“Going Green”
I wish more kids got to experience a hard day’s work- work that starts before the sunrise, and ends with sunburns and sore muscles.
I wish more kids had stable home lives-the kind with parents who care about them, where boundaries are made and not crossed; where love is doled out like sugar and discipline isn’t a dirty word.
I wish more kids could have the opportunity to fall in love with the dirt under their feet- to dig in it, to feel it break in their hands, and to appreciate the significance of a few inches of top soil.
I wish more kids had the chance to ride a horse, so they could know what it feels like to fly without leaving the ground; and to drive an old pickup with a manual transmission, so they learn patience and persistence.
I wish kids could just be bored, and left alone to let their imaginations run wild. They might learn to entertain themselves, or better yet, learn how to think on their own.
Mostly, I wish more kids could grow up on farms and ranches and learn the value of responsibility, respect, and work ethic. Imagine if going green meant getting back to our roots, instead of moving further away from them? I bet our children would be far better off, as would our country.
-Richelle
A School Year Prayer
CBW, September 2022
As we head into a new school year, I’d like to share a prayer I’ve been repeating since I started working at our local high school.
Lord, may our students find joy and happiness in the work before them. May they have teachers who love their work, and who are willing to go the extra mile to make a positive impact in the hearts of the little ones in front of them. May our school buildings be a safe haven for our children, teachers, and the staff that is there to support them. May the busses run safely, and the men and women driving them be skilled and patient.
Lord I pray not only for wins for our athletes, but also losses so those kids, parents, and their coaches understand humility and grace. I won’t pray for good test scores, but rather, I pray that our kids learn to work hard, to keep trying, and to not give up even when the expectations are high and the difficulties are many.
May our administrators be fair, understanding, and honest; for the role they play is huge and affects many. Most of all, Lord, may every single child in every single school feel seen, and may they know that someone cares about them and their future. After all, you have made a purpose for every living thing- may we each be given the opportunity to find it.
Here is to another year of learning and growing. May it be a good one.
Richelle
The {Wo}man of the Ranch
CBW, August 2022
The {Wo}man of the Ranch
She was born there, of hay fields and cattle, horses and tractors
She grew up chasing after cow dogs and wildflowers and livestock
She played sports and learned how to cook alongside her grandmother, raised 4-H steers, and
taught herself how to sew.
She played in the dirt, and in her momma’s makeup bag. She dreamed big dreams like all girls
her age, and never really thought about coming back to her home place.
She left, but a boy called her back
Soon babies came, and cows were purchased,
And an old farmhouse became home.
She loves it all- the fresh spring mornings and hot summer days, even when the sun bakes the
already parched earth. She cries when calves and stock dogs pass away and bawls like a baby
whenever a horse has to pass into the great beyond.
She bends with the wind, and as hard as life tries to break her, she drops to her knees in prayers for strength when she just wants to fall apart.
She curses the frigid winters and prays for snow and rain; she curses the rattlesnakes and prays for her herd.
She’s sharing a life with her husband and her kids that so many will never know. They face hard
times, but know the peace of the Lord. She works hard, plays hard, and loves even harder.
She keeps the house, keeps the books, and keeps the world from falling apart.
She wears jeans and boots, and dresses and turquoise
Pantyhose and sports bras, makeup and nail polish and Wrangler’s and Carhartts
She cooks, and ropes, doctoring cattle and baking cakes too
She’s the woman of the ranch: adored for everything she is and ever will be.
~Richelle
America
CBW, July 2022
America.
3.797 million square miles of waterways, rangeland, forests, valleys, farms, ranches, cities, towns, orchards, swamps, mountain ranges, and prairies.
329.5 million people trying to find their way through a life expectancy of roughly 78 years.
It's amazing to me that every single one of us who call this nation home, are free. Independent. Granted life and liberty. All with the right to pursue our own happiness.
Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Our forefathers never promised an easy road or perfect lives. They simply created an outline for our government, with the intent of protecting us and maintaining our freedom - freedom purchased with the blood of those willing to die for what they believed in.
From the coasts to the corn belt, from the Great Lakes to the Everglades, this country remains the greatest nation on earth. For all her flaws, I can't think of a place I would rather call home. There is no other flag I would rather pledge allegiance to, no matter how long my life is.
America. A country full of infinite beauty, amazing people, and boundless opportunities.
United may we stand, forever free. Not just on Independence Day, but every day.
