How did I get so lucky?

Sarcasm aside, I really do get it: I AM lucky. God has blessed me innumerable ways. Not the least of this are the 3 blessings I live with...ok, 4 when the Old Man is behaving himself and when he FINALLY manages to take out the garbage.

But seriously, folks...about that littlest one...

Don't let that innocent smile fool you...

There are days the devil dances in those big beautiful brown eyes.

There are days he makes me shake my head. There are days he makes me laugh out loud. There are days he makes me want to cry. And there are days he gives me heart failure.

Do you remember Beavis?

Beavis is Bubby's horse...a lovely, precious old gent who is not in a big hurry to get anywhere faster than he absolutely has to. In fact, it sometimes takes a near act of God for Bubby to get him wound up into a trot.

Bubby was not feeling well one night when I took Sissy out to ride, and since Baby Boy insists on riding either Beavis or Sparkplug as we finish up, I thought this would be a fun chance for him to get to ride a little longer than normal. Bad idea, momma.

Actually, all was going well. I saddled Beavis and led Beavis & Baby Boy around the arena while Sissy was riding. He did great! In fact, he did so well I took the lead rope off and walked with Beavis and my precocious little 4-year old around the arena. Again, he was doing great.

When will I learn to leave well enough alone?

We were getting ready to quit for the night and put the horses away. Sissy was cooling out Sparkplug. I told Baby Boy he could turn Beavis in one small circle by himself, come right back to me and we'd put him away for the night.

Maybe it was the idea of putting the horse away that did it. The world may never know.

He picked up the reins and pulled Beavis around like a champ...especially considering this was the first night ever I had turned the reins over to him alone and let him be in control. Not a smart move apparently.

As soon as he got Beavis turned away from me, he started clucking, yelling and kicking for all he's worth for Beavis to "run like the wind." And for once, Beavis listened with no extra encouragement.

AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!

There they went, trotting around the arena. He had a good grip on the saddle horn as his little butt bounced in the saddle and a grin a mile wide on his face.


"HA HA HA!!" he called back to me, looking over his shoulder. "YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME NOW!!!!"

Now God bless Beavis, because normally if I'm running behind him, it's in an effort to get him to go faster with Bubby. So of, course, he didn't stop when I went tearing off after them trying to catch them as they made their way around the arena.


I had to send Sissy & Sparkplug to cut them off at the pass.

Then I pulled him off the saddle, held him by the shoulders and gave him a firm lecture.

"You are not riding horses anymore by yourself, young man, until you can learn to listen to your Momma!"

So what does he do? We went to watch our newest bulls buck at a high school rodeo last weekend with the boys. He's no sooner out of the truck and into the arena until he's tracked down his favorite uncle to ask him a question.


"Uncle C, can I please ride one of your bulls today? Pretty please with a cherry on top?"

We're putting on another bull riding this weekend. Pray for me would you?