Meet the newest member of our family

This is Duke:) Isn't he soooooo stinkin adorable. Our guess is a mastiff cross of some kind. His paws are crazy huge for his size. Guessing about 3 months old. The neighbor lady said he just showed up on her porch. That was about 2 weeks ago. We puppy sat him for her and fell in love. Her aunt(also landlord) said she couldn't keep him. She was leaving him in her house 10-12 hours sometimes not kenneled so he just went to the bathroom wherever and chewed lots of things up so I can completely understand. I mean common he is a puppy!!! But we are excited to have him. He is such a good boy and has a great personality. Him and Bear are meant for each other. They where each other out nicely right before bed so we don't hear a peep out of them till morning:)

I am sure you will see lots more about this guy:)

Bear and him playing:)

Gotcha Kohanna!!!

Now I am going to eat you!! Which Kohanna the old grump let him know was not ok right away:)

Meet Mandie By Brenda Ross

Mandie came into our lives shortly after she was burned. She is a woman with amazing strength. Her and her 1st husband lived with us for 2 1/2 years. Mandie blended into our family wonderfully. All of my children loved having her live with us. She truly is a kid at heart. While Mandie lived with us, she developed tularemia and it nearly took her life. She really demonstrated her ability to overcome as she battled the disease. Mandie has a love for animals and can not stand to see anyone or any animal hurting. She always found a way to take time and make each person feel special. What I love the most about her is her love for the Lord. I am grateful that Mandie chooses to stay in contact and that she visits when in Oregon.

My first two were much longer.

Our little Christmas

Well Eric had to work Christmas morning from 4:30 till 11:00 and I had to work at 3:00 so he surprised me and brought two of the ranch horses home with him and we drove out a few miles and took a trail ride for Christmas:) It was such an awesome surprise and such a great way to spend it together. It was sunny, warm and beautiful and the horses were good so it was perfect.

I still can't believe that it is over already. It really just never seemed like Christmas it was to warm, no snow and we didn't have big plans for family and friends. I am so lucky to have my awesome husband to spend holidays with. It is hard not to be lonesome though. I grew up with big family and friend get togethers so to be alone is hard. It is just a hard time of the year. but I did receive a few Christmas cards this year so that was really nice and thanks to my grandparents and my mom we had a few gifts even under our tree:) And thanks to my other grandparents they sent some Christmas money I made it into the doctor so that was good.

I hope and pray everyone else had a great Christmas and now it is on to New Years:) May it be a truly, truly blessed new year:)

Can't believe this is the last week of 2010!!

Every year seems to speed by faster and faster. I guess that is what you get for getting older and older:) I can't believe how crazy this year has been. From last December to this December we have moved 3 times and lived in 3 different states. Part of me wants to be so frustrated and feel like a failure but what happened to that part of me that use to exist that loved adventure. I guess that part has been told enough that doing that makes us failures and irresponsible. But really looking back I wouldn't change a thing, we have done some awesome things, met some life long friends and got a lot of experience in different kinds of ranching. It has all in all been a great experience. That is not to say it hasn't been frustrating and trying that it has!!!
It is just crazy when you look back at things and think how do I get here and I never in a million years would have thought I would be here or doing this. It is amazing what life and GOD can throw at you:) Even as we speak we may make yet another change. This job has been a wreck since we got here and gets worse as it goes so Eric has been just working and I have been looking for other options and we got a surprise one from and email from a ranch in eastern Oregon. Yes OREGON!! I have been wanting to be closer to family and that would put me within a half day drive. So we are praying and seeing what the LORD has for us. But I will miss the Colorado scenery if we move it is amazingly gorgeous here and I was so looking forward to so many awesome adventures here. We will see they may still happen.
This is a week I definitely do a lot of reflecting and a lot of dreaming. There are so many things I would like to do and things that I want to experience with my husband. Everyday should be precious and we shouldn't let those simple moments slip by without telling someone we love them, appreciate them or just plain miss them. You never know when it may be the last time you get to see them, talk to them or experience even the simplest things with them. I want to remember that this new year that is coming. To take each day as it comes and to cherish even the littlest of moments.

Gotta Share the yearly Cowboy Christmas Prayer

I ain't much good at prayin',
and You may not know me, Lord—
For I ain't much seen in churches,
where they preach Thy Holy Word.
But you may have observed me
out here on the lonely plains,
A-lookin' after cattle,
feelin' thankful when it rains.

Admirin' Thy great handiwork.
the miracle of the grass,
Aware of Thy kind Spirit,
in the way it comes to pass
That hired men on horseback
and the livestock that we tend
Can look up at the stars at night,
and know we've got a Friend.

So here's ol' Christmas comin' on,
remindin' us again
Of Him whose coming brought good will
into the hearts of men.
A cowboy ain't a preacher, Lord,
but if You'll hear my prayer,
I'll ask as good as we have got
for all men everywhere.

Don't let no hearts be bitter, Lord.
Don't let no child be cold.
Make easy the beds for them that's sick
and them that's weak and old.
Let kindness bless the trail we ride,
no matter what we're after,
And sorter keep us on Your side,
in tears as well as laughter.

I've seen ol' cows a-starvin'—
and it ain't no happy sight;
Please don't leave no one hungry, Lord,
on Thy Good Christmas Night—
No man, no child, no woman,
and no critter on four feet
I'll do my doggone best
to help you find 'em chuck to eat.

I'm just a sinful cowpoke, Lord—
ain't got no business prayin'
But still I hope you'll ketch a word
or two, of what I'm sayin':
We speak of Merry Christmas, Lord—
I reckon You'll agree—

There ain't no Merry Christmas
for nobody that ain't free!
So one thing more I ask You,
Lord: just help us what You can
To save some seeds of freedom
for the future Sons of Man!

HUH????

I'm not sure what I'm doing...I'm tired and I'm going to bed.

Meet Mandie

My name is Breal - I met Mandie a few years ago. She lived with my family for two years and she instantly became part of the family. She loves animals and being outside, is energetic, and spontaneous.


My sister, mom, and Mandie at the coffee shop that I worked at

We loved to walk the miniature horse and donkeys into town to get coffee (or just ride our horses into town). Mandie brought her teepee and yurt to my parents farm and we would have sleep overs outside. She could always be found outside whether it was playing with the horses, going to the river, or working.



Mandie "riding" Shar

Mandie has not had an easy life. She has faced many hardships and road blocks. When I first met Mandie she had been severely burned on her face and neck (and that's not even the worst of her stories). No matter what life threw at her she always has a positive outlook and continues to praise God.


Cowgirl butts - we were always riding bare back

For the two years that Mandie lived with us we had many adventures: going to the river, rodeos, and even a cruise. 

Caribbean Cruise

I will always remember the great times that we had with each other. The cruise was the last adventure we had together before Mandie met her Prince Charming who swept her off of her feet and took her to his castle in Nebraska. She has always been passionate and followed her heart so the decision to move half way across the country to be with the man she loved was not a question of if, but when. I still miss the adventures we used to have but am glad that she is happy and living her life to the fullest.

In the Caribbean Ocean