When it Was All Just a Dream (pt. 2)

This is what happiness looks like for me. It's 10:00 on a Saturday morning, breakfast is on the stove and there is a happy boy running to the door as you come in, saying, "Daddy, miss you!"
The oven beeps and the cinnamon rolls are done. There are happy giggles coming from the living room as our little boy ropes the dummy with you. The baby is playing on the floor and making gurgling sounds. Remember when it was all just a dream?

Outside, it's a beautiful summer morning and the horses are grazing in the pasture. The dogs are barking; there's a big crane in the yard! Tell loves it and says "want see big duck!"
We always talk about how we wish we could freeze him at this age; he is the funniest, sweetest boy. Remember when this was all just a dream?

We now have our second little boy, who we've been talking about since Tell was a baby. Our little Cas is the sweetest, happiest, most mellow baby. Tell loves him so much and he is the best addition to our family. Remember when he was just a dream?
I can see it now, our little cuties wrestling on the rug while we try to watch a movie on a rainy Sunday. We give up on the movie and sit on the porch to watch the storm while the boys run wild through the yard, screaming and laughing.
We're looking out on our field of horses, a couple of babies grazing with their mamas. You mention how we need to go check the cows this afternoon and make sure the trough is running. I'll smile and lean up against you on the porch swing, sigh happily and say, "Remember when this life was just a dream?"
Later, we pile the boys in the truck and head up to your parents' house for Sunday dinner. You talk to your dad about the cows, and the hay and the weather. Your mom gives me the rundown on how everyone has been doing, and I tell her our happy secret... we're expecting baby #3!
This is the beautiful future I dream about with you...and someday, we'll look back on these early days of dreaming, after all the hard work and planning to achieve our goals. We'll smile and say, "Remember when it was all just a dream?"

Faith is Greater Than Fear

Man, the world is scary these days. It's lock-yourself-in-the-house and don't-interact-with-strangers scary. I have two small kids and I fear for them every day. I make sure I'm able to protect them from all kinds of danger. One day, though, I won't be able to protect them. They will be adults and have to take care of themselves. That thought makes me want to panic a little, but I learned from an early age that you can't let fear rule your life. If you do, you don't have any control. Anything or anyone that scares you will have the control. And that should scare you more than anything! 

I am a great believer in God and patriotism and personal freedom. Why? All of these things breed COURAGE. Sure, the 'Rona is a bit scary. BLM (black lives matter not bureau of land management y'all 😂🐮)  is scarier than hell because these people have no regard for human life. Human trafficking? Been afraid of that for years. I'm afraid to go into town because I'm a little white girl with two little kids. Like I said though, I don't let fear rule my life. Sometimes you just have to let go and let God. 

I feel as though the folks who are extremely panicked right now are missing the bigger picture. The way I see it, if you're so afraid of being killed by the 'Rona that you keep yourself from living your life, you're missing something fundamental. You've missed learning how to weigh risks and don't know how to balance the give and take. You haven't been out on a skittish colt in a lightning storm trying to get cows off the mountain enough to realize that anything could take you from this earth at any moment and you can't control that, no matter how hard you try. God is in control y'all. These are the last days, and we've been told we will have to fight for our freedom. I believe in prophecies and I believe many are being fulfilled right now. I also believe Christ is coming and if we focus on Him and His end game, the world climate is a whole lot less scary. We already know who wins the war. If we focus on Christ, it's very clear who is on the side of evil. Just let go and let God! Have faith instead of fear. Everything is going to be okay!

XO, the Cowboy's Wife 

How Horses Have Influenced My Life

I often think about all the ways horses have influenced my life.

When I was a little girl, they taught me the value of hard work and also caring for something other than myself. They taught me about devotion and true friendship. They taught me about heartbreak and the importance of letting go when I lost the first horse I ever loved.

As I've gotten older, they've influenced my friendships and who my 'people' are. They brought me to the love of my life. They helped me find the truest friends I've ever known. 

They've given me a passion for life, they've cured my blues and motivated me.

They make me smile when they're gentle for my babies and make them fall in love with horses the same way I did when I was small.

I've liked a lot of horses, and loved a few. This gal right here is one of them. I thank God every day for her for giving me my confidence back and getting me in a good mental state after two long, rough pregnancies. She's the first horse I've had a real relationship with since before I was married. She's my go to gal and my right hand man! Thanks @laramiedawn for catching a few amazing photos of us! 

Unconditional Love

 

I saw this picture today, and the quote got me thinking. It made me think how the unconditional love of a mother is the closest there is to the love Christ has for each of us.

