Ben's 3 girls: My Reserve Champion Horse Girl

Today was significant. Today Natalie internalized what it feels like to stick with something, grow, develop, improve and be rewarded for all her efforts. Over a year and a half ago Natalie asked for horse riding lessons. Ben gave her a challenge - be the #1 reader in her first grade class by reading more pages for homework then any other student and she could go to horse lessons. Natalie saw that bet. She read, and read and read - she read so many pages her teacher had to add more and more categories - her students read more pages that year then in all her 20 years of teaching. Natalie read the most and much to Ben's surprise she was able to cash in on her reward...
In June 2012, Natalie met Noelle and their relationship is what makes me so happy today. In Natalie's short 7 years, she has tried more activities then you'll find in any community guide...she has tried, ballet, tap, gymnastics, soccer, softball, etiquette, swimming, Mad Science, Spanish, arts and crafts, violin, acting, singing, zoo camp, Girl Scouts, and I'm sure a few others I can't remember. However, today she stuck with something long enough and has worked hard enough to feel Pride, to know that with hard work and commitment you can realize your goals.
My friends have amazing kids, they do amazing things...my heart is full because after all this time of trying everything under the sun - Natalie has amazed me. She has grown with her trainer, (kudos to Noelle because Natalie isn't always a sweet cookie), she has grown in her confidence, she is GOOD at something and she isn't ready to give it up, she doesn't want to ditch it and try something else...It isn't the easiest sport to keep up with, there are hurdles to jump over and a lot of room for growth, but our Natalie isn't the easiest kid and so I think this suits her just fine. Knowing my personality and Ben's, it doesn't surprise me she would pick an eccentric sport.
Thank you Ben, for your willingness to allow her dream, thank you Terri and Taylor for offering cliff notes to me and cheering Natalie on, thank you Noelle, for growing Natalie in a way I never could. I am in awe of my daughter today and THAT is an incredible feeling!