We have had a busy time on the ranch the last few weeks. Our hunters have come and gone and now we are busy shipping the lambs and calves. We have shipped some of the “opens” ( those that did not breed back this year.) The good news is that several of the “hot” cows are no longer with us. We really don’t miss them.

Our water level is very low. In each of the reservoirs there is a pit that is very deep and the cows can fall in and drown. The water level is now down to the edge of these pits. (Hope that made sense.) We could use a good rain just to make drinking water safe for the livestock. It would also help to keep the fish alive.

TF (Thoughts Forward) is now with the heifer calves. She still comes for her bottle, but now she has company of her own species.

One of our kittens disappeared about a week ago. Buddy is the friendliest of all the kittens and tends to be always under my feet. I had gone into the Silverdome to check on things and when I left, I called “Kitty.” Nothing came, so I closed the door. A few days later I was missing the kitten and started looking for it. I went back to the Silverdome , opened the door, and called Kitty. Nothing came! I just thought something had happened to it and it was gone for good. The other night Chip went out to grill some Brats and heard the kitten. It was in the Silverdome! He was very lonely, hungry and thirsty. For the first day, he was really under foot and it ate quite a bit. It is back to normal now. I have washed the bedding and the pillow! I didn’t think an animal could live that long without water, but it must have licked the moisture off the window.

I did get my whitetail doe tonight so the hunting season is officially over for me. Chip still has one tag.

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

 

Jake Continues to Learn

Jake continues to learn. He usually can let us know when he wants to go outside, but I am always concerned about him and wishing that he could let us know when he wants back in. He has finally done this in a couple of ways. One way is to start barking at anything or nothing. If that doesn't get our attention, he will come to one of our glass doors and "talk" to us quietly. One time Chip left early in the morning and Jake was stuck outside as I was still asleep. Jake came to our bedroom window and "talked" to me until I let him in. I haven't figured out how he knows which window to come to, but he knows which room of the house I am in.

He usually likes about ten minutes of special attention every day. He comes and lets us know that he needs our loving and then when he has had enough, he goes and lies down on one of his many beds and falls asleep.

Jake is now 5 years old and we love and appreciate him more every day---unless he is eating fresh venison and then we refer to him as "Power Dog."

Vacation

 

 

 

 

The definition of vacation is:

"An extended period of recreation, esp. one spent away from home or in traveling." Chip, Jake and I just returned from a short vacation. I learned this week that each of us view vacation in a different way. My dream vacation this year was to spend a couple of relaxing days in White Sulphur Springs relaxing in the natural springs. The weather was beautiful and the water was great! Chip, on the other hand, thinks that a vacation consists of using binoculars.  We did see some elk, but they were on private property.  Jake was the hardest to please.  He just loves being home, chasing the cats and birds, helping Chip with the sheep and being loved by all who come to the ranch.  While on "vacation" he had to wear a collar and was almost always on a leash or stuck in a motel room.  This picture was the only time he enjoyed himself. The enjoyable moment for all of us was when we saw three bears in the field.  Chip watched them, I took pictures and Jake just stared at them.

 

A Parent's Precious Prayers

This morning I sat down at the table and  opened the Devotional  called Grace For The Moment by Max Lucado and read the August 10th devotional.  ( I am about a month behind.)

A Parent's Precious Prayers

All your children will be taught by the Lord, and they will have much peace.  Isaiah 54:13

Never underestimate the ponderings of a Christian parent.  Never underestimate the power that comes when a parent pleads with God on behalf of a child.  Who knows how many prayers are being answered right now because of the faithful ponderings of a parent ten or twenty years ago?  God listens to thoughtful parents.

Praying for our children is a noble task.  If what we are doing, in this fast-paced society, is taking us away from prayer time for our children, we're doing too much.  There is nothing more special, more precious than time that a parent spends struggling and pondering with God on behalf of a child.
                                                                                        Walking with the Savior.

I am thankful that I had a mom and dad that prayed for me and each of their children and grandchildren.  I remember Mom kneeling by a chair at the kitchen table and praying for me.  She didn't know that I had seen her as I was supposed to be on my way to the bus stop.  That picture of her will always stay in my mind.  I don't all that she and God talked about when she prayed, but I wonder if the decisions I made were because of those prayers.  I remember times when I had two choices--the right choice or the wrong choice and God led me down right path. 

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for praying for me!

August 11th

Six years ago, my mother went to be with her Lord and Savior.  The smile on her face as she passed into eternity tells me that she was excited to go.

Almost a month ago we had a wonderful reunion here on the ranch.  All my siblings, their spouses, Mom's cousin and his wife and friends of the family since we were kids all came for fun and fellowship.  The weather was great and there weren't any mosquitoes.  We had a great time!

