To little folks, about ten years old, she's Miss Tibbs, their fifth-grade teacher at Farmin Elementary School in Sandpoint. She teaches them their math, reading, history, etc. And, because of her love for all things Native American, they always get some hands-on projects in class to learn about Native American culture.
Every year in May, if they're good, she invites them for a day at Tibbs Arabians horse farm north of Sandpoint and shows them lots of stuff about horses, her first love. She demonstrates how to clean them, show them and ride them all in one day. The kids even get to try their hand with brushes and lead ropes.
Being a teacher who believes in nuts and bolts education, Miss Tibbs doesn't follow all the educational fads, except for high-tech computer stuff. For the past few years, her students have designed websites with several links and entered them in the EdTechQuest competition at the University of Idaho. They always bring back thousands of dollars' worth of technology, including several "smart" boards for their winnings.
In the summer, Miss Tibbs turns into "Laurie." To the folks showing up to learn how to ride, she's the one who always helps get the horses and the arena ready for riding lessons taught by her sister Barbara.
To horse people, she's the magnificent rider who almost always looks like a perfect picture on her Arabian horses in dressage, Western and English classes. She's earned great respect as a fine horsewoman, who not only wins often but always demonstrates respect for others and especially respect for her horses. In her mind, the horses always eat before the people.
To the hay hands in the summer fields, she's the hard-driving boss who gets right in there with the big strapping teenage boys and shows them how to buck an 80-100-pound bale properly. The crew all works hard, sweats hard and laughs hard when Laurie's around.
To our family, she is much loved and admired as Laurie---daughter, little sister, big sister to one, aunt, cousin, sister-in-law. She's the hard-working farm girl who loves the land, the horses and all animals more than people sometimes. She also loves to listen to Country Western tunes in her Ford pickup and to watch all things Western on TV. She has the dialogue memorized to most John Wayne movies.
Our family and all her friends wish Laurie a most happy day as she celebrates her life on this birthday.
More than likely part of her special day will be spent on a horse.
Happy birthday, Laurie
1 comment:
Mrs. Love, I was just reading through some or your past posts and come across your one about your sis Laurie.
I was one of the fortunate ones to have learned how to ride english from Laurie. I owe some of my greatest horse show equitation accomplishments to her. She helped turn this cowgirl who used to run barrels into a graceful rider. I have some great memories of Laurie coming out to my parents old place and giving lessons to Erica Curless and I. Us girls had some fun! Please pass on my belated birthday and "hello."
Renate Biegler-Phelps
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