~Richelle
Branding Pen Opportunities
CBW, June 2022
She didn’t want to admit how much she wanted to rope, and it took several family members and friends to encourage her to try. She finally gave in, although I could see how nervous she was. As I walked with her over to our trailer where our horses were tied, I gave her a hug and reminded her that I loved her and believed in her, and told her that her dad would be right beside her the entire time.
We cinched up her horse and bridled him up, and as she led him back to the branding corral, a friend of ours came over and handed my daughter her roping gloves. My chest tightened and I almost lost my composure, but managed to keep it together for the sake of everyone involved. My daughter beamed, and as she led her horse into the branding corral, I could see the nervousness begin to dissolve.
I stepped out of the corral, and returned to my spot next to my mom. With tears filling my eyes and a lump forming in my throat, I looked on as her dad helped her catch and dally her first calf. Like an old pro, she and her horse pulled the calf to a waiting team of wrestlers, and the entire branding pen erupted into applause, laughter, and shouts of encouragement for my little girl.
She smiled from ear to ear, while my mom and I cried big tears of relief and pride.
My daughter continued on, with her dad right by her side, helping to catch the calves and teaching her how to dally properly. Her great uncle took them aside and gave them both some pointers- advice I know she will never forget. By the time all the calves were branded, my kiddo was exhausted, but the happiest she’s been in a long time.
By letting go of the idea that she wasn’t good enough to rope alongside a bunch of experienced guys, she found out that she is capable of much more than she ever imagined. By letting go of fear, she gained confidence. And when she let go of the idea that she wasn’t strong enough or big enough for the job, she grew stronger in her faith, and bigger right before my eyes.
As for me, well, I learned that letting go of the reins is the only way my kids are going to ever learn to really fly, and that watching them soar is the most amazing gift a parent can ever have.
~Richelle
An Ode to a Wild Eyed Sorrel
CBW, March 2022
The long legged, homely two year old unloaded out of the trailer like a bat out of hell; and so it began- a lifetime of constantly building relationships a day at a time.
He was a bronc, untrustworthy and untrusting.
Hot headed, wild eyed
Years and miles wouldn't break his spirit, although with time, he learned to harness his temper under a saddle.
He was catty and cowy, honest and hard working
He wasn't bombproof, but he always got the job done.
He packed my old man across creek bottoms and up mountain sides,
Behind his herd and the herds of his friends.
He carried me through brush and timber, down gravel roads, and everywhere in between.
He wasn't big on people, but for the people that loved him, he did his best.
For almost thirty years, he was a mainstay in the pasture. His tall, lanky frame was always there, watching over the rest of the horses and our whole place. It's hard to imagine never seeing him again; never scratching his face or hugging his neck.
He was a ranch horse, through and through. He was a teacher, a keeper of a young girl's secrets, a partner, and a friend.
Time had taken a toll on his body, and even though he’d been put out to pasture long ago, his time had finally come. Saying goodbye is never easy, but we are grateful he was able to go quietly, before winter set back in.
I imagine ol’ Reggie is up in horse heaven, racing across the prairie, with the wind in his mane and his eyes on the horizon. Bucking like a bronc and chasing after a cow or two, I hope he's enjoying his perpetual retirement.
While he may be gone from the pasture, his spirit will live on in the memories of those of us who respected and loved a wild eyed, sorrel gelding. It’s finally his time to rest.
~Richelle
Enjoy the Ride
CBW, February 2022
For years, I was jealous of other women that I had grown up with simply because they got to stay home and raise their babies on farms and ranches that weren’t theirs, while I had to split my time between working full time in town, raising children with a husband on the road, and playing cowgirl on the occasional rare weekend.
I was angry that they got to live the life I wanted so terribly, while I was miserable.
I was bitter, because while I spent every day hauling myself and my kids to town, to a job I hated and a daycare that burned up most of my paycheck, those other women never had to leave their houses.
And then one day, I realized that the life I had been living was exactly what I needed in this season.
I could not be a stay home mom to toddlers, and maintain my sanity.
I could not work from home, while homeschooling my kids, and be good at any of it.
I needed to work for someone else, to learn to respect other people’s time, talents, and perspectives.
I had to deal with unpleasant people, to learn to have empathy for others.
God has a funny way of reminding us who is in charge.
The jealousy finally subsided when I realized that their lives were not perfect, and that for some of them, not at all what they wanted their lives to look like.
The anger left once I realized that I was making myself miserable, by not being grateful for the life I had.
The bitter feelings disappeared when it dawned on me that this was God’s plan all along, and that I needed to stop being upset over something I couldn’t control.
Life is a beautiful blessing, and I wish it hadn’t taken me so many years to realize it. If I could go back in time and tell a younger version of myself anything, it would be to just enjoy the ride. Just because you don’t know the final destination, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the view along the way.
