purpose.

never.

I'll never have you figured out sweet {4 year old} boy of mine.

never.

but I'm certain that I'll be loving you forever.

even when it seems like I'm the grouchiest, strictest, crankiest, loudest, sternest mom around ... and you're ready to trade me in ...

I'm still loving you & I'll never stop.

never.

and that's a promise.

.....................................................

♥ mom

Blueberry Silver

I am the proud owner of this fabulous bracelet ... and am so excited that my friend Angela is now making custom jewelry. {whoo hoo!!}

She will be making earrings, bracelets and necklaces with sterling silver & will offer metal stamping as well.

Join me in cheering her on as she begins this new {Blueberry Silver} adventure!!

Hi Mom!

Mack's new favorite thing to say. {with a quick little wave}

Melts my ♥ every time!

Taste and See ...

that the LORD is good; blessed is the man {or woman} who takes refuge in Him.
Psalm 34:8





............................

my birthday was filled with goodness yesterday {in many different forms - not all shown above} & for that I am truly, truly blessed!

more {random shots}

... there is a whole lot more, but you'll have to come to my house and look at the coffee table book of the rest :)

Transportation.

On Saturday morning I took off my flip-flops and found my tennis shoes and a pair of socks under the seat. I hopped out of the pickup and was greeted with the familiar {moooooo} from 230 cow/calf pairs making their way to the highway.

Their adventure ... and ours as well, was about to begin.

My camera battery was charged, my card was empty, and my boys were safe in the pickup that would trail the herd with a bright orange flag on the end of a sorting paddle. I snapped a few photos and then piled in the backseat with my boys.

Cars, campers, pickups and semi-trucks came up from behind. They'd pull up next to us and ask if they could get by. Our response was the same each and every time. "Sure - just go slow and watch out for darting calves. "

Jeannie and I - the wives of the ranchers - were both in the pickup.

We weren't on the back of a horse.

We weren't in the lead.

We weren't keeping pace with the huge herd of cows.

We were following behind, enjoying the beauty of the winding canyon road, and doing our best to keep everyone safe from a distance.

I jumped out and decided to walk about 1 mile into our drive.

The air was crisp and clean. The breeze was just enough to make the scent of pine fill your senses. The pace was just the ride speed for a morning walk.

I took pictures of anything and everything. The river, the road, the flowers, butterflies, cow patties, saddles, cattle, cars, friends and my 3 favorite people.

Am I any less of a rancher's wife by keeping my feet on the ground and not in stirrups?

Some may say yes. Some may have no opinion at all. I for one have questioned myself in that area many times, but know that I'm me ... and the me that I know does better on the ground then in a saddle.

I'm not going to pretend to be someone I'm not.

I'm not going to tell you I know how to saddle a horse - I don't.

I'm not going to tell you that I understand the lingo or terms that cattlemen and women use - I don't.

I'm not going to tell you that I love riding horses - I don't.

I ride when I'm asked to {with a bit of fear in my belly}, but I never volunteer.

.........................

I'm the wife of a cattleman.

I document our life with pictures and words to the best of my ability.

I watch from a distance most of the time, but step up when I need to.

I'm supportive and caring and try to keep a smile on my face - even when it's splattered with mud and {crap}.

I learn new things every day and have now driven with the stock trailer behind me several times. {but only going forward}

...............................

There are many modes of transportation on a cattle drive.

Saturday - I chose my feet.

I didn't get some of the pictures I had dreamed of in my mind ... like the horses pushing the cattle straight up the rocky ledge of the forest road ... or my husband on the side of a steep ledge keeping the calves from falling into the creek many feet below ... or the bear that ran past us as we drove back to cow camp.

But ... I did try to give you a glimpse of our {heaven on earth}.

If you had a sense or feeling that you were there with us, I hope you enjoyed the ride.