My 25 Lessons of Life

So for THREE weeks we have been doing non stop projects!

What may you ask?

Well...

1. Painted pantry and pantry shelves.

2. New walls in the kitchen AND new electrical work! (will post pictures) as this is still in progress.

3. Ripped off the baseboards in the kitchen and planning on getting taller ones.

and.....

1800 sq feet of sod!

We have grass!

This is the before. What a difference.

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Through the hectic-ness, I turned 25!

Yup I am officially a quarter of a century old.

I feel like I have accomplished ALOT in my 25 years, and learned ALOT!

So I thought I would share

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Dana's 25 lessons of life

1. Never, ever under any circumstances go grocery shopping when you're hungry. Your shopping list of toothpaste and trash bags will turn into $150 worth of food, fast!

2. Bad decisions lead to good stories.

3. It’s always better to try and carry 10 plastic shopping bags, filling each arm up completely, then having to make two trips.

4. Unless you want your trash constantly knocked over, blinds eaten, sunglasses destroyed, never own a puggle.

5. Be careful what rut you choose. You may be in it the rest of your life.

6. Never be judgmental of anyone. I was told this weekend that I was the least judgmental friend anyone has ever had. Best compliment I have ever received.

7. Mom and Dad are always right. Always.

8. Take chances, even if you are scared to death. And if you fail, have NO regrets.

9. A baby sitter is a teenager acting like an adult while the adults are out acting like teenagers.

10. Follow your heart no matter what others say. If it feels right to you then it is right.

11. If you can't pay off your credit card at the end of the month then you shouldn't be using it. Credit card debt devours souls.

12. It is 100 times harder to burn calories than it is to refrain from consuming them.

13. Learn to keep your thoughts and words kind. These are the two things that will define you and how others will see you.

14. Never stop educating yourself.

15. Do nice things for others with no self benefit. That is a true friend.

16. Live simple.

17. Nothing...ever...goes how you pictured it. To let this affect you will break you.

18. Love.

19. Learn to admit when things are your fault and when you were wrong.

20. If you can't be honest to yourself about who you are, how do you expect to be honest to others?

21. "Ah yes, the past can hurt, but the way I see it is you can either run from it or learn from it" ~Lion King

22. Everything seems to go better if you don't schedule anything, learn to go with the flow.

23. You know you are going to do what you want anyways, it’s just your conscience that keeps you from enjoying it!

24. Don't be upset when others don't take your advice, chances are you didn't listen to anyone's advice either.

And last, but certainly not least.

25. People WILL hurt you, let you down, lie to you, break your heart; you must try to learn to FORGIVE. Learn to understand that everyone makes mistakes and learning to let go of anger, sadness and grudges will give you a truly peaceful life.

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Well there you have it!

My life lessons...

I hope you enjoyed them!

xo

The heart of a Cowgirl

Oh me, oh my!

Busy, busy, busy!! That is the only way I can describe my life right now.

We decided to do everything in the house ourselves. Save some $$!

Just to demo our shower and the walls we wanted replaced we got quoted a couple grand, we did it all for the price of F.R.E.E!

However, I won't have a master shower for quit some time, but the dry wall guy comes this Friday to quote for dry wall repair and painting of my kitchen!

Despite all the hectic vibes we have going on in the house, I still managed to make it out to a double header barrel race this weekend.

The relationship between a horse and rider is like nothing I can explain.

Trust, loyalty, partnership and love.

Missile and I have had our ups and downs.

Her going in and out of being lame, and me not "helping" her enough around the barrels. We both have a long way to go.

I haven't, in a long time...if ever, came out saying, "that was an awesome ride."

I am most of the time leaving the gate thinking "what was I DOING!"

Well, the race this weekend, I was in the holding pen waiting for my drag (five runners per drag) and notice that I was about to run in the same line up with Jill Moody.

Don't know Jill?

She is a PRCA Camp and has made it to the NFR multiple years in a row.

She's one heck of a cowgirl.

So as IF that wasn't pressure enough the runner right before me clocked the fastest time they had that day so far.

Of course she did.

In my head I am thinking about all that I have been trained to do...

"don't hold her back, kick, slide your hand, look, GO ON"

Simple enough?

You would think! I completely blew past not only my first, but my second and did more of a roll back then a turn on my third.

I CHOKED!

