Goodbye Ranching

July 18th was our last day in the ranch. This move has been harder than all the others. This is what all the other moves were for. 

The girls were happy that day. They didn't understand. They weren't hurt by this situation until later. "Mom, I want to go home. Our home on the ranch." How do you explain to a three year old?

Rex cried when he said goodbye to the bucket calves. How do you explain to kids how not to be hateful? How do you forgive when you see them hurting? You turn to God and place all your pain at His feet nailed to the cross. That's how.

Goodbye

Selling Pairs and Everything Else

On July 13th we sent our pairs to market. Very few things have been as rough as watching your future sell before we had a chance at it.

We have sold our machinery and all our animals, but one bull and a cow calf pair we will butcher.

God loves us. This is but a stumbling block which He can use to pick us up and make us stronger.

Strange Storm

We watched this storm roll by the ranch in June.  Crazy weather!

The Post I've Been Contemplating

Once in awhile life gets flipped upside down and the world comes crashing down.

Once in awhile you end up wondering if God realizes you are struggling, barely above water.

Once in awhile you just have to let everything go and ride the wild roller coaster called life.

Then you take a deep breathe and say a prayer.

In those moments after prayer you realize the world is actually just the way it was suppose to be,

God never abandoned you, but instead was holding you very closely to His heart,

and letting everything go is a very healthy spiritual exercise.

Exactly one year, to the day, that Darren started working on the ranch his dad decided partnering with us was not what he wanted after all.  We were instructed to get off his place within six weeks.  This was unexpected and unbelievably painful for each one of my children.

I won't tell you what's on my heart, in my head, or on my lips.  This will be the first time that I cannot give all the raw, truthful details.  One - because it hurts too much.  Two - because while it wasn't fair to our family, we do not want pity.  We gladly accept prayers and well wishes.  Three - because I do not want to throw anymore mud at the other side.  What is done is done.  There is no going back.  There is a long road ahead of us before we can heal.

Our mistake was telling the kids that was their forever home and making long-term plans.  These poor kids have left yet another home and more friends behind.  They lost pets and promises of new and exciting adventures.  Worst of all - they lost family.

I could not decide if I wanted to post about this in full detail, in little detail, or not at all.  I think our family has come a long way in healing in a short amount of time.  We have all been living in a camper that comfortably, though crammed, sleeps 10.  We are waiting for God to tell us His plan for us.  We have come together, grown stronger, and made new memories which have helped us to accept this new way of life.

My mother gave us some great advice - 

The what if belongs to the devil and the what is belongs to God.

What is:

We are together.

We are healthy.

We are happy.

We are spiritually being fed.

We have amazing friends who drop everything to help and pray for us.

We have family members who willingly gave up freezer space, bedroom space, and trailer space to help us get moved in the short amount of time we had.

We are blessed.

No one can take all of that away from us.  That is what is.

It was just another chapter in our book.  It was amazing while it lasted.  It taught us many lessons.

Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.

(and get a partnership agreement on paper next time!!!)

Garden 2017 Post 2

Excuse the weeds - it was a work in progress! 

This was back at the beginning of June.

Mobile Garden

My buggy is a mobile garden. I have corn growing in the back.

Busy Day

On the 31st of May we had a busy day.  Well, the guys had a busy day.  I just stood around taking pictures.  That's what I'm good at on days like this.

They are subleasing some land on the reservation.  This was day the pairs were headed to summer pasture.  We got the pairs into the corral early in the day and the men sorted who was staying home and who was spending the summer on the reservation.

 The trucks hauled them away about lunch time.

 This was my one and only ever fencing job a month ago.  I walked over to see if it was still together and decided to show off my horrible fencing abilities.  I was motivated as the yearling wanted my garden for a snack.  I'm pretty sure this poor excuse for a fence repair was superior to the other option - which was a bb pelleted yearling.

 We had a delivery not too long after the cows were hauled off.  Mike bought a new-to-the-place tractor.  I'll have to post a picture of why a new tractor was needed.

 Darren finally has something big enough to pull our no-till drill with.

He's actually finishing up the last of the maintenance on it today.  Should be ready to try out this week sometime.

Just a Bit of Wild Life

The Trio

We have three bucket calves under our care.

 King Kong, Anneliese, Chase

King Kong's mom died when he was about 6 weeks old.  Catching him was a rodeo I don't want to be part of again. King Kong has a powerful kick.  I was driving the buggy and Darren was roping.  He said I wasn't a very good roping horse, but I was good with the little kids so he'll keep me around.  That was NOT a compliment.

Anneliese's mom is a submarine or she thinks she is a submarine.  We tried to get her into the corral numerous times and she always picked the middle of the dam to run to.  After the third time of trying we decided to give up.  The girls love Anneliese.  She's the smallest one of the trio.

Chase's mother had mastitis and no very cooperative.

 My friend from North Dakota had car trouble near our house.  Her and her lovely family came to supper that night.  The kids helped feed the calves.  So much fun!!

Personally, I like to feed the calves from outside the corral, but the kids like being closer to the calves.  The kids also spend quite a bit of time playing with the calves during the day.  I think Gianna would move her bed down into the barn if Jimmer wasn't already living there.

Branding 2017

The morning started early...before six.

 The moon was impressive at that time of morning.

I'm usually still sleeping - so I haven't seen the moon in the mornings.

 The crew started arriving just after 6 and was trailing the first bunch before 6:30.

 The first bunch was the young cows and their calves.

The wrestlers and other help showed up between 8-8:30.

 Beer cooler crowd

 They raise their women tougher than nails around here!

Break time for the wrestlers and round up the next bunch for the riders.

 Last of the calves for the day!

 Gianna was SOOO excited to be able to ride a horse again.

 Taking them back out to summer pasture.

Thanks to all our helpers and neighbors.  It was a great day with no accidents and lots of hard work.  We appreciate every single one of you!