I’m learning to make the best of every day. Even when I want to just crawl back under the covers, and let the world pass me by, I am learning to embrace it. No matter how hard life gets, it’s important to remember that even the harshest winters don’t last forever.
Richelle
Contentment in 2022
CBW, January 2022
It’s hard to believe that we have entered into another year. It’s hard not to wonder what this year is going to bring, after the craziness of the last few years. Will we finally see a normal weather pattern? Will calf prices finally be realistic? Will I finally lose those few extra pounds around my midsection?
Honestly, who the heck knows. I certainly don’t have a crystal ball to be able to see into the future, and the way things have been going, I am not sure I would even want to know what tomorrow is going to look like ahead of time.
I recently listened to a Pastor’s wife talk about how when her kids were very little, she and her husband lived in a tiny little parsonage. Her husband was gone a lot due to commitments to their church, and she had her hands full with multiple kids under the age of ten. The house wasn’t much, and they definitely didn’t have anything fancy. There wasn’t room for much artwork or furniture in the home, and their yard was also a bit of a wreck. She spent much of her time feeling depressed about their living conditions, wondering why they had to live in the tiny, cold, bland little home that didn’t offer enough room for her growing family.
Then one year, in the fall before winter set in, she was given some tulip bulbs from a friend.
She had no idea how to plant them, but cleared out a spot in the yard and dug a bed in the soft, warm earth, and laid the tulip bulbs in the ground. She forgot about them as a cold, miserable winter set in, but after the snow melted and the earth warmed back up, the tulips began to bloom. And bloom. She kept planting more bulbs each fall, and they continued to bloom for many years around that tiny little home, giving her something to look forward to each year. She learned to find other ways to rejoice in the place where she was raising her babies, and found that even the smallest things taught her to be content with where she was- even when it wasn’t necessarily where she wanted to be.
So while I don’t have any idea what 2022 is going to look like, I have decided to “plant more tulips”. To find ways to find beauty in and around my home, and to plant the seeds of patience and love in my kids. I figure if I can find joy in even the most mundane of things, then I too can learn to rejoice in where I am, while striving to do, and be, a better version of myself each day.
I don’t think it matters whether you set big goals for yourself in 2022, or if you just try to be a tiny bit better when you wake up each morning, so long as you can find contentment and joy in whatever it is that you do.
Here’s to planting more tulips (or whatever kind of flowers you love) in 2022.
Richelle
A Rancher’s Christmas Prayer
CBW, December 2021
We don’t need a lot of money, Lord
We can get by without much wealth
I hope you know how grateful I am for my family, livestock, and our health
I would sure like to see the cattle markets stabilize, and for all us in agriculture to be able
To pay the bills, make ends meet, and keep food on the table
I’d like to wake up to a morning without wind,
And to see some moisture fall from the skies
If it meant water in the creek and grass for the cows, heck, I’d even fight some ice.
Times are hard all over, and I know you know that’s true
But there’s not too much I can do to change that, so I guess we’ll just keep doing what we do
Lord, this life ain’t about the money or the fame
It’s the calling you’ve bestowed upon us,
To feed and clothe your people
Even though sometimes it’s hard, we do the work
Hopefully without much fuss.
It isn’t much, this little prayer,
But as Christmas draws near
All I can ask for on my Christmas list, is that
You’ll see us through
And give us one more year.
Wishing you all a blessed and Merry Christmas, from my family to yours.
With Love, Richelle
Attitude of Gratitude
CBW, November 2021
What are you thankful for?
What fills your heart with gratitude during these difficult times so many of us are facing?
I posed that question on my Facebook page this week, and some of the answers brought me to tears. While it is easier to dwell on all the negative things happening in our own lives and in our country every day, I wanted to know what keeps people going every day. I know what helps push me through when depression and anxiety threaten to destroy me, but sometimes it helps to hear how others are finding the silver lining and the good in a world that seems to be obsessed with bad news.
For me, I am so grateful to have a strong faith. Without it, I would be a much different person. I am thankful for my hard working husband, who sacrifices so much so that we can continue to ranch and raise our kids alongside their grandparents. We have been blessed with two healthy kids, and they keep us laughing and young (even when they turn my hair gray!). I am lucky to have both my parents, and my husband’s parents, on this side of the earth. I am grateful for work that challenges me and that pays the bills, pets to snuggle with, a good horse to cover the country on, and friends and neighbors who help us anytime we need them.
