Keepin Rhythm

@melissavogelsberg

I didn't grow up with horses or get the chance to compete in rodeos the way I wished I could. But I've loved horses for as long as I can remember and luckily I had some pretty amazing grandparents who let me spend my teenage summers at their ranch and helped to feed that horse loving passion.

I learned at a young age that if I wanted this life I had to make it work on my own dime. I remember saving every penny | earned babysitting one summer just to buy a pair of black wrangler jeans and Ariat boots so I could compete in a local 4H competition using my grandparents horse with a borrowed hat and shirt. I won second place in that show. And for a brief moment I felt like I belonged.

But life has a way of getting down on us and I somehow found myself stepping away from the horse world because I felt like I was somehow a burden with all the passion running through me.

Fast forward 15 years and I'm now a wife and mother to 5 beautiful children. My husband, who has encouraged me from the start to pursue my passions, gave me the push to put myself back out there.

So, with 5 kids in tow, I started putting my foot in any door I could find that would let me be part of working with horses again. It was easy to find opportunities because I loved what I was doing. But in the back of my mind I couldn't help but feel like I didn't really belong.

I felt behind. And while everyone has always been so welcoming and inviting, I couldn't help but feel like I missed out and wasn't really supposed to be there.

And then my job opportunity with COWGIRL magazine came in the most unexpected way...

I tell my husband all the time I can't help but feel like it was God being as loud as he possibly could and saying "Melissa, of course you're a Cowgirl! Of course you're qualified to be here!

Of course those dreams and passions I put in your heart from such a young age were for a purpose!"

I really do feel like God hand placed me where I am in every way. I'm forever grateful for what I get to do and to be able to do it as a full time mom.