Annual Christmas Card Contest - Traditional Card Category

The Finalists...

The Winner!

Sent in by Mike & Emily Jungers!

(Please note that we love all of the cards we recieve each year and enjoy every single one!)

Annual Christmas Card Contest - Photo Card Category

The Finalists....

And the WINNER!

Sent in by the Drumwright family!

(Please note that we love all of the cards we recieve each year and enjoy every single one!)

Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve

Holiday Elfs

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hobby Horse Photo Shoot

Me & my Mommy

2008 Show Season in Review

• Completed in 20 shows in 5 different states
• Won over $5,500 in NRHA earnings
• Top 15 NRHA Earnings in Novice Horse Non Pro for the year
• Top 20 NRHA Earnings in Imtermediate Non Pro for the year
• 1 Morrison Bronze ($1000 Intermediate Non Pro at Cactus Classic)
• 3 Pewters (1 at Del Mar National and 2 at Hollywood Charity)
• Circuit Award (3rd) for the Non Pro division at Reining by the Bay
• 13.5 AQHA points in Amateur Reining (Breezy achieved his ROM)
• AQHA World Championship Show Finalist in Amateur Reining
• 10 championship belt buckles (Hollywood Charity Intermediate Non Pro, 3 CRHA year-end reserve high points, 2 PCHA year-end high points, & 4 DRHA year-end high points)
• Wildest dreams became reality!!!!

This could have never been accomplished with out, 1st God's amazing grace. And 2nd some amazing people in my life. To name a few....

Dave - My support and benefactor. He made countless sacrifices this year so that my dreams could come true.

Johnette - My trainer and friend. Just a year ago Breezy and I had only $266 in NRHA earnings and not a single AQHA Amateur point to our names. All of the above definitely could not have been possible without her coaching and dedication.

My Mom - Who's commitment to my passion as a kid has given me the ability to be successful now so many years later.

Cheryl - My encourager and mental coach. She kept my head on straight. And partway thru the year when I felt hopeless and wanted to give up she helped me find 'me' again.

Family & Friends - Who supported me with encouraging words, blog comments, cards, e-mails, texts, and especially cheers from the side lines.

A special thanks to those that came out and cheered for me this season - Dave, Nick, Vera, Aunt Coletta, Mom, Dad, Lanell, & Lila. Also my fellow Burman Reining Horses Non Pro Teammates - Maria, Kim, & Wendy.

World Show ride to make the finals

Finalist Photo

Finals

Had a great time showing in the Finals tonight. Rode hard and had fun, which was the plan. Unfortunately, Breezy apperently wasn't as enthusiastic about the finals and did his little bolting trick again. But, oh'well. Ended up tied for 12th. I'm competely exhausted so I'm going to bed now.

The Finals

Well, tonight is the night of the finals. It starts at 7pm CST with the finals of Heading and then the Finals for Heeling. And then Reining. I, of course, drew up 1st (seems like a always have bad luck when it comes to draws, but as long as I have good luck in the show pen, who cares!). So I think I'll show between 8pm and 9pm CST if you want to watch along on the web feed.

I woke up this morning feeling a bit nervous - at least my body is telling me so much. I am hoping that goes away over the course of the day. Really I am just excited to be in the finals and whatever happens tonight the whole thing is just a dream come true. Worst case scenario tonight is that I don't make top 10 and walk out of the arena a World Show Finalist with a vest with "Finalist" patch, a World Show Finalist ribbon, and a World Show medallion. And that actually sounds wonderful to me and beyond expectation.

Don't Sell Your Saddle

Don't give up on dreams.

Take time to see 'em through.

There is no magic recipe,

hard work makes 'em come true.

Even when you're struggling,

your friends will stick like glue.

Don't ever sell your saddle,

your dreams won't give up on you.

