What my weekend consisted of... photography - Jessika Lester

My favorite thing to do in the world is ride a horse. But when I’m old, I wanted to have something that I could keep forever for when I wouldn't be able to ride again so I started taking pictures so that I could always look back on the good times. After I started taking pictures of my horse and I, and getting people to take some for me, I felt as though I really had become addicted to taking pictures. I was inspired by the beauty of every picture and what I was capable of making them look like. I felt as though I might really be taking off on a great hobby that I could also make money in. When I started taking pictures for other people I was afraid they might not turn out like I planned, but the good Lord has blessed me I feel with an eye to see the beauty in any picture. People were so pleased with my work they began wanting to do more sessions with me and then I would have their family and friends want them done as well. So now I am able to do something I love and make money from it. Can you say a double plus? Here are some pictures of me, that I have done. 

Just some good ole girls doing what they love - Jessika Lester

Two weeks ago I was able to attend nationals which was held in Lexington, Virginia for barrel racing.... of course! Talking about a good time! I had all my rodeo friends there attending this amazing event with me and my boyfriend was finally able to come which I got him and myself a ticket for parking in a handicap spot. Oops! On with my story, I was able to set some personal records for myself and my horse! we feel into the whole there and barely missed placing, but I am determined that next time we will come out there with not just a belt buckle, but money as well! I am entered into a rodeo in Blackstone, Virginia coming up in a couple of weeks. If anyone is interested in attending a rodeo for the first time, or just to get out the house and do something its about a 45 minute ride but is well worth it! There is barrel racing, bull riding, calf roping, and tons of more interesting stuff! Here is some information if you want to check it out!

 

Hope to see y'all there!

To wrap things up with a video finally..... Jessika Lester

After my beach vactaions it was time to head down to Perry,Georgia. Before summer had kicked in I had been competeing with my horse Lover, or as her show name would be called Lover Girl to try making it into Youth World. Which is One of the highest callings for barrel racing. I got a letter saying that I had qualified for the first year ever! I was so thankful to be able to be given this oppurtunity to compete with girls all over the world. I took everything that I had learned down with me to Georgia hoping just to keep all the barrels up and have a safe run. All was well and I did end up having two very great runs and placed 55th out of 1,500 that were there trying to take home a brand new trailer that each division winner would be taking home with them. Even though I didnt place first and take home a wonderful trailer I was still happy just to have been apart of this dream! I will keep trying to make it back and hopefully only move up in my times and one day, take one of the trailers home with me!

It's that time again! -Jessika Lester

              School is back in session and this time I was ready for it to start again! Only because hopefully this will be my last year if I can squeeze in an extra class here and there! I'm going to start by wrapping my summer up and say some of what I enjoyed most about it! To start off my summer, I headed out to Nags Head North Carolina for "beach week". It was really fun and I got to hang out with a lot of friends that I hadn't seen for a couple of years. When I got back home, I had a week to stay home again before I was off on the Carnival Cruise Line, setting sail to the Bahamas! I thought I would have enjoyed my time more on the ship then what I actually did. However being confined knowing that I only had from one end to the other to explore with two and a half days of seeing nothing but the "deep blue sea" and I literally mean deep blue, I found that I was ready to see some land again! We stopped at Grand Turks, Free Port, and Half Moon Cay. That was interesting to see all the different islands because you could really see there is more out there then what you are limited  to at home. I remember asking a man how he liked living in Grand Turks and he told me he loved it. He said that It was always seventy five degrees and a one point of a certain season (I can’t remember which one) That the hump back whales come in and mate and he goes out scuba diving with some of the locals and they get to swim with these amazing creatures, and he said that they are so big, that when you swim to where you are completely in front of their eye, that you can see your whole body’s reflection. To me, I found that as a jaw dropping event to be a part of because it amazes me how in creditably enormous these whales are! This is not my whole summer and I will finish in the next blog! Thanks for reading!

Beach Week with some crazy friends

                                                 In Grand Turk, Bahamas soaking up some sun!