I was (and still am) so angry with myself.

Here comes some honesty...

The first thoughts that went through my head were, maybe I'm in the wrong sport.

Let me elaborate...

I am by NO MEANS aggressive, so being an aggressive rider? Will I ever be that?

The second thought I had was about the condition of my mare. I think about her well being obsessively.

Her age.

the fact that she has the potential to go lame (aaaalot easier then other horses)

Her arthritis.

Do I ride well? Yes! I know I do. I ride center, I ride quite, I FEEL my horse.

I finally call myself a good rider after Matt brought home Atlas and I was able to make him a better horse (even though he still has "holes")

The horse I have and the knowledge I have been given by my trainer have made me a good rider.

But does that make me a good competitor?

I am trying to keep up in a high speed, competitive sport.

I try to keep telling myself that every one of those cowgirls at NFR has blown past a barrel.

Every one of them has HIT a barrel.

They have had their bad runs, their great runs, runs they wish no one else saw.

But they NEVER gave up.

As I am writing I am still frustrated and at the point where I want "to take a break"

Focus on my fiance and his needs and wants in life because I know most of his time goes into me and my horses.

But then I go back to, if I take time off, that is only going to set me back!

Although I am having feelings of doubt, frustration, anger (at myself) and feelings of wanting to give up, I know its not what I really want deep down in my heart.

I feel that some people search their entire life trying to find happiness, what they were meant to do, who they were meant to be and I am blessed to have found the answer to all those.

I have loved horses my entire life and I knew after the first time I did barrel racing, even though I almost flew out of my saddle, it is all I wanted to do the rest of my life.

I may not be a pro rider.

I may not be the greatest rider.

I may not have the fastest horse.

But I AM a Cowgirl, and I will NOT give up.

This is who I am, and who I was born to be.

Now...if I could ONLY enter the gate with that much confidence.... ;)

I love ending things with a quote, especially if it is relevant, which, this is.

"Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it."

When does a Cowboy become old?

Happy Birthday Matthew!!

Today is my fiancé’s birthday!

We celebrated last night by eating a home cooked Paleo meal, opening gifts and sharing a piece of cake from Freed's Bakery.

It was nice to enjoy time together through the hustle and bustle of the past couple of days.

I have always teased Matt about being "old" but he really is far from it!

Despite all the bumps and bruises this cowboy has endured, he still raises a little hell every now and then, riding tall in his saddle and working till the sun goes down.

Every day with Matt I still learn new things about him.

Things he did, things he broke (mainly) things he wish he did.

So in honor of his day,I thought I would share some Matt Facts!

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1. No surprise, Matt is an ex-bull rider. But did you know he rodeoed in Europe?

2. He's a Veteran and fought in 3 wars.

3. He's is an amazing cook!

4. He plays random notes and chords on the guitar and says he knows how to play...yes, dear.

5. He was a "pirate"? I still don't understand this one all I know is he was Captain Jack Handlebars.

6. He used to have a lip ring and wear eyeliner, boy have things changed!

7. His laugh is contagious.

8. He's deaf in one ear, I'm sure this works in his favor when I'm nagging.

9. He can build/fix anything, and if he doesn't know how, he figures it out.

10. The only movie that can get him choked up is 8 Seconds.

11. He plays with the goat by using the top of a trash can as his shield and a stick as his sword.

12. He trained his wild, uncontrollable dog in German. Worst idea ever!

13. He's the most loyal, honest and trust worthy person I have ever met!

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I wonder when age will get to him?

When will he finally say, "No, I need to sit this one out"?

When will he finally rest and let those old injuries heal?

Well, the honest answer to this is as long as he's breathing, you won't be able to keep him out of the saddle.

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There's a hundred years of history
and a hundred before that
All gathered in the thinkin'
Goin' on beneath this hat.

The cold flame burns within him
'Til his skin's as cold as ice
And the dues he paid to get here
Are worth every sacrifice.

All the miles spend sleepy drivin'
All the money down the drain,
All the 'if I's' and 'nearly's,'
All the bandages and pain,

All the female tears left dryin',
All the fever and the fight
Are just a small down payment
On the ride he makes tonight.

It's guts and love and glory,
One mortal's chance at fame.
His legacy is rodeo
And cowboy is his name.

Happy Birthday Matt! I love you!

xo