wildlife.....

this is just an example of what we see everyday on the ranch.....

life's unknowing journey.....

other than the particular place we were living, S and I could not have been happier with the path we have been journeying down this past year. We have had wonderful adventures with the kids while we explored this new part of Texas and we both really liked where we were working. So therefore was really not a big surprise to me or to S when several months ago I found myself itching to get the heck out of the temporary rental we were in and get closer into town. The twelve acres was ok, the deer in the back yard was awesome, But the house and the drive...not ok.

Now I know that God has a path for everyone, but what if you don't listen or are stubborn? I really feel like a lot of our problems have had to do with just that, we don't listen to our better judgment(god) and do what our selfish inner child wants to do. Well, I really believe that god had such good plans for us this time that when we started to look for other rent houses in town nothing paned out. I was getting pretty bummed out but we decided to just stay in the yucky place until after Christmas and start looking again in the new year.

It was about mid October when S's moms husband, Joey, was on the way to his boss's ranch about an hour from us to fire the current ranch foreman that stuff began to change. S's brother just happen to mention to Joey what a great job that would be for S and it all snowballed fairly quickly from there. With all the highs and lows, butterflies and panics of a new job all rolled in one short week, S got the job as a Ranch foreman on a several thousand acre, high fence game ranch. He will be taking care of all the animals, maintaining the road systems, guiding hunts, processing any animals harvested, along with so much more on such a busy ranch.

The conversations and emotions felt in the week this was all happening were all over the place. The thought of S changing jobs is scary enough, but to do something and be responsible for so much that he has never done before was just down right frightening. Not to mention that this was about 15 more minutes further for me to drive to work....I had originally wanted to be closer, remember? But God truly knows what he is doing and I believe whole heartily his plan was for us to take this opportunity. The crazy circumstances, the easy in which it all happened and the fact that He didn't let us talk ourselves out of it proves it to me.

So we have actually been living here and S working for a few weeks now, and I am absolutely in love. I love the little farm house we get to live in, the horses, cattle, the twelve or so different species of exotic animals we see every day and my porch swing. The boys no longer watch TV, and there is no more fighting them at bedtime because they pass out in seconds from playing so hard outside. S couldn't be happier with all that he does here because no matter what he is doing, he is outside and gets to see wildlife all day!

There are more opportunities than I can imagine for me to use my camera, I have a swing on the front porch to read books and a pretty large yard to play tag with the boys!

I never in a millions years or even two months ago imagined we would be on this journey, but it sure is an amazing one.

our house

the view of our house/barns from one of two lookout points.

view from my kitchen sink...i may actually learn to like doing dishes....

dirt road to our house

the medina river, where we cross going to the ranch

the boys either want on this all the time or the tractor!


more to come later......