As I read through so many comments from others, it amazed me how many of us are leaning into our faith as the world seems to unravel. Family has become more important than work for most people; nature is the universal healer; and for many of us, being in agriculture shields us from the insanity of what is happening in our world.
From the roofs over our heads, to the clothes on our backs, we truly have so much to be grateful for. Food on our tables, gas in our tanks, and heat in our homes- if you have those things, you’re pretty dang lucky.
As we get closer to the end of another crazy year, I would like to challenge you all to change your perspective and look at life with an attitude of gratitude. When others ask how you are, tell them how great life is, rather than complaining. Share about the ways you are proud of your kids, or your spouse, or even just how happy you are to see the other person! I know misery loves company, but laughter and love are just as contagious. Embrace the attitude of gratitude, and you just might find life is the greatest blessing of them all.
Wishing you all a wonderful, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving. God Bless,
Richelle
Fall Works
CBW, October 2021
He rides out around the herd, quietly encouraging his young horse to give the cows some room, while his dog sticks close beside him. Cows and calves lift their heads, moving their attention from eating to watching the horse and dog. He clucks at the pair closest to him, and they turn and head towards where he came from, taking the other pairs with them. He rides to the far end of the field, while the rest of his crew pushes the cattle out of the brush and back towards the gate.
Like a choreographed dance, horses and cattle move quietly together, heading towards the fence. A few calves turn back, but the riders patiently pull back and let the calves make their way back to the herd. As he comes through a clearing, he stops, and silently thanks God for this crew. Neighbors and friends who traded work were something he was forever grateful for.
He doesn’t say a word as rides up behind the bunch of cattle making their way out through the gate. One rider stands on the hill above the hole, and his wife counts the cattle through the wire gate. Once the last rider is through, she closes the gate behind him and gives him a look of frustration and uncertainty. The calves don’t look very good this year; long, hot days and water issues have certainly taken their toll. She reaches over and grabs his hand, and they both feel dread start to set in. Did the cows breed up? Will the calves make weight? Will they be able to pay their bills? He gives her a half-hearted smile, and they take off to catch up to the herd.
The vet is waiting for them by the time they get the cows back to the corrals. Everyone slides out of their saddles, and ties up their horses wherever they can. Calves are separated from their mothers, and run through the chute. Shots are given, and calves return to the weaning pen. Each cow is brought through the chute, and he finds himself holding his breath every time it takes more than a second or two for the vet to holler “she’s bred”. Her heart sinks with every cow that gets bleach brushed across her shoulders, and every time the vet says “she’s dry”, she feels the tears building.
It feels like forever to get through the herd, but once they are done, it doesn’t seem nearly as bad when they look at the cows in the dry pen. In fact, they give each other a look of relief, and she finally says what they had both been thinking- this will surely make some tough decisions
easier. They had already planned on culling part of the herd anyway, and it was easier to sell cows that weren’t bred.
It had been a hard year for everyone in their area, and many hadn’t been as fortunate as they were. With grateful hearts, they wrap up the work for the day. Knowing that this is only the beginning of the hard choices to be made this fall, they cling to hope for a wet winter and spring, and look forward to another chance in next year country.
Love,
Richelle
The Older I Get
The older I get, the more I realize that nothing in life is "one size fits all" .
The older I get, the more I find myself clinging to my memories, to my childhood, and my family.
The older I get, the more I love deep, honest conversation, and find idle chit chat to be a waste of time.
The older I get, the more I realize that quality is more important than quantity. That includes, but is not limited to, horses, cattle, clothes, and beer.
The older I get, the more I realize that nothing is ever quite what it seems. Every coin has two sides, and it is to our advantage to check them both out.
The older I get, the more I see that you have to stand for the things that are important to you, or risk losing them.
If I knew what I know now, when I was eighteen, my life might look considerably different. But the older I get, the less I worry about what could have been, and focus on what could be.
Of all the things I've learned this far, it's that life is not guaranteed. Babies don't keep. Love hard, work hard, and pray hard. The time will pass no matter what you do, or don't do.
Love, Richelle
Published 9/1/2021
August 4, 2021
Ranch wives know…
If your children join you in the day to day work on the ranch, such as fixing fence, haying, feeding, etc., snacks are mandatory. Not necessarily for your child’s nutrition, but for your sanity.
Time is irrelevant to husbands and cattle.
No matter how many times you gently remind him that you are not a mind reader, he will not remember. You will be expected to know what he is thinking before he thinks it… but you should make sure you let it be his idea.
Meal times are fluid. Eating as a family during the busy seasons is an Olympic trial, and a goal that is rarely attainable.
