Bullriders of America Finals - One Of My Favorite Times Of Year!


It’s been such a crazy year and a half, but it finally felt normal to have the Bullriders of America bring their finals competition to Ottumwa this past weekend. It’s been held in February for the past 9 years, but this year it was moved to May. As if I’m not already confused enough as it is. And it changed from a 2-day event to a three-day, so that didn’t help things in my brain.


Two days started with Cowboy Breakfast with the bulls, which is always so much fun! This year one of the bulls would walk right up to its owner, so the kids (and a few adults) got to meet him up close and personal.


We sat at the breakfast table with two adorable kids and their mom, and we introduced them to Dalton, the barrel man for the weekend. He had them help him with a rope trick and had them smiling in no time!


It always amazes me how big some of these bulls are. And when they stare at you like this, it’s more than a little intimidating.
 

The special event the first night is always Kids Night, where they invite them out onto the dirt to learn how to be a real-life cowboy! We were able to help usher them in and out, talking to them all and helping their parents get some great pictures.


While we were standing there, I looked down and realized something: it’s pretty obvious who wears their boots more often.


I purposely didn’t take very many pictures during the bull riding itself this year. I wanted to enjoy the time with my husband, most importantly, and with a friend who sat with us the second night. It’s been my habit through all my different jobs to see life through my camera, instead of watching it in real time. So I have a few “stuff on fire, like the BOA emblem and the barrel man’s whips” pictures, but beyond that, there are very few. And I’m ok with that.


And at the end of every evening, the bull riders go out on the dirt, set up tables and sign autographs for everyone in attendance. It’s one of my favorite parts of this organization, that the families are the most important people there, even after the pain and the struggle of riding a bull. And that’s why I can’t wait until next year.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Recovering An Old Card Table And Making It Usable Again

Image
This card table recover project has been on my to-do list for months. I've been using it as my workspace in the craft room for quite some time, and it sees a lot of abuse. Here it is now, with a neutral cover on it so I can take better pictures for my tutorials. There were dents and dings in the old blue covering from metal tools. And yes, I've used my embossing heat tool on it several times, leaving pretty good scars. The padding underneath the blue cover also made it difficult to keep paper crafts flat when adhering them together, so it was time for something new. That's where a simple vinyl tablecloth comes in handy. The process to recover the table is pretty simple, but I learned a couple of lessons the hard way. I share them with you now. First, don't do this on any surface but a carpet. I tried it on the deck int he sunshine to get better pictures, but all it did was tear up the cover. Second, get a second pair of hands to help you kee
Read more

Simple DIY Beaded Keychains

Image
We're having so much fun putting together goodie bags and door prizes for our upcoming ladies retreat at the church. So many of our ladies have donated craft supplies, decorations, time and energy to treat our visitors to an amazing time. These keychains are just one of the gifts some of the attendees will find in their bags. All you need to make them are a variety of beads, some fairly thin yet sturdy cord and a jump ring. Cut a length of cord, fold it in half and string it through the jump ring. String matching beads on both sides. And tie it off with a double knot. So simple, yet so pretty. Here's another variation: Cut a length of cord, fold it in half and thread it through a jump ring. Tie one or two beads on one side and tie it off with a knot. Make the other side longer with additional letters and beads before tying it off. Make a variety of lengths, colors, patterns and phrases so no two are alike.
Read more

Debilitating Disappontment

The things of this life tend to disappoint us. People aren't who we'd like them to be, events we'd hoped for never occur and things we'd expected to happen in a certain way never come to pass. I've tried relying on everything else in this life - relationships, career, better finances. When we look to mankind for answers or for hope, we will surely be disappointed. Our own misconceptions of life's circumstances leads us down a long, dreary path. What we plan and see inside our head doesn't always match what others see, or what may actually be reality. Looking into ourselves for "clarity" directs us straight to depression and failure. Have you ever heard yourself say, "I couldn't care less" and truly meant it? Having confidence in our own power to change our outlook means that we care more about the circumstances themselves rather than how to grow as Christian women. God is the only unchanging factor in our uncertain world. Focusing on
Read more