Some things you may not know about me....

1. My husband is monocular--meaning he only has one eye. After a cliff diving accident gone awry, he had his left eye removed. My husband always had dreams of joining the military and serving his country. He is proud and strong, unwavering in his confidence to defend liberties and freedoms we cherish. He also has a hero complex--one that I am certain would have been his demise had he been in theater. He admires men who selflessly give of themselves so others may live.
Being monocular was the only way God could keep him safe. And for that, I'm grateful every day.

2. I don't own diamonds. In fact, I don't ever want to own a diamond due to the blood diamonds and the destruction and inhumane treatment of others.

3. My husband knows my version of diamonds is through grass-fed butter and grass-fed meats.

4. I'm a whole-foodie, scratch-baking, garden-raising, dirt-loving Mama.

5. I used to think the more make-up I wore, the more time I spent doing my hair, the skinnier I was, the happier I would be. Now, I don't wear much make-up at all, my hair is what it is, and I'm strong rather than skinny.

I've never been happier and more confident :)

6. I still want to write a bestseller, but no publishing how will take my book.  (I guess I just haven't found the right one yet :) )

7. Last year, I spent close to 3000 hours pumping for AJ. Given the chance to go back, I would do it all over again.

8. I could have a dozen kiddos. Being a wife and a mom is my greatest accomplishment.

9. I used to dream of a big farmhouse--now I dream of a piece of land.

10. My house is a mere 1,000 sq. feet, but ever square inch is cherished and loved, making it not a house, but home.

As Cute as Can Be

We officially have our friends over to watch movies now :)

For Love of a Small Town (pt.2)

Continuing on with the stream of thought and my love for this little town, I would have to say, I love the quiet.

And I'm not talking about a moment here or there when the world seems to take a breather. No, I'm talking about the kind of quiet that settles over the earth and creates its own sense of peace. The quiet wraps the land like a gentle fog, blanketing and muffling the outside world. Here, in this place, you can hear the gallop, the clap of horses hooves on the barren land. Thunder clouds roll in with a deafening rumble, just as the wind howls with vengeance across the prairie.

Just the other night, my husband said the night was so still that he could hear me blink! And even when Molly goes to work on the farm, I can hear her bark from the deepest corner.

As it is, AJ does not like toys that are very loud, nor does he like sing-a-long books or the TV to be much more above a whisper. We all like the quiet and find that when the peace descends upon the home, we all take a deep breath, knowing that no words need to be spoken, no songs need to be sung, no volumes need to be turned up.

There is peace in the quiet, so the quiet is where we shall be.

For the love of a small town

My love for small town living grows daily. Years ago, when I lived among the concrete jungle of Southern California, I dreamed of wide open spaces, with fresh air and open fields. I dreamed of a place where I could relax and enjoy God's creation, blanketed by the blue, open sky above. I had my dreams, nestled in my pocket and anchored over my heart, and I held on tightly to those dreams, always hoping one day they might come to fruition.

In honor of my love of this small town, I plan to take note weekly of my reasons why I love this place. I could sit and write them down all at once, but with work and my youngster in tow, there just isn't enough 'me' time to do it!

So in honor of AJ's first birthday that came and went, I would like to honor my wonderful neighbors.....their love for my family is one that I had not found until moving to this lil' ole' slice of Heaven. For AJ's birthday, they brought over their horses and baby goats, bringing the petting zoo to our homestead. The kiddos were able to ride horseback and bottled feed little day old goats, just their size.

 (A little cowboy in the making, my little man is well on his way to becoming a full-fledged cowboy.)

The sense of community and belonging is bar-none, one of best feelings in the entire world. We have friends here. There are people who care about us, and we care about them.

Nuthin' better than that.

The Buckaroo's First Birthday

There is no better feeling than celebrating the birth of a sweet little one with loved ones. I look back on AJ's first birthday and I have to choke back the tears as I reflect on a day of love and happiness. The weather was perfect, the chili was yummy, the company was delightful. It was wonderful.

And since in these times, pictures capture the moments we hope to remember the most, here are some from that day. One of the best day's of my life.

There is something both humbling and comforting when you are surrounded by people who love not only your son, but you as well. We all need to feel that sense of community every once in awhile. It sustains us and gives our souls the nourishment we crave.

To say my cup overflowed would be an understatement.

The best year ever

I figured I should take the time to write this down lest I forget later.

Three days ago, we celebrated AJ's first birthday.

One day ago, we had the perfect birthday celebration.

And not a moment passes that I don't stop and thank God for my life, my family, my friends, and for the wonderful blessing I call my son.

This is for you my son, a note on your first birthday.

My little one,

A year ago, our lives changed forever when we had you. You were perfect, not too big and not too little, you were content to be just right. You lit our world on fire when you were born, and since the day you arrived, we have loved you more and more. 

I look at you, and I am amazed. Your little mind is working at a rapid rate. You don't like others to intervene and help you, rather, you prefer to figure things out for yourself. You have an independent streak a mile wide, and you don't like others to tell you what to do. You have a tenacity for life, an uninhibited zeal for adventure. I never see fear in your eyes, you just look on like you already know, God will take care of you. I love that you believe in a trust so deep that not even words could describe it.

You live to be outside. I dream of what you will grow up to become, from a lawyer to a doctor, to a rancher or a farmer, and then I circle back to one singular thought--I want you to be like your Daddy. I want you to be hard-working and selfless, kind and compassionate, quiet and strong. Your Daddy is a man who may not have riches here on Earth, but his faith is exemplified by the depth of his character. Your Daddy loves you to the moon and back, as do I.

You are our world.

There are babies all over the world who are hurt or sick, scared or alone. You may not have much, but you are healthy and safe with us. I cry often when I look at you and know your little body is healthy and whole. I storm the gates of Heaven with prayers of Thanksgiving for keeping you safe and well.

I know there was more I wanted to write, but words seem to be eluding me. Your story is far from over my little one, in fact, it is just the beginning. My prayer is that you will write the story that you want to, that you will dare to dream the impossible, and that you will run the race set out in front of you. Grab life by the horns my son, live life to the fullest, and never waste a day. Time is precious, make everyday count.

I will be here for all of it, and I will love you all of my days.

With love on your birthday,
Mama

No Days Off for a Cowboy

There is something about a cowboy's heart, so full and loving, hard-working and true.

They work from sun up til sundown without a day off, saying little in the way of cause or complaint.

Always by their side is a trustworthy dog, a constant companion to tag along on the endless days.

And it just so happens that I married a cowboy.