Ups and downs in June

Where do I even start? This month has had a lot of ups but also has had a lot of downs. It has not been easy but I am trying to stay positive and embrace life and all it has to offer.

Let's start with the ups. Sophia continues to ride and do well. She was in three shows in June. One weekend she went to an away show at MOHSS and then did a dressage show. Busy but fun. Sophia and Navajo are working well together. She is working on keeping him forward and not letting him get lazy. He is a good horse but sometimes prefers to be a bit pokey. He loves to jump, be out in the field and on trail rides. He got to do all that this month. Sophia even entered her first jumper ring course with him. She jumped 2'3" at MOHSS.

Grand Champion of the series in English Pleasure

At MOHSS

Dressage show with her coach Angel

On a Friday night show team practice Catherine, show team coach, tried something fun. It was a lesson to help the kids bond with their animals, parents and to also not work the horses too hard in the heat. First the kids needed to lead the horses through an obstacle course. Then parents needed to get on and the kids had to teach us to get through the course on horseback. It was a bit scary but Navajo is trustworthy and took good care of me.

We finally got together with her friend Katlyn. I always love catching up with Heather while the kids play. Sophia and Katlyn have always been close in height. Not this time.

Sophia finished up fifth grade. Hard to believe she will be going to middle school next year. The end of the year we went to an Enrichment Fair where her projects were on display. She also participated in a Simulated Congressional Hearing where she presented her case to judges. She did an amazing job. She was well spoken and very professional. She really loves social studies. Fifth grade has really sparked this interest.  She sang the National Anthem at her moving up ceremony with four other kids who were in the lyric chorus with her. Fifth grade has been awesome. She grew in so many ways. She was a leader on the safety squad, participated in chorus, lyric chorus, helped set up for PE each morning, helped kindergarteners on field day, participated in a G/T CEU and GT math, participated in the congressional hearings, earned the most donations for 5th grade in JumpRope for Heart and so much more. We are so proud of her.

SCH

Moving up

Sophia joined 4-H in May. She is involved with a horse group. She is making new friends and is looking forward to completing a horse project next year. 

She will be moving on to Cadette level scouting with her troop next year. I will continue to lead this troop.

Most of our animals are doing well.  Mr. Twinkletoes gave us a scare which is explained below but for the most part they are good. We are glad to have them in our lives.  Boba is still with us but I do't have any pictures of him this month. He feels very much like the black sheep of the family. 

Sophia has started her summer job. She works at the barn helping with the Pony Pal camp. She has been working full days but doesn't consider this work.  She loves it.

That's the good stuff.  Now onto the hard stuff. Her friend lost her father unexpectedly this month. It has been very hard on her friend, Elanor. Sophia has been a great support to her. We had a small birthday gathering for Elanor. It is hard to lose a parent at such a young age. We will continue to reach out to her and provide her and her mother the support they need.

Mr. Twinkletoes has asthma. ONE percent of the cat population gets asthma and we have that special kitty. He has been coughing a lot. We have taken him to the vet three times due to this. Then one night this month he had a full out asthma attack which sent him into the emergency vet. He was given oxygen and bronchodilators and that helped. He was given prednisolone short term while we get him started on an inhaler. Yep, a cat on an inhaler. We have not heard him cough since so hopefully this treatment will help him. He is only three years old. This picture was taken on a follow up visit to the vet when he developed sneezing after his attack. His immune system was weakened. Thankfully Sophia did not see the full attack. It was scary. 

Grandma Bev, Steve's mother, was diagnosed with cancer. She had a PET scan on June 19 and it show that it has metastasized to her liver and bones. She is at peace with this decision and is grateful for a full life. Aiden and Nick came down immediately and both where able to spend time with her and Steve. Sophia and I saw her up and about on June 18 and then in bed and very weak on July 2. It was such a rapid decline. She passed in Steve's arms with Leslie, me and Sophia by her side. She passed like she wanted too. She was a determined person and always rushing to get things done. This was no different. We will miss her so much. 

It is hard to be faced with so much sadness. However without the sadness we would not recognize the happiness. We are sad to lose people because we loved with all our hearts. That can not be a bad thing.