Lost and Found

Pictured is my grand dog, Maxwell and me.  Maxwell went on a walk about Saturday late in the day.  It would seem my daughter went out to shop while my son in law watched their sweet 19 month old daughter.  Son and granddaughter were outside playing and working in the garden and went in the house for a moment and that's when Max apparently found a way of escape from his fenced in yard.  Upon my daughters return home, she immediately walked the neighborhood calling for Max.  No sign of Maxwell, he was missing!  She made flyers and placed them around the neighborhood and as of Sunday morning there was still no sign of Max anywhere.  She felt terrible about it and felt like they were irresponsible for allowing their dog to escape their yard.

It's hard when a dog you love goes missing.  Even leaving a dog in a fenced in yard can be tricky.  Dogs can find loose fencing, boards and slip out before you know it, which was the very case for our Maxwell. My hubby, Matthew and I went down to be with our daughter and her family on Sunday for moral support.  As fate would have it, our darling grand daughter was sick and running a fever.  You know the old adage of when it rains it pours. I felt terrible for my daughter, just what she needed.  You know how emotions can run when you are 8 months pregnant, she truly didn't need this stress...lost dog, sick baby.  My husband and I looked over the neighborhood as we drove through and went out back and called for Maxwell.  I told my daughter that this was a wonderful area of the city and I was sure someone would see what a nice dog Max was and would help him out.  It was little consolation, as we both knew that they lived in the city on a very busy city street which intersected many other very busy city streets. All we could do was wait and keep watch and...hope.

We busied ourselves with our little grand lady.  So tough to see her lying on the couch, one who is so active and busy, so still and feeling so sick. As we sat and watched a movie with her, we offered sips of juice, bits of cold Popsicles, yogurt anything to help her to feel better. I found myself whispering a prayer over my precious grand daughter and then whispering a prayer for our Maxwell dog too.

As Matthew, fondly known as Pappy to our grand lady, carried her up to bed I whispered another prayer over her.  We prepared to head home, lots of hugs and encouraging words before we left trying to console heavy hearts...wishing, as all parent do, that we could make it all better...

One final drive down their street, my eyes searching all the nooks and crannies between buildings, fence rows...  And I notice two girls about to cross the very street we turn on to catch the Interstate.  I mention to Matt to watch for the girls and...their dog..."their" dog...WAIT...I can't believe my eyes.  That's MAXWELL.  We pulled the car over and met Sophia and Novia...beautiful young ladies who found Maxwell Saturday night one street over from behind my daughter's house.  They were worried for him and the busy streets and although he could not stay at their house, they found a friend for Max to bunk with for the night and were walking the neighborhood in hopes that they could locate his family!

I talked to my daughter this morning and the wayward dog is happy to be home... The story gets even better as my grand lady woke up hungry and more active with very little evidence of fever!  I am so thankful to the One who I can turn to, run to when I don't know what to do, when my heart is heavy and my best just isn't quite enough.  It reminds me of understanding the feeling of being lost.  And I am thankful my story, like Maxwell's story, doesn't end there...I also know the feeling of being found!

Through my son's eyes...

Standing 3 to 5 seconds, one of the elements of our dressage test  This has been a hard element for Billy to learn and he stood stock still - Good boy Billy!

I finally have a moment to write about our first ever Combined Driving Event.  We had a fantastic time and I could not be more pleased with my pony's efforts. We have both matured and grown as a team.  It would seem we have prepared for this moment our entire lifetime together. I knew my pony had it in him, it just took him and I a bit longer to get to this point than most.  I suppose that's what makes it so sweet.  We've had a special bond and connection from the day he was born on our small farm.  He's not been an easy pony to train, but I have learned so much from him and would not trade one second of our journey together. We started our preparations in February, walking the neighborhood in the snow for fitness. We drove through sleet, snow and raindrops, not having the luxury of an indoor arena.  We traveled to visit our driving instructor, Stacey Giere, for lessons.  Trailered out to woodland trails, with great friends, to drive to build our fitness on the hottest days of the summer.  We worked steadily day in and day out until our big weekend in July.  Our hard work paid off with our best dressage test ever, scores of 7's, 7.5's, 8's and a 9 for turnout.  I am still on cloud nine!  I made a driver error during our dressage test, Billy swished his tail and let me know he wasn't happy with me, but even in his confusion he chose to trust me and allow me to get us back on track.  What a good pony, he had to wonder what in the world I was doing during that one moment of lost focus, but he forgave me quickly and moved on, which is a huge step for us.  We placed 4th overall in the Combined Tests out of a group of 7 total. Who knows where we might have fallen had I not made such a costly mistake, but how could I dwell on that when my pony gave me all he had and then some.  It is so very satisfying to know the highs and lows over all these 13 years together, that we should experience this shining moment is a true thrill! 

Billy during our dressage test - going across the diagonal in a lovely extended trot

My heart was full as I returned home.  I had a lovely weekend with my pony, filled with my family and so many wonderful friends.  My husband Matthew and my son Nicholas attended the three day show with me - helping me with loading/unloading the trailer, cleaning Billy's stall, feeding, watering, helping me hitch a wiggly pony to cart, to cheering me on, keeping me well hydrated and fed, calming my nerves and telling me - "you can do it, you've got this"!

Dressage...lovely extension

And then...I viewed the pictures - they took my breath away!  My son, Nicholas agreed to take the pictures of the event for me.  My hubby has long ago given up on taking pictures of my events. It just isn't his true talent or gifting.  I have never met anyone who can get a camera chord, a finger or the bill of a hat in a otherwise lovely picture.  He has many wonderful talents and gifts but taking pictures isn't one of them.  When I pulled my camera out from amongst harness, helmet and gloves, my husband looked away immediately pretending not to see it, as my son smiled at me and said, "I'll do it"!  Wonderful, I had hope again that I might get a decent picture of Billy and I at an event.  Little did I know what a true talent my son has for taking pictures. If you know anything about horses, their frame and movement you will see Nick's very educated and knowledgeable eye.  He captured the moment brilliantly; movement, focus, energy...absolutely amazing!

Asking for impulsion coming out of the corner across the diagonal

After our dressage test, leaving the ring with a happy pony not at all tired and moving well

Onto our cones course following our dressage test

                                                                                                    Lovely bend!

My son's artistry

These pictures are such a gift to me.  A gift to see the creativity, the talent of my son the budding artist. Nicholas has been on a huge journey of his own this last year, growing from teenager into adulthood. This hasn't been an easy transition for him and I am amazed at his courage as he meets the challenges he has had to face. There seems to be a bit of a parallel of stories here.  I am thankful, more than you could ever know, to view the world through my son's eyes. It's not about the ribbons or accolades, it's about meeting the challenges of the day and coming out on the other side, knowing you did your best - with a smile on your face. 

Life is good!