Thinking of that reunion made me think of the reunion that I will have when I reach Heaven.  Someday I will see my mom, dad, mother-in-law and Chip's nephew Wade again.  There will be many other relatives and friends there to greet me.  This past week I was listening to a tape of Chip's dad, Bobby Dye, singing.  It brought tears to my eyes as he sang "When Jesus Beckons Me Home."

When Jesus Beckons Me Home Lyrics   

The Stanley Brothers

I know that Jesus will never forsake
His love will find a way
He'll bridge the stream if his hand I will take
When he calls what can I say

 Day follows night night follows day
 Farther and farther I roam  
What will my answer be what can I say  
When Jesus beckons me home.

Sometimes the clouds seem to cover his face
Sometimes the skies are so gray
Still by the stars and his wonderful grace
He'll roll the storm clouds away

Day follows night night follows day
Farther and farther I roam
What will my answer be what can I say
When Jesus beckons me home.

Bobby Dye passed into eternity on November 1, 1986 due to an automobile accident. That very day, he had told his cousin that he knew what his answer would be when Jesus beckoned him home. 
For years, Bobby had rebelled against his parents and against church (God).  About a year before his accident, he had accepted Christ as his Savior.  Someday I want to hear his testimony of his changed heart and life.

That song made me think of the song that we sang at my mom's funeral.
Will the Circle be Unbroken
Habershon & Gabriel

There are loved ones in glory
Whose dear forms you often miss
When you close your earthly story
Will you join them in their bliss

(chorus) Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky

In the joyous days of childhood
Oft they told of wondrous love
Pointed to the dying Savior
Now they dwell with Him above

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky

You remember songs of heaven
Which you sang with childish voice
Do you love the hymns they taught you
Or are the songs of earth your choice

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky

You can picture happy gatherings
Round the fireside long ago
And you think of tearful partings
When they left you here below

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky

One by one their seats were emptied
One by one they went away
Here the circle has been broken
Will it be complete one day

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky

John 3:3

 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  (NKJV)

What will my answer be what can I say
When Jesus beckons me home?

Will the Circle Be Unbroken? 










 

What is Love?

As Chip and I celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary, my thoughts turn toward the word love.

What is love?

There are 3 words for love in the Greek language.  First, there is eros love.  This love can be emotional and is the sex type love.  Second, there is"Philo" love.  This is the "brotherly love" that is shown in the book of Revelation.   It is a love of "if you love me; I'll love you.  Third, is Agape love.   It is a love that one gives without expecting anything in return. Christ had this type of love.  (There are many blogs that explain each of these in depth.)

Before Chip and I were married a neighbor told us that one does not fall in love, one grows in love.  Since I am still growing in love each day and therefore not an authority on the subject, I will explain love according to the Bible.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,  it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.^{s  I Corinthians 13:4-7  NIV}


And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is Love!  (verse 13)

Oh Me of Little Faith

This morning as I headed to town with the main idea of selling my books, my thoughts drifted to the next book that I plan on writing.  The one called Life on the Ranch: Life Lessons I Learned from Hunting.  I was in need of a rattlesnake picture and wasn't sure where I would get it. They aren't something that I go looking for.  I thought of several people who might be able to get a good picture for me when all of a sudden there was my prize object on the road.  I made a U-turn on Hwy 323 and went back to the snake.  I got out of the car with my camera and got as close to it as I dared and took some pictures.  Then I realized that zoom on cameras were made for a reason---just for rattlesnake pictures. :)

I stopped at the first store that was selling my books and walked away totally depressed.  The owner's records didn't match mine---or even hers as I had all of her receipts for the books.  She paid me and decided that she didn't want to sell them any more.  I walked out of there thinking that I wanted to see "Janet".  The likelihood of seeing her was slim as I have run into her once or twice in the past 15 years.  I went to Wal-Mart where I had run into her last fall.  I was feeling depressed so went out to eat before heading back to Belle Fourche.  I was trying not to do any impulsive buying due to my mental attitude so I went to Savers Mart- a store where I can shop all I want and get great deals.  Guess who I ran into in Savers Mart?  Yep, "Janet"!  We talked and she explained to me that it wasn't my fault.  She made me feel better so I went on to the next store.

I stopped at Love That Shoppe which is basically antiques.  She gave me a great lead to a new restaurant in town that was opening a gift shop.  So in August I will be able to put my books in there.  Then I headed on to Aladdin where they too will take my books after the motorcycle rally.  To finish my circle, I headed to Hulett where four books had sold.

So after a hot, but successful day, I ask myself Where is your faith?  God worked out so many details for me today, why do I not trust Him more?