There is just something about getting up at dawn to go work and ride horses with your family. As hard as it is to get up that early I do enjoy the fresh smell of leather and hay, the glorious sunrise, and the coolness of that time of day.

We have just competed a week long round up of our sheep in Sterling City. Despite the 100 degree temps, the kids did such a great job riding and handling the sheep. They are such hard workers. I love that Robert is faithfully teaching our children about our family business. He is such a patient man...always ready to take as long as need be to instruct our children. One of the things I love most about that sweet sexy man of mine.

I would have never thought that this would be my life, but here I am living a dream life. My heart is full of gratitude and I am overwhelmed by His goodness. Is it hard work? Your darn tooting it is but I do love getting to experience every minute of it.

Can't believe a solid year has passed since I have even gotten on this blog. Life being such as it is there has simply not been a moment for me to sit and write about life.

Summer is upon us and I am feeling for the first time in a long while the chance to take in a deep calming breath. I am looking forward to the long days of play and work. We will go to the ranch in Sterling soon to do our summer working of our sheep. This is always a fun free time of riding and enjoying time spent where Robert grew up.

Speaking of growing up...I can't believe the change in Riley. He has grown about 10 inches this year. He will be 13 in June and I honestly can say "Where did the time go?" Around Christmas I realized that I was grieving over the fact that my kids were growing up. Funny how we tend to spend their younger years longing for them to grow up, and now I am longing for them to be young again. The Lord really ministered to my heart to embrace every moment I can with them. He showed me that yes those days are gone but instead of grieving for what once was I must embrace the stage they are at now and enjoy every minute. And that is what I am doing. They are so fun to be with and I love being able to share our hearts at this new level.

Time may be slipping by but I know that I have spent time loving, playing, and embracing the moment. No, I am not a perfect mom but I have tried to be aware of each stage they are going through. Have I missed opportunities to minister to their heart. Sure. Have I said no too much or not taken the time to play. Sure. All I know is that I am doing my very best to make this home a place where when they do fly from our nest they will think of home and it will warm their hearts and bring back fond memories. A place they will always want to come back to no matter where God may take them. SO enjoy the moment and embrace every stage your child goes through. What a treasure it is to be able to do so.

In April my sweet mother in law went home to heaven. She had fought a battle with cancer and Alzheimer. Even though her health had been on a slow decline nearly my whole married life, to her eldest son Robert, I learned many things from her. She would often say in her quiet voice, "Blessed are the flexible for they shall not get bent out of shape", just about the time when I was about to get bent out of shape over something. I learned real quick if I were going to be a successful wife of a rancher then I needed to adopt this philosphy. She also gently reminded me that children have to be carefully taught...I have lingered over that phrase many times over the last 12 years and realize the older my kids get how very true that statement applies when it comes to raising children. Each day must have significance when it comes to rearing our children. We shouldn't hap-hazzardly go about this sacred job that He has entrusted us to do. It must have meaning and depth to reach their hearts for Christ and train them in the way they should go. I knew by just knowing and loving Robert that she had been an excellent mother who had raised two fine gentlemen (Robert and his brother Jeff). I admired her for her gentle strength, courage to overcome difficult obstacles, and her ability to love and forgive. She was truly a classy lady in every sense of the word. I am grateful that I got to be a part of her legacy and hope that I will be able to carry on in a way that would make her proud. We will greatly miss you sweet MIMI.

Christmas Hike at White River

This picture was taken at the top of a big hill we climbed up on our hike.

Headen out Jeff, Daniel, Andrew, Ben, Grayson, Emily, Rachel, Riley, and Robert.

We are so Strong!!!!

Christmas was such a fun time this year. We got to spend it with Robert's brother Jeff and his kids. They are all about the same age as my kids so that makes for lots of playing and laughter. Jeff's oldest, Daniel, is 17 and tolerates the youngens and is always a help! We went on a big adventure hike and had a blast. I do believe this is the first christmas that Robert's mom and dad has gotten to spend with all of us together. I know they enjoyed it too!

This time of year at the ranch is very busy. We are weaning our calves (which means pulling them off their momma's) and getting them ready to sell. The whole family gets involved. It is alot of work but always fun. The kids get to ride and I get to cook for the cowboys. My mom and dad are right in the middle of it too. We are also working our sheep at Lacy Creek where Robert grew up. Many times I look up in amazement because I, in my wildest dreams, would have never thought I would be living this kind of life...but I am so glad I get to.

The last three weeks have been a whirl wind of activity. We hosted a basketball team from Lousiana (my best friend Tonya from college and 20 of her players) for a two day retreat at our lodge. One girl got saved and the ministry time to the others was just supernatural...praise the Lord! Then we hosted a praise and worship team overnight. I got to feed em some good grub and just serve them. Tonya came back this past week with her family to run the KPA basketball camp. We had such sweet fellowship.
It has been a desire of ours since we moved to the ranch for this to be a place of refuge and rest in the presence of the Lord for people. I am so amazed at how God moves and am so blessed to be a part of His kingdom work. I trust there will be more opportunities to serve Him by opening our home and ranch to other.

Spring time here on the ranch is just beautiful. I am amazed each year of the creative God we serve. The children and I took pictures of different wildflowers on the ranch and made our own wildflower book. It was astounding to us how many different flowers there were. Our adventure took us to the back 40, as we say out here in West Texas, and by the time we had seen most of the flowers and hiked around the kids were not as impressed as I was...they just wanted food,drink, and a movie.