By Don Bilup

Full Story of Making the Finals

I wasn't nervous at all, but was a bit emotional. I got the to show grounds early that morning and when I walked in to the coliseum to watch a couple barrel racers go (the class before mine) I totally started to get teary. It was just so surreal. Even as I was getting ready and warming up I still never got nervous. It wasn't until I was standing in the tunnel waiting for my turn to run in that I got emotional again. Johnette gave me a few final words ("Ride one box at a time" or something like that) and then walked in to get a seat to watch. I turned and looked down the tunnel and at the words that arched over the top "Gateway of Champions". I'd seen it in pictures and on TV, but to be sitting there about to go thru that gateway myself I just started to tear up (as I am now doing even now as I type this 3 days later). But, I pulled it together and had a great ride. Breezy ran down great to all 3 stops up the middle with no bolting. He didn't stop his best, but we still managed to get some +1/2s from most of the judges, other then the 2nd stop where we trotted out and got 1/2 penalties for 4 of the 5 judges. Breezy backed up to center great after the last stop, which was especially good since we had to back a very long way because he had slid so far. Turns were OK, got mostly zeros on them, but I under turned on the 2nd set giving us another 1/2 point penalty from all the judges. The circles were super fun! We ran hard and we ran fast. Breezy guided great and came back to slow great both times. I even forgot to set him up for the 2nd lead change, but he still changed perfectly for me. He did bolt a bit on the last stop, but then stopped HUGE. So most judges gave us a +1/2 anyways. Since I was the 2nd horse in I didn't know what to think of my score. I thought it seemed about right for how we ran maybe even a bit high, but I didn't think it would be high enough to make the finals (which, btw, was fine with me. I wasn't at all disappointed. I
had just had the time of my life showing and that was good enough for me). Johnette thought the score would put me on the bubble so she held on to hope. I sat in 3rd place for a long time and half way through the order I was tied for 5th. It was at this point I allowed myself to hope. We watched horse after horse go and not beat my score. Seemed like a lot of people were really struggling with nerves. I watched some people I thought for sure would be in the finals make big mistakes (like only turned 3 times for example). Finally when there were only a few horses left to go and I was still tied for 5th, Johnette double counted and told me that there was now no way that I would not be in the finals. I had done it! I immediately started balling. I mean balling - huge huffs, can't catch my breath, tears streaming, balling. Even now I still can hardly believe it. Just doesn't seem real.

God is so GOOD!

AQHA World Championship Horse Show Finalist!!!

We made the finals!!!!

We marked a 212.5 which was good enough to tie for 7th place putting us safely in the top 15 and into the finals. Now I get to come back on Wednesday and show again!!! I still can hardly believe it. It is just a complete dream come true. Only in my wildest dreams did I dare that this could be a possibility. And to top it off I had an absolute blast showing. It was so much fun!!!!

AQHA World Championship Horse Show

I'm here! I can't hardly believe it!

Tomorrow I will complete the in Amatuer Reining at the World Show!!!

I'm not nervous at all. Just excited. My plan is ride hard and have fun. Whatever happens I'm just going to love every minute of it! I'd, of course, love to make the finals, but honestly won't be disappointed if I don't. I'm just going to do my best and hope that Breezy does his best too. But, if he doesn't I don't really care. I'm just so excited to be here.

I'll probably show between 11am and 12:30pm Oklahoma time if you want to try to watch on the streaming video. Here's the link:http://www.aqha.com/showing/shows/worldshow/schedule.html ("Live Video" link is at the top of the page).

Happy & Safe Halloween

Whirlwind Week

Monday night I left work and went straight to the airport to hop a plane to Las Vegas. Yesterday I showed in the Non Pro slate of classes as the High Roller Reining Classic. Rode well and had fun, but still had trouble with the run downs (or "run offs" as I call them). We were still in the placings and won more then enough money to cover our entry fees. And I checked the curent year end standings for the Desert Reining Horse Association and none of the people that beat me yesterday are in the top 10 for the year end awards. So I will be able to maintain my lead. Last night I took a 9:18pm flight back home so I can work the rest of the week. Then I'd head back to Las Vegas on Saturday so that I can show in the Novice Horse Non Pro on Sunday.

It's Here!!!

My AQHA World Championship Show packet has arrived!!!!!

Long Beach Date

Since we didn't get to go on annual vacation this year because of my rigorous horse show schedule Dave suprised me with an overnight date in Long Beach. After checking in to our hotel we walked down to Shoreline Village for cocktails and appitizers at Yard House. Then after going back to our hotel to change we headed to the Queen Mary for dinner at Sir Winston's. We arrived early so we got drinks at Observation Bar and watched the sunset. Then to dinner which was wonderful. It was a lovely evening.

Then this morning we walked back to the Shoreline Village and got coffee and funnel cakes for breakfast. Yummy!

