as close to perfect as possible.

Dear Bill,

What a blessing you've been to us for several years now.  I hope you know how special you are - I think you do, but every once in a while I wonder. 
We live at the ranch you "started" over 30 years ago and things definitely aren't the same, but yet in a way they are.  We've kept it alive and running well - with just as much pride and love for the lifestyle that defines us as you did, but things are different. 
You live in town now & I know that is so very strange for you.  To have neighbors, and confined spaces, and only a room to call yours is far from what you had for most of your life.  You've adjusted well, and we're doing our best to enjoy the wide open spaces your land offers.
The boys adore you and this Halloween we decided that visiting you needed to be a priority.  Funny how prioritizing things in life can put everything in perspective.
The boys had their little pumpkins filled with one trip around the room, and brought so much joy to your residence without even really trying.  I think we will make it a yearly ritual - in fact, it should probably be once a month.
Thank you for being a great-grandpa to our boys, for loving them, for telling them stories about what Yoakum Rd. used to be like, and for reminding them how blessed they are.

May you know what a treasure you began - and what a treasure will continue - for as long as we live at the Y on Yoakum Rd. just one mile off the freeway.

With thanks and a hug,

Lindsay & Ian

my team.

This picture makes me smile. 

It's my 2nd grade team ... unique, creative, always smiling - each one of us bringing a little bit of this and a little bit of that to the world we're blessed to be a part of.

the "after party"

Dear boys,

We just had about 80 of our closest friends over today.  Only 80 could come, and I know if the weather would have been cooperative, there would have been closer to 100.  It was our 3rd annual pumpkin carving/gathering, and despite the weird, wet weather - friends came from near and far.  There were pumpkins, knives, spoons and seeds everywhere you looked - and even power tools.

Tables lined all sides of our shop - filled with food, and with families gathered around - making memories of spending the afternoon with few interruptions while experiencing an uncommon kind of fellowship.  I remember at one point looking around the shop and outside the large, open door - finding myself nearly in tears. Tears of joy in the goodness of having friends to share life with.  Friends that bring their crock pots of soup and bags of rolls.  Friends that help you carve the perfect pumpkin.  Friends that want to be where you are and truly enjoy just being with you.

After everyone left, the four of us sat in the shop and relished in what a fun, and successful day it had been.  We laughed about funny conversations and smiled just thinking about the wonderful people we're blessed to know.  It was a great way to end a wonderful day.

We watched the fire die down and waved goodbye to the last of our friends and then just sat.  It was unbelievable really that we sat, but we did.  We sat and carved in the quiet of the shop - watching BINGO jump at the smoke rolling off of the fire, while listening to the pitter-patter of the rain drops on the shop roof.

It was the perfect way to end a perfect day.

Thank you for being good hosts, for showing your friends your 'deer camp' in the canyon, for sharing your toys, your carving tools, and your life.

Friendships aren't always easy to maintain/keep up on in our life.  We're busy just living life and sometimes don't have or make time to just be, to just play, to just sit.  Today was a day I hope we have many more of - for you and for us, because when we take time to enjoy our friends and share our life with them, I think it's an opportunity to really realize how blessed we are.

Until next year - keep this picture in mind as you light up the world with your smiles, your helpfulness, and your dedication to making the most of even the darkest situations.

Shine on boys - you are a light to many!

Shining with you, 

Mom

OMSI in Echo.

Dear OMSI,

Thank you for coming to our small, little town.  You gave my boys an opportunity to "play" aka "learn" about science with a few of their friends and fellow community members.

You can be certain that I was happy just holding the camera while the "bugs" were being passed around.

Several of the families in our community came to check out your display and had a very nice timb - building things, touching things, and even smelling things.

I'd also like to thank you for not bringing a snake.  This little guy was a close as I wanted to get to a spotted, tongue whipping, tail flicking type of anything.

Not only my family, but many other friends and families of Echo enjoyed the magic and awe of "science" you always offer.

With hopes of a visit to your large center in Portland soon ,

Lindsay

comparison.

Dear self,

There was this quote posted by your friend Bob Goff recently that went a little something like this:

We don’t need to be as creative as each other, we just need to be as creative as God made us. Comparison makes us orphans.

You've read it several times over the past couple of days and have found yourself bombarded with opportunities to do just what it's saying not to do as soon as you read it.

At work.

At home.

And even via Facebook.

Comparison is an ugly thing.  It causes doubt, and it steals joy - leaving a trail of sorrow wherever it goes.  And yet you can't seem to shake it.

You are in a profession where "sharing" is key to success.  The sharing of documents, ideas, videos, apps, data, charts, books, kids, and lunch are things that happen every single day.  There is no avoiding it. All for one, one for all.  Success won't happen without sharing.

You're also a mother, ranch wife, and friend where creativity is essential.  You create menus, you share stories and hugs, you make phone calls, you make lunches, you feed cows, you sweep up crap, you wipe down counters, you make beds... you spend the other half of your day being as creative with your time and energy as you possibly can.

