The Lord was on our side...

There were all these predictions of nasty weather, but we woke up to partly cloudy skies with no wet stuff and by the time we got to Friendswood at 9, the clouds were gone - just clear blue skies. She has been looking so forward to this! Ever since she saw Kasey at the Christmas Eve party we attended at their home, she has been itching to get back there...

Headed out to get her pony...

Taking the lead - she's quite used to this!

We're observing them and look who's observing us...the cutest kitty ever - sorry Moonie, Chasem and Loco.

She's almost smiling more than her little face can handle here -

Brush, brush, brush before the saddle goes on -

Watching every move...

This is Pal - the pony Gracie will ride.

Ugghhh...is this thing on right?

What in the world have I gotten myself into?

Mrs. Robin (Miss Kasey's Mom) showing her the ropes (figuratively)...the reins (literally)....

Making sure the saddle is nice and snug...

Feet in the stirrup -

Mrs. Robin says this is Pal's way of stalling - relieveing his bladder....

Can you believe it, Mom? I'm on a horse!!!

Here, she is so far away, you can't see her! Miss Kasey decided to take her through the ditches by the road to work on her balance. This is her fan club all lined up though...Mr. Eddie (Miss Kasey's Daddy and long time friend of Jack's), Jack, Mrs. Robin and me.

OK, they're getting closer now...

Miss Kasey must have told her to sit up straight...look at tyhose shoulders back! I cannot tell you how swelled with pride her Daddy and I were.

She turned all the way around in her saddle to get the feel of things...

Then, Miss Kasey got her to ride around that way!

Leading Pal back to the barn after the lesson.

Totally overwhelmed and loving every minute - she lasted the full hour of the lesson. Everyone was surprised but me - there wasn't a doubt in my mind that she would do it and if she could have done it longer, she would have!

Mr. Eddie congratulating her for doing such a good job!

Longing for more...

The beginnings of a very stern look she shot me when I told her it was time to go...this ended in tears, but soon got better with some McDonalds chicken nuggets.

Some videos for you to enjoy...she really did so well for the first time. She has ridden bareback a lot with her Daddy or I leading her around, but this was the first time in a helmet, saddle and the works. She's really gonna be a natural I think.

As soon as we arrived home, I settled in to write this post while she was eating and her Daddy called. He had some day laborers working at our stable property doing some repairs from Ike and needed us to bring them lunch. Needless to say, once she got there with more horses, it was all over with! We were out there 4 hours!!! Some of our renters have mini horses and she led those babies around for hours - no one will have to rock any of them to sleep tonight!!!

It was a wonderful, wonderful day! Exhausting, but wonderful.

Happy birthday, my dear, sweet friend Dorothy! I'm glad you had a wonderful day!