One Book Ends, Another Begins

Last Friday was Darren's last day working for Caterpillar.  After 16 years, many ups and downs, promotions and numerous relocations, he said goodbye.  That book has finished.

We are starting a new adventure.

We are writing a new book.

We are going to be ranchers.

 (my Mother's Day present)

Darren is going to slowly take over his family's ranch.

This is an adventure that Darren has dreamed of since before I met him.  It has always been a goal we have kept foremost in our lives.  Both Darren and I grew up in farming families, mine obviously on a much smaller scale.  We have always felt that our children would be better people, better citizens, better employees or employers, better Catholics, and have stronger family values if we could provide them with that lifestyle.  

Farming/ranching is a lifestyle that is not for the faint of heart.  You have to work outside in the freezing cold or blazing heat.  You have to put aside your wants, and sometimes your needs, to keep the place going.  You have to work hard from sunup to sundown.  You get little time off and sometimes no return for all your hard, sacrificing work.  The common, everyday farmer/rancher is not in that field or working those cows to get rich.  They are there because they love the land, they love the work, and they want to be there.

We want our kids to finish growing up with chores and responsibilities that can only come with living and working on a ranch.  We want them to learn the value of a day's time.  We want them to appreciate the beauty God has surrounded us with.  We want them to see that money isn't everything, but integrity, dedication, and honest, hard work will get you far in life.

This is a HUGE step for our family.  Some will call us crazy and they are probably correct.  Some will shake their head and wonder why we gave up a good paying job only to work at least twice as hard and make next to nothing.  Some won't care one way or another.  Some will be thrilled for us (those with adventurous spirits).  Some might even be jealous.

What I want everyone of them to know is that we are sure, without a doubt, we are following God's will for our family.  We may not be up to the task, but we are committed to giving it our all.  We may not make it and have to toss in the towel at some point, but we have trust that God will take care of us.  We may be crazy, but we will be crazy together as a family and facing those times as one.

Please be happy for us.

Please pray for us.