Girls and horses. . .Life IS Good.

As a girl, I LOVED horses! I collected the Breyer horses, loved to ride and thought I was a real cowgirl out on those Nebraska Sandhills riding Lucky, my little pony along with my mom and dad and the ranch hands when it came time to round up cattle. When I was having a bad day, I could count on Lucky to listen to my problems or my mom's mare, Penny. It was like they understood little girls, and I understood them. And, as I've gotten older, it seems like most little girls I know adore horses too. So, I wasn't too surprised when the Big Sisters/Big Brothers coordinator Tiffany contacted me about an opportunity for me and Kathleen to join her and some other "vulnerable" littles at the Broken Creek Youth Ranch for some group equine therapy.

I had no idea what we'd do when we arrived. All I did know was there would be no actual riding, and I was so thankful the weather had held last Thursday when we arrived for our therapy session. Three matches, and two mares were paired up, and each "little" was given a side of the horse to brush if the little so desired, and then paint whatever she was feeling that day. The "bigs" were instructed to keep quiet (torture, I know), and observe. So, Kathleen grabbed her brush and started giving Sassy a thorough brushing while I tried to stay out of the path of blowing dead horse hair. My allergies were already mad at me for being outside; I didn't figure I should add horse hair and dander to the mix. She brushed and brushed and brushed some more. Finally, she painted. She painted a small, but cheerful smiley face on the hip of Sassy. Then, she loved on another mare in the pen the rest of the time we were there. The youth ranch coordinator had the littles tell why the painted what they did--all a lesson in communication skills. It was one of the coolest things I think Kathleen and I have done together.

None of the girls wanted to leave. All of them loved the horses. But, then what girl doesn't love horses? I really hope we get to go back there, and I hope other matches have the same opportunity we did. Girls and horses. Together they speak a language all their own.

Tonight I just couldn't win. . .

So, I hadn't spent any "big sis" time with Kat since we went to the Great Wolf Lodge way back before Easter. I thought tonight would be a great opportunity to catch up, and plant some flowers in hanging baskets for my front porch, grill some Angus hot dogs and eat on the patio. I was pretty pumped up about the evening, and even more so when I pulled up to her house, and was greeted by her waving at me, all smiles, from the top of 25 steps to her front door.

That's where the great ideas ended. We stopped by the grocery store on the way home, because I don't eat Catsup on anything, and I know Kat is a huge consumer of Catsup and will need some for her hot dogs. I also buy buns and potato salad--we need some carbs, too! While in the store, she asks for EVERYTHING! The girl wants chocolate covered donuts, Twinkies, zingers, glow sticks, bubble gum, and you name it! I asked her if she brought money, and she said, "no," so I said, "then I guess you don't need it." I don't mean to be rude, but I have bought Kat a lot already and I explained to her she doesn't need sugared bubble gum, and I always have gum if she needs a piece, and we have a good dinner at home, and I refuse to buy donuts and zingers. Yes, I am SCROOGE!

So, I have this great plan to plant flowers on my back patio...you know, soak up some afternoon sun, and she plops down on my sofa and turns on the TV. I've always had a NO TV rule with my little sisters. If they want to watch TV, they can do that on their time, not mine. SO, once again, I was the mean lady...We marched outside and started planting. Two girls, two containers, I thought this was a no brainer. WRONG. She was more interested in the rocks around my patio than planting flowers. So, one big sister planted two baskets. One little sister played in my rocks, and even asked if she could take some home. I said, sure. Not like I don't have enough.

Dinner. . .I made a nice fruit salad. Fresh strawberries, blueberries, kiwis and bananas. I MADE her try one of each. She said she had only had fruit in JELL-O. I thought this was totally sad. She said she didn't like it all mixed together, so I told her to separate it. I'll be having the rest of the fruit for my 10 PM snack tonight. The good news is she had never had potato salad either, and she did like that. Oh, and I have taught her when she's with me we pray before eating. She waited for me to say Grace tonight, and so we are getting somewhere there.

SO, any adults from my childhood, Mom, Dad, Aunt Barb...I apologize now if I was ever a difficult child. To my friends out there that are parents, my hat is tipped to you. Maybe I'm emotional, maybe I think I'm fun all the time, but I'm not really...I mean, she was playing with rocks. . .But on the way back to her house tonight, she said, "I had a really good time planting flowers."

Thank God I'm a Country Girl

Yesterday afternoon our temps in NW Missouri reached into the 80s and my little sis wanted to go bowling. I told her no way, no how. . .we were going to enjoy the beautiful weather despite my allergies. So we loaded up and drove to Krug Park, even though I had never been there before.

We parked in front of this nasty, dirty body of water, and lo and behold, a geese pond occupied her mind for nearly an hour and I just kept thanking God that my mom had A) subscribed to that “Ranger Rick” magazine for me all those years; and B) that we had actually had geese for a short stint on the ranch at Mullen. Otherwise, I was pretty sure I had totally missed the “poultry” unit they taught in Animal Science 101that was offered at Colby Community College!

Kat had 101 questions, and well, being the older, wiser “big sis” that I am, I had 101 answers! I just hope she doesn’t ever compete in an academic bowl and claim that I imparted this knowledge on her! YIKES!! I felt pretty comfortable with the basics though, like the daddy geese (males) are ganders and the babies are goslings and a group of them are a gaggle. Then we got into feather features. Well of course they need feathers to fly and swim and as a defense mechanism and for heating themselves in the winter, but I might have stretched it a little when I said the feathers are even used for cooling devices as they fan themselves in the summer (seemed logical to me and she bought into it)!

