January 2026

 This post is very hard to write this month. Once again we have experienced highs and then rock bottom lows. I will start with the highs.

Sophia did a study abroad January term in Greece. She left on January 1st and returned on January 17th. She had a blast. Outside of a connecting flight getting cancelled on the way there resulting in a delay in receiving her luggage for 24 hours and a couple rough ferry rides she had a blast. The pictures she sent home were breathtaking. They were busy, busy, busy. She certainly made memories that will last a lifetime. She brought back very thoughtful gifts for family and friends. 

 

 

 

 

Wren has been at another barn doing a training board. He is being ridden and working hard at developing third level movements. 

We had a snow storm where we got about 6-7 inches of snow followed by 3 inches of sleet and ice. Steve was off school for a week. Shoveling out of the ice was hard.

 

I scribed again at a dressage show in the freezing cold. So cold my bottle of water froze on the table next to me. 

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Sophia started school again towards the end of the month. Sorority activities are keeping her busy.

The rock bottom low, which we will not recover from anytime soon is Lindsey, after surviving three difficult surgeries for her oral cancer passed away from a pulmonary embolism on January 10th. We took turns spending time with her and Aiden in the hospital to give  Aiden and Lindsey parents breaks. I was with her when she died. The day before she walked the entire floor. She was turning a corner. The second graft of her tongue seemed to be doing well. She was communicating through typing and signing. I spent the night with her in the hospital. She finally rested and got a good night sleep. They had been worried about her breathing which was rapid but before they did a CT scan she needed to be medicated for a dye allergy. By the time they did the CT scan it was too late. She came back from the CT scan and within 10 or 15 mins took her last breath. It was heart breaking. To lose someone so young, to witness Aiden losing the love of this life and to be with her parents as they were finding out was a lot. It was devastating... is devastating and will be for a long time. We are all doing our best, trying to remember the good times and being there for each other.

 

As always, I will end with pictures of our pets because sometimes it is the little things that get you through. 

 

 

December 2025

 The month seemed to fly by. We prepared for Christmas with a little shopping, decorating and wrapping. 

Steve and I went to the Out of the Darkness event at the college and took Sophia out to dinner afterwards. It is always great to spend time with her (and each other!)





Sophia and I helped at a weekend IEA show. It was COLD and windy. Sophia rode the horse to warm them up and then managed the barn throughout the show. She did an awesome job keeping everyone on their toes. She worked so hard, running around in the cold that she made overdid it. She needed to sit, eat and get a drink when she got dizzy. But it didn't take her long to re-energize and work again. I scribed for the judge. It was a full weekend show, Saturday and Sunday. We were both exhausted after.

Sophia is having fun with her sorority sisters. So glad she has joined. 

We celebrated Christmas with Aiden, Lindsey, Nick and Mari and Lindsey's family in New York. I found an airbnb for Nick, Mari, Steve, Sophia and I close to Lindsey's families house. I made the sauce the day before and brought up stuff to make lasagna. Lindsey had a longer appointment than they anticipated when her breathing was rapid during her visit for treatment. That meant a long day for them on Friday so we didn't see them until Saturday. We spent a lovely Saturday together, opening gifts, enjoying each other's company and having dinner. On Sunday we went out with Lindsey and Aiden for breakfast and then visited a couple of shops in town. It was a great weekend. Just flew by too quickly.

 

  

 

Lindsey had surgery on 12/30 to remove the cancer in her tongue and remove lymph nodes. The surgery was long but they got clear margins. 

We did our annual fondue on New Years Eve. This year feels a lot more somber and heavy with the news of Lindsey's cancer. It is hard to get excited about the holidays with this difficult diagnosis. 

Pets are all great. 

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November 2025

 It is hard to believe you are twenty years old. I have decided I am going to continue making monthly blog posts as long as I can but I am not going to publish them any longer. I am going to continue to create the documents for you. Maybe someday you will enjoy looking back on the things you accomplished.

For your birthday you had lunch with Emma and then came home for dinner. We went to Maggiano's and then had your favorite fruit tart for dessert. It was so nice to celebrate with you.

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The following week we went to the PVDA fall show. You competed third level tests. Wren is still learning his flying lead changes and gets a little too excited in the half pass but you did it. You didn't get the bronze level scores you were hoping for but you both gave it your all. I am so proud of you.

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You competed in the Championship class at By Chance doing Level 2- test 2. You came in 4th place. You much prefer riding in the double bridle, so does he. But you both looked great.

You have been doing more with your Phi Mu sisters. You did a ribbon ceremony, attended study halls, did a bracelet making session and just hung out. I am so glad you got out of your comfort zone and tried this. I think you will make lots of good friends.

You had your winter choir concert. 

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You hung out with Gretchen when she was back for Thanksgiving. You went out to dinner and to see Wicked Part II together. You watched the DWTS finale with her too. It was a great afternoon/evening.

We cut down our tree together. I love this tradition.

We finished off Thanksgiving weekend with a barn family party. It was so much fun. You enjoyed hanging out with everyone including the kids coming back from college. They even had a fun gingerbread decorating contest. We also did a little shopping on Sunday. You bought some clothes that you will need next semester for Phi Mu events.

Our pets are all doing great. They all love it when you are home.