Abby's was on Saturday. She attended her first rated Working Equitation show. The shows she's been attending have been schooling shows and she has had the opportunity to learn even while competing. She has really taken those things she's learned and applied them. She's always scored well in Ease of Handling (EOH). Dressage has been her difficult test. But each time she's competed her personal score has been higher than the time before.
This was an exciting show. Dressage is always first. I knew when they came out that they did excellent. They ended up placing 1st in Dressage!
EOH was next. I was a little concerned here. Obi's best obstacle is typically the gate. They excel at this point. But he did not do well this time. Okay, he did well, but not what he is capable of. They still looked great throughout the entire test, but I knew it wasn't their personal best. They placed 2nd in EOH!
Their combined scores were high enough that they placed 1st overall! Wow! What an exciting first rated show! Abby was pretty elated...
Later that day we headed over to help Sarah with her campaigning. And Monday. And Tuesday. 😜 The girls had already been helping prior to this final week, but this was "crunch time" and required all of us!
Of course, Sarah's big event was the primary on Tuesday. I am certainly glad that the primary is over. And that Sarah comes home today! 😍
So Sarah will not be going to DC. I must admit, there's a little relief there. I wasn't really looking forward to it but I would have been happy for her if it had worked out. There are still many plans ahead and I have a feeling she won't sit still for long. All in the Lord's timing and plan... However, Abby found out this week that she was accepted as an intern at a facility in New Mexico! Aargh! I think they are racing to see who can put the most gray hairs on my head the fastest! 😁
Last Saturday, Michael and I headed over to Nichols Hills to help campaign as well. During the course of our door knocking, we met many interesting people. One lady I met was astounded at the number of children we have. Our conversation has been heavy on my mind.
She regrets the way she raised her 3 children. She said that she raised them in fear of what was going on around us. Now two them have remained single and one is married with one child. She is in her 80s. She said, "I wish more Christians weren't afraid to bring children into this world."
It made me think of how much we let fear control our lives. Fear of the unknown. Fear of the known. Fear of trouble. Fear of heartache.
But the truth is, God calls us. He doesn't call us to a life of ease and luxury. He calls us to duty. The plan He has laid out for us is to marry and replenish the earth. We were meant to do this. Our work is all secondary. He never told us to have children only when they would face no hardship. Look at the Christian's of Nero's day. I wonder how many of them would have intentionally chosen not to have children to keep them from Nero's wickedness.
It is definitely hard. I fear for the things my children will face in future years. I fear for what their children will face. But that fear cannot prevent us from doing God's will, fulfilling His plan.
However, it does do 2 things: it keeps me ever on my knees and it's what keeps me active in our government, fighting for freedoms. I fight to do my best to prevent my children from having to face what I fear is coming. When it does come, I pray for God's sustaining hand over them.
