me feel so small, so stupid; and I knew that he would eventually do the same to Maddie. I hate to talk about him this way, but he has put so much pressure on Maddie, that it did affect her performance. After Maddie would have a run...Kim & Brad wouldn't speak to her for hours afterwards; like they were mad at her, or ashamed, and that just compounded Maddie's hurt feelings. He kept telling her that he sacrificed so much to take her there, and how broke he is now, and how she doesn't deserve any of it. We are all just so heartbroken over the whole experience... She is going to end up resenting him, just as I did; and she'll end up wanting to be as far away from him as she can get... it's sad, and I don't want that for my girls... all we can do is pray...and be thankful that Mark can teach my girls what it means to be loved, unconditionally...thank God for him.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The BUCKLE!!!

I know it's a bit blurry, Mad just sent it from her phone. I wonder if she'll let me wear it??

Monday, July 20, 2009

First day of NBHA World Finals...

Maddie rode her #1 horse, Shadow yesterday, and they ran a 14.2 seconds!!! She said that 24-yr-old farm horse acted like a world champion trained racing horse that's worth 50 thousand dollars!!! I could hear the smile on her face- she was thrilled! Her next ride was Red Rocket, and they ran 14.8, which is also really good for him. There are 700 girls in her age bracket, and she is in the top 15 right now!!! There are another 800 girls in the older age group!!! Can you imagine???!! All those girls and their families, horses, trucks and trailers, all there in one spot?! CRAZY!!! She rode Bear this morning, and she said he took all 3 barrels so wide- like he didn't have any idea what he was doing...this is his first BIG competition, so we expected him to not be so fast, but you never know? Shadow LOVES to compete, and always gives Maddie his ALL- this will probably be his last Finals- he is so old, and he has a limp still... poor guy...Maddie has a long break now, she rides all three horses again on Thursday- we will be there then- can't WAIT!!! Keep your fingers crossed, and pray for no injuries...
Thanks blog family,
XOXO
Amy

Friday, July 17, 2009

The Raindance...

This is how we spent our evening last night...praising God for the much-needed rain...

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Little V...







My sweet, little Victoria is already missing her big sister, Sofie... she wonders if Sofie is missing her too- doubt it! Sofie is with her best friends at church camp for the whole week. V told Mark yesterday that she was really bored. So he said, "Did you know that Wyatt brought you a box full of matchbox cars?". So off she went outside with the boxful of cars, and Mark told her how he used to play all alone with his cars when he was little. She played carwash with them, and got all dirty and sweaty...the pics above Mark sent me from his phone...notice the dirty face when she came inside?? So then she goes home with Mamu, and today went to work with her... I get the next pictures from Mamu's phone, and V's hair is ALL cut OFF!!! I love it!!! Looks like V is also getting to have some fun cutting hair too! Then it looks like her stuffed dolphin had a blow-out and she is sewing him back up- I showed both little girls how to use a needle & thread a few months back, and they've been sewing up EVERYTHING!!!

Friday, July 10, 2009

Poker Night!


My friend Misty is the tiny, blonde-headed Barbie Doll... we had a blast at her house last night! And I met some new friends; Wanda & Judy!!! It was just like Jr. high school, after a 'couple' drinks , we started texting the men in our lives, Mark came over, then Judy's husband, then Misty's boyfriend all showed up...so funny... well, we tried to have a girl's night... but all of the girls there really liked their men... very refreshing- no men bashing!

Friday, July 3, 2009

Sweet Papaw...

My Daddy is so brave, and so sweet...he is taking my two little munchkins home with him for the weekend!!! He said he went to the grocery store last night and bought everything he knew the girls like to eat...isn't he cute? I love him so much!