Life on the Farm

We live a simple life. We love each other, our families, good friends and church. Our motto of hard work and preparedness lives on in us. We are very happy having the basics. Having one another and being so content and comfortable in our life is the best gift of all.

Our long term plans for a cattle ranch are in the heavy research stages. Byron (thankfully) knows how to create spreadsheets on Excel. I am continuing to strive to stay up with the demands of carrying eleven credits this quarter in graduate school. He has been such an avid supporter of my education. We enjoy time together planning, building and repairing things outside like the barn/stable area, the yard, etc. The assistance of Cory in the building of the barn and other chores around here has been much appreciated!!!

Times ahead in our nation may not be the best. We feel a sense of urgency to prepare, to build a homestead for us and our families to retreat to when there is nothing else. Our plans to build a fully operational cattle operation and horse facility will happen. We would like our kids to be involved completely in the project, and to reap the benefits with us. If they choose to do other things, that is okay. We will always have work on the ranch in case times get tough.

This togetherness I feel with Byron is something I've never had before. It is total and complete unity and unison of goals. We think alike in most things. We are each other's best friend. Our goals spiritually are complimentary. One of our greatest desires is to be sealed in the Temple of the Lord. We strive for that daily. We want this unity and love to continue and grow beyond the grave.

Byron may seem to be all fun and jokes, but he has a deeply spiritual and loving soul. I have been asked by one of his kids "what happens when his jokes get old and are no longer funny?" I have thought about that a little bit and have come to this conclusion: I did not accept his marriage proposal because he was funny. I did not say yes because of his good looks or our common interest in horses and dancing. I accepted it because of his soul - his heart and his mind, his spirit and his intentions to do good and bring the gospel to others. He is a real good man who is very misunderstood. His outward humor and goofiness are misleading. He is young at heart, yet wise in his basic goals and plans for us and our families.

We had an ice storm a earlier this week that lasted two days. It was bitter cold; sleet pelted upon the ground causing it to look like snow in some areas. The trees were dripping icicles, providing an chorus of crackles and shimmers when the afternoon sun came out. It was beautiful! We have two stalls completed in the barn, so we put Roxy and Monte in there for the two nights of freezing sleet. At first they were afraid and nervous - being closed inside a dark area. But within a day they were comfortable. We let them out on one of the freezing days - within hours they were back near the opening of the barn - wanting inside out of the cold and ice. Those two days had closed down public schools and University of Texas Arlington where I was to report for fieldwork hours.

It is warmer outside now - it might reach the 60's today. I might take a break from my studies and rake up leaves in the yard!! I still need to empty out the my horse trailer that we hauled down from Washington last week. It has been too cold and the ice storm froze the doors shut for a few days. It is good to have my truck here, although it is still needing repair work done on it since we were broadsided by a bull elk on our wedding day back in September!

Byron found some laying hens for sale in Cleburne - I hope they have some left, as we need to continue with that part of our plan for self sufficiency. We need to get into the chicken coop and secure it more so that no other cats can enter in, as they did when we had our five baby chicks in there. Besides, our rooster Bubba would enjoy the female attention, although he will not be allowed to mingle with them at this time.

Now, back to work!!