Final Junior Equitation Year, A Mother's Reflection

After having 3 daughters compete on the A Circuit, in Hunter/Jumper/Equitation, I am currently sitting in the kitchen of some friends in Haverford, Pa.  Tomorrow we will pick up our youngest daughter Lizzie from the airport in Harrisburg for the beginning of the end of Equitation Finals.  We've been attending Medal, Maclay, USET, WIHS one, all or a mixture of some since 2004. (Seriously, isn't there an award for the parents who've sat through 11 years of Equitation Finals?!!)

If I'm completely honest, as much of a nervous wreck as I was at the first one in 2004, I'm equally feeling the nerves with this being the FINAL. I always knew there was "next year" and it's such a mixture of feelings knowing this is it as a Junior Rider.

Here is what we've always tried to convey to our daughters:

1) This (riding) doesn't define who you are as a person, it is PART of who you are.  We've worked hard to keep a balance in your life and have been fortunate enough to make that happen. 

2) Faith: Stay grounded and humble.  I'm incredibly thankful that each of you girls have experienced going on mission trips and having a heart for those less fortunate. 

3) Family: No matter how crazed someone makes you, we are family.  Your family will always be there, through the good and the bad.  Friends will come and go but WE, family, are the ones that will help to pick up the pieces or cheer the loudest or cry (mom) when my heart is so proud of you I feel like it will explode!

4) Education: This is something no one can ever take away from you.  It might be a pain, you might not want to do the homework, but you need it.  Will you have to learn things you might not ever use in your life? Most likely. But it's more than that. It's a growing experience you shouldn't miss out on. You will grow/mature in ways you didn't know you could. I promise!

So as I'm reflecting on this amazing, joyful, painful, emotional, ecstatic, gut- wrenching journey, here is what I want our daughters to know:  

Your father and I are so incredibly proud of you! 

To Emily: For starting us on this journey. As the firstborn, you were the leader and at times the guinea pig. We learned what we should and shouldn't do in regards to horses. You were the leader in our journey.  You graduated from high school and went to the University Of Georgia.  You were part of the Equestrian team, you were part of a National Champion team. Was it all roses? Absolutely not.  Have you learned valuable lessons? Absolutely.  We are incredibly proud of the fact that you were working for Carter's (baby clothes) a month after you graduated from college. The fact that you do Product Development and Sourcing for Little Baby Basics and Carter's seasonal bodysuit pant sets (boys and girls lines) still boggles my mind! We are so proud of you Emily!! Keep moving forward and be true to who you are!

To Sarah: To our middle child who honestly makes us laugh daily. You came into the horses I believe by being the middle child, it seemed like the thing to do. You are cautious by nature and when we started riding with Aaron Vale, you were pushed outside your comfort zone immediately! You never had a desire to do Jumpers and went on to win the NAL Jumper Classic

http://www.barnmice.com/profiles/blogs/sarah-van-der-walde-won-the-10-000-north-american-league-children

https://youtu.be/_zAjeRFWAYA

You will jokingly say this is where you peaked and it was all downhill from there.  While this was a peak moment for you, you pushed through other not so comfortable times.  You, by your choice, made the decision to not compete in your last Junior year. You were accepted into the University of Michigan and chose to pursue the next chapter of your life there.  While this didn't include the competitiveness of the Equestrian world, you have embraced being in a sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma. You are now a Junior in the School of Information, hoping to have a Minor in German and Applied Statistics.... You amaze us! 

To Lizzie: The baby of the family and in all honesty, the one who benefited the most when it comes to riding. You started this riding journey when you were 3.  Some will say that you are naturally talented at this.  We still say, family, faith and education before this. Your high school education and riding is what had you being a top recruit in riding in college. While there were several colleges recruiting you, you had your heart set on one, the University of South Carolina. As it turned out, by chance, they were your last college visit. While others offered you more in scholarship, you knew that South Carolina was where you belonged.  As your parents, we couldn't agree more.  

As you are finishing the end of your last Junior year, remember this. Remember who you are and where you come from. Remember that you are an amazing person and you have an incredible journey ahead of you. Listen to those that are giving you advice and constructive criticism. Enjoy this journey!!  Do your very best and be happy with it!

In the end, we love each of you for where you are and we are your biggest cheerleaders! 

As your mom, I will continue to cry at the drop of a hat.  I am your biggest fan and your worst critic, but in the end, I will always love you.  

Mom

  

Welcome to our hearts Lushomo!

Lushomo

I will tell you upfront that I've always been leery of "sponsoring" children.  I know a lot of people that have sponsored children but in the back of my mind I've always thought, "Is that child really benefiting from the money and how many thousands of other people are sponsoring that child".  Now I will admit that I've thought this for years and never took the time to do any sort of research.  Also, I've always thought, "I know other countries need our help but there are so many people in the USA that need our help!"  So the struggle has been....

Until, our church decided to partner with World Vision.  They have chosen two villages in Zambia and have made a 10-15 year commitment to them.  It starts with water.  Women and young girls walk several miles a few times a day for water.  They get water from the same place that animals drink from and yes, go to the bathroom in.  Needless to say, 1 in 5 children die before the age of 5.  The average life is 45 years old.  We also have 300 people from our church who are running the Chicago Marathon in October and have teamed with World Vision.  The money raised from the marathon will go directly to water wells.  

There are approximately 30,000 people in one of the villages and approximately 35,000 people in the other.  Of that total, approximately 30,000 are children.  Our church went to World Vision and said, "We would like to have children to sponsor".  The most World Vision had ever given a church was around 450 children to sponsor.  Our church said, "Oh no, we need much more"  These conversations started two years ago between our church and World Vision.  You can imagine the hesitancy on World Visions part.  There is a lot that goes into this.  They go into a village, build trust and through talking to those in the village, they find the families most vulnerable.  The village says which family they feels could use the most help.  World Vision then builds trust with the family (can you imagine someone walking up and just snapping a picture of their child?!)  

I was humbled to be part of the volunteer team at our church this past weekend when this partnership was announced.  We had 2,000 children packets able to be sponsored.  Yes, 2,000!  We have four services at our church.  Two on Saturday and two on Sunday.  After the second service on Saturday, approximately 1,100 children had been sponsored !!  WOW!  Going into the 4th and final service on Sunday, we had approximately 69 packets left.  This didn't stop the generosity, so many people made pledges of sponsoring children!  We will have the final numbers this week and I can't wait to hear what it is!  

I am thrilled to be a part of this venture.  I am blessed to be a small part of building two villages.  I'm blessed to have Lushomo's picture in my kitchen so that I see that cute little face many times each day and I'm reminded.  

I'm reminded that Lushomo lives with her parents and 1 brother and struggles for so many things that I take for granted each and every day.  I can go to the kitchen and get a glass of clean water.  I can hop in my car and go to the store and get whatever I need.  I can contact just about anyone I want via phone or computer.  I can take my children to the doctor when they are sick.  When Lushomo get sick, her mother has to walk 20 miles to the nearest clinic.  20 miles ONE way.  I cannot even imagine.  

A group of people from our church have been to Zambia twice and visited the villages.  This makes it very real and tangible for me.  I know that what I am doing will be helping to build the communities and that the entire communities will benefit from what we do.  

I can tell you that one day, I will make the trip to Zambia and I will get the chance to meet and hopefully hug Lushomo.  I don't know when that will be but you can be guaranteed that there will be a blog and many pictures.

Lushomo just turned 3 years old on February 12th.  I look forward to watching her grow and hopefully building a relationship and meeting her one day.

http://northridgechurch.com/outreach/