But sometimes, this crazy thing happens when you share - and when you create. It's this ugly thing called comparison, and it hovers like a shadow.

You find yourself giving something to someone but all you can focus on is that you didn't get anything in return.  Or, you find yourself on the receiving end with nothing of your own to give.

You find yourself an orphan.

No one wants to be an orphan.  No one.

You want to be loved.

You want to be appreciated.

You want to be thanked.

You want to give and receive.

You want to be creative and clever and full of whit ... and really, you're meant to be.

You may not always see eye to eye with those in your herd, but in the end, you'll realize that the gifts each of you bring to the group is what matters most.

Quit comparing.

Quit over-analyzing.

Quit worrying about if the score is even or not.

Quit doing that which steals joy, wreaks havoc, and leaves you feeling alone.

You can't always avoid head-to-head challenges, but you can avoid comparison.

Look in the mirror and see who God sees.

The uniquely created wonderful you!

And go with it.

You can't choose others feelings, but you can choose your own.

And choosing to see what is similarly wonderful will kick that word comparison to the curb.

Everyone is fighting for the same thing.

Joy.

So go share it & quit comparing it.

~ Lindsay

life without a wii.

mornings.

Dear boys,

It's fall now.

Fall means feeding again.

Fall means twine, knives and pitchforks.

Fall means change... but really every season brings change, and at your young ages, you already know this.

In fact, you already know so much more than most your age when it comes to cows and tractors and irrigation.

You know how to work hard.

You know how to make a living.

You know that daylight is not meant to be wasted.

And you know that strength - inside and out - is the key to survival.

I used to wonder and worry if you'd like this lifestyle we've chosen to live.  

If you'd be ok with less.  

If you'd compare what we have to what others around us have.  

If you'd want to be involved in all of the social things our friends do that we can't seem to work into our schedule.  

I don't wonder any more. And really the wondering was more about me.  Would I be ok with not being a soccer mom?  Would I be ok with not being a part of Wednesday night at church?  Would I be ok with less?

And boys, you know what?? ... you're more than "ok" with all that is involved  in this pursuit of happiness for all things cattle.  

You're thriving.  And so am I.

You're fine with twine.

You're fine with working hard.

You're fine with all that you've been given & all that you're a part of.

You don't know life with tractors with cabs, and tractor seats that don't get wet.

But you do know life with the best dad around - who has taught you that working is necessary & can even be fun ... and that's worth everything!

With respect and pride for who you are now & who you will be in the future,

Mom

no act of kindness is ever wasted.

Dear guys,

What would I do without you?  Actually, what would we do without you?  Lord knows you're in our lives for a reason, and I'm certain it's for more reason than one.  A few weeks ago you left at day-break with my handsome husband and headed southeast to higher ground.  It was a chance to wear a coat, and get your feet wet too.  It was also a day to be a friend.  All of you are excellent at that.  Again, I pray I never have to experience life as a ranch wife without you.

There is something about being a friend in the good ... and in the bad.  I'm thankful you're not fair-weather friends, because I've come to the conclusion that there are more than enough of those type of people in the world.  People like you though, well ...they're hard to come by.  Lucky us ... blessed us ... we seem to have an abundant supply of bad-weather friends.

Friends that ride beside you all day long - and even into the dark.

Friends that trust what you say is true - and know that you mean what you say.

Friends  that will go to the end of the earth and back to defend you and all that is yours.

Friends that play with you and remind you to take some time to laugh.

Thank you Thad for taking time to play.  My boys will treasure that most!!

Friends that love your kids and your cows ... not quite as much as you do, but nearly that much.

Friends that help you sort the good from the bad and remind you that life is more than just stuff.  It's about relationships and real people living real lives.  Real people like you.

Thank you Tyler for nodding your head in agreement, for saddling and unsaddling, and for being a neighbor sent straight from heaven.

Thank you Terrill for just being there.  You've been a constant in Ian's life for more years than I can count.  Friends that know your herd almost as well as you do are few and far between.  I promise next time I'll order your sandwich with just meat.

Brock, you might be the youngest in the crowd, but you're worth your weight in gold.  Your quiet, yet handy ways of knowing just what to do and when to do it is irreplaceable. 

And Karl, well ... life is never dull with you in it.  There's always a story, always a bunch of laughter, and always a reason to come back for more.  Thank you for always smiling even when there's nothing to smile about.

I don't know if we'll ever be able to repay any of  you for the numerous times you've been right where we need you - right when we need you most, but we're determined to live a life where the evidence of that goodness we've soaked in is seen for miles.

Thank you for walking side by side with us.  Life is better with you guys in it - in depth, width and even height.

With sincere dedication to the industry we all love and the friends that make it worth it, 

Ian, Lindsay & the boys