Now we are home lounging and watching the Olympics!

Reining By The Bay

Our best run from the Reining by the Bay show. We marked a 72 1/2.

We're Qulaified!

On Friday we took a little break from the Reining By The Bay show in Woodside to drive over to the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds to take a shot at getting our last 1/2 point to get qualified for the AQHA World Show. We arrived with just enough time to get ready, warm the horse up and show. There were only 9 horses in the class and I was last to go. I knew I had to get 1st or 2nd to get the 1/2 point. There was hardly any space to warm up and we didn't even get to practice stopping. As I was preparing I heard someone mark a 71 1/2 and I had already heard a 70 so I knew I'd have to ride hard. The day before at Reining By The Bay we had marked a 72 1/2 so I knew we could do it though. Finally it was our turn and we had a great run. But, it took a really long time for them to announce the score. I asked Johnette what she thought my score should be since she had watch the horse go that got the 71 1/2 and she thought at least a 71. But, when they finally announced my score it was a 69. We were shocked and disappointed. But, then we noticed a horse was in the pen showing. Did another horse add the class to make it 10? Johnette asked the ring steward. Yes, it was now officially a 10 horse class and I was 3rd, which was good enough for 1/2 a point.

Yippy! We are finally qualified and the last goal of the show season accomplished (won a buckle, won a bronze, & qualified for the World Show). I have dreamt of showing at the World show since I was 7 years old. And now that dream, 23 years later, is finally going to come true!

SCU Reunion

Last weekend was the SCU Reunion. Natalie really sums it up on her blog pics & all. So much fun!!!

Vancouver

My job took me to Vancouver this week. I spend most of the time working, but got to sight see a tiny bit in the area right around me hotel. What a great city!!!!

The view from my hotel room a the Farimont Hotel Vancouver A count down to the Vancouver Winter Olympics

Looking up at my hotel

Standing in front of the Olympic counter with the reflection of The Hotel Vancouver in the bulding behindThe breathtaking 120 year old church across the street from the Boutique

The view from my window seat on the way home

Happy 4th of July

For the 4th Dave and I drove together to Hemet in the morning. I rode my Breezy & Dave watched for a bit before heading across the street to the golf club. Breezy was fantastic and I am feeling good heading into the show in the 11th to hopefully pick up our last 3.5 points to go to the World Show.

Then we grabbed lunch and headed to Norco to spend the afternoon with Mom & Wendy. We hung out at the pool for a while & then had dinner at Felippi's.

Then home to watch the Mission Viejo Lake fireworks show from our backyard and a movie.

My "Unc"

January 29, 1948 - June 27, 2008

Breezy's Excuse

Well, at least Breezy has a good excuse for his bad behavior at the last few shows. He took a little trip to the vet on Wednesday and we found out that, as Johnette and I expected, his hocks were hurting him. So he got treated and by this time next week Breezy should be feeling almost as good as new and ready to be back to his old self for our shows in July.

Not Looking Good

Showed 2 more times this week with out getting so much as a 1/2 a point. We are still really struggling with the run downs. I am getting the feeling that Breezy really doesn't want to go to the World show...

1 Point

Well, today was much better. The judging was a bit odd and we ended up with a 72 under one judge and a 68 1/2 under the other. Hmmmmm. Basically everywhere judge A marked me a +1/2 on a manuver, judge B would mark me a 0. And everywhere judge A would mark me a 0 judge B would mark me -1/2. So I am focusing on judge A's scores, he gave me a +1/2 on our left spins & left set of circles and a full +1 on our right set of circles! Run downs were still a struggle, but I managed to keep it under control by riding with me reins shorter and using them more and by keeping my knees loose. We ended up 2nd on judge A's card and 4th on judge B's card. So we earning 1 point for our 2nd place finish. So we now have a grand total of 10 points and just need 3.5 more to get qualified. Oh, and we ended up Circuit Champions for AQHA Amatuer Reining for the show!

Photo Hunters: Self

PhotoHunt

These 2 photos show 2 different sides of me. One I took my self and the other was taken by my husband.

thoughtful, caring, understanding, complex, empathetic, feeling, romantic, intuitive, loving

proud, athletic, direct, fun, goal oriented, optimistic, challenging, committed, creative, courageous