A girl and her horse

In August when Bryon and Rebekah went to Monroe to help Dane and Cami move into their new house, they stopped by and looked and Cami's dad's horses. Rebekah has been in love with horses since she was about 3. I keep thinking that it is a phase, but alas. Leon has one horse that is...how shall we say...one small step from the glue factory. He asked her if she wanted it. He figured that it was going to die before the end of the week anyway. Of course she was elated when she came home and told me that she had a horse. Thanks for that one Leon. She has been talking about Her Horse for months and every time she sees Dane and Cami she has to ask if she is still alive. Well beyond the odds, Rebekah got the best New Years present of her life.
We told her that we would go to the pasture and see the horses on New Years day. She came down stairs in her snow gear at 8:30 and asked when we were leaving. Half of us were still in PJ's. We didn't get down there until about 11 and it was the longest hour and half of her life (and mine).

You could see which one was Penny from across the Field. Cami said we should change her name to Sway. Poor looking thing.

Sam had no problem with the other four horses that Dane kept occupied while Cami took Rebekah to Penny.After reacquainting, everyone got a chance to ride her. Rebekah of course was first since it was her horse.Cami brought a halter and Rebekah had just as much fun leading Penny around as she did riding her. With constant direction and correction from Cami, she managed to not get her foot stepped on.

"Finally I got to ride my horse!"

With Sam

Ethen all by himself.

It was almost time to go when Leon started giving them hay. Rebekah chipped in and ending up feeding the lot. Then she just stood and starred at Penny while she ate. These were too precious not to include.

It was one of those moments in life that will remain with you forever. Watching your daughter as she adores something she loves and has waited for.I guess the real test to see whose horse it was came in the first few moments. All the horses came running when the grain bucket was shaken over the fence. Poor Penny came lumbering in behind the others. Rebekah walked out to her and they came into the fence side by side.

She stood and watched for about 20 minutes while the rest of us got ready to go sledding. There were some tiny tears on the outsides of her eyes when we left (after much persuasion), with a promise to come back.

Sweet memories measured with every breath.

Thanks Leon for making a little girls dream come true, even in this small unobtrusive way. Thanks Cami for having the patience to help her live that dream. Love to you both for making her the happiest child on the planet that day.