He loves us not in spite of what He had to endure for us, but because of it. Those scars and pierced palms are a testament to His love, just like a Mama has to endure sickness, pain, and the intense pain of labor for her babies, and her stretch marks, scars and body parts that will never be the same are a testament of her love for her babies.

Our Savior gives us unending grace, and don't Mamas do the same for their babies? Who loves you no matter what when you mess up? Who gives you advice and helps you clean up your mess? Your mama and your Savior are always there with understanding hearts and a big hug.
I think of how intensely I love my boys, and how I would do anything in the world for them, and it brings me so much comfort that every single one of us has a Savior who loves us even more. His hands and arms are outstretched, waiting for you to reach out and fall into them. He is the safest place you could ever hope to find. Finding the Savior is just like going back home and getting a big hug from your Mama.
None of us are alone in this world; your Savior feels every worry and pain you feel. Seek him and you will find more joy and comfort than you have ever known.
XO, The Cowboy's Wife 

Tell is Two

Dear Tell,

I can't believe you're two!! There are so many things I want to remember about this age. You are so, so smart. You can count to 5, spell your name out loud, speak in full sentences, and have such a good memory.

You love people. LOVE them. I'm not sure where you got this quality but it makes me have to grow as a person (I'm such a hermit!). Everyone you meet is so taken with you. You have the funniest little personality and you just HAVE to know about the people around you.
You keep me on my toes my boy! You run absolutely everywhere you go. You never. Slow. Down. You are completely fearless and I can't keep you off a horse. You're never without a rope, either. You were definitely born a cowboy..that's just in your blood.

You parrot everyone and you can say everything. Really. I taught you the Pledge of Allegiance and you manage the big words pretty well!!

You have a wild imagination and tell me all sorts of funny stories...not that I can understand the whole story but it usually has something to do with Darla fighting a bear!
I gave you a teddy bear the other day and you gave it a big hug and said "I love it!"

You have the wildest heart and the sweetest soul. You are stubborn and determined. You are smart and funny and everything good that I want to be.

You give me so much grace every day. Being a mom is so hard sometimes and I don't always have as much patience as I should. Everytime I mess up, you're always there with your sweet smile and "hi, mom". I'm so grateful for you.
You keep me laughing and remind me not to be so serious all the time. You love me so much even when I lose my temper. You always come to give me a hug and I don't know what I'd do without your neverending grace.
The light of Christ shines so bright in you. Your love for everyone you meet and your sweet, thoughtful personality just show that light in a big way. Don't ever be afraid to love big and wear your heart on your sleeve the way you do! I love you more than words can say, sweet boy.
Love, Mama

A Woman's Strength

She is a Goddess, a daughter of a King. She is divinely and inspirationally made. She was made to shoulder the mental and emotional weight of her family. She gets her boundless strength from her faith in her Savior.
That thing you're afraid to tell her? She values honesty over all else and she has enough grace for whatever mistake you made. Even if it tears her to pieces inside, she can also see how it tears you up. She will forgive you and help you overcome any obstacle. She has enough love and faith for both of you.
She is an empath, and she feels everything you feel. Your emotional burden is also hers, and she will do whatever she can to help you be happy.
She always finds a way to pick up the pieces and keep going, no matter how hard rock bottom gets. She keeps her light burning inside, knowing that faith and hope can get you through anything.
Hold onto her; she is the pillar of strength that will get you through life's storms. She is unbreakable, because Christ is her foundation.
Never forsake her, because she will always be by your side, there to hold your hand or catch you if you fall.

Maybe It's Different This Time

   
     Maybe it's different this time. But that doesn't mean I love you less! Maybe I have less time to sit and hold you and stare at your perfect face because I'm chasing your brother around, but those little moments with you are just as precious.

Maybe I don't have the new mom obsession quite to the same degree, because well, I've done this before. It doesn't feel new. But you do. I am obsessed with your tiny self.

Maybe I don't cry when you move up a clothing size, but that's because I'm so excited to watch you grow and see who you become.

You see, I didn't know what to expect the first time around. I was so sad watching your brother grow so big that I didn't get to fully enjoy his babyhood.
So I'm enjoying this time, ALL of it. Including the growing and the changing.

I don't mind that you hate being set down, because I know I can always mop the floor later (probably). I don't feel the same pressure to get everything perfect and right because I've learned to let things go and pick my battles.

Lucky you little one, you're not the Guinea pig. I (sort of) know what I'm doing. You're getting a much more relaxed Mama than your brother did.

Learning how to juggle two is proving a challenge, especially since your whirling dervish of a brother absolutely never slows down. Again, though, it's teaching me that I have to sit back and just enjoy the ride. After all, if you can't beat em, join em!

Maybe it's different this time, little one, because I'm different this time. The one thing that isn't different is that I love you with my whole heart, and that's what counts.