Riding Family 2012

Has it really been a year since our last issue? Well, that’s to be expected when you only publish one issue a year. Speaking of time flying, we have had a year of ups and downs. We enjoyed time as a family in Disneyland and the beach while we visited the California Bush family. As a couple we spent a few more days in southern California during a much needed retreat. While it was a fun year we were sobered with Cassie’s two hospitalizations and are grateful that she has recovered. We hope that you find comfort during this holiday season as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. From all of us at Riding Magazine may you be blessed in the New Year.

A recently overheard conversation between Dan and Lydia: “Lydia, please pick your shoes off the kitchen floor. I have asked you three times and now you’re going to lose screen time.” With a twinkle in her eye, “I don’t care, Dad, I would rather read anyway.” This has been the year of enlightenment for our dear Lydia. She is having an amazing experience in her first grade class and loves to come home from school to play with her brother and sister, read, write notes to her friends and family, color and play music. Lydia spends a lot of time in front of the piano and has written some big hits including My Family, My Lemonade, and Make Your Own Song. We love watching her grow up but do so with reluctance as our first baby girl becomes more independent each day.

“I don’t know what it is about him but I really like that kid” is perhaps the best line that someone said this year about Emmett. It sums him up to a tee – everyone loves that kid but when asked to explain it’s hard to put it into words. There is just something about him. Emmett still clings fiercely to his beloved blanket, Bluey, but is growing into our little man who is way more responsible at four years old than his parents ever dreamed of being at that age. Emmett’s highlights include attending Joy School, collecting the eggs from the chicken coop, playing with his best friends, Lydia and Amelia, reading (lots) of books, and wrestling with his dad. Whenever mom or dad leave the house he is the one to gather everyone to the front porch to stand and wave goodbye. Whatever that something is about him we certainly don’t want it to change anytime soon.

If Amelia were old enough to have her own phone rather than her current practice of stealing her parents’ phones her ring tone would be Take My Breath Away. We mean that in the most figurative and literal sense. Is it the big, blue eyes? The fact that she is approaching two years old and is entertaining to watch no matter what she is doing? How about her desire to cuddle with whoever is holding her? Could it be laughing that she has to be wearing the right shoes and carrying the right accessories in her purse all the time? In a more literal sense of the phrase it could be that she can’t catch her breath when she’s really upset and passes out. This happens several times a week and the experts tell us that it’s harmless and she’ll grow out of it soon. What are we to do? If you haven’t met our baby feel free to stop by and introduce yourself - one or both of you will be humming the hit Take My Breath Away.

As we look back and count our blessings somewhere near the top is the blessing of good health. Right next to that would be the blessing of good health insurance. Cassie gave us a scare not once, but twice this year undergoing two emergency surgeries and spending more time in the hospital than she would care to remember. We are blessed that Cassie has recovered and has been feeling well enough to take on teaching a sign language class at the college. Above all else she is the most fantastic mom that these three children could ask for. At church Cassie now leads the primary children in singing every Sunday and, as you can imagine, the kids love to sing with her.

Dan is still working at the VA, tending to the chickens, building furniture in the garage, running in triathlons, and trying to keep up with the happenings of a busy wife and three active children. Additionally, Dan has been serving as a member of the bishopric since April and he loves it. He has managed to keep things balanced so that he isn’t gone from home too much. Considering the highlights of the year the top spot goes to spending 3 days with Cassie in Southern California. What’s coming for 2013 you ask? Honeybees!! That’s right, Dan is going to be a beekeeper.