The Cattle Rancher

My husband is a cattle rancher. True to the core, never veering from the life he loves and has wanted his entire life.

When we had babies of our own, you could forget asking him to change a diaper! But give him an arm glove and he was right there to check the insides of a cow from the rear!! I used to say his thinking was all messed up. But he claimed it was just what he knew and the diapers were mommy's responsibility!

My husband is an outdoorsy guy. He's the hardest working man I've ever known. He works a full time job, serves on several boards and committees, then runs a cattle ranch. It's not a spare time venture either!  It's an all day, all night, every weekend booked, 24-7 lifestyle. 

With this life comes the frustration over sick cattle, the loss of a calf, a horse running through a fence and numerous machinery breakdowns. But it also brings its feelings of accomplishment when the price of cattle is high, the horses have colts, the weather cooperates and the crops are in. 

A cattle rancher always wears the same outfit. His favorite jeans, a cowboy shirt, his boots, work gloves and a cowboy hat. He's usually covered from neck to toe in the same old daily attire. What few areas of skin you can see are usually deeply tanned from the long hours in the summer sun. But that's usually all that's tanned!

Red, white, or brown, the color whatever, deep empty pockets with no change to spare, a grateful heart and a word of prayer, he wouldn't change his lifestyle and I wouldn't dare, but the Savior he gives his every care!

I love every minute I spend with my husband on the ranch. It's good honest work and usually cattle don't talk back! They might chase you over the fence occasionally or belch the raunchiest smell you've ever breathed in but if you've ever seen a new born baby calf learn to stand, take a few steps and eventually run playfully, you'll start to see what a cattle rancher sees in this business. 

Little Purple Pansies

Have you heard the old saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!"

I just can't help myself. I do love a good tall cold glass occasionally and I do love this old saying. 

Life seems to deal us plenty of lemons. How do we handle those situations?  Do we grunt, groan and complain or do we turn that frown upside down and smile all the while? 

My mom used to sing her favorite primary song to me when I was little.  Little Purple Pansies. I loved this song! :

🎶 Little purple pansies touched with yellow gold. Growing in one corner of the garden old; We are very tiny but must try, try,try. Just one spot to gladden, you and I.

In whatever corner we may chance to grow. Whether cold or warm the wind may ever blow, Dark the day or sunny, we must try, try, try. Just one spot to gladden, you and I. 🎶

As I read the words to this song, it reminds me to be positive, grateful, happy and know that I can brighten my own little corner of the world. I can be forgiving, understanding, patient, respectful, loving and kind. When I try to be more like these good attributes, it becomes contagious and others try to be better too! Let's cause an epidemic of good vibes and let it spread like wildfire! Just maybe we can make this world a better place. 

So, when life gives you lemons, go ahead and make lemonade!

Gratitude

Everything we do, say and feel is coming from how we are feeling at that moment.  If we take the time to ponder what we are grateful for, our whole attitudes can change.  Our hearts become full of love and hope and we can’t help but want to share how we feel with others.  So I decided to focus on everything I’m grateful for so I would feel more loving and kind.  Here’s an outline of what I do everyday:

    

   I spend at least 5 minutes daily focusing on gratitude.  What am I grateful for?  It doesn’t matter how big or small it is, I focus on it.  I meditate in a quiet peaceful calm area where no one is bothering me.  I always find something I’m grateful for.  It could be the food I found in the cupboards to create a wonderful dinner for my family or the neighbor that showed up at the door with a plate of cookies.  A letter received in the mail from a dear friend, the weather I’m enjoying that day or the flowers blooming in my garden.  There are so many things to be grateful for! It helps me to take the time to remember them and FEEL grateful for them.  ‘Feeling’ is the keyword here.

   

   I journal it!  Remembering what I’m  grateful for is key to feeling gratitude.  I have a little notebook that I call my Gratitude Journal.  Every night I write down 10 things I am grateful for.  Sometimes I write down something I wrote down a week earlier.  I just remember that I am really grateful for everything and sometimes I need to mention them again. Also, when I get busy and don’t have time to write in my journal, I don’t let myself worry about it.  Things happen and I return to it as soon as I can.  It’s ok!  If I can’t write it down right away in my journal, I make myself a note to do it later.  I keep a small notebook in my purse and always have a memo pad on my desk.  You’ll be surprised how every day there is something new to be grateful for.

   

   A gratitude rock really does work.  I have a small rock that that fits well in the palm of my hand.  I hold it near my heart, close my eyes and feel grateful for what I have, what I need or what I desire in my life.  Doing this daily helps me realize how grateful I am for what I have, need and want.  It’s a tangible thing I can hold to remind me.

  

   When I go to bed each night, I hold the rock near my heart as I drift off to sleep thinking about the things that make me happy.  Being grateful for them brings me more things and experiences to be grateful for.

  

   Gratitude is an incredible feeling that bring about miracles in my life.  Thinking about it daily not only reminds me to be more grateful but it brings about more life experiences to be grateful for.  Is there ever really enough gratitude in the world today?  When I am happier, it makes others wonder why I am so happy and then they want to know my secret!