Ike and I have been very blessed in our lives together. We have shared joys and sorrows, highs and lows, births and deaths, but every time a new sad event occurs, it seems we can never really be prepared for it.
Our precious daughter Brooke, who went to be with the Lord on December 19, 2001, had a major love in her life. That was her sweet Fortunes Sundance, known as Sunny. Brooke's greatest enjoyment in life came from riding horses. This horse was not her first or her only, but he was the best of all. He was her quiet counselor. He brought her comfort when she might have had a bad day. He loved her as much as she did him. She spent all the time she possibly could riding and training and grooming him. No horse ever had a better life. Neither did any young girl either.
We even built a barn on our property so that she could take care of him herself. From these experiences, she developed into quite a wonderful rider. She was involved in Morgan Horse shows from a very early age and won many ribbons and trophies. Brooke grew up to become a trainer of young riders. Her specialty was young girls who needed something like riding horses to feel something special in their lives. There are many girls like that and she felt a special bond with them.
She also seemed to be able to communicate well with horses and to ride the unrideables. This was her gift in life and she used it well.
After Brooke's death in a car accident, we kept her horses and took care of them and loved them also. They never received from us what only she could give them though. The horses were somewhat depressed acting after she was gone from them. They seemed to know.
This sweet Sunny had become the love of some of our grandchildren. Oh, how I loved to see them enjoy him and I wished that Brooke could see them. too. Perhaps she could.
It will be so hard to look out my office window into the green field and not be able to enjoy watching that big chestnut gelding shining in the sun. We have lost another special part of our lives. He wasn't just a horse, he was our Brookie's horse! I miss them both so terribly and always will until that day comes when I can run to meet her in Heaven. Oh, that will be good!