Kat was concerned when the geese kept ducking their heads into the water and then shaking their heads. I equated that to washing our hair, and then when a feather was falling out, I explained the whole shedding process. WOW!!! All these answers while I’m surrounded by some of the things I fear and dislike most—birds (I’m afraid they’ll attack me) and bird poop is just plain nasty--give me cow ____ any day! But, it was an hour of outside fresh air and togetherness.

Finally, Kat proclaimed she was hungry, and we loaded up to find dinner. My only limitation was NO McDonalds! (I should have bought stock when she and I were matched). So, we had KFC. . .It only seemed logical.

Who really benefits?

Once again the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program (BB/BS) continues to bless and amaze me! As a "big" I know I'm supposed to be mentoring my "little" but wow--these kids put life into such perspective. Each time I'm with my little I feel like I'm the one getting benefiting from the program.

I know I write about BB/BS a lot, but I am so passionate about it! You might recall from an earlier post that my first "little" Melanie moved away, and broke my heart; the good news is I got her address today just in time to send her a birthday card next week! YEAH!

And, the other bit of good news is I was re-matched with my second "little" Kat, short for Kathleen. Tonight was our 4th meeting, and I took her to my house for the first time. Her eyes got big as saucers when we walked into my modest home and she wanted to know how many people lived there and why I didn't have pets. How do you explain to someone who shares a one-bedroom home with 5 people that one person lives in three-bedroom home? It was awkward...especially when I had just finished the talk on how we can't do an activity that costs money every week like we had the first three weeks, because in her eyes I was "rich."

Now, just to set the record straight, I am not a gourmet cook. I can make some pretty killer grilled meat and veggies; and a few other items, and I love to bake. And, I mainly cook on weekends when I have time. Tonight I had put in 10 hours at the office, picked up Kat, and driven home with the thought of spaghetti or tacos. She chose spaghetti, and for tonight it was Ragu in the jar and some pasta. She ate two helpings like it was the best food she'd ever had! Then, we played Yahtzee, where she whooped me both games, and we headed back to town. She explained that her Mom was going to meet us because she had just got done at her cousin's 10th birthday party. WHOA!! I asked her why she hadn't rescheduled with me to go to her cousin's party, and her reply, "Well, we're family too. You're my big sister." If that doesn't melt your heart, nothing will.

On the way back to town with the sleet hitting the windshield, she asked if I had ever been to Hawaii, and I told her no, but I would like to go there someday when I was married. She didn't miss a beat, "Maybe I can come with you." I just had to smile. I told her Hawaii was a lot more fun when you get out of college! (at least that is what I've heard)

So, once again, I wonder who is benefiting from this big/little relationship? Sure Kat gets to do cool things with me like go to the Lipizzaner Stallions (which I discovered I'm allergic to), paint ceramics, go ice skating and eat McDonalds. But I get to do those things with her and am reminded to count EVERY blessing, both large and small and never, ever take anything for granted. I think I'm coming out ahead on this deal.

The Plan

Tonight was evident that God really does have a sense of humor. This was my first solo outing with my second and new little sis Kathleen, and when I picked her up, her mom said, "Make sure she does her homework and make sure you're home by 7:30." Well, I had big plans for us, and homework was not among those plans! So, "Kat" as she said I could call her, and it would be her very first nick-name and I ventured off to Mudders and Potters, one of my favorite places to go in the winter. Here, you get to pick your own pre-made pottery, paint it with their fun paint colors and then they glaze and fire it, and in a few weeks you have a fun creation.



So, Kat and I each painted a travel coffee mug. Not being super "artsy" I knew I wanted to write the first line from one of my favorite scriptures on my mug from Jeremiah 29, "I know the plans I have for you." And this line fit perfect wrapped around my new blue mug. Kat painted a pink mug and wrote, "I love the USA" on her mug. And we were both equally slow, but had plenty of time to chat and listen to the songs on the radio. But, little did I know the "plans" that were in store for me after we left Mudders & Potters.

This is where God's sense of humor comes into play. Once we got to McDonalds and ate our chicken nuggets (yes, I know what goes into them), Kat opened up her red folder to MATH homework. This wasn't part of my plan. And, it gets even better! She was doing word problems and LONG DIVISION. . .yes, tonight I taught at 10-year-old how to do long division the "old fashioned" way. This is when I thought to myself, "Are these the plans God has for me?" Anyone who knows me knows I majored in journalism because balancing my checkbook is a major feat for me! But, I showed her how to do the long division, then checked it with the calculator on my phone, and it all came out! Even though, I got a chuckle out of it, I know this is just one small piece of "the plan."

Although I've only taken Kathleen home twice, I tear up each time I leave her. I know how fortunate I had it growing up. And how fortunate my many little nieces and nephews have it. Kat has a sad story, as many do that are involved in BB/BS, but I know that God put me in her life for a reason, and He put her in my life likewise to learn not to take things for granted. So, though He has a greater plan for you and me, once in a while, he has to throw a little joke in the mix, like making this math-flunkie teach long-division to a fourth grader! It was good for a chuckle, and after all, if we can't laugh at ourselves, what can we laugh at!