Splurge on the commercial grade washer and dryer, and always check all the pockets on all the clothes just in case your kid tries to stuff a boulder in their jeans or your husband forgets to take the calving record book out of his shirt pocket.
Paint sticks will wear off a calf’s hide in less than 24 hours, but will remain on your favorite jeans and boots for a lifetime.
Ball caps and rocks are collectables. Husbands and kids go crazy for them, and will become strangely attached. Use caution when trying to decrease the size of either accumulation.
Tow straps, duct tape, and fencing pliers will get you out of just about any south-bound situation. Never leave home without them.
If something can go wrong, it likely will.
When all else fails, prayer and laughter can heal the heart.
♥️ Richelle
July 7, 2021
Forever may she wave
The earth rumbles as the horses gallop into the arena, as the crowd cheers in appreciation of the sponsors and in support of the newly crowned Queen and Princess of the rodeo. The horses and their riders make their way into the center of the arena, and the crowd quiets down.
Everyone rises in anticipation; after all, this is Independence Day. Cowboy hats and ball caps make their way from covering heads from the sun, to covering hearts in reverence. All eyes look to the arena entry gate. A young boy enters the gate on his grandaddy’s horse, as the announcer begins to read a poem about freedom. The horse slowly makes his way around the arena, as the American flag his rider holds on to gently waves in the breeze.
The poem draws to a close, and the music begins. No one in particular is here to sing the National Anthem today, so the crowd begins in unison. “Oh, say can you see, By the dawns early light……” The boy kicks the horse into a jog. “Whose broad stripes and brights stars….” As it builds, the horse and the flag pick up speed, and chills run up my spine.
I catch my breath, noticing the lump in my throat that always shows up when I hear the Star Spangled Banner. The boy just holds on as his horse makes the loop; it’s likely his horse has honored this flag for longer than the boy has been alive. The crowd gets louder with every word, and the horse moves faster. The boy finally directs him to the middle of the are arena, between the Rodeo Queen and the pickup men, stopping as the last note of the song fades.
The crowd breaks in to applause, and cheers for the red, white, and blue. I look around to see that there isn’t a dry eye in the grandstands- old men and young women alike wipe tears away, hoping no one else notices.
The announcer says a few more words about the importance of this day- Independence Day- and Old Glory finally leads the way out of the arena as hats move back to shade the sun. The crowd remains quiet as the arena empties out, and a moment of silence for those who can’t be here to celebrate with us is honored.
Here in this arena, people honor not only our flag, but everything she stands for. We give thanks for our freedom, bought and paid for with the blood of our loved ones. We pay homage to those who have risked it all, so that we don’t have to. We stand firm in our independence, knowing we must protect it at all costs.
Forever may the American flag wave. Forever may we remain the land of the free, and the home of the brave.
♥️ Richelle
June, 2021
Freedom in letting go
It’s another broken promise to get off the ranch, because branding got pushed back because of the weather.
It’s another sink full of dirty dishes, and another spin in the wash machine for a load of clothes that just can’t seem to make it to the dryer, because by the time she gets in the house at night, she’s just too tired to deal with anything more than feeding and putting children to bed.
It’s another date night canceled due to the baler breaking down, or the cows breaking down the fence.
Sometimes, she looks back on all the times she prayed for her current situation, and wonders if it was really what she wanted their life to look like.
Will her kids forgive her for not letting them sign up for spring sports and summer camps? Does her husband resent all the hours he spends behind the wheel of the truck and the tractor and chasing after cows year-round? She’s well aware of the strange looks she gets when picking her kids up from school in her dirty pickup and dirty boots and jeans, and finally understands how her own momma must have felt all those years ago.
For all the sacrifices her family has made, she knows deep in her heart that there is nothing she or her husband would rather be doing than ranching. They have grown a family and a cattle herd, hand in hand, and heart to heart. They have struggled, made mistakes, and learned more than either of them could have imagined. Their kids have learned to be flexible, strong, and courageous, and when she really stops and looks at them, she is so proud of the people they are growing into.
Maybe this life is not quite what she expected, but it has turned out to be exactly what she's needed. Even when her house is a mess, her heart is weary, and there is still a lot more year left at the end of the money, she knows she would not trade this life for all the vacations and date nights in the world. Instead of worrying about what could be or what may have been, she’s learning to embrace the freedom of just letting some things go.
Ranch life. It’s not for the faint of heart, nor the weary of spirit. It makes for a lifetime of knowing when to pull back on the reins, and when to let that dark horse run. And to be honest, it is a hell of a life for those who choose to ride it out.
♥️ Richelle