On a hot day in August, after a long Crow Fair parade in Montana, I felt led to look over my right shoulder. I saw an amazing vision riding down a small hill towards me. A man (Taylor Real Bird) in full Warrior regalia, hand beaded by his beautiful mother (Kristi Old Coyote). As his horse walked straight in my direction, he was looking over the valley to his right. I was struck with the way the light illuminated around him, and how naturally brave and proud he looked. The moment took my breath away. I later learned that Taylor had served in several tours in Afghanistan, and this was his first time home in a long while. His mother said only men who have been to battle can wear a Warrior shirt. And she had spent many many days beading his. She did not get a chance to get a picture of him this year wearing it. So it was such a tremendous honor to bestow to them a large canvas.
As he looked over his land and people this day, I realized it was his beaming